Looking up from the folder in front of him, the general asked, "So, you're convinced that these people are willing to help us?"
"Yes, sir, I think so. They seemed to have no problem whatsoever with dispatching that one particular Goa'uld. Although, sir, just a friendly reminder, be polite. She has this thing for rude people..."
Smiling at his second in command, General Hammond replied, "I'll keep that in mind. Very well, based on what you've reported, we'll keep the welcome mat out for them. In any case, good job, people. You're done for the day, enjoy your evenings." At that, he rose and left the briefing room.
Looking over to his other team mates, Jack put on his best innocent face, and asked, "So, anyone up for beers and movies?"
Looking down at the papers in front of her, Sam replied, "No thanks, sir, I'm going to take a quick look at that subspace transmitter they gave us. It may have some very interesting things to teach us about our new friends."
Looking sheepish, Daniel replied, "Sorry, Jack, I was going to go over the files from P3X-439. SG-2 reported some writing on one of the collinades there that may be Ancient."
Raising his eyebrows, Jack replied, "Ah, yes, doohickeys and rocks. Much better than beer and movies. Very well, go forth and...do your things....that you do....so well." Turning to Teal'c, he said, "So, T, buddy, pal, how about it? Up for some movies?"
Looking his usual self, Teal'c replied, "Forgive me, ColonelO'Neill, but I too must decline. I have already agreed to spend this evening assisting with combat training for the new trainees."
Jack got a slightly evil grin at that point. "Ah, yes, let the former first prime beat the crap out of the newbies. I love watching the videos the next day....OK, T, have fun."
Getting a slight nod and raised eyebrow in response, the Jaffa left the room.
"You know, sir, if you're bored I might have a challenge for you...."
Turning, and with a slightly concerned look on his face, Jack replied, "Major, tread carefully...."
Trying to conceal the grin, and failing, Sam replied, "Nothing like that sir. Just a little crossword puzzle....and maybe a chance to get your money back from last week? Double or nothing...."
***
The next morning found Colonel O'Neill shaving, with a piece of newsprint stuck to his bathroom mirror. He hears his phone ring, shoots the offending instrument a dirty look, and continues to shave.
"Ow!" Jack wiped his face where he had cut himself, and looks down at his finger. Shrugging it off, he started to rise his razor off when his phone rings again. "What?!"
"Jack! I've been translating the ancient writing in the collinade SG-2 discovered on P3X-439..."
"Daniel, I'll be there in half an hour..."
"It talks about a library of knowledge Jack. I think the monument contains a repository of the Ancients."
Jack continues shaving with the phone to his ear. "Repository you say."
"Yeah. That thing that grabbed your head, made you talk crazy, nearly killed you."
"It sounds like we should stay away then."
"Well, considering what we know now, we should be able to find another way to access the information. I mean, Sam's been able to use Tokra crystals to find a way to transfer all kinds of different energy..."
Looking at the phone and seeing shaving cream, Jack put the phone in the water to wash the cream off of it. Seeming totally casual, he rinsed the phone, and put it back to his ear, just in time to hear.... "We should go there as soon as possible.
"Yeah?"
"So?"
"I'll be there in half an hour."
"Ok, bye ..."
"No, no, no, wait. Don't hang up. I need a seven-letter word."
"I told Sam I wouldn't help you."
"Well, then this will be the one thing she doesn't know. Up, down, charmed, blank."
"Strange."
"Yeah. Well thanks anyway."
"No the word you're looking for..."
But Jack never heard him, as he hung the phone up and finished his morning shave.
***
Later that morning, while standing in an elevator, Jack was still working on his crossword. He felt the gaze of the airman behind him looking over his shoulder, and turned to look at him. Shaking his head, the airman looked away with a smile trying to escape his lips. As the elevator doors opened, the airman set new records for getting out of an elevator. Looking out, Jack saw his team standing there, awaiting his arrival.
"How long have you been waiting there?"
Looking annoyed, Daniel replied, "You said half an hour, an hour ago."
Sam added, "General Hammond's waiting."
Grinning slightly, Jack handed Sam the crossword as he walked past. "Excuse me."
"The fate of the world is hanging in the balance and you've been sitting in your truck finishing this?"
"I believe it was double or nothing."
Looking amused, Sam read for a moment. "Ok. 23 across, the atomic weight of boron. Answer is ten."
"Yes?"
"You wrote the word fat."
"And your point?" Looking annoyed, he grabbed it back, and stalked to the briefing room."
Rounding the corner and through the door, he greeted the others waiting. "Harper, Reynolds."
Popping to attention, the lieutenant barked out the tradition Air Force greeting: "Sir!"
The colonel, looking much less impressed, simply started with "Jack ..."
Picking up her cue, Sam began. "SG3 spotted a Goa'uld reconnaissance drone while on the planet where they found the colonnade. Since that obviously means the Goa'uld were aware of it's existence, SG's 3 and 5 will be providing backup, if General Hammond approves the mission."
"What mission?"
Walking through the door, General Hammond interuppted. "Good morning SG1." Turning to Jack, he added, "Nice of you to join us."
"Good morning sir."
Taking his seat, the bald Texan began. "I've heard Doctor Jackson's report on his translation. Given what happened the last time you encountered something like this, I'm surprised you're so willing to take on this mission."
Looking slightly confused, the colonel replied, "So am I, sir."
Appearing calm, Daniel interuppted. "Jack?"
"Daniel?"
"Why wouldn't we wanna gain access to the greatest repository of knowledge in the known universe. Once and for all finding the Lost City of the Ancients, and use their advanced technology to save the entire galaxy from the evil oppression of the Goa'uld?"
"Well, there's that."
Colonel Reynolds piped in, "From the mission file I've read, this is one of those things that whips out from the wall, grabs your head and re-arranges your brain right?"
Looking worried, Daniel raised a hand, and tried to head off what he knew was coming. "Sort of."
"Sort of?
Sam clarified: "It basically downloads the entire library of Ancients knowledge into a persons mind. That massive amount of data then slowly unspools into your brain, eventually taking over your consciousness completely."
Daniel tried to help. "Except for it wasn't meant for a physiology as primitive as ours."
Looking hurt, Jack added, "Easy fella ..."
"Sorry."
The younder Harper chimed in next. "I thought the report said you almost died last time sir."
As the colonel fixed the younger man with a death glare, Teal'c spoke up. "The Asgard were able to remove the information from O'Neill's mind before he was lost to us."
"So why don't we just shoot Thor a call, get him standing by as back up."
Looking contrite, Sam replied, "We tried sir. He's not responding."
General Hammond took over again. "None of our alien allies have been particularly reliable of late. If something happened again...."
Jack piped up. "Hey, what about the Federation people, they seem to be pretty far along. Can't they help? I mean, they should be here in a few days, right? And we know they've got the stuff to cut right through Anubis's super-special shields, doesn't that show what they're capable of? And they even gave us that nifty interstellar phone thingy to reach them with, why not just dial them up?"
Sam spoke up again. "It's possible, sir, but to be honest, their technology and knowledge is from another dimension altogether, and seems to be based on totally different scientific principles. I'm not sure how much help they'd be, or even if they'd be willing to help with something like this. We really have no diplomatic ties with them at all."
Thinking and talking fast, Daniel spoke up. "General, no one's saying that anyone should directly interface with the device. We're suggesting that it be extracted and brought home for study."
"The engineering team that studied the last one of these devices you found determined nothing after six months of research."
Sam fielded that one. "We believe that, that device's power source was depleted when Colonel O'Neill activated it."
Turning back to Jack, Hammond added, "Recent intel suggests that Anubis has become a serious threat to dominate the rest of the Goa'uld in a very short time. We have to consider that Earth is at risk now more than ever. If the knowledge contained within this device can lead us to technologies we can use to defend ourselves, we must pursue it.
Turning to Daniel, Jack just had to nitpick. "Why didn't you just say that?"
"Sorry," the archaeologist replied, almost believable.
Nodding and making his decision, the general ended the meeting with an abrupt, "You have a go. And be careful people."
***
Several hours later, General Hammond came running into the control room as the wormhole engaged. "Report!"
Looking at his screen, Walter replied, "Recieving SG-3's IDC, sir. Colonel Reynolds reporting in."
"Open the iris!" Grabbing the radio microphone, Hammond bellowed, "SG-2, report!"
Colonel Reynolds replied, "General Hammond, we're coming through the gate, taking fire!"
Moments later, as people started running throught the event horizion of the wormhold, General Hammond turned and ran for the stairs down. As he entered the gate room, SG-1 came through, Sam and Daniel helping Jack. "What happened?"
Sounding annoyed, Jack replied, "Didn't quite go according to plan, Sir."
Looking worried, Daniel said, "We have to get him to the infirmary."
Sounding even more annoyed as he stalked out the door, Jack added, "I did it again."
***
Later, in the briefing room, General Hammond was letting his frustration show. "How the hell did this happen?
Obviously concerned, Daniel answered him. "He did it deliberately sir."
"In order to access the knowledge of the Ancients," Teal'c added solemnly.
Nodding, Daniel continued. "He, we, figured we'd never get another shot at it."
Trying to be positive, Sam spoke up. "We know from experience that the Ancients knowledge will essentially overwrite the Colonel's brain. We're hoping that during the transformation process he'll become aware of the information we're looking for."
"And then?"
Looking stricken, she answered him. "And then it will overwhelm his nervous system, and the Colonel will...."
"What," Jack announced, very calmly. "Meet my maker? Pay the piper? Reach the pearly gates? Start pushing up daisies here and there?" He looks around at his stunned team's faces.
George, looking concerned, said, "You should be in the infirmary."
"Why? We all know exactly what's gonna happen. In a few days I start speaking some strange language. A few days after that I start doing things beyond my control, and a few days after that, it's goodnight my someone, goodnight."
Jack doesn't notice Sam's eyes close, nor Daniel's grim nod.
"So with your permission sir I'd like to take the weekend to get some personal things together."
Sticking up for her CO, Sam interjected, "The last time, it did take a couple of days before we noticed any change in the Colonels behavior."
Nodding, Jack finished up with, "I'll be back. Ready to work."
"Permission granted."
"Thank you sir. Now if you'll excuse me, my favorite television show starts in half an hour." He turns and walks down the stairs, missing the looks of worry and disbelief on his friends faces.
***
"Captain, you're needed on the bridge."
Exiting her ready room, Captain Janeway looked at Chakotay. "Report, Commander."
"Long range sensors are detecting a large number of ships gathering around a planet at the extreme edge of our sensor range. Their power usage and configuration matches the vessel we encountered several days ago."
"Are they in our path? And will they see us?"
"No to the first question, and I doubt it to the second. We see no signs that they're aware of us at this point."
"Well, let's keep it that way. Mr. Paris, alter course as necessary. keep them just at the edge of our sensor range, as far away as possible."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Turning to Tuvok, Janeway asked, "Tactical analysis. Judging by what we saw from our previous encounter, we should be able to defend ourselves against them should they spot us, correct?"
Looking concerned, the Vulcan replied, "Against several such vessels, yes. However, this would appear to be a large armada, in excess of 100 vessels so far scanned. Even with our shielding and weapons advantage, we would be overcome by the sheer number of ships targeting us simultaneously. If even half the ships we have so far observed were to coordinate their fire, our shields would fail in approximatly 3.9 seconds."
Nodding, the captain turned back to her second in command. "Well let's make sure they don't get the oppurtunity. We'll keep well out of sight, and far from their combined weaponry. Maintain course and speed, and make sure we know where all those ships are, at all times."
"Understood." Lowering his voice, he added, "I just hope the people in this dimension's Earth are able to help us."
Looking thoughtful, Katherine replied, "I don't know, Chakotay. I have the strangest feeling that we'll be able to help each other. I keep thinking I know about this....like something from a dream I had."
"A dream?"
"Yes. Only thing is, everytime I start to try to think about it, I get a sudden desire to visit a beach in the middle of nowhere...."
Heliopolis Main Archive
A Stargate: SG-1 Fanfiction Site
Of Higher Beings
by ForeverDisturbedKapitel Bemerkung:
Sorry it's taken so long to update, real life has been really killer of late. Most of this chapter is pretty vanilla, straight from one of my favorite episodes, "Lost City." Great excuse to watch reruns over and over....
After this things go pretty far off the original script. Enjoy!
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