The squealing alarm echoed throughout the city and Sha’re picked her son up from his crib, trying to protect his delicate ears while he screamed upset by the loud noise that wouldn’t stop.
“What is that?” she snapped over her radio at the control room as she tried to comfort her baby.
“We don’t know,” Peter replied, “I’m trying to switch it off.”
Sha’re frowned, “Is something happening?”
Before Peter could answer the alarm stopped and Sha’re sighed in relief, “Find out what happened,” she ordered as she turned back to trying to calm Mel.
As Sha’re finally managed to calm her son, the chime sounded on the room’s comm. System. Touching the panel she saw Jeannie’s apologetic face appear on the screen before her.
“What did you do?” Sha’re demanded harsher than she meant but the past half hour trying to soothe her screaming baby had shredded her nerves.
“We’re setting up several simulations for Bra’tac,” Jeannie explained hurriedly, “Unfortunately, one of my team got a bit mixed up and rather than fixing the program to sound the alarm…” she trailed off apologetically.
“Please ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Sha’re pushed a hand through her hair, “Our younger inhabitants especially did not like it.”
“Is Mel okay?” Jeannie asked biting her lip.
Sha’re nodded, “He is now. I apologise for snapping at you.”
“Do you want to meet for dinner?” Jeannie asked, “I’ll call Janet and we can chat.”
Sha’re let out a long sigh, “That sounds nice. I have to get back to work and so do you. Just make sure we do not have any more accidents.”
“I promise,” Jeannie shrugged, “And I’ll send out a city alert apologising.”
Jack scanned over the list in front of him before looking up at the others in the conference room, “Are we all agreed?”
Jacob, Bra’tac, Sha’re, Edward and Ferretti all nodded their agreement, it had been a hard few hours as they completed their task of choosing which members of the city were returning on the Star to Earth.
“Now what do we do?” Sha’re asked Jack.
“Now we sort through who needs some training and what our actual plan is,” Jack replied, “Which means you’re going to have to let John contact his father so we can find out what the state of play is on Earth.”
Sha’re nodded, “Once he returns from the mission to find the Furlings I will talk with him.”
Jack chuckled, “We’ll need to talk to Thor for that. He said that they’ll back in a few days.”
Sha’re nodded, “Bra’tac, I believe you have Jeannie working on some simulations for you?”
“We need those going back to Earth to be prepared for what they may face,” Bra’tac reminded her, “Jacob and I have some ideas for this which Jeannie is assisting with.”
Sha’re nodded before taking a breath, “I have been asked by Halling if we would allow some of the Athosians who have volunteered to assist in the fight.”
“It’s not their fight,” Edward said softly.
“It is,” Bra’tac argued.
Edward frowned at him confused, “How did you work that out?”
“They are family,” Bra’tac told him, “How many of those who came from Earth are now part of a family with an Athosian? Siler and Diayla, Radek and Tali, these are the examples that you are closest to, but there are many more examples.”
“He’s right,” Jacob noted, “We’re no longer different groups thrown together. Tok’ra, Jaffa, Earther, Athosian – we’re now all Lantean.”
Sha’re smiled and brought up another list, “This is the list Halling gave me, I suggest we look at it and make a decision.”
*********************************************
Daniel could feel the other members of his team at his back as they stayed together watching the aliens move towards them.
“Are these the Furlings?” Frisson asked nervously.
Daniel shook his head, “I don’t think so. Everyone stay here.” Daniel flicked a look back at Ronon to make sure he obeyed; Daniel had discovered very quickly that the man’s loyalty to Sha’re meant he had a bodyguard he neither wanted nor needed.
Stepping forward Daniel kept his hands raised so they could see them, “My name is Daniel Jackson. We’re peaceful explorers.”
The leader moved forward, Daniel saw a long white tail with black streaks swing out from behind the black clad body.
“And yet you carry weapons?”
“For protection,” Daniel replied, he licked his lips, “Who are you?”
“I am Margee, matriarch of the Felin’ee,” she introduced herself proudly and Daniel heard a hiss of shock from someone behind him, “And you are trespassing.”
“We did not intend to,” Daniel replied, “As I said we’re just exploring.”
Margee tilted her head to him, “Your friend mentioned something you were looking for specifically.”
Daniel hesitated, he could see the others were surrounded and Margee’s people had already proven how fast they were so he took a chance.
“We’re from the city of Atlantis,” Daniel said, “And we’re trying to find a race of people called the Furlings.”
Margee chuckled, “No.”
“No?” Daniel asked confused.
“The correct pronunciation is F’rrrrr’li’,” Margee told him, the name sounding more like a purr with a click at the end than a word.
Daniel shrugged, “Unfortunately I’m not able to pronounce that,” he looked back at his team and saw Teyla give him a quick nod before he turned back to Margee, “Can you help us?”
“You are hidden here,” Teyla noted as the team walked through the streets of the Felin’ee colony.
Margee nodded, “Our society is small and although we are consummate warriors, as you witnessed, we do not have the ability to fight vessels from above. We have been given the cloak by the F’rrrrr’li’ to protect us.”
“There aren’t many in this galaxy who have the ability to detect the presence of your shield,” Rodney noted, he had his hand resting on Laura’s back as he could feel several people watching her along with Teyla.
“You must forgive my people,” Margee told him, “As I am sure you have already guessed our society is matriarchal, they are interested to see how both Teyla and Laura fit into your command structure.”
“We usually do what they tell us,” John replied before anyone else could.
Laura and Teyla rolled their eyes as Margee laughed, “I was sure of that.”
“Where exactly are we going?” Daniel spoke up suddenly, he’d been silent as they’d walked taking in the world around them but now he was getting edgy.
Margee turned to him, “To our guest quarters, this is where the others must wait as you and I go to make your application to the F’rrrrr’li’.”
“Hold on,” John snapped, “Daniel isn’t going anywhere alone.”
“Sha’re would kill us,” Rodney murmured to Teal’c who nodded gravely.
Margee stopped walking and moved to Daniel, “The only way you shall be able to meet with them is if you and you alone come. Otherwise you should return to Atlantis now.”
Daniel let out a long sigh before nodding, “Okay.”
Daniel had been getting more and more nervous ever since Margee had agreed to take him to meet the Furlings while the rest of the team waited. The moment Daniel agreed Ronon had objected a lot, joined in quickly by John, Teyla and Rodney.
“The sooner we find the Furlings, the sooner we can get back to Atlantis,” Daniel argued, “And before you forget let me remind you of the pile of our weapons that ended behind the armed guards when we were at the ruins.”
Daniel had left before any of them could think up a counter argument wondering just how slowly his wife was going to kill him for doing this. But then he reminded himself that he was doing this for her and for Mel no matter how angry she was with him Daniel knew he was right.
“Where exactly are we going?” Daniel asked his guide as they continued deeper into the colony.
Margee smiled at him, “To meet Hih. He is the representative of the F’rrrrr’li’ here. This is an honour, Daniel Jackson. Hih only agreed to speak with you as your people have taken over a city that once belonged to friends of his.”
“We’re refugees,” Daniel retorted, “We went to the city of Atlantis in the hope that it would bring us safety. And I’m coming to the Furlings for their help to protect my wife, my son and over a hundred other people – I’m not looking for any honour or recriminations. I’m looking for help.”
The bright light surrounding Daniel faded and he found himself in a large room that reminded him of Thor’s ship. He turned to Margee who was still standing at his side.
“What now?”
“Hih will join us in a few moments,” Margee assured him, “You do not seem very surprised by your surroundings.”
Daniel shrugged, “Well I live in Atlantis and I’ve frequently travelled by Asgard Air. So, this isn’t exactly a surprise.”
Margee tilted her head to one side with what Daniel thought might be a smirk but he didn’t get the chance to explore it as another light appeared in the room. Daniel watched as it faded slowly into a tall figure and he let out a long breath as he came face to face with a Furling.
*********************************************
“Are you alright?” Janet asked Sha’re as the younger woman sat playing with her food.
Sha’re looked up as though she just realised she wasn’t alone at the table, “Yes, no, almost.”
“Almost?” Jeannie asked with a small laugh.
Sha’re let out a long sigh, “I just have a feeling that my husband is about to do something very stupid.”
“I used to get that feeling a lot about Daniel,” Janet said with amusement, “Almost every time he went through the Gate.”
Sha’re let out a soft laugh, “It is just a feeling, Janet. I know it is silly but I always worry about Dan’iel when he is not in Atlantis.”
“You know he has Ronon watching over him as well as Teal’c,” Jeannie chuckled, “No matter how much he hates it.”
Sha’re nodded with a smile, “We need to change the topic.”
“Agreed,” Janet grinned, “Guess what I found out earlier today?”
Cassie smiled as Jack appeared from round the corner deep in thought.
“Hey, kiddo,” Jack pulled her into a big hug happy for to see her, “You look in a very good mood.”
“I am,” she replied.
Jack rolled his eyes, “Tell me.”
“No.” Cassie laughed, grinning as he pulled her close to him, “I am not letting you get involved in something that doesn’t concern you.”
Jack stopped them walking and turned her to face him, “Cass, I have watched you grow from a frightened little girl into this amazing woman who stands before me, which means I am more than comfortable in interfering in your life. Plus I saw you and Rya’c having lunch earlier.”
Cassie frowned, “Rya’c and I have a lot in common. Not to mention as you pointed out I’m not a little girl anymore.”
Jack laughed, “You’ll always be in my eyes. So, is there anymore dinner dates planned?”
“None of your business,” Cassie cried slightly annoyed.
“It’s completely my business,” Jack said as he started them walking forward again, “I have to know if I can tease Rya’c or not.”
Cassie started to laugh and rested her head against him for a second, “I love you, Uncle Jack.”
“I should hope so.”
*********************************************
“You are human,” Hih noted as Daniel studied the new occupant to the room.
Hih was the same height as Daniel; he looked slightly human though his features were softer than a humans the alien had opalescent skin which had a faint glow to it.
“Yes, I am.”
“Margee has also told me that you and your people have taken over the city of Atlantis.”
Daniel caught the darkness in the tone but remained very calm, “We colonised the city when we escaped from our home planet. A race called the Andurians has taken over it.”
Hih’s surprise gave Daniel a moment of satisfaction.
“You recognise the name I see,” he said, “We’ve persuaded the Asgard to let us prove this to them but I came here to ask for the help of the race whose technology they stole.”
“It is an impossibility that any of our technology could have been used by them,” Hih said, “We designed it specifically so that it could not be.”
“Well something went wrong,” Daniel retorted.
Hih tilted his head thoughtfully and started to pace the room, “How do I know that you are telling the truth?”
“You could come to Atlantis and meet the people who have been forced to flee from their home,” Daniel suggested.
Hih shook his head, “There is a much simpler way than that.”
Daniel frowned, “Which is?”
“My race is telepathic,” Hih explained, “If you consent I shall record your memories for the others. With this testimony we will be able to give you an answer to your request for help.”
Daniel grimaced, “Is it safe?”
“It is,” Margee assured him, “Hih will only scan your memories for the information.”
Daniel took a deep breath before he nodded, “Okay.”
Daniel sat in the chair he’d been led to nervously gripping the arms.
“You have stated that the Andurians have replaced one of your people with one of their own,” Hih said.
“No,” Daniel corrected, “She was never one of us, never human. She was planted by them as a sleeper until they could activate her.”
“I need you to recall from the moment you met…”
“Carter,” Daniel supplied the name darkly.
Hih nodded, “Please focus on when you met Carter. Your memories of this time and as you move through it I will record these for the council to view.”
Daniel nodded but as Hih activated the recorder Daniel’s mind slipped back further to how he became involved in the Stargate programme. As the memories flowed Daniel found he was gripping the arms of the chair tighter and tighter as he relieved the worst moments of his life thanks to a woman he’d once called friend.
As the light faded Daniel saw Hih and Margee watching him before he slipped into unconsciousness.
John paced the room they were in. They’d been waiting for almost two hours for Daniel to return and all of them were getting more edgy with each passing minute.
“He should be back by now,” Rodney noted from his seat by the window with Laura at his side.
“Daniel Jackson knows what he is doing,” Teal’c reminded them, “He will return once he has finished presenting our case to the Furlings. There is no need to worry.”
Ronon looked at him bemused, “You’re not worried?”
“I trust in his judgement,” Teal’c replied.
“The Felin’ee have given no indication that they have any hostile intent towards us,” Teyla spoke up from where she was sitting, “They have always been described in all the legends as warriors but also a people of great honour.”
“Then we wait some more,” John sighed, “Great.”
It was almost an hour later when the doors opened to the room they were sitting waiting in. Teal’c moved instantly as he spotted Daniel’s unconscious form being wheeled in on a gurney.
“What happened?” John demanded sharply as Laura quickly checked the unconscious man’s pulse.
“Daniel allowed Hih to record his memories of the Andurian occupation of your world,” Margee explained, “The process is quite exhausting. He will sleep for some time but he will be fine once he wakens.”
“We should get him back to Atlantis,” Laura said, “Just to be safe.”
Margee nodded, “Of course. I will escort you back to the Stargate. Once Hih and the F’rrrrr’li council have reached a decision we shall contact you.”
“We will await your communication,” Teal’c said as he lifted his friend’s unconscious form.
Heliopolis Main Archive
A Stargate: SG-1 Fanfiction Site
Cuckoo In The Nest
by LE McMurrayKapitel Bemerkung:
Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.Next part is in progress.
Enjoy
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