Myth-conceptions



'Missing'



Part 2

In the briefing room - The Other Place:

Chapter 5 - In which Teal'c turns into motor-mouth and the stenographer is having A Bad Day.

General Hammond looked around the three glum faces in front of him.

"Still no success I take it, gentlemen?" Three heads shook. "Do you have anything at all? Colonel?"

"I called her brother in San Diego. He last heard from her after he fixed her up with Pete. When I said we were trying to find her, he asked if they'd eloped."

"He did...?"

"Actually," Jack continued in a whisper after a suspicious look around, "he said he was just kidding. She said she liked him but she still hasn't met a man she'd consider giving up her job for."

Daniel sniggered.

"Do you have something to contribute, Doctor Jackson," Hammond asked sharply.

"Daniel Jackson and I contacted the Tok'ra," Teal'c said.

Daniel shot him a slightly accusing look then sat back looking around with a slightly glazed expression. His attention finally settled on Shelob who, having finished off the remains of the fly, had set off on a trek across the ceiling.

"Wouldn't the records show if Major Carter had gone off-world?"

"Through the 'Gate, yes, General Hammond. However, Daniel Jackson considered it possible that General Carter had visited us in a tel'tac, in which case there would be no 'Gate record."

"Good thinking, Teal'c," Hammond smiled.

"Unfortunately, General Carter has not seen his daughter since Anubis's Thuper!Thold—" Teal'c stopped and shook his head as if trying to dislodge something from his brain. "I mean, since Anubis's kull warrior invaded the Alpha Site. He is now most concerned..."

Teal'c cast a suspicious and mildly homicidal glare around the room, then looked under the briefing room table. Apparently satisfied, he resumed his usual pose of austere dignity.

"Does anyone have anything else he'd like to share?" General Hammond asked.

Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but Teal'c was ahead of him.

"Daniel Jackson went back to Major Carter's house and managed to speak with the woman who cleans her house. She said that Major Carter was looking forward to her forthcoming meeting with Colonel O'Neill."

"What she actually said was that Sam's fed up to the back teeth with being made to look like a adolescent bimbo with an unprofessional crush on her C.O." Daniel corrected in with a scowl at Teal'c.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, we now have a script and are no longer improvising."

"Guess you're not interested in knowing that Shelob's finished her dinner and is now abseiling towards Jack's collar then... "

"Huh? Shelob?" Jack grunted. He followed Daniel's line of sight.

The tilt of his head resulted in Shelob's landing on his nose. Jack leapt up, knocking over his chair and fending off the spider. She flew in the direction of the stenographer who promptly had hysterics and fled the room.

General Hammond adjourned the debriefing and summoned Sergeant Siler to dispose of Shelob. Daniel would have protested, but she'd already escaped to safety.

After the remains of S.G.-1 had left the briefing room, General Hammond rang the writers and arranged another meeting. He had just collected his papers togetherand was donning his jacket and hat when there was a knock at the door.

"Come!" he called, expecting Siler.

Airman, Master Sergeant, Norman, Walter, Davis, Harriman— oh, fuck it! Sergeant Davis entered.

"Sorry to bother you, sir."

"Is it urgent, Sergeant? Only I have an meeting with the writers."

"In that case, you might want to take this along," Walter said, handing over a video cassette. "It's the security footage from Major Carter's lab around the time of her disappearance."



In a holding cell: Colonel Carter's S.G.C.

Chapter 6 - In which the plot thickens.

"What did she mean - we've been compromised?" I asked with mild curiosity.

"I have no idea," Daniel sighed.

"She has to be mistaken."

"She seemed very sincere though, didn't she?" he said.

"Yes, she did."

"I still think she's very nice - very obliging. I'm sure she has our best interests at heart."

"Oh absolutely!" I agreed. "I just can't imagine what could have made her think we've been compromised."

"Still, they're treating us well here."

"I hope it's soon sorted out. I can't wait to take advantage of Lankesh's generosity. And he's soo good-looking. Wonder if there's a Mrs. Lankesh..."

It didn't seem long before Major Carter and Doctor Fraiser came into the cell, accompanied by a couple of S.F.s. This was a little puzzling as we posed no threat to our friends, either here or in Mahishmati. I was also puzzled by the fact that the S.F.s were carrying buckets.

"Just a couple of little injections that'll have you back to normal in no time," Doctor Fraiser said briskly.

"I feel fine right now," I told her, not that I suffer from belonephobia.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Daniel said.

"Sure y'are," Doctor Fraiser agreed smoothly, reaching for one of the hypodermics on the tray that Major Carter was holding. "Now sit on the bench please."

She waited till we were seated then injected us both. Shortly afterwards, I wasn't feeling at all fine, in fact I was—

"Oh God! Oh god, I - I'm sorry but I'm gonna— "

Then I realized why the S.F.s had the buckets as Daniel and I barfed into them.

"Oh, yuck..." I groaned as the final dry heaves finished. "Double yuck - what's that?" I asked, looking at some revolting slimy gray-white goo floating on the surface.

Major Carter took a look. "I'm thinking they're the moon cakes," she said, wrinkling her nose at the smell.

"The moon cakes? But they were divine," Daniel protested.

"Yes, very more-ish," I agreed, then my brain started to function again. "They were doctored, weren't they?"

"Mm-hm," Carter nodded as Doctor Fraiser gave Daniel and me a second injection.

"This is to neutralize any mood-altering chemicals still in your systems," she explained.

"Mood-altering?" I asked.

"Yes. The moon cakes contained time-released drugs designed to render you suggestible and compliant - and to keep you that way," Fraiser continued. "You'd accept anything you were told without question and happily go along with anything you were asked to do."

"On the plus side - for us, negative for them - you went along with what I suggested without too much argument when I was trying to get you out of there," Major Carter said.

"Well, thank goodness you did." I was shocked at our narrow escape, and wondered what exactly we'd escaped from - or rather, been rescued from.

"So how come you weren't affected, Sam?" Daniel asked.

"I didn't eat anything - well, except for an energy bar" Carter replied. "I pretended to join in with the feasting, then slipped a few samples into my vest when no one was looking. You remember the mission to Argos?"

"Er, no. I don't think we ever went there, did we, Daniel?"

"I don't remember it if we did."

"Ah. Well, when we were there, Colonel O'Neill ate some of this cake which was 'only for him'. Ever since that experience, it's pretty much been the rule with us to stick to M.R.E.s. and energy bars."

"Oh? What happened?" Daniel asked.

"I'll tell you later. Let's just say it was a little embarrassing for the colonel and very nearly terminal."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. So when Suranjan singled out the moon cakes as being 'specially good', I kinda smelt a rat. I tried to get you all to leave then, but I guess the drugs hadn't reached their full effect then. After the general had been... implanted, I had to get as many of you away as I could and as soon as possible."

"That's why you were simpering all over Khadim?" I asked.

She flushed a little. "Well, I couldn't risk tipping him off to the fact I hadn't eaten or drunk anything they'd provided."

"You were very good - very convincing."

She scowled and said wryly, "I've had years of practice."

A horrible thought hit me. Our male writers had a hand in this script...

"Oh God!" I exclaimed, "Please tell me I wasn't simpering too?"

"Um, well, a little," she replied, but there was a quirk in her smile that said 'a lot'. I could see I'd have to burn the security footage from the holding cell at the earliest possible moment!



The Other Place:

Chapter 7 - In which the writers take a train to Panic Stations.

The three men watched the video tape. The grainy footage showed a smart woman enter Sam's lab. by way of the Quantum Mirror. She was almost identical to Sam, but somehow looked a little taller. Maybe it was her military bearing.

"Looks like we've had visit from another Major Carter," Hammond observed as the two women chatted. "No, make that Colonel Carter."

"Wonder what Sam's saying," the tall thin writer said.

"Yeah, pity we don't have audio," said the short fat one.

"Ain't that the truth!" said an unfamiliar voice as Sam poked her fingers down her throat and appeared to be retching.

"Who said that?" asked the short fat writer.

"Dunno," replied the other one looking round.

"Maybe it was the reader," Hammond suggested, struggling to maintain a straight face.

"Oh." The writers exchanged puzzled looks as the tape rolled on.

After a few minutes, Sam grabbed her B.D.U. jacket and followed her alter ego through the mirror.

"Did you get the code for the other universe?" the short fat writer asked.

"There's a code?" asked the tall thin one. "I thought canon said we couldn't locate other universes - we have to keep the mirror... er... open?"

"So? When did ever stick to canon?"

"Oh, yeah. Forgot. So George, did you get the code?"

"Unfortunately, it's too small to see the detail," Hammond said.

"Well, can't you enlarge the picture or something?" demanded the short fat one.

"Unfortunately, that only works on-screen, not in real life," Hammond said, drily.

"You can digitally enhance it though, can't you?" asked the other.

"That works up to a point, but a single pixel is always a single pixel, no matter how big you make it. It does not magically change into a face— Or a control device. That's science, by the way, not canon."

"Damn. It's gonna have to be the clip show then," sighed the tall thin writer.

The short fat one looked close to tears. "B-But we've got a brilliant script for Sam - a real tease for the 'shipper fans. They'll love it! Sam's getting cold feet about Pete because, as we all know, she's head over heels in love with Jack— That torch will never go out. So she goes round to Jack's and tells him how she feels, and then they kiss—"

"Tough. We'll just have to do it next season."

"Aww..."

"And you might like to rethink the declaration of love bit," Hammond said with an adamantine glint in his eye. "We can't keep ignoring the Air Force advisor for ever. It's one thing to skate close to the line. It's quite another thing to cross it. In any case, if I know Jack, he won't go along with that. His affections are otherwise engaged..." "Huh?"



In the A.U. Briefing Room

Chapter 8 - In which Daniel has a horrible sense of déjà vu and everyone's alarmed.

General Hammond called an emergency meeting. We, along with Doctor Fraiser, convened in the briefing room. He'd already been briefed, albeit sketchily, by Major Carter while our chemists were working with Doctor Fraiser on analyzing the moon cakes. It seemed totally wrong not to have General O'Neill and Teal'c there. We were all very concerned about them and keen to find a means of rescue, as we had very little time. Daniel, who'd rushed in after we're all seated, kicked off the meeting.

"I blame myself for this. As India is on the fringe of my knowledge, I should've dug more deeply into Hindu mythology a lot sooner. Many Hindu gods have a multiplicity of alternative names. Vishnu is also known as Vasudeva and Janardhan among others, Shiva is Pashupati, and Rudra— and Lankesh is better known as Ravana, king of the Rakshasas or demons. To cap it all, the Rakshasas are said to be descended from Nirrti. So I think we can safely say he's a goa'uld - or something just as bad. And I should have known that - I should have known—"

Major Carter gave him a comforting pat on the arm.

"Shouldn't we - and Teal'c - have sensed it if he is a goa'uld?" I asked.

"Not necessarily," Major Carter answered. "I've had a little more time to think about this than you have. I don't have all the answers but I do have a few ideas. If I may, General Hammond?"

"Fire away, Major. We need as much help as we can get on this one."

"Firstly, I think we didn't sense any goa'uld because we've never actually met Lankesh - or Ravana."

"Then who— ?" I asked.

"Well, we know he has the technology to cloak the city in a holographic illusion to make it look like a ruin."

"A honey pot to lure in unwary travelers like ourselves?" Daniel sighed.

"You can't be expected to know everything, Daniel, so stop beating yourself up about it. What's done is done," I said, a little sharply and quickly regretted it, adding more gently, "Let's focus on the present for now."

"So Major, you're saying that the 'Lankesh' you met was an ordinary man hidden under an illusion of Lankesh?" General Hammond asked.

"Assuming Lankesh actually looks like that, yes," she answered. "I'm not totally convinced that he is a goa'uld though. Most of them start foaming at the mouth the instant they see Teal'c, the shol'va. Even if Lankesh has been out the loop for a long time, Apophis's tattoo is a dead give-away that he's Jaffa. Though if Lankesh isn't a goa'uld, I've no idea what he might be."

"If he is a goa'uld, it could explain how he knew who we all are when we first arrived," Daniel suggested, adding with smug satisfaction, "We're pretty well known across the galaxy for kicking goa'uld butt."

A shaft of fear shot through me. "In which case, Teal'c is in great danger."

"I don't think he's in immediate danger though," Major Carter said. "Lankesh seems content to bide his time - a little like Yu - and go for the bigger prize - the whole of S.G.-1 and access to the S.G.C.— ultimately Earth itself. He could've taken Teal'c out at any time."

Daniel turned to her. "If he's a smart goa'uld like Yu rather than the generality of goa'uld power trippers, it makes him that much more dangerous an enemy, and Teal'c is still in his power through the moon cakes."

"I'm not so sure," she responded. "He noticed that Khadim seemed put out when we changed our plans. The rest of you stopped noticing things like that. So maybe he didn't eat any of the cakes either, or had more resistence to them."

When I thought about it, and looking back with clearer sight, Teal'c did seem very insistent on remaining.

"If he was unaffected - or less affected by the drugs," Daniel said, looking a little brighter, "he would definitely want to stay behind to protect Jack - certainly if he realized, like Sam, what was going on."

"Speaking of General O'Neill, do we know what's happened to him?" General Hammond asked. "Major Carter, you said he'd effectively been kidnaped. Please explain."

"Well, sir, as I said, I was immediately suspicious when we were directed to the moon cakes by our friendly little 'poison-taster'. I was able to talk General O'Neill into reconsidering about us all being implanted with Lankesh's - I guess you could call them bio-chips - but he insisted on acting as a - well, as a guinea pig. He said if it was okay for him, then it would be okay for us too."

"And he said it was okay?" General Hammond asked skeptically.

"Yes sir."

"So what made you doubt his word, Major?"

"A lot of people in the city were wearing very dark glasses, too dark to see their eyes. I didn't think anything of it at first - that maybe it was a style thing. Then when General O'Neill came back after he'd been implanted, he was wearing the same sort of dark glasses. Daniel noticed it too. Guess the drugs don't stop you noticing things; they just stop you attaching any relevance to them. Anyhow, Daniel reached out to take them - just to look at. The general pushed his hand away and the glasses got knocked off. I picked them to give back and he - well, he snatched them out of my hands and jammed them back on."

"I'm not following, Major," General Hammond said looking mystified. "Why did that make you doubt General O'Neill's word?"

"His eyes, sir. After the implantation of the bio-chip, his body language, his expression, everything about him spoke vitality and enthusiasm. So I think - I'm pretty sure - the dark glasses are simply there to hide people's eyes - to hide the truth - because, when the glasses were off, and I could see his eyes— They were terrified - pleading... Sir, I think Lankesh is controlling him. General O'Neill is a prisoner in his own body, like - like Skaara, like Sha're."

"God, no!" Daniel cried and ran out of the room with Doctor Fraiser hot on his heels.

When Daniel and Doctor Fraiser returned, the meeting resumed. The short break had given us all a little time to come to terms with the bombshell Major Carter had just dropped on us. Now we had to set about finding a way to rescue General O'Neill.

"Firstly, I think we need to fix up a white noise generator to jam Lankesh's mind-reading ability," I suggested.

"A five-to-thirty hertz range should do it," Doctor Fraiser said.

Major Carter agreed with the idea of a jammer but expressed doubts about its being necessary. I caught her drift.

"You're right. We've no proof that this - this bio-chip does anything except take over your mind— suppress your will."

"But what about the hologram?" Daniel asked.

"Well, we didn't have time for more than a cursory look to see if it was generated from somewhere nearby. And with a telecomm. link, it would be easy to create the impression that the voice came from the hologram." I speculated.

"The mike would have to be fairly close to the hologram's head though, or the sound would come from a different position," he pointed out. "The only thing that high in the vicinity of the 'Gate is the M.A.L.P. which would've recorded anyone coming anyone approaching or tampering with it."

You could almost see the lightbulb come on above her head as she exclaimed, "Not if they were out of phase! You said yourself, Daniel, that the Rakshasas are connected with Nirrti, and in our universe, she was quite adept at phase-shifting before she was killed."

"She was still only at the experimental stage here," I responded, "so if Lankesh is using her technology, I wouldn't have thought he could've pulled off what we saw there."

"Assuming it was that way around," she stressed. "Do we have any reason to think Lankesh used Nirrti's technology rather than that she stole his?"

"No, we don't," I said slowly. "It's a very likely thing for her to have done, in fact. And the arrival of the M.A.L.P. and the U.A.V. would've announced our impending visit and given him time to set up the scenario."

"If there isn't some sort of out-of-phase device there on a permanent basis," Daniel suggested.

"It's possible," I agreed.

"Well, I'll have TERs ready in the 'Gate Room for when you leave," General Hammond said. "They and the jamming devices should take care of your arrival. What next."

"Well sir, Major Carter dangled a carrot in front of Khadim to ease our escape. That was that maybe we could interest you in coming back with us. Of course, that's not up for consideration, but Lankesh doesn't know what you look like, so I suggest we take someone else along in your place and I think General Makepeace would be a good choice."

Major Carter's eyes opened wide at that. "Makepeace?" she asked as if she thought she'd misheard.

"Overall head of the marines, yes. Oh. Don't tell me he's dead in your universe?"

"Not yet, but he's on death row— No, don't ask!"

General Hammond looked momentarily puzzled but agreed to my suggestion. General Makepeace is a good man to have on board in a tight situation, which this may very well turn out to be.

"Oh-oh, I've just thought of a problem," Daniel said.

"What?" the general asked.

"If Lankesh has transphase capabilities, we have no way of knowing how strong his forces are. We could've been surrounded by them and not known."

"But there couldn't been any Jaffa, or Teal'c and Colonel Carter and I would've sensed them."

"If he can control people with those implants, he doesn't need Jaffa," Daniel persisted.

I gasped in horror. "And someone - or more than one - could've slipped through the Stargate with us!"



Jack's House - The Other Place:

Chapter 9 - In which an old 'friend' offers to lend a hand.

Jack returned home to find an unwelcome visitor sitting on his couch, drinking his beer.

"Maybourne! What the fuck are you doing here? We're in the middle of a situation right now and I don't have time to deal with your— "

"I know," Harry replied with an irritating smile. "A little bird told me Major Carter's missing. That's why I'm here."

"What little bird?" Jack asked suspiciously.

"Could be one of the writers."

"Oh. Okay." Jack wasn't in the least surprised.

"They often bring me in when they're stuck on a plot that's got too tough for you to handle," Harry smirked.

"I'm thinking your ability to be annoying is entirely yours however."

"Jack! I'm hurt," Harry lamented, looking anything but. "Cut to the quick. And here's me with nothing but your best interests at heart."

"Bullshit."

"No, really, I have," Harry protested, then mouthed, "They don't know I'm here."

"Who don't?"

"The writers of course. Jeez, Jack, you never used to be this dense."

"Yeah, must be the effect of C.B.W.S. ...I need to get out more..."

"C.B.W.S.?" Harry asked. "Comic Book Writer's Syndrome."

"Ah. Figures."

"So, Harry, if the writers aren't desperate enough to call on you— "

"Yet. "

"—What are you doing here? Apart from drinking all my beer?"

"I told you, Jack. I have your best interests at heart. And Major Carter's, of course."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Cut the crap, Harry and just get on with it."

"Well, they're - the writers, that is," Harry specified with a look at Jack to make sure he was following, "are currently working through ideas, and they still haven't ruled out the comedy option."

"Oh." Jack's face took on a wary expression.

"They're trying to contact Jay Felger."

"Ack!" Jack exclaimed in horror, then shot Harry a suspicious look. "You're just yankin' my chain, a'n'tcha?"

"Sorry. Wish I was. Now will you believe me when I say I'm here for you? And Sam."

"Let's pretend that I do. Why are you here now?"

"I was involved in supervising the Q.M. Project in Area 51 and I think I can work out which universe Major Carter went to, but after that, you're on your own."

"So what? I bring the control unit to you?"

"Nah, I have to be with the mirror."

"But— I thought you were on the run, Harry?"

"Actually no. That's just part of my cover. I'm a C.I.A. agent - always have been - even when I was working for those N.I.D. fuckwits."

"Ya know, strangely enough, that doesn't make me feel a whole lot better about you... "

"In any case, with the beard, they won't recognize me. Trust me."

Jack gave him a look that was anything but trusting, then his eye was drawn to the beige raincoat dark fedora, and briefcase placed on an adjacent chair.

"Could that be any more cliché-ed, Harry?"

As it turned out, Harry was correct. No one recognized him and no one questioned his I.D. The name on it was Roy Maven so it had to be fake, didn't it? Jack wondered idly if Harry Maybourne really was his name or just another alias.

In Sam's lab., Harry - or Roy, or whoever - plugged a pendrive into the side of one of her computers then connected in the mirror's hand control pad. He rapidly type in a string of commands and sat back. A cascade of figures and symbols scrolled down the screen as images flashed across the mirror's surface. After a minute or two, they stopped with one line highlighted.

"Got it!"

The pair instantly looked towards the mirror. On the other side, the lab. was empty but through the open door opposite, they could see a troop of S.F.s running past.

"Now, are they just practising running up and down corridors (TM) or is Sam in trouble?" Harry queried.

"I think she's in trouble. They're carrying TERs." Jack replied, looking worried. "Keep a lock on that world. I'll see if I can round up Daniel and Teal'c without the writers noticing."

"For you, Jack, it'll be a piece of cake."

Jack looked a question.

"A - you're special ops., and B - anyone who hasn't noticed, for the best part of four years, that Colorado Springs does have a zoo, has to be several chevrons short of a Stargate. They certainly won't notice you skulking about. "

"Right. See ya, Harry— and thanks!"



In the A.U. S.G.C.

Chapter 10 - In which battle plans are made.

Suddenly, it was all action. Hammond hit the alarm. I called down to the armory for TERs. Daniel contacted the 'Gate Room - only incoming activity since our arrival which was all to the good.

We followed Major Carter and the general down to the 'Gate Room, collecting TERs on the way. Having found nothing untoward there, General Hammond ordered a sweep of the base and we returned to the briefing room to resume our discussion of our plan of campaign for a second time.

"Well, people," the general said, "we seem to be in the clear so far and the hand scanner will prevent any unauthorized 'Gate activation, so if anyone has infiltrated the base, he won't be able to leave."

"Unless he leaves by the front gate," Daniel pointed out, "and he's had plenty of time to do that. Or they have..."

"Hm, well there's nothing we can do about that right now, so let's get back to the matter in hand. Any more ideas?"

"I'm thinking - hoping - that if the sweep of the base comes back clear, maybe they bought our reason for leaving," Major Carter said. "I kinda feel that if we'd come back with company we'd know by now. They would probably already have tried something - sabotage - 'Gate activation to go back and report."

"Nothing like possible invisible enemies to crank up the paranoia level," I said wryly, then a thought struck me. " I have an idea. I could take Nirrti's invisibility device."

"Do we have time to send to Area 51 for it?" General Hammond asked.

Damn! Busted!

"Ah," I bit my lip. "Actually, sir, they don't have it. I made a copy before they came to collect. I have the original."

"Way to go, Samantha!" Daniel hooted.

"So do we have any more of these devices?"

"Um, 'fraid not, sir. I haven't managed to get a handle on the transphase unit yet."

"So the one at Area 51...?"

"Is a dud. Yes sir."

General Hammond tried not to smile as he rebuked me.

"Well, they haven't noticed yet, and by the time they do, maybe I'll have it cracked. Besides, our need is usually greater than theirs."

"I can't argue with that. Continue, Colonel."

"Maybe I can do a little out-of-phase recon. around Lankesh's palace and find out what we're up against."

"But if we come across others who are out of phase, they'll know you're out of phase too, once they realize you can see them." Daniel argued, looking worried. "We don't want to tip our hand too soon."

"If I'm careful, they may not notice I can see them - people often don't see what's right in front of them if they're not expecting it to be there. They're going to know sometime anyway."

"Hopefully after we've rescued Jack and Teal'c though," he said a little snarkily.

"It seems to me that we would have more to gain from the intel.," General Hammond said. "I think the risk is acceptable. Now, how do we go about extracting General O'Neill and Teal'c?"



Major Carter's lab.:

Chapter 11 - In which the cavalry would ride to the rescue, but...

Jack stuck his head out of Sam's lab. The coast was clear apart from half a dozen S.F.s who ran past him down the corridor with practised ease as if they were actually going some place for some purpose. He waited till they'd gone then slouched with apparent aimlessness in the direction of the elevator and rode up to Level 18.

As he stepped out, half a dozen S.F.s jogged past him. He could've sworn they were the same guys who'd passed him on Level 19. Oh well. He walked down the corridor after them, then executed a sharp right maneuver which took him to the door of Daniel's office. He gave a single knock then slipped smoothly inside.

"Daniel— " he began with soft urgency. He looked around the room and came up empty. "Dammit, where are you?" Possibly with Teal'c. Two in one.

Jack sneaked out and into the main passageway where he was passed by another - or the same - group of S.F.s sprinting up the corridor, and made his way down to Teal'c's quarters. He rapped once on the door and attempted to enter but the door was locked. Dammit.

As he stood outside, wondering where to try next, his nose detected a distinctive smell. Ermenegildo Zegna aftershave.

"Daniel, open up. I know you're in there."

The door just wide enough for a large dark arm to reach out, grab the front of Jack's B.D.U., and yank him inside. Then the door was smartly shut and locked again.

"Are you alone, O'Neill?"

"Yeah. What's going on?"

"The writers are looking for us," Daniel said.

"And? So? Therefore?"

"You haven't seen the new script yet, have you?"

"No, Daniel, I haven— " Jack began then stopped as the penny dropped. "Felger?"

The facial expressions said it all.

"Oh well, we're out of here anyway. Harry tracked down where Carter went."

"Harry— ?" Daniel said.

"As in Maybourne. Yes. Don't ask."

Jack opened the door and peered out into the passage.

"Coast's clear," he said, beckoning them to follow.

At the end of the passage, Jack stuck his head round the corner then ducked back sharply.

"They're coming," he muttered hoarsely.

The three exchanged worried glances, then they heard the sound of salvation. A troop of S.F.s was coming in the other direction on Running Up and Down Corridors (TM) duty. As they dashed past the side passage, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c tagged on to the end of the line and ran by the writers who were talking agitatedly.

"Felger will just have to— " the tall thin writer was saying as they passed.

Jack wasn't sure if he was glad or sorry not to have heard any more. The trio stopped at the elevator and went up to Level 19. Sam's lab was empty, so presumably Harry had already left. The other side of the quantum mirror was also empty, still. Jack explained what he'd seen previously.

"Should we not take our own TERs, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

Jack thought about it, then came down against. "We might run into the writers again before we can get away," he decided. "We go now."

Jack took point followed by Daniel then Teal'c. His plan was to head for their C.O.'s office, but this was rapidly thwarted when his key card wouldn't allow them access to the elevator - however many times he swiped through the key card reader...

"Um, Jack, guess they have a different code in this reality."

Jack was about to snap, "No shit, Sherlock!" with extreme sarcasm, but the words remained unspoken.

"General O'— Colonel O'Neill?" said a young captain at his elbow. His eyes grew large as he realized the three in front of him didn't belong there. He promptly hit the alarm.

"Oh crap," Jack muttered as the siren summoned security to the area.



Bharat - P8A-114:

Chapter 12 - In which S.G.-0.5 + 2 return to Mahishmati

The four of us clattered up the ramp and through the event horizon. Their sun was low over the horizon and the light was already fading when we arrived. We felt this would be more of a help than a hindrance.

We had an assortment of extra pieces of equipment stowed in our packs which we hoped would enable us to pull off the rescue. General Makepeace was wearing General Hammond's name badge, and his two star insignia on his shoulder straps. There was no welcoming party - apparently.

Major Carter made a show of tinkering with orientation of the M.A.L.P's antenna as the others ambled around.

I slipped around the back of the 'Gate and attached the invisibility device. I peered around the 'Gate just as Daniel was walking through what looked like an old-fashioned microphone on a stand. It seemed that that part of our conjecturing was correct. I could see nothing untoward between the 'Gate and the city, so removed the device and stepped out from cover.

"You know, you really should've gone before we left, Colonel," General Makepeace said with a smirk.

"Yes, General Hammond," I said meekly. "Good to go, sir" - our signal for all clear.

"Okay. Moving out, people."

I followed the rest down the ramp, carefully walking through the point where I knew the out-of-phase equipment to be. We had our jammers switched on in case. No problems so far. Better still, we didn't need to sing. I'd already heard General Makepeace sing - once; he makes General O'Neill sound like Pavarotti.

We were not surprised to find Khadim patiently awaiting our arrival at the gate, and smiling. Daniel made the introductions and we returned to the Dhawal Mahal. Khadim left us in the antechamber while he went to inform Lankesh of our arrival, bidding us partake of the mini-banquet provided.

"Doesn't he already know we're here?" Daniel muttered snarkily under his breath as the door closed.

"Ooh, look! More of those lovely mooncakes," Major Carter exclaimed, making a bee-line for the low tables, and beckoning us to follow her.

She seated herself with her back to the wall and took off her pack. We followed and gathered round one of the tables. Hidden by the rest of us, she fished a small brown paper sack from her pack and took out a lumpy package.

Quickly she tipped the mooncakes off the plate into the paper sack and put it back in her pack, then she replaced them with the contents of the package.

"Commissary cut up one of their cakes into mooncake shapes and covered 'em in white fondant," she explained conspiratorially. "Janet's idea." Aloud she said, "Ooh, these mooncakes taste better than ever! Do try one, General Hammond."

"Don't overdo it, Major," General Makepeace frowned, taking one of the little cakes.

The side door opened then, and Teal'c entered. Much to our relief, he wasn't wearing dark glasses.

"Teal'c. Good to see you," the general said.

"And to see you also, General... Hammond," Teal'c replied with only the slightest hesitation over the name.

"Where's General O'Neill?"

"He has been returned to the lab., General. There is some concern that his body is rejecting the implant."

I think we all breathed a sigh of relief about that. It suggested that he was fighting Lankesh's control over him.

"I'm very sorry to hear it, Teal'c," the general said. "Any idea how long it'll be before we know for sure?"

"Manindra stated that, in his experience, it rarely takes more than one of this planet's days for the implant to fuse with the brain. Permanently. So in Tau'ri time, we have a maximum of ten hours left."

This was sounding even better, then Teal'c added, "Usually, it takes much less time."

"I take it you haven't been implanted yet," I said as Teal'c sat down beside me.

"I have not, Colonel Carter, although Khadim was quite insistent that I join General O'Neill in receiving Lankesh's gift as soon as possible, before it ceased to be viable."

"But?"

"I informed Khadim that General O'Neill, in his eagerness to accept the implant, had broken with protocol - that General Hammond, by virtue of higher rank, should have been the first. I then said that if General O'Neill's health was at risk, I should remain available to assist him if necessary. He finally took the hint," Teal'c concluded.

His demeanor had not changed during his report, but to those who knew him, his expression was distinctly smug.

I nodded to Major Carter and passed her the invisibility device.

"Teal'c, do you know where the 'little girls' room is," she asked, batting her eyelashes. "I need to..."

"I understand, Major Carter. I will escort you."

She smiled brightly, slung her pack over her shoulder and followed Teal'c out through the side door as if she hadn't a care in the world.

They hadn't been gone long when Khadim returned to conduct to Lankesh. He looked around the group and noticed the absences.

"Oh, Major Carter had to— er, you know... 'women's things...'," I - uh, erm... well - simpered. Gak! "And Teal'c very kindly offered to show her where the - um - little girls' room is."

Then, swallowing my pride, I made with the doe eyes. (Oh, god! And poor Major Carter is stuck with this the whole time in her world. Think I'd rather poke my eyes out with a sharp stick!)

"We could wait for them. If you like. We don't mind. Either way," I simpered again, finishing with a sweet smile. (Jeez! I ought to get paid extra for that.)

"I would certainly like to make Lord Lankesh's acquaintance," General Makepeace was saying, "but at his convenience, of course. Perhaps you could perform the operation later when the others return?"

Khadim frowned and seemed lost in thought for a while.

"His Graciousness, the Lord Lankesh says that will be acceptable," he said, so we trooped into the audience chamber again.

General Makepeace excelled himself. He kept Lankesh occupied for over half an hour with suggestions for trade negotiations interspersed with praise and admiration. It seemed like he couldn't tear himself away Lankesh's presence. And he told Major Carter not to overdo it!

Flattered Lankesh may have been, but his eyes had glazed over after about ten minutes - just before mine did.

Our return to the antechamber coincided with that of Teal'c and a slightly flushed major. Judging from their faces, that part of the operation had gone well. We all sprawled on the floor cushions again.

"Tag, you're it." Major Carter murmured passing Daniel the invisibility device.

The plan had been for her to leave the bathroom out-of-phase. The pair were then to go through as much of the palace as they could, clearing each area as they went. Using the TER from her pack, the major was to reveal any phase-shifted people whom Teal'c would zat and, if possible immobilize with plastic restraints then find some place to hide them. Disintegration was a last resort. We didn't feel too good about killing conscripts if we didn't have to.

So far, Teal'c's hands signaled, they'd downed nine one way or another. We heard later that it wasn't only the antechamber that was well supplied with wooden chests and closets, so there had only been one fatality.

The good news was they weren't Jaffa, just ordinary soldiers. The bad news was that there were probably at least as many again. Worse, there was what looked like a barracks adjacent to the rear of the palace complex which may or may not house a troop of Jaffa, numbers unknown.

Khadim returned shortly after to take us to Manindra. Time for more undercover work.

"Ah, I need to use the 'little boys' room'," Daniel said, standing up. "I've got a... a thing about operations, however simple. Goes straight to my bladder, y'know?"

"Yeah, I could do with taking a leak, too," General Makepeace added. "You know where it is, Teal'c. Lead on."

Before Khadim had time raise objections, the three had gone.

"Perhaps we could go and join General O'Neill while we wait," I suggested cheerfully.

"It would be better to leave him to recover fully," Khadim said looking serious and concerned.

"Oh, we wouldn't disturb him. Really," Carter gushed, making with the doe-eyes again. She's really got that off to a fine art. "We'd just be there for moral support - you know. And having us there might make him feel better and speed his recovery too."

"I will consult Lankesh," he said with an exasperated sigh, and headed for the main doors.

It seemed we were both playing a stalling game, which left me wondering how long it would be before he or Lankesh became suspicious - if they weren't already...



Colonel Carter's S.G.C., shortly after the departure of S.G.- 0.5 +2

Chapter 13 - In which Jack has a surprise.

Jack resumed his pacing of their cell.

"Remind me to have Carter court-martialed when we get home," he grumbled.

"Like that would ever happen."

"What?" Jack whipped his head round to glower at Daniel.

"Oh, come on, Jack, you know she's the doe-eyed darling of the writers. Just think about all the things she's gotten away with," he said, adding sotto voce, "like I never would..."

"All what things?"

"Well mostly stemming from things that begin with 'unprofessional' and ending with 'relationships'," Daniel said with heavy sarcasm.

"Hey, we have an Air Force advisor to make sure that never happens," Jack protested.

"Do you not know, O'Neill, that he is there solely to convey an appearance of military verisimilitude?"

Jack looked slightly dumbfounded.

"He's just part of the furniture— rather like Teal'c," Daniel said, pushing sarcasm over the edge and into heartfelt snark.

"Indee— Yes." Teal'c looked thoughtful. "We are certainly in a strange new environment. I no longer feel the urge to raise one eyebrow and say, 'Indeed'. It makes a pleasant change."

"Yeah well, that doesn't help us to get out of here," Jack sighed.

As he spoke, there came the sound of approaching boots. The door opened and Major Davis entered, leaving a couple of S.F.s posted outside the door.

"Okay, guys. I had a word with Hammond. He's waiting for you in the briefing room."

"Hammond?" Jack asked, giving Major Davis a suspicious look.

"Well, yeah. He is the head honcho round here, y'know."

"I wasn't questioning that, just the familiarity - the irreverence... " Jack looked around at his companions. "Does this sound like Major Davis to you?"

"This is a different universe," Daniel said, though there was doubt in his voice.

"Right. Now, are you coming or not?" Major Davis stood aside and gestured for the visitors to follow the S.F.s. Daniel and Teal'c left first, then Jack froze on the threshold as Major Davis laid a hand on Jack's buttock and squeezed.

"I so own your ass, Jack."

On to 'Missing' - Part 3

Back to 'Missing' - Part 1

Return to Myth-conceptions Main Page

Stargate Main Page