Stargate Force

Chapter 17: Choices

A new day dawned, and a spark of energy crackled within Sam. Gone was the recent funk. This desire to help, however, wasn't a shield against the lingering effects of Palpatine's influence. It stemmed from who she truly was — someone who wouldn't hesitate to aid a stranger in need. Since Kwai Chang Caine's intervention, she felt a greater sense of wholeness, her authentic self reasserting itself.

As she was getting up from her bed, she remembered the conversation she had with her father when she first saw him in a galaxy far, far away:

~~~~~

"You must have missed a special someone along the way."

It puzzled her, "What are you talking about, dad?"

He smiled at her little girl, "I'm talking about not helping yourself. Looks to me, she's in plenty of hurt. Why not go to her and help her?"

She gave a half-smile and full of sadness look, "Thanks, dad."

"Anytime love. That's what fathers are supposed to do. I read it somewhere."

~~~~~

Sam laughed.

Jack asked, "What's so funny."

She turned towards her husband and answered, "I was remembering talking to dad about helping others while I was still being trained as a Jedi Knight. He was telling me I needed to help a special someone — me. He always had the best words to say to me when I was hurting." She sighed and continued, "I was hurting very much, then."

"Yes, you were, love. Happy you are feeling better, now."

"I've been doing fantastic since Caine helped me remove this demonic mental condition from me."

He just smiled.

She walked closer to her husband, "I still want to help everyone in this war, but I'll first help myself to do it."

"How will you do that?"

"I will help others because of me as I have done so many times when I was young."

"You will not complete your vacation, first?"

"How long do I have to stay on this vacation before it becomes a prison cell for me? I still remember being in my last one, and I didn't like it — one damn bit."

He said, "I'll talk to Ituor. Brandon is the one that stated you are to stay on your vacation, but he gave the power to relieve you by the Jedi Council."

"Diplomatic of him. I'll behave myself till then."

"All I'm concerned is that you enjoy yourself until they need you in this war or whatever the Jedi Knights need from you."

She just looked at her husband. Finally, she said, "In that case, tell Ituor I will be ready in two weeks."

He replied in a serious tone, "I'll see if I can persuade him to get you to do something, then."

"I don't want to get into the war, but I'll be an adviser, like a General out of harm's way. The leaders of Earth and I have planned out most of the fighting that Earth will be doing. You said to me the other day the Jedi Knights have changed their plans to allow what we worked on to have a better chance of succeeding."

"I promise I'll do all I can."

They kissed, and Jack took off.

After getting cleaned up and dressed for the day, she decided she would explore the palace more. "There has to be something special about that place. My future persona said that she was waiting for me to communicate with her. She could have spoken metaphorically, but I wouldn't. I think she meant to lead me to the place, for some important reason."