Part Ten
"Jack," Malia said quietly, putting her head around the open door of Jack's office.
He looked up and nodded. "Hey," he replied coolly.
She sighed and went in. "How are you doing?"
"Peachy," he said flatly. He waved his hand at a stack of files. "I'm kinda busy, Malia – is there something you need?"
She cursed silently – stubborn man. "I heard about Abydos …," she began, unsure what to say. She was unfamiliar with the planet itself, but had been shocked when she'd learned of its annihilation at the hands of Anubis, a new System Lord.
He huffed a short mirthless laugh. "Gotta love the grapevine in this place," he said. "That's what happens to planets without your 'vastly superior' technology," he added nastily.
She wanted to scream, but resisted the urge – they were deep in the bowels of the GTU base, after all. "If you want to talk …"
He regarded her with a deadpan gaze that was a far cry from the usual laughter or tenderness that tended to infuse his brown eyes. "I'm fine," he said. "Was that all, Sub-Commandant?"
She blinked at the dismissive tone. Was this the real Jack O'Neill, the complex Tauri she'd come to love? "That was all," she replied. "But if you shut everyone out you'll be alone."
"That works for me," he said. "Alone is good."
She knew he was hurting, but she realized that part of him also believed that he was safer alone. "Like you were after Charlie died?" she said, hoping to provoke some sort of reaction – even if it was bodily harm. This dead-eyed soldier bore no resemblance to the laughing, passionate Jack O'Neill she loved.
"Yes," he said and opened up the file. "Good day, Sub-Commandant."
Jack O'Neill finished reading the report from one of the Tok'ra he'd met during his stay with them a year previous. He'd confirmed that the destruction of Abydos was total. No-one had survived. Kasuf, Skaara … they were all dead. He reached into his pocket and produced a slim flask full of amber wine. "Fucking snake-heads," he said and drank deeply, feeling the liquor burn down his throat.
He'd been in the military more than half his life – he'd seen more death than anyone should have to witness. No more. No more System Lords; no more false gods. "No more."
He put the flask back in his pocket, then headed out of his office and into the lift. "Officers' quarters," he instructed.
He got out several seconds later and went into his on-base quarters. He hesitated a moment, then took off his comdev, placing it on the bedside table. Then he took up his backpack, tucking his pictures of Charlie, Malia and Tiressa into the top pocket.
"Computer; record a message for Sub-Commandant Malia," he said. "Delay delivery for … two days."
"Working …," the computer replied in its flat nasal tone.
Jack stepped out of the Stargate and strode along the sand dunes he remembered from his enforced stay here. A man appeared suddenly. "O'Neill," he said. "Do you really want to shoot me?"
Jack had reflexively pointed his zat-like weapon then he shrugged and lowered it. "Not so much," he told his friend. "Good to see you again, Malek."
The Tok'ra dipped his head then his symbiote spoke. "We are pleased you have agreed to accompany us on this mission, Jack," he – Kelnor – said. "Your skills will be of much value."
"Uh … thanks," Jack mumbled. While he liked Malek, he wasn't so sure about the snake. It didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor.
To his relief, Malek spoke next. "We are not due to leave for several days, Jack," he said. "Shall we ring down? I'm sure you're tired."
"A bit," Jack conceded.
"Did you have trouble terminating your duty on Belrina?" the younger man asked as they made their way to one of the dunes where the transport rings were hidden.
"Not so much," Jack said. None actually – he was AWOL. If he ever returned to Belrina, he'd be court martialed on sight.
"That's good," Malek said seriously. "Stand next to me, please."
The transport rings appeared then deposited them inside the crystal-like tunnel of the Tok'ra base. "Love what you've done with the place," Jack quipped.
Malek rolled his eyes. "You don't have to pretend with me, Jack," he said. "I know you're uneasy about what is to come."
Jack grunted assent – the guy had come to know him pretty well during the month he'd spent with them. "Yeah," he said, nodding to some of the Tok'ra he'd met previously. Then his eyes widened as he saw a familiar figure. "Hey, Jacob!" he called.
Jacob Carter – Carter's dad, retired Major General and now snake-head – turned round. "Holy Hannah!" he said. "What are you doing here, Jack?"
"I'm your point man on this one, Jake," Jack said, glad to see the older man again. "So … whatcha been up to?"
Jacob frowned, not about to let Jack change the subject. "I didn't realize you were the one that had volunteered for this mission," he said. "When Malek told me someone from Belrina had agreed to this, I thought he was mistaken – they prefer not to be involved with the war against the Goa'uld."
His tone clearly indicated that he was less than impressed with Belrina's self-imposed isolation, and Jack managed a grin. "Why d'you think I left?" he asked. "I know all too damn well what those snake-heads are like."
Jacob gave a wry chuckle. "The mission doesn't start for a couple days yet, Jack," he said. "Plenty of time for me to get you up to speed with what's going on back on Earth."
"Cool," Jack said. Although it had only been a few weeks since SG-1 had returned to Earth, it felt like a life time.
As he followed the older man through the tunnels, he began to wonder whether he'd done the right thing. After all, he had a good life on Belrina; he was in charge of an exploration team, and he went home to a loving woman and child. But he knew the System Lords would reach Belrina one day. It was only a matter of time. Unless they were stopped.
He'd not been able to protect Charlie from the specter of death – he owed every other kid in the galaxy the chance to live free from death and slavery. Even if it meant his own life.
Hell, he should have died on that first mission to Abydos – it was only the fact that Daniel had taken the blast meant for him that had given him these extra years. Now it was time to settle old debts.
TBC in Book 2 : Two As One. That will be rated M.