Chapter 5
Talin placed the IHFG under his shirt before stepping into the Environment. As General Hammond, in command of this wonderful facility, he walked cockily down the corridors of SGC, saluting passing airman.
He stopped in the briefing room, glancing through the glass that overlooked the gate and control room. Talin shook his head, watching a technician repair the ruined cameras. He had an idea of what had taken place, but the time was not yet ripe to act.
Entering Hammond's office, Talin turned, surveying his surroundings. He preened himself, knowing the viewing public had their eyes on him, even if it was Hammond. Talin cackled silently. 'The most powerful man in the production world, playing the most powerful man of the infamous SGC. How apropos the analogy was.' In the all scenarios he had ever "produced" with all the "prisoners" he had ever placed, he had never once joined them in the Environment. SG1 was different. Talin had wanted to share the limelight. Carcel had tired quickly of the others, but were enthralled by SG1.
So far, they had been 12 months worth of enthralled and would have been able to go strong for another 12 months, maybe more. But Dr. Daniel Jackson had ruined that with his goddamned inquisitive nature. Daniel had made one serious mistake going to the Colonel with his concerns; Talin turned the tables on Daniel, tweaking the Colonel's neurofilter, thereby all but bringing to a grinding halt the friendship between him and Daniel. Keeping his facial expression impartial and rubbing his hands together, he remembered the enormous amount of mail that was received from fans to this regard. God, these players were gold! What fun it was going to be, planning for their finale.
Sitting at the desk, an exact replica of the desk from Hammond's real office on the real earth, Talin was aware that if he opened the bottom left hand drawer, a bottle of Johnny Walker Red and two shot glass would be there. The pictures of the granddaughters on the desk, the awards on the walls…all compliments of SG1's memories. Shaking his head in amazement, Talin could not believe how good these players actually were.
"General Hammond… General Hammond." Talin jumped when he heard the disembodied voice calling his name from the office intercom.
"Yes?" he answered shakily, embarrassment flushing his face when he realized he was startled in front of millions of viewers.
"SG1 is here to see you."
Straightening up in his chair and smoothing his shirt he replied, "Send them in." Motioning the team to the chairs in his office, he drawled, "What can I do you for?"
"Well sir," Jack began. "We have this video tape we would…you see, Carter…"
"Jonas gave me the Kelonan tape from a camera in the lab, portraying Daniel's heroism…And sir, it seems that Jonas was also exposed to the radiation. Not in as close proximity to Daniel, sir, but close enough for him to feel some type of effect."
Placing a quizzical look on his face, knowing this scene had to be played just right, he answered, "Why would Jonas have just handed you this tape?"
"He must've felt guilty sir, Jonas that is…not Daniel."
Carter glanced in the Colonel's directions with the look she had perfected. That 'just shut your mouth, I'm talking' look.
"If I may continue, General. The tape sheds a whole new perspective on the Kelonan people."
"Major, I don't understand the point you are trying to make here," 'Hammond' said.
"Perhaps we should just play the tape for the General, MajorCarter?" Teal'c requested, with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Good idea, Teal'c. There's a VCR in the briefing room…"
"I'll bring it here, Sir. We think it'd be better without all of SGC viewing this tape."
"Very well, Colonel."
They viewed the tape in silence, the three remaining members of the team gauging General Hammond's body language.
Upon completion 'Hammond' was silent for a few minutes. "Has anyone thought to check the authenticity of this tape?"
"No sir, I didn't see any…."
"Any need Major? On the contrary, with Dr. Jackson's ascension and Jonas a persona non grata on his home planet, this tape could allude to his guilt. Let's make sure that it is the real thing, before we take any action."
Just as Major Carter was going to argue regarding the validity of the tape the klaxon's sounded. 'Hammond' lifted his eyes quickly to the time keeping device on the wall, 'right on schedule'.
SG1 and 'Hammond' descended to the control room. "Unscheduled off world activation. Receiving Tok'ra IDC."
As the iris was opened as per Hammond's instructions, Sam smiled as she saw her father exit the wormhole and descend down the ramp. Joining General Hammond, her CO, and Teal'c in the gateroom, she met her father's open embrace with a kiss.
"Missed you, dad," she whispered in his ear. He had left earth almost immediately after Daniel ascended, just when she had needed him, just like when her mother died, leaving her then, too. Shaking her head, not wanting to continue those thoughts, she just hugged him tighter.
"Missed you too, Sam," He kissed her cheek and then held her at arms length. "George, everyone, we need to talk. There's a problem."
Hammond held out his arm. "Briefing room. Now."
"Hi, Jacob. You could at least say 'hi'."
Turning to Teal'c, Jack continued. "Don't these Tok'ra take Ettiquette 101?" The two teammates started to walk with Jack continuing his tirade. "I mean, don't we always say 'hi' when we gate somewhere and meet new people?"
"Before or after we show them our weapons, O'Neill?"
Already standing at the head of the briefing table 'General Hammond' gave them a look one would give their wayward children when bickering over something inconsequential. "Gentlemen…if you are quite done? Please take your seats."
Taking his seat, Jack continued. "Who's it gonna be this time, Jacob? Let's see, last time, it was Daniel…can't forget his one-way ticket to Goa'uld Central. The time before that…me, Carter and Daniel doing a piss-poor imitation of WWF wrestlers with those armbands. Teal'c's turn, now…he hates being left outta the loop."
"Colonel…that's quite enough!" 'Hammond' issued a warning.
"You have it half right Jack. It is Teal'c we need."
Jack turned to Teal'c and silently mouthed, "Told you so."
"But Jack…we need you, too."
"Dad?"
"Sorry Sam, you get to sit this one out."
Sam's eyes opened wide in shock. Daniel was gone… there was no way the remaining members of her team were going anywhere without her.
"A Tok'ra operative who had been a spy in Anubis' camp was returning to relay important information regarding weaponry. The problem is, the operative was captured, not by the Goa'uld but by the natives of the supposed 'safe planet' she had gated to."
"Oooohhhh….I got it, I got it," Jack said, wildly waiving his arm like a school boy with the correct answer. "The Tok'ra want Teal'c and me to gate to the planet and attempt a rescue."
"Yes, Jack…that's the gist of the story…give or take a few particulars. We need…the Tok'ra and the people of earth need to know what they're fighting, with regards to Anubis' weaponry. We need to get that operative home to glean her knowledge…before it's too late."
"Now we're getting to the good part. Why would it be too late, Jacob? Hmmm? Come on, you can tell us."
"Suffice it to say, Jack, the operative is an attractive, young woman on a hostile planet that is patriarchal in its society beliefs."
"This was a safe planet, because….?" Jack questioned.
Jacob ignored the question, continuing. "The Lineer of the planet use and abuse women, Jack. Abuse them to the point of killing them when the whim strikes them."
"So Teal'c and I get to ride our white horses and rescue the damsel in distress."
"Basically…yeah."
"General, with all due respect, I am at a loss as to why I cannot accompany Teal'c and Colonel O'Neill."
"Sam," her father answered, attempting to placate his daughter. "It is too dangerous. Women are the epitome of second class citizens…"
"But, General…." Sam pleaded, knowing that she did not have the ability to just wait by the Stargate for her guys to return.
"Major Carter, the answer is no." Turning to the Colonel, 'Hammond' continued, "Colonel…sorry to say, no option here. If the information the operative has is as important as believed, neither the Tok'ra nor earth can take the chance of the information being lost. Jacob, the coordinates to the planet?" 'Hammond' answered. Talin kept glancing at Carter, not believing that she had been stunned into silence.
"I'll give the coordinates to Sam."
"Major Carter, take the coordinates and program a MALP and UAV to depart the gate in 2 hours. Jacob, once the readings from the MALP and UAV return, arrangements will be made for your departure."
After everyone else stood and exited the room, Sam was left alone with General Hammond. "Permission to speak freely sir?"
"Of course, Major."
Sam cringed at the begging sound in her voice. "I need to go with the Colonel and Teal'c, Sir."
He answered her softly and with feeling. "Major, we just lost a valuable member of the SGC; a person we cared deeply for. I do not want to take the same chance with you. If it is not imperative for you to assist the Colonel and Teal'c, I will order you, if I have to, so stay put. Remember PX3593? Remember the Shavadai…I do not want a repeat of the incident with the blue dress, Major, is that understood?"
Without answering, Carter nodded her had in agreement.
"Dismissed."
Sam restrained herself from running out of the briefing room. Checking a few places, she found the Colonel and Teal'c in Daniel's office. Sam entered the room, eyes wide, she closed the door behind her, leaning up against it for support.
"Carter? You okay?" Jack asked concerned. She shook her head. The Colonel escorted his shaking 21C to the couch and motioned for Teal'c to retrieve a cup of water. Teal'c handed her the cup, which she accepted with shaking hands, finishing it in one gulp. She answered the Colonel's question in a quivering voice. "No, Sir. I think we have a problem."
"Come on, Carter, spill."
"We made a promise, never to mention the dress I wore when we gated to PX3593."
"Carter, refresh my memory…I'm old. I don't remember those numbers after the P."
Obtaining maximum frustration, Carter practically yelled, "Sir, PX3593…the Shavadai…capture…me having to wear that *blue* dress."
"Oh, *that* dress. No Carter, I promised never to mention it."
"As did, I MajorCarter."
"I know Daniel didn't, because he let me read his report before he sent it. So if it was never mentioned at the debriefing and no one mentioned it in their mission reports, why did the General just refer to it? He *knew* about the dress, told me he didn't want another incident like the one that occurred with that dress… and no one told him! Sir, what the *hell* is going on here?"
"Carter…I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
* * * *
Leske had been in the briefing room hundreds of times before. It was as familiar to her as the control room, back home. She had, unusually enough, always felt comfortable in this room. But at home, she had almost always been surrounded by the comforting presence of all of SG1, in a mostly friendly and relaxed atmosphere, the camaraderie a tangible thing.
Today, this time, though, she felt… well, 'uneasy' just didn't do it justice. She felt like she was on trial, which, she supposed she was. She was an intruder in this place, a representative of an alien people. An enemy. Being interrogated. With good reason. All she could do was hope that her implicit cooperation would serve to gain their trust.
Leske looked around the table, at the faces of General Hammond, the real Dr. Fraiser, and, of course, Daniel. How could she even look him in the eye… after what she had done to him. To his friends. It was unthinkable that she could have been a part of this, for so long. She put her elbows on the table and leaned her head down to rest in her hands. What could she possibly say to start making things right?
Leske was pulled violently from her thoughts by the entrance of one Sgt. Siler, carrying a laptop computer and a small jumble of wires. For the briefest of moments, Leske felt a smile touch her lips as her first instinct was to walk up and hug Ronar. She caught herself an instant before her lips spread to show a toothy grin. She had to remind herself that this wasn't *Ronar*. This was the *real* Sgt. Siler. Damn, but this was confusing.
"Sergeant, you have something for us?" the General asked.
"Yes, sir. We've been able to adapt the technology to our own so we could analyze the data," he responded, setting the laptop on the table and opening it up. The wires connected Leske's recording device to the laptop and a couple of the still-frames she had taken of Daniel's file were displayed on the screen.
Dr. Fraiser leaned into the table and turned the computer so she could see it better. She scrolled through the files, her lips moving slightly as she read them to herself.
"Doctor?" Hammond asked, folding his hands on the table.
"Well, sir… this appears to be Daniel's medical file. It's… well, it's flawless, so far as I can tell, sir. Just as I would do things."
"Is that all?" Hammond asked the room. Leske took this opportunity to jump in, head jerking away from her hands as she sat up straight.
"No, sir. Um, if I may?" she motioned to the laptop and Janet swung it around so Leske could play with it. Instead of putting her hands to the computer, she grabbed her own piece of technology still attached to it, manipulating a few buttons, and the screen changed.
"I assume you've already found the neural device?" she asked, giving Dr. Fraiser a sideways glance as she finished inputting her data.
"Well, yes… how did you…"
Janet stopped talking when Leske swung the screen back around to her, the display showing a schematic of the chip embedded in Daniel's brain.
"We put it there. Well, not me *specifically*, but…" Leske shrugged her shoulders as she looked back down at her hands, allowing Janet to peruse the information.
"Leske," said Daniel softly. She marveled at the man's infinite patience as she lifted her head. "What does it do? Did all of us have one?" he asked. Was that a *smile* starting to show on his face?
"Um, well… it's called a neurofilter. When you came to us originally through the gate, they implanted one in each of you, yes. Basically, they serve as a direct link between your brains and the computers controlling the Environment. All of your long- term memories became accessible, allowing us to build the holographic mainframe, program characters and situations, that sort of thing. They could also be used in reverse. To, um… alter your perception and behavior. In essence, um, mind control." She whispered the last few words, only loud enough for Daniel to barely hear. His minute smile faded in an instant as he sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
At the head of the table, General Hammond bristled and straightened upon hearing the visitor's explanation. "Are you saying that your people have had *full* access to everything that Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, Doctor Jackson, and Teal'c know?" he demanded. Leske nodded her head, unable to look at him for fear that his glare could kill. "All of our codes, protocols, defense information, allies… *everything*?!"
"Yes, sir," Leske whispered, hoping fervently that the ground would just open and swallow her up.
General Hammond didn't speak as he slowly rose from his chair, face frozen in an emotionless stare. Daniel knew that look. Dammit, but Daniel *knew* that look. He bolted out of his chair in hot pursuit.
"General!" he shouted as Hammond began descending the steps to the control room. "Please! Sir, you can't do this!" he pleaded, skidding to a halt as Hammond spun around to face him.
"Oh, I can't, can I? Well, Dr. Jackson, from what I've just heard, Earth has been at immediate risk for the last year without even knowing it. I cannot take any more chances now that we *are* aware of the threat." Daniel just gaped at him as the General continued down the steps. He threw a pleading look at Janet, who got up and followed him as he took the steps two at a time. Intrigued, Leske also rose to see what was going on.
In the control room, Daniel grabbed the General's shoulder, trying to talk to him again, but the man was a brick wall.
"Sergeant," he ordered Davis, sitting at the control station. "I want you to lock the coordinates for P8X904 out of the dialing computer permanently, and completely delete all of the GDO codes SG1 has ever had. Set the iris to automatically seal upon receipt of any of those codes, is that clear?"
"Ye… yes, sir…"
"Belay that order, Sergeant," Daniel shouted. That got Hammond's attention quick.
"Excuse me, *doctor*?" he responded, glaring daggers at the younger man.
"I told him to ignore your order, sir. You can't just leave them there!" Daniel shouted right back.
"Sergeant, you have your orders!" Hammond barked.
"Sir, wait! What if there's another option? What if I can *prove* to you that there's a way to get SG1 out of there without any further risk to Earth? I mean, think about it! They've had all that information for what, a year? And they haven't *used* any of it. They're not going to *attack* us, sir. If they were going to, they would have done it already!" Daniel pleaded, plunging the room into silence. Hammond's face began to soften.
Hammond touched Simmons' shoulder and shook his head at the man, silently telling him to hold off. Daniel breathed a sigh of relief, consciously telling his heart to slow down. That was just too close. "All I'm asking is that we just sit down and talk about it. If we can't come up with anything solid in the next day or so, you go ahead and lock them out. But we *can* think of something, sir. I'm sure of it." Daniel didn't blink or breathe as the General considered his request.
"You have 24 hours, Dr. Jackson. After that…" Daniel broke out into a toothy grin.
"Yes, sir! Thank you, sir! You're doing the right thing!" Daniel exclaimed over his shoulder as he bounded out of the control room. On his way, he snagged Leske and pulled her out after him.
Back to Majel's Homepage.