Daughter
Chapter 55 – Meet Me at the Moon
Smith leaned behind Crawford to address Elda in the elevator. "Hey Baby Cakes, we should do dinner," he suggested with an obviously mischievous tone.
She bit her lip and grinned in Crawford's direction. "Yeah!"
He groaned and dropped his chin to his chest.
His friends laughed loudly at him.
Elda bumped his shoulder playfully. "You gonna call her?" she teased.
Crawford just gave her a tired look.
Smith sniggered.
The elevator car doors slid open to reveal Baker. The trio made space for him as he stepped in. When he turned around to face the closing doors, he casually asked, "How's your Chigu girlfriend?"
Smith and Elda began to crack up. They slapped their hands together in a high five behind Crawford.
"I swear to fucking God, I should just shoot you all," Crawford muttered.
This got Baker laughing, too.
The elevator stopped at the next floor, where Sam was ready to use it. She quirked a smile at the sight of most of SG-3 grinning. She could tell they were messing around.
"Colonel," everyone greeted respectfully.
"SG-3," she replied. "Heading to the briefing room?"
"Yes, ma'am," Baker answered.
"Me too."
Elda raised her brow. Now she wondered why her birth mother was joining their meeting.
The group arrived and took seats. Reynolds and Landry were already there.
"Colonel Carter," Landry prompted.
"SG-1 sent another communique. They are departing the space station," she began.
Elda blew out a breath of relief that her adoptive mother was finally returning to Earth. Her teammates assumed she was thinking of Vala. They weren't surprised. They just didn't realize Vala was being regarded as a mother and not a sister.
"There's a twist," Sam continued. "Some of the station personnel are headed this way, too." SG-3 widened their eyes. "The geneticist that Dr. Lam's been working with volunteered to bring a team to our neck of the woods. She's going to try to help the Jaffa who were victimized on that moon."
"That's good news," Elda said. "That's the reason Dr. Lam rushed to the space station in the first place."
"Right. It is a good thing. The geneticist plans to reuse the other scientist's equipment on the moon base. Apparently, she's bringing some upgrades, too."
"Freshening up the place," Reynolds figured.
Sam smiled. "Guess so."
Landry spoke now. "SG-1 will act as liaisons while the station personnel are visiting. Colonel Carter has been placed in command of the moon facility for the duration of our operation."
Sam turned to her daughter. "Elda, you said the Jaffa survivors are being housed on the Ha'tak, correct?"
"Yes, they are. We have no extra accommodations on Tek'ron right now. And it's still too cold to build more."
Sam nodded in understanding. "Would you formally request for the Ha'tak to be flown directly to the moon base? We're concerned that transferring the patients to the Hammond might be a bit much for them. No one wants to put extra stress on them, given their conditions. That's the whole reason why the space station personnel are coming to us instead of having them brought all the way over there."
Elda nodded emphatically. "Absolutely. I will ask. Maybe Master Meil'nor will even want to command the ship himself. I think he's been waiting for a reason to use it." She smiled, imagining the quiet joy she could bring him with that suggestion. Now she looked forward to going home and seeing him. She never imagined that would happen. Wanting to see Jasuf? Of course. But his father? This was new.
Sam now looked directly across from her. "Colonel Reynolds, I would like you to personally assume command of security on the moon base. You and your team are to secure it as you see fit."
"Yes, ma'am. May I bring in other personnel? It's a pretty big place."
"Certainly. Acquire a set of SFs from the base as you please."
Landry didn't interject, so Reynolds took that as a sign that he approved. The Colonel nodded at his counterpart. She was now his temporary commander. He didn't mind that one bit.
"What kind of a timeline are we looking at here?" he then asked.
"SG-1 and our new allies will arrive at the moon base by oh-six-hundred tomorrow. Until then, we clean up and clean out. Hammond is on its way to pick us up; they'll be arriving in Earth orbit any minute."
The members of SG-3 nodded. Reynolds looked to Elda. "Get over to Tek'ron and talk to your boyfriend's dad. Then report to the moon with the Firefly."
She nodded compliantly.
"Now," Landry said, changing the subject. "Let's discuss what you learned on your mission yesterday."
Sam sat forward eagerly. Elda briefly described some of it last night when they went home to the condo together. But she wanted to get the full lo-down here in an official capacity.
"We believe that the signal sent out by the moon facility ended up at a Chigu Conglomerate. They seem to be a fierce competitor of the Zersha Conglomerate," Reynolds reported.
"A competitor?" Landry repeated, quirking his brow. Something tugged at his memory.
"Chigu referred to Zersha as back-stabbing imposters, sir," Baker supplied.
Elda added, "I sense that this competition isn't friendly at all. They purposely made a tempting offer for blasters…" She looked to Crawford across from her.
He finished, "…just to stick it to Zersha."
Elda shook her head in awe.
"Blasters?" Sam asked.
Baker explained, "Our cover was to act as traders. Elda and Crawford just picked something and ran with it."
"This company was ready to pay in refined naquedah," Smith marveled. "Sounded like it could have been a sweet deal."
Sam regarded Elda with pride. She also smiled approvingly at Crawford, but he hardly seemed enthusiastic about their successful fake trade agreement. She wondered why. "So while you were pretending to negotiate a trade deal…"
"Corporal Smith and Elda were getting us our intel," Reynolds said. "Smith used his data pad to confirm that those folks had the right equipment to receive a comms burst of that scale. Elda interrogated the Chigu rep without her knowing it. We came away from it with a calling card, a potential deal, and something else."
"What's the something else?" Sam asked.
He grimaced and tipped his chin up to Elda to answer. Sam turned to her.
She frowned. "Supposedly, they're researching some alternative to tretonin for the Jaffa." She looked at her mother pointedly.
"Ohhhhh boy," Sam grumbled. "The moon facility experiments might have been backed by this conglomerate?"
"Probably," Reynolds said. "They looked pretty well-to-do there. I bet they could afford to fund the research. The scientist might have been sending them regular reports on his progress."
Elda let out a frustrated breath. "There's another thing."
Everyone looked at her.
"Chigu is Zersha's competitor, right? And perhaps, General and Colonel Carter, you will remember that the kidnappers who bothered our people had a calling card from one of Zersha's competitors."
Sam dropped her mouth open and began blinking rapidly. She shared a concerned glance with Landry.
Landry raised an index finger. "That's where I've seen that name before," he said. "The new player in town."
"Maybe new to us," Elda said, "but they seemed very well-established on the planet we visited. The rep we met with kept going on about all the things they had mastered already. I was inclined to believe her."
"Maybe their market is somewhere else in the galaxy and that's why we don't really know of them," Baker figured.
"Well, we hadn't really heard of Zersha until recently either," Sam noted.
"You think those Chigu folks are the ones who attacked the Zershan ship?" Reynolds asked Elda. "Back when we escorted you and Jasuf for his trade deal?"
Elda grit her teeth. "It's highly possible," she said.
"Is there a way to confirm that the calling card we confiscated from the kidnappers matches the one you were given yesterday?" Landry asked.
"Maybe we could if Elda hadn't shot the card to pieces," Crawford said quietly.
Sam raised her brow. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Poor defenseless card," Smith said pitifully with a shake of his head.
Elda rolled her eyes. "I already explained this. We would have been tracked back here. The mission required we remain anonymous, not broadcast our real loyalties to all of Chigu." She pulled her data pad out of her pocket. "I, at least, scanned the transmitter and saved an inactive copy of its code before I destroyed it." She slid the pad in Landry and Sam's direction.
"And we have the information from the other card saved in our systems," Sam noted. She remembered that her daughter insisted they destroy the card Jack had once found. She addressed the General. "I'll compare the data, sir."
"Please do."
"Sir," Baker asked, "If we do confirm that the offender in all these incidents is the same, what are we going to do about it?"
"I tell you what we won't do," Elda cut in with a frown. "We will not enable them with any real trade deals. They can keep their naquedah."
Elda stepped through the gate to Tek'ron alone. A Jaffa patrol was there, weapons active and raised. They relaxed immediately upon sight of her.
"Brothers," she greeted with a respectful bow to her peers.
They bowed back just a touch lower, regarding her instead as their superior. It made Elda's eye twitch. But she didn't comment.
"Where is our Tribe Father?"
"He sits in the governance hut."
Elda inclined her head in thanks. "You may continue your patrol."
They bowed again and did as they were told.
Elda moved on, quietly grimacing at just how easy it was to give instructions like that.
When she arrived at the hut, the minders outside bowed just as low as the guardsmen did. She sighed internally, realizing that the entire village must have now been made aware of what her station meant. They were automatically treating her as someone above them. That had never once been her ambition when she moved here. She was just following orders, and now look what that had gotten her.
The minders opened the door for her. She usually had to push the heavy entrance open herself.
Elda bowed upon entry.
"Lady Elda," Meil'nor said. His address drifted outside for the minders to hear as they shut the door behind her.
Her eye twitched again. He wasn't calling her 'child' in the Jaffa language like he normally did. He was using her formal title within earshot of everyone else. That only cemented her place further. Elda found herself more disconcerted.
"Master Meil'nor."
The tribe leader deactivated a tablet he was examining and rose from his throne. He gestured behind him to the door that would lead to his private space. She wordlessly followed him in. They seated themselves at his table where hot tea sat ready in the center.
"Tell me, what news do you bring?" he asked as he poured tea into a small mug for her.
She graciously accepted it, but did not dare to drink until he had sipped his. "SG-1 is returning with experts from the space station who say they are willing to help our refugees. Earth is formally requesting transport of the Jaffa survivors to the moon facility where we originally found them. A geneticist plans to utilize the same equipment that brutalized them to heal them. Or at least try."
Meil'nor considered her report. "The refugees are already on the Ha'tak."
"Yes, Master Meil'nor."
"Please, Kal'ma, address me as Tribe Father. Or just Father, if that is your wish."
She blinked and sucked in a breath. His eyes were smiling affectionately at her, even though the rest of his face seemed bland and expressionless. "Tribe Father," she corrected herself. She wasn't quite ready to call him her father. Couldn't dare to. Jasuf had not married her.
Elda had barely returned home and she was overwhelmed all over again. She'd been hoping things would sort of go back to the way they were, before Meil'nor had made her title official and meaningful. Back when it was a joke between her and the guardsmen.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity to test the repairs we have made to our Ha'tak."
Elda bowed her head in agreement, figuring he would think of that.
"When does Earth require our presence?"
"In one and a half days, by Tek'ronian time. Their new allies from the station require time to assess, upgrade, and prepare the facility for the arrival of our refugees. I am to rejoin my team there using my own shuttle and help maintain security."
"You cannot remain with us?"
"I am sorry, Tribe Father. But no. They need me at the moon. I will be there to receive you, however, if you come on the Ha'tak."
"We will come on the Ha'tak," he declared. "I will command the vessel myself."
"As you say."
Meil'nor stood. She followed. "We will make our arrangements. I will inform your Den Mother of this development. She will likely assign a Hak'tyl guard to join us."
"Please send my greetings to my sisters."
He inclined his head. "Shal kek."
Elda bowed, then left. She exited through the side door, not really interested in being addressed by the minders outside the main door. At least this way, she could sneak away and find Jasuf. She couldn't stay today, but at least she would try to say hello.
When the Firefly exited hyperspace close to the moon facility, it was immediately hailed by the Hammond. "Firefly, this is the Hammond. Come in."
Elda brought the communications screen over to her side. "Hammond, this is the Firefly. Reading you loud and clear."
"Colonel Carter is ordering you to land directly in front of the main facility. You are to report straight to your one-up."
"Copy."
The forward port glowed red briefly as her ship broke atmosphere to descend. The moon's protective layers weren't quite as thick as a planet's, being smaller and less dense. Everyone noticed the slight bounce to their steps while walking around here. Less mass equaled less gravity. Luckily the difference wasn't as conspicuous, and people could still move around as they normally did.
When the hatch opened, Elda found Crawford waiting for her outside. "Hey," she greeted.
"Hey," he replied back. "Colonel wants you inside." He gestured for her to follow him.
The Firefly automatically shut itself when they both walked away. Crawford led her in, where two SFs were standing ready just inside the main entrance. Elda inclined her head at them as they passed.
"Where exactly is he?"
"Main control room." He walked purposefully, already knowing his way around.
Elda glanced behind her, seeing that the SFs were now out of earshot. She placed a hand on Crawford's forearm to pause them. "Hey, before we get there, I just want to ask you: Is everything okay?"
He forced his face not to move. He saw her tilting her head curiously at him with genuine concern. He didn't let out the breath that wanted to come out as a sigh. "Yeah, all good."
Elda just stared at him, not believing him in the least. She stepped closer, tipping her chin up to meet his eyes. "Are you sure?"
Her lips were doing that little pout thing that he liked. Crawford made it a point not to swallow. That would give too much away. Then he reminded himself: there should be nothing to give away in the first place. "Yes, I'm sure. Now let's get a move on, huh? Reynolds is in a mood."
Her brow arched but she let it go. Elda looped her elbow around his affectionately. "Then lead the way."
Crawford hated how much he liked the feeling of her arm on his. He immediately brought forth an image of his girlfriend in his mind. Chelsea was the only one who deserved his attention.
They eventually rounded a corner to find Smith standing there among a small group of SFs. He seemed to be giving instructions. He turned with a smile toward them. Elda didn't catch the twitch of his brow at the sight of her hanging on to Crawford, who was stiff as a board. She was too busy smiling at the SFs. She knew some of them.
Smith made it a point to loop his own elbow around Elda and pull her away from Crawford. His friend quietly thanked him. He didn't want to brush her off. That would invite questions. She was so used to doing this kind of thing with them that she didn't even realize that Smitty was trying to save him. She just went along with it.
"Cakes, it's a good thing you're here. We have a hole in the perimeter that the Colonel wants you to fill. I'll bring you over to him. Crawford, go ahead. I'll take it from here."
Their mutual friend nodded, then turned around and left. Smith casually let go of her arm and brought her the rest of the way to the control room. He left the SFs behind. They seemed to already know where to station themselves.
When they came upon the moon's little command center, Elda saw that both her mother and her commanding officer were there. They were each hovering over a different console. Apparently, they could read whatever was being displayed. The Hammond techs must have found a way to use station data pads to run live translations from Station to Goa'uld to English. The ship already had software installed for English-Goa'uld translations. But those were rough. Dr. Jackson insisted that an actual person always had to verify the quality of an automated translation before anyone acted upon it. Unless it was a time-sensitive or dire emergency, of course.
"Look who's here," Smith announced.
The two Colonels turned. "Welcome to the moon, Elda," Sam said.
"Smith, dismissed. Mal Doran, to me," Reynolds ordered. She stepped up. He pointed at a display. It showed a virtual map of the moon base. "Need you in charge of this area here. Baker already has SFs posted here, here, here…" He continued until she knew where half a dozen men were stationed. "Those boys will report to you. Make sure nothing gets through your line."
"Yes, Colonel."
"Regular check-ins every hour. Next one is in…" He looked down at his watch. "…twenty minutes."
"Got it." Elda pulled out her data pad to take a quick snapshot of the map. She also set a timer on her watch.
"Get your butt out there."
Elda tilted her head in a compliant nod. "Colonels."
Sam quirked a brow toward Reynolds as Elda left. She smiled slightly to herself.
"Colonel," Jack greeted over the video feed on the Hammond.
"General," Sam said back. She was up on the bridge, coordinating operations. Even though the base was devoid of people when they arrived, there was still plenty to do. Not only did they have to make sure no one appeared out of nowhere to disrupt their work, they also had to ensure that the facility was fully deactivated. Anyone could have come through here while no one was looking and messed around. Sam didn't want any surprises.
"Sitrep," he requested.
"No activity since we arrived and established operations. I had a team from the Hammond do a sweep of the facility and the mine to double check that all machinery and equipment remained inactive. They got no hits. SG-3 is stationed at strategic points around the base for security with SFs in support."
"Where's Colonel Reynolds?"
"Down on the surface. He's taking a walk, checking in personally with his team."
"How long have they been at it?"
She glanced at a clock built into one of the bridge displays. "Eight hours."
"Landry's got SG-2 and another team of SFs on the way for relief. I trust you received that communique?"
"Yes, sir. We are aware." Hank had already ordered for a qualified pilot aboard the Hammond to take one of the leftover ships from the surface and pick up the aforementioned personnel from the nearest stargate.
"And how about you, Colonel? When are you going to take a break?"
Sam smiled. It wasn't her boss asking. It was her husband. "I can take a meal break when Colonel Pierce gets here."
Jack nodded, satisfied with her answer. He winked at her on the screen but otherwise didn't move his face. "Let us know if there are any problems. Colonel."
"General."
The feed cut off.
When the door to her temporary quarters on the Hammond slid open, Elda immediately grinned. Vala was standing before her with an elated smile. The young blonde grabbed her mother's wrist and pulled her into the room. The door slid shut.
They hugged each other tightly.
"How are you, Darling?" Vala asked. She tucked a stray lock behind her daughter's ear.
"I'm fine. How are you guys? Everything okay on the ride here?"
Vala nodded. "Everything was fine. They have a very shiny ship." She waggled her brows.
"Really?" Elda prompted her to sit with her on the end of the bed. "What was it like?"
"It was clean. Well-maintained. Could barely feel a vibration."
"So… nice?"
"Nice."
"Any idea who their builder is?"
"No, why?"
"Just wondering what a Chigu-built ship might look like."
"Yes, I heard about that. You think this Chigu Conglomerate is responsible for all the problems you've had?" Vala asked curiously.
Elda shrugged. "It looks like it. I forgot to ask Sam if she was able to compare the calling cards like she said she would. I got sent to Tek'ron and then had to work as soon as I got here."
"When are you back on duty?"
"Soon."
"Alright, I won't keep you. Just wanted to check in. SG-1 and I will be down there soon enough to help."
Smith blinked rapidly outside the moon facility. He was frozen.
The SFs standing around him watched curiously.
"Rellie?"
The woman who had appeared before them was HOT. All the SFs shared a glance and agreed.
She held out two hands in Smith's direction. He went to her immediately and placed his hands in hers. "What are you…" Then he paused and turned his head. "Get to your posts," he ordered the SFs.
They all reluctantly left. Some cracked grins toward Smith, being familiar with him from the base. He was one of the most friendly guys on SG-3. He socialized with everybody.
"Gordy," Aurelia intoned sweetly. "It's nice to see you again."
"I swear I would kiss the living daylights out of you if I could, but I'm on duty," he said regretfully. He let go of her hands.
She grinned. "Maybe later. I have work to do as well."
"Just what are you doing here?"
"I came to help. Didn't you hear?"
"I heard people from your station were coming. Had no idea you would be one of 'em!"
"Surprise."
He smiled broadly at her. "Can I get you anything? Bring you anywhere on this base?"
"Actually, yes. I need to see the main lab. We all do. I have a group of laborers ready to make modifications."
"Yeah, yeah, of course."
"Corporal," a voice called from the side.
He turned. "Lieutenant."
"Escort her to the main lab. Then get to your post. SG-1 will take over."
"Sir." He thought he caught a twinkle in Baker's eye. He might have been doing him a favor by giving him a reason to remain in her presence. Smith's mouth quirked. "Come on, Rellie, I'll show you where to go."
Aurelia pursed her lips in amusement. Her data pad already activated with an advanced map of the facility the moment she stepped onto the moon's surface. She could have found the lab on her own. Anyone from the station could. But considering Earth was still in possession of this base, she knew to allow them the courtesy of hosting them as guests. It was all politics.
And she didn't mind having Gordon as company again.
Eruce Thel gazed around in horror and disgust. The pathway through the lab was lined with people-sized vats. They all sat empty. She recognized their purpose; they had these on the station. They were intended to suspend genetic patients in comfortable, nutritious liquids while their bodies adjusted to great change. These were meant to be healing pods, set horizontally and parallel to the ground.
But she could see these vats were never used in the manner that they were designed for. Ventho had oriented them vertically, likely pumping extra liquid into them to provide the pressure needed to keep the occupants still. Anyone placed in one of these would have been trapped. The reports from the Earthlings told her every single one of these was once filled with Jaffa.
Eruce fought tears. What had her student done?
"How did he even get these?" Aurelia muttered nearby. She closely examined one of the empty vats.
Vala stepped up next to them. "Elda says she and her team might have found his financial backer. A particularly well-resourced group in this part of the galaxy, capable of building just about anything you want." She shivered as she looked around. This lab was so creepy. She unconsciously cradled her hardening stomach with her hand, as if to protect her fetus from this horrible place.
"Princess," Mitchell called from behind them. "Show 'em that other lab."
Vala did so. When they arrived, Eruce stepped forward to examine the instruments hanging above the large, metal table. She saw dried blood on one of them. No one had bothered to clean it off. She turned around to send a questioning glance toward Vala, who frowned and nodded. This was the weapon used to kill her student.
She quietly closed her eyes and recited a silent prayer in her mind. It was akin to wishing for the universe to give Ventho what he deserved, if there was a next life for him. Her scientific mind told her anything was possible. There were simply some things that they would never know, despite all their study, such as what happened to a mind and soul after a body expired.
Aurelia sounded off near her to give instructions to the crew they brought with them. She used her status as Station Master kin to assume command while her aunt took in this gruesome sight. She understood that she needed a minute.
Vala stood aside as people carried in machinery and furniture to set them up where Aurelia directed them to. She backed out of the lab, giving them space to do their work. She took one last look in and shuddered.
The station workers seemed to know what they were doing. They had everything installed and operating by the end of the day. The workers returned to their station-controlled ship for rest while Eruce and her team made preparations for the upcoming arrival of their patients. The Ha'tak already sent word that it had left Tek'ron.
Elda came down to the lab to check on them. And to personally thank them for coming at all. The differences between the lab and her memory of it were like night and day. It was better lit. The vats were re-oriented to hover parallel to the floor. They seemed so much less foreboding than she remembered. Anyone placed inside would now float gently. Peacefully. If they happened to awaken on their own, they wouldn't be trapped. Elda could already tell the refugees would be treated with respect.
She didn't dare venture to the back, where that horrible room was.
"Elda!" Aurelia called happily. She grabbed her hands in greeting.
"Rellie," Elda said emphatically, pulling her into a tight hug. "You are a goddess that Smith better worship."
She laughed.
Elda pulled back to look at her with a smile. "I can't thank you enough for doing all this. Please tell your father for us. And your aunt. Your generosity is incredible."
"It is our pleasure, Elda. But really, it feels like we're paying restitution for what one our people did."
"How could any of you feel responsible for his actions?"
"Anyone born on our station with Furling genetics is engineered. We're made just as much as conceived. Something obviously went wrong when Ventho was born. He's like a mistake."
Elda didn't know what to say to that. She looked around. "Is Eruce here?"
"Yes, in the back," Aurelia reported. She thought she caught a look of dread on her friend's face as her eyes flitted toward the sub-lab, but the expression disappeared too quickly. It made her second-guess her own eyes.
"Oh. Okay." Elda forced a smile. "The Jaffa will be here soon. Just letting you know."
Aurelia briefly placed a hand on her arm. "Alright. We'll be ready."
Three ships now orbited the moon: the SGC's George Hammond, the space station's craft, and the Tek'ronian Ha'tak. With the Hammond's help, Elda beamed aboard the Jaffa-controlled ship. A little friendly communication prompted them to drop their shields to allow her passage. It was faster than finding one of the random ships parked on the moon to use its ring platform to come up.
"Sister," a Hak'tyl greeted outside the peltac.
Elda sighed loudly in relief. "Idul." They bowed to each other as peers. She was beyond thankful that her friend had not chosen to deepen her bow to her. She didn't want nor need the show of deference.
"I will never become accustomed to seeing you in this manner of dress," Idul complained. She critically eyed her standard-issue green uniform with black tac vest.
Elda laughed. "Believe me, Sister, sometimes I feel the same. Who else from our tribe has come?"
"Agean is here. And the other sisters we often went on patrol with."
"Anyone else?"
"No, Sister. You are the highest-ranked member of the Hak'tyl here," she teased.
"Idul," Elda whined.
The female Jaffa laughed. She knew Elda hated her title. It was written all over her face. She had no problem continuing to regard her as she always had: an equal. It was Idul's specialty to refrain from showing respect toward those who were meant to receive it. Elda was more than glad for this. "Master Meil'nor awaits you on the peltac. I will not delay you further."
"Thank you, Sister."
Elda entered the bridge of the Goa'uld mothership to find it buzzing with activity. Jaffa from her other tribe sat at each console. Meil'nor stood behind the main one. "Tribe Father, I have come," she announced herself.
"Lady Elda." He motioned her forward. She bowed respectfully toward him. "Tell me what will transpire next."
"I will greet the refugees and explain to them that there is nothing to fear. I have personally visited the facility where the work is meant to be done. It is clean and welcoming now. Once they are prepared, I will contact the Earth ship to transport them down to the surface, where others are waiting to receive them. They will be cared for."
He bowed his head in acknowledgement. "When these tasks are done, I should like to greet your leadership and those from the space station."
"I can arrange that, Tribe Father."
"Your mate sends greetings, Kal'ma."
She smiled. "I will send them back in kind, personally." She looked out at the forward port. "After all this is completed." She turned back to him. "How did the ship fare on the journey?"
A hint of a smile played on Meil'nor's lips. "It fared adequately. We now know what improvements we will focus on next. Some of our seasoned tribe members will busy themselves with those tasks while we wait."
Now Elda grinned, sensing his absolute delight. It was as if flying around this ship had shaved off fifty years of Jaffa age. He seemed more lively here. It made her feel happy for him. "I will take my leave to continue my work."
Meil'nor laid an affectionate hand on her shoulder and let her go.
When she reached the accommodation block, a Jaffa minder from Jasuf's tribe stepped forward. "My Lady, I must report that our Brothers and Sisters are in distress."
She scrunched her face. "Where?"
He led her to a room where the entire group was gathered.
When the door opened, Elda grimaced. The refugees were huddling together, shivering in absolute fear. "Jaffa," she called out.
They looked up at her. "Lady Elda," one of them said in relief.
"Our liberator," another said.
She sighed to herself. They were terrified. Their fear was justified; this was the very place that had caused all of their suffering. She needed to calm them. Elda approached with palms outward. "Brothers. Sisters. Your tormentor is dead. His minions are long gone. No one on this moon will harm you any longer. I personally guarantee your safety," she said with confidence.
They gazed back at her with trepidation. "You must hold great influence, Lady Elda."
She shook her head vigorously. "No, Jaffa. I merely have good friends. Kind ones. And the ones that are here are ready to relieve you some of your suffering. Please," she pleaded. "Let them help you. I will go with you down to the surface."
Some of them cried out. They reached for her. She let them grasp her hands and shoulders.
"You will be treated with respect," Elda promised. She could see this was about as ready as she was going to get them. She extricated her hand from one of theirs and activated the radio on her tac vest. "Hammond, this is Elda Mal Doran. Come in."
"Go ahead, Miss Mal Doran."
"Twenty-three Jaffa refugees are gathered with me. Are you reading my signal?"
"Signal is strong."
"Thank you. Standby." Elda addressed the Jaffa. "Everyone hold on to each other and me," she instructed. It had been explained by her birth mother that their ship would find it easier to beam the group out this way, instead of trying to differentiate between Jaffa who needed to stay and those who needed to go. They were essentially locking onto Elda's subcutaneous transmitter and dialing up the power to include everyone hanging onto her.
"We are ready, Lady Elda."
"Hammond, requesting beam-out."
With a flash, they all disappeared.
Dr. Lam stood ready with a medical team. The large room they chose was not far from the lab. Cots were ready for each patient to inhabit. Nurses were prepared to tend to each one and administer pharmaceuticals. Some drugs would be their regularly-scheduled doses of pain medications. Others would be remedies to calm them down. A set of doctors from the Hammond were prepared to assess the Jaffa and determine the right dosages to give.
Even Carolyn was surprised by the cacophony of crying, petrified Jaffa beaming into the room with them. And she was the one who told everyone else to expect this. Her heart broke for them, again reminded of what they had been put through. She locked eyes with Elda among them, who grimaced and nodded in greeting.
The medical staff moved forward immediately. Everyone knew what to do.
Carolyn pulled Elda into a hug once she was free of the Jaffa's tight hold on her.
"Carolyn," she whispered. "Thank you."
"Thank you," the doctor said back. "A lot of what's happening here is because of you. Don't ever forget it." Carolyn didn't bother to explain what she meant. They both knew what already occurred to bring them both here.
Elda stepped back, pursing her lips and forcing herself not to get emotional. "I won't keep you."
Carolyn briefly placed a hand on her shoulder. Then she turned right around and got straight to work. Once these Jaffa were soothed and relieved of some pain, they could be brought over to the lab in groups. The station geneticists were patiently waiting there.
Elda stayed within sight to let her presence offer the Jaffa reassurance. And when it was time for groups of them to walk to the lab, she held their hands. She could feel them shivering still, even though they were no longer crying out in utter terror.
Eruce was there to greet each group. She offered a formal apology for all that had been done to them. She respectfully asked them for permission to proceed, a right that had obviously been ignored by Ventho. Aurelia next used simple language to explain what would happen. The Jaffa found her bedside manner comforting and warm.
When the survivors gave their consent, they were gently guided into the modified vats, which now looked nothing like the ones that had trapped them before. They laid inside nervously, floating on comfortably warm liquid. The station personnel programmed the pods to let the fluids ripple gently, putting them further at ease. Eruce's team then placed them all in stasis.
Elda leaned back against the wall in exhaustion once it was done.
Sam appeared next to her. "How are they?"
"Terrified."
"How are you?"
"I could probably sleep for days."
Sam smiled pitifully toward her. "Go take a break. Hard work is now in other people's hands."
Elda seemed hesitant to leave them.
"That's an order, Mal Doran."
She raised a brow at her mother. "Yes, Colonel." They smiled at each other as she left.
Everyone understood that the process of studying the genetic changes made to the Jaffa and then finding a way to reverse them would take time. Nobody was surprised when a day passed and Eruce's team had no news to report. Aurelia concluded that there was no further work for her to do. At least for now. The acute concerns of the patients had already been addressed by either her or Dr. Lam's team. With all of the Jaffa sleeping peacefully in stasis, they were stable.
Aurelia could now turn her attention to this curious fellow Elda wanted her to meet. She referred to him as her boyfriend's father. She thought that was strange. Elda had never made it clear that her significant other came from a powerful family. She only ever mentioned the wonderful things about him whenever he came up as a topic of conversation.
As a Station Master's daughter, Aurelia knew a man in power when she saw one. And this Meil'nor was it.
They sat across from each other in a conference room inside the moon facility. Colonel Carter, another remarkable individual, was with them. Elda wasn't part of this meeting; she had merely arranged it. Now Aurelia stared at this blonde woman representing Earth. She was a spitting image of her friend. She wondered if the gene pool on their planet was limited or something. Her own space station overcame that challenge with their ability to manipulate genetics.
Sam nodded at the subordinate who had come in to whisper into her ear. Apparently she was giving approval to some request. "Be sure to inform Colonel Reynolds," she instructed. "He's in command on the ground while I'm in here."
The subordinate saluted respectfully. "Yes, ma'am." The person then vacated the room.
"Sorry about that," Sam apologized, turning back to her tablemates.
"It is no worry," Meil'nor responded graciously. "Those of us in command never rest." He had a twinkle in his eye as he said it. The Jaffa recognized Elda's personality in this birth mother of hers. Her ability to demand respect with a smile seemed to be an inheritable trait.
Sam shook her head. "Never."
"I have requested this meeting to offer my deepest gratitude to both your peoples. My Brothers' and Sisters' suffering may yet be relieved." He bowed his head low to both of the women.
Sam reached out to place a hand over his on the table. "It's an honor to help the Jaffa, Master Meil'nor," she said emphatically.
"Yes," Aurelia chimed in. "This is an opportunity for us to learn from each other. And to make new friends."
"Our EldaMalDoran tells me your father commands the space station you hail from?" he asked.
"He does. He, too, was horrified to learn what our family member had done. He sends his deepest apologies and condolences for the sins that were committed by one of ours."
Meil'nor inclined his head in acceptance. "Let us move past these transgressions toward peace," he suggested. "The Jaffa will hold no ill will toward your people. Your actions here on this moon are proof enough that you are honorable."
Aurelia felt relief. "Thank you, Master Meil'nor. I will relay your words of peace to my father. He will be pleased."
Sam smiled at the group. "Well, aren't we just one big bunch of happy allies," she remarked, channeling a little Jack O'Neill. If he were here, he'd be beaming with pride.
"Dang, Kid, you look exhausted."
Elda frowned at her father on the screen while she sat on a bed in the Hammond. "That obvious, huh?"
"Sorry."
"Well, it's not untrue. This has been one of the most tiring missions I have been on yet."
"At least things are looking up," Jack pointed out. "Sounds like everybody there is ready to be friends. Your mom told me so."
"Oh yeah? I haven't heard how that meeting went."
"It was good. Sounds like your boyfriend's dad is ready to establish relations with your girlfriend's dad." His face scrunched in confusion, wondering if that sounded right. "That young lady from the space station is your friend, right?"
Elda smiled. "Yes, she is. A wonderful one. Couldn't have found a kinder soul."
Her father smiled with her. "That's nice."
"Dad, we should let Smith become the ambassador to the space station or something. Give him a good reason to go back there regularly."
"What? Why?"
"Because… if it weren't for him charming the Station Master's daughter and getting her on our side, none of this would have happened. None of it. He deserves to go there as he pleases. To see her."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. Aurelia is one of the most fruitful contacts I could have ever met. Her connections and her kindness? Pure refined naquedah."
Jack laughed loudly. "You mean pure gold."
Elda furrowed her brow. "Still don't know how much gold is worth. But I know naquedah," she argued.
He kept chuckling. "I know you do, Baby." He paused as he considered his daughter's suggestion. "You really think Smith should take on that role? Or are you joking?"
Elda thought about it. "I don't see the harm in it. I honestly think he should marry her. We need to worship her somehow."
Jack raised an amused brow. "I can't order that, Gracie."
"No, I know. But wouldn't that be a glorious way to maintain an alliance between us and that space station?" she joked. She waggled her brows to emphasize her point.
He was simply tickled by her idea. "Let's leave that part up to Smith, eh?"
"I'm still going to pester him," she promised.
Jack grinned.
Smith whistled. Rellie invited him to come aboard the station craft to check it out while he was off duty. He was impressed with what he saw. "Damn, Rellie. This is a nice ship you got here."
His eyes took in the sight of transparent walls that revealed all the interesting tech that made the ship function. He tracked liquid as it flowed through a wide tube across a bulkhead. He saw complex machinery whirring for some unknown purpose within the walls. He couldn't even begin to imagine how any of this worked or what it was for. But it was pretty cool to see.
"Why are the walls clear?"
"Why wouldn't they be?"
"Every ship I've ever flown on has opaque walls." He looked down. "And floors." If Smith squinted hard enough, he could see people a couple of decks below."
"Strange. My understanding is that using clear paneling makes it easier for the crew to identify faults and address them. One would think that's important when you're constantly trying to protect yourself against the vacuum of space."
Smith tilted his head side to side, not disagreeing with her notion. Rellie let him wander further. His eyes were wide as he continued to take in the sight of her unique ship. She remembered him doing this on the station, simply exploring to see things he'd never seen before.
Then he had a thought. "Uhhhhh, what about crew quarters? Do you guys not do privacy?"
Rellie laughed. "Yes, we do privacy," she answered. "It's normal for personal accommodations to have regular walls. I think they're built in such a way that it's easy enough to get inside and fix something that's wrong. They wouldn't run ship-critical systems through those panels."
"Oh. Okay. Cool." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "So what do you do for fun around here?"
"The same things as on the station."
"We only ever went to dance venues and bars on the station," he reminded.
"We exercised, too," she pointed out.
"Yeah."
She pulled on his hand. "Come on, I'll show you the recreation deck."
"Hang on. We should call Crawford and Elda." He reached up to his radio. "Smith to Crawford. What's your twenty?"
"Quarters. Why?"
"Go grab Baby Cakes. Rellie's about to show me the cool stuff on her ship. You guys should get over here."
"Negative, Smith," Reynolds cut in. "Get off this channel."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." He cringed as he let go of the button on his radio. "Doh."
Rellie widened her eyes. "I guess they can't come aboard?"
He shook his head. "Prolly not." Smith sighed to himself. His CO would have some harsh words of wisdom for him when he was back on duty.
She frowned momentarily, but then remembered, her ship was in no hurry to leave. There was still time for everything. It wasn't like when they were on the station with a time dilation looming. That had already started. This time, she was on the other side of the bubble, free to do as she pleased. She technically couldn't go home for three weeks. It was an interesting feeling. Almost like a vacation.
Rellie pulled on his hand. Instead of heading to the recreation level, she decided to bring him somewhere else. A place with opaque walls.
When Smith walked into the mess hall on the Hammond, some of the SFs hooted and hollered at him. He turned beet red as he fell into line for food.
SG-1 and Sam watched a few SFs go straight to him. Smith shook his head vigorously at whatever they were saying, trying desperately to fend off their obvious teasing.
Vala smirked. "I knew it."
"Knew what?" Sam asked.
"Elda's little marine and their friend from the station."
Mitchell snorted.
"Now, now," Daniel pretended to chide her. "Let's not spread rumors."
Sam raised her brow toward Smith. "We talking about Aurelia Thel?"
"Indeed," Teal'c responded.
"Hmm. Maybe we should make him our official ambassador."
Vala began to laugh.
"What?"
"Elda said the same thing."
Daniel reminded, "Elda's also pushing for them to get married. Let's not take any of this seriously."
"It would now be possible for CorporalSmith to make regular visits to the space station," Teal'c pointed out.
Mitchell rolled his eyes. "Yeah, he can hitch a ride in the back with Elda's fruit," he deadpanned.
"I think her idea to use fruit as a commodity was quite smart of her, really," Vala argued.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. We had what they didn't. And vice versa."
Elda wandered into the mess to find Smith being playfully harassed by SFs. She grinned at this.
Smith pointed a finger at her. "You either save me or shut the hell up," he warned.
She smiled even wider. She shared a look of mischief with a few of their mutual friends from the security forces. "Not gonna say a word, Darling," she sing-songed. She cut the line, which was being held up by Smith, and grabbed food. She chose to join SG-1 at their table.
"Woulda been nice of you to save me!" he called after her.
Elda laughed as she sat down. She had a perfect view of the show. "Morning, everyone."
Sam looked at her amusedly. "Morning. Got some sleep?"
"I did. I did. More than him apparently," Elda said naughtily.
The table laughed.
"Hey, Darling, want to hear something funny?" Vala asked. Her daughter nodded eagerly. "Sam suggested we make him our ambassador."
Elda locked eyes with her birth mother. She gasped, then whispered, "We really are related!"
Their tablemates laughed then shushed her emphatically. She could have blown her cover.
A/N: The next one will be a fun one. We'll see our heroine showing off a bit. But shh... it's a secret.