Daughter
A/N: Annoyingly, FF Net was on the fritz for these past few chapters. I noticed the stats counter was failing and reviewers pointed out problems on their own. Their support email has never once responded back to me on anything, so we are at the mercy of whoever runs things here. Sorry about that if you were having any issues seeing these chapters. I know I saw errors on my own. Hopefully you can get all caught up now.
A big THANK YOU to those of you who were able to review! Wish this could have been a series on TV, too. Chris Judge... hit me up! Lol.
I've got an interesting one for you today... Sam gets to shine. Enjoy!
Chapter 59 – Namesake
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Baby?"
"Where's Elda?"
"She's far away, Honey." Jack pushed a cereal bowl closer to her on the kitchen island. "Don't forget to eat."
"Can we go there?"
"Not where she is. She's very, very far."
"Did she go to the circle?"
Jack stopped short, coffee mug hovering in the air near his face. His child was referring to the stargate. Shit. If she was mentioning this here, she could easily be describing it at the little preschool inside her daycare at the Pentagon.
He put down his mug, carefully sliding it out of her reach so she wouldn't accidentally knock it over. He leaned down on the counter to put his face at eye level with her. "Gracie, Baby, remember what we told you? The circle is a secret."
She automatically brought an index finger over her lips and made a shushing noise.
Jack smiled.
They were so screwed.
Maybe he needed to start that little discussion about declassifying some of the Stargate Program, sooner rather than later.
His own little kid was going to tear apart the biggest cover-up the American government had ever made.
All because she was good at identifying shapes like any 4-year-old should.
Vala pointed a fork at Daniel. "What about… George?"
He stared at her. Then he slowly smiled. It was a sad, wistful look.
He ignored the cacophony of the Hammond's mess as he considered her suggestion. The ship continued to float over the moon facility where the Jaffa were being treated.
"I wish you could have really met him." His mouth quirked. "He would have gotten a kick out of you. After he got over you being the thief who stole the Prometheus, of course."
"How did he die?"
"Heart attack."
Vala nodded almost imperceptibly and in condolence. She understood that this ship was named after the famed commander of the SGC soon after he passed. It was originally slated to be called the Phoenix or something instead.
She shrugged noncommittally. "Just a thought. We don't have to use that one."
Daniel reached a hand out to grab hers on top of the table. "It's perfect."
Her eyes widened as she smiled cautiously. "You sure?" She gestured around at the ship in general, reminding him that anyone could think to claim that name for an unborn child. In honor of their fallen commander.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Pretty sure Jack will like it, too. All of SG-1, really. If it's a boy."
"If it's a boy." Vala smiled wider now. The two of them no longer cared if anyone was listening in. It was sort of time to let their news out into the open. They'd let the grapevine take care of spreading it. And they thought it might be funny to confuse people into thinking there was some truth behind the baby being Mitchell's.
The crowd would be demanding a paternity test like on Maury soon enough.
"What about girls' names? I can imagine you and Sam going crazy over that," Daniel said.
"Elda, too."
"So?"
"I dunno, Daniel. There's too many choices."
"Well, we know we got your mothers covered," he said meaningfully.
Vala looked up from her meal. She tilted her head nonchalantly. She was never lying when she said she promised herself to name a daughter after her mother. She had one for each mother, birth and step. Adria was appropriately named, being the spawn of the enemy.
And so was Elda, the offspring of beloved friends.
Technically, that decision had been made by another version of herself. Vala presumed that actually being able to raise the girl had something to do with it. Twenty years was plenty of time to decide that she deserved to be named after the late Elda Mal Doran.
And her adoptive daughter was living up to the name beautifully. Vala couldn't be prouder. She simply couldn't wait to see what Elda would do next or how far she would go. She knew Jack and Sam felt the same.
"How about," she said, "since I found us a boy's name, you work on a girl's name?"
"Sounds fair."
Another figure dropped into the chair next to Daniel. "Hey."
"Hey, Cam."
He raised a hand toward Vala. "Tell me somethin,' Princess." His hand then gestured between himself and Daniel. "Do we really look that much alike?"
Daniel turned his head to him in confusion.
Vala widened her eyes. She smiled wickedly. "Well…"
Daniel's index finger shot into the air. "Don't answer that. Cam, why are you asking?"
"Because dear old Dad got confused and now it's turning into one hell of a monster on the grapevine," he complained. "I got stopped by seven people between my quarters and here. Seven!"
"Stopped for what?" Daniel wondered, face now drawing into an entertained smirk.
Vala's expression was full of anticipation.
The Colonel looked at the linguist pointedly. "You really have to ask?" Both teammates simply waited for him. He huffed. "They're all asking me when the baby's due."
The pair laughed aloud. If people hadn't been listening in yet, now SG-1 grabbed their attention for sure. The fresher set of SFs at other tables peeled their ears for vital information. This group hadn't been around to toy with the younger members of SG-3 for over a week. They were new to the moon. Their hunger for gossip was yet unfulfilled.
Vala was well aware of this. She decided to have some fun with it. "Maybe Carolyn and I could just close our eyes and see if we could feel the difference between you two."
Both men furrowed their brows.
She quirked her mouth playfully at them. "What do you think, boys? Wife swap?"
The SFs sniggered around them.
"You're nuts, Mal Doran." Cam shook his head at her in exasperation. "Carolyn would never with this guy."
"Excuse me? Why not?"
Their CO just grunted.
"Maybe in another reality or something," Vala suggested. She winked suggestively at Mitchell.
The SFs blinked. Then they started whispering among themselves.
Crawford and Smith spun around dramatically the minute they heard it.
An SF had dared to call Elda 'Baby Cakes.'
They delayed their return to their posts and marched right over to where she was standing. She watched them come closer with trepidation.
She knew they had just gotten pissed.
Elda pursed her lips and stepped back from the SFs gathered before her.
Her boys had something to say. And they were only going to say this once.
"Listen here, motherfuckers," Crawford started.
"This girl belongs to us," Smith continued.
"You don't get to call her 'Baby Cakes'."
"That there's an SG-3 name. Ain't no one can use it but one of us."
They both stepped closer to the group of SFs. The other men stepped back an inch. Elda looked among them worriedly.
"Corporals!" Baker yelled. "Why aren't you at your posts?" He did not sound pleased.
Elda's eyes darted to him now. "Uh oh," she muttered under her breath.
The Lieutenant stepped up. Smith whispered to him with a frown on his face. Baker began blinking rapidly. His brow twitched. A fire ignited in his eyes and he glared at the SFs.
They swallowed.
"I trust the Corporals already informed you of the proper way to address Miss Mal Doran," he warned intimidatingly.
"Yes, sir," they all answered. Their mighty security force members suddenly seemed so small.
Elda fought the satisfied smile that wanted to form on her face. "Boys, we already identified your posts. Go on ahead," she said, dismissing them and saving them at the same time.
The SFs dutifully walked away, stiff as boards.
She sucked in a breath and turned to the men of SG-3. She patted Baker and Crawford's cheeks. Then she pinched Smith's. "I love you, guys." She smiled fondly at them all.
Baker placed a brief hand on her shoulder and ventured further into the facility.
Smith hooked a finger under her chin and winked. He left.
Crawford pocketed his hands. He leaned in toward her ear. "Feeling's mutual, Cakes. Let us know if these losers do anything else stupid." He resisted the urge to kiss her cheek. She would probably let him. But he didn't dare go there.
Elda still reached up to brush his cheek briefly.
He smiled when he turned around to walk away.
Jasuf caught Vala just outside the moon facility. "ValaMalDoran," he greeted her with a bow of the head.
"Jasuf, Darling, how are you?" She smiled at him easily. She patted his bicep and noted how rock-hard it was. It had her breathing in with quiet satisfaction over just how lucky her daughter must be.
"I am well. I wish to offer you congratulations. Elda tells me that you are now betrothed as well as with child."
Her mouth parted over his kind words. Strong, handsome, and polite? My, this Jaffa was perfect for her daughter. "You're so kind. Thank you." She tilted her head, considering him more closely now. She decided he was husband material. Vala chose to strike up more conversation. "How are the refugees faring?"
"Some are fully recovered on the Ha'tak. Has Elda told you of their request to be of service to her?"
Vala's eyes widened. "No. But we haven't had much chance to catch up since I've gotten back. Tell me about it."
"Some of them aspire to be her personal guard. I have attempted to suggest that they consider other roles. She is clearly uncomfortable with the notion."
"I'm sure. She's a very independent girl. And I think we both know she is uninterested in the burdens of leadership."
"Indeed."
"How did those Jaffa take your suggestion?"
"They continue to insist on being given a purpose. Their inability to remember their origins complicates their futures."
Vala sighed. And here she was, wishing she could forget a lot of things from her own past. "What are you willing to let them do?"
"They may train with the warriors or the minders if they wish."
"It's a start." Then Vala had a thought. "Jasuf, whatever you do: don't let any of them have access to critical ship systems. We simply don't know if they'll remember themselves as loyal to the Goa'uld and then try to quietly sabotage your Ha'tak."
He breathed in heavily, understanding the gravity of her warning. "A prudent precaution, ValaMalDoran. I thank you for the suggestion."
"Do they know the gate address of Tek'ron?"
"I am uncertain."
"Perhaps you could keep that from becoming common knowledge among them as well. Another precaution."
He inclined his head. "I see now why Elda is so well-trained. You have formidable foresight."
Vala pretended to look humble, but really she was relishing in his compliments. He saw right through her. It made him smile. He was quite certain he knew where Elda did not inherit her humility.
"Jasuf, I think you have a beautiful courtship with my Elda. I wish you the best."
He inclined his head to her in gratitude. "Your approval pleases me, ValaMalDoran. I vow to continue to honor her."
She smiled at him with new affection.
Vala went straight to the command center, where she knew Sam was. She ignored Reynolds for the moment. "Sam!" she whisper-shouted.
The blonde looked up from her console with a friendly expression.
Vala rushed over to whisper in her ear.
Reynolds cocked an eyebrow at their teenage-girlish exchange. He watched Sam's face transform into a wide grin. Then they both squealed a little. He scrunched his face.
Vala left with nothing more than a casual wave in his direction, barely acknowledging him.
Sam continued to look very satisfied.
"What was that?" he wondered aloud.
"Oh… nothing."
"Sam?" Reynolds prompted.
She sighed happily. "Just Jasuf."
"What about him."
"He's like the perfect boyfriend."
"He's Elda's boyfriend. Why are you all giddy about it?" he challenged, suddenly more intrigued.
She scoffed at him. "For your information, it is nice to see someone we know actually be happy in a stable, loving relationship." She flapped a hand in his direction. "I'm sure you know all about that."
Reynolds cracked a smile. "Well, I won't deny that."
"See? It's nice."
He bared his hands outward. "Alright, alright. All My Children it is," he teased.
"Oh shut up, Mal. This is better than any soap opera. Ever."
"Corporal Smith."
"General, sir." He tried not to look as nervous as he felt on the screen. Jack O'Neill was staring him straight in the face. He'd asked for him. He was pulled from guard duty to take this call in the ship commander's ready room on the Hammond. For privacy's sake.
"How are you, son?"
Smith blinked. "I'm doing just fine, sir. Thank you for asking."
"How's your team?"
"They seem good."
The Head of Homeworld Command nodded. "Those SFs behaving over there?"
Smith couldn't stop the sour look on his face. He quickly tried to neutralize his expression. But Jack caught it. He raised a brow on the screen. Smith could tell he wanted to know more. He was inclined to spill a few beans. "There's a fresh batch of security forces here on base, sir. They're less familiar with everything. We're getting them up to speed."
"Mmm hmm. Except that's not why you had that look on your face just now."
Dammit. "I'm not sure I know what you mean, sir."
"Spit it out, Corporal."
Smith felt himself straightening up. That was saying something because he was already sitting straight up. "They had the audacity to call Elda Mal Doran by our personal nickname for her."
Jack's face remained blank. "Oh?"
"Lieutenant Baker, Corporal Crawford, and I reminded them of the proper way to address her. The last batch of SFs on base got a little too comfortable. We're nipping this in the bud with the new folks."
"I think I've once heard your little name for her: Baby Cakes. Am I right?"
Smith turned a shade of crimson. He coughed uncomfortably. "Yes, sir," he simply said. He didn't think this 3-Star U.S. Air Force General needed him to explain the tradition of Marines naming each other things. Nor should he explain that SG-3 held such a special affection for Elda that she deserved to be nicknamed herself. Smith sort of figured all that was understood.
He watched as the General cracked a small smile. "Good. Keep those boys in line."
Smith nodded compliantly. That wasn't a question. He waited for more, wondering why the General had summoned him in the first place.
"As the Ambassador, I want you to ask a question for us. Get on the horn with the space station boss and find out how they'd feel about us installing a stargate on their property."
The marine's mouth opened slightly in surprise. "That's possible, sir?"
"Anything is possible, Corporal. Especially when you put Colonel Carter's mind to it."
"Should I provide any specifics? The what, the how, the why?"
"I'll be sending that over as an official written order to you shortly. Review it. Run any follow-up questions by Carter. Then execute the order the minute that station opens back up."
"Yes, sir."
"And Corporal." Smith waited. "Thanks for lookin' out for Vala's kid sister."
The marine hazarded a cautious smile. "Our pleasure, sir."
The screen went black.
"Dr. Jackson?"
Daniel looked up to see Smith entering the secondary command center where he was working. "Yes?" He set the data pad he was holding onto the console in front of him. It was currently showing text in Goa'uld. The console itself was active with station writing. Notepads and pencils littered the table behind him.
Smith held up a brief hand in greeting and stepped into the room. His other hand held the orders Jack sent him on a tablet. "Was wondering if you could help me out. I seem to remember General O'Neill suggesting something about that."
"Uh oh," the linguist intoned. He motioned for Smith to come forward. "What's he telling you to do now?"
The marine looked sheepish and handed him the tablet.
Daniel dutifully read through it. The instructions were concise and to the point. Just Jack's style. His brow raised higher and higher as he got through the text. "He wants to put a stargate on the space station?"
"Apparently."
Daniel brought a hand up to his chin. He set the tablet down behind him. "You think they'll agree to that?"
Smith bared his hands outward. "No idea."
"What exactly do you need me to do?"
"Could you maybe set me up with the Station Master? Make a formal introduction? I have no idea how to go about this."
"Aren't you really good friends with his daughter?"
"Uhhhh…" Smith's mind briefly flitted back to his overnight activities with her. They were vigorous. "Yeah," he said hesitantly.
Daniel raised a brow at him suspiciously. He had a feeling his fiancé's assumptions about Smith and Aurelia were correct. "Couldn't you ask her to set everything up?"
Smith rubbed at his neck nervously. "I dunno, Doc. Feels weird asking her to do that."
Daniel smiled softly. He thought he could understand the marine's hesitation. The Station Master was probably intimidating to him. And keeping personal and work lives separate would likely benefit him in this case. "Alright, Corporal. I'll help. I could stand to ask him a couple questions myself," he said, gesturing at the console nearby.
"What are you working on?" Smith asked curiously.
"Seeing if I can make any headway with translating station writing straight to English."
The marine's eyes widened. "That would be really, really cool if you could."
Daniel sighed. "Yeah. I know. Your CO was the one who suggested I take a look. Seeing as how every SG-team is being issued one of these data pads now. Be a lot easier to use them if most people could understand the language on them."
"No doubt. I'll admit I could have paid more attention in your Goa'uld class. But even then, not sure how much I could have picked up in the classroom." It was a lucky thing the data pads automatically translated station writing into Goa'uld at all. That was the closest anyone from Earth could get to finding any use for them.
"There's no replacement for real world immersion, Smith." As a linguist, Daniel understood this on a deep intellectual level. He wasn't offended that many of his reluctant students at the SGC barely knew a lick of Goa'uld. He was realistic enough to realize that if they weren't interested, they wouldn't learn. Not until they had the proper motivation. Having your life threatened on a regular basis usually did the trick for most members of the SGC.
"Totally agree. So, I figured I could ask Rellie to at least send a message to her dad requesting a meeting. Of course, we'll have to wait 'til their time dilation is over. But as far as running the meeting…"
"You give me the date and time. I'll be there. I'll even take point. Then I'll give you the space to give it a whack."
Smith looked visibly relieved. "Thank you, Doc," he said emphatically.
Daniel smiled. "No problem."
"Sir, message is coming through. It's addressed to Vala Mal Doran."
The ship commander rose from his seat and took a look at the comms officer's display. "Get a copy of this down to the surface." His subordinate complied. "Radio the other two ships. Have them move to the far side of the moon."
"Sir."
Down in the command center, a copy of the communique flashed across Reynolds's console. He immediately reached up to his radio. "Colonel Mitchell. This is Reynolds, come in."
"Mitchell here. Go ahead."
"You're up. Jacek's on the way."
"Copy. Can I borrow your Mal Doran?"
Reynolds rolled his eyes. Sam smiled amusedly from the other console in the room. "Sure. Why not," he replied flatly, not at all enthused. Then he thought to add, "Don't think for a second that you can keep her."
Sam fought a laugh.
"Wouldn't dream of it. I can typically only handle one of these at a time."
"Hey!" a female voice complained indignantly over the line. It was Vala.
Reynolds chuckled off radio. "Elda, report to Colonel Mitchell," he ordered. "Baker, cover her section. Smith, back to your post."
"Copy," they all replied.
"Colonel?" Elda called out as she approached the main entrance. All of SG-1 was there. Two SFs were with them, assigned to guard the door as usual.
Mitchell turned. "Tell me something, Darlin'."
"What?"
"Does Jacek know your name?"
"No, we never said anyone's names aloud when he was here."
"Good. Time to pick a cover name. He's back."
Her eyes widened. She raised her hands questioningly. "What?"
"Just pick something." He leaned into his radio as his eyes looked outside. "Hammond, wait for our signal, then be ready to beam a couple of us onto that ship."
"Understood, Colonel."
Mitchell placed a hand on Elda's shoulder. "I need you to get out there and stall him. Keep him talking while we board his ship and poke around."
"Okaaaaaay. Am I trying to get him to talk about why he's here?"
"Sure if you want. Just keep him busy until we're done."
"How will I know when you're done?"
He shrugged. "You'll know." The tel'tak landed. "Comms open. Now go."
Elda eyed him then exited the facility. Her hand activated her radio and set it to continuously transmit. She walked up to the hatch casually and waited for it to open. The moment it began to hiss, she pulled out her blaster and held it ready.
As expected, Jacek was there. He smiled down at her congenially. "Well, aren't you just the most adorable thing ever."
Elda smiled back pleasantly, blaster aimed at his chest. "Hello, again."
"Are you this moon's gatekeeper? That is so darn cute." Jacek began to take a step, but her blaster aimed higher. It now pointed at his face. He paused, understanding her silent warning not to move. He bared his hands outward nonthreateningly. "I'm sure you know I called to announce my arrival."
She tilted her head. "See that's funny. I could have sworn SG-1 asked you to call ahead."
He waved a dismissive hand. "My mistake. Sometimes I get confused." He smiled enigmatically.
She matched his look.
Jacek took that as a challenge. "Forgive me. What was your name? Don't think I caught it last time we met."
Elda's face drew into a small, calculating smirk. She bared her teeth as she made him wait. The action served as a deterrent to keep Jacek from thinking he already had the upper hand. She tipped up her chin and replied, "Xena."
Back in the facility, everyone who was scattered around and listening froze. Crawford stopped walking. He bit his lip and grinned. Smith gasped and brought two hands over his heart. The SFs saw stars twinkle in his eyes. Baker covered his face, laughing hard.
Reynolds locked eyes with Sam and began cracking up. "That is so fucking perfect!" the Colonel yelled in laughter.
Mitchell smirked as he watched her through the window in the door. The rest of his team didn't get the joke. They hadn't watched that show.
Jacek brought a hand up to his chin in thought. "Hmm. Gorgeous name. Can't say I've ever heard it before. I like it."
Elda smiled magically. "It means warrior princess."
Crawford began laughing loudly. He leaned on the wall with tears in his eyes. The SFs watched him curiously. He decided to walk briskly to the overlap with Smith's section.
Smith was already there with a wide grin. They smacked each other's arms. "I'm in love," Smith declared.
Crawford only laughed harder.
Jacek moved on. "So you must know why I'm here."
"No. Tell me." Her blaster was still raised.
"I'm here to see my daughter, of course!"
"I'm so sorry, but she's indisposed at the moment. See, this is why you were asked to call before you jumped into hyperspace," she explained, finger swirling in the air for emphasis. "She could have made room in her schedule for you." Elda refrained from openly welcoming him to wait. That would have revealed that they wanted him to stick around. It would only make him suspicious.
"Oh, that's too bad," he responded with feigned disappointment. His eyes carefully analyzed this young girl standing before him. She had an aura about her that he found familiar. She was courier material. He thought he'd sensed it last time. So it put him on guard.
"Isn't it, though." Elda said nothing more. She simply allowed Jacek to make the next move.
"Why don't you tell me what Vala is up to. Maybe I have enough time to wait until she's done."
She was hoping he'd say that. "She's having her monthly pregnancy check-up with her doctor. Might be a while. They have to make sure all the baby parts are where they should be. I'm sure you know."
He raised his brow. He really didn't, but he smiled anyway. Jacek tried to analyze Elda's face to catch if she was lying or not. So far, he hadn't noticed any tells. Now he was just plain having fun. He decided he could wait. This girl was keeping him plenty entertained. "What about the baby's father? Maybe I could call upon him."
"Who? Colonel Mitchell? Oh he's very busy supporting her. You know these Tau'ri men. So sensitive and sweet. They like to be there for the ones they love."
Vala overheard this and sensed Elda was making a silent dig at Jacek's absence in her life growing up. She smiled.
Mitchell, meanwhile, turned his own special shade of red. He could feel the eyes of Daniel, Teal'c, and the SFs regarding him with intense amusement.
Daniel clapped his back and leaned in. "You're going to make such a great husband."
Teal'c roared with laughter. The SFs grinned.
Vala sidled up to Mitchell and looped an arm around his. She leaned her head onto his shoulder affectionately. Daniel didn't stop her.
Cameron grit his teeth as his eyes shot lasers toward Elda outside. He also understood her silent signal that he was clear to send people aboard Jacek's ship. He extricated his arm from Vala's grip and activated his radio. "Hammond, beam myself and Vala Mal Doran only onto that ship."
"No necking on the tel'tak," Daniel warned playfully. Vala grinned at his savagery.
The pair was beamed away.
The SFs laughed heartily.
Jacek sensed he should be reading between the lines with Elda's last statement, but couldn't fathom why. "While we wait, tell me about yourself… err…"
"Xena," she reminded.
"Xena. Where are you from?"
She blinked repeatedly at him with a conniving smile. "A little backwater planet that I'm sure you've never heard of. It's about a half-day's worth of hyperspace past the Felzin colony."
"Felzin, you say?" He recognized that name.
"Yes, actually it's not so much a planet as a lifeless rock. Barely breathable air. Delightfully terrible inhabitants. Home sweet home."
"Sounds cozy."
She hummed delightfully. "Absolutely."
Jacek knew her words were courier-speak. He decided to call her out on it. "What kind of contraband did your little backwater planet specialize in?"
Elda beamed, seeing that he recognized her coded language. This was actually kind of fun. "The sort that has you running from all sorts of friendly Jaffa and Goa'uld."
Inside, Crawford and Smith locked eyes with each other. They squinted, trying to figure out what Elda was really saying about her life. This might be the closest they got to the truth about her past.
"Enticing," Jacek replied, intrigued. "Living or non-living goods?" He was trying to clarify if she was involved in bounty hunter work or something else.
"Non-living," she replied easily. "Bounty hunting is so distasteful."
Jacek grinned. She was his kind of girl. He could use someone like her on his operations. "How'd you end up running with these fine folks? The Tau'ri?"
"Things got a bit hot one day. Had to find somewhere to cool off. They just sort of sucked me in."
Reynolds raised his brow as he listened in. He glanced at Sam, whose face was carefully neutral. She didn't make eye contact with him.
Jacek chuckled. "Just like my Vala. These Tau'ri are a bit like magnets, aren't they?"
"Their gravitational pull is legendary."
He laughed loudly.
Elda smiled. She finally lowered her blaster but kept it in her hand. That should have been enough time for SG-1 to do whatever it was they were hoping to do. They could signal her to stop any time now.
Jacek took that as permission to take a few more steps forward. "Don't you ever find their strict rules and discipline boring?"
She rolled her eyes in agreement.
He offered her an encouraging smile. "Come work for me. I think we could be fantastically successful together."
Elda's face slowly drew into a look of gratification. She had her grandfather's approval. It made her feel a little proud. "I'll think about it."
Jacek now waved an arm around at the moon. "Anything good to eat around here?"
"Rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Take your pick."
He tilted his head. She was funny. Now he really needed to convince her to come with him. But maybe not today. He needed to finish this job first. "How appetizing. What about entertainment? What do these Tau'ri do for fun on this moon?"
Elda sensed he was fishing for information. She smelled opportunity. "They're a boring bunch, as you know. They think guarding lifeless rocks is fun. Something about history and meaning of life stuff. That sort of intellectual nonsense."
Daniel contorted his face, almost insulted. But he knew he couldn't take her seriously. Not while she was actively keeping Jacek talking. And doing such a good job of it.
"They have any new toys?"
Her eyes twinkled with hidden meaning, baiting him into thinking the answer was yes. Outwardly, though, she feigned disappointment with her words. "If you call useless, second-rate blasters toys, then sure."
Jacek pointed at her. "You're here working an angle," he concluded. His eyes sparkled with recognition of another master courier. This girl wasn't just here biding her time. She was working the Tau'ri as her mark.
Or so he thought.
"I'm doing no such thing," she argued.
Jacek mistook her lack of enthusiasm as confirmation. He lowered his voice. "Let me help you. Then you help me. We get these two jobs over with, then on to the next lucrative opportunity I've been eyeing. I could use someone like you on it. What do you say?"
She pretended to be intrigued. "Percentage?"
He grinned. "Even split down the middle: 65-30."
His math obviously didn't add up.
Elda simply laughed.
Jacek held up two hands, smiling along with her. "I kid, I kid. 60-40."
"80-20, advantage to me," she challenged.
He raised his brows.
"On account that I have more intel here than you, and I don't need your help on my op."
Smith's mouth drew into a sour pout, impressed with Elda's cunning negotiation. Crawford widened his eyes and whistled. They were listening to a master at work. It was tantalizing. And it only made them love her more. They didn't think this Jacek character had a chance in Hell now.
In the command center, Reynolds asked, "Sam? Should I be worried?"
She held up a hand to calm him. "Relax. She's still on our side. She's just good at what she does. If it has you and me guessing, imagine what Jacek must be thinking."
The Colonel sucked in a breath and went along with it.
Jacek breathed in. "You drive a very hard bargain, my dear. Who trained you?"
She adopted a haughty look, then gazed down at her fingernails with indifference. "My talents are naturally-derived."
His eyes flashed with recognition. She reminded him of someone. It was almost scary. But he knew for certain that it wasn't possible. Elda was long dead. She'd never had another child besides Vala. He was sure of it.
Jacek simply had to learn more about this girl. But he realized he was out of time. He needed to go. It was a shame that he wouldn't catch Vala on this moon. He wasn't planning on coming back. He knew there would be nothing to come back to once his buyer got a hold of the information he now had.
The Tau'ri were in possession of their property. There was one ship openly guarding the moon, with possibly two more in hiding, ready to flank any attackers. He'd advise his buyer to keep that in mind should they decide to take back what they believed was theirs.
It really didn't matter what the people of Earth were doing here. Jacek didn't much care.
What did bother him was the idea that Vala could be placed in danger. And if she really was pregnant, he'd feel bad about that. Jacek didn't like feeling bad. "Let me give you a piece of advice, little lady."
"I'm listening."
"Finish up whatever you have going on with these people. And finish it soon. Don't get caught in the crossfire of their petty affairs."
Elda's face became serious. She understood his warning. "How soon?"
He matched her serious expression. "Soon." Then Jacek covered his worry with a fake grin. "Well, that's all the time I have left. Please send my warm greetings to my dear daughter, would you?"
She swallowed nervously. "Oh, I'll be sure to."
Elda watched as Jacek simply turned around and closed up the hatch to his ship. It rose into the air and disappeared among thick clouds.
"Colonel Carter," she called out through the open comms, tone now lacking its previous playfulness.
"Carter here. Go ahead."
"We need to evacuate the base. Immediately."
"Quick and to the point, Mal Doran. Go," Reynolds instructed in the command center.
Elda gazed around seriously at SG-1, her commanding officer, and her birth mother. "Jacek recognized me as a fellow courier. He thinks I'm only here for personal gain and would readily abandon you. His offer for employment was genuine." She paused to quirk a proud smile at herself over that. "Because he wants me to come work for him, it's in his best interest to keep me alive."
Everyone except Vala adopted expressions of confusion, but didn't interrupt. Vala simply looked on glumly. She understood what was going on. Elda just needed to translate this into laymen's terms for their non-swindling colleagues.
"His final suggestion that I hurry up and close out my operation was a warning. A very direct one. He's going to supply a buyer with information, and then that buyer is going to come here."
"He said 'soon.' What does that really mean?" Mitchell asked.
"Don't know for sure. But we should consider the threat imminent. We can't afford to delay an evacuation. It's not safe to stay here anymore."
They could all see that Elda was not joking.
"Those Jaffa are still stuck in those pods. All the equipment is here," Daniel pointed out.
"The Hammond has room in its bay for everything," Sam noted.
"Not ideal," Vala commented. "But it's what we can do on short notice."
Sam became decisive. "SG-1, coordinate the evacuation of the station personnel, their patients, and minimum necessary equipment. SG-3, I want you in the air with the Firefly, standing watch further out in this star system. We need early warning if anyone shows up unannounced. We're not going to count on the Hammond's long-range sensors alone."
"Permission to engage, Colonel?" Reynolds asked, knowing the Firefly had weapons.
"Negative. The minute you see something, haul ass back to the Hammond or jump out of here if you can't get to us. We can meet up at a safe point elsewhere. Let's use the Alpha Site."
"Understood."
Teal'c took a step forward. "Should we not leave behind a cloaked scout to identify these potential offenders?"
"I was just going to get to that, Teal'c. I'd like you to claim one of the cloak-capable ships on the moon. Let everyone know which one is yours. Then get that bird in the air as soon as SG-1 is done with its primary objective." She turned to her daughter. "Elda, do the Jaffa have any spare pilots aboard the Tek'ronian Ha'tak?"
Her eyes widened. "Maybe one or two."
"Hammond has a handful itself. We're going to take as many of these unclaimed ships as we can. They're still meant for our contract with the space station. We can't forget that."
"You want me to summon those pilots?" her daughter clarified.
"Yes, have them choose whatever ships they are comfortable with piloting. Let them bring as many of them as they can up to your Ha'tak now. Except for the one Teal'c wants. I'll have the Hammond and our available SG-1 pilots take the rest." Elda stepped away from the group and pulled out her Goa'uld-built communicator. She began to call the Ha'tak.
Vala spoke up. "If we fill our bay with the contents of this facility, there might not be room for extra ships."
"Reynolds, get Smith in here. I want him to negotiate with the station craft for extra space."
Reynolds turned away to call for his subordinate on the radio. "Corporal Smith to the control room. On the double."
"Mitchell, Vala, if there are any leftover ships you're capable of piloting that don't fit in the bays, get them in the air and straight to the Alpha Site. I'll be doing the same as needed. There's enough room there to park this rag-tag fleet of ours."
They nodded.
"Elda." Her daughter paused her communications to look up. "Invite the Jaffa to orbit the Alpha Site, if they please." She inclined her head and extended the invitation to Jasuf on the other end of her call.
Cameron turned to Daniel and Vala. "Get to the lab and start the evac. Now." They rushed out. "Teal'c, move out." He complied. Mitchell then announced, "I'll call the Hammond and have 'em share the Alpha Site's coordinates with the other ships."
Smith walked in just as members of SG-1 brushed past. He noted the harried expressions on everyone's faces. He could hear Elda speaking seriously into a communicator in Goa'uld. He reported straight to Reynolds. "Sir?"
"Smith, time to flex your ambassador muscles." They stepped to the side so Reynolds could fill him in.
Sam glanced around as she watched everyone execute her orders in a flurry. Mitchell was now calling up to the Hammond to make demands. Elda ran off to get to her ship. Smith headed out to find Aurelia and fulfill his orders. Reynolds was radioing Baker and Crawford to coordinate the removal of the SFs from the surface.
Sam's heart began beating faster. It was a good feeling. She hadn't felt this sort of exhilaration from command in a while. She missed it. Maybe it was time to seek a more permanent position. But what?
She'd think on it later when this crisis was over.
Right now, Sam had to jump in as air traffic control so no one would crash into each other.
By the time a warning flashed on the HUD of the Firefly, the moon was empty. The last of the ships had been brought up to the Ha'tak and the station craft. All the Jaffa patients were now in the Hammond's bay. The required equipment and the people helping them had gone up with them. They took as much of the lab's contents as they possibly could. Eruce's people made copies of all the logs, then erased the whole database from the moon.
"Base commander, be advised," Reynolds warned. "We have contacts on the far side of the system."
Elda tensed as she looked out the forward port. A small fleet of ships had arrived. The active sensors in front of her CO's station flashed with new information. The Ha'tak and the station craft jumped into hyperspace and left. She felt relief that Jasuf was now traveling far away from here.
The console chimed.
"They see us," she announced.
"Firefly, jump straight to our safe point," Sam ordered. "We'll be right behind you." She could probably tell just as well as they could that the shuttle had no time to meet up with the Hammond.
"Acknowledged," Reynolds replied. The navigation system was already loaded with the course. "Let's fly, Baby Cakes."
Elda hit the commands to leave. Swirling blue immediately greeted them through the forward port, signifying that they had jumped into hyperspace.
"Colonel?" Baker sounded off behind them. The remaining marines stood with him near the center storage console. "What kind of contacts were they?"
Their CO brought the report back to the foreground of the HUD. "No idea. System was still analyzing as we left. But it counted a good four of 'em traveling in formation."
"Shit," Crawford muttered. "Looks like we skedaddled just in time."
"The moon was empty, right?" Smith verified.
"That is correct, Corporal. Looks like we had just enough warning from Vala's dad." Reynolds shook his head.
"Are we thanking him or putting an APB out on him?" Baker retorted.
"A what?" Elda asked in confusion.
They raised a hand to her, not in the mood to explain. Reynolds simply answered, "We'll leave that up to Command."
"Carter, give me the 411," Jack requested calmly.
She was in the Alpha Site's control center now. The gate was active, carrying her signal through to Earth. The video call was being forwarded all the way to Washington where her husband was. Meanwhile SFs were walking through the wormhole to home base.
"Sir, the evacuation of the moon was successful. All of our people are accounted for. We had barely enough time to retrieve the equipment the station personnel deemed important. We erased the facility database. And all legitimately salvaged ships are now parked here at the Alpha Site."
"How'd you get them all there?"
"We had a lot of help. Elda and Smith played their parts as ambassadors beautifully. Our allies transported all the ships in their bays."
"Excellent. What's the status of the Jaffa we're helping?"
"They're in the Hammond's bay. I'm told they're stable but treatment is paused. We're in the process of identifying a better facility for them that can house all the equipment the station geneticists need to continue their work."
"You have free reign to pick whatever facility you deem appropriate, Colonel," Jack permitted. "Bump who you need to bump. I'm giving you priority."
"Thank you, sir."
"Remain in command of the operation. See it through until it's done. Then come home."
"Yes, sir."
His eyes smiled at her with love, but he said nothing more. The screen went blank.
Sam sat back in the chair and let out the breath she'd been holding since she got here. She watched the gate deactivate as the last of the SFs left.
Mitchell laid a hand on her shoulder. "You did well."
Sam patted his hand. "Thanks." She stood up to face him.
"SGs-1 through 3 are awaiting your orders, Colonel," Mitchell said formally.
She could not deny the rush his words triggered in her. "Have Pierce and Reynolds report for a briefing." He nodded. Sam leaned in, "Where's Elda?"
"She's with her marines in the mess."
"Isn't she always," Sam said drily. They both smiled at each other. "Meet me in the briefing room in ten."
"Colonel," Mitchell said compliantly. He stepped away to find his counterparts from the other SG-teams.
"I want to start by congratulating all of you on a job well done. Extend my regards to your teams," Sam said.
The three team leaders tilted their heads humbly toward her in acknowledgement.
"We need to determine where to operate next. Suggestions?"
"Do we have room here at the Alpha Site?" Pierce asked.
"I wish we did, Pierce. But the critical lab experiments being run here cannot be interrupted."
"Beta Site is still undergoing renovations," Reynolds noted.
"Charlie's barely in operation," Mitchell added. That was the SGC's newest outpost.
Sam fought the urge to bring her hand to her forehead and massage the headache there. She could do that later. "I need more options."
"Can the station craft accommodate what they've got to do?" Pierce wondered. "That is their equipment anyway. I would think those folks would be more comfortable working up on their own ship."
"Reynolds?" Sam prompted.
"I'll have Smith make an inquiry."
"If they don't agree with it, what else?" Sam asked. "We need a Plan B."
Mitchell pursed his lips. "Earth."
All eyes turned toward him.
"Where on Earth, Colonel?"
"Not sure. Warehouse? Freshen' it up first then beam everyone and everything down?"
"Let's call that Plan C. That sounds like a security headache."
Cameron shrugged, not taking offense.
Pierce now suggested, "Training Grounds planet."
His colleagues glanced at each other.
"It's all ours. It's secure. And as far as I know, nobody's running scenarios right now. We could easily expand that bunker; it's one of those modular structures. As a plus, it has a gate."
Sam began nodding her head slowly in agreement. "It'll take longer to set up there, but I like it better than having to ferry people back and forth between the station craft and wherever else. We could even let them land on the surface if they like. That's our new Plan A. Reynolds, still have Smith ask for their ship as Plan B. Earth will be Plan C." She let out a breath of relief that they had something worked out now. "I'll go to Earth and talk to General Landry. For the moment, have your teams remain here but take a rest period. When I finalize the details, we'll know who goes home and who doesn't."
"What about the Ha'tak?" Reynolds asked.
"They can stay or they can go. The Jaffa have permission to come down and use the gate if they need it. Let Elda coordinate that." He nodded. "Mitchell, brief the Hammond about all this while I go to Earth. You will be in command of this op while I am away."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Dismissed."
The men rose to file out, but Cameron hung back. Sam looked up at him inquisitively. "Command feels good, don't it?"
She rubbed at her forehead now, feeling at ease with only Cam's presence in the room. "Kinda does." She smiled at him tiredly.
"You're doing great, Sam."
She reached out a hand to grab his. They squeezed. "Thanks, Cam. Means a lot."
"Take a break, huh? I'll hold down the fort here. We've got the Alpha base commander here, too."
"I'll take a break when I settle our next base of operations. Promise."
"I'm holdin' you to it, Sam," he warned.
"Jack, she needs to get noticed by the promotion board," Hank declared over the phone.
"By all means. Do the paperwork. She deserves it."
"Mitchell made it a point to sneak over here and report just how well Sam really did and is still doing."
"Is that so?" Jack smiled at that, satisfied to hear of such loyalty. "If she makes General, maybe I'll retire."
"If you do that, the President might force me to take your job. Don't you dare," Hank grumbled.
Jack chortled over the line. "Then you retire with me!"
"Who'd take our places?"
"Who cares? We'll be long gone."
They both laughed heartily.
Hank rubbed his chin. "Maybe we try to promote Mitchell, too, when he becomes eligible."
"It's a thought. We want to leave our people in good hands, don't we?"
"Yes," he agreed wholeheartedly. "Anyway, I don't think he's ready to be sidelined just yet."
"All in due time, Hank."
A/N #2: We'll start to dive into some interpersonal problems next, setting up some tension that comes to a head in the chapter I just wrote the other day. But you'll have to keep tuning in to get to THAT one... all the way in Ch. 75. Thanks for following along. See you next time!