Athen shook his head. “No, but it may have an unfortunately detrimental effect on your actual work for the event.” He focused on Vala. “Master Wyrrick has requested your presence at the party as his personal guest.”
Vala’s eyes widened, faking surprise to mask her sense of rising dread. “His… guest?”
“Indeed. The master was quite taken with you yesterday. He asked if Madame Ai would be so kind as to let her out of her duties for the duration of the event. He can replace Miss Oshin with a local artisan chef who would be more than capable of filling your absent assistant’s shoes.”
Vala and Tanis stared at each other, unsure of what to do. Turning down the offer certainly wouldn’t sit well with Wyrrick, but accepting it meant they would both have babysitters watching over them. Vala couldn’t clear out Kali’s treasures if she was hanging from Wyrrick’s arm, and Tanis would be stuck in the kitchen with a member of the household staff.
Athen cleared his throat. “Would you like a moment to discuss this? I realize you’re being put at an imposition, Madame Ai…”
“Yes. Quite an imposition.” She cleared her throat and furrowed her brow. “But if it’s what Master Wyrrick wishes, we cannot refuse him. It is his party, after all.” She rubbed her thumb in circles against the tips of her first two fingers, one of the nervous habits that, in Vala’s experience, meant that her mind was working at a solution. “Tell Master Wyrrick I would be glad to let Miss Oshin out of her duties for the party. Of course, if an emergency arises and I require her expertise…”
“Of course,” Athen said. “He extends his apologies and his gratitude. If Miss Oshin would come with me, I believe we can find her something more appropriate to wear.”
Vala nodded, smiled, and glanced back at Tanis as she was led out of the room. She followed Athen down the main hall, looking out the windows she passed as if the answer to the predicament was to be found outside. All she saw, however, was a rickshaw being pulled down the road to the palace, the carriage occupied by a masked man and woman while their companion strained to pull the vehicle the remainder of the distance to Wyrrick’s front door.
“There’s no need to look so glum,” Athen said as he escorted her into a private dressing room. “It is a party, after all, and you have just been freed from servitude. The only thing you have to do now is try to have a good time.”
Vala forced a chuckle and made an expression she feared was more grimace than grin. “Yes. I shall certainly endeavor to enjoy myself.”
Athen smiled and pulled the doors shut behind him, leaving Vala amid the finery. She looked around at the hanging dresses, but all she could see were the shattered remains of their plan. She sighed heavily, let her shoulders slump, and pushed her hair out of her face.
“Well. Bugger.”
Daniel dropped the rods and tried to catch his breath, looking down at his hands before shaking out his arms. He turned as Sam and Teal’c dismounted from the carriage. “We’re, uh, taking a different way back to the Stargate, right?”
Teal’c said, “If all goes to plan, we shall require a much faster escape than is possible with this method of conveyance.” He noticed the al’kesh displayed behind the house. “Perhaps that vessel can be put to use.”
“Good. Fantastic. I like vessels. Vessels are… vessels are good.” Daniel frowned and rubbed his shoulder. “Wait, are you saying I was slow? That thing wasn’t exactly light, you know. And with you and Sam weighing it down — ”
“Excuse me?” Sam said in her Goa’uld timbre. “What exactly do you mean I was ‘weighing it down’?”
“Mostly him. Muscle mass and…” He gave up and waved them off, sighing with exhaustion as he wiped his brow. “Forget it. As long as we’re not doing it again, I’ll be fine.”
Sam patted Daniel on the back with a smile. She walked between him and Teal’c to the front entrance. She knew it was Wyrrick’s house, but it certainly felt more like visiting a museum or some sort of concert hall. It had looked big on the UAV but in person the place was immense. She quashed the rising fear that they wouldn’t even be able to find the pedestal amid all of Wyrrick’s collections. If push came to shove, they could take extreme measures to make sure they didn’t leave empty handed. One man’s hurt feelings didn’t matter when compared to the lives of every Jaffa in the universe.
The doors opened and Wyrrick stepped out to greet them. He smiled, showing a perfect row of shining white teeth. He looked like a college football star gone to seed, a has-been who refused to acknowledge his muscles had given way to fat years ago. He clapped his hands together and bowed slightly from the waist.
“Callisto!”
“Master Wyrrick. Thank you for inviting me to your event.”
“The honor is mine. It is wonderful to at last make your acquaintance. And Teal’c. It is an honor to welcome such an esteemed name into my home. I’m glad to see you’ve come to your senses. Surely such a seismic shift could not have come easily.” He eyed Sam suspiciously. “Callisto must be quite the persuasive queen.”
Sam arched an eyebrow. “Perhaps if today goes well, I can arrange for you to examine the device which made my victory possible.”
Wyrrick smiled knowingly. “Aha. I should have known. I had heard that Ba’al was exploring mind control technology, but I never dreamed he would share it so early in its development.”
Sam lifted her chin and affected what she hoped was a haughty look. “I know nothing of Ba’al’s research. My work is my own.”
Wyrrick placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head forward in apology. “I did not mean to offend. To sway so obstinate a mind… I shall raise a toast to you this evening, Mistress Callisto.”
Sam bowed her head. Teal’c only offered a smile and bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Wyrrick looked at Daniel. “And the lo’taur. Wiggum, you said his name was?”
“Indeed,” Sam said.
“So long as he remembers his place.” He held his glare on Daniel a moment longer, then looked at Sam again. “Enough of that. This is a celebration, after all. Please, come inside.”
Sam nodded slightly and, with a sideways glance at Teal’c and Daniel, she crossed her arms behind her back and stepped into Wyrrick’s home.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Daniel and Teal’c had refrained from donning their masks until they were actually in the party. Daniel wore a small harlequin mask that reminded him of the Lone Ranger, while Teal’c had a more elaborate feathered piece that served to conceal his golden marking. They passed through a receiving area decorated with potted plants and extraordinarily elaborate artworks. The double doors to the main ballroom were open and the team paused to examine the crowd of disguised attendees.
Daniel adjusted the strap of his mask, then tucked his thumbs into his belt to prevent further fiddling. “We’re not supposed to mingle, are we?”
“Don’t look at me,” Sam said, still wincing every time she heard her own voice. “I’ve never exactly been the life of many parties. I’m usually in the corner somewhere reading spines on the host’s bookshelf.” She looked at Teal’c, who was carefully scanning the crowd. “See anyone you recognize? Sorry. That’s kind of a silly question to ask at a masquerade party.”
“Obscuring one’s face does little to conceal identity if you are trained to look deeper. There are several people here familiar to me. And despite my disguise I have noticed several of them recognizing me. In order to maintain our ruse, I may have to continually avow that I have broken with the people of Earth and with the Jaffa.” He grimaced. “I do not expect this to be an easy task.”
Sam said, “The people who matter will never believe those words coming from you. You’re doing it for the greater good of your people. Just remember that when the going gets tough.”
He bowed his head in thanks.
“Okay. Let’s spread out and see if we can find Kali’s treasure. It’s probably not going to be easy to get the pedestal out of here without drawing attention t
o ourselves, so I’d like to know where it is as early as possible. And let’s try not to draw attention to ourselves.”
“Inconspicuous. Right.” Daniel nodded and moved off to the right, while Teal’c strode confidently into the crowd to begin his subterfuge. Sam adjusted the veil so that it sat higher on the bridge of her nose, then squared her shoulders and set off to explore.
Vala chose a dress that would still allow her to run if necessary, a dark green thing that hung off one shoulder and left the other bare. It came with black gloves which would be helpful. Some planets were starting to keep track of fingermarks, and she didn’t want hers on anyone’s file. She had made certain that she touched as many surfaces as possible during her impromptu tour, but there was still a chance that they would end up somewhere incriminating. She felt it was better to take the precaution than worry about than leaving her mark on a security pad somewhere. Wyrrick had provided a mask that covered her entire face except for a small half-moon at the bottom to leave her chin free. She adjusted it until the eyeholes lined up properly and brushed her hair forward over the edges to hang down on either side of her face.
She stepped out of the changing room and saw that Wyrrick had just arrived. He was wearing a white double-breasted jacket over red pants, his hands also covered by gloves. He held his mask in his hands, but Vala could see that when he put it on it would cover everything but his lips and eyes. Vala forced a smile and held her hands out to the side so he could see the dress she’d chosen.
“I hope you approve of the outfit.”
“It looks magnificent on you, Miss Oshin.”
“Oh, please, call me Kaori. After all, I’m supposed to be your date, aren’t I?”
He smiled. “Of course. And you must call me Dys.”
She inclined her head in acknowledgement as he donned his disguise. The few moments he couldn’t see her, Vala twisted her features into an expression of frustration, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out before composing herself. The front of Wyrrick’s mask was painted gold, with flecks of white and silver along the edges to draw the eyes up. It gave the impression he was even taller than he was, and Vala hated how it made her feel inferior to him. She compensated by standing a little straighter as she offered him her arm.
“I trust Madame Ai wasn’t terribly put out by my request. I provided her with the most respected chef in the village to take your place.”
“Oh, I’m certain she’ll make do,” Vala said. “In the meantime, I’m very excited about the party! It’s been far too long since I attended a party I could actually enjoy.”
He tightened his arm around hers. “Just stick by my side, Kaori, and I’ll make sure you get the most out of today.”
Vala chuckled without humor as she was led out of the changing room. Somehow she doubted his assessment; the only way she would get anything out of the party would be if she could get out from under his gaze. Based on how fervently he was holding her arm she had a feeling that would be easier said than done.
Tanis knew Vala would chide her if she killed the woman Wyrrick had sent to help her in the kitchen. It was a simple enough solution; just a quick blow to the head, hide the body somewhere dark, and tell anyone who asked about her that she was out gathering more ingredients. But her time with Vala had taught her that killing wasn’t always the best solution to her problems, so she forced herself to consider alternatives. The woman was named Timony, a native of the nearby village and a chef so well-regarded that the wait staff seemed cowed by her mere presence. She was a tall woman, over six feet, and she wore an all-purple outfit with her name embroidered on the chest. Her hair was tri-colored, black mixed with white and blue, and she wore it in a strange complicated braid that hung over her right shoulder.
Tanis introduced herself as Ai Okano and welcomed Timony to her kitchen. Timony’s response was a derisive snort and an arched eyebrow as she scanned the food she and Vala had already prepared. She dipped a spoon into a bowl of broth, brought it to her lips, and slurped. The lines of her face deepened in distaste, and she sputtered her lips quietly as she returned the spoon to the counter.
“You prepared meals for Lord Yu? It is difficult to believe he survived so long in a single host without succumbing to food poisoning. This kitchen is a travesty. It is the mess hall of an amateur playing at gourmet.” She put her hands on her stomach as if she was going to be physically ill. “I can only imagine what the rest of this trash tastes like.”
The knives called to Tanis. She ignored their siren song and kept her voice steady. “Lord Yu was a great admirer of my food.”
“Then the man had no taste.”
Tanis kept one hand behind her back, digging her nails into her palms. It would be so easy to take the condescending wench into the supply room and quiet her once and for all. Instead she took a deep breath, smiled, and let the tension fade from her muscles. The solution came to her in a flash, and it was simple enough that she was angry at herself for envisioning homicide first. Her hand relaxed. Her breathing slowed, and when she spoke her voice was calm.
“I was moments away from preparing the main dish. It’s quite complicated, so I’ll have to ask you to stay out of my way.”
Timony’s eyes flashed. “Stay out of your way…?”
“This is my kitchen, and I will not have you ruining my reyalee with inaro sauce.”
Timony laughed. “You must be having delusions! You think you can pull off a complicated meal like that for a crowd this large?”
“I could do it with my eyes closed.”
“You would fail. And I will not have my name associated with failure on that scale.”
Tanis shrugged. “Very well. I will inform Wyrrick that you won’t be assisting today…”
“You will do no such thing.” Timony examined the counter and sighed. “You will be assisting me. If this is to be done, it will be done correctly. But not with the garbage I have here.” She picked up one of the tools, sneered at it, and dropped it. “I left my tools in town because I foolishly believed Wyrrick hired professionals. Clearly I was mistaken. You will retrieve them while I attempt to recover from the incipient disaster you have created here.”
Tanis said, “You can’t simply take over my kitchen!”
“This is my kitchen now. And I have given you an assignment. You should be thanking me. The credit for this meal will go to you, and you’ll do none of the work. Now run along and hurry back.”
“I will not stand for this,” Tanis said, her voice trembling with unshed tears. She spun on her heel, stormed from the kitchen, and broke into a smile as soon as she was in the hallway. The odds were good that Timony wouldn’t care much if Tanis never returned with the supplies; the assignment to retrieve them was obviously just a ploy to get rid of the irritant. Tanis unbuttoned her shirt and shrugged out of it, hoping her underclothes looked fancy enough to pass for formal wear.
Freed from her duties in the kitchen, her next job was to find a mask so she could blend in with the rest of the partygoers. She dumped her chef smock in the first trash receptacle she passed and went to join the party.
Sam watched as Wyrrick led a brunette woman in a green dress out into the crowd. Once she was sure he hadn’t seen her, she slipped out through the same door the host had just used. Multiple rooms branched off the corridor, and she tried to act inconspicuous as she walked past each open door and peered inside. A few people were touring the collections, but Sam only needed a couple of seconds to identify which Goa’uld each treasure belonged to. If it didn’t have Kali’s mark, she moved on.
Finally she found the room she was looking for. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was paying undue attention to her as she stepped inside. It was all the typical Goa’uld excess, golden everything and self-indulgent carvings, and it wasn’t long before she found the pedestal Nicia had described to them. It shared the design of a dial-home-device, only being tall and slender rather than short and stocky. She put her hand on top of the device and pushed
it just enough to get an idea of its weight, and the pedestal shifted easily on its oblong base. The other guests were moving too slowly to have reached Kali’s room, so Sam stepped behind the pedestal and crouched down. If she could figure out how the pedestal worked, there was a chance she could duplicate it without actually stealing the physical object.
The back came off without much difficulty and she set it aside. The guts of the device were like most Goa’uld tech she’d come across in the past few years, and she was confident she could at least get an inkling of how it came together. The main console would operate much as a DHD, only it spoke to the receiving dialer to input the next address. It operated like dominoes; the pedestal would disable the first device, which would in turn disable the next device, and the next, and the next, on down the line.
“So maybe we just have to figure out what this does to cause that first domino to fall,” Sam whispered. She bent down, angling her head forward so she could see into the shell of the machine. She had just reached up into the control systems when she heard the doors to the treasure room click shut.
She had two options; she could confront whoever had just joined her, or she could expose herself and try explaining why she had taken apart the pedestal. Then again, there was the third option of simply ducking out of sight. Hiding seemed like it would be the better part of valor so she tucked her legs against her chest, pulled one of the cast-aside drop cloths over her head and shoulders, and hoped no one looked too closely at the space behind the pedestal.
Tanis closed the doors to the Kali room and began a mental countdown. She had watched the guests and came up with a conservative estimate for how quickly they were moving from one room to the next. If she was right, she had three minutes before anyone got this far. She had worked on tighter timetables. She turned and examined the wealth spread out in front of her. Soon Timony would start sending out servers with covered trays of hors d’oeuvres, and she wanted to be prepared to fill the empties with as much as she could and as quickly as she could.
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