XOVER: Changing of the Guard 4: The Road To Hammelcar [PG13] 9/19
ecolea (ecolea@WT.NET)
Mon, 24 Dec 2001 08:53:52 -0600
Notes and disclaimers in part 0/19
Chapter 9
"Sir, it's them," Samantha Carter announced as General Hammond came striding
into Stargate Command's control center.
"Where are they?"
"Still in Ishri space, sir. But we can talk to them."
"In real time?" the general asked, quietly amazed.
"Pierson sent us the specs in the first transmission we received. We're
linking with the Mars satellite now and reconfiguring it to interface with
Tok'ra's relay system on the planet. Apparently, he had a major base
stationed there -- right under the Goa'uld's collective noses."
"Well, I'll be," Hammond murmured as a technician informed Carter that the
communications system was ready.
"Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond," he said, leaning over to speak
into the microphone.
"Well howdy doody!" that familiar, sarcastic voice called back. "Good to
hear you, sir."
"What's your status, Colonel?"
"Alive and well, but stuck here for the time being," the voice responded.
"And where is here?" Hammond asked.
"One of Tok'ra's hidden bases," O'Neill answered, careful not to give
specifics which might be overheard. "We've got a way to get home, but it's
going to take a while to work out a few problems."
"Approximately how long?"
"Three, maybe four months," O'Neill replied. "We need to make repairs."
Hammond looked at Carter, who shrugged. Neither knew if either Jack or
Methos were up to the task, but were willing to accept that they at least
believed they were. "Is there any assistance we can render?"
"Nah," O'Neill responded. "We've got it under control. It'll just take a
little time."
"Very good, Colonel. I'll expect regular reports. Pierson can work out the
scheduling details with Major Carter."
"Yes, sir."
"Hammond out." The general turned the microphone back over to Carter.
"Colonel O'Neill?"
"Hey, Carter! How the hell are you kids?"
Samantha smiled briefly. "We're all fine. Teal'c and Daniel are here," she
looked to her companions. "We're all very glad to hear you're both okay."
"The food could be better and the cable sucks, but other than that, no
complaints."
"Can you tell us anything about our new acquaintances?" she asked.
This time, Methos responded. "Pierson here. I'm sending all that out in a
burst transmission as soon as we're done with the housekeeping."
"Adam?" Daniel Jackson leaned forward and spoke tensely into the mike.
"Hey, Danny!" came the cheerful response. "Aren't you supposed to be with
MacLeod and Company or something? The real reason I'm stuck on this rock and
you're not."
Daniel grinned. "We heard you guys were missing in action, so we came back
to see if we could help."
They could almost see Methos smiling. "The only action we're missing is some
decent music. You taking requests?"
"I'll see what I can do," Daniel laughed. "I hear Aerosmith's doing a remake
of the Hymn to Ninkasi."
There was a bark of laughter, but before Methos could say anything more
Carter interrupted.
"Loss of signal in three minutes," she reminded everyone. "We'll pick you up
again in thirteen hours, twenty-seven minutes, when Mars reaches it zenith
again."
"That's a go," O'Neill responded.
"Commencing transmission, now," Methos reported. "Catch you on the flip
side."
A few minutes later the download ceased and the signal went dead.
"Did we get it all?" Samantha asked the technician at the controls.
He nodded. "Looks like it. And Major," he added quietly. "Whatever it is,
it's big."
Carter looked thoughtful, while across the galaxy two men were quietly
celebrating.
***
"Good work, Pierson," O'Neill complimented as Methos reset the system and
sat back with a sense of relief. After a week spent re-calibrating Tok'ra's
incredibly sensitive arrays to carry voice transmissions as well as data,
and another spent translating everything into secure code, the Immortal was
glad just to have it over.
"Thanks," he sighed, stretching his long limbs.
"Hungry?" Jack asked and Methos grunted an affirmative. "Come on, I'm
buying."
Methos followed him to the elevator.
"Hymn to a Ninja Queen?" O'Neill asked curiously as the doors slid shut
behind them.
"Ninkasi," Methos corrected with a grin. "And she wasn't a queen, but an
ancient Sumerian goddess," he explained
"A snake-head?!"
Methos shrugged as the elevator stopped and they headed for the dining hall.
"Who knows? But she was certainly important, culturally speaking. I know I
spent many happy hours singing her praises."
"You? Singing about a Goa'uld?" O'Neill grimaced.
"Absolutely."
"O-kay," Jack drawled, considering the source of this bizarre statement.
"And what was so important about her? Culturally speaking, of course."
"Well, not her per se," Methos admitted. "More what she invented."
O'Neill waited for him to continue, but the irritating Immortal remained
silent. "Well?!" he finally demanded. "What was it?!"
"Oh," Methos shrugged. "Beer. Ninkasi invented beer." Jack's eyes popped.
"And it wasn't so much a hymn," he added ruefully, "as it was a drinking
song. An ode to making beer."
"This I've got to hear," O'Neill chuckled.
"Not from me," Methos insisted, striding into the kitchen.
"Aw, come on, Pierson. You're the only entertainment around here."
"May I take your order?" the computer automatically responded to the sound
of their voices.
"Tell you what," Methos smiled slyly. "You make this thing," he gestured
with his chin at the panel which represented the computer's food terminal,
"give me a decent brew to drink and I'll sing it. In the original Sumerian."
"Make it English, and it's a deal," O'Neill replied, entirely too quickly
for Methos liking.
Methos frowned. The translation would be horrendous. Ah well, if it made
O'Neill happy...
"English," he nodded in agreement. "But it had better be decent."
O'Neill grinned. "Well, I was saving this for a special occasion, but...
Mabel?"
"Mabel?" Methos muttered, rolling his eyes. "You named the computer Mabel?"
"Shhh!" Jack hissed. "And learn from the master."
"How may I serve you, Colonel O'Neill?" the computer asked promptly.
"Two of those giant burritos, a large nachos and a pitcher of the fermented
barley, hops, malt, water and honey we discussed the other day. And two
glasses." The panel opened and the requested items slid out. "Thanks, Mabel.
"Always a pleasure to serve you, Colonel O'Neill."
"Well?" Jack waved at the pitcher and Methos went over, pouring a small
amount of the amber fluid into a glass. Sniffing it curiously, Methos raised
both brows. The aroma seemed about right, now... He sipped carefully at
first then finished it off in one quick swallow.
"How the hell...?" the Immortal began, setting down the glass as he grabbed
the tray and O'Neill grinned smugly.
"It's all in the asking, minion," the colonel grinned and swiped a couple of
nachos from the plate as they headed back to the dining room.
"I asked!" Methos insisted. "It told me alcohol wasn't permitted."
"Yeah, but Mabel doesn't have any orders against supplying the contents of
recipes and fixing them the way you like 'em. Took a while, but I finally
convinced the old girl that fermentation is done for health reasons."
"You win," Methos laughed delightedly. "I'll sing."
They took their familiar places at one of the smaller tables in the large
empty hall.
"Okay," O'Neill gestured for him to continue. "Sing."
"You didn't specify when," Methos retorted smugly.
"But--!"
"First we drink." He poured two full glasses of beer. "Then we eat." Methos
handed Jack his plate. "Then we drink a lot more."
"And then you sing," O'Neill nodded in understanding.
"No, then we tell tall tales of conquest, rapine and pillage -- saluting our
manly prowess with even more drinking. Then, when we're incredibly full of
ourselves, not to mention enough beer to float a battle ship -- only then do
we sing."
"We?" Jack asked dubiously.
"Don't worry," Methos patted his shoulder consolingly. "You'll like it.
Especially the bits about the big shovel, the noble dogs and the holy
bappir."