XOVER: Changing of the Guard 5: Terms of Engagement 16/19 [PG13]
Ecolea (ecolea@wt.net)
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:20:38 -0500
Chapter 29
The streets were as crowded as any major city, Daniel noted wryly as =
they came out of the Gallisian Cultural Center where the Minister of =
Culture had given them the grand tour himself. Thankfully, there had =
been no questions asked about them, and only one or two about the =
scanner Carter discreetly carried.
"Now we shall proceed to the Center for Artistry," Supervisor Bolam told =
them.
"Actually," Carter interjected. "I'd really like to see something of the =
countryside. I'm very interested in Horticulture."
Daniel hid his surprise, but nodded enthusiastically. "Me too."
"And I as well," Teal'c joined in.
The supervisor smiled, having softened up a bit during the tour. "More =
taking of pictures?" Bolam asked, looking at the scanner.
Carter grinned. "My nephews back home are always eager to see the places =
I've been."
"We all are," Daniel added. "It's one of the things Earth people do when =
visiting new worlds. We take lots of pictures so we can...uh...remember =
all the good things we've seen."
Bolam cocked her head, thinking. "I have been ordered to allow you =
access to civilian areas only. And a brief tour of the outlying areas of =
Galisiana certainly seems reasonable."
They returned to the vehicle they'd been assigned and as Bolam drove, =
Teal'c beside her, Daniel leaned over to whisper in Carter's ear.
"You've found something?"
Carter kept her eyes on the scanner, nodding briefly. "The neutrino =
levels here are unusually high. Not dangerously so, but when I point =
this thing east the signal increases dramatically."
"What's that got to do with Jack and Adam?" he asked quietly.
"Maybe nothing," she explained. "But it could indicate some pretty high =
level weapons manufacturing. And if this is what the colonel found out, =
it might be why he and Pierson disappeared."
Daniel nodded thoughtfully. If Jack were going to follow a lead, =
Gallisia's weapons capability would be it.
"So, we just drive around until what?"
"Until I can pinpoint where the signal originates," Carter answered. "If =
there is another military facility just outside the city, then we'll =
have to find a way into it."
"You think that's where they're being held?"
Carter gave a minute shrug. "No idea," she murmured. "But at least it's =
a place to start looking."
***
Yovan Nordovic, no longer Chief Security Officer Nordovic, paced the =
cell in which he was being held. The military tribunal had been a farce =
-- a Goa'uld inspired farce, if he wasn't mistaken -- and he didn't =
believe he was.
They'd discovered his tampering. Easy to do when you were light years =
ahead of your prey. And prey Gallisia was, of that Nordovic was certain. =
Still, he wasn't at all sorry he'd helped O'Neill and Pierson. Though, =
as he'd quickly discovered, he'd been sentenced to a fate worse than =
death. He was not to be made into one of those hideous Jaffa, but taken =
over by one of those foul symbiotes they carried as soon as one became =
mature. It seemed the Goa'uld in charge needed underlings, and his was a =
fine, strong body, ready to be used.
The sound of a door opening brought Nordovic to the bars of his prison, =
while a single pair of booted feet striding in his direction held his =
attention.
"Yovan?" a familiar voice echoed in the empty cellblock.
"Laliam?" he called softly and was relieved to see his old friend =
finally appear. He took in the new uniform the other man wore and =
nodded. "I see you're Chief of Security now. Congratulations."
"I don't want to be chief of anything if means sacrificing the life of a =
friend," Laliam retorted angrily. "Why the hell didn't you confide in =
me? I could have--"
"What?" Nordovic interrupted in a voice heavily laced with irony. =
"Collaborated and found yourself in the cell across from me?"
The other man frowned deeply. "If it was meant to be..."
Nordovic shook his head. "Don't be obtuse, Lal. It was always going to =
come to this, and I knew it. We all hate those things, but there's none =
of us with a way to fight them! But O'Neill and Pierson..." he sighed. =
"I had to give them the opportunity to do what we couldn't."
Laliam glanced back over his shoulder to make certain they were =
completely alone. "There may be a chance yet," he whispered. "My =
uncle..."
Nordovic raised an eyebrow and nearly laughed. "I figured it was you =
leaking information, but I couldn't prove it. Nor would I," he added, =
"had it come to that."
Laliam smiled conspiratorially. "There's a party tonight. I put Uncle on =
the guest list."
Nordovic shook his head. "No one will believe him, even if you gave him =
a symbiote to use as evidence."
"I don't think I'll need to go that far," Lal grinned. "He's asked me to =
place two extra names on the entertainers list."
"Two?"
"Two," Laliam nodded.
"Maybe there is a god," Nordovic murmured to himself as he reached out, =
clasping his old friend's hand. "You think he's found them?"
"I know so. Still, two men alone and on a strange world? I don't know =
how they can help us fight the Goa'uld."
"They aren't just any men," Nordovic explained seriously. "Before I =
destroyed the evidence, I saw what they were capable of doing. O'Neill =
and Pierson have powers unlike any we've ever seen..."
Chapter 30
"I don't understand," Jack muttered, staring at the endless displays =
caught by the Gallisian satellites. "I've searched this entire planet =
looking for signs of the Goa'uld, or a gate, but... There's nothing!"
Methos laid a hand on his shoulder. "They may be well camouflaged, or =
perhaps you're simply looking in the wrong place."
"Maybe," O'Neill frowned. "But I've also scanned the entire solar system =
and there aren't any ships either, other than those belonging to the =
Gallisians."
Methos sighed. "Look, let's just go to this party and see what Nolly's =
contact has to say. Maybe he can give us the clues we need."
Jack nodded resignedly, rubbing tired eyes as he turned away from the =
multiple screens he'd been watching. He looked at Methos and suddenly =
started laughing.
"What?" the Immortal asked, sounding deeply offended.
"Nothing," Jack grinned widely. "Just... The whole mime thing. It really =
suits you, Pierson."
"Don't knock it," Methos told him smugly. "I made a lot of money =
yesterday. And I'll be the star attraction at this party."
Jack nodded. "Good, because with all eyes on you, I'll be able to move =
about freely."
"Not quite that freely," Methos said, holding up his kit of grease =
paint. "You also have a part to play."
Jack sighed disgustedly. "Right," he grumbled, turning in his chair as =
if he were facing a fate worse than death. "Lay it on me, mime-ion."
***
The guard outside the VIP quarters stood at attention when the visitors, =
dressed in civilian clothes, stepped out of their suite.
"May I help you?" he politely inquired, in heavily accented English.
Carter smiled, knowing this was merely military speak for: "Where are =
you going and why?"
"Our tour of the city today was a wonderful excursion," she explained. =
"We thought we'd like to experience a little of the night life. Unless," =
Samantha asked innocently, "you have orders to the contrary?"
"I am ordered to guard your rooms, not your persons," the guard stated =
tersely.
"Well, then. We'll see you later."
Carter nodded to the others and headed nonchalantly toward the exit.
"That went pretty well," Daniel murmured once they were out of earshot.
Then, unnoticed as they turned down another corridor, the soldier =
guarding their suite silently did his duty. He pressed a button set into =
the wall behind him, signaling the watch commander that the strangers =
were attempting to leave without a proper escort.
***
"No, don't stop them," the watch commander was told. "Let them go where =
they will. Just have them followed. Discreetly."
"Yes, Sub-Minister," came the automatic response. "And if they violate a =
secure area?"
Pashti frowned at the communications console. "Notify me immediately and =
I will take care of the matter." Before the commander could respond he =
disconnected and smiled thinly at the Goa'uld. "Satisfied?"
The creature's eyes glowed as it grinned maliciously. "I believe the =
Tau'ri have a saying. Something to the effect that, if one gives a man =
enough rope, he will eventually hang himself."
The minister raised a thoughtful brow. "A most interesting analogy, =
indeed. Now, if you will excuse me, my Lord," Pashti rose, bowing =
graciously, "I have duties to which I must attend."
The Goa'uld waved a hand in dismissal, looking utterly disinterested. =
Pashti hid his momentary anger at being treated as an underling. He was =
old. Probably older than this Goa'uld. And yet, old enough to know that =
no matter what this alien thought, he was in control of the situation. =
The Goa'uld couldn't hurt him. Stupid creature didn't even know about =
Immortals. Its only concern was building a base from which to launch a =
campaign against its enemies. And Pashti had no doubt that once he had =
blended with one of these creatures he would have all the secrets of =
their technology.
More importantly, he would not only know how to destroy them, but able =
to use their own weapons against them. And then, when all was said and =
done, he would be the one ruling.
Chapter 31
They gave the phony names listed on the passes Nolly's contact had =
provided to the guard at the gate, entering as they were told, through =
the rear entrance of the great estate.
"So, when do we go on?" O'Neill asked, frowning disgustedly beneath his =
cheerful mask of grease paint as they joined the rest of the =
entertainers.
"There's no particular order," Methos whispered distractedly, his eyes =
on a pair of well-endowed dancing girls in skimpy costumes. "Just work =
the crowd."
"Work the--?"
Jack snapped his fingers in front of Methos' eyes and the Immortal came =
out of his libido-induced trance.
"Pay attention, Pierson," the colonel ordered. "We don't have time for =
that."
Methos nodded resignedly. "Sorry," he apologized as they followed the =
rest of the performers into the hall. "Just having a little reverie of =
the good old days. Did I ever tell you I once managed a school for =
ballet dancers? Degas used to come by and we'd--"
"Can you really mime, Pierson?"
Methos looked offended at Jack's interruption. "Of course I can. At one =
time, I was the principle ethologos at the Theater of Dionysos in =
Athens. I'll have you know my morality plays were considered amongst the =
wisest."
"Good. Then wise up to this. Shut up and mime, Captain. This party's =
just starting."
***
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