“'First class travel, instantaneous arrival at destination, no customs
declarations. Adventure unknown; probable danger and possible death.
Escape and rescue on occasion, not necessarily in that order or without
injury. Free infirmary care upon return, if alive enough to require
it…'” Daniel squinted down at Jack, pausing in his reading over the
older man's shoulder.
“Quiet. I'm not done.” Jack's dedicated hand continued to put the finishing touches on his notes.
“'Wind-proof tents and all-season sleeping bags provide optimal comfort
for those wet and cold nights in the bush. Overnight protection and
security optimal, in the form of log fires and alternating guard duty.
Traveling companions include bald alien with internal serpent, master
marksman and tracker (in case of alien abduction);
computer-engineer-astronaut-scientist genius whiz specializing in the
language Technobabble; well-rounded and handsomely elegant Black
Ops-trained air force colonel with expert leadership skills; and geeky
archeologist.'” Daniel paused for a moment, cancelled his retort, and
read
the final line. “”Packaged meals provided for that true campfire
experience'… Okay… and this is…?”
“Potential want ad for a new team member. Good stuff, eh?” Jack grinned up at him.
“Right. You planning on replacing the geeky archeologist, or the Technobabble genius?”
“Nah, none of you. Who'd actually buy into this, I ask you? And yet it's true, every damn word.” The grin had already faded.
“Not every word.”
“Okay, I missed an adjective. Friendly geeky archeologist. Anyway, this isn't a want ad. It's a travelogue. This year's best offworld adventure vacations.”
Daniel heaved a sigh as he looked aimlessly around the otherwise empty briefing room. “You were listening to the briefing, right?”
Jack glanced up at him curiously, before again contemplating his
hand-written brochure, complete with doodled illustrations of balmy
beaches lined with snakeheads. “Sure. We're going to P something. Fiery
torches, wizards, Photoshop.”
“Fier feathers are plants, they're thought to have some sort of
longevity effect on the indigenous lizards so why not on humans, and I
have to pick up some new batteries at the camera shop.” Daniel was
still staring, partly at the ongoing doodling, graffiti, or nonsense on
the back of Jack's initial project notes, and partly at the man whom he
trusted with his life while on those first-class travel planets.
“I'm the team leader, Daniel. Trust me, I was listening.” Jack pushed
back his chair and stood to leave. Hammond, Carter, and Teal'c were
long gone - at least three minutes ago, anyway. “Except to the parts
when Carter was talking. Or you.”
“Oh good, I was worried for a minute.”
“I'm just saying,” Jack announced logically to his still captive
one-man audience, “who in their right mind would pay for one of these
trips?”
“No one. They're pilot packages, that's why they pay us to try them.”
“Oh. Right.”
“So, you'll be ready in an hour, right?”
“For what?”
“Quit it, Jack.”
“Right. Ready in an hour to go to some barren place with two hundred
year old lizards and most likely poisonous plants. Sure, why not.”
Daniel stared after his CO as the other man left the room. Despite the
humor, he couldn't help wondering if there was something more to all
that, deeper than the sarcasm and offhandedness. Was Jack having second
thoughts about his team and what they did to earn their pay? He was
right; their jobs really were out of this world, literally and
figuratively. He was also right about every word being true, even the
geeky archeologist. Daniel sighed for the second time, and exited the
now-empty briefing room.
Jack was waiting for him, and as the younger man ambled along he looped
an arm across Daniel's back. “Hey, don't worry. I forgot to mention
there's never a dull moment and the abundance of trees is always a
pleasure, great for relaxing. And by the way,” he added, squeezing
Daniel's shoulder, “I'd apply for the job as long as the
afore-mentioned travel partners never come to their senses and quit.”
As the elevator doors opened, with a pat on the back Jack left Daniel
and turned down the hallway towards the inner offices.
Daniel couldn't help calling after him before the doors closed. “Geeky archeologist included?”
The reply echoed down the empty hallway. “Don't know any.”
Daniel chuckled as the door slid shut. “Just an insane one,” he muttered, “who loves his holiday plans.” And his job.
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of MGM,
etc. This story is to be used for free entertainment purposes only.