ESCUVAR
* * *
The blue plastic cap of the pen clattered across the polished mahogany of the briefing room table. Teal'c caught it in one large hand and returned it to the archaeologist at his side, one eye brow raised in mute disapproval.
The Escuvaran envoy ignored the interruption and concluded with a mild smile:
"…and in order to understand the full significance of the artefact, we suggest that Dr Jackson views the temple himself as soon as such a visit may be scheduled."
Jack sat up abruptly. The cheek of these people was unbelievable.
"Did she put you up to this?"
"It was indeed Ellen's suggestion that the temple may warrant further investigation. The final decision must of course rest with Dr Jackson."
Medran's smile never wavered, and that riled Jack even further.
"Great. We're not going. Decision made."
He slapped his presentation folder shut and moved to rise. The sooner they got the Escuvaran out of here, the better.
Hammond motioned him back into his seat.
"We're not finished, Colonel. We will consider this proposal like any other."
O'Neill pulled a face, considering his options. He could stand his ground, and force Hammond's hand in front of the alien envoy. Or he could pretend to listen to the Escuvaran and bundle him back out through the gate as quickly as the General's precious diplomacy allowed.
Across the table, Daniel was rubbing his forehead with the air of someone making friends with a raging headache. Reluctantly, O'Neill settled back into his chair. He eyed the Escuvaran envoy, resplendent in his tunic in matching shades of grey. He wondered briefly what he distrusted more - the man's annoyingly even temper or his resemblance to a galactic accountant.
"If Ellen knows all about that temple thing already, what's the point in sending Daniel out there?" O'Neill tried again.
Medran's smile remained fixedly in place.
"The telepathic connection between Dr Jackson and Ellen does not provide any factual knowledge, but mere psychological impressions. I was led to believe the implications of the link between them had been explained to you."
O'Neill suppressed an angry laugh.
"The implications are real clear. Last time we saw your Ellen, we nearly lost Daniel. I'm not doing that again."
Medran looked as if he was contemplating drilling a hole into the Colonel's skull and filling it with reason.
"Neither Ellen nor our people would make a request that is likely to result in damage to either Dr Jackson or our charge. You may rest assured that precautions have been taken to avoid any detrimental effect."
Daniel snatched a few photos from the centre of the table and quickly rifled through them. He paused over a shot of a tall basilisk half obscuring the entrance to the main structure and with a sinking feeling shuffled through the rest of the photos for a clearer view, knowing already it was unnecessary. There, in middle of the welter of writing on the column was Karttikeya's seal. Karttikeya. Daniel would have known it anywhere, the nest of swirls of, signed off with a single thorn, and he knew without thinking that Ellen would have recognised it also.
The ruins of temple was only a short walk from the main Escuvar dwelling, and the only surprise in all this was that it had taken her this long to find them. Or to decide it was safe to get in touch with the SGC, he thought uncomfortably.
He raised his eyes to find the Escuvaran looking at him, the man's pale blue eyes intent as if trying read Daniel's thoughts off the back of his skull. Sam's voice penetrated the moment.
"Does that mean you have been able to destroy the link?"
A vaguely condescending smile twitched around Medran's lips.
"We are not familiar with the technology that has created this… unfortunate talent, and it is not our wish to cause further damage. We have concentrated our efforts on providing Ellen with a more active control over her mind, and we believe it is enough to render a visit safe."
"I thought you had said our brain structure was too different from yours to do that?" Carter asked.
"Primitive," O'Neill muttered beside her. "He said too primitive."
Medran fell back into his usual neutral demeanour.
"Ellen's telepathic processes, though artificially enhanced, still lack the sophistication that even a child of the Escuvar would possess. However, control over the existing mental pathways is largely a learned behaviour, and Ellen has proven an able student."
O'Neill rolled his eyes. "That's nice for her."
Teal'c spoke for the first time since Medran had begun his presentation.
"Are you suggesting it will be safe for Daniel Jackson and Ellen to meet again?"
Medran nodded.
"I am certain of it. As I said, we would not recommend contact if there was any doubt in this matter."
"It appears there is not reason to postpone the mission, O'Neill."
O'Neill shot the Jaffa an evil look.
"It appears we're not going. End of story."
The Escuvaran watched the exchange and leaned back in his chair. His face remained impassive, but a sharp edge had crept into his polite tones.
"It is Ellen's belief that the artefact may contain important information that could assist you in your battle. I trust the outcome of this conflict is still of interest to you."
O'Neill picked an invisible piece of lint from his blue uniform.
"Can't see why Ellen should care, seeing that she's all cushy now with you advanced folks…"
An uncharacteristic flush rose into Medran's cheeks.
"Need I remind you that it was Ellen who chose to abandon her planet so your organisation could keep its expert."
"Yeah, that was touching, wasn't it? Selfless and…what's the word? Altruistic."
"Jack."
Daniel leaned forward, hands firmly on the table lest he betrayed himself. It was time to stop Jack before his enumeration of Ellen's values destroyed their relations with the Escuvarans entirely.
"Jack, this isn't helping. We should look at this objectively…"
Daniel cringed a little under the Colonel's incredulous stare.
"Daniel, what is wrong with you? Do you want to go through all this again?"
O'Neill turned to the envoy and rose, his chair scraping across the floor.
"Medran, thanks for stopping by and all that, but our decision is made."
Hammond raised a hand.
"Not so fast, Colonel. If the Escuvarans judge it safe, and Dr Jackson agrees with the importance of the site, then I don't see any reason to stop this mission. Dr Jackson?"
Daniel picked up the photo of the basilisk and absently pushed up his glasses. He had a long list of things he would rather do than visit Escuvar again. He looked up and waited for Jack to meet his eyes.
"I think we should go."
* * *
TBC