FOLD  

by Biltong

" Are Fold, or Norm?"

Colonel Jack O’Neill cast a sideways look at their resident linguist.

" Oh, Danny Boy, translation needed, and quick."

Daniel Jackson nodded, trying very hard not to look overawed at the almost seven foot tall warrior who had addressed them. He stared at the curious man, a half smile on his face as his agile brain tried to grapple as what the heck a Fold was.

" Danny." Jack asked through gritted teeth. " Hurry up, will ya?"

" Jack, I just don’t know…"

" Well, do something," Jack snapped.

" Ah what the hell." Not having a clue as to what the leather-clad and vaguely Viking like warriors meant, Daniel took a small step forwards and did what he always did when put in a tight spot. He introduced themselves.

" Hello, We are peaceful travelers from the planet Earth. My name is Daniel Jackson, over there we have Colonel Jack O’Neill, Major Sam Carter, and the guy with a tattoo on his forehead is Teal’c."

His smile began to die when the tall people stood stony faced, not saying a word.

" Um, Jack…help?"

Shit. Jack O’Neill should have known that this mission wasn’t going to be a milk run. He should have realized that fact the minute General Hammond said that it was.

" Colonel", he had said, " I have just the sort of mission SG1 need after encountering all those nasties on M6J L9D. According to the MALP, an uninhabited planet rich in Naquada and other minerals like Copper and, we hope, Platinum.

All I want you to do is take your team and find out what is there. This is an uninhabited planet firmly in a summer cycle. Just the sort of relaxing milk run SG1 need to get them back into the groove. By the way, how is the foot? And Dr Jackson? Wonderful. See you at 14H00."

Shit. He should have known that it was too good to be true.

Questions that Daniel, he who should know everything, seemed to flunk out on.

Okay, time for plan B.

" Hi Guys. We came through the Stargate…ya know, the Chappa’i?" Jack gestured with a semi-gloved finger at the now dormant gate. " We mean you no harm," he said, trying to look as unthreatening as he could whilst armed with an Armorlite assault rifle slung over his shoulder.

The tallest of the five warriors eventually reacted. " We know from where you have come, we are not stupid. What we wish to know is whether you are Fold or Norm."

He scrutinized SG1 closely, his eyes a clear light blue in a dark face surrounded by long black dreadlocks.

Daniel stirred. " We mean you no disrespect, but we do not understand. Please, can you explain the difference between a Fold and a Norm?"

The leader looked down at him in surprise. " A Fold is forever, a Norm is not."

He gestured to his fellow warriors. " We are Norm’s, sworn to guard the Eye."

Now, we wish to know, are you Norm’s…or are you Fold? Please answer soon, or we will be forced to ask in a most unpleasant manner, something we all abhor."

Jack blinked taking in the surreal display of manners coming from a seven-foot tall warrior carrying a spear as tall as he was.

" Well", he said thoughtfully, ignoring the worried looks that Daniel was casting his way, " if you are Norm’s, then I guess that we are Norms also."

The man took a step back, looking happy.

" Good. And as their leader, you are willing to attest to this fact?"

Jack shrugged, looking at the rest of his team. " Carter, Teal’c… Daniel?" He gave the linguist a hard stare. " Can I attest to this?"

Daniel still had a distracted expression on his face. " Jack, I need more information…"

Jack O’Neill shook his head sadly. " No time Daniel."

Straightening his six foot two frame, he stared into the warrior’s eyes. " We attest to being Norm’s."

The man nodded, satisfied. " Then you will be welcomed to Ugrith as soon as your attestation has been verified." He gestured towards a large tree, old and gnarled and pockmarked with countless marks. " If you would be so kind as to stand in front of the Seefold tree?"

Nodding, trying very hard not to let his confusion show, Jack did as bid.

" Now what?" he asked, smiling at his apprehensive friends.

" Now we verify your attestation."

With that he took a run at Jack, burying the long spear into Jack’s midriff, carrying him back against the tree until he had completely run him through and buried the sharp tip into the wood behind.

" Jack!"

Daniel couldn’t remember the last time he had been so horrified. Trading a look with an equally appalled Sam and Teal’c, they tried to make their way to their impaled commander, only to be stopped dead in their tracks by the other six warriors.

" Hold." The leader held out his hand in the universal sign for stop.

" This is our way. If he is Fold, he will repair himself. If he is not, soon we will free him to either live or die, as the Gods wish."

" Oh God." Carter and Teal’c whirled to face a distraught Daniel as he suddenly clutched at his hair.

" Fold…Gould. The words have just been mangled by time. Dear God." He stared at the leader. " Jack must be set free before he dies. We are not Fold. We are most definitely Norm’s."

The leader nodded soberly, eyeing the sagging man critically. " He has passed the attestation period. Take him, we welcome you to Ugrith as fellow Norm’s."

Daniel glared at the tall man as Sam and Teal’c rushed towards the Colonel’s unconscious form. " Your welcome will have to wait. We must take our leader back home for treatment before returning, perhaps with others." He hesitated. " Will that be a problem?"

To his relief the man smiled. " The Norm’s of Earth are welcome anytime." The attestation period has been taken with courage by your leader, thus allowing you free access to our world, anytime."

Daniel nodded gratefully, moving to the DHD and rapidly pressing the glyphs for Earth.

A milk run? He had heard the General speak to Jack. Some milk run this had turned out to be. Hammond had jinxed the mission, that along with faulty intel from the MALP coupled with his colossal ignorance on what a Fold was had turned the mission into a clusterf…"

" Daniel Jackson, we must make haste immediately." Nodding to the large Jaffa tenderly cradling Jack’s limp form, he keyed in the GDO and followed them through without a backwards glance.

*Einde*

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