Hammond entered the briefing room. The air was tense with expectation. He looked around at the people sitting there, and smiled.
"We won. The Goa'uld were last seen running for the hills." There was a rousing cheer.
"However," they closed their mouths, dreading the words he was now to utter, "Teal'c is dead. He died killing Daniel Jackson, the traitor. They shot their zats at the same time, each killing the other. Teal'c's body is to be given a burial with full military honours, as close to the Jaffa traditions as we can make it." There was grief at that. Teal'c had been a popular man, his strong presence a comfort to everyone when danger was at hand.
"Daniel Jackson's body is not to be recovered. It will not be buried. Two teams are currently standing watch on the other side of the gate, and have orders to shoot on sight at anyone attempting to take Jackson's body. Everyone here is to consider themselves under direct orders not to interfere." Every word he spoke was broadcast over the intercom system, so that everyone could hear what he had to say.
In the infirmary, Janet Fraiser was seeing to Samantha Carter's wounds when tehy heard the announcement. Janet looked at Sam warily as she burst into tears.
"He was a traitor, Sam."
"He was like a brother to me, Janet. Even if he died fighting for the wrong side, he deserves to be buried. No-one should be just left out there for the crows. We should let him be at peace, Janet."
"Sam, he was like a brother to me, too, but Hammond gave a direct order. If you try and go through the gate to bury Daniel, he'll have you Court-Martialled, and perhaps executed for treason."
"If I die I die, Janet. That doesn't change what's right and what's wrong. It was wrong of Hammond to say he couldn't be buried. Only God has the right to decide who has peace and who must wander restlessly forever. Are you with me?"
"I'm sorry, Sam. I won't disobey orders for a traitor. If you insist on going to bury Daniel, I won't tell anyone. But I won't help you either."
***
*The next morning*
"Unscheduled offworld activation! SG-6's code!"
"Open the iris, Sergeant."
Two figures walked down the ramp. One was Samantha Carter. The other was a member of SG-6. Sam's hands were tied behind her back. Hammond took one look at the two of them and ordered them both to come to the briefing room. Major Davis went with them.
"Airman, what is the meaning of this?"
"We were watching Jackson's body, as you ordered, sir. Then we noticed Major Carter come through the gate. We didn't think anything of it, until she started to bury Daniel Jackson. We drew straws to see who should arrest her and bring her back. I lost. We caught her red handed, disobeying a direct order, sir."
Major Davis looked at Hammond.
"Don't court-martial her, sir. The people on the base respect her. They respect the fact that she was prepared to risk her own life to do what was right for someone who was once her friend, and whom she loved like a brother. And remember that she is in love with Colonel O'Neill, who is like a son to you, and that she is like a daughter to you."
"I can't make exceptions to the rules because of my personal feelings, Major. That would be unnacceptable."
"Sir, the personnel on base get morale from watching the relationship between Carter and O'Neill. They've got betting pools on when they'll first kiss in public. The order was unjust, General. Make an exception. Take my advice, and cancel the order you made. Let Daniel Jackson be buried. He wasn't always a traitor, and it's not your place to decide what happens to his soul after death."
"I will not abandon my duty just because these people are like family to me, Major. Leave me, and have Major Carter taken to a holding cell, as she seems to have nothing to say for herself. I will speak to Colonel O'Neill."
"I have one thing to say, sir."
"And what is that, Major?"
"What I did was right, and even if I knew for certain I would get caught, I would do it all again if I had to. It's not your place to play God, sir. Base Commanders come and go, but God and what is right is constant, and death lasts forever."
"Major Davis, take her out of my sight and get me Colonel O'Neill. Send her through the gate to an abandoned planet. Give her food and water. She may survive. If she's in the right, perhaps God will let her live."
***
"You sent for me, Sir?"
"Yes, Jack. I expect you've heard about what's to happen to Major Carter."
"She disobeyed a direct order. According to the law, she has to be executed."
"Then you agree with me. That's good, Jack. I've watched your career. I want you to take over as commander of the SGC when I retire. You can't let personal feelings get in the way of what you have to do. You learned that in Black Ops. You can find someone else, you'll survive, Jack."
Jack's eyes burned with fury.
"She may have disobeyed an order, General, but the order should never have been made. What Sam did was right, and you're punishing her because you made the wrong decision. If that's what Base Commanders do, then I want no part of it. Sam shouldn't have to die alone."
***
So Sam was sent to an abandoned planet, and Jack refused to speak to Hammond, but spent his time in his quarters, making his own preparations. Hammond meanwhile received a phone call.
"Hammond."
"This is the President. I would suggest you rethink the order you've given, General. It's not right. The personnel at the SGC are all against it."
"You think I should let them determine what my orders are? That I should get rid of every unpopular rule? Hell, Mr President, let the Anarchists make the laws! You only got me into this position so that you could influence other planets, and make yourself famous for discoveries and technological advances my people make!"
"Your refusal to take advice, and your refusal to let Jackson be buried, is misguided, Hammond. I've never wronged you before. I've never tried to manipulate you. You're upsetting the balance, Hammond. Nature is give and take. You can't essentially bury Samantha Carter alive whilst Daniel Jackson is unburied. Give. Take. Give. Take. Have Jackson buried, and restore Carter to her position in the SGC."
"Yes, sir."
He looked over at Davis, who stood in the corner.
"I've been wrong, Major. I hope we're not too late to save Sam. We have to go, now, and get her back."
***
*On Sam's planet*
"How did Jack get here?"
"He has his methods, sir." Jack was holding Sam's body, weeping unconsoleably. Sam hadn't wanted to live a life stranded on a barren rock with no GDO and no hope of rescue, so she had let the elements take her life. And Jack had been too late to stop her. He looked up as Hammond and Davis approached, and rage filled him. He drew his combat knife, and lunged at Hammond. Hammond dove out of the way and back towards the gate, dodging every slash the furious Colonel made at him in his blind rage. Finally giving up, Jack turned the blade on himself, and having plunged the knife deep into his own chest, reached out and placed a kiss on Sam's lips, clinging desperately to her, and he breathed his last breath and died by her side.
Overcome with shock, but with no way to change what had happened, Hammond and Davis went to right the original wrong. Daniel Jackson was buried where he lay, and Abydonian prayers were said over his grave, as he would have wanted. And the people of the SGC went on with their lives, as nothing lasts forever, and the past cannot be changed. There is no value in dwelling on it.
**Fin**
Story Notes: (email fawe@mastershouse.freeserve.co.uk)
CATEGORY: SJ Angst
SEASON/SEQUEL: None
SPOILERS: None for Stargate, massive ones for the Antigone of Sophocles (ie the majority of the plot...)
WARNINGS: This is based on a Greek Tragedy. So character deaths are a par for the course
RATING: PG13 - Some blood
ARCHIVE: Sam and Jack archive if the want it, anyone else if they tell me where they put it, but I'm warning you it ain't that good.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't hate Daniel really, but he was the only one I could realisticly make the traitor... sorry to all Danielites out there. And the reason I'm doing this under the name Iyokaan instead of Fawe is that this isn't typical Fawe stuff and I don't want it associated with that part of my persona (ie I think it's crap, but I have to post it for peace of mind)
Anyways, this is based on the Antigone, which I saw on Monday night (last night), so I feel I should write up who is which character:
Daniel and Teal'c - The two brothers whose names I forget. Teal'c's the good one (the one that begins with a P, if memory serves)
Hammond - Creon (not supposed to be insulting, but Hammond's the only possible choice, though it makes him out of character)
Sam - Antigone
Janet - Ismene
Major Davis - Chorus
President - Tyresius
Airman - Messenger
Jack - Haemon
Think that's the lot... BTW, I've let out a lot of plot detail because it's too complicated for my tiny little mind and I've just done a history essay so I ain't really in Classics mode and this isn't one of my set texts until next year anyways (Medea, Electra and Hippolytus this year, oh joy oh rapture). Deep breath. Hope you enjoy.
CATEGORY: SJ Angst
SEASON/SEQUEL: None
SPOILERS: None for Stargate, massive ones for the Antigone of Sophocles (ie the majority of the plot...)
WARNINGS: This is based on a Greek Tragedy. So character deaths are a par for the course
RATING: PG13 - Some blood
ARCHIVE: Sam and Jack archive if the want it, anyone else if they tell me where they put it, but I'm warning you it ain't that good.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't hate Daniel really, but he was the only one I could realisticly make the traitor... sorry to all Danielites out there. And the reason I'm doing this under the name Iyokaan instead of Fawe is that this isn't typical Fawe stuff and I don't want it associated with that part of my persona (ie I think it's crap, but I have to post it for peace of mind)
Anyways, this is based on the Antigone, which I saw on Monday night (last night), so I feel I should write up who is which character:
Daniel and Teal'c - The two brothers whose names I forget. Teal'c's the good one (the one that begins with a P, if memory serves)
Hammond - Creon (not supposed to be insulting, but Hammond's the only possible choice, though it makes him out of character)
Sam - Antigone
Janet - Ismene
Major Davis - Chorus
President - Tyresius
Airman - Messenger
Jack - Haemon
Think that's the lot... BTW, I've let out a lot of plot detail because it's too complicated for my tiny little mind and I've just done a history essay so I ain't really in Classics mode and this isn't one of my set texts until next year anyways (Medea, Electra and Hippolytus this year, oh joy oh rapture). Deep breath. Hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognisable characters, settings, etc, are the property of their respective owners. Any original characters and plots are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended. ... [ read more ]