She leaned forward, sparkling mischievously at him. “And deprive you of your half of my wedding? I wouldn’t think of it.”
He sighed and perched on the edge of the desk. “Alright, how much of a hit is my bank account going to take?”
“Well, my dress is five thousand dollars, so I think your half comes to seven thousand,” she told him. “Since Daniel and Sam brought me through the gate, though, I think Daniel should share your half. Don’t worry, we’re having the chicken dinner.”
Jack groaned. “God. We have three more daughters at home to get married. I’m going to die destitute.”
“Maybe, but with good memories of walking all of us down the aisle,” she told him. “Although, I think Daniel will want to walk Stacy. And you are going to dance with me, right? You’re the closest thing I have to a father, and the father is supposed to dance with the bride.”
Jack smiled and leaned forward, pecking her cheek. “You got it, honey.” He stood and turned around again. “Oh, and Jonathan sends thanks for the entertainment and said he’d be happy to sing at your wedding. He expects a dance, too. Paul also wants him to sing, and is making a CD for him to learn. If you want specific songs, make a CD and I’ll send it through along with Paul’s.”
“And if I ask you to sing, too?” she questioned, teasing.
“I fear I will be having throat problems on that day,” he told her as he walked into his office.
“You’re a chicken, Jack!”
He turned his computer on and found the email with all the pictures Sam had sent from her digital camera. He gathered his favorites, and emailed them out to a select few who might enjoy seeing the new grandchild. He found the photo quality copy paper, printed out his favorite, and pinned it to the wall next to the rest of the family pictures.
“You’re playing grandpa to Jonathan’s adopted son?”
Jack glanced at the doorway.
“Just for that, I’m cutting you in on a third of Cassie’s wedding bill,” he told Davis.
“I’m getting married, too,” Davis protested.
“You’re wedding dress isn’t costing five thousand. Do they charge by the stitch, or what?”
“I take it you had a good time?” Paul asked, coming in and sitting in front of the desk.
“Mmmmm…. slightly interesting, would be more appropriate.” Jack straightened a frame and sat down. “Colonel Sheppard has the Gene.”
“Yes, sir, I saw your email,” Paul said. “I wasn’t sure if you were joking or not. He’s really making the toys work?”
“He’s downstairs now, with Sam,” Jack nodded. He took the pendant from around his neck and held it out. Paul took it, looking closely at it. “That thing lights up for just me and him. He found about twelve of them and they activate different systems on Atlantis. Paul, there’s some sort of difference between my DNA and others who can activate devices. We’ve run across a few things that will activate with just me, and now Sheppard. Others with the genes can activate other things, and regular Joes can use the rest of the equipment. Like ordinary appliances and weapons.”
Paul turned the pendent over between his fingers, thinking as he looked at it.
“You and Col. Sheppard can activate this, which seems to be a master key for Atlantis,” Paul said thoughtfully. “People with the genetics can activate other things, like the chair and some of the lab equipment. People who have had their DNA boosted can also activate things. general weapons, everyday things, can be used by anyone. Like the Stargate. Lab equipment can be used by anyone, probably because the Ancients needed the general public to be trained as lab techs. So, what’s the difference between you and Sheppard, and the others with the gene? That’s a good question.”
They went down to the lab and watched Sam and her techs putting Sheppard through the paces. They made him touch things while taking notes on whether or not anything happened. Once in a while, something opened a secret panel and the techs excitedly took out whatever was in the hole. They couldn’t turn the things on, but Sheppard could.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Sam declared, exasperated. “Why would the Ancients key something to certain people?”
“Maybe it’s like a lock,” Paul suggested. She looked back toward them. “I can give the combination to you, but not to everyone because I don’t necessarily trust everyone.”
“But that doesn’t seem to do anything,” she said, pointing at the flat thing in Sheppard’s palm. Jack took it from Sheppard, looking at it. It was almost the size of the small compact mirror that Sam carried in her purse. He could sense that it was on, and yet nothing was happening.
“It’s out of context,” he said, turning it over. “There is something this works with, and that something isn’t here.”
“Okay,” Sam nodded thoughtfully. “But what would it work in conjunction with….. Boggs, doesn’t the chair have a slot about that size?” she asked one of her techs. “There’s a slot on the side that we haven’t been able to identify.”
“We can test it easily enough,” Boggs said with a shrug. Jack went to the mikku control chair, sat down, and found the slot. The thing fit perfectly. Everyone stood back, waiting to see what would happen. A holographic image appeared in the air before them.
“It’s a recording disk,” Sam murmured. “But why….?”
“I’m not understanding a word,” Jack said, listening to the woman speaking.
Jack stood from the chair. The image shut off.
“Sam, why do you think the colonel and I can use certain equipment, and others with the gene can’t?” he asked. “Do you like this personal lock idea of Paul’s?”
She thought about it and shrugged. “It has merit,” she said. “If that’s the case, maybe this recording is of someone high on the Ancient council. The information could be classified.”
“But why are our Ancient genes different from others?” Jack persisted, jutting a thumb at Sheppard.
“We don’t know yet,” Sam confessed. “I tried Inanna’s genetic scanner on Col. Sheppard and it worked great. In five minutes, it spit out an in-depth analysis that would have taken a month by our methods. His genetic sequence is the same as yours. The Ancient part of the sequence, I mean, not the family DNA. When I compared them to Capt. Boggs, it was only a partial match. Like long lost cousins.”
Jack pulled the disk out and tossed it from one hand to the other. “Did you find any more of these?”
“Not yet,” Sam said. “We have most of the equipment cataloged; most of it is lab equipment and weapons. Colonel Sheppard is just getting started. He’s touching things, seeing if anything lights up for him that didn’t for anyone else.”
“Yeah, a few of these things we have on Atlantis,” Sheppard piped up. “Lots of lab stuff. McKay and Beckett are in raptures over it.”
Jack took the pendent and gave it a stroke. He pressed a few words, but nothing happened.
“It’s possible that it’s keyed to Atlantis itself,” Sam suggested. The earpiece in Jack’s ear buzzed quietly and he tapped it.
“O’Neill. Who? Where is he? Just keep him on ice, I’ll be there shortly.” He disconnected. “Sam, you and Sheppard get into dress blues, get him a zat, and meet me at Alvin.”
“What’s Alvin?” Sheppard asked as Jack walked back to the stairs with Paul on his heels.
“Senator Friedman has a snake,” Jack said quietly to Paul as they walked to his office.
“He’s close to the president,” Paul noted in alarm. Jack nodded.
“Long time buddies,” Jack commented. “A roaming guard with one of the spotters caught him and got a few Marines to quietly corner him. I’m getting a little pissed at snakes showing up, Colonel. Call Nick, tell him what’s going on. Hold the fort.”
Jack put his dress uniform on, hid the pukku under his coat, and headed out to the field where Sam, Sheppard, and four SF were waiting.
“Can I drive?” Sheppard asked when Jack arrived.
“Maybe on the way home,” Ja
ck told him. They boarded and Jack got Alvin into the air before telling them what was happening.
“Where did he pick up a symbiote?” Sam asked.
“We can ask him when we get there,” Jack said. “Major, how’s Mrs. Bosco?”
“She’s fine, sir,” Kearney said. “Colonel Bosco returned just a short time ago. He was at the hospital when I called to check in on Mrs. Bosco. She was on her way to a D&C, she’ll be kept overnight for observation, and sent home in the morning. Colonel Bosco said he’ll pick up Jessica from your house on his way home. He said he’d call, sir.”
They were in DC moments later, and walking calmly but swiftly past the small crowd at Andrews who had gathered to stare at the al'kesh and its famous pilot. Jack left an SF and told him to give the local pilots a tour of Alvin, if they wanted. They were then taken to the White House by Marine One and escorted through a private entrance down to a holding block under the building. Hayes, Maynard, and the Joint Chiefs were waiting and watching a closed circuit monitor.
“Jack, how the hell could this happen?” Hayes asked the moment they entered.
“Let’s find out,” Jack said. “Colonel, with me.” He and Sheppard left and soon entered the holding room. Jack held out his hand and the guard placed the MRI spotter into it.
“Yup, he’s infested,” Jack said, seeing the symbiote’s skeleton. He showed Sheppard. “Any last words?” Jack asked the symbiote. “Didn’t think so.” He took the pukku out and handed it to Sheppard. “Colonel, that is a pukku. It’s the only one we’ve managed to find, so don’t drop it. Now, point it at the snake and blast away. Don’t worry, it won’t harm the host.”
Sheppard twitched as he aimed and ‘fired’ while Jack watched through the spotter. When the senator collapsed, Jack gave a thumbs up to the people watching.
“Didn’t we want to interrogate it?” Maynard asked as medical staff rushed in.
“Waste of time,” Jack said. “It would only lie to us and confuse the situation more.”
He stopped the paramedics and bent over the senator just before they left.
“Sir, do you remember where it came from?” Jack asked him.
The senator shivered in shock.
“I… It happened…. in Florida,” Friedman managed to say. Jack nodded and the medics took him away. He took the pukku back and holstered it.
“Very cool,” Sheppard said, jerking his chin to the pukku.
“Isn’t it?” Jack agreed.
“Gentlemen,” Maynard warned, looking from one to the other.
“Once the senator calms down a little, we can get more out of him,” Jack said. “Until then, I’d suggest backtracking his movements in Florida and find out where he’s been and who he’s been in contact with. There’s probably an unexplained dead body somewhere in his path.”
“Now, didn’t I read a report that says the host might retain some of the memories of the symbiote?” Hayes asked. Both Jack and Sam nodded.
“Yes, sir, but they might be a little sketchy,” Sam said. “I remember bits and pieces of Jolinar, and more sometimes emerges when I’m with Tok’ra who knew her. Senator Friedman probably has a lot to share, once he regains his senses.”
“I have a few of Kanan’s memories,” Jack said. “I’ve probably blocked out most of them because he pretty much forced himself on me just before Baal tortured the crap out of me. It wasn’t a pleasant union. Sirs.”
“Anything interesting?” Sam asked, curious.
“Not that I’d consider interesting,” he said. “He was really a little on the uppity side; felt I was too beneath him to share. I got a few images of tunnels, that’s about it. He was a Tok’ra.”
“Could we focus, please?” Maynard requested with exaggerated patience. “Goa’uld. Senator Friedman. Are there more?”
Jack sighed and held up a hand for silence. He forced himself to center and send out his awareness. Stay open, he reminded himself as the sense of hundreds, maybe a thousand or more people rushed through him. The internal noise was like standing in the center of a large stadium while fans shouted, clapped, stomped, and whistled. Jack staggered and was caught by Sam and Kearney.
“No, wait,” he said. “I’m okay. Let me try it again.”
“Try what?” Hayes asked.
Jack sat down and tried again. Use your spyglass and look at the crowd a small section at a time, he heard Ninurta saying in his head. Jack gave it a try. He pictured DC on a map in his head and roamed his senses around it, one section at a time. He felt someone silently screaming and followed it. His eyes popped open and he jumped to his feet.
“Get us into your private suite,” he ordered Hayes. “Actually, you should be under guard. General Maynard, we need the president in his bunker until this is dealt with.”
Maynard didn’t question him; he ordered the Marines to keep the president under lock and key. Jack ordered Kearney to stay with them and zat anyone who tries anything. Maynard led Jack, Sam, and Sheppard to the private suite by way of a hidden elevator.
“Talk to me, General,” Maynard said once the doors closed.
“Mrs. Hayes.”
Maynard turned to him. “You better be damned sure.”
“I’m damned sure.”
Using hand signals, Maynard and Jack sent out orders to the nearby Marines and secret service. They immediately scrambled, guns drawn. Jack held the pukku, gave Maynard his zat, and quietly entered the suite. The woman at the table was studying papers that were spread out. Maynard glanced at Jack. He held up the MRI and gave a grim nod. Maynard took responsibility and zatted her. She toppled to the floor. Jack held the pukku to her and got rid of the snake. Maynard and Jack gently lifted her and took her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed.
“Why don’t I stay with her?” Sam suggested. The men felt that was a good idea and shut the door behind them. Maynard puffed noisily and paced the living room.
“Will she be alright?” he asked Jack.
“She will,” Jack confirmed. “She’ll have a major headache, and I do suggest counseling. The press will find out that something’s going on, so I also suggest that she have the flu and is on ordered bed rest.” He opened his cell phone and dialed. “Leslie, Jack O’Neill. Is Tony around? Yes, he needs to be interrupted. Thanks…… Hey, Tony. Jack. I need you right away. High level security situation. I’ll send my ride for you. DC. I wouldn’t be calling like this if it could wait. Go to my private office and someone will be waiting for you. Yes, it’s that important.”
He hung up. “I’m having my shrink brought over,” he told Maynard.
“Jack, the president and Mrs. Hayes can’t see just anyone,” Maynard told him.
“Dr. Edmonds is my shrink,” Jack emphasized. “Believe me, Francis, he knows things I can’t tell you.” He redialed. “Dr. Edmonds is on his way to my office. Put him on Theodore and bring him over here. Bring Nick with you, too, if he’s in town. Marine One will meet you at Andrews AFB. Oh, and call the SGC and get Daniel on the line. Tell them to patch him through to my cell phone.”
“Where’s Dr. Jackson?” Maynard asked.
“Off-world,” Jack said. “He’s negotiating for three women and their kids.”
“General O’Neill,” Sheppard called for his attention. Jack ignored Maynard’s questioning stare and went to the table. The papers contained lists of government personnel and their positions. There were several lists from other countries, also lists of people who didn’t seem to be connected.
“Gertrude Waite?” Jack questioned, picking up a paper. “Who is she?”
Maynard frowned and took the paper from him, scanning the list of names. “I’ve never heard of these people,” he admitted. Jack took the list and snapped a picture of it with his cell phone, and then emailed it before dialing.
“I just emailed you a picture of a list of names,” he said. “Take a look and tell me if you recognize any of them. Yeah, I’ll wait.”
“Colonel Davis and his Rottweiler are getting handfasted;
you coming?” he asked Maynard. He then frowned at his phone. “I’m talking about you, not to you,” he said into it.
“On what planet?” Maynard asked.
“This one,” Jack said. “At their house. Jonathan is coming in from Kalam to do the music. Oh, if no one told you, General Hammond eloped with my admin. They’ll be back on duty next week.”
A dark eyebrow lifted. “Isn’t Ms. Frasier also getting married?”
“In the fall,” Jack confirmed. “And I know she isn’t eloping because she’s making me and Daniel pay for her half of the bill. Thankfully, we have many more years until our oldest is ready. At least, it had better be many more years. If that frackin’ Tok’ra goes anywhere near her…… Wait, let me put the speaker on.” Jack hit a button on his phone. “Go ahead.”
“I don’t recognize any of these people,” Nick admitted. “Where did this list come from?”
“It was among other lists of names that one of the people Edmonds is coming to see had.”
There was a pause. “Other than the person you originally went to see?”
“Correct.”
“Interesting. How many?”
“Just two. So far.”
“What were the other lists?”
“Heads of state, family, people close to them.”
“Then I am willing to bet that this particular list contains people who are also close but who do not move in political circles,” Nick said. “You’d be surprised at how many people in high places speak openly with the janitor. We should be there in half an hour. Dr. Edmonds checked in and is on his way here.”
“If the White House is clear, the president should be brought in and allowed to tend to his wife,” Maynard suggested. Jack gave the building a sweep and nodded. His phone beeped at him and he switched to the incoming line.
“Put him through,” he said. He considered his options and changed to Goa’uld. It seemed to be easier, the more he used it. Maybe he listened more closely to Daniel and Jaffa than he thought he did. “No, stay there,” he concluded. “There really isn’t anything immediate for you to do, and Nick is on the way to help with tracking. I’ll call her. How’s negotiations? Use whatever you need, just don’t bring home more wives, please.”
The Anunnaki Unification, Book 3: A Stargate SG-1 Fan Fiction Story Page 9
