Rating: G
Category: Crossover. A serious piece in the Stargate Jedi
series.
Summary: The Jedi's first Veteran's Day on Earth.
Archive: M_A, Rauhnee's archive list, my page
http://www.shadowynd.com/~elaynas_den/index.html
Feedback: It's my first G. Feedback would be appreciated.
Spoilers: Minor ones for Stargate SG-1.
Notes: This isn't my normal holiday fluff and smut, but it was
the only type of story that seemed fitting for this holiday. It
probably makes more sense if you've read the other Stargate
Jedi fics.
My thanks to Norma Jean and Rauhnee for the super speedy
betas. Disclaimer: The boys belong to the great George Lucas,
Stargate SG-1 to Double Secret Productions, Gekko, Showtime,
MGM, whomever.
Everywhere the eye could see were soft hills of perfectly
manicured green lawn, dotted with rows and rows of white
crosses and stars. The number was staggering to see, the
physical representation of those who had given their lives in
the service of their country. The effect of the unbroken line
after line of stark white against vibrant green was almost
hypnotically dizzying, straight lines blurring with diagonal.
Standing in orderly rows close to the casket with the other
military members of the Stargate project, Jack, Sam and Janet
wore their dress uniforms, every edge of the blue jackets and
white shirts and slacks or skirts crisply pressed and in place.
Belt buckles, buttons and medals shone. As members of the
Special Services, Daniel, Teal'c, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan did not
possess official uniforms beyond the blue or khaki work
uniforms for Stargate missions. They had opted for dark suits,
white shirts, and ties, remaining behind the Sergeant's
civilian family and friends with the other scientific
personnel. Teal'c wore a black fedora to hide the gold symbol
of Apophis on his forehead.
Qui-Gon rested one hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, comforting him
as they listened to the minister speak of the Sergeant - his
life, his family, his love for his young wife. He let the
religious aspects of the service, the words of God and heaven,
slip through his mind unheard. With a brief mental thought he
reached out to his Padawan. / / Why do some of the graves have
stars instead of crosses? / /
/ / It's...// Obi-Wan concentrated, searching the memories
gained from Daniel. / / ... the Star of David. For the Jewish
members. / /
Qui-Gon could only see the backs of the family members. The
shudders that shook the Sergeant's wife, his mother leaning
into her husband, the brother's hand discreetly wiping tears
from his eyes, were the expressions of their grief.
The minister yielded to General Hammond, who spoke briefly and
simply of privilege and loss. The privilege of commanding a
young man eager to do his duty; the dreadful loss of his life
and the emptiness that followed. He did not speak the truth he
was forbidden to say - of the brave sacrifice in the secret war
against the Goa'uld. Nor did he perjure himself with the lies
of a training mishap. Bad enough when he had to force that
statement through his lips during the call home that no
commanding officer wishes to make. The falsity would not be
repeated at this solemn occasion.
At his nod, seven soldiers raised their rifles, firing shots
in the air in unison. They fired again and once again, honoring
the deceased with a 21- gun salute. A mournful bugle played
taps as the flag was removed from his casket, folded into a
triangle, and handed to the widow.
Scattered murmurs of conversation began as the service
concluded. Expressions of sympathy, practical questions of the
location of the wake, idle comments made to break the silence
of grief. People moved around, as if seeking direction at a
moment when life has revealed it will give no easy answers.
Teal'c, Daniel and the Jedi remained together, everyone
hesitant to speak. Gesturing to the surrounding environment,
Daniel finally offered, "This must seem odd to you."
"Odd? In what way?" Qui-Gon asked, not understanding the
question.
"All this land. All these markers. It's a bit different from
funeral pyres."
"It is different from the Jedi, yes. But there are many worlds
in the Republic that bury their dead."
"It would be an interesting study," Daniel replied. "On
whether Jedi philosophy decided that bodies should be released
into the Force before or after Coruscant ran out of space. An
examination of whether religious practices were dictated by
practical economics and land-use availability." He blinked for
a moment as if realizing the words that came out of his mouth.
"Oh god," Daniel moaned, partially dislodging his glasses to
rub at the bridge of his nose, "talking about academic studies
at a funeral sounds really...dorky."
Qui-Gon smiled sympathetically. "I have attended many funerals
on many different worlds, Daniel. It is always difficult to
talk in the midst of loss."
Patting Daniel lightly on the back, Jack offered, "I think he
means saying dorky things is a universal constant."
The scientist jumped slightly, not having noticed the approach
of Jack, Sam, and Janet. "Thanks, I think," he replied
ruefully.
"We would like to show you how the Jedi remember." Qui-Gon
gazed at the small cluster of friends. "It will require a
mental connection." His request was met mostly by eager nods.
As scientists, Janet and Sam found exposure to telepathy
fascinating. Though his brief bond with Obi-Wan had been
unplanned that event had changed his life, and Daniel welcomed
the chance to recreate its closeness. Teal'c admired the power
of the Jedi's minds and was curious to explore.
Jack sounded suspicious as he asked, "It's not going to be
like last time, is it?" While he appreciated the Jedi's
abilities, he secretly found experiences which required mental
connections unnerving.
"The technique is similar, but the results will be quite
different," Qui-Gon replied.
"Good," was Jack's assertive response. Janet arched her
eyebrows at Sam, who studiously avoided her gaze. The Doctor
mentally shrugged and promised herself that some day she would
get to hear the full story of what happened on Coruscant.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turned their heads slightly to gaze into
each other's eyes. Their shields dropped, allowing the free
exchange of thought. Quickly, they erected a combined shield
around their innermost minds, leaving only their surface
thoughts accessible.
Daniel was easily pulled in, his prior experience bonding with
Obi-Wan making him receptive to the mental tug. Jack came next,
followed by Sam, Janet and Teal'c. Concentrating on the mental
linkage, Sam lost conscious awareness of her physical
surroundings and flinched when General Hammond placed a hand on
her shoulder. From the lack of conversation and blank
expressions on his people's faces, the stocky General realized
something unusual was happening. At a gentle request from
Qui-Gon's mind to his, Hammond entered into the invisible
circle.
"So what now?" Daniel asked. The Jedi were carefully
maintaining a series of shields, not allowing an uncontrolled
free-flowing exchange.
"Now think of the Sergeant," Qui-Gon instructed. "Only him.
What you remember about him."
The first angry image came from the General. The fear, the
hopelessness, the rage generated when seeing two members of
SG-3 dragging the Sergeant through the gate, his wounds
obviously life-threatening. The fourth team member following on
their heels, still wildly firing back through the watery
surface, the bullets disappearing into the wormhole. Janet's
mind leaped in with the frustration of using everything learned
from her years of medical experience, knowing with one glance
that her efforts would be unsuccessful but unwilling to concede
without a fight. The overwhelming wish to sit down and cry
undermining her professional detachment as she called the final
halt and noted time of death.
The others recoiled slightly, unaccustomed to unrestrained
emotion from two who were always so carefully controlled at the
base. Powerful feelings roiled behind the detached veneers,
feelings that could rarely be freed.
"Back further," Qui-Gon said softly but without chiding. "Back
to happier times. Before the loss."
An image from Teal'c leaped out, remembering an evening spent
playing ping-pong as the Sergeant patiently showed the large
Jaffa how to hold the paddle, watch the ball, and surprise your
opponent with a devastating spin. Sam contributed next, a quiet
evening working in her lab when the Sergeant unexpectedly
dropped by with a fresh cup of coffee and a few minutes of
chat. He'd listened quietly to her excited explanation of a new
technological discovery and smiled with an "I don't understand
a word you've said but I'm glad you're happy" look. From Daniel
floated a memory of the entire SG-3 team and many other
Stargate members, in full combat gear, helping to rescue him,
Sam, and Jack from the clutches of Hathor. The Sergeant had
been almost indistinguishable from the rest of his comrades
until Daniel caught the flash of a quick, reassuring smile
amidst the grim sternness. Jack echoed that memory, adding the
sense of comforting relief and pride, to know that such sturdy
devotion and courage was supporting him.
Other memories drifted forth, minor moments, lengthy
conversations, a practical joke, an anguished decision. Some
were vibrant, striking images seared into the brain, others
almost forgotten incidents coaxed out of the dim recesses by
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Not the sum total of the man, for none had
shared his childhood or his early training, but the portrait of
his life during his time at the Stargate project, seen as
snapshots and videotape within the collective mind, experienced
by all to remember the person who gave his life for his world.
The sound of slamming doors didn't register, as the others
piled into cars and drove off. Time passed but the eight stood
in the bright sunshine, not moving or talking, the stream of
thoughts flowing until they trickled off. As the Jedi carefully
broke the mental connections, the eight shifted restlessly,
awakening muscles which had stiffened from standing in one
place.
"He may be with the Force," Obi-Wan said quietly, "but he will
always be with us in our memories."
Somber voiced, Jack added, "He was a good man, doing the best
job he could."
Nods affirmed his statement as Sam hugged Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.
"Thank you. That was a beautiful way to remember."
That embrace broke the stillness and for only moments, a
massive group hug ensued, each person's arms stretched around
several different people. Everyone squeezed and held tight to
imprint this memory in their mind, basking in their united
friendship but wondering if some day this moment would be
shared after another funeral service. Then Hammond stepped
back, once more the General, his posture military-perfect. He
nodded briskly to the Jedi as the rest copied his example,
detaching and coming almost to attention. "My thanks also,
Master Jinn."
"And now?" Qui-Gon asked.
Janet said, "He had an aunt in Virginia. There's a wake at her
house."
Qui-Gon's expression inviting more explanation, Jack
continued, "A wake is like most American events. Food. Talking.
That sorta thing."
"And then," Hammond said, "we do what soldiers do in war. We
go back to fighting."
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