XOVER: Changing of the Guard 5: Terms of Engagement 14/19 [PG13]
Ecolea (ecolea@wt.net)
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:19:14 -0500
Chapter 24
"It seems we have a problem, people," General Hammond addressed the =
group in the conference room back at the SGC. "Despite our request for =
assistance from the Gallisians, Ambassador Hoshmid sent word this =
morning that no trace of Colonel O'Neill or Captain Pierson was found =
aboard their flagship."
"I find that difficult to believe," Teal'c commented skeptically.
"You're not alone," Hammond agreed. "Unfortunately, we're in no position =
to either confirm or contest that claim. He did add that, nevertheless, =
in the interests of good interstellar relations, a search for them would =
be instituted across Gallisia."
"But you don't believe him," Daniel stated.
"Son, at this point, I don't know what to believe. For all we know the =
only reason they didn't get off that ship was because Thor whisked them =
away for some other reason."
"I don't think so, sir," Carter interjected. "Whenever we've dealt with =
the Asgard they've always been up-front about it."
Hammond nodded. "I'm inclined to agree, Major."
There was silence at the table for nearly a minute then Carter spoke up, =
tentatively suggesting what they'd all been thinking. "Sir, I think it's =
time we went to Gallisia."
"I concur," Teal'c stated emphatically. "I believe they are hiding =
something and have perhaps taken O'Neill and Methos as their prisoners."
"We can't know that for sure," Daniel argued.
Carter gazed at him, concern clearly showing in her eyes. "You're right, =
we can't. But if I may say, sir," she added turning back to General =
Hammond, "even if they aren't prisoners, Colonel O'Neill and Captain =
Pierson are more than capable of going into covert mode -- and would. =
Especially if they discovered something the Gallisians didn't want =
known."
Again Hammond nodded. "Indeed they are, Major Carter. Which is why I =
requested that the ambassador contact the Gallisian High Council and =
request permission for you three to join the investigation. They've =
agreed -- on one condition. That you respect their authority over the =
situation and abide by all the laws of their government."
"Which means they don't want us going off on our own and snooping =
around," Daniel translated.
Hammond nodded. "I don't like the sound of it either, Dr. Jackson, but =
it can't be helped. On the other hand," he added disingenuously, "if you =
happen to find yourselves in a position to obtain certain information =
outside official channels, permission to snoop is granted."
Chapter 25
Methos bowed to his audience, enjoying the applause and amazed at the =
amount of gels they'd tossed on the little plastic mat he'd laid down. =
Just his good fortune -- the Art of Mime had never been invented on =
Gallisia.
"An interesting performance, friend."
The words came from behind and Methos turned to find Nolly Ulkurt =
standing beside a tree, arms akimbo, smiling at him strangely. Methos =
mimed his thanks and the writer grinned.
"You're definitely not one of them, but you're not from here either, are =
you?"
Methos didn't have to feign shock. The question did indeed surprise him.
"Shall we talk, you and I?"
Methos nodded once and turned back to his audience, dramatically =
sweeping up his mat as he mimed his farewells, pretending to keel over =
with delight as they expressed their disappointment. Still, the crowd =
was orderly in their departure, and a few more gels were pressed into =
his hands while others pleaded that he return to the park tomorrow. He =
mimed his joy, but in no way offered any promises on that score. With =
any luck, he and Jack would soon have the answers they wanted and there =
would be no need for him to return.
He swiftly collected his gear, following Ulkurt to a more secluded area =
of the park.
"I'm Nolly Ulkurt," the man finally introduced himself. "But you already =
know who I am. And I wouldn't do that just yet, if I were you," Nolly =
added as Methos pulled out a cloth to wipe the grease paint from his =
face.
"And why not?" Methos asked, finally dropping his mime persona.
"You haven't seen the day's news vids, have you, Adom?"
Methos blanched under his make-up, but tried to remain calm.
"Well, you certainly have my interest, Nolly. Please, do go on."
"You don't act like a deranged mental patient," the writer commented.
"A what?"
"I'm betting your fellow 'escapee' Josk, doesn't either."
"Is that how they're describing us?" Methos murmured, slightly amused. =
"How very clever of your government. Even if we tried to tell the truth, =
we wouldn't be believed. Deranged mental patients, indeed!"
"Oh, that's nothing compared to what they call me!" Ulkurt laughed. "I =
was always a bit of a rabble-rouser in my youth, so of course it's easy =
to say I'm suffering from paranoid delusions."
"And are you?"
"What do you think, Earth man?"
Methos' eyes went cold. "I think you seem to know quite a lot. Some of =
it may even be accurate. Perhaps we should find a =
more...secluded...place to talk?"
"Relax, friend," Ulkurt smiled. "I merely wanted to get your attention =
-- as I believe you did mine?"
Methos twisted his lips in a wry smile. "Your young friends certainly =
like to gossip. Should I be concerned?"
Nolly shrugged. "I wouldn't be. They don't have much use for the news =
vids. And one government's deranged mental patient is often another =
man's brilliant, but misunderstood artist."
"This is true," Methos agreed, having known quite a few artists and =
musicians who could be classified as deranged by those who didn't =
understand what truly drove the creative process.
"So..." Nolly smiled. "You mentioned a more private place where we could =
talk?"
***
The loft was virtually silent when Methos opened the door and stood back =
to let Nolly enter. He followed, then stood stock-still, shock clearly =
written across his features at what he saw. There by the access panel =
was Jack, surrounded by computer monitors, hard drives, and =
crisscrossing cables, along with a few items even Methos couldn't =
identify. Even stranger was that he was working this jury-rigged =
computer center almost as if he'd been doing it all his life.
"Uh, Jack?" Methos inquired softly.
"Who's your new friend, Pierson?" the colonel asked without glancing up.
Methos swallowed his confusion and introduced his companion.
"Nice to meet ya," Jack waved without turning around. "There, that's got =
it!"
An instant later a dozen screens lit up as Methos moved closer to see =
what O'Neill had wrought.
"You've managed to tap into their satellites?" the Immortal gaped.
Jack finally looked up, a slightly befuddled, but satisfied look on his =
face. "Yeah, I guess I did." He shrugged it off with a wry smile. "I was =
passing this old junk shop and something caught my eye. Gave me an =
idea."
"An idea..." Methos whispered, staring in wonder as dozens of different =
views flashed by displaying every nook and cranny of Gallisia. =
"Obviously, it was a good one."
"I have my moments," O'Neill grinned. "So," he at last turned to Nolly, =
"you're the writer with the conspiracy theory fixation."
"It's only a theory if it isn't a fact," Ulkurt corrected. "And your =
very presence on this world confirms that."
"Y' think?" Jack asked innocently.
"I do indeed," Ulkurt nodded, smiling slightly. "Once, a long time ago, =
I was a very famous man. I made a lot of friends and changed a lot of =
minds about the possibilities and probabilities of space exploration. =
Many young men and women were swayed by my words to look to the stars. =
Even my nephew, Laliam, entered the space corps when we discovered new =
life and off world trade became possible."
"That a fact?"
"You can deny it all you like," Nolly explained. "But I know who you =
really are, and that you are both in terrible danger. My nephew serves =
aboard the ship that brought you here. He, and others like him in the =
military, whom I've met over the years, have confided certain fears and =
doubts about our government and its dealings with a certain race of =
aliens our people know nothing about. They cannot talk about it, but =
they feed me bits of information which I have tried my best to =
disseminate in the guise of fiction."
"Well, that'd be a big help," O'Neill scoffed. "Where I come from we =
call that 'plausible deniability'. Makes it easier for the power =
structure to call anyone who does blow the whistle a nut job."
"Perhaps," Nolly agreed. "But it also sets the stage for others to =
believe, if and when, the truth is exposed."
"He's got a point," Methos interjected. "The X Files certainly stirred =
that kettle of fish for some of the folks back home."
"Never saw it," Jack responded. "I'm not much for the alien invasion =
sort of SciFi anymore."
"That's not what I meant, Jack, and you know it."
O'Neill frowned disgustedly, but nodded. "Okay, Ulkurt, but I still need =
a little more proof than just your good word. Tell me something I know =
you shouldn't know."
Nolly smiled amiably. "I know you are here to help us and that you come =
from a very powerful planet called Earth. More importantly, you have =
come to destroy the creatures threatening our world."
"We have?" Jack asked, nonplused. But even he couldn't deny Ulkurt knew =
more than he should.
"May I sit?" Nolly asked, pulling up a chair when O'Neill nodded. "You =
must be here for that, or why else would you sneak aboard our flagship?"
Methos and Jack shared a painful glance, but rather than admit the =
embarrassing truth, nodded resolutely.
"Yeah, well... We kinda like to know what the enemy is planning," Jack =
temporized, putting up a good front. "And you guys seemed like nice =
folks, so... We did what we had to, right, Pierson?"
Methos stifled a smirk at a stern glare from Jack.
"But we could use your help," the colonel added. "There are things we =
need to know before we can make our move."
"Such as?" Nolly eagerly asked.
"Oh..." Jack shrugged casually. "Just one or two items. Like... Which =
Goa'uld's running the show? How many Jaffa he's got? And, uh, just =
where's the stargate at?"
"The what?"
---
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