Chapter 50: The Trap

Daniel had learned a long time ago to distrust an easy victory. There was just something not right about the fact that they had been able to slip virtually undetected into a secret underwater research facility for one of the largest aeronautics corporations in the world.

He stopped as he realized the conflict in what he'd just considered. Aeronautics was planes and jets. This under water facility was accessible only by submarine. No wonder he felt like they were being set up.

"Teal'c!" Daniel whispered as he gently tapped his friend.

The silent Jaffa turned a raised eyebrow to him, interested in what he had to say.

"Why does an aeronautics company have an under water research facility?"

The Jaffa's eyes widened as the SEALs began to take fire. In an instant, the small group was surrounded by paramilitary personnel. A man with short brown hair, a crooked nose, and dark brown eyes walked through the paramilitary barricade and approached Daniel and Teal'c. "I've been waiting for you two." He said simply. "My name is Steve."

Daniel shared a look with Teal'c before he shook his head. "Nope. I don't think it is. You see, Steve is a name that I just—I just don't think fits you. Nope. Not a Steve."

The man smiled which only served to make Daniel a little more uneasy. "So you caught me. I'm using a nom de plume. Something I learned from you, actually, Dr. Jackson. Or rather, something I learned from what you should have done when you started publishing papers about the pyramids being landing pads for alien spaceships."

The SEALs looked at the archaeologist in surprise. "Alien spaceships?" One asked in surprise.

Daniel just shrugged as he forced a lighthearted grin to his lips. "What can I say? I had a wayward youth."

Steve turned his attention to Teal'c. "Ah, Teal'c. Or should I say, the shol'va."

"It has been many years since I was last called shol'va." He said with a tone that was eerily calm for the Jaffa.

He looked back at Daniel who shrugged. "Great memories, huh?"

"Indeed," the Jaffa said, nodding.

"Shut up, you two!" Steve cried as he hit Daniel upside the head with the side of his heavy, metal flashlight.

Daniel reeled to the side from the force of the blow, though he didn't lose consciousness.

He returned his attention to Steve just as the leader reached down and retrieved a handful of vials from Teal'c's jacket pocket. "Tretonin. The only thing that's kept you alive for quite a while, I hear." He placed the vials in his own pocket. "You don't mind if I keep these as a sample, do you? In the name of scientific advancement, of course."

The SEAL commander turned a hard gaze to their conqueror. "Is that why you took those kids? For scientific advancement?"

"What else would I take them for?" Steve asked simply. "I mean, between the miracle child of the galaxy and the alien who was adopted by his parents, there's a lot that could be learned from them."

"You have a five-year-old and a thirteen-year-old in custody!" The commander contended. "It doesn't matter what you think they can do—you abducted them from their home. From their family."

"And what do you think they'll do to us if they get the chance?" Steve spat bitterly. "You don't know what their kind have done to us! You don't know what their kind can do to us!"

"Their kind?" Daniel asked with a skeptical eyebrow.

"You can't possibly have forgotten about the Ori already, Dr. Jackson." Steve said as he turned back to the archaeologist.

"Those kids are not Ori." Daniel cried instantly. "They're the children of two very important and influential Air Force generals who will stop at nothing to bring them home. Trust me. You want to send them home as much as we want to take them home."

Steve's face was hard. "I don't think so." He turned to one of the paramilitary men at his side. "It's time to show America what could happen if we were to let these freaks live."

Daniel swallowed as he and the rest of the team were shoved down the corridor.


"Jack? What are you doing here?" Cam Mitchell asked as he walked from the briefing room to his office.

The retired Air Force general turned with a small sigh. "Following orders."

Mitchell's brow furrowed in confusion. "Orders? Who gives you orders?"

Jack managed a small smile. "Sam."

"How's she doing?"

Jack inhaled slowly. "As well as can be expected." A rueful smile stole onto his lips as he thought about his wife and her interminable work ethic. "She, of course, wants to pretend like she didn't just go through major surgery and get back to work, but her doctor had other plans."

Cam couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "That's Sam for you. Though, from the stories I've heard around here, she picked it up from you."

Jack smiled in amusement as Cam motioned for him to sit down.

"How can I help you?" He asked from across the desk.

"Actually, I"m here to help you. Fill you in on what little Sam and I pieced together about what's going on."

"There's more than just that theory that some camouflaged alien trying to take your kids?" Cam asked, surprised.

"The theory isn't actually that camouflaged aliens are behind this abduction," Jack sighed. "The theory is that, like you and Daniel, someone managed to infiltrate the SGC by using an aerosol form of the Ree'al chemical."

"Right. Sorry." Mitchell sighed. "So, you had something else to tell me."

Jack nodded. "But before we get there, is there any word from Daniel's team?"

Mitchell shook his head.

"And plans for a rescue?"

"Until we know more, I can't in good conscience send a team to the same coordinates." Mitchell said, soberly. "But then, you know that even better than I do."

Jack sighed before he nodded. "Have you tried to get in touch with the Colson off-world?"

Mitchell nodded. "Apparently, he went on a mission a few months ago to study some ancient device, but he never returned. Colonel Anderson at the Alpha site said that they've made many attempts to find him, but—"

"Still no luck?"

Mitchell shook his head. "Still no luck."

Jack thought for a moment, his brow furrowed with the recent revelation. "Then, I guess they wouldn't really need to use the camouflage agent. They could have made him a goa'uld, brainwashed him—anything, I suppose."

"But Sam's right. The only thing that makes sense is the camouflage. It's the only way any of us would have accepted that Colson Industries was still around."

"Not necessarily." Jack said as he shook his head. "If the Trust is somehow involved in this like I think they are, then all they had to do was change the name of Hammel Technologies to Colson Industries."

"Or just buy a few of Colson Industries' subsidiaries and not make any changes." Mitchell said as he brightened somewhat with the possibility.

Jack turned to the other general somewhat confused. "What?"

Mitchell stood and walked over to the door. "Walt—"

"Yes, sir." The Chief Master Sergeant asked as he appeared in the doorway.

Mitchell jumped. "You—you need to stop doing that!"

Jack tried to hide a chuckle at the other general's expense before he sobered. "Walter, we need everything you can find about Hammer Technologies and their connections to Colson Industries and its subsidiaries."

"Yes, sir." Walter said with a stiff nod.

"And Walter?"

"Yes, sir," He said as he paused and turned back.

"Look into how Colson got back into the business world, will you?"

"Yes, sir."

Mitchell watched Walter leave before he turned back to the retired general. "You know, he's not really under your command anymore, Jack."

Jack smirked slightly. "Sorry. Old habits, and all that..."

Cam chuckled. "You're lucky I'm a fan."

O'Neill shrugged easily.

"So, while we're waiting for that, we're going to—" Mitchell began.

"Find a Plan B." Jack said as he stood.

"A Plan B? For what?" Mitchell asked, confused.

"Getting Teal'c and Daniel." He said as he looked over at the other general. "And, God willing, my kids."