"And this is the 'gate room." Jack did a theatrical sweep of his hand as he guided Kinsey through the double blast doors and into the embarkation room, where the Stargate sat silently. "As you can plainly see it's currently in it's off mode, but I've arranged to give you a little demonstration of this baby in action."

"A demonstration," Kinsey purred under his breath, favoring Jack with a sideways glance. "So you'd think nothing of firing up this infernal waste of the taxpayer's money for my benefit? Colonel, it's exactly this type of recklessness that has gotten this facility in trouble in the first place."

"Whoa!" Jack raised his hands up in mock surrender. "No such thing happening here, Bob. You don't mind if I call you that do you?"

"There's no point in trying to buy me with familiarity and friendship, Colonel. You and I aren't about to become buddies."

"Right." Jack clapped his hands together and smiled. "So, Bob…" He stoutly ignored Kinsey's death-ray stare and guided him towards the base of the ramp, the 'gate looming high above them. "About that demonstration… Major Carter and her team have come up with a way to harness the kinetic energy of an outgoing wormhole, storing it so we can supplement our own energy reserves. All very technical if you ask me, but the upshot is that we can spin the orifice and give you a good look at what we do here."

"Orifice?"

"Just a nickname we've given the old girl."

Appearing a little flustered, Kinsey waved at the 'gate. "Oh, very well."

"Excellent!" Jack looked over his shoulder and up to Teal'c in the control room. "Dial it up, Teal'c."

"Teal'c? You're letting the alien control one of this planet's biggest secrets?"

"Sure!" The first chevron locked in place. "Who better to show off the 'gate than a one-time agent of the enemy, right?"

Kinsey paled visibly, his mouth flopping open but not a sound coming out. Jack suddenly blanched at his own words. "Yeah, could have put that a bit better, I guess."

Chevron two locked in place. Kinsey found some composure from somewhere and appeared fascinated by the spinning of the 'gate. "So, you're just going to activate this money pit of a machine and then shut it down?"

Chevron three locked. "Unless you'd like to take a sightseeing trip? I know this nice little planet where—"

"This demonstration will be more than enough thank you, Colonel."

Chevron four locked. "You sure," Jack tried to sound pleading. "There's some really great folk out there who would love to meet and eat… greet a true representative of Earth. Have you ever heard of the Unas? Warm, loving people… a little hairy, but once you get past their appearance…"

Chevron five locked.

"Colonel!"

"Okay," Jack backed off a little, leaving Kinsey virtually alone at the base of the ramp. "First Contact isn't for everyone."

"I don't suppose there's any way to hurry this demonstration up, is there?" Kinsey truly looked pissed. He rocked from foot to foot, hands fisted in his pockets, eyes glaring hard at the 'gate, almost willing it to hurry up.

Chevron six locked and Jack walked up behind Kinsey, his breath ghosting the other man's ear. "No, but I can give you one piece of information when waiting for the last chevron to lock."

"Really, and what's that, Colonel?"

Chevron seven locked…

"Duck!" Jack shoved Kinsey as hard as he could up the ramp and into the billowing wash of the incoming wormhole. The only thing left of the senator once the wormhole had settled was his smouldering size eleven shoes.

"Hmm… should have said to duck a little earlier."

Teal'c walked through the blast doors into the embarkation room, a small smile on his face. "The demise of Senator Kinsey felt quite refreshing."

"Yeah, just a pity this loop is going to reset and old bleeding-heartless Bob will be back to being a royal pain in our butt. Pretty good with the kinetic energy spiel, though, don't you think?"

"Major Carter would be most impressed."