R is for Reassessment (PG)

[sg_fignewton]

Written for Bra'tac (and Jaffa) Alphabet Soup for Gen Fic Day!

Summary: Bra'tac dismisses the idea of Tau'ri as worthy allies... but then he has the chance to actually meet them. Spoilers for S1, particularly Bloodlines. ~1,200 words. Rated PG.

Comments

[thothmes]

It really had never occurred to me that Bra'tac would originally see Teal'c's rebellion as throwing away a great opportunity, but now that you mention it, of course he would.

I love this piece, because at every turn Bra'tac finds a take-home message that is just slightly off from what I would have guessed, and yet each and every time I think it over, it seems very right.

Having him set aside the issue of Texas to mull over later is a lovely touch. Clearly by the time he asks if Hammond of Texas has fallen in battle, he has reached some conclusions!

[sg_fignewton]

Your Jacob-Bra'tac icon is a thing of joy! :)

It's always fun to play with perspective - in this case, projecting how Bra'tac would take our cues and understand them. I'm so glad it worked for you, even if not quite what you expected.

Oh, I love the way Bra'tac feels about "Hammond of Texas." Even Jack couldn't compare (and we won't mention Landry. Oops, I just did.)

[thothmes]

Thank you. I saw that screen cap, and the caption just popped right into my head

[sg_fignewton]

Just found I hadn't answered this comment - sorry!

It's interesting that you specifically expect eps to go differently than they do. Is it a question of characterization or outside events? If the latter, that's fine; if the former - well, sometimes it's because the writers trend toward OOC in order to fit the storyline, which is always annoying (Bill Lee, I'm looking at you and your fluctuating competence).

I do think Bra'tac found "Hammond of Texas" to be a sort of kindred spirit: someone who earned his respect the same hard way that Bra'tac did himself. And yeah, Jack he would like but not respect, and Landry - ugh. "Defensive truculence" really does sum him up well.

My favorite Bra'tac-Hammond bit is when they first meet in Serpent's Lair and Bra'tac, identifying George, runs his hand tentatively over his own skull and says, "You are... Hammond. Of Texas." That, and threading the needle in S3. :)

[thothmes]

As far as the show went, I was thinking of plot mostly. Some TV shows, once they start off, you can pretty much guess where they will end up, and how they are going to get there. I didn't find that to be true with Stargate, by and large.

I absolutely agree with you about Dr. Lee's fluctuating competence, but I handwave it by saying that not everyone can DO ALL THE THINGS like Sam, and that poor Dr. Lee was sometimes pushed out of his depth. Also I'm betting that he's a very good scientist, but not a brilliant one. He lacks artistry, but if Sam points out a path to him, he can follow it to it's conclusion. It's when he doesn't have outside guidance that he seems to get into trouble.

[sg_fignewton]

Ah! Plot twists are a good thing. :)

I like Bill Lee a lot, which is why I found his fluctuating competence so frustrating. I do like that he's competent in his own field and not nec'ly elsewhere, actually. But I'm thinking more of, say, Daniel's irritation with him at the beginning of S9. Completely OOC for both of them, I'd say.

[thothmes]

Yes, although Daniel was clearly rather irritated with Jack's competence in the beginning of Season One also. I think that like many very bright, very competent people, Daniel doesn't completely trust the competence of others until he sees it proven. Sam understands what Daniel is trying to say about stellar drift right away. Teal'c is clearly a very competent warrior and the SGC's Goa'uld expert. Hammond is given a pass after he lets Daniel make a fool of himself blathering on about what needs to be done, when Hammond has already told him that the President has approved the concept of exploration. Jack needs to prove he isn't just a military grunt for a while.

Mind you, Daniel likes people right away as a default. He has sympathy for them, he wants them to thrive and be happy. He can place himself in their shoes, but he gives no free rides on competence and intelligence.

[sg_fignewton]

While I do agree that Daniel values competence in people and has little patience for those that make excuses (LOVE how he tweaks the scientists in Fifth Race!), that doesn't really fit with Bill. Bill has been around since S4, involved in various projects. He goes to Honduras with Daniel! He isn't someone who has to prove competence so late in the game - unless, of course, the writers want him to appear bumbling. And now we're back full circle, I think. :)