XOVER: Changing of the Guard 5: Terms of Engagement 15/19 [PG13]
Ecolea (ecolea@wt.net)
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:19:22 -0500
Chapter 26
A contingent of security guards led by an officious looking man met the =
rest of SG-1 at the gate.
"Greetings, I am Deputy Administrator Frovar, if you will please follow =
me," the man said in stilted English, abruptly turning as if it were =
expected of them to follow without a word.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, glancing at Carter, who gave him a slight =
shake of her head forestalling any questions. They'd been told to play =
it however the Gallisians wanted, unless another opportunity presented =
itself. And if it didn't, they would damn well make one.
The underground tunnel through which they were led seemed newly carved =
out of the rock. The walls were smooth and perfectly bored as if a giant =
laser had simply cut through the stone like it was butter.
"Nothing in the colonel's last report indicated technology as advanced =
as this," Carter murmured to Daniel.
"Maybe they had a little help," he responded.
"Daniel Jackson is correct," Teal'c quietly confirmed. "I have seen such =
tunnels before. On a world destroyed by Sokar, which was then captured =
in battle by Apophis."
"You're saying Goa'uld technology created this place?" Daniel asked, =
surprised.
"No, Daniel Jackson, only that I have seen such tunnels before."
Carter nodded and moved a little more swiftly, catching up to Frovar, =
who was anxiously hurrying them along.
"Excuse me, Deputy Administrator," Samantha said as she reached his =
side. "As a scientist, I couldn't help but notice the perfectly =
spherical shape of these tunnels. I'm curious as to the technology that =
created them."
"Your curiosity is noted, Major Carter," came the clipped response. "But =
such information is classified. Now," he went on sternly. "If you have =
no more questions, I shall show you to your quarters."
Samantha's brows went up, but she diplomatically ignored the rudeness of =
Frovar's remarks. "Of course," she answered as they reached a railed-in =
circular platform.
Frovar opened the waist high gate and ushered them in followed by two =
security guards. He quickly tapped a code on a thin panel set into the =
top rail and the platform rose upward through another tunnel, bringing =
them to different level in the complex.
The area surrounding the lift was small, but extremely well guarded, =
uncomfortably reminding Carter of the SGC. If anything went wrong, =
getting out of here would not be easy. They surrendered their weapons as =
requested, though not without some hesitation. Still, Carter had a few =
tricks up her sleeve, courtesy of General Hammond. The diplomatic =
mission of locating their lost comrades certainly had priority, but as =
the general had intimated they were free to use their discretion, if and =
when the opportunity arose.
Their packs were then thoroughly searched and one or two items, such as =
Daniel's Swiss Army knife and Teal'c dagger, confiscated.
"What is this?" a guard demanded as he removed a small bag from Carter's =
pack.
With a polite smile she showed him how to unzip it. "Just a sewing kit =
and a few cosmetics," she answered sweetly. "A girl never knows when she =
might need to look her best." The response garnered a tiny smile and the =
guard replaced the travel pouch much to Carter's relief.
"You're weapons will be returned upon your departure," Frovar explained =
as he again led the way. They passed through a heavily reinforced door =
and into a well-lit antechamber where a real elevator this time, brought =
them to the surface.
A few minutes later they were standing in the middle of a moonlit garden =
surrounded by buildings built of typical steel and glass. Frovar led =
them to the furthermost building on the left side of the quadrangle =
where a guard opened the door and they went inside.
"These are the visitors quarters," the Deputy Administrator explained. =
"Your liaison will be Supervisor Bolam. She will explain all the =
regulations and requirements of your stay and answer any questions you =
may have." The woman in question saluted her superior then nodded =
politely at their visitors. "Now, I must return to my duties," Frovar =
announced and abruptly left the building.
"Not much for small talk, is he?" Daniel muttered to Teal'c. =
Expressionless, the Jaffa remained silent and Daniel gave him a =
faltering smile. "Never mind."
Their quarters were fairly Spartan. Just a suite of three bedrooms =
connected by a small living area. Certainly not what any of them would =
consider VIP quarters, but the view of the city in the distance was =
nice.
Supervisor Bolam spoke as bluntly as her superior, "For your own safety =
we request that you do not attempt to leave this facility unescorted. A =
guard will be posted outside your quarters and you may contact me via =
the comm system. Food will be brought to you at regular intervals," she =
stated coldly. "You may remain here until you are sent for by the =
investigating officer, though I have been informed that it will be some =
time before he can see you. In the interim, I have been granted leave to =
arrange a tour of our capital city, if you are interested in such =
things."
Bolam didn't seem particularly interested, but Daniel certainly was. "A =
tour would be great."
"First thing in the morning?" Carter casually asked.
The supervisor frowned, but nodded. "I will see to it. Please enjoy your =
stay."
At that, she turned and exited the room, leaving three puzzled looking =
individuals staring at the door.
"So, was that the Gallisian version of hospitality or is it just me =
who's worried?" Daniel asked his friends.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "It would seem, Daniel Jackson, that we are =
both prisoners and guests."
"I don't think the Gallisians know what to do with us," Carter added, =
pulling out a scanner to survey the room. "One good thing," she finally =
told them as she put the instrument away, "this room isn't bugged and =
there's no one watching us."
"I also see no sign of arthropod infestation or spectators," Teal'c =
stated blandly.
Carter and Daniel shared a bewildered smile. They could never be sure =
whether or not the Jaffa was joking. Still, that was half the fun of =
having Teal'c around.
"Let's get some rest," Samantha finally suggested. "Tomorrow might be a =
long day for us."
Chapter 27
Jack smiled amiably at their guest. "Would you excuse us a moment, =
Nolly? I need to have a word with Pierson here." He grabbed Methos by =
the front of his coat and pulled him across the room.
"Are you out of what's left of your mind?" O'Neill whispered furiously. =
"That-- That-- science fiction writer," he spat distastefully, "doesn't =
know a damn thing! And you led him right to us! Really smart, Pierson!"
Methos frowned angrily, shrugging free of O'Neill's grip. "It seemed =
like a good idea at the time," he gritted back through tightly clenched =
teeth. "And you're a fine one to talk! Hacking into their satellite =
system on a whim," he sneered. "Ulkurt may not know the exact details, =
but then, neither did I when your people first recruited me. And don't =
forget about the entire population of Earth. How many times have they =
been placed in danger because the SGC was curious? And don't forget, it =
was you who brought the Goa'uld down upon us in the first place when you =
challenged Ra's authority. I would have knelt and sworn obedience. =
Remember, bend lest you break, O'Neill."
Jack took a deep calming breath, nodding stoically. "Maybe you're right, =
Pierson. And I've carried the guilt of that first mission with me every =
single day of my life since. But that doesn't justify bringing a =
stranger here."
"It does when that stranger has friends," Methos explained with a sly =
smile. "Highly placed friends, who read his books as children and now =
feed him bits and pieces of classified information. How else would he =
know about Earth? If you'll recall, no one on this world even knows =
about the Alliance, let alone that conference their ambassador attended. =
They're as much in the dark as our people -- and in as great a danger, =
if not more."
The colonel stared at Methos for a long time, frowning thoughtfully. =
"Okay, Pierson. We'll see what Ulkurt can do for us. In the meantime, do =
us both a favor, ask if the house is clean before you bring company =
home."
Methos smiled, nodding agreement. "You're right, Jack. I should have. =
But I didn't want to chance losing this opportunity."
"Or letting a possible security leak out of your sight?" O'Neill asked =
knowingly, glancing at the side of the Immortal's coat that held his =
blade.
"You know me so well," Methos grinned, delighted.
"I'd expect nothing less from my favorite minion," the colonel chuckled. =
"Well, let's get to it," Jack added more seriously. "Gotta get SciFi Guy =
to give up the goods. I want a personal introduction to those 'highly =
placed' friends you mentioned."
Chapter 28
Supervisor Bolam was as good as her word when an hour before dawn =
breakfast arrived and as the sun came up she appeared to lead their =
tour. Frowning, she took in the sight of Carter's dress blues and the =
men's casual, yet conservative suits.
"This will not do," Bolam shook her head. "I know your ships must be =
extremely fast, but ours have not yet achieved even warp speed. While =
all of Gallisia is aware that off-world trade exists, most citizens have =
never seen an alien." The team members looked at each other very much =
confused. "I must insist you change into Gallisian clothes."
Carter nodded. "We're always willing to be accommodating," she agreed. =
"For you and your people."
"Thank you," Bolam smiled for the first time. "Wait here and I will have =
proper attire sent."
Once she was gone Daniel frowned deeply. "Adam's reports on the culture =
here never mentioned the fact that Gallisia's population was in the dark =
about their scientific advances."
"Neither are the Tau'ri of yours, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c commented.
Carter simply shrugged. "All governments have their secrets. Guess she =
just doesn't have a high enough clearance."
"And besides," Daniel added. "Dressing like the natives has certain =
advantages -- especially if we need to disappear for a while."
"Yes, we shall blend well with the denizens of this world," Teal'c =
smiled broadly.
"Let's just hope she remembers to bring a hat," Daniel muttered sotto =
voce.
***
"A party?!" Jack shouted, his voice reverberating through the loft. "I =
hate parties!"
Nolly shrugged. "I usually never go to these things," he confided. "Too =
many politicians and business tycoons all wanting to rub elbows with the =
intellectual elite, or the brainless, but beautiful. Not my thing."
"Then why now?" Methos asked, calmly ignoring O'Neill's furious pacing.
"Because my contact in the military will be there. On duty, of course, =
but off the base."
Jack rubbed his eyes tiredly, relaxing as he finally understood. He =
slumped in a chair before his computer console and nodded resignedly.
"There's just one catch," Nolly added nervously.
The colonel frowned. "And that would be?"
"I'm the only one invited."
Methos rolled his eyes. "I'm not above gate-crashing, Nolly, but we are =
wanted men. Our faces are known. And given your description of the guest =
list, from my experience most business tycoons and politicians do watch =
the news."
"We'll be recognized," Jack added wryly. "Or..." he asked suspiciously. =
"Is that your real plan?"
Ulkurt looked shocked, vigorously shaking his head. "No, no! Please, you =
misunderstand me, Colonel. My contact will be at the party. Sub-Minister =
Pashti is scheduled to attend."
"That means...absolutely nothing to me," O'Neill responded =
sarcastically.
"Pashti is the Gallisian equivalent of the Vice President," Methos =
explained.
"He's your contact?" Jack asked, utterly amazed.
"Pashti?" Nolly laughed, shaking his head. "Never. He used to be Chief =
Minister of the Security Directorate until Sub-Minister Dekoya died. =
They say it was of natural causes, but I suspect Pashti was somehow =
involved. He could never have risen to such a high position of power =
otherwise. Behind his back they call him the Great Keeper of Secrets."
O'Neill and Methos shared a concerned glance.
"Then trust me," Jack said quietly. "He'll know this secret."
"True," Nolly agreed. "And he would certainly recognize you both =
immediately. But I have a plan to avoid that."
"Oh, great!" O'Neill sighed in disgust. "Another man with a plan."
"Let's just hear him out," Methos interjected. "We've got nothing to =
lose."
O'Neill sat back, crossing his arms. "Go on," he sighed, and nodded for =
Ulkurt to proceed.
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