Murphy's Physics
by Lothithil
Part Eleven
Murphy's Eleventh Law: "There is never time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over."
O'Neill let his breath escape him in a silent puff as the sound of the
marching jaffa passed them and faded away. He couldn't hope that they'd
forget about them for long, but at least now he had a bit more time to
think.
Who the hell were these jaffa, anyway? He had seen different markings
on their brows, black glyphs designed to indicate to which goa'uld the
jaffa served. He hadn't recognized any of them, and had not had an
opportunity to bring it up in polite conversation. He doubted that
these jaffa were familiar with the concept of polite conversation.
And what in hell were they doing on Planet Murphy? The chance of
coincidence was right out; one goa'uld al'Kesh was improbable enough...
but two? Unless the first one had managed to get off a distress call,
which could have brought reinforcements but might also have attracted
unwanted attention from rival goa'ulds. The other option was that this
al'Kesh was here at the same time they had arrived, but had remained
cloaked and hidden while the other two fought it out. Sent by one of
said rival goa'ulds, perhaps?
It was seeming less and less likely that So'len's little secret was a secret anymore.
O'Neill became aware then that his small companion who was sitting
rigidly beside him. Tegan had not uttered a sound, remaining as still
as a mouse when the hawk glides overhead. He did not tremble or cry, as
one might expect a lad of his age to do. As the footsteps finally faded
away completely, Jack heard the slightest escape of pent breath.
O'Neill resisted the urge to put his arm around the boy. He remembered
what it meant to be small and frightened, but badly in need of dignity.
He contented himself by leaning over until his arm touched the small
shoulder.
"You know why those guys are always so grouchy? Their false gods won't
let them wear any padded boxers under their armour. It is cold and it
pinchs; take my word for it. And it makes enough noise to wake the
dead."
Tegan's whispered response was barely loud enough for Jack to hear,
"Stealth is unnecessary when ends can be accomplished by terror. This
is the way the Goa'uld have instructed their jaffa. To them it is
preferable to appear to be able to conquor by pure strength. In their
eyes such is more fitting behaviour for a god."
Jack peered through the darkness toward the boy. Such words did not
seem right coming from the mouth of a child, yet the wisdom was
undeniably sound. "Tegan," Jack said carefully, "How do you know that?"
A faint luminescence appeared, cupped in the boy's fingers; he had
placed the device on his hand again, and was staring into its golden
light. "I remember it."
Jack stared at him. Who was this boy, and how could he remember such
things if he was not Blended? Questions without answers surged through
his mind, but O'Neill remained quiet, giving them no voice. He needed
to concentrate on what was required of him, which was to escape and
regroup with the rest of SG-1. He and the kid had to get out of this
cell.
"Hold that thing up, Tigger. Let me see if I can find a door." Tegan
complied, the light growing stronger as he unsheilded the device. Jack
found grooves along one wall that seemed to indicate an opening. He
prized and pushed on the panel, but it made no move. "I guess we're
going to have to wait until they open it, and hope that there aren't
too many to take at once." Jack pressed his ear against the wall,
trying to hear if there was a guard outside. He heard nothing, but the
walls were thick. "They want you alive, so you just stay in here when
the door opens. If things go badly, at least you'll be alright. Get
away while they're busy with me."
"Use this," Tegan said, and the took the device off of his hand,
plunging them into darkness again. "If you focus your thoughts, you can
use it as a weapon."
Jack took the thing, but laid it in the boys palm again. "I can't do
it, Tigger. I don't have the mojo to use goa'uld technology."
"Mo-jo?--"
"Never mind, kid."
Tegan activated the thing again, lighting up his face. Jack could
clearly see his bright eyes, regarding him with trust and
determination. "I can help, Jack. When the jaffa come, I shall assist
you. It may be that we shall both escape."
Jack grinned down at him. "No 'maybe's about it, kid. As soon as they come back, we are so outta here."