"Elizabeth," Carson hurried down one of the many long, gray hallways of the SGC, "You have a minute?"
"For you, Carson, I've got two," Elizabeth smiled as she slowed, waiting for him to catch up with her, "I was just on my way to my temporary office to meet with General O'Neill."
"Oh really?" Carson looked at Elizabeth curiously, "That's what I was going to ask you about. It seems I've been called to the same meeting. I don't suppose you know what it's about?"
"Sorry, no," Elizabeth shook her head, "Only that the General said it was urgent. He delayed his flight to Washington this morning."
The two of them rounded the corner to hear muffled voices coming from the office at the end of the hallway. Elizabeth thought she recognized one of the voices as Jack's, but the second female voice was unfamiliar.
"Should we knock?" Carson stopped in front of the door.
"It's still my office," Elizabeth turned the handle, "And we're expected."
"It's my life, Jack," the hoarse feminine voice shouted as Elizabeth pushed open the door, "You've no idea how-"
"I don't care!" Jack interrupted, yelling at the young woman from across the desk, "Sit down and be quiet or I swear to God – I will shoot you. Repeatedly."
"You cannot expect-" the red-haired woman started to protest.
Jack held up a hand and she stopped speaking immediately. She flopped down in the nearest chair, huffing petulantly as she crossed her arms across her chest. She glared at Jack and mumbled something decidedly unfriendly under her breath in a foreign language Elizabeth didn't recognize.
"Don't think I don't know you're calling me names," Jack pointed an angry finger at her, "I may not speak whatever that is, but I know when I'm being cussed at."
The woman didn't say anything further, instead sinking deeper into the chair and shoving her hair out of her eyes with an irritated huff.
Jack swiped a hand down his face as he sat down heavily in the chair behind the desk, "If I had known you were going to be such a pain in the ass about everything, I would never have agreed to this."
"Good morning, General O'Neill," Elizabeth greeted him politely, looking the room's two occupants over. Jack wore the plain green BDUs he preferred, black stars pinned to the collar, SGC and American flag patches in place. The annoyed woman wore a similar set of worn green BDUs that looked at least two sizes too big for her small frame, but the velcro was clear of any identifying patches. Her long, dark copper-red hair was in a messy, low ponytail. Elizabeth caught a flash of ash gray irises when the young woman's gaze flickered over Elizabeth and Carson briefly before returning to Jack.
"Good morning, Dr. Weir, Dr. Beckett," Jack nodded to both of them, gesturing towards the two empty chairs, "Sorry for calling you in so early. Please shut the door behind you and have a seat."
"Could you tell us what this is all about, General?" Elizabeth sat down.
Carson pulled the door shut before taking the last empty chair for himself.
Jack pulled a smooth quartz-looking crystal from his front uniform pocket. He set it down gently on the desk and it began to glow faint white when he tapped the top of it twice in quick succession.
"Asgard surveillance-jamming device," Jack explained at Elizabeth's curious look, "A little present from Thor last time we talked. The conversation we're about to have is so far off the record it's in a…" Jack paused to count on his fingers, "…sixth galaxy. Is that understood?"
"Of course, General," Elizabeth nodded.
"Yes, sir," Carson agreed quickly.
"Elizabeth, this is D," Jack looked between Elizabeth and the young woman who had straightened in her chair, schooling her features into neutrality, "In the interest of saving time, I'll be blunt. She was ordered to kill both you and me before the Daedalus leaves tomorrow afternoon."
"She was," Elizabeth said flatly, turning to look at D.
"I'm sorry, what?" Carson exclaimed, shifting nervously in his chair, "Why is she sitting in Elizabeth's office then? Why isn't she restrained?"
"Carson," Elizabeth cautioned him softly as she turned back to Jack, "I assume, General, that since we're having this chat in my office instead of a holding cell, you've convinced her not to do so?"
"We've managed to come to a sort of agreement, yes," Jack replied wryly.
"I didn't actually agree to the ridiculousness you've been spouting this morning," D waved a hand at him, leaning forward as she spoke, "I only agreed to-"
"Repeatedly," Jack drew the word out slowly and D quieted once more, settling back in the chair.
"What sort of agreement did you come up with exactly, General?" Elizabeth inquired neutrally.
"I hired her as your personal assistant," Jack smiled, "She'll be accompanying you when you leave tomorrow."
"My personal assistant," Elizabeth repeated incredulously, looking between Jack and D, "No offense, Jack, but I'm not sure I need that kind of assistance."
"Actually, Dr. Weir, you do," D turned to meet Elizabeth's stare, "The people who want you dead will not simply give up if I disappear. They will send others and it's only a matter of time before they figure out how to get to Atlantis. I am uniquely qualified to help you. Not only do I have the physical skills to protect you from any of my competitors and the many dangers of the Pegasus galaxy, I also have a doctorate in linguistics – currently fluent in forty languages, including a firm grasp of both Ancient and Goa'uld – and a doctorate in political science with an emphasis on international relations. The combination of those degrees alone would prove extremely useful in a place like Atlantis."
"I don't need a bodyguard," Elizabeth insisted, "The military contingent in the City is perfectly capable of handling any situations that may arise."
"I'm not doubting their abilities," D replied in a carefully modulated tone, "But the military's job is not to protect you specifically. It is to protect Atlantis at all costs. That would not be the case with me."
"While that may be-" Elizabeth started.
"That's not the only consideration," Jack interrupted, "By not following her orders and killing us, D has painted a considerable target on her back. She's not safe in the Milky Way anymore."
"I believe the people I've come to work for recently might be associated with the Trust," D explained, her voice leaking frustration through, "The orders I've been receiving lately have been…different. There was no reason to send someone like me after you and Jack."
"Someone like you?" Elizabeth asked carefully.
"Someone has to do the dirty work, Dr. Weir," D replied smoothly, "And up until the last couple years, I was okay with that person being me. I was serving my country in the best way I could, in a way few other people were willing. Lately, however, the things I've been ordered to do have not been in the best interests of this country, or any country, really. They've been in the best interests of a small, select group of people. I am not okay with being used in that manner."
"So, you see," Jack leaned back in his chair, "you two need each other. D needs a new job and you need someone to watch out for you."
"Why me?" Elizabeth turned in her chair to face D fully, "If this has been going on for a while, as you say, why suddenly refuse to follow your orders?"
"Do you know any Shakespeare, Dr. Weir?" D wondered.
"Some, yes," Elizabeth agreed with a short nod.
"'Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red'," D quoted softly, holding Elizabeth's gaze steadily.
"Macbeth," Elizabeth replied calmly.
"I'm tired of getting my hands dirty for people who do not deserve my loyalty," D dropped her eyes to Elizabeth's lap, "During my research of you, I discovered that you have a great capacity for compassion. You believe the best in people, even when there's overwhelming evidence to the contrary. I'm hoping that by attempting to keep someone like you safe, I can redeem myself in some small way."
"There's a reason we're in your office instead of a jail cell, Elizabeth," Jack said quietly, "I wouldn't be helping her if I didn't think she was worth it."
"Yes, well," Elizabeth smiled at Jack wryly, "We all know you have a soft spot for strays. You do know Atlantis is not a rehabilitation center for all Jack O'Neill's hard luck cases, right?"
"I am not a stray puppy," D scowled at Elizabeth, "As I pointed out, I'm more than qualified to contribute to the expedition, even without protecting you. I have two doctorates and an IQ of just under two hundred. I was in the middle of getting my third doctorate in cryptography, but unfortunately that will have to be abandoned now. Even so, I'm sure-"
"I think you'll fit right in," Elizabeth interrupted with a short laugh.
"Oh, aye, she'll do a lovely job," Carson smiled warmly, "Although, you may want to keep her away from Rodney for as long as possible."
"Great, now that's settled," Jack reached into the desk drawer and pulled out two thick tablets, leaning across the desk to hand them to Elizabeth and Carson, "We can get down to brass tacks."
"I still don't think this is a good idea, Jack," a slight frown marred D's features.
"And I still don't care," Jack rolled his eyes, "We're doing this my way or not at all."
"Anyone ever tell you that you're an asshole?" D asked sweetly.
"Yeah, sure," Jack grinned broadly, "Lots of times. Anyone ever tell you that you're an annoying little shit?"
"Nope," D shook her head, "You're the first."
"I find that incredibly difficult to believe," Jack snorted and turned back to Elizabeth and Carson, "Those tablets contain copies of D's file; her background, medical history, and all of her missions over the last decade. There's a copy of her new personnel file containing an appropriate cover that's also being sent to the IOA. You two are the only people on Atlantis that will have access to the real information. No one else needs to know who D is and what she's really doing on Atlantis. As far as the rest of the expedition is concerned, Dr. Vaughn is nothing more than Dr. Weir's new executive assistant and her personnel file reflects that."
"You expect me to keep this a secret from the rest of my staff?" Elizabeth raised an imperious eyebrow at Jack.
"For her safety, and for yours, yes, I do," Jack replied firmly, "As it turns out, the United States government was conducting highly unethical, albeit interesting, experiments in early eighties. D was the subject of a classified DOD project codenamed 'Evolution'. The details of the project are in the beginning of her file. Take a quick look at the background section and you'll understand."
There were a couple minutes of silence as both Elizabeth and Carson read through the file. While Elizabeth's expression stayed carefully neutral, an angry frown started forming on Carson's face, growing deeper as he continued reading.
"Bloody hell!" Carson finally exclaimed, "Who would do something like this to children? Savages."
"The experiment was never meant for children, Dr. Beckett," D answered calmly, "I was only given the injections out of misguided attempt at showing love. Dr. James had no way of knowing what the consequences would be when his success was found out and by the time he realized, it was already too late."
"Are there others like you?" Elizabeth looked up from the tablet to D.
"No," D shook her head sadly, "None of Evolution's other test subjects, adults or children, were able to endure the experiment. I am their only success."
"That's why they'll always come after you," Carson scowled thoughtfully, "Even if you stop following orders, they'd need your body, your DNA, if they wanted to recreate their success with the technological and medical advancements since then."
"That's part of the reason I decided to tell both you both the truth about D," Jack agreed, then turned to quirk an eyebrow at D, "Although she doesn't seem to think so, D needs someone looking out for her in Atlantis."
"Jack, I don't need-" D started.
"Besides," Jack cut her off, "the first physical you performed on Dr. Vaughn would reveal her unique genetics. Telling you now saves time."
"What's the other part?" Elizabeth questioned.
Jack grinned, "I want Dr. Beckett to help fake her death."
"You want me to do what?" Carson's jaw dropped.
"He wants you to extract some of my DNA," D explained with a short glare at Jack, "and implant it in a corpse that I'll be acquiring in about six hours. A rogue US intelligence asset is about to perish in a fiery car crash in Colorado Springs while escaping from the authorities General O'Neill called when he discovered her lurking near his current residence."
"How does one go about 'acquiring' a corpse, Dr. Vaughn?" Elizabeth asked evenly.
"I checked the morgues within a certain radius," D responded easily, "There is an unclaimed Jane Doe in Denver that is an approximate physical match. No one will miss the body."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable using some poor dead woman that way," Carson shifted in his seat again.
"She is scheduled to be shipped to a crematorium, Dr. Beckett," D spoke gently, "She has no family, no one to claim her. I wouldn't normally suggest a plan this rushed and haphazardly put together," D gave Jack another short glare, "but my employers know about the Stargate program. If I simply disappear, they'll assume I convinced Jack to send me through the Stargate to another planet. This way, I might actually have the chance to get away from them."
"Isn't it dangerous to give them any of your DNA?" Elizabeth inquired.
"Yes, but I believe with Dr. Beckett's help," D gestured towards him, "we can leave enough DNA evidence for them to be able to identify the body as mine, but not enough for them to be able to use. The temperature of the fire will also help mitigate some of the danger."
"It's a risk," Jack agreed, "but I think it's one we're going to have to take to make this work."
"Elizabeth?" Carson looked to her curiously.
"If I agree to all this," Elizabeth spoke cautiously, studying D as the other woman sat perfectly still in her chair, "especially keeping your identity a secret from people I trust, I expect honesty from you at all times."
"What is it with secret organizations and truth?" D barely refrained from rolling her eyes, "Jack has already made that part of my deal with him. I have no problem extending that to you as well, ma'am. If at any point you feel that I have become a threat to you or to Atlantis, I will allow myself to be put in a holding cell until such time as I can be dealt with in a manner of your choosing."
"I can agree to that," Elizabeth nodded.
"I have an additional requirement as well," D fixed Elizabeth with a serious stare, "You don't go anywhere without me. If a situation arises where you have to go off-world, I go with you. When it comes to your personal security, you have to listen to me. You have to let me protect you, without complaint."
"I can't promise I won't complain," Elizabeth smiled widely, "But I believe we have a deal, Dr. Vaughn."
"Please, call me D," D smiled hesitantly, "I think we're going to get along just fine, ma'am."