The Anunnaki Unification, Book 3: A Stargate SG-1 Fan Fiction Story

by Michele Briere

  Jack scratched at his chest and handed the baby to her. “Maybe I should make my wanderings a little more global tonight.”

  He hadn’t tried a world-wide sweep since his melt-down after the first time. None of the other ‘walkers’ were nearby to keep watch on him, so he began to head down into Daniel’s den. A mental reminder made him stop, turn around, and head back to his bedroom.

  “Sam,” he gently touched her shoulder. She snuffled and turned. “Are you awake enough to come down to the den?”

  “What? Why? Is something wrong?” she sat up, pushing her hair as she turned the lamp on.

  “I don’t think so,” Jack said. “Jerrie just pointed something out and I think it’s worth a walk around the planet. I want you to sit with me and keep an eye on me. Just in case.”

  She nodded, stretching as she slid out of bed and followed him into the living room and down into Daniel’s private space. The closing of the door seemed to shut out all time and space, giving them the sense of being between the worlds. Jack sat on the floor and tried to find his center. After the third try, he groaned and leaned his head back against the couch.

  “Push up a little,” Sam said, tapping him between his shoulder blades. He moved forward a few inches and she slid down behind him, catching him between her legs. “Alright, lean back against me.”

  Jack settled against her chest, finding comfort. “Good,” she said. She reached around and smoothed his brow with gentle fingers. His hands rested on her thighs and he felt himself begin to drift.

  His first stops were with family members. Everyone was fine. He’d have to talk with his mother, though; she was hiding quite a bit of depression. He realized that his father and Megan had died almost a year before. The town was basically alright, just the usual riff-raff out and about. …. Daniel was fine as was Stacey and everyone else in the Applegate house. He considered teasing Daniel, but not with a little girl sleeping next to him.

  Jack used a mental image of a world map to navigate his way around the country. He had seen the Earth from space enough times to have a clear image in his head. He mapped it as though on a search mission, stopping to concentrate at key locations. Some of the stops didn’t make sense to him, but his mind wanted to stop anyway. Nothing seemed to be happening there, except his brain acting like the puppy sniffing out some invisible object. He made side-notes on possible problems in the Middle East, but that was nothing new. He found himself being shaken.

  “What?” he asked, his tongue feeling a little thick.

  “You really need to learn how to breathe when you do that,” Sam said in his ear. Jack took a deep breath and relaxed further into her. She slid her arms around his waist. “Anything?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” he said, giving his head a shake. “The usual crap here and there.”

  “Well, maybe try again tomorrow,” she suggested. “There may not be anything happening yet. I think Jerrie has a point –you do get restless just before something happens. You may be unconsciously picking up on someone’s intentions.”

  “Honey, I tuck the kids in all the time,” he said. “I go for a glass of water, and I check in on them. I am frequently up in the middle of the night and nothing happens.”

  “Nothing?” she questioned.

  “Well….. nothing I’d consider alerting the media about,” he said. “I do get jumped, once in a while, through no fault of my own….”

  Sam slid her hands across his stomach and into the silky silver fur. His body may have rejuvenated, but for some reason his hair remained gray and on its way to silver. The coloring was a sharp contrast to his tanned skin. Many women, and a few men, tended to follow him with their eyes as he walked through town. “I wouldn’t say you’re entirely blameless,” she told him. She pressed soft kisses along his jaw line.

  Chapter 57

  Daniel and Stacey got home from their trip to meet Martin and Joy’s family just as word came through that Bre’tac was on death-watch. Experienced SGC people, people who knew of Bre'tac's importance on the galactic stage, came to a standstill as SG-1, original team and current team, went through the gate to check on the old man.

  They had just walked through the gate to Chulak when a small body shot out of the brush and threw itself at Jack.

  “Hi, buddy,” Jack greeted the boy, swinging him up. “I take it your fathers are here.”

  “Yes, Papa,” Daka said.

  Jack looked around and saw Jonathan and Shara coming from the direction of the bush that had been growing into the path.

  “Hey. Where’s Teal’c?”

  Jonathan thumbed back toward the town. “He’s been spending a lot of time at Bre’tac’s bedside,” he said.

  Jack put the boy down, his heart feeling heavier than the child. “Damn. I had hoped he wasn’t as bad as rumor made him to be. Colonel, get the SGC on the horn.” Reynolds gave a nod and went to open the gate for the communications.

  “He’s old, Jack,” Jonathan reminded him. “He’s well past life expectancy already. Most people are just waiting. More and more Jaffa are beginning to come in with the excuse of visiting family.”

  “Has Teal’c been officially brought onto the council?”

  “As of last week,” Jonathan said with a nod. “It’s been kept quiet, though. There are still a few people out there who would like to see the Jaffa nation weakened by Bre’tac’s death. We’re standing by while Teal’c gathers his inner circle together. There will be a vote for the leadership two days after Bre’tac dies. We’re pretty sure it will go to Teal’c, but you can never tell around here.”

  A quarter of a mile up the path, they were met by a party of Jaffa. “Tek’ma’te, O’Neill.”

  Jack held out his hand and clasped forearms with Rak’nor. “Tek’ma’te. How are you, Rak’nor?” Not much for small talk, at the moment, the Jaffa warriors led the way back to the village.

  “Jack, how’s our girl?” Jonathan asked. Jack reached into a pocket and pulled out an envelope. Jonathan began looking at pictures, smiling as he passed them to Shara.

  “The little one is walking and getting into everything,” Jack said. “And the big girl is dating Josh Reynolds.”

  Jonathan glanced at Col. Reynolds.

  “He’s a good kid,” Reynolds insisted.

  “Yes, he is,” Jack said, giving Reynolds a pat. “I agree. She’s been smiling and humming, lately, so let’s see where it goes.”

  As they came nearer to the village, more off-worlders could be seen. It wasn’t only Jaffa who were gathering for the impending death of Bre’tac.

  “Where is he?” Jack asked Rak’nor. The man led him to Bre’tac’s home where there were many people waiting outside. Most of the women were keeping things clean and making sure people were fed, while the men talked and sparred. There were Tok’ra and Anunnaki warriors mingling with the Jaffa. Jack assumed the queen was around somewhere. He found her at the table in the main hall of Bre’tac’s house. Inanna stood and greeted Jack when he went in, pecking his cheek.

  “He’s been going downhill for a while, and he began to spiral early this morning,” she told him.

  “That bad?”

  “A few more hours, maybe,” Enki said. Jonas Quinn was at the table, his hands wrapped around a mug.

  “Jonas.”

  “Jack.”

  The usually amiable Quinn wasn't in a mood for small-talk, either.

  “Where’s Teal’c?” Jack asked.

  “Inside,” Enki said, pointing his beard toward the stairs. Jack went up, glanced at the guards, personal students of Bre’tac, he thought, recognizing a few, and went into the room. The window was open, a light breeze blowing the curtains. Teal’c stood at Jack’s entrance. The big guy’s face was drawn into a sorrow Jack hadn’t seen since Teal’c wife had died. Jack took his forearm and then went to the side of the bed. Jack thought he was asleep, but Bre’tac opened his eyes. He wasn’t able to focus very well, but he knew Jack’s voice. Jack sat gently on the side of the bed.r />
  “Master Bre’tac,” Jack said softly.

  “Hhh…uman,” Bre’tac whispered. Jack smiled; what was once an insult, had turned into a running joke between them long ago.

  “Will ya stop calling me that?” he begged. “What is this I hear about you leaving us? Who’s going to kick my ass, if you’re not here?”

  Bre’tac’s hand twitched and Jack took it, locking the weakened fingers around his arm. The old man tried to say something.

  “Master Bre’tac has left a request of you, O’Neill,” Teal’c rumbled. “He wishes for you to join me as nar’roog.” Jack looked at him. “It is a place reserved for close family members. To set the funeral fire and assist in the freeing of his spirit.”

  Jack looked into the old man’s face. “I would be honored, Master Bre’tac.”

  The gnarled hand on his arm twitched again and Jack found his hand being drawn upward. Not knowing what Bre’tac wanted, he let his muscles relax and his hand be taken until it rested on Bre’tac’s chest.

  “I don’t….. do you need me to hear you?” Jack guessed. “Inside?” Bre’tac gave a small grunt which sounded like an assent. Inside, Jack found waves of anger and disgust. Behind them fear was being fought. Fear at losing a battle. Fear of the unknown.

  “There’s nothing to fear,” Jack leaned in and whispered. “Remember Daniel? Remember all that he told us? All that we’ve learned? You can still fight, but you’ll be doing it someplace else. Your enemy is gone. You die free, Jaffa; you die in victory as the greatest warrior who ever lived.”

  Some of Bre’tac’s pride seemed to resurface and he looked in Teal’c direction. Teal’c bowed deeply. “You will be remembered for all eternity as the warrior who conquered the Goa’uld and freed his people and the galaxy of enslavement, Master,” Teal’c promised.

  Several hours later, people in the house looked up when the door opened. Teal’c and Jack stood at the top of the walkway.

  “Master Bre’tac is gone from us,” Teal’c announced. “He died free, as we all may now die free.”

  Jaffa left the house to spread the word as several women went upstairs to prepare Bre’tac’s body. “We will attend him,” Teal’c said, putting a hand out to stop them. The women hesitated; it was unusual for the warriors to deal with the cleansing. Rak’nor and Rya’c directed their brothers to gather the supplies from the women and went into the room. Jack joined them.

  There was no preservation of the body on Chulak. When non-Tau’ri heard about the custom of pumping the body full of chemicals, most didn’t believe it. Teal’c was horrified when he learned about it. There wasn’t much that horrified Teal’c. Jack had already changed his Living Will to prevent that from happening to him. When he was dead, he wanted to be cremated right away. Although, if he Ascends, that part of the Will will be null and void.

  He wasn’t sure what to do, so he followed the instructions of the warriors while Teal’c, Rak’nor, and Rya’c dealt with Bre’tac’s body directly. All the bedding was gathered and set aside, all signs of illness taken away. Jack looked at Bre’tac’s bared stomach. The symbiote pouch was still visible, but the edges had begun to knit together. At his age, Bre’tac’s pouch would never have completely closed like Teal’c’s was doing. Jack stepped up to the bed and reached out his hand. After years of listening to the doctors in his life, he knew some of the body’s cells continued to function for a time after death. He concentrated and the warriors stepped back, watching. When Jack lifted his hand, the pouch was sealed shut and the tattoo on Bre’tac’s forehead was gone. All signs of Bre’tac’s former slavery had disappeared. Teal’c inclined his head in gratitude while the other warriors around the room looked at O’Neill with a strange light in their eyes.

  By the time they were done, SGC teams had begun to arrive. Sam, Daniel, and General Hammond, were waiting with Inanna. Sam’s eyes and nose were red and Daniel’s eyes were glittering suspiciously. Outside, the courtyard was filled with people, all silently waiting for Bre’tac to be brought out. Ships had begun to crowd the sky. One of the ships was Tau’ri, but it was hard to tell which one at that distance.

  The body of Bre'tac was lifted onto a carrier and hoisted into the air by six men Teal’c, Rya’c, Jack, Rak’nor, and two others, and carried down the stairs as everyone stood silently, making a path for them to walk through. Whispers began as people noticed Bre’tac’s changed appearance. They set him on a table in the middle of the courtyard for people to walk by and view the body. Considering how many people had already gathered, it would take a while.

  Jack felt the presence of people next to him and knew Sam and Daniel had joined him, waiting for the Jaffa to view their leader before off-worlders took their turn. Teal’c stood at the front, near Bre’tac, his strong presence making it known that the Jaffa were not without guidance. All around the village, teams from the SGC and the Prometheus, the Earth ship above, stood honor guard and continued to do so even as Bre’tac was eventually lifted once more and carried for the three-mile hike outside the village to a sacred grove used for funerals.

  A pile of wood had already been formed into a pyre, with Bre’tac’s bedding stuffed in between the timber to be used as kindling. Warriors lifted Bre’tac to the top of the pyre, laying him to rest. Teal’c and Jack took the torches from two warriors and stood at the head and foot of the pyre. As one of the moons arose over the treetops, the pyre was lit.

  One by one, people came forward and tossed small items or spoke words into the fire. Many warriors tossed their old, wooden training staves into the fire, sending them on with Bre’tac for him to use in his afterlife. When Teal’c indicated that it was time to leave, Jack allowed Prometheus to beam him up and he stumbled to his quarters where he crashed onto the bed. Someone came in and undressed him and slid the sheets over him. The comforting feeling told him it was his partners. His hair was stroked and his forehead pecked just as darkness fell.

  A soft stroke at his cheek woke him and he forced one lid open.

  “Hey.”

  “….caffeine.”

  Sam handed him a mug. “I thought I just went to bed,” Jack groaned, leaning back and pulling a pillow over his face.

  “You went to bed ten hours ago,” he heard her say. The pillow moved.

  “I did?”

  “You did,” Sam nodded. “You did a major healing and your energy was sapped with the long day.”

  “Major healing didn’t bring Bre’tac back,” Jack said. She put her mouth in the middle of Jack’s chest.

  “I know. Jack, removing Bre’tac’s tattoo and pouch was a kindness, but you may have started something unexpected.”

  Jack looked at her and sat up, putting the pillow behind his back.

  “Alright, tell me.”

  “The Jaffa are beginning to think you’re come kind of ….. deity.”

  Jack swore.

  Sam nodded. “Yes, that about covers it. The Jaffa who know you are laughing about it. Do you know how much it takes for a Jaffa to laugh?”

  Jack thought about it. “Well, that Teal’c, he’s a crack-up….”

  “Where's Daniel?”

  “He's walking around with his camera and recording everything. Once the Jaffa understood the concept of photography and video, they approved of Bre’tac being memorialized. People are lining up to tell him their own ‘Bre’tac’ stories. From what I hear there are some whoppers going on, but he’s getting all of it. Quite a few troops supplied him with digital chips when he ran out of his own. Teal'c approved it.”

  “As long as the Jaffa are okay with it, I’m okay with it,” Jack said. “The records do not go anywhere except my office when he’s done. I will release them after I’ve reviewed them.”

  “He thinks the recordings could be cut into a book and possibly a DVD, if you’ll approve. Not only historical value, but also major interest to anthropologists and sociologists. He said something about never getting to witness a true, uncontaminated pagan rite.”

  Jack tugged on
Sam’s wrist and she leaned forward to rest against Jack’s chest. “Have Paul take care of the reviewing and editing; he seems to have a talent for it. A memorial would be nice. Our own stock footage can be cut in.”

  “Jack?”

  “Huh.”

  “You need a shower.”

  The SF didn’t blink when Jack emerged with Sam following behind. At least only Jack had damp hair. They beamed down to the village. Most of the visitors had left, only the Prometheus was still in orbit and that was because Jack was off-world and more than a few ships tried to enter the solar system to take advantage of Chulak’s present weakness only to be turned away at the sight of all the allied ships crowding the space.

  “Sir.”

  Jack saw Col. Davis standing a few yards away.

  “Honeymoon over?” Jack asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Paul said with a nod and a small smile. “The timing sucks a bit, though. Sir.”

  “It sucks big time, Colonel,” Jack agreed as they continued to walk. “I’m glad you’re back, though.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Jack took a piece of fruit from a table as they went into the council building that they were borrowing with permission of the Jaffa council. Many of the locals were looking at Jack and whispering as they passed.

  “What’s that about?” Paul asked. Sam told him what Jack did for Bre’tac.

  “Cat’s out of the bag, now,” Paul said.

  “I know,” Jack grumbled. “Not quite sure what to do about it.”

  “Don’t do anything,” Daniel said as he came within hearing. Jack looked at him. “Just continue to be yourself. No matter what you say or do, people are going to interpret their own way, so you may as well not bother giving them any more ammo.”

  “Daniel, Jack being himself is enough to give people plenty of ammo.”