A/N: Sorry for this huge gap in between posts! And thanks to the reviewer who brought me back to my senses!
I pretty much know where this story is going, but I'm trying to keep ahead of myself and plan out as much as possible, so that the story doesn't drag on any more than it already has.
Thanks for continuing to read and review.
Carter led the two agents into the depths of Stargate Command, stopping only to ensure that they passed through security and signed the non-disclosure statements. She introduced Scully to Mitchell, who was waiting for the group at the second elevator, in order to escort them further into the mountain.
Mitchell turned to the two agents and said, "Follow me, please." With that, he turned and did not speak with them again as he escorted them through the elevator. He had no idea why the Generals had agreed to this, but then again, Carter could be very persuasive when she wanted to be. Probably a perk of being one of the few females on the base, Mitchell thought bitterly and then mentally cringed as he thought of what Carter's reaction would be if he were to voice his opinion.
They reached the twenty-eighth floor, and Carter held the door as their guests stepped out. She smirked at Mitchell and then stepped out herself. Mitchell smiled sarcastically and then followed Carter to the Briefing Room.
Upon entering, the first thing that he noticed was that the blast door was down, so that no one could see into the Gate Room.
General Landry stood at the head of the table and motioned for the guests to take their seats. Mitchell and Carter took their places across from the two guests.
Before the general could say anything, two men entered the room. One was carrying some folders with the words "TOP SECRET" stamped on them, and the other walked a step behind him, as if guarding the man in front of him. He wore a cap, which Mulder found odd. He did not think it was military protocol to wear a cap in front of a superior officer, but the general didn't seem to mind.
The man in the front shifted the folders in his hands and held his right out to first Mulder and then Scully. "Hi," he said. "I'm Dr. Daniel Jackson. And this is Te- Murray," he said, inclining his head towards the man who still stood a little behind him. Teal'c bowed his head in greeting after raising an eyebrow at the use of his alias.
"And I'm Major General Hank Landry. Please take your seats, gentlemen, and we can begin," General Landry said.
The two men did as they were told, taking seats next to Carter and Mitchell. General Landry nodded at Dr. Jackson, and Dr. Jackson passed the folders that he had been holding to the two agents.
"This facility is the home to an alien device, known as the Stargate. It is capable of creating an artificial wormhole that allows people to travel from one gate to another. The Stargate was discovered in 1928, during a dig in Giza. It was brought here and finally opened a little over ten years ago, by Dr. Jackson," Carter explained. Both agents looked over at Dr. Jackson, who smiled sheepishly.
Carter continued. "Since then, we have traveled to many planets. We've made friends and enemies, and we've been able to bring back technologies that have helped make us capable of fighting threats and of interstellar travel."
Mulder and Scully both looked at her, shocked. Both were asking themselves the same question: why would they string together such an elaborate story? Carter smiled at the looks on their face; still skeptical, she thought to herself. "It's a lot to take in, I know."
Mulder looked up at Carter when she said this. "Why?" he asked simply.
Carter shook her head. "Why what?" she asked.
"Why has the government been covering this up all this time? Who knows about this program?"
Carter looked over at General Landry. He nodded again, so she answered. "This is dangerous information," Carter told him, intently looking him in the eyes. "There are enemies out there with technologies that are far more advanced than anything that we have here on Earth. We've managed to defeat some of them without telling the world and sending everyone into a panic," she told him.
"The President and the Joint Chiefs have always felt that this was the best course of action," General Landry added.
Mulder shook his head in disagreement, but he didn't say anything. He allowed the people in front of him to continue.
Dr. Jackson took the opportunity to speak, hoping a light-hearted anecdote could serve to alleviate the skepticism of the two agents. "You've both, I'm sure, heard the myths of aliens kidnapping and experimenting on humans. Well, those aren't myths. Those are the Asgard. They're a very advanced race of aliens who have been our allies in the fight against our common enemies," he said. "And contrary to popular belief, they're grey, not green," he added with a smile, in the hopes of lightening the mood.
"See, Scully," Mulder said quietly to his partner in his usual monotonous tone. "I told you they were grey."
"Mulder," Scully whispered back. "You're actually buying all of this?"
"I can see that you still have your doubts," General Landry said. "That's why, before I have you see the Stargate, I've arranged to show you something most people, even people at the SGC, don't get to see." He motioned to the airman at the door, who opened it to allow someone inside. A pretty woman in a white lab coat walked in, followed by another airman who was wheeling in a tank with some sort of being in it. The tank had wires going into it.
"This is Dr. Carolyn Lam, the Chief Medical Officer of this facility," Carter offered by way of introduction. "Dr. Lam has brought a specimen that we have been studying for a few weeks now."
"This is a Goa'uld symbiote," Dr. Lam informed them.
"The Goa'uld are a parasitic race of beings who take human hosts to survive. Their primary goal is to gain power, and they do so by enslaving humans and other races," Carter told them.
"The symbiote needs some elements of a human body to survive," Dr. Lam explained. "This includes body heat, moisture, and electrical currents. We've been able to create a simulation environment that is able to sustain a symbiote for some time."
"So, Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, behold the first alien that you'll meet at the SGC," Mitchell said, with a gesture of grandeur towards the symbiote. He glanced quickly at the man, Murray, who hadn't said anything as of yet, but he did not elaborate on the glance.
"Our Stargate is currently undergoing a diagnostic, so it may be a while before we can show you," Carter explained. "We can give you a tour of the base."
The General stood and the four SGC personnel stood along with him. Carter and Mitchell led the way out of the Briefing Room and down to the Control Room, which was bustling with activity, while the General made his way back to his office.
Daniel and Teal'c lingered behind. "How do you think they're taking all of this?" Daniel asked Teal'c quietly.
"I am not certain, Daniel Jackson. I do not think that they actually believe anything that they are seeing as of yet," Teal'c answered, watching the disappearing backs of the two agents.
Daniel nodded in agreement. "I just hope that Sam knows what she's doing. Mitchell and General Landry don't look all that happy having those two here."
Teal'c bowed his head. "Indeed," he said. "How was it that Colonel Carter was able to convince General Landry to allow these visitors to come to the base?" Teal'c asked.
"I'm not sure," Daniel answered. "But I think that Jack might have had something to do with it."
Teal'c raised his eyebrow in a questioning manner. He then followed the group out of the Briefing Room, Daniel at his side.