Chapter 20: Lost City Part 1
September 2004
Daniel sat at his desk, pen in hand, talking on the phone as Dawn hovered nearby translating a text.
"Jack, Dawn and I've been translating the ancient writing on the colonnade SG-2 discovered on P3X-439," Daniel said as Dawn walked over and motioned toward the speakerphone button. Daniel nodded as he hit the button and then set the phone down in its cradle. "Jack you're on speakerphone."
"Colonel, it talks about a library of knowledge," Dawn said. "We think the monument contains a repository of the ancients."
"Repository you say."
Daniel nodded. "Yeah, you know, that thing that grabbed your head, made you talk crazy, nearly killed you."
"Well, sounds like we should stay away then."
Dawn smiled. "Well, considering what we know now, we should be able to find another way to access the information. Mom's been able to use Tok'ra crystals to find a way to transfer all kinds of different energies, I mean …"
"We should go there as soon as possible," Daniel added.
"Yeah?"
"So?" Daniel asked.
"I'll be there in half an hour."
Daniel moved to touch the speakerphone button. "Okay, bye."
"No, no, no, wait, don't hang up. I need a seven letter word."
Dawn laughed. "We told Mom we wouldn't help you."
"Well then this will be the one thing she doesn't know. Up, down, charmed, blank."
Dawn gave Daniel a look that said don't help him as he sighed and nodded. "Sorry Jack."
An hour later Jack stepped out of an elevator to face Sam, Buffy, Dawn, Daniel and Teal'c. Daniel tapped his watch.
"How long have you all been waiting there?" Jack asked.
"You said half an hour an hour ago," said Daniel.
Sam nodded. "General Hammond's waiting."
Jack walked towards Sam and handed a crossword puzzle. "Excuse me," he said as they turned heading for the briefing room.
Sam looked at the completed crossword as Dawn shook her head as she looked over her mother's shoulder, "He got over half of them wrong," Dawn said.
Sam smiled at Dawn, having noticed the same thing. "The fate of the world is hanging in the balance, and you've been sitting in your truck, finishing this?" she asked Jack.
"I believe it was double or nothing," Jack said.
"Okay, 23 across, the atomic weight of boron," Sam said as she looked toward Buffy. "What should be the answer, sweetie?"
Buffy smiled. "Ten."
"That's correct," said Sam.."You know what you put down, Sir?"
Jack nodded. "Yes."
"You wrote the word fat," Sam said as she folded the crossword and handed it back to Jack.
"Your point?" Jack asked as they entered the briefing room to find SG-3 already waiting. He nodded to toward the members of SG-3. "Harper, Reynolds."
Reynolds nodded back. "Jack," he said as they all took their seats.
Sam looked around the table. "SG-3 spotted a Goa'uld reconnaissance drone while on the planet where they found the colonnade. Since that obviously means the Goa'uld were aware of its existence, SG's 3 and 5 will be providing back-up. If General Hammond approves the mission."
"What mission?" Jack asked, distracted,
"Good morning, SG-1, Ms. Carter and Ms. Carter," said Hammond as he walked in. "Nice of you to join us, Colonel."
"Good morning, Sir," Jack said.
"I've read Doctor Jackson and Ms. Carter's report on their translation," said Hammond. "Given what happened the last time you encountered something like this, I'm surprised you're so willing to take on this mission."
Jack shrugged. "So am I, Sir."
"Jack," Daniel said.
"Daniel?" Jack said.
"Why wouldn't we want to gain access to the greatest repository of knowledge in the known universe, once and for all finding the lost city of the Ancients, and use their technology to save the entire galaxy from the evil oppression of the Goa'uld?" Daniel said.
Jack nodded. "Well, there's that."
"From the mission file I've read, it's one of those things that whips up from the wall, grabs your head and rearranges your brain, right?" Reynolds said.
"Sort of," said Daniel.
"Sort of?" Buffy asked. "Care to be elaborate."
"Buffy didn't you read any of the mission reports?" Sam asked.
Buffy shrugged. "I skimmed them."
Sam sighed. "We will be having a talk later young lady."
Hammond coughed as he got everyone's attention. "As much as we would all like to witness that. Shall we continue with the briefing?"
Sam nodded. "It basically downloads the entire library of Ancient knowledge into a person's mind. That massive amount of data then slowly unspools into your brain, eventually taking over your consciousness completely."
"Except it wasn't meant for a physiology as primitive as ours," Daniel said.
"Easy fella," Jack said as Daniel put up his hand and mouthed sorry to him.
Harper frowned. "I thought the report said you almost died last time, Sir," he said as Jack looked slightly surprised.
"The Asgard removed the information from O'Neill's mind before he was lost to us," Teal'c said.
"So, why don't we just shoot Thor a call, get him standing by as back up," Jack said.
"We tried Sir, he's not responding," Sam said.
Hammond nodded. "None of our alien allies have been particularly reliable of late. Should something happen again—"
"General," Daniel interrupted, "no one's saying anyone should directly interface with the device, we're suggesting we extract it and bring it home for study."
Hammond nodded. "The engineering team, that studied the last one of these devices you found determined nothing, after six months of research."
"We believe that that device's power source was depleted after Colonel O'Neill activated it," Sam said.
"Recent intel suggests that Anubis has become a serious threat to dominate the rest of the Goa'uld in a very short time," Hammond said. "We have to consider Earth is at risk now, more than ever. If the knowledge contained within this device can lead us to technologies we can use to defend ourselves, we must pursue it."
"Why didn't you just say that?" Jack asked looking straight at Daniel.
Daniel shrugged. "Sorry."
"You have a go," said Hammond. "And be careful people. Buffy and Dawn will be going with you as well. Dawn can help with the translations. And Buffy will help, Major Carter with anything she needs as well as providing backup. Dismissed." He leaves.
Later the Stargate was being dialed as a chevron locked. SG-1, SG-3, SG-5, Buffy and Dawn were at the end of the ramp, geared up and ready to go as they listened to Hammond.
"Chevron 7 locked."
"SG teams 1, 3, 5, and Buffy and Dawn, good luck. God speed," said Hammond.
"Thank you, Sir," Jack said. "Let's move out!"
SG-1 walked up the ramp and through the wormhole, followed by SG 3 and 5. Finally Buffy and Dawn walk into the event horizon. As they exited the wormhole on the other end Jack looked at the ancient structure in the distance. "Reynolds," he said as Reynolds turned round at the sound of his name. "Set up a defense perimeter as you see fit. Hold the gate 'till we get back."
Reynolds nodded. "You got it." Reynolds directs his men.
"SG-1, Buffy and Dawn move out," said Jack as they walk toward the ancient structure in the distance.
Ten minutes later they approach the colonnade. The structure looked to have once been a great statue, with a figure sat on a seat. His head and part of one shoulder have since crumbled to the ground. Jack sat, looking at his watch while Daniel and Dawn walked around colonade making notes. Teal'c and Buffy stood guard, looking out over the terrain.
"You know, we've searched this place, up and down," Jack said.
Daniel nodded. "I know."
"We could have Goa'uld on our collective asses any minute now," Jack said.
Daniel poked his head round one of the columns. "I know … According to the text on this column it's inside."
Dawn poked her head round the column, "I concur with Doctor Jackson's translation. It's inside."
Jack nodded as he stood up. "Inside you say," he said as he walked over to Daniel and Dawn. "There is no inside. There's just a whole lotta outside." He waved his arm, gesturing to the scenery around them.
"We know," Daniel said as he looked at Dawn and then down at their notebooks.
Sam pointed a scanning device at a part of the wall seemingly devoid of markings. "Buffy come here for a second. Tell me what you make of this?"
Buffy walked over next to her mother and looked at the scanning device, "Interesting. There is something here."
"Sir, getting some strange readings coming from here. There is something here," Sam said.
Daniel looked down at his notebook, "If I'm right …" he said as he pressed several of the markings, then moved his hand down, and pressed some more.
The repository suddenly appeared on the wall Sam and Buffy have been studying, causing them to jump back. "Look out," Jack warned as Daniel and Dawn turned around looked at the repository.
"Reynolds, come in," Jack said into his radio.
"Go ahead."
"Yeah, we got something here, stand by," Jack said.
"All clear for the moment." Reynolds says over the radio.
They approach the colonnade as they studied the repository. "Now we just have to figure out how to get this thing out of the wall," Sam said.
Daniel approached it, cautiously. As he neared it, it grew out slightly toward him, protruding slightly further from the wall. "Damn," Jack said.
"Careful," Sam said as they all moved back again.
"Alright, one more time, why are we doing this, why?" Jack asked as Reynold's voice came over the radio.
"SG-1, we have incoming."
Daniel and Jack looked past the columns, and saw death gliders speeding toward them, firing at them. As the death gliders got closer, they duck behind the columns again.
"Buffy… Dawn… Down." Sam ordered as Buffy and Dawn drop to the ground as the glider rushed past.
"Alright, lets go," Jack said.
"Jack, we can't just leave," Daniel pleaded.
Jack sighed. "Daniel—"
Teal'c nodded. "We must not let this fall into the hands of Anubis."
Jack opened his arms in frustration. "Fine," he said as he grabbed C4 and placed it next to the repository.
"Jack!" Daniel yelled.
"Sir, he's right, if we destroy it we lose our only chance of finding the location of the Lost City," Sam said.
"O'Neill." Teal'c said having been watching the progress of the death gliders. He motioned towards an oncoming Al'kesh.
"Oh crap," Jack said. "Alright, then what?" Daniel looked at the ground for a moment, then rushed towards the repository. He grabbed Daniel and pushed him back against the wall. "No, no, no, no, no!"
"Jack, someone has to do it. The answer is in there," Daniel said he pointed to the repository. "If we don't find the Lost City we're as good as dead. Let me do it!"
"And who does the translating when you go Ancient?" Jack asked. "Dawn is the only other translator and she doesn't know Ancient like you do yet."
Buffy shook her head. "If they're going to fight over who does this …" she said as she rushed forward and the repository grabbed her head.
"Buffy!" Sam and Dawn screamed as Jack and Daniel whipped around to see Buffy trapped in the repository.
"What happened?" Jack asked.
"She …" Sam started but didn't finish as the repository let go of Buffy's head and she fell to ground. She ran over to Buffy and quickly checked for a pulse and smiled. "She's alive."
Teal'c nodded as he stepped up next to the Buffy and Sam. "I will carry her," he said as Reynold's voice came over the radio.
"SG-1? Where the hell are you guys, we can't hold out for long."
"Colonel Reynolds," Jack said into the radio, "we are headed back to the gate. Start dialing and alert the SGC to have a medical team standing by." As he got off the radio he set off the C4, destroying the repository.
"Understood Colonel O'Neill."
Gliders continue to target the gate as The SGC forces fired round after round, as they waited for SG-1 to arrive. Daniel looked behind them at the sound of an incoming glider. "Take cover!" he said.
They dropped to the ground as just behind them there was a large explosion. Teal'c got up quickly, then picked Buffy up again who was regaining consciousness.
"Buffy, Buffy are you okay?" Sam asked with concern.
Buffy looked up at Teal'c and then over at her mother. "What's going on?" she asked.
"General Hammond, we're coming through the gate," Reynolds spoke into his radio as everyone entered the gate and out the other side into the SGC.
Hammond was waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp as he noticed Buffy in Teal'c arms. "What happened?"
"Didn't quite go according to plan, Sir. We need to get Buffy to the infirmary," said Jack.
Hammond looked at Buffy. "What happened?" he asked again.
Sam sighed. "She took the Ancient Repository in."
Hammond nodded. "Get her to the infirmary," he said as he turned to face the control room window. "Make sure Doctor Summers is waiting for them." He watched as they left the Gate Room and sighed in disbelief.
An Hour Later
Hammond entered the briefing room, where Daniel, Teal'c and Jack are waiting for him. "How the hell did this happen?"
"It wasn't an accident, Sir," Jack said as Sam entered and sat down, looking distraught.
"She did it deliberately," Daniel said.
Teal'c nodded. "In order to access the knowledge of the Ancients."
Daniels sighed. "She, aahh, we figured we'd never get another shot at it."
"We know from experience that the Ancient knowledge will essentially overwrite Buffy's brain," Sam said. "We're hoping that during the transformation process she'll become aware of the information we're looking for."
"And then it will overwhelm her nervous system and the Buffy will—" Hammond said as Buffy walked up the stairs followed by Anne and Dawn.
"What? Meet my maker? Pay the piper? Reach the pearly gates? Start pushing up daisies here and there? Wouldn't be the first time I died," Buffy said as stopped next to Sam. "I'm sorry, Mom. Really I am."
"I know, sweetie," said Sam with tears in her eyes.
Hammond sighed. "You should be in the infirmary."
"That's what I told her. But she insisted," Anne said.
Jack looked at Buffy and nodded in understanding. "Why? We all know exactly what's going to happen. In a few days she will start speaking some strange language, a few days after that she will start doing things beyond her control, and a few days after that… it's goodnight my someone, goodnight. So, with your permission, Sir, I'd recommend she get the weekend. Spend time with her family, get a few personal things together."
"The last time," Sam said, "it did take a couple of days before we noticed any change in the Colonel's behavior. Though Buffy is not the Colonel, plus myself, Dawn and Anne will be there to monitor the situation. If she takes a turn for the worse before Monday then we will bring her straight back here. If she doesn't we'll have her back here on Monday regardless."
Hammond sighed. "Permission granted."
Buffy smiled. "Thank you, General," she said and then she left followed by Anne, Dawn, and Sam.
That evening
Jack knocked on the front door of the Carter's house as Dawn opened it. "Hello, Dawn," he said.
"Hello, Colonel," said Dawn as Jack wagged his finger. "Hello, Uncle Jack."
"Did I wake you?" Jack asked.
Dawn shook her head. "We were just sitting watching a little TV. Would you like to come in?" she asked as he stepped inside.
"How is she doing?" Jack asked as he glanced into the living room.
Dawn shook her head as she lowered her voice to a whisper. "She says she's fine. But every time I look in her eyes, I can see it's not true. You know in our original reality she drowned, right?" she said as Jack nodded. "There was this prophecy that she was destined to die that night. She kind of closed down when she found out. It's like that now. She's there, laughing and joking with us. But she's not there at the same time."
"How is your mom holding up?" Jack asked.
Dawn smiled sadly. "About as well as I am. We're trying not to cry in front of Buffy. Be all stiff upper lippy as our friend Willow, from the other reality, would say. But I will admit its not easy going. It's bringing back memories I would rather not remember right now."
"What memories?" Anne asked as she stepped up beside Dawn.
Dawn looked at Anne and sighed. "The tower, just before she jumped."
Anne nodded in understanding. Dawn was afraid that Buffy was leaving them. "Don't worry, Dawnie. We'll save her, she won't die," she said as they headed into the living room.
Jack sat down across from Buffy and Sam as Dawn sat on the couch next to her sister and mother. "How you doing, kiddo?" he asked.
Buffy looked up at Jack and he could see the vacant look in her eyes. A look he knew all too well having had that same look after his son Charlie had died. "I'm fine," she said.
Jack shook his head. "You may have your Mom, Dawn, and even Anne convinced but not me. You're nowhere near fine. Believe me I know, remember I went through this once before. But you have it a little better than I did. We can help you through this. Last time there was no one to help me through it."
Buffy sighed. "Thank you, Colonel."
"Tonight there is no ranks, "It's just Uncle Jack, remember?" Jack said.
Buffy nodded and smiled slightly as there came another knock at the door.
"Hello?"
"In here," Sam called out as Daniel and Teal'c entered the living room. "What're you doing here?"
Daniel smiled. "Uh, well, uh, it's a funny story actually. Um, we were driving by and we saw Jack's car in the driveway and, um, um …"
Buffy tapped Sam on the shoulder to get her attention and smiled. "Quite the comedians aren't they?" she asked as Sam nodded in agreement.
"…and Teal'c said, well he didn't really say anything, he just looked at me and did that eyebrow raising thing that he kinda does and I said to him, I said hey, why don't we stop by and—" Daniel said.
"If everyone will excuse me I think I will turn in for the night," Buffy said as she stood up. Everyelse stood up as Buffy and Anne walked toward Buffy's room.
Jack looked at Sam as they all sat down again. "How are you doing, Carter?" he asked.
Sam smiled sadly. "Not good, Sir. I keep telling myself that maybe it will be different than what you experienced. Maybe it won't kill her. But I know I'm lying to myself. Unless we can get a hold of Thor and soon she's going to die."
Just then there was another knock at the door as Sam went to answer it. She found Hammond standing on her front porch. "Is this a good time?" he asked.
Sam nodded. "It's always a good time for you, Sir. Come on in," she said as Hammond walked into the living room. "Let me get you a chair."
"General," Jack said as he stood up at attention..
"At ease, Colonel, at ease," Hammond said.
Sam returned room with a chair and placed it behind Hammond. "There you are, Sir."
Anne finally returned from Buffy's room. "I gave Buffy a sedative. She should be out for the rest of the night. Evening General."
Hammond nodded. "Doctor Summers. So how is she holding up?"
"Not well," Anne said. "To tell the truth none of us are. We've been trying to be there for her. But I think she is already resigned to her fate. It's like when she jumped from the tower. She made up her mind and that was it. I remember Dawn trying to talk her out of it. She wouldn't listen."
Dawn nodded sadly. "That's when she gave me the speech and about the hardest thing in this world is to live in it. To be brave, to live, for her. I have my memories back now and ever since she did this I've been trying to do just that, to be brave."
Hammond nodded in understanding. "Anyways I'm glad to find you all here. I wanted to pass on some information. I've been relieved of command."
"What?" Jack asked. He like everyone else was shocked at the news.
"The President has effectively shut down the SGC for a three month review process," Hammond said.
"Three months?" Daniel asked.
Hammond sighed. "During which time a newly formed government department will take the place of Stargate Command."
"But, Sir, Buffy. We don't have much time," said Sam.
"How could this happen?" Teal'c asked.
"Kinsey," Daniel said.
Jack shook his head. "Does anyone know anyone who voted for those two shrubs?"
"I didn't," Dawn said with a small laiugh, "but I can't vote for another year and a half."
"I've known President Hayes for a long time," Hammond said. "He's a good man."
"Despite his taste in running mates, maybe," Jack said.
Hammond nodded. "Robert Kinsey brought in a lot of campaign financing and for all we know, he may have used his knowledge of the Stargate as leverage to get himself a place on the ticket. It doesn't matter now."
"What, we're just gonna lie down for this?" Daniel asked.
"Now, we've been in this situation before," Jack said.
Hammond sighed. "No. This time it's different."
"Who's replacing you Sir?" Sam asked.
"Her name is Doctor Elizabeth Weir," said Hammond.
"A civilian?" Jack asked.
"I know of her," Dawn said. "I did a paper on her for my government class in college. She's an expert in international politics. She mediates top level negotiations for the UN."
"I've heard of her also. I actually referenced some of her work when I drafted the first treaty with the Tok'ra," Daniel added.
"What about the ISC?" asked Anne.
Hammond shook his head, "I don't know Doctor Summers. I can only assume with the SGC shutdown so is the ISC."
Anne frowned. "That's not good. Looks like I'm going back to patrolling solo for the time being."
Hammond sighed. "Anne be careful though. You are still base physician. So you do have other duties. Anyways all I know for certain is I've been ordered to Washington to discuss reassignment. I leave tomorrow."
"Uh, General, we do have a little … unfinished business here," said Jack as he motioned back in the direction of Buffy's room.
Hammond nodded. "As far as I know, you'll all to report to work as scheduled on Monday."
"Something must be done," Teal'c said.
"I have my orders," Hammond said. "Besides, I have a feeling that I may be able to do more about this from Washington than I can here."
"What about Buffy?" Sam asked.
"You'll just have to plead your case to the new administration. I have every confidence in you people," Hammond said.
Monday Morning
Boxes of files were piled up against walls and on top of the table of the briefing room as Elizabeth Weir laid a file on top of the pile, she then turned towards the window and looked out onto the Stargate, and quietly sighed.
Daniel and Anne approached her from behind. "Amazing, isn't it," Daniel said.
Weir kept looking out the window. "I don't really care."
"Okay," Daniel said as he turned to leave. Anne grabbed his arm and shook her head. She motioned toward Weir and then her ear as Dawn nodded in understanding. Weir was the phone and had a wireless earpiece in her ear.
"Well, there's going to be a lot of changes, and not everyone's going to be happy about them …" Weird said. "Yes, I'm just about to step into one myself. Okay, bye." She took the earpiece off. "Sorry, I walk around with this thing and I look like a crazy person talking to myself. Elizabeth Weir." She extended her hand, and Daniel and then Anne shook it.
"Daniel Jackson," Daniel said.
Anne smiled. "Anne Summers."
"I can't get used to being this far underground, I keep looking round for a window," Weir said.
Daniel laughed. "Uh, I see you've found the one with the best view," he said as he pointed to the Stargate. "I remember when we were first trying to get the Stargate to work, I would just come here, and stare at it for hours."
"Is that, uh, a gentle reminder that you've been an important part of this since the beginning?"Weir asked.
Daniel smiled. "Subtle, huh?"
"Hmm." Weir shrugged as silence fell between them.
Daniel looked back to the table, and pointed to the boxes of files. "So, uh, a little light reading?"
"Uh, I've been awake all weekend. I …" Weir said. "The reality of this is, is, it's an adrenaline rush."
"Hey, at least I know you have a beating heart," Daniel said as Anne rolled her eyes.
"I don't expect the warmest welcome from the military personnel," Weir said.
"You're replacing a great man, uniform notwithstanding," Anne said.
Weir shook her head. "Okay. But I'm hoping that you, Doctor Jackson or you Doctor Summers, of all people, won't jump to conclusions."
"Like why someone like you is here?" Daniel asked.
"Someone like me?" Weir asked.
Daniel nodded. "Yeah, someone who started their career as a political activist, lobbying against government spending on the military."
"And how I end up working for those I was criticizing. I know," Weir said.."But I've decided that the best way to stop the proliferation of weapons is to try and stop the need for them. So, I'm going to be the voice of reason to whoever will listen."
"And you think that's why the President chose you to take over the SGC?" Anne asked.
Weir shrugged. "I don't know why I've been given this job. I really don't. But I'm going to do it, to the best of my ability, as long as I'm here. I'm going to start by examining the mandate for this program—"
"Don't underestimate the immediate threat," Daniel said. "Either of them."
Weir nodded. "No, I'm not. But this country's history of manifest destiny cannot be continue out to the rest of the galaxy. especially when this is all being done behind the back of the entire planet."
"Let me ask you something Doctor Weir. Do you believe in Vampires?" Anne said.
Weir shook her head. "No."
"You might want to," said Anne.
"Hey," Daniel said. "I'm not saying that everything that's been going on here is right. I mean we have no right to play God. But neither do the Goa'uld, or the demons. Now I know none of this seems real to you on paper, but trust me, they're pure evil. Now, if they had the chance, they would either destroy us, or enslave us all."
"Demons would destroy us," Anne said. "To Vampires we're nothing but food. To Demons they want to destroy us and make Earth their own personal Hell."
"Now, you can read as many mission reports as you want," Daniel said, "but before you decide what should and shouldn't be done round here, why don't you go through that gate or patrol with one of Anne's teams, and see what's going on for yourself."
Weir nodded. "In good time."
"We may not have good time. And Buffy Carter certainly doesn't," said Anne.
Weir sighed. "I want you to know that Elizabeth Carter's current condition is of serious concern to me."
"And you realize Buffy only did what she did, because it was our only way to find the location of the Lost City," said Daniel.
"Unscheduled off world activation."
They looked down at the gate as the gate spun. "All the off world teams are back already," Weir said as they made their way down into the control room.
"Doctor Weir, we're receiving Master Bra'tac's personal identification code," Pearson said.
Weir nodded. "I know what an IDC is, Colonel Pearson."
"Well, he's our ally, and if you don't open the—" Daniel said as Weir held up her hand
"I understand, thank you," she said as she turned to Walter. "Go ahead please."
The iris opened as Daniel, Anne and Weir went down into the Gate Room to meet Bra'tac as he emerged from the wormhole. "Bra'tac," Daniel said as Bra'tac nodded in greeting. He looked at Daniel, Anne and finally Weir as he frowned.
"This is Doctor Anne Summers, she replaced Doctor Frasier who recently passed away," Daniel said. "And this is Elizabeth Weir. She's the new leader of this facility."
Weir approached Bra'tac, with a hand extended in friendship. "Hello."
Bra'tac looked at Weir's hand, then turned his attention back to Daniel. "Has Hammond of Texas fallen in battle?"
"No, Sir, he's fine," Weir said.
"There's been some recent changes in our political leaders," said Anne.
"I see," Bra'tac said.
"Bra'tac, what's wrong?" asked Daniel.
"I'm afraid I am not the bearer of good news," Bra'tac said. "We've had word from Jaffa loyal to our cause. Anubis is gathering the full force of his fleet. He will be here, in three days."
They head up to the briefing room where Bra'tac, Anne, Dawn and SG-1 discuss the news brought by Bra'tac. "Three days from today is a Thursday. Thursday's not good for us," Jack said.
"Why now?" Sam asked.
"If Anubis believes that we know the location of the Lost City …" Teal'c said.
"We don't," said Sam.
"Not yet," said Jack as Sam nodded sadly.
Dawn sighed. "But he doesn't know that we don't know," she said as Kinsey and Weir walked into the room.
"Well, some people just don't know when to leave," Kinsey said with a smirk.
"Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, Teal'c, Ms. Carter," said Weir. "I know these are strange circumstances to be meeting for the first time."
"And you are …" Jack asked looking at Weir.
Weir smiled. "I am Doctor Elizabeth Weir, Colonel."
"You can just call her your one hope of ever stepping through the Stargate again." Kinsey said as he turned to Anne, "Or you're going on patrol."
Anne smirked. "You don't have the authorization for that. Only the President himself can disband the the ISC. And I seriously doubt he would ever do that, not with the demon threat. And even if he did. It wouldn't stop me from going on patrol. I just wouldn't have the backing of the U.S. Military or the President," she said as Kinsey glared at her.
"I know I'm playing catch up, but, uh, I understand time is short," said Weir as he looked at Anne who nodded.
"Actually, it's all relative, Ma'am," Jack said. "Carter could explain it better if we had more time."
"Shall we have a seat, then?" Weir asked as they all sat down. ""Obviously this is a matter of grave importance."
Jack smiled. "She's quick."
"Which is why I've taken it upon myself to come on down and hear what Mister Bra'tac has to say personally," Kinsey said.
"Master Bra'tac. Master," Jack corrected.
"I beg your pardon," Kinsey said. "So, you believe this Goa'uld Anubis is planning to attack."
Bra'tac nodded. "You may be certain of it."
Kinsey laughed. "I'll say this, the timing is impeccable. The moment we suspend Stargate operations you pull this out of your hat."
"Mr. Vice President, if you're suggesting that we'd make something like this up—" Jack said, annoyed.
"Yes, Colonel, that's exactly what I'm suggesting," Kinsey interrupted.
"Yes, well that is exactly what we do," Jack said. "We sit around on our fat asses and create scenarios that put the planet at risk. That's exactly what we do."
"Look. The Goa'uld and Demon threats are very real," Anne said.
"Oh, I'm sure you'd do just about anything," Kinsey said as he ignored Anne.
Weir frowned. "Gentlemen, for the purposes of this discussion that Master Bra'tac is in earnest. And that the threat is real."
"Do you even know what the threat is?" Daniel asked. "Anubis is half Goa'uld, half ascended Ancient. With the knowledge and technology to wipe us all from the face of the Earth."
"What about negotiating?" Weir asked.
"Oh for crying our loud, that's insane," said Jack as someone came over the intercom interrupting them.
"Doctor Summers it's starting. Buffy is starting to speak in Ancient."
Sam sighed. "However, we believe that there may be alien technology within our reach that could defeat Anubis."
Kinsey smirked. "So now you're pulling a ray gun out of your hat."
"There are weapons capable of defending this planet," Teal'c said.
"I can't believe we're sitting here listening to this," Kinsey said.
"Mr Vice President, on Ms. Carter's last mission—" Weir said.
Kinsey nodded. "Oh, I am aware of the events that compromised Elizabeth Carter. And the fact that on SG-1's last official mission they along with Ms. Carter have incurred the wrath of humanity's worst enemy on behalf of us all—"
"Wait a minute, I thought you didn't buy into the whole invasion thing," Jack said.
"The fact is, until we know the location of the Lost City—" Weir said.
"Buffy will know where it is," said Dawn.
"She knows where it is, now?" Weir asked.
"She will," Jack said. "It's in there somewhere. Look, let me make this simple. She comes up with the Lost City, we go find it. Yes or no?"
"No!" Kinsey said.
"Who are you? Really?" Jack asked as he looked at Weir. "Why are you here?"
"I will consider it," Weir said.
Sam smiled. "Thank you."
Weir looked at Sam with sympathy and nodded. "You're welcome. As a person I can understand what you're going through as her mother."
SG-1, Anne, and Dawn smile slightly, seeming to realize that Weir is on their side. "I must return to Chulak." Bra'tac said as he and Teal'c stood up.
"I too will go," Teal'c said as Jack looked at him questioningly. "In hope of procuring ships and warriors to defend this world."
Weir nodded. "Good luck," she said as Teal'c bowed, then he and Bra'tac turned and left.
SG-1, Anne and Dawn then stand up and left the room also.