Daughter
Chapter 66 – Tea
Elda squeezed past the personnel crowding the control room of the SGC. Her birth mother was calling in from a new gate on the space station. It was a big deal. She bumped shoulders with Smith and grinned. He smiled back. In front of them, General Landry stood with the techs at the main console. He leaned down to speak into the mic. "Colonel! Nice to hear your voice."
"You, too, sir," Sam replied through the open wormhole.
"I take it you had a successful install?"
"Smooth as butter, sir. We'll be wrapping up here sooner than we planned. We're going to do a few test runs with the gate to verify everything is operating normally. Permission to send an object through?"
"Open the iris," Landry commanded off-mic. The metal iris whined as it retracted, revealing the usual shimmering pool of blue within the gate. "Permission granted, Colonel."
Everyone's eyes were drawn to the wormhole as something rolled through. Smith and Elda gasped, recognizing what the cylindrical object was. One of the defensemen stepped up the ramp to pick it up and hold it high for the control room to see. Landry noticed his subordinates' exclamation. He called out behind him, "What is that?"
"Liquor, sir. Hard, beautiful liquor."
"Space station specialty," Elda added with a grin. She and Smith joined their fingers together and wiggled them in glee. They flicked their hands back in apparent excitement.
"Colonel, we received what I'm told is a decent brand of alcoholic something. Better be good," he joked.
Sam's laughter could be heard in her voice as she replied, "I'm told it is. We're sending you the new address for this gate now, adjusted for its position in space. We're using Earth as its new point of origin symbol."
Landry glanced at a tech, who nodded to acknowledge the transmission was received. "Run it against the database," he ordered.
"No hits, sir. The address is not currently in use elsewhere."
The General wasn't surprised. He expected Sam to make sure of that already. But it was prudent for him to double-check her work before she committed the space station to a new address. "Good. Reserve it for the station and be sure to have all ships update their address books in the next data push."
"Sir."
"Colonel, looks good from here. What's next?"
"Sir, we are now requesting that you dial in and send something nonorganic through to test the connection."
"Copy." The gate shut down. He turned around. "What do we have to send through?"
Everyone started patting their pockets and looking down. "Uhhhh…"
Elda spied something sitting on the corner of the main control console. She held it up. "This?"
Hank nearly laughed. "Sure. Maybe someone over there has the sniffles."
Smith cracked up behind him.
Rinu'lor and Sam watched as a new incoming wormhole formed in the gate on the space station. When the kawoosh settled back down, an object was thrown through. It plopped harmlessly onto the ground within the dome. Rinu'lor's pad read that it was harmless. The dome receded.
The techs approached and began to laugh. One of them held it up for Sam to see. He turned it.
It was a cardboard tissue box with the word 'Hi' scrawled hastily across its side by a Sharpie marker.
Jack sat at the head of the briefing room table. Hank and Smith occupied the seats adjacent to him. On Smith's other side was Aurelia, then Eruce. They had already been formally introduced. Pleasantries were exchanged.
"Now that Carter got the gate over there working, we thought we'd offer you the chance to use it to go home. If you like," Jack suggested.
Aurelia and Eruce glanced at each other. Then Eruce asked, "What are the conditions for traveling between here and our home?"
"No conditions," Jack replied casually. "Home is home. If you need to get there faster, by all means." He gestured a hand toward the briefing room glass, where they knew the gate could be seen.
"I wouldn't mind using it to get back," Aurelia said carefully.
"Of course. Whatever you like."
She smiled tentatively. "Would I be able to come visit again?"
Smith smashed his lips together in anticipation. He was not going to be the one to suggest it.
"Sure!" Jack said congenially. "We're all friends now. You wanna stop by, then stop by. Just call ahead to let us know."
"Of course," Hank cut in, "we do have a restricted access list at the moment."
"We do?"
Hank looked at his friend meaningfully.
"Oh. Right." Jack flapped a hand in the air. "Smith?"
He cleared his throat, trying not to laugh at this General totally living up to his nonchalant reputation around the SGC. "We have a guest list of sorts. You and your Aunt are definitely on it. Your dad, too. And the other department heads from the station. We're giving each of you special codes to identify you before you step onto this base." He slid a small device toward Rellie.
She picked it up curiously. "What is this?"
"GDO."
"GDO?"
"Garage door opener."
"What?"
"I'll explain the name later. This is how the SGC knows to unlock its gate and let someone through."
"What happens if someone tries to pass through while the gate is locked?" Rellie asked curiously. She'd noticed Smith using his own GDO before, but they'd always been focused on other things. She never had a chance to ask how this all worked until now. She handed it to her Aunt to examine.
"Uhhh… it would be unpleasant. Let's just say: never pass through until that thing gives you the green light."
"Hmm. Okay," she agreed, expecting him to explain much better later like he promised. "Will anyone from here be visiting us on the station soon?"
Jack smiled. "Ambassador Smith is expected to make regular appearances as part of his role. Who else is on the list for our side, General?"
Hank replied, "Dr. Lam, Colonel Carter, Dr. Jackson. So far. Approval for other personnel is dependent on their reasons for traveling to the station."
"Not the rest of SG-3, sir?" Smith asked cautiously.
"As I said, Ambassador, they need a good reason."
He deflated slightly, hopes dashed that he, Crawford, and Elda could go there regularly to party with their friends. He'd have to come up with some creative reasons to get them permission to use the gate to go there. Smith was pretty sure Elda would help him think of something.
"What's on SG-3's schedule, General?" Jack asked.
"They have an operation coming up shortly."
"Ahh, yes. I think I know the one."
"Yes, General," Hank acknowledged, purposely not revealing details about an upcoming classified mission in front of their guests.
"Welp, Ambassador, when that's done, why don't you hop on over to the station and say hi. Put in some face time with the locals?"
He smiled enthusiastically. "Yes, sir."
Aurelia also smiled at this. "We'll be sure to welcome him, General."
Eruce gave the GDO back to Smith. "I will journey back to the station via our ship. I would like time to read through the materials your Dr. Jackson graciously provided. Without my duties calling me away too soon."
"No problem."
"The fuck? Only you can go through the gate?" Crawford complained in the mess hall later.
"Yeah," Smith replied glumly.
"Well, if it's going to be one of us, might as well be Smitty," Elda said. "He's got to work up the nerve to marry Rellie."
Smith pushed her.
She laughed.
"Cakes, come up with a reason for all of us to visit," Smith demanded.
"Uhh, I'll get back to you on that. We have more time-sensitive matters to worry about. Crawfy, who exactly are we supposed to talk to about delivering these blasters?"
"Chigu rep said there's a receiving dock in the back of the building. You wouldn't even go through her for that."
"What are we going to do? Deliver the stuff then go back around the front to get another meeting?" Smith wondered.
"Probably," Elda replied. "Although I wonder if we'll have better luck talking to someone new."
Crawford frowned, reminded of how poorly his last visit there went. He and Jessica left looking like incompetent fools with little to show for their efforts. He didn't think the Chigu rep they met with would take their group seriously anymore. Looked like Elda agreed.
Smith then asked, "When are you leaving, Crawford?"
"Same day as you."
His friends shared a glance. Smith said, "You know, don't think Reynolds was kidding when he said you have a choice for this one."
"We've been over this, Smith. I'm going. Then I'll come back. Anyway, you don't need me on the next op. Mitchell assigned it to you two. My part's done with that Chigu bullshit." His face looked sour as he said the last part.
Elda regarded him with quiet worry. "Matthews better watch your back."
"I'm supposed to be watching hers. That's why I'm going."
"Still, though," she said uncomfortably.
Smith echoed her apprehension. "Careful out there, man."
Crawford made eye contact with each of them. "You, too."
When Jasuf gazed around the clearing, he was unimpressed. Its ground was barely covered with a handful of huts, scattered about haphazardly. A few guard houses were posted on opposite ends. "This is your village?" he asked dubiously.
Elda could tell he was expecting more. She smiled. "You haven't seen all of it yet." She started walking to the central hut.
Jasuf followed. "What more is there?"
Elda held up a pointer finger, telling him to wait. She reached into the main hut and found the small remote left behind just inside the door. When she hit the button, all of the holograms activated at once.
His eyes widened. His head snapped around, taking in the sight of a clearing suddenly filled with structures. There was the perfect amount of space between them. Some of the ground was left empty before the largest hut, the usual reserve for outdoor gatherings. He looked back to Elda and smiled.
She held up the remote in her hand. "Check this out." When she pressed more buttons, holographic Jaffa appeared all around the village. Some seemed to be cooking. Others looked to be training. Still more were moving in and out of the fake huts. "Now what do you think?" Elda asked hopefully.
Jasuf locked eyes with her. "Better. Much better."
She clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh good. Then maybe this will be enough."
"This resembles our village on Tek'ron when I was a small boy," he said, pulling her along with him as he explored.
"Really?"
"It was humble in size. It took many years for it to grow as large as it is now."
"Did it start in a tiny clearing like this?"
"I do not recall. But I can remember helping the men haul away branches whenever they felled additional trees to make more space. The lumber was used to build new huts for the growing families." He peeked into the huts that he knew were real. "What would you regard each of these actual structures to be?"
"I was thinking that one in the middle would be a governance hut. This one here could be one of the residences. When I send our nameless actors here, they could actually sleep in this one. No way to know what time of day Chigu will show up, so someone has to be here to trick the lifesigns detector of their ship," Elda explained. She pointed elsewhere now. "Over there would be food and drink storage. And nearest it…" She paused, hesitating.
He regarded her curiously, then led them both to the hut in question. "What is it?"
"Smith's bar." She grit her teeth, unsure of what he'd think.
"Bar?"
"Like in a tavern."
Jasuf let out a small laugh. "It is unsurprising that such a human element would make its way into the design of this village."
She let out a breath of relief, chuckling along with him. Elda shrugged. "Smith seemed excited about this project. I think it reminds him of some game he plays back on Earth."
"You said he behaved that way when training on the weapons array of your ship, did you not?"
Elda grinned. "Oh yes. He's still very much a child." She nodded emphatically, making Jasuf laugh more.
He hugged her close as he gazed around. "Aside from your bar, this is an accurate rendering of a Jaffa village. I applaud you and CorporalSmith."
"Thank you!" She looked around. "Now we just need to bring in our actors. Smith and I are leaving soon for the mission. We'll be back here dropping off the calling card soon enough. Chigu could easily follow us as we travel."
"My Love," Jasuf now wondered, "how did you know about this planet? I find it remarkable that it is not already claimed."
The corners of her mouth turned up into a wistful smile. "I used to live here."
His eyes shot to hers. "In your past?"
She nodded. "We didn't use this exact clearing. I think. But this world is where the Hak'tyl settlement I was raised in would have been started."
Jasuf's hands gripped her shoulders tightly. "Elda… this must be meaningful for you."
"It's bittersweet. Nesa doesn't seem to have a reason to leave Tek'ron with her own group anymore. She might never settle here, now that I came along and changed everything. I'm already realizing key events from Hak'tyl history aren't happening."
"Such as?" he prompted with extreme curiosity.
"Well, she gets along with everyone. I can't imagine who it was that drove her away."
"You say that is the reason she split the tribe?"
"I know it is. I remember being surprised to hear that there was anyone she didn't like. She was always so kind and personable in my memory."
Jasuf grunted, which amount to the Jaffa version of a snort.
"What?"
"Your regard for her and my regard for her differ greatly," he said with little amusement.
Elda rolled her eyes. "I know you can barely stand her, Jasuf. But she was my Den Mother. I'm still loyal."
"There is no fault in that, Elda. But my experiences with Nesa have always been… strained." His face contorted as he said it.
"Why?"
"Perhaps you will recall that a year ago, our two tribes were rivals. We only tolerated each other because we were co-dependent. The Hak'tyl never showed respect. And I will admit, neither did we."
"But you and Nesa, being essentially equal in rank, were required to interact with each other the most?"
"Correct. Anytime one of us was sent to the other village, we were expected to seek each other out. Despite not wanting to."
Elda scrunched her face. "It's not that bad now, right?"
"No. Perhaps not. I strongly believe you are the reason that relations between us have become less… tedious." She smiled softly. "But do not misunderstand me, I do not ever see myself calling her a friend."
Elda pouted.
Jasuf's eyes wandered around more as the conversation paused naturally. He kept Elda close. She simply enjoyed being in his arms. The air here was comfortable, a little warmer than Tek'ron right now.
She was reminded of the warm nights she spent here among her sisters, charring meat over flames and simply talking about innocuous things. Some of her best memories from her childhood were on this planet. They were the best ones because they were the least tainted by anxiety and fear. She always felt safest in Nesa's tribe. And it always hurt the most when she and her mother had to leave it.
They constantly tried to go back. Vala would wait until their trail had gone cold and she was certain the Goa'uld were struggling to find them again. This planet was the only place she ever dared to bring them back to more than once. Elda knew she took the risk because of how happy it made her to be here.
It was the closest to stability that Vala could manage to offer her.
And Elda was grateful for it.
She wrapped her arms around Jasuf's waist and let her head rest over his heart. Its steady rhythm reminded her of Hak'tyl drum beats. She sighed, losing herself in memories again.
Jasuf kissed her hair affectionately, patiently letting her linger for as long as she pleased.
After Baker helped them unload the shipment of blasters behind the Chigu building, he disappeared into the tel'tak. Elda and Smith kept their comms open as they were invited inside to meet with a new representative about a possible tretonin deal. Reynolds remained in the ship, never being seen and guarding it at the same time. The last thing anyone needed was for their only mode of transportation off this planet to be stolen.
He would have sent Baker in to protect their lone pilot, too, but Elda insisted that this next part be a two-man op. Besides, she and Smith already knew how to play off of each other. They didn't have enough practice working Baker into things, and the stakes were a little too high to try it right now.
The pair, dressed in galaxy-standard leather, found themselves in a great hall. A water feature that anchored the center was artfully decorated with statues of nymphs and fairies. Plush seats were available around it. Still, Smith and Elda chose to stand. They couldn't let themselves get comfortable for one second. This served to give an impression of impatience and overconfidence. Just what brokers of high reputation should have.
"Hello," a smooth male voice greeted them.
The pair turned to see a new Chigu representative behind them. He was sharply dressed in a robe with silver accents. He wore no tunic underneath, proudly displaying a well-built chest that he no doubt used to his advantage with female clients. Or male ones who liked to look.
Elda steeled herself. He did look good enough to eat. But she was going to stay focused. She had a job to do.
"Welcome to Chigu. My name is Perim, a representative specializing in medical industrialism."
Even the way he spoke was like silk. Elda could tell he rose in the ranks quickly with his look and charm. She'd have to tread carefully. He probably had experience dealing with all kinds of people trying to swindle their way into better deals than he was willing to offer. He might be more challenging than the other rep they worked with.
She locked eyes with Smith to tell him so. He blinked once to acknowledge he understood her.
"Hi," the marine-turned-broker responded. "I'm Carm. This is Xena."
The man seemed to look Smith up and down, analyzing his worth by how physically fit he was and by the clothes he wore. Smith's manner of dress implied that he lived comfortably, a sign that he was successful at what he did.
When the man regarded Elda, his eyes took her curves in with thirst.
Smith bit his cheek. He knew what that look meant. And he didn't like it.
Elda met the rep's stare, almost challenging him to undress her. Smith knew it was all part of the play. She was going to take advantage of everything her Mama gave her. And then some. Sheesh, he was so glad she was on his side. He had a feeling he knew how this might go; they needed to be real careful.
"Perhaps you would like to sit. I can have refreshments brought here," the rep proposed. He turned his head to regard an attendant waiting nearby.
"I thought we could speak somewhere more… private," Elda suggested instead.
Smith refrained from swallowing. She was using that sexy voice again. Maybe it was a good thing Crawford wasn't here. He'd probably get distracted by that.
"Right, just enough room for the three of us," Smith cut in, reminding everyone that he was there.
Elda gave him a look. He couldn't tell if she was pretending to roll her eyes at him or if it was genuine. He purposely put an arm around her waist as they walked. This other dude here needed to know he couldn't just have her at the drop of a hat.
Reynolds and Baker wouldn't see this part, either; he felt like he could get away with it. And Crawford was lightyears away. His buddy was probably busy doing the same damn thing with Matthews anyway.
Elda let Smith touch her, knowing full well what he was doing. They'd done this before. She trusted him to keep both the rep and her in check.
They found themselves in a private room. It had a set of seats with a small table between them. Smith and Elda inhabited a fluffy couch together. The rep sat opposite on an arm chair. Candles were lit along the walls, giving a soft, intimate glow to the space.
A tablet was ready on the table. Perim pressed it to activate a heads-up display with a menu. An attendant delivered an ornate cart with a teapot, then departed. "Would you care for tea?" he asked.
"Please," Elda answered easily. She smiled at him, eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
He made prolonged eye contact with her as he poured tea into a small mug.
Good God, Smith grumbled to himself. This guy could fuck with his eyes alone. He glanced at his teammate, who seemed interested. He really hoped she was faking it.
The rep served them both. Elda took a sip of the hot tea immediately, neverminding its temperature. She did this all the time with the Jaffa. She handled it like a pro.
Smith was a bit more careful. He tested the liquid first, then set the mug down on the table to wait until it cooled.
"Now that we are more comfortable," the rep said, "let us discuss why we are here today. How can Chigu be of service?"
Smith responded, "We're here on behalf of a party that has an interest in a specific pharmaceutical. The sort that would improve their lives."
"Chigu is a leader in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals."
"So we've heard."
Elda didn't chime in. She simply continued to sip her tea, eyes trained on their host.
Smith took that as a sign to keep going. She'd jump in when she saw an opening. "This client of ours is looking at a couple different places to source their supply. They prioritize value over anything else."
"Our facilities are the cleanest you will find. We pride ourselves on engaging in above-standard practices to produce high-quality products."
"Good to know. The other priority our clients have is stability. They don't want to enter into a contract with just any old player. They want a trading partner that can handle adversity and guarantee the supply doesn't dwindle."
The rep smiled at Smith's obvious challenge. "We not only possess those qualities but we excel at them. We manufacture some of the most capable starships in this galaxy and train our own forces to a high degree of proficiency. We don't outsource the security of our facilities like our competitor might do."
Elda placed an empty mug on the table. The rep immediately poured more for her. "Surely, you're not referring to Zersha." She pretended to itch at something just beneath the neckline of her leather top. The action drew the gazes of both Perim and Smith. Smith had a better view of her décolletage. He just knew the other guy was dying for his own sneak peek.
"I am, in fact, thinking of Zersha. Their standards are lower. They rely on their own clients to provide security. If you asked me, that isn't value or stability. That's cutting corners."
Smith almost whistled. This guy knew how to twist words. "So if our client were to go with Zersha, you're saying the lower prices wouldn't be worth it?" To be honest, Smith had no friggin' clue what the other company was charging. He didn't mind fibbing if it could keep the guy talking, though.
He guffawed at this. "Worth and Zersha hardly belong in the same sentence together. If you are comfortable revealing which pharmaceutical your client is interested in, I can give you a direct comparison between us and them, to prove we're the better choice."
Elda leaned forward, giving him a very good angle on her chest. If Smith didn't know any better, he'd say she was a little flushed. Maybe it was the lighting. "Tretonin," she said with a rich tone.
He blinked. Okay, he didn't think she'd be so direct. He thought they were supposed to beat around the bush a little longer. But whatever.
Perim actually licked his lips as he stared at her. "We outclass in tretonin," he claimed, voice laced with noticeable suggestion toward Elda.
Smith rolled his eyes internally. Elda kept her eyes on the rep, never breaking contact. The marine's eyes wandered down to the table. His mug was full. Elda's was newly filled. And the other guy's… wait a minute. He'd hardly taken a sip.
Smith's eyes shot to his partner. Oh shit. The drinks were spiked.
His heart began to beat a little faster. Elda was under the influence of something and it might ruin her game. He needed to take control of this. And quick.
Smith decided to lay down some boundaries. He cupped Elda's face to make her look at him. His eyes bored into hers with a warning. He let his fingers slide down her neck in an obvious display of possession, telling the other guy to back the fuck off.
She didn't protest, completely okay with Smith taking the lead. Elda realized her vision was a little cloudy. She thought it was from the mood lighting of the candles. But she also felt warm. Warm in the way Jasuf could make her feel with just a look. This was trouble. Smith was bringing her back. As he should.
Elda bit her lip toward the marine, going with whatever he wanted to do right now. If he was telling her to stop flirting with this incredibly handsome Chigu rep, she would listen. For now.
Perim quietly observed Smith claiming dominance and took it as a challenge. He noticed that the male broker had refrained from sipping his tea. He was too smart to fall for that trick apparently. It was no matter. He could work these two from another angle. Maybe get them to quarrel with each other and reveal their actual intentions by accident. All he needed to do was push buttons.
He pressed on the HUD above the tablet to activate a chart. "This is a direct comparison of Chigu's tretonin clientele versus known Zershan contracts. You will see that we hold a significantly larger market share. And for good reason. Zersha is known to renege on their deals when their supplies or staffing get low. The only way for their clients to ensure reliable output is to give something up." He made pointed eye contact with Elda. "With us, there's no need to sacrifice anything. We give you all you need."
She controlled her breaths, willing herself not to react to his obvious innuendo.
Smith's hand grabbed her knee to steady her, and to remind the rep that she belonged to him. "What's your starting price point?"
Perim's eyes drifted to Smith. "Depends on the form of payment."
"Our client is well-resourced. Take your pick."
"We have a need for a re-supply of raw crystals," the rep said casually.
Elda knew Smith wouldn't know what he meant. "Are we talking one-time deal or continuous supply?"
"One-time deal then naquedah. Unless your client has control over a continuous supply."
She sneered. "Our buyer has ample control over its supply," she said with a low voice while twirling her hair around her finger.
Smith almost gulped. Who knew trade negotiations could be such a turn-on!? He glanced at Perim, who seemed to be sucked into Elda's gaze. The marine sensed opportunity. Maybe she was under the influence, but she could still twist things to her advantage. Goddamn, she was good. And hot.
Smith's hand moved higher up her thigh unconsciously.
Perim's eyes were drawn to the motion.
Elda's hand covered Smith's. She purposely made his hand move even higher, letting the rep pretend that it was his hand touching her intimately right now.
Smith actually did swallow now, if only to clear his throat and his mind. "Let's do a trial. One month's worth of tretonin for two-dozen recipients. How much crystal would you take for that?"
Perim answered distractedly, "Five ships worth." He was busy undressing Elda in his mind.
"Three," she countered. "You have big ships. Right?"
Jesus, Elda, calm down. His hand squeezed her thigh.
Perim smirked. "Would you like to see for yourself?" His voice growled in a display of desire.
Aww, fuck. This dude was obviously trying to get his girl in a room. But that room might be on one of their ships. Suddenly, Smith had a dilemma on his hands. This was the other mission objective! They were supposed to somehow get dirt on both medical and shipbuilding. They needed to know if these Chigu folks were really behind the shit that went down on that moon. This could be a two birds, one stone-type scenario. The only problem was: his partner was obviously rufied. And enjoying it! How was she supposed to fend off this dude by herself if she was under the influence?
Elda said nothing, waiting for a signal from Smith on how to proceed. She knew by now that she had been drugged. By what, she couldn't be sure. She would never feel this tempted to jump a man she didn't know otherwise. Her marine was her only hope of keeping herself under control.
Smith released her leg. He leaned back casually on the couch, letting his arm rest on top of it behind Elda. "You're pulling our leg."
"I'm sorry?" the rep said.
"Means: you're not being straight with us. You don't really need five ships worth. You're just trying to test our limits. I tell you what: my client will agree to one ship. You show us just how big your balls are and then we'll talk about upping that payment."
"You want proof that our space craft require the crystals I have suggested?"
"I want proof, and I want tretonin for my buyer. This could be the start of a beautiful partnership, so long as you stay honest." Smith started to play with Elda's hair. He twisted it around in his fingers, laying yet another claim and simultaneously challenging the rep.
Perim raised a brow. This broker was better than he thought. The other man clearly recognized what had been done to his partner. Yet he was still here artfully negotiating and protecting her at the same time. He was Chigu material. His boss wouldn't want him to pass up this opportunity. He decided to entertain the man a little longer. "I'll agree to your terms, for now. I can bring you up to one of our ships today. You should see what Chigu has to offer. Then you'll know why we're worth our weight in naquedah."
Smith almost laughed. Elda once said something like that. He and Crawford both thought she should have said 'gold'. But apparently no one thought of gold as a hot commodity out here.
The marine very slowly withdrew his arm from the couch and sat forward. "Today's good for us. As for the tretonin, what's your turn-around time?"
"Two dozen adults for one month?"
Smith nodded.
"Three days."
He tilted his head, pretending to be impressed. "That's what I like to hear."
A card appeared on the table. "Take this. We'll use it to find you when we're ready to transport you up to one of our vessels for a tour."
Smith stood now. He grabbed Elda's hand and pulled her up with him. She wobbled slightly, blood pressure not keeping up with the motion. He steadied her with an arm around her waist while also grabbing the card off the table.
Perim stood. "You're welcome to remain here and enjoy Chigu hospitality while I make arrangements."
Smith leaned his face into Elda's, making eye contact with her. Reminding her that he was the one she needed to leave with. He breathed her in. "No thanks. We'll retire to our ship while we wait." His lips were millimeters from hers, pretending that he wanted her right now. He acted like he had grand plans for her the moment he could get her alone.
She bit her lip. Smith was so good at this that even she could have been fooled right now. But she knew better. Elda glanced sideways at Perim with a little smirk.
Her eyes were drawn back to her marine as he pulled her away and out of the room.
Perim watched them go and grit his teeth. He let out a breath of satisfaction.
Smith pushed Elda into the darkest alley he could find. His eyes darted up and around, looking for cameras. People. Anything that could be watching them right now. Then he shut off both their open comms.
"Baby?" he whispered. "You okay?"
Elda gripped his collar for balance. "Dizzy."
"Dude drugged you, ya know."
"I know."
"Did you have any idea that would happen?"
"No. But now that it has, maybe I'm not surprised."
"Is the fresh air helping? Or do we need to call it? I'm not making you continue this op if you don't feel right."
"We're getting close," she argued.
"Yeah, maybe. But it's not worth it if you get sick or worse."
Elda took in a deep breath. "Are you going to tell Reynolds?"
"Hell yeah. Tell me first, is it getting any better? He's gonna wanna know."
"Try to kiss me and I'll know."
"What."
"Smitty."
"Cakes," he warned. "That tells me all I need to know. I'm callin' it. I'm gonna cancel the tour and get you the fuck outta here."
"No!" She pulled him closer. "If you put a move on me, then how I react is going to tell us both if I'm right in the head or not. So do it!"
He looked at her like she was crazy. Somehow she believed what she was saying was true.
Dammit. They had a chance to see a Chigu ship today. It could end this whole series of ops so much faster that way. All he needed was for Elda to be herself. If she ended up alone with that guy she had to be able to defend herself.
He sucked in a breath, hoping against hope that he wouldn't get his ass whooped for this.
Smith reluctantly put his lips on hers. He cringed while he did it.
And then he got kneed in the groin for his trouble.
He doubled-over in pain, instantly holding onto the wall beside her to keep from falling completely over.
Elda just flipped her hair and breathed out heavily. She tested a few more deep breaths with her eyes closed, feeling the fog in her head clear. "Smith. Thank you."
Through gritted teeth, he squeezed out, "You're welcome."
Reynolds stood at the top of the ramp with arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
Smith grimaced as he ascended the incline with Elda close behind. Baker hit the button to close the hatch. It was painfully slow.
When the ship finally sealed itself with a click, they all knew they were secure again.
"Why'd you turn off your comms?" the Colonel demanded.
"Sir… I was checking on Elda. Seein' if she was okay."
Reynolds squinted at him. Then he looked at his only female subordinate. "What's he talkin' about?"
"I got drugged by that tea."
"What!?" both Reynolds and Baker exclaimed.
She held up two hands. "I feel okay now. It wore off."
"Yeah," Smith agreed.
Elda pouted at him apologetically. She turned back to her CO. "I'm good. I can keep going."
"You sure?"
"We can't pass up this opportunity."
Baker handed her a fresh flask of water. "Drink up. Get whatever that was out of your system."
"And what about you, Corporal?" Reynolds asked.
"I barely had a taste of that drink." He held out his hands. "It was too hot. Then I forgot about it."
"Score one for your intolerance for hot drinks, Smith," Reynolds deadpanned.
"Yes, sir."
"Go. Take a break." The pair ventured elsewhere on the ship and out of sight. Separately. Reynolds looked at Baker. "Tell me somethin', Lieutenant."
"Sir."
"Since when did all our ops become James Bond spy missions?"
Baker cracked a grin. "Since when have they not been?"
"Ain't that the truth."
"Hope you don't mind our Muscle tagging along," Smith announced outside of the tel'tak. He gestured behind him at Baker. "Boss insisted."
Perim gazed around. The tracker on his tablet led him straight to the old tel'tak they were using as transportation. "Is your boss here?"
"Nope."
Elda remained quiet at Smith's side. Her hair was slightly awry. A few of the buckles on her leather top were unclasped. She purposely leaned into him to give the impression that he'd just taken her while they were waiting. And taken her well. They both agreed they had to keep up appearances. Smith meant to make it as difficult as possible for this Chigu rep to get his girl away from him.
Perim didn't fail to notice. He glanced at the big man behind them. He imagined himself sending the two males on a self-guided tour while he personally escorted their female companion around the ship. He could find a private room to show her. She was probably ripe for the taking now that her boyfriend had warmed her up.
Or… he could focus on his other objective. Either one would be equally satisfying to accomplish, one in the short-term, the other in the long-term. He debated with himself over which one to choose.
"Please, follow me to one of our shuttles. It's right this way."
The trio let the Chigu rep bring them to another part of the landing pad. A few modern looking vessels sat parked in a neat row. They were box-like as opposed to Elda's cylindrical shuttle. None of these would fit through a gate. Perim picked one and activated its airlock. The doors cycled and let them through.
He invited them to sit comfortably in the available spots along the walls of the square compartment they were now in. Ahead of them was a pilot's console, inhabited by a single crewman. Perim gestured to the storage spaces underneath the seats. "Mag boots are available for you to borrow while you visit with us."
The team reached down to retrieve those boots and don them. Baker's eye twitched. He realized they were going to be dealing with zero gravity again. He wasn't looking forward to the nausea that came with it. They sat together across from Perim and locked into harnesses attached to the seats.
"Pilot," Perim prompted, "Let us proceed."
The ship shuddered as it broke contact with the ground. Then everyone felt themselves accelerate upwards into the sky. The pilot did a few maneuvers to avoid traffic in the air, but the ascent was otherwise smooth. The shuttle shook as they pushed through the upper atmosphere. The forward port glowed red until they were clear of the planet's protective layers.
Then they became weightless.
The shuttle communicated with its mothership and obtained permission to dock. The forward port showed a larger ship looming over the horizon of the planet. It seemed to be in orbit half-way across the other side.
SG-3 gazed out, trying to catch a glimpse of a Chigu-built vessel and visually confirm if it looked like the ships they saw at the moon. But the lack of light reflecting off the vessel made it difficult for them to discern any detail about it.
Baker kept another eye on Perim. He didn't like the way he was sneering at Elda. Smith wasn't kidding when he complained that this guy was one horny motherfucker. The marine didn't mind being the Muscle today if that meant he could directly protect his team. That way his subordinates could focus on doing all the talking.
As the shuttle docked inside the larger ship's bay, gravity returned to them. Perim graciously offered, "You may remain in the boots for the duration of our tour on board."
Smith quietly wondered if that was standard protocol or if he expected them to lose gravity on this bigger ship. Either way, the guy was suspicious. He figured it was only a matter of time before he tried to separate Elda from the rest of the team. He was sure as fuck determined to prevent that from happening. There was no telling what she'd have to do to keep his hands off her.
When they stood up, Smith patted the data pad he knew was hidden in her leather top, reminding her that it was there.
To Perim, it looked like Smith was wrapping his hand around her abdomen possessively. He smiled to himself. Such outward signs of ownership were no deterrent to him.
Little did he know, their station data pads were actively recording everything right now. Before Rellie left, Smith asked her to show him how to program the pads to passively collect data about their surroundings, the way he'd seen the Firefly draw schematics of the temple ship before. Each member of the team had one on them. They could probably do with just one pad, but hey, the more the merrier.
On top of that, Smith made sure Elda's pad would tell him where she was at all times. The moment they were separated, he planned to take over her data pad and activate other nifty features just in case shit hit the fan. He was about as ready as he could be to back her up without having to kick the Chigu rep's ass directly.
Not that he'd mind doing it. He had a feeling Baker would join in, too. But if they did that, things might get… complicated.
The hatch of the shuttle reopened and Perim led them out. "Welcome to Chigu's Premier Class warship." He swept a hand around the bay. "You will note this bay is capable of housing numerous individual fighter vessels and support shuttles. We guard our various manufacturing worlds from orbit, ensuring no outside parties assault our operations without serious consequence."
SG-3's eyes dutifully scanned their surroundings. The rep wasn't lying about all the little ships sitting in this bay. They could definitely launch a decent assault if they wanted to. Baker made it a point to walk closer to one of the fighters, giving his pad a chance to take some scans. He had a feeling his Air Force colleagues would go nuts over the data.
Perim brought them out of the bay and into a lift. Within moments, the doors opened to a gleaming corridor. The bright walls were opaque, much to Smith's relief. He was quietly worried that Rellie's station craft might have been Chigu-built. So far, there didn't seem to be any similarities between the two.
"What do you think, Xena?" Smith asked aloud.
"Hmm. I could see this ship needing a crystal or two."
Baker remained quiet and neutral-faced behind them.
As Perim led them down the hall, he retorted, "I think you will realize that our ship has higher requirements than that." He paused them at another door. When it slid open, it revealed an expansive room filled with consoles. Each one had a worker seated before it. "You're about to witness a demonstration of our defensive capabilities. Each of these people can remotely control one of those fighters you observed in the bay. Imagine that the planet with your tretonin facility is about to be accosted." Perim held out a hand toward the single supervisor standing among the crew. "Observe this training scenario."
A virtual screen activated before the visitors. It featured a planet about to be invaded by several Ha'tak. Then it showed a camera feed of a mothership's bay doors opening to let out a swarm of Chigu fighters. The hands of the workers at their consoles began to fly hurriedly over their displays.
SG-3 watched as the fighters pretended to overwhelm and disable the Ha'tak vessels. When it was clear that the Goa'uld-built ships could no longer shoot back, shuttles disembarked from the bay. Fighters greeted them and flew alongside in protective formations. Every Ha'tak was then apparently boarded by whatever crew was on the shuttles.
Perim raised his chin proudly at the show. He arched a brow toward his guests. "As you can see, we take the security of our worlds seriously. Our highly-trained crew goes into battle fully prepared to defend our properties." He stepped over to the nearest console. He leaned down to the worker to whisper. The man hit a few commands, having a drawer slide out with a small glowing crystal inside. Perim held it up. "Perhaps now you will believe that we use every crystal we acquire to its fullest potential."
Elda's eyes widened slightly. If every one of these consoles required a crystal to operate, that was a lot indeed. And it would seem they'd found new uses for them beyond the usual ship engine and life support functions. "You say you need a re-supply?" she clarified.
"Indeed. Raw. And untainted," Perim answered in his smooth voice. He let one corner of his mouth tilt up as he locked eyes with her.
She could tell he was quietly declaring his interest in her again. Elda raised her brow, wondering what scheme he had in mind to get her alone.
Smith noticed and ground his teeth. "How many crystals do one of these ships need?"
"We have two bays worth of fighters. Each bay holds thirty each. You do the math."
"Sixty crystals?" Elda said dubiously. "Sounds a bit excessive."
"If Chigu wasn't overly enthusiastic about its security, we wouldn't be the leader in our fields that we are today."
Smith and Elda locked eyes, now engaging in silent conversation.
Can we get him his crystals?
I think I can get them.
"Alright, Perim. We'll do that trial we talked about. Sixty crystals for a month's supply of tretonin. If your turn-around is good and your product pure, we can move ahead into more long-term contract negotiations."
The representative breathed in. "Agreed. How would you like to arrange for delivery and payment?"
"We'll come to you," Smith said.
Perim inclined his head. He returned the crystal in his hand to the crewman and motioned for the guests to follow him out.
As they went back the way they came, Elda pretended to marvel at the ship. "This is impressive."
He looked back at her and quirked a smile. "I'm glad you recognize quality when you see it. You know this is more than just a warship. It is also home to a remarkable recreation facility." He spoke casually, but the team knew he was trying to bait them into staying aboard longer. Must be his ploy to get Elda alone somehow. The rep busied himself with programming the lift to return them to the bay.
Smith and Elda looked to Baker.
The Lieutenant clenched his jaw. They probably had enough data on the ship by now. The point of this visit was to confirm or deny that this thing was the same as the ships that drove them off the moon. But they still hadn't determined the other answer they were seeking. Was this really the silent backer of the scientist that experimented on all those Jaffa?
Baker gave his subordinates a small, almost imperceptible nod.
"I think I could use a little recreation," Elda said immediately. Smith frowned.
Perim bit his lip briefly. Then his hand shot out to reprogram the lift. They all felt the car swerve in a different direction. It had the men reaching out to grab handlebars around the perimeter. Elda lost her balance and was caught by Smith's arm around her waist. The marine glared at the rep.
"My apologies," he said, not at all sounding remorseful. "One must redirect these transporters before they reach a certain point, or else the trip becomes circuitous."
Elda gently removed Smith's hand from her body. She needed him to back off now. She had to keep the rep interested. The marine shot her a look of caution. She turned her head to smile at Perim. "This recreation you speak of better be worth it," she challenged.
"I think it is." The doors opened, revealing what seemed to be a glittering entertainment level. "When our employees are given rest periods, this is where many of us choose to go." Perim made it a point to look at Smith as he spoke. "We have many benefits working for Chigu."
He raised his brow. "Is that so?" he replied coolly. Smith gave Elda a questioning look. She tilted her head in a shrug.
The rep pointed at a few doors as they walked. "In there, places to enjoy food and drink. We have brought in fine chefs from around the sector to provide the most tasteful offerings for our employees. Over here, virtual entertainment to enhance the sensory experience."
SG-3 gazed at where he was pointing, noting some people engaging in organized sports of some sort. Elda couldn't name what games they were playing, but the activities appeared vigorous.
"Here, we have places of respite and relaxation. Perfect for those times when a Chigu employee has enjoyed a fruitful day of work and seeks to rest comfortably." A spa could be seen through the glass of the next section. A few people were apparently receiving massages. Others were lazily lapping around in what looked to be a pool in another area.
Elda narrowed her eyes. "How do we know this isn't all virtual?"
Perim smiled. "I can assure you, these settings are real. I invite you to see for yourself." He raised a hand to gesture around. "Please, feel free to enjoy these offerings for a brief period of time. In honor of our newest partnership." He stepped back to allow them room to explore.
Smith was expecting him to suggest Elda follow him into a back room by now. He squinted at the rep suspiciously, wondering just what he was up to.
"Is payment required for any of these services?" Elda asked.
"No." Perim looked at Smith pointedly. "Chigu takes care of its employees. We not only pay well, but we make sure our people live comfortably."
Elda breathed in, realizing this rep's new angle now. She smiled up at Smith encouragingly. "Carm, Darling. Maybe we should have a look around."
Smith stared at her. "We're not here to get distracted," he warned.
She fingered the neckline of his vest. She pouted as she leaned into him. "Just for a little while?" she pleaded, naughtiness coloring her tone. Baker remained expressionless, simply watching them.
He sighed loudly, pretending to acquiesce to a demand.
Elda squealed happily. She pointed at the spa. "I'm going in there." She dashed off before Smith or Baker could stop her.
The Lieutenant's eyes tracked her worriedly. He then looked to Smith, pretending to defer to him. The marine scowled and cocked his head in Elda's direction, quietly suggesting he go after her. Baker turned and followed their female teammate.
Smith shook his head.
"How about a drink?"
He regarded Perim strangely. He could have sworn this dude was trying to get Elda alone, not him. He shrugged and let the rep bring him to one of the bars on this level. Smith decided he was only going to pretend to drink. He sure as hell wasn't gonna let this guy drug him, too.
He watched as a bartender poured the same liquid into two glasses. They each received one and stood at a high table nearby. Smith observed that the rep drank from his glass easily. "Your partner is quite the fine specimen of female," Perim commented.
"She's my female," Smith reiterated out loud. "Or haven't you noticed?"
"Oh, I noticed. She also seems like a handful. I observed your Muscle's alarm when she suddenly left, as if she does that all the time?"
Smith pretended to roll his eyes. "Xena's… special like that."
Perim hummed with a smile. He drank more. Smith had yet to take a sip. "How long have you been a broker?"
"Long enough."
"You seem to be doing well for yourself."
Smith blinked a few times. "I am." He leaned on the table now. "What are you getting at?"
Perim smiled, unbothered. "Chigu could use someone like you among us. Not everyone has an instinct for this type of work like you seem to have."
Was this guy kidding him!? Smith could not believe it. No wonder Elda ran off the way she did. She must have seen this coming and was giving him a chance to let it play out. Well, this beat trying to keep the rep's paws off her. He was bracing for it. This could be better. This could be how they got the rest of their intel.
"Maybe it's instinct… maybe it's talent," Smith said arrogantly.
Perim found this encouraging. "Or both. Chigu looks for the best of the best. You should think about joining us." He gestured a hand out at the entertainment level. "I think we could make it worth your time."
"You're pulling my leg again."
By now the rep understood what he meant by that curious phrasing. "On the contrary, I can report that deciding to come here was the best decision I've ever made. Conglomerate work is where the real money is at." He downed the rest of his drink.
Smith snorted. He hazarded a small taste of the drink in front of him. The alcohol was strong. Apparently the bartenders poured heavy around here. "Zersha told me the same things. I passed."
Now Perim scoffed. "They can hardly compete. I should know. I used to work for them."
Smith turned in surprise. "You used to work for the enemy?"
"When I was younger and knew so much less," he admitted with a frown. "They simply do not have what Chigu has."
"Right, tretonin market share and all that."
"We do more than just tretonin."
"Whatever. Today that's all I care about. Because that's what my client wants." Smith took another small sip. "If you used to work for Zersha, then you believe all that stuff about them is true?"
"I used to think the way they bargained was a sign of ambition. Hunger. Then I came to learn it was actually desperation."
"You know my girl over there specializes in tretonin contracts, too. She didn't seem to have an issue negotiating with them."
"I'm sure she found her contracts very pleasing with a body like that. But imagine how much better it would be with the stability and capabilities of Chigu instead? Zersha's clients are regularly accosted. They can't even keep their clientele list a secret. And so the slime of the galaxy comes to skim off the top."
Smith was reminded of Elda's story about Jasuf getting kidnapped. "I might have heard a few things like that happening." He leaned casually on the table, staring down into his drink contemplatively. "But if the arrangement is working, eh. Why bother to switch over here?"
"I did tell you Chigu does more than tretonin."
The marine kept his eyes on the liquid swirling in his glass. He purposely didn't allow his expression to change. He pretended to scoff indifferently. "Oh yeah? Like what."
Perim paused to order another drink. When he turned back, he adopted a haughty smirk. "We don't stagnate like Zersha. We advance. Breakthroughs happen all the time, including ones that could benefit clients like yours."
Smith arched a brow. He tilted his head disbelievingly. "Uh huh. Sure. Call me when you have something better than tretonin." He set his glass down and made to leave. It was classic Elda Mal Doran strategy to leave 'em wanting for more. "Alright, time for me to find the girl before she gets lost again," he pretended to grumble.
"What if I told you we were close to something better than tretonin? Would that convince you to consider joining us?"
Smith paused and turned back around. "What else is there besides symbiotes and drugs?" He crossed his arms, challenging the rep to convince him.
Perim smiled enigmatically. "Think genetics. That's all I have to say about that. If you want to know more…" He suddenly held up a new calling card.
Smith stared at it, then accepted it. It felt like fire in his hand, because he'd just gotten his answer.
A/N: This is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoyed the tea. There is so much more to come. Thanks very much to the reviewers who sent encouraging words. I appreciate them. See you next time...