7
To the Unknown
"I am sorry," General Landry said seriously.
Daniel opened his mouth to protest.
"I can't risk sending anyone back to Pegasus at the moment. Not after that incoming wormhole from said galaxy. Besides, Daedalus hasn't called in," he reasoned.
"We believe that she will, sometime tomorrow, sir," Sam added.
Hank sighed as he watched the Colonel and the archaeologist/linguistic standing opposite his desk. The two former members of the now temporarily dismantled SG-1 looked optimistic, hopeful even, and seemed ready to argue for their cause. "I know what you're going to say – you've found something that could shed some light about the Lantean way of life but-,"
Jackson shook his head in slight frustration. "I am 90 percent certain I've stumbled upon the address to a secret research facility. I know the Atlantis Expedition has been trying to find such a place ever since they arrived to the city. McKay believes the reason they haven't found them is because they were never in the database in the first place."
"It actually makes sense," Carter pointed out. "Those matters would have been handled by the Lantean Council and scientists in their closest circle. Whoever governed the city-ships might not have been presented with such information out of fear that they'd use such a place as a bargain chip against the enemy."
Landry nodded skeptically as he turned to Daniel. "A nine-chevron-address you say?" he stated.
"It just means that it is an exact location – a complete address – there is no need to use the same amount of energy required to establish a connection with Destiny," Daniel explained.
"Maybe not," Landry replied seriously. "But the place is located in the Pegasus Galaxy nevertheless. In case any of you have missed it – Atlantis is swashing around in the bay of San Francisco. The Pegasus stargate is inactive due to the close proximity with our Milky Way stargate and, even if it weren't, there isn't – as you are well aware of - enough power to dial that distance at the moment."
"Which brings us back to the request to hitch-hike the distance with the Daedalus," Daniel pushed.
"It can wait," Landry persisted as he looked from Daniel to Sam. "Carter. Any news from Doctor Lee yet?"
"He's assembled a team to look into it," she assured him. "Doctor McKay have been called to the base but since he's no longer part of the program, he's flying in with a regular flight hence he won't make it to Cheyenne Mountain until tomorrow afternoon."
The General pursed his lips into a thin line of displeasure. He had the authority to call in the Odyssey and have the Canadian scientist beamed in from wherever he'd set up shop but he had full confidence in the scientists and gate technicians already gathered downstairs. Besides, he didn't want to confirm Rodney's idea that he was important enough for such measures – not yet.
"I see," Landry replied curtly. "If you really want to travel off-world then you have clearance for the scheduled mission to Isa. It's either that or nothing at all at the moment."
Daniel nodded. "Point taken, General," he said. "Since it has already been arranged and Colonel Lorne is here, he will accompany us."
Hank opened his mouth to protest but Sam was faster, running interception.
"Doctor Jackson is right, sir. And Colonel Lorne is eager to come. We need someone with the ancient gene on the team as well as a pilot. It so happens that he's also very familiar with Lantean technology having had first-hand experience with it for several years."
"You served there too," the General pointed out.
"I am not a pilot and I don't have the ATA gene," Carter reasoned. "Besides, sir, you've already approved the mission once."
"Lieutenant Colonel Lorne is also the liaison officer in charge of blending the Atlantis Expedition, SGC, IOA and Homeworld Command together and he's doing a damn fine job so it better be a short mission," he cautioned.
"Then we will grab our gear and leave within the hour," Sam said, figuring that way Daniel could go and take a stroll at the popular market and talk to the locals a bit before they set camp and headed to the ruins.
OOOOOO
"Back so soon Colonel?" Doctor Lam deadpanned.
Evan smirked as he noticed the twinkle in her eyes. Lam was a professional doctor, a caring woman with a witty sense of dry humor. He'd come to appreciate her for it as he'd gotten to know her a bit after they'd ungracefully plucked down in the ocean a little over a year ago. Not that he was at the SGC that much - he barely had time to set foot in San Francisco which was situated just a quick boat ride from his office – but when he did, he had ended up in her infirmary as a visitor to Colonel Sheppard or someone else he knew from Atlantis that currently served on a SG-team. Lam had also, occasionally, ended up at the same table in the mess hall when he had had lunch with Carter, Mitchell, Jackson and Doctor Lee.
"I can't seem to be in sync with time," he offered lightly as he walked up to her.
She pointed at a bed next to her, indicating for him to sit.
"It's funny. Without Wraith, insane training schedules, sparring lessons, introductions to new personnel and gate travel throughout the Pegasus, you'd think I would get bored on Earth," he added.
"Aren't you?" she asked pointedly. "You are here for a pre-mission check-up."
Evan broke into a smile at that conclusion as her somewhat cold petite hands gently placed a stethoscope on his chest. "For the record, I still don't think this is necessary," he said.
"Afraid I'd find something wrong?" she asked with a smirk.
"No, I just think it's a waste of your spare-time," he replied.
Their eyes met for a moment and Lam found herself temporarily lost in those startingly blue eyes of his. 'Just like Colonel Mitchell' she thought to herself. 'Were all the tough flyboys made from the same mall?' Then she remembered that Colonel Sheppard had hazel eyes and General O'Neill had brown. She chastised herself – when had she started to compare all the guys anyway?
"Should I be troubled by your silence?" Lorne asked curiously.
Lam gave him a faint but reassuring smile as she shook her head. "It seems you're in excellent health, Colonel," she said. "Just return in the same condition so I can have my spare-time to myself," she replied seriously.
His eyes seemed to twinkle for a moment at her smart remark. "Can't make any promises I might not be able to keep, Doctor Lam," he returned softly as he jumped off the stretcher. "Have a nice evening, doc."
She watched as he walked out of the room and surprised herself with a smile on her lips. Colonel Lorne was easy to like. He wasn't overly cocky and he was nice and friendly to everyone he met. He was genuine and he somehow managed to downplay his own importance – never one to brag about what he'd achieved. The one thing he couldn't hide though was his good looks. Carolyn found herself to be grateful he wasn't around the base that much. It was easier that way, not to seek him out. The doctor had a sneaking suspicion that, unlike some of the few others she'd been interested in, Evan Lorne wouldn't be afraid of what Major General Hank Landry might do if he caught the wind of his daughter seeing someone under his command.
"Doctor Lam to Earth," Cam tried with a cunning smirk as he sought her attention. "Is there someone in there?"
She turned to him, barely refraining from rolling her eyes. "What's the occasion?" she drawled.
Mitchell snorted with amusement. "It's been a long time since I saw you preoccupied, Carolyn," he teased.
"I was day-dreaming about winning the lottery," she returned sarcastically.
"I bet you did," he deadpanned. "Look, I just came to inform you that we're suspending most of our gate activity so we're bringing back several teams prematurely."
Doctor Lam sighed. "Meaning I'll be swamped the rest of the night," she filled in for him.
He made a face. "Sorry, doc. If it helps, I could offer you a snack later," he suggested.
She huffed and spoke up amusedly. "Would that be equal to a several hours old turkey sandwich and a lukewarm beer?"
He shook his head. "You'll have to give a guy a break," he whined lightly. "I'm trying to offer something in return for your services."
OOOOOO
"You think they'll get together someday?" Vala Mal Doran asked as she suddenly appeared behind Doctor Jackson, who stood waiting in the doorway to the infirmary.
The archaeologist jumped. Annoyed, he chided; "Stop sneaking up on people."
There was a familiar glint in her eyes as she cherished the lollipop in her mouth, twisting it around with her hand. "And miss out on the fun?" she asked with a slightly pouting expression.
Daniel sighed. "I thought you were following Colonel Sheppard around, spying on the Lucian Alliance."
She shrugged. "Like Colonel Mitchell just explained to Doctor Lam. Most of us were recalled until further notice. That's a shame actually – he's quite an interesting guy."
He glared at her for a moment which she completely ignored.
"It's a good thing though, that we came back, otherwise you'd left without me to that planet-," she paused, trying to remember the name of it.
"Isa," Daniel clarified.
She smiled brightly at him. "That's the one."
"You are not coming," he added seriously.
"Why?" she asked jovially. "We're a team. It would be fun. We could use some team bonding activities. We haven't done anything together for several months now since everyone is running around doing their own things."
"Vala, please," he began.
She pouted again.
He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, looking like a lost parent. "If you stay and promise to behave, I might be able to let you come with me to Atlantis-,"
She jumped slightly and clapped her hands in excitement.
"Daniel? Vala?" Mitchell called as he spotted them.
The archaeologist took that as his cue to move forward. "I'm here for the mission, she was just leaving," he explained as he pointed at Vala.
She threw him a mock salute and spun on her heels.
"Is it me or did Vala look overly pleased with herself?" Cam asked curiously.
"I might have promised her a visit to Atlantis," Daniel volunteered with a grimace.
Mitchell nodded and gently slapped him on the shoulder as he made to leave. "Good luck with that," he replied.
OOOOOO
To be continued