A bit shorter than normal, but I had so much fun writing this out that I didn't want to wait to post it. :-) I hope you guys enjoy!
Jon collapsed onto the cafeteria's bench, thankful for the brief respite from setting up emergency security protocols to double-check everyone with multiple different people, check incoming logs and comparing with reported, and look for people who might be either under alien influence or alien doppelgangers. Tex had been running the higher-level meetings and handshakes while Jon had been implementing decisions. A quick burst of sympathy for his older version washed over him.
Dr. Sanjay from medical trotted into the cafeteria looking around, and Jon considered sliding under the table. It was probably the preliminary medical results on how Simmons had been able to kill himself. It might be something they could check for in other people.
"Nope. Get it over with, Johnny boy," he muttered to himself. "Otherwise he'll just track you down later."
He stood and headed for the cafeteria's sandwich bar. The movement caught the young doctor's eyes and he started crossing the room to intercept Jon.
"Tell me while I'm making a sandwich."
"Sorry Jon, but yeah, this is another hurry thing. Looks like it was the same method used in the alien soldier that came in with you. We were able to check Simmons much more quickly after death, though - his brain hadn't dissolved nearly as much."
Jon paused as he picked up the roast beef slices. Dissolving brains.
He shrugged and plopped the meat down on his slice of bread. He'd dealt with worse.
"So, anything we'll be able to spot easily? Quick x-ray for people and we'll spot the aliens?"
Dr. Sanjay shook his head. "I'm afraid not. It seems that the mechanism is entirely biological. There are glands attached to the internal carotid arteries and vertebrobasilar arteries which supply the cerebrum with blood. The release of the neurotoxin is instantly spread through the entire brain and brain stem, bringing instantaneous death and dissolution of neural -"
Jon cut him off. "Not worried about the details. We can't see this with an x-ray?"
"No. We'd need a CT scan to check for tissue like this. You see, an x-ray will only - "
"Fine. CT scans. Got it." He started piling on toppings. "So. Is that really Simmons and brain-tweaked, or did someone make a doppelganger?"
Dr. Sanjay looked uncertain, and chose his words carefully. "There are no signs of surgery such as facial reconstruction."
"So, some sort of mind control is what you're saying, complete with a failsafe?"
The doctor looked uncomfortable. "I … that seems to be the only possibility."
"But?" Jon could tell the doctor wasn't comfortable with his statement.
"Well, two things. First, alien surgical possibilities are unknown. I've requested some DNA checks to double-check, but 'surgery' without scars isn't inconceivable at all. Second, long-term brainwashing to force the sort of detailed changes needed to have Simmons skillfully spy just isn't possible. There would need to be a continual, direct control to have someone do complicated things like spying."
Jon snorted. Scientists.
"You're getting way too technical, doc. Money. Piles of money, thrill of the game, and possible other incentives can turn a person a lot better and more reliably than mind control."
"Oh. Well, I guess so. He didn't really seem like that."
"Most spies don't. No one suspected Hanson or Ames either."
The young man looked puzzled and Jon groaned to himself.
'Kids these days. No knowledge of history.'
"Well … what about the suicide trigger? There's no way I'd let anyone put something like that in my head for any reason."
Jon frowned. Good point.
"He might not have known about it."
Jon shook his head. They were getting too far off into speculation.
"Regardless, we don't know how it went down yet. I'm just looking for a way to tell if they have other agents here. Fingerprints. X-rays. Something we can use quickly."
The doctor was already shaking his head. "CT scans are what we would need to determine if the glands were there or not. We only have two CT machines, and each scan takes fifteen minutes plus prep and analysis time. I don't think that's going to be your answer."
"All right," Jon sighed. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. "Well, let me know when the DNA results come in. That'll answer our question of whether Simmons was turned somehow or was a doppelganger."
Dr. Sanjay nodded and left. Jon paid for his sandwich and made his way back over to his table.
His mind was spinning with possibilities. Suicide wasn't at all like the Lucian Alliance's regular MO. Someone else. They were already on Earth. They had infiltrate the Stargate program, somehow, and not just at a low-level position. Simmons had been the top civilian on the base and had access to just about everything.
If they could get Simmons, they might be able to get anyone. Reviews of all communications in and out, as well as all Simmons' communications, were happening. However, separate spies with careful passing of information would be hard to detect.
There could be spies among his own people, though he hated to think of that. He'd need to get his own core group cleared with these CT scans. Including himself. He had to have at least a few people he could trust.
They needed to be looking for exfiltration. Exfiltration! No one died if they didn't have to, and Simmons wouldn't have been any different. He had to have known that he was going to be discovered for holding back the information about the Lucian Alliance. He must have had a plan for leaving the base.
Someone coming in to pick him up or a secret ship somewhere nearby?
Something pulled his attention away from his destroyed sandwich. Jon looked up toward the cafeteria entrance.
Teal'c and Trisha.
He smiled. Perfect. He could trust these two - Teal'c he trusted more than any other person in the galaxy except maybe Sam and Danny boy. He had known Trisha before the Stargate came up and there hadn't been time between being tapped for the Stargate program to be approached, much less turned.
The two came closer, walking almost shoulder to shoulder. They … dang. They had!
"T! Trisha! You dogs!"
Trisha looked surprised for some reason. Teal'c looked at him with a tiny tilt of the head, looking for a clarification.
"Why didn't you invite me? I would have loved to watch!"
Trisha's expression moved from 'surprised' to completely stunned shock - her mouth hanging open. Jon wasn't sure why she was so surprised.
Teal'c also seemed to be thinking a lot longer than normal, though Jon couldn't read much of anything in his expression.
"You two must have had a great time. You both look exhausted. I told you Teal'c that she was phenomenal - I did give you warning about her."
Trisha's mouth was beginning to soundlessly open and close and Jon began to worry about her.
"Ahhhh. Yes." Teal'c finally replied. Jon's confusion grew.
Teal'c turned to Trisha. "Jon told me when I first saw you both at his apartment that you would best me in combat and that he desired to watch our first match."
Jon nodded. It was obvious.
"Yeah, you two look done in. T, you've got a pair of shiners going and your nose is puffy. Trisha, you're exhausted and it looks like Teal'c re-did a few of your stitches. I recognize your handiwork, old buddy."
She had changed into a short-sleeved shirt and the four stitches that had been on her forearm were reddened, and one of them had been broken and had a new stitch that had one of Teal'c weird knots holding the threads.
Trisha finally regained her ability to speak. "Oh! Yeah. Yeah. We, um, sparred. It was great." She looked at Teal'c with a big smile. "It was really, really great."
Teal'c looked at her with a genuine smile. "It was indeed most delightful and excellent, Trish'a."
Jon smiled to have his two friends become friends as well. He suspected they would see plenty of admirable qualities in each other. Warriors through and through with strong codes of honor under their very different cultures.
"Let's grab something to eat."
They both looked at the remnants of his sandwich and up at him.
"Well, I still haven't had any time for dessert. Come on. You two have to have worked up a hell of an appetite together."
"Indeed we have. I believe I could eat an equine animal."
Trisha smirked up at the tall Jaffa and bumped him with her shoulder. He looked back down with a distinct twinkle in his eyes.
'Hmm, I wonder if I should try to set those two up. I'll bet they'd be good together,' Jon thought as they all strode back toward the cafeteria. 'They seem to be clicking well together. Maybe after the crazy settles down, I'll try to give them a nudge. See if I can get it through their thick skulls that they'd be good for each other.'
'Time for playing matchmaker later, though. Now we've got some stuff I could use their advice on.'
"Guys, let's head back to my room to eat. I've got a few things I want to run by you. But, first things first, I want to hear how the first match went. All the gory details!"