Capítulo 3: Chapter 3. Teal’c
"So, can you feel the wind on your skin?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"Yes, O'Neill, I can feel the wind around me, pressing against my skin as if I were submerged in water," Teal'c replied. "Darn," Jack thought.
"Well, that's good," said Jack.
"O'Neill, have you made any progress?" Teal'c asked, and even though his eyes were closed, Jack could imagine him raising an inquisitive and somewhat mocking eyebrow.
"Not yet, but I'm about to," Jack lied.
Who the hell would make progress in meditation in just two attempts? This wasn't even a real meditation technique… He didn't even know a real meditation technique; he just mulled over what Teal'c said he did to test a theory.
Teal'c and the other Jaffa believed they and the symbiote were not connected and had no influence on each other. But Jack, who knew the original story, knew that wasn't true.
The symbiote was linked to the Jaffa's mind and even enhanced their loyalty to the Goa'uld in some way. He also knew an effective way Teal'c could communicate with his symbiote during meditation rituals, but that method left him vulnerable to the Goa'uld's mind and deception.
Jack knew this happened because his mind was practically unconscious and in a dream state at that moment. So, what Jack wanted to achieve was a meditative state where Teal'c had all his senses and an alert mind to see what would happen.
Young Goa'uld couldn't control their hosts if they were conscious, or it took a great effort. If Teal'c could contact the symbiote while fully using his mental faculties, that would be interesting, and it was the goal of this Jedi training Jack had initiated the day before. Jack hoped it would take at least a week to see any results, but Teal'c had already made progress in just two days.
Jack, who had accompanied him, still achieved nothing. The wind was as elusive as ever to him.
Jack opened one eye to look at the Jaffa's expression, and he was smiling at his obvious lie.
"Teal'c, get back to your senses and work harder. Being smug is the path to the dark side," Jack scolded. "Besides, these are my first meditation lessons; it's natural that it takes time," he added.
"Of course, O'Neill," Teal'c said.
"Teal'c, stop smiling," Jack ordered.
"Immediately, O'Neill," Teal'c said.
Jack decided to return to his meditation. Although he hadn't made any progress the previous night, maybe out of boredom, annoyance, or because he had seriously tried to feel the wind around him for two hours in a room where there was no breeze, and his brain was overheated, he had slept like a log. Just for that reason, this time, he took his meditation seriously again. It was a treatment for insomnia, and he had combined it with a couple of hours of gaming on his Play 1 console, which he bought with O'Neill's savings, along with some good games.
It was a wonderful feeling to have his console. In his old life, he was as poor as a field mouse, and to play with a console, he had to go to a store where they rented them by the hour. It was the wonder of living in Latin America, where buying a hundred-dollar console was an investment that meant consuming three months' worth of hard work savings…
Jack shook his head in his mind and returned to his meditation.
…
An hour later, Jack stood up, and Teal'c followed suit. They were in the gym, which Teal'c had chosen to do his exercises and stay in shape while waiting for missions to start.
Teal'c moved his right arm, observing his hand in front of him.
"O'Neill, I believe if I tried, I could feel the wind right now," Teal'c suggested. Jack looked at him, squinting. This guy seemed serious, but he was a troll; Jack was sure he was teasing him on purpose.
"Teal'c, see those lights?" Jack pointed to the ceiling where there were several fluorescent light tubes. Teal'c nodded. "Those lights emit a tiny amount of electromagnetic radiation, i.e., light, perhaps millions of times less than the Sun. Your new task in meditation will be to feel that light on your skin," Jack explained, turning around to leave, leaving Teal'c with a bewildered expression.
…
That night, Jack slept like a log again, so he decided to make meditation a habit.
…
When Jack was having breakfast in the base's mess hall, the alarms started ringing. Teal'c, Daniel, and Carter, who were having breakfast at the same table, made a move to get up, but Jack signaled them to stay seated and continued eating normally.
"As Carter said yesterday, the iris will hold. As for those Jaffa, I guess there are worse ways to die; we'll make Apophis pay for their deaths later," Jack said.
"Still, it's concerning," Daniel said. "Are you sure it will stop at some point?" he asked.
"Daniel, in a couple of days, there will be no more attacks. Let's focus on what Teal'c knows for the intelligence reports. We don't want to stumble upon some Goa'uld artifact we don't know about," Jack said, looking at Teal'c. "Teal'c, what kinds of weapons have you used as a Jaffa? Only weapons a small group of Jaffa can use, no vehicles," Jack explained.
"Usually, a Jaffa has two weapons at their disposal. The staff weapon and the zatnik'tel. The zatnik'tel…"
"Let's stick with Zat," Jack interrupted, and Teal'c nodded.
"The Zat is an energy weapon that fires a stunning beam, but it will kill the target if used twice on them. If fired a third time, it will turn them to ashes," Teal'c explained, astonishing Carter, who tried to ask for more explanations, but Teal'c knew nothing about Goa'uld science; he only knew about weapon usage.
Teal'c talked about stun grenades, naquadah bombs they used to bombard planets through the Stargate, mounted cannons to destroy walls, and Jaffa war tactics, which were medieval, forming ranks and attacking head-on in a sort of ritual battle.
"Teal'c, today will be your interview with military intelligence. Your new uniform is ready; don't forget to wear it. That will remind them that you're our ally and not a prisoner. You can also threaten to leave the planet if they get too heavy-handed," Jack advised. "Of course, I'll be present too," he added.
"Thank you, O'Neill. But I have no intention of leaving this planet. I have pledged my loyalty to the cause of the Tau'ri, so it would be a lie to say otherwise," Teal'c argued. Jack sighed and shook his head.
"Teal'c, saying a lie sounds very ugly. You have to think of it as a possibility. An options consideration, different paths of life. Like with Schrödinger's cat experiment," Jack advised, while Daniel and Carter looked at him strangely.
"Schrödinger's cat?" Teal'c asked.
"A famous cat torturer on our planet," Jack explained and looked at Carter. "Carter, explain Schrödinger's cat torturer experiments to Teal'c so he understands the probability involved," Jack ordered. Carter seemed committed when Teal'c looked at her, expecting her explanation.
"Well, he didn't actually torture cats…"
"Carter, focus, we're not interested in the cat torturer's life. Just explain what his evil experiments were about," Jack ordered, leaving her in a doubly compromised position.
"Yes, sir," Carter said, grimacing, but starting her account of how Schrödinger posed his Schrödinger's cat experiment.
…
"Captain Carter, I don't understand your point. Actually, from what you say, the cat will already be dead, regardless of whether this Schrödinger checks it or not," Teal'c said. Carter seemed to get a headache.
"Teal'c, the point being demonstrated is not about what happens or doesn't happen to the cat. The guy is bad to the bone; he didn't care about the cat's life. What this experiment is about is what you know and what you don't know because you can't see it," Jack explained, and Teal'c seemed to have an epiphany.
"I understand, O'Neill," Teal'c said. Daniel and Sam seemed concerned.
"I don't think…" Jack raised his hand to interrupt Daniel.
"Daniel, please, don't interrupt; it's bad manners," Jack scolded, looking at Teal'c, who nodded again.
"If you interrupt Daniel Jackson's explanation, he can't contradict your story. So, in theory, you haven't been refuted and you'll be right until proven otherwise, which, with you here, is impossible.
"It's like when you didn't let Captain Carter clear the name of the man known as Schrödinger, letting your version be the correct one," Teal'c explained, leaving Carter and Daniel between surprised and horrified.
"Teal'c, from now on, don't follow Jack's advice," Daniel said seriously.
"Daniel, Carter, is there something wrong with what I said?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. Daniel and Carter looked at each other and then at him with indecision. Jack smiled.
"Well, it's not that you're wrong…"
"Thank you, that's all I wanted to know," Jack interrupted, and Daniel choked, unable to defend himself. Jack looked at Teal'c.
"Teal'c, the person who will interview you is an expert at pulling these little tricks. You can't speak candidly with him, or he'll twist the good things you know and have done into words he'll use against you.
"It's not personal; it's just his job, which means he won't see you as a human but as something he needs to handle and exploit. That's why you mustn't let him pressure you or put words in your mouth. If he's rude and interrupts, don't get angry; do the same to him in his next sentence. Answer nonsense to his questions before he finishes asking them, interrupting him and giving them the meaning you fancy.
"If you do that a couple of times, he'll understand that he either behaves or gets nothing from you," Jack explained, and Teal'c nodded.
…
"Sir, we are here to maintain peace," Carter explained after Jack boldly requested permission to enter Teal'c's interview.
"General, it's very necessary," Daniel insisted with an alarmed expression. General Hammond nodded, and everyone entered.
In the meeting room, General Hammond occupied the head of the table, with the intelligence agent sent by the military and his secretary by his side. Jack knew that in the future, this intelligence agency would be known as the NID and, if he didn't act to prevent it, would also become a nest of terrorists when its bosses, who saw the group's creation as a business, were imprisoned.
"As I was saying…"
"I was saying that you intend to treat me like a prisoner," Teal'c added, and Daniel and Carter grimaced, while Jack smiled like a proud teacher, General Hammond frowned, and Major Kennedy gritted his teeth.
"If you let me talk…"
"Please, don't refrain on my account," Teal'c interrupted, trolling Major Kennedy, who looked at General Hammond helplessly. General Hammond looked at him, reprimanding him discreetly, and then sighed.
"Major Kennedy, you were already warned that this was just an interview. Teal'c is an ally, and his position on this base is as a military attaché and military advisor. Please, moderate your tone and speak kindly, without double meanings or veiled insinuations," advised General Hammond in a neutral tone.
Major Kennedy gritted his teeth and focused on his papers for a few seconds, then looked at Jack.
"Colonel O'Neill," Major Kennedy said, and Jack nodded. "I understand that it was you who negotiated Mr. Teal'c's current diplomatic status," accused Kennedy.
"Yes, I assumed someone would come here trying to take him as a prisoner, study him in some questionable lab with unhygienic health practices, which would hinder, delay, and nullify any help he could provide us. So, I acted accordingly and offered him insurance against alien abductions," explained Jack. Kennedy nodded.
"Assumed!" he said accusingly. "You assume many things. I've read your previous reports; it seems you 'assumed' quite accurately there were more Stargates, more Goa'ulds, more ships, and everything happening now, very… 'accurately,'" accused Kennedy. Jack looked at him in surprise.
"Are you admitting that you planned to kidnap Teal'c to take him to a clandestine lab and use him for illegal experiments?" Jack asked. Kennedy tensed.
"That's not what I meant," Jack raised an eyebrow for him to continue. "I meant almost entirely accurately," Kennedy excused himself without much coherence. Jack didn't give it much importance and nodded.
"So, are you accusing me of secretly making a deal with Teal'c to benefit Earth?" Jack asked. "Major Kennedy, before I showed up at this base a few days ago, I didn't have access to the portal. And if the Goa'ulds had already come to Earth to make a strange deal with me, somehow consisting of benefiting us, not bombing us into prehistory… I really don't know what to tell you.
"I guess the next thing you can do is accuse General Hammond of hiding information, but in that case, I advise you to start preparing your retirement papers," Jack said kindly. Kennedy looked alarmed and hurriedly looked at General Hammond.
"General Hammond, please ignore those comments; I never thought of such a thing," Major Kennedy assured fervently.
"Major Kennedy, Colonel O'Neill has only made a comment; you don't have to take it seriously. It's part of his strange sense of humor.
"Now, if I recall correctly, you were here to interview our military attaché and military advisor in this conflict with the Goa'ulds; please stick to your duties because we have work to do," said General Hammond with some annoyance in his voice.
"Major Kennedy, if I speak candidly, I think we can get along better," Jack intervened, and everyone looked at him. "What interests you is not Teal'c. Teal'c knows nothing about Goa'uld technology. I think what interests you is the symbiote. You're a fan, and you want to be friends with it…" Jack raised his hand. "I don't judge; I like Goa'ulds too," said Jack being completely sincere. "I like their technology, and I like their ships. I even think the design of the pyramids is unique. Did you know that Ra's ship had its own throne room?
"However, the reality is that the Goa'ulds are a bunch of murderers and crazies. They see us worse than trash, and we're nothing more than their slaves, whose only purpose is to serve them and nothing beyond that. They won't negotiate with you, not even a young and inexperienced Goa'uld like a Jaffa's symbiote.
"If we were in a superior negotiating position and had the strength to wage a war they couldn't win, we might get a temporary peace deal while they make plans to destroy us," Jack looked at Teal'c, who nodded to indicate he agreed with his assessment.
"Such has been the fate of those who have agreed to peace with the Goa'uld," Teal'c said with regret. Jack looked at the Major.
"Major Kennedy, let me inform you that it's not difficult to get you some symbiotes for your experiments or waste your time trying to negotiate for technology. But I also assure you that it will end with one of those bugs in your head when, for sheer macabre pleasure, you ask your superiors to give your body in exchange for information," said Jack, looking at Teal'c.
"It's not difficult to get a symbiote. In the temples of Chulak, there are many used for implantation, and there are adult Goa'uld extracted from Jaffa when it's time to be replaced," explained Teal'c.
"That information is not in the reports," complained Major Kennedy.
"Major, Teal'c has only been on this base for two days, and reports don't write themselves," Jack replied. "Returning to the topic, for the time being, you won't be able to get anything from the Goa'uld without paying a high price for it. That would be something we don't need and a risk to Earth's security," explained Jack.
"For the time being?" asked Major Kennedy with interest and cheekiness. Jack nodded, nothing more.
"Major, when we're dealing with the Goa'uld, we're dealing with science fiction technology. That means the technology to get the information we want from them exists. Ra had similar technology. He could stun people into saying what he wanted to know, although I don't think it works on the Goa'uld because they're tough guys," Jack said, looking at Teal'c.
"The Kara Kesh can bend people's will. There are few I have seen resist it, but using it, the Goa'uld can destroy the minds of their victims and end up without the information they seek, so they prefer to use methods like torture or death," explained Teal'c.
"Death?" asked Major Kennedy.
"The sarcophagus can bring its victims back to life, so they torture them until they talk. Death is not an option, just another way to get what they want," explained Jack. Major Kennedy tensed, Jack figured he was beginning to understand what kind of crazies he was trying to negotiate with.
"So, we wait until we get technology to forcibly read their minds," said Major Kennedy, unconvinced.
"On my priority list, technological priorities are second. And among these, the second priority of technologies to obtain is just a mind reader," confessed Jack.
"Sir, what is your first technological priority?" Carter asked unable to contain herself.
"Getting myself a decent computer," Jack said sincerely. "Carter, have you seen the kind of prehistoric junk we use today? A dual-core is already a cutting-edge model. Two terabytes is already a luxury memory," said Jack shaking his head. Major Kennedy was stunned and didn't comment.
"Do you think we can improve the power of our computers…" General Hammond coughed to interrupt Captain Carter and prevent the interview from turning into a technology lecture. Major Kennedy recovered with this intervention.
"What is your number one priority?" Major Kennedy asked.
"Isn't that obvious? My priority is to get allies," Jack said, looking at Teal'c. "Major Kennedy, our technology can repel the Goa'uld in ground attacks. I dare say we would give them a beating just using a couple of tanks and a .50 caliber machine gun. However, this is useless if they bring a fleet to bombard us from the planet's orbit.
"As for getting technology to build our own fleet, that's acceptable, and that's why it's my second priority. I'm sure that in a few years, we'll be building our own ships. If we don't get technology from other species, we can always turn to the Goa'uld. Their security is crap; we can steal from them anytime."
"However," Jack looked towards the wall, where the warning alarms for an unscheduled gate entry had been sounding for a minute, "I don't think the Goa'uld are willing to give us a few years, I don't even think they'd consider giving us a year. That's why my priority is to get allies," he said, looking at Teal'c and then at Kennedy. "Tell me, Major Kennedy, what do you think a Goa'uld would have demanded from you to tell him everything you know about Goa'uld society, their troops, weapons, ships, how many soldiers they carry, all the weapons they can use, and some of their darkest secrets?
"How long do you think it would take you to get that information on your own, or what technologically advanced device could replace what we now know, just by getting an ally willing to help us and who identifies with our cause?
"Even if we only manage to get them to give us a little more time, that would be a great contribution, and although it hurts my heart to say it, having an ally who gives us time is preferable to getting a computer that is not obsolete junk," Jack admitted, feeling genuine pain in his gamer heart. Major Kennedy looked thoughtful for a few seconds.
"Colonel, are you aware that we need the technology to justify the existence of this project that would spend billions of dollars each year?" Major Kennedy asked. Jack nodded.
"Of course. Nothing is free in this world, Major Kennedy. That's why I made sure that those interested in this project receive more benefits in these few days than they will from any other project in their entire lives," Jack looked at Carter. "Carter, explain to Major Kennedy what naquadah is, what its technological uses are, military potential, estimated value compared to similar things on Earth, and how many tons we will be receiving each month from it in a few days onwards," Jack said. Carter nodded.
"You see, sir, from what we know so far, naquadah is an unknown element. It can be used as a superconductor at room temperature…" Carter explained the known and potential uses of naquadah and its value compared to plutonium, fossil fuels, or carbon, calculating that a small amount of this material could surpass gold in multiple folds.
"As you can see, Major, they will soon have to allocate more budget to us and increase our salaries because we have just made this country very, very rich," Jack said. "I even got a medal for that," he added. General Hammond smiled.
"Colonel O'Neill, your medal was for merit, not for making money," he corrected. "As for the budget, the president understands the importance of this project, and as long as we provide reasonable explanations, we can request resources without going through so much bureaucratic paperwork," boasted General Hammond.
"Do you mean they gave us a blank check?" Jack asked. "Sir, have I mentioned before that Daniel suffers from allergies and needs a private room and complete equipment? Carter also suffers from some kind of insomnia, and that makes her not lend me her computer at night. It would be good to get her another computer. Teal'c has just arrived from another planet, and he needs a good house. As for me, with a small yacht…"
"Colonel O'Neill, I believe Major Kennedy has already concluded his interview," General Hammond interrupted, who had been trying to interrupt his demands for a few seconds without resorting to words, but as he ignored him, he had to speak. jack looked at the Major reluctantly.
The Major hurried to excuse himself as he said goodbye.
"Sir…"
"Colonel O'Neill, your day off is over, and there are missions planned for your team and Major Kawalsky's team, if the Goa'uld leave us alone long enough to dial," General Hammond said. "Now get back to your duties, and I'll be calling you soon," General Hammond said as he fled the conference room.
"Our government is a bunch of ingrates," Jack complained.
"Jack, why do you want a computer?" Daniel asked.
"I don't want a computer; I want an advanced computer. I want a spaceship, computer version," Jack explained, so this heretic wouldn't keep uttering blasphemous nonsense like saying "computer," as if he were talking about the junk they worked with.
"What would you use something like that for?" Daniel asked. Carter was also paying attention to his answer.
"One day, I'm going to need it," Jack said.
In his plan to get technology for Earth without relying on the heroic actions of the original O'Neill because he was just a useless slacker, and in his early steps as O'Neill, he had already managed to kill a large number of people, which meant that as a hero, he sucked, he was trying to get a computer with specifications at the Goa'uld level so that they would allow him to interact with them without the need for mice or keyboards, which would make him lose too much valuable time.
If an old piece of junk like the ones in this base were used, Earth would be lost. Carter and Daniel seemed disappointed that he was hiding his plans.
"How urgent is it to get one?" Teal'c asked, to whom he had said he knew some things about the future, and he knew he was telling the truth.
Jack thought. The computer was part of the first step in his salvation plan. And he needed it before the second step in his salvation plan, which should be more than a year in the future. This was just a calculation because he believed he remembered that this event that would become his second step happened after Daniel returned to Abydos, and if he didn't remember wrong, that was a year after the start of the series. So, if things didn't change too much, he would have a year to get a computer, which was the part that couldn't be missing. He had other plans in this first step, but his absence wouldn't damage his original plan. If he lacked the computer, he would indeed be screwed.
"I think I have a year," Jack said. "Don't worry, Teal'c, we'll find one in that time. If we find ourselves cornered, we'll just steal a Goa'uld ship, problem solved." Teal'c nodded seriously, while Carter and Daniel looked at them with concern.
"What I need now is to study Goa'uld. I need to learn at least the basics in a year. Do you think it's possible?" Jack asked Teal'c and Daniel.
"It is possible," Teal'c said.
"Why do you want to learn Goa'uld?" Daniel asked with dismay. Jack looked at him as if he were stupid.
"How am I going to use my new Goa'uld computer if I don't know Goa'uld?" Jack asked, rolling his eyes. Daniel made several grimaces, thinking he was still teasing.
"That would be useful," Carter said, and Jack could almost see her brain sparking, thinking about the possibilities.
"Carter, you can learn Goa'uld, but don't think you're keeping my Goa'uld computer. The first one is mine, and you can have the second one," Jack added when Carter looked disappointed. Carter quickly nodded.
"We can't keep the things we 'bring' through the Stargate," Daniel said seriously. "It's not a store," he added.
"Daniel, the word you're looking for is stealing. And yes, we can keep them if we say they're being used on the base and send information about it. Isn't that right, Carter?" Jack asked. Carter nodded in agreement.
"If it's necessary to study the artifacts, we can keep them here," Carter supported. Since Teal'c had told them that Goa'uld ships were operated with thoughts, she was eager to get an interface.
…
A few hours later, Major Kennedy left the base without making further attempts to take Teal'c as a prisoner. Jack hoped his actions would extend an olive branch to the NID, making them understand what his priorities were, and prevent them from going too crazy in the future. If it didn't work, then it would be a race to see who reached the top of the wall first and positioned themselves to throw stones at the other.
The problem with that plan was that Jack was alone, and these guys were a gang. If he acted recklessly, they could make him disappear. That meant if he had to strike, he had to do it first and leave no trace. That would be difficult. So difficult that it made him wonder if it wouldn't be better to eliminate Maybourne…
"Stop thinking crazy thoughts!" Jack scolded himself. Ending up in prison was the last thing he needed now. He needed to meditate to be able to sleep and rid himself of the despair that led to impatience and stupid mistakes.
Jack wasn't a hero, but he had a plan where he didn't need to be a hero. So everything would be fine; he just needed patience and not to act recklessly, no matter the situation or pressure he felt. For that, he needed to numb his brain with nonsense, like trying to feel the air around him.
He could also drown himself In liquor, but he was on duty, and that was part of the stupid ideas. So, to meditate, Jack thought, heading to the gym where Teal'c probably already was. Tomorrow he might have his first mission, and he wondered If it would be one from the original series or one where nothing important happened to be narrated.
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