===
It had been several days since the sudden, accidental death of
Armin Zelig, but Jack O'Neill couldn't get the sound or the sight
of Armin dying in his arms out of his mind. Nor could he get out
of his mind the idea that Armin had died believing that Jack had
been responsible for his death. General Hammond had been adamant
that it was an accident, but he had known that Jack was having a
difficult time accepting it. This was the reason Hammond had now
called him to his office.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
Hammond looked up from the paper he was reading. "Yes Colonel.
Come in and sit down."
Jack came into the General's small office and took a seat in one
of the two chairs in front of Hammond's desk.
"You look terrible, Colonel," Hammond remarked.
"Well Sir, I guess I haven't been sleeping very much."
"Armin Zelig?"
Jack sighed deeply and nodded.
"I figured as much." Hammond took the paper he had been reading
and passed it across his desk to Jack. "I can tell you there is
an official investigation into our leak and into Zelig's death,
but I don't think that's going to satisfy you, is it?"
"Sir, if you say..."
"Jack I can't officially suggest this, but that piece of paper
you're holding can help you find the answers you need so you can
go on from here."
Jack read, "Vice Admiral Harriman Burns?"
"Retired."
"But sir, how can a retired Admiral help?"
"Ever heard of Team One?"
"Yes sir. Team One was supposed to be the ultimate investigative
unit of the military. It's members were drawn from all branches
of the service. They were on call to anyone who needed a covert
investigation. One of my guys tried to get in, but his security
clearance wouldn't pass their muster. They've been disbanded
now, haven't they General?"
"Harriman Burns was their commander. When he retired, they
retired the unit. I don't know why, but you can ask Burns if you
decide to call him. He's an old friend of mine. I talked to him
last night and told him you might be calling him."
"Sir, did you tell him why?"
Hammond shook his head. "No. If you call him it'll be your
decision as to how much information he needs to know."
Jack stood. "Thank you sir."
Before he could walk out of the office Hammond added, "Colonel,
we didn't have this conversation."
Jack looked back and smiled, "What conversation, sir?"
***
Quinn Masters was scowling at a television remote control. She
had the back off of it and was slowly removing the small computer
board inside. Once that was out she laid it on a small static
free mat, picked up a cigarette and lit it. Making a face, she
put the lit cigarette in the clean ash try in front of her.
"Blech!" Then she picked up the small computer board again.
"Quinn."
"Yes Jonathan."
"Admiral Burns is here to see you along with four other people."
Quinn looked up from the board and smiled. She knew what was
coming next. "Do we know the other four people Admiral Burns
wants to see?"
There was silence for a moment and then Quinn heard what could
have been a sigh. "Admiral Burns is here along with four other
people to see you."
"Gotta watch out for those dangling participles Jonathan."
"Yes Quinn."
"Do we know why Admiral Burns wants to see me?"
A different, older voice joined in the conversation. "It's a
military matter Quinn. Have Jonathan open the door."
"Turned the two-way on Jonathan?"
"Sorry Quinn -- my mistake."
"Well let's not compound it then. Let the Admiral and his four
friends in."
Admiral Harriman Burns was a very dignified, elderly gentleman
who still held the good looks that had made him one of the Navy's
most dashing young fighter pilots in his youth. Brave of heart,
and strong of will had proved him in good stead and he had risen
fast through the ranks. Being a Ring Knocker had also helped.
He led Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel
Jackson, and Teal'c through the maze of hallways and rooms that
made up Murphy's Folly. He talked as he led, "Back in the 1800s
at the height of the gold rush an Irish immigrant named Sean
Murphy made his fortune. He had always dreamed of living in a
castle, so he went back to Ireland and bought this one. Then he
spent the majority of his money having it shipped over here stone
by stone and rebuilt. He lived in it until his dying day and
then left it to the State of Colorado."
"Quinn bought it from them about 12 years ago. The State
couldn't afford it's upkeep anymore and had put it on the block.
Ah, here we are."
He brought them into a large, rectangular room with a long
refectory table in the middle. There was only one occupant. All
SG1 could see was the top of a small head covered in a cap of
curly reddish brown hair.
"Quinn."
The head moved and a face appeared. Jack O'Neill thought it was
a nice face and way too young to belong to the person Admiral
Burns said had been the leader of Team One.
Admiral Burns seemed to read Jack's thoughts. "She's older than
she looks Colonel."
"Ah, yes sir."
Quinn Masters did look a lot younger than her years. This was
one of the things that had made her so successful at her job for
the Navy. No one ever expected her to be the leader of the
infamous Team One. That and the smile. It was as if someone had
told a really good joke when she was born and she was still
laughing at it.
"Admiral, it's nice of you to drop by. How's retirement?"
Admiral Burns took a seat on Quinn's right and indicated that SG1
should take seats also. "Everything Elizabeth wants it to be.
You know her, she just wanted to have time to get to know the
grand kids before we both keel over and die."
"Admiral," Quinn admonished, "you will never die. You're too
'onery and Elizabeth is too good. You know, how she ever ended
up with you was always a mystery to me."
Admiral Burns smiled. "Me too Quinn. Me too."
Quinn raised her left hand and touched her ear and Jack noticed
that she was wearing a small receiver.
"Yeah Ma. What's up?"
"Your mother's here?" asked Jack.
"Not exactly," Quinn answered. "Would you guys like some
lemonade?"
"Uh sure." Carter looked around for a microphone but couldn't
spot anything.
"Yeah lemonade would be fine," said Quinn. Quinn was listening
again. "How about lunch? Are you guys hungry?"
"No Quinn, I don't think lunch is called for," Admiral Burns
answered.
"No Ma, no lunch ... cookies ... chocolate walnut cookies ...
sure whatever." Quinn shuddered. "Lemonade and chocolate
cookies, yummy." She shuddered again.
The cigarette that Quinn had let burn in the ash try went out and
Quinn reached over and lit up another one. Jack made a face. "I
know this is your house, but is that necessary?"
Quinn puffed on the cigarette to get it going and laid it in the
ash try. "Yep."
"Quinn, what's with Jonathan. It isn't like him to make errors,"
Burns asked.
"Oh yeah. Well he's trying to sound more human. He's got it in
his head that he was too machine like."
"Jonathan's a ..." began Carter.
"A computer. He kind of runs things around here."
"A computer. AI?" Excitement tinged Carter's voice.
"Well as close to AI as I hope we ever get. He was an accident.
I was working on a new computer design and a voice recognition
program and got him instead. Sometimes I wish ..." Quinn never
finished because someone came into the room.
The Reverend Mother Margaret Callahan was a short, plumpish woman
whose face radiated serenity. She was carrying a large tray with
a plate heaped high with cookies and a large pitcher of lemonade
and several glasses on it.
"I heard Jonathan announce that you arrived. Quinn never
remembers amenities like offering her guests refreshments." She
set the tray down in the center of the table and then took a seat
on Quinn's left. Quinn smiled at the Reverend Mother.
"Admiral Burns, it's good to see you again."
"Reverend Mother." Burns pointed to the TV remote control that
Quinn was working on. "Yours?"
The Reverend Mother looked a little embarrassed. "Well it just
stopped working one day."
"The Reverend Mother has a temper," Quinn explained. "When she
gets angry or frustrated she likes to throw inanimate objects at
inanimate objects."
"Quinn, are you working on anything really delicate right now?"
Reverend Mother asked sweetly.
Quinn didn't look up from what she was doing but paused for a
moment. "Ah yes. Actually I am."
"Could you stop for a moment?"
Quinn lifted her hands from the computer board and held them out
in front of her. Reverend Mother Margaret Callahan reached over
and slapped Quinn on the back of the head. Quinn flinched
slightly and smiled. "The only person she ever hits is me."
Quinn began putting the remote control back together again
finished with working on the small computer board.
"Well you deserve it."
Quinn glanced up at Jack and winked. "Yes ma'am. I certainly do.
Admiral, could you hand me that package of batteries?" Quinn put
two batteries in the remote and handed it to the Reverend Mother.
"It should work now. Next time though. Before you throw it,
check the batteries. The ones that were in there were dead."
The Reverend Mother looked like she was going to slap Quinn again
and she flinched waiting for it, but it never came. Reverend
Mother took the remote and put it somewhere in the voluminous
folds of her habit. Then she reached over and took the cigarette
from Quinn who had just picked it up. She put it out in the ash
tray and took the pack and the matches and hid them in her habit.
"Quinn what have I told you about smoking?" she asked.
"Well you know ... it's kind of difficult to quit once you've
started."
"Not if you really want to do so, Quinn."
"Yes Reverend Mother."
The Reverend Mother rose and the men of SG1 and Admiral Burns
also rose to their feet. "I'm sure you don't want me hanging
around here and I know that Admiral Burns must have something
important to talk to with Quinn, so I'll be going now." To
Quinn. "Eat at least one of those cookies. The kids worked hard
on those. They really don't understand why you don't eat
sweets."
"Yes ma'am. I will and thank the kids for me."
The Reverend Mother smiled down at Quinn and touched her lightly
on the head, then nodded at the rest of them and left. Jack
realized that this woman was really fond of the leader of the now
defunct Team One and he wondered how someone with a reputation
for being heartless could extract such fondness from someone like
the Reverend Mother.
"You don't really smoke, do you?" asked Carter.
"Good god no. That stuffs bad for you."
"Then why?" asked Daniel.
Quinn smiled. "She thinks she's saving me. It makes her feel
good. But I'm going to have to quit one of these days and then
come up with something else for her to cure me from. She's
already broken me of cursing and drinking. She knows I'd never
run numbers or join a gang so I'm kind of limited."
"Sex?" suggested Daniel.
Quinn grinned, "I don't think there's a cure for that."
Daniel looked embarrassed and when he was he got flustered. "I ah
meant, ah ..."
"I think we all know what you meant Daniel. I don't see the
Commander here turning to prostitution either."
"Thank you ah ... who exactly are you guys anyway?" Quinn
reached over and picked up a cookie. She took a small bite and
chewed. "Not too bad. You guys ought to try them."
"Quinn, This is Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter,
Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c."
She locked eyes with each as Admiral Burns had introduced them.
Teal'c held her gaze a moment longer than the rest. "Teal'c.
Short, succinct, I like it. You're not from around here, are
you?"
Jack snorted. "That's an understatement if I ever heard one."
"Colonel O'Neill has a problem. He's hoping you can help him
with it. He needs your expertise."
Quinn began sorting through the tools that she had used on the TV
remote, finally deciding on one, she picked it up and started
dissecting the cookie that she had nibbled on. "I don't do that
sort of thing any more Admiral." Finding a chunk of walnut she
picked it up and popped it in her mouth. She looked up. "You
know that."
"Quinn. It's important. It's for a friend," Burns explained.
"Colonel O'Neill is a friend of yours?"
"No, his commanding officer is."
"Oh. So this 'favor' is for a star?"
"Quinn you're being awfully argumentative today."
"I'm in the mood. Is the favor for the star or for the bird?"
"Quinn ..."
"I'm serious Admiral. After what they did to my team after you
retired, I'm really not in the mood to be very cooperative with
the military."
"That was ... expedient."
"I know expedient after doing what I did for so many years. I
wasn't all that fond of expedient then and my feelings haven't
changed now."
"The powers that be asked for my recommendation. They didn't
like what I gave them or the reasons why. They thought it was
better for everyone all around to do it the way they did."
"Better for them, you mean."
"Commander ... Admiral. With all due respect sir, is this
getting us anywhere?" Jack turned to Admiral Burns. "General
Hammond said you could help. You brought us here. It doesn't
sound like the Commander here is willing. Is there anyone else
we can talk to?"
"Quinn will do it."
"I will?"
Admiral Burns turned to her and locked eyes. "Yes, you will. As
a favor to my star."
Quinn and Burns stared at each other for a few moments and then
she smiled. "Which one? First, second, or third?"
Burns returned the smile. "First I think. You were a lot less
argumentative then."
"Aw Admiral. You enjoyed it and you know it."
"Me and my ulcer."
"So what's a colonel, a captain, a doctor, and a Teal'c need from
me?" asked Quinn looking pointedly at Jack.
Jack sighed and looked somewhat relieved now that everything
seemed to be back on track. "We need you to investigate an
information leak and a possible murder ... and it's classified."
"Isn't everything?"
"Not really," replied Jack.
"Are you sure?"
"Quinn." Burns interrupted. "Colonel, you see what I had to put
up with?"
"Actually, she sounds a lot like Jack," put in Daniel.
Both Quinn and Jack turned to stare at Daniel. Daniel returned
the stare. However he wasn't really any match for the two of
them and finally he dropped his gaze. "Sorry."
Quinn started laughing and the humor she saw in the moment became
contagious and Jack started chuckling also, as well as Carter and
the Admiral. This seemed to embarrass Daniel, but it soon passed
and he began laughing with the rest of them.
When the laughter started to die down, Quinn turned once more to
Jack. "Alright Colonel, you've got your investigator. Now tell
me all about it."
Several hours later, the lemonade was gone as well as all the
cookies. At first she balked at what she was being told, but SG1
finally convinced her that they had been traveling to distant
planets, fighting Goa'uld, and discovering that some of the
planets out there had been populated with people from earth. It
was a lot to take in, in such a short amount of time. Jack gave
Quinn credit though. She knew the right questions to ask to get
the answers she needed.
"Well Commander. What do you think?"
"Quinn. Call me Quinn. I'm not a Commander any longer. I'm
retired."
"Okay," Jack responded. "What do you think?"
"Well you guys certainly have it over Asimov and Heinlein. Not
to mention Steven Spielberg, Chris Carter, and George Lucas."
"Who are Asimov and Heinlein?" asked Teal'c.
"Science fiction writers Teal'c. They wrote stories about the
future. And Spielberg and Lucas made movies about aliens,"
answered Daniel.
"Chris Carter?"
"He's made a TV show called The X-Files about two FBI agents
looking into alien abductions and stuff. I don't think you'd
like it Teal'c. They make the aliens look like bad guys."
Teal'c's left eyebrow elevated as he digested this new piece of
information.
Quinn grinned slightly at Teal'c's reaction and shook her head.
"It's all rather fantastical Colonel. Now tell me, you don't
think it's anyone at your facility, but you've got all sorts of
other places where this leak could have come from. How do you
suppose you've managed to keep this a secret this long?"
"Everyone at the SGC knows how important this project is and what
it could mean if it ever became public knowledge. The Air Force
has managed to debunk all the stories about Area 51 for 50 years
and the political involvement ... well, there have been numerous
covert ops that have remained secrets for longer than we've been
in existence."
"Granted, but you've mentioned that there might be corporate
influences here. Wherever there are corporations involved,
there's theft of information. All I can say is you guys are damn
lucky that you've kept it quiet as long as you have." Quinn
turned to the Admiral who had been sitting quietly listening to
everything for the past two hours. "God Admiral, this is bigger
than Balthazar and there are a ton more people involved here."
"I know Quinn. But you went through Balthazar in less than a
week and by yourself without your team. I know you can handle
this."
"By myself?"
"Balthazar?" queried Jack.
"Your security clearance isn't high enough Colonel," Quinn
answered.
"I have an SC3."
"Not high enough Colonel. I repeat -- by myself? I need my
team."
"Sorry Quinn, not an option."
"Admiral, you're asking me to investigate not only a security
leak that involves 100s of people, but a possible murder as well.
By ... My ... Self. It's impossible. I need a team."
"Uh Jack, why couldn't we help," Daniel ventured.
"Daniel, this investigation is off the record. We're not even
supposed to be here," Jack explained.
"Well I've got vacation time. I could take that. No one would
know what I was really doing."
"Colonel, Daniel has a point. We've promised to take Teal'c out
several times, show him around. We could all take leave and use
that for the excuse," suggested Carter.
Quinn looked at each member of SG1. "We're talking about a
possible murder and cover up and a security leak that could reach
as high as Capitol Hill. This isn't going to be any walk in the
park. It's going to be dangerous."
"Dangerous Commander?"
"Quinn."
"Dangerous. Try having all of your atoms broken down and put
together again somewhere else."
Quinn grinned. "Nice try. But you're a little off on the quote.
I think it's ..."
"Quinn."
"Okay Admiral. I could use them. There's going to be a lot of
leg work involved in this, a lot of computer time, and some old
fashioned breaking and entering."
"Breaking and entering? That's against the law," said Daniel.
"Of course it is. So is what I plan on doing with the computer,
but that's what makes it so much fun." Quinn turned serious.
"If you guys are in you have to realize that I'm in charge. You
balk at even one order and I'm out of here. This is what I did
for a living and I know what I'm doing and how to do it.
Conscience isn't an option. Is that clear?"
"How about loyalty?" asked Jack.
"It depends on where you place you loyalties Colonel. If it
begins to look like it was someone in your SGC and you don't want
to believe it, I can't help you."
"Where do we start?"
"We start with you getting your leave."
***
It had been several days since the sudden, accidental death of
Armin Zelig, but Jack O'Neill couldn't get the sound or the sight
of Armin dying in his arms out of his mind. Nor could he get out
of his mind the idea that Armin had died believing that Jack had
been responsible for his death. General Hammond had been adamant
that it was an accident, but he had known that Jack was having a
difficult time accepting it. This was the reason Hammond had now
called him to his office.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
Hammond looked up from the paper he was reading. "Yes Colonel.
Come in and sit down."
Jack came into the General's small office and took a seat in one
of the two chairs in front of Hammond's desk.
"You look terrible, Colonel," Hammond remarked.
"Well Sir, I guess I haven't been sleeping very much."
"Armin Zelig?"
Jack sighed deeply and nodded.
"I figured as much." Hammond took the paper he had been reading
and passed it across his desk to Jack. "I can tell you there is
an official investigation into our leak and into Zelig's death,
but I don't think that's going to satisfy you, is it?"
"Sir, if you say..."
"Jack I can't officially suggest this, but that piece of paper
you're holding can help you find the answers you need so you can
go on from here."
Jack read, "Vice Admiral Harriman Burns?"
"Retired."
"But sir, how can a retired Admiral help?"
"Ever heard of Team One?"
"Yes sir. Team One was supposed to be the ultimate investigative
unit of the military. It's members were drawn from all branches
of the service. They were on call to anyone who needed a covert
investigation. One of my guys tried to get in, but his security
clearance wouldn't pass their muster. They've been disbanded
now, haven't they General?"
"Harriman Burns was their commander. When he retired, they
retired the unit. I don't know why, but you can ask Burns if you
decide to call him. He's an old friend of mine. I talked to him
last night and told him you might be calling him."
"Sir, did you tell him why?"
Hammond shook his head. "No. If you call him it'll be your
decision as to how much information he needs to know."
Jack stood. "Thank you sir."
Before he could walk out of the office Hammond added, "Colonel,
we didn't have this conversation."
Jack looked back and smiled, "What conversation, sir?"
***
Quinn Masters was scowling at a television remote control. She
had the back off of it and was slowly removing the small computer
board inside. Once that was out she laid it on a small static
free mat, picked up a cigarette and lit it. Making a face, she
put the lit cigarette in the clean ash try in front of her.
"Blech!" Then she picked up the small computer board again.
"Quinn."
"Yes Jonathan."
"Admiral Burns is here to see you along with four other people."
Quinn looked up from the board and smiled. She knew what was
coming next. "Do we know the other four people Admiral Burns
wants to see?"
There was silence for a moment and then Quinn heard what could
have been a sigh. "Admiral Burns is here along with four other
people to see you."
"Gotta watch out for those dangling participles Jonathan."
"Yes Quinn."
"Do we know why Admiral Burns wants to see me?"
A different, older voice joined in the conversation. "It's a
military matter Quinn. Have Jonathan open the door."
"Turned the two-way on Jonathan?"
"Sorry Quinn -- my mistake."
"Well let's not compound it then. Let the Admiral and his four
friends in."
Admiral Harriman Burns was a very dignified, elderly gentleman
who still held the good looks that had made him one of the Navy's
most dashing young fighter pilots in his youth. Brave of heart,
and strong of will had proved him in good stead and he had risen
fast through the ranks. Being a Ring Knocker had also helped.
He led Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel
Jackson, and Teal'c through the maze of hallways and rooms that
made up Murphy's Folly. He talked as he led, "Back in the 1800s
at the height of the gold rush an Irish immigrant named Sean
Murphy made his fortune. He had always dreamed of living in a
castle, so he went back to Ireland and bought this one. Then he
spent the majority of his money having it shipped over here stone
by stone and rebuilt. He lived in it until his dying day and
then left it to the State of Colorado."
"Quinn bought it from them about 12 years ago. The State
couldn't afford it's upkeep anymore and had put it on the block.
Ah, here we are."
He brought them into a large, rectangular room with a long
refectory table in the middle. There was only one occupant. All
SG1 could see was the top of a small head covered in a cap of
curly reddish brown hair.
"Quinn."
The head moved and a face appeared. Jack O'Neill thought it was
a nice face and way too young to belong to the person Admiral
Burns said had been the leader of Team One.
Admiral Burns seemed to read Jack's thoughts. "She's older than
she looks Colonel."
"Ah, yes sir."
Quinn Masters did look a lot younger than her years. This was
one of the things that had made her so successful at her job for
the Navy. No one ever expected her to be the leader of the
infamous Team One. That and the smile. It was as if someone had
told a really good joke when she was born and she was still
laughing at it.
"Admiral, it's nice of you to drop by. How's retirement?"
Admiral Burns took a seat on Quinn's right and indicated that SG1
should take seats also. "Everything Elizabeth wants it to be.
You know her, she just wanted to have time to get to know the
grand kids before we both keel over and die."
"Admiral," Quinn admonished, "you will never die. You're too
'onery and Elizabeth is too good. You know, how she ever ended
up with you was always a mystery to me."
Admiral Burns smiled. "Me too Quinn. Me too."
Quinn raised her left hand and touched her ear and Jack noticed
that she was wearing a small receiver.
"Yeah Ma. What's up?"
"Your mother's here?" asked Jack.
"Not exactly," Quinn answered. "Would you guys like some
lemonade?"
"Uh sure." Carter looked around for a microphone but couldn't
spot anything.
"Yeah lemonade would be fine," said Quinn. Quinn was listening
again. "How about lunch? Are you guys hungry?"
"No Quinn, I don't think lunch is called for," Admiral Burns
answered.
"No Ma, no lunch ... cookies ... chocolate walnut cookies ...
sure whatever." Quinn shuddered. "Lemonade and chocolate
cookies, yummy." She shuddered again.
The cigarette that Quinn had let burn in the ash try went out and
Quinn reached over and lit up another one. Jack made a face. "I
know this is your house, but is that necessary?"
Quinn puffed on the cigarette to get it going and laid it in the
ash try. "Yep."
"Quinn, what's with Jonathan. It isn't like him to make errors,"
Burns asked.
"Oh yeah. Well he's trying to sound more human. He's got it in
his head that he was too machine like."
"Jonathan's a ..." began Carter.
"A computer. He kind of runs things around here."
"A computer. AI?" Excitement tinged Carter's voice.
"Well as close to AI as I hope we ever get. He was an accident.
I was working on a new computer design and a voice recognition
program and got him instead. Sometimes I wish ..." Quinn never
finished because someone came into the room.
The Reverend Mother Margaret Callahan was a short, plumpish woman
whose face radiated serenity. She was carrying a large tray with
a plate heaped high with cookies and a large pitcher of lemonade
and several glasses on it.
"I heard Jonathan announce that you arrived. Quinn never
remembers amenities like offering her guests refreshments." She
set the tray down in the center of the table and then took a seat
on Quinn's left. Quinn smiled at the Reverend Mother.
"Admiral Burns, it's good to see you again."
"Reverend Mother." Burns pointed to the TV remote control that
Quinn was working on. "Yours?"
The Reverend Mother looked a little embarrassed. "Well it just
stopped working one day."
"The Reverend Mother has a temper," Quinn explained. "When she
gets angry or frustrated she likes to throw inanimate objects at
inanimate objects."
"Quinn, are you working on anything really delicate right now?"
Reverend Mother asked sweetly.
Quinn didn't look up from what she was doing but paused for a
moment. "Ah yes. Actually I am."
"Could you stop for a moment?"
Quinn lifted her hands from the computer board and held them out
in front of her. Reverend Mother Margaret Callahan reached over
and slapped Quinn on the back of the head. Quinn flinched
slightly and smiled. "The only person she ever hits is me."
Quinn began putting the remote control back together again
finished with working on the small computer board.
"Well you deserve it."
Quinn glanced up at Jack and winked. "Yes ma'am. I certainly do.
Admiral, could you hand me that package of batteries?" Quinn put
two batteries in the remote and handed it to the Reverend Mother.
"It should work now. Next time though. Before you throw it,
check the batteries. The ones that were in there were dead."
The Reverend Mother looked like she was going to slap Quinn again
and she flinched waiting for it, but it never came. Reverend
Mother took the remote and put it somewhere in the voluminous
folds of her habit. Then she reached over and took the cigarette
from Quinn who had just picked it up. She put it out in the ash
tray and took the pack and the matches and hid them in her habit.
"Quinn what have I told you about smoking?" she asked.
"Well you know ... it's kind of difficult to quit once you've
started."
"Not if you really want to do so, Quinn."
"Yes Reverend Mother."
The Reverend Mother rose and the men of SG1 and Admiral Burns
also rose to their feet. "I'm sure you don't want me hanging
around here and I know that Admiral Burns must have something
important to talk to with Quinn, so I'll be going now." To
Quinn. "Eat at least one of those cookies. The kids worked hard
on those. They really don't understand why you don't eat
sweets."
"Yes ma'am. I will and thank the kids for me."
The Reverend Mother smiled down at Quinn and touched her lightly
on the head, then nodded at the rest of them and left. Jack
realized that this woman was really fond of the leader of the now
defunct Team One and he wondered how someone with a reputation
for being heartless could extract such fondness from someone like
the Reverend Mother.
"You don't really smoke, do you?" asked Carter.
"Good god no. That stuffs bad for you."
"Then why?" asked Daniel.
Quinn smiled. "She thinks she's saving me. It makes her feel
good. But I'm going to have to quit one of these days and then
come up with something else for her to cure me from. She's
already broken me of cursing and drinking. She knows I'd never
run numbers or join a gang so I'm kind of limited."
"Sex?" suggested Daniel.
Quinn grinned, "I don't think there's a cure for that."
Daniel looked embarrassed and when he was he got flustered. "I ah
meant, ah ..."
"I think we all know what you meant Daniel. I don't see the
Commander here turning to prostitution either."
"Thank you ah ... who exactly are you guys anyway?" Quinn
reached over and picked up a cookie. She took a small bite and
chewed. "Not too bad. You guys ought to try them."
"Quinn, This is Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter,
Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c."
She locked eyes with each as Admiral Burns had introduced them.
Teal'c held her gaze a moment longer than the rest. "Teal'c.
Short, succinct, I like it. You're not from around here, are
you?"
Jack snorted. "That's an understatement if I ever heard one."
"Colonel O'Neill has a problem. He's hoping you can help him
with it. He needs your expertise."
Quinn began sorting through the tools that she had used on the TV
remote, finally deciding on one, she picked it up and started
dissecting the cookie that she had nibbled on. "I don't do that
sort of thing any more Admiral." Finding a chunk of walnut she
picked it up and popped it in her mouth. She looked up. "You
know that."
"Quinn. It's important. It's for a friend," Burns explained.
"Colonel O'Neill is a friend of yours?"
"No, his commanding officer is."
"Oh. So this 'favor' is for a star?"
"Quinn you're being awfully argumentative today."
"I'm in the mood. Is the favor for the star or for the bird?"
"Quinn ..."
"I'm serious Admiral. After what they did to my team after you
retired, I'm really not in the mood to be very cooperative with
the military."
"That was ... expedient."
"I know expedient after doing what I did for so many years. I
wasn't all that fond of expedient then and my feelings haven't
changed now."
"The powers that be asked for my recommendation. They didn't
like what I gave them or the reasons why. They thought it was
better for everyone all around to do it the way they did."
"Better for them, you mean."
"Commander ... Admiral. With all due respect sir, is this
getting us anywhere?" Jack turned to Admiral Burns. "General
Hammond said you could help. You brought us here. It doesn't
sound like the Commander here is willing. Is there anyone else
we can talk to?"
"Quinn will do it."
"I will?"
Admiral Burns turned to her and locked eyes. "Yes, you will. As
a favor to my star."
Quinn and Burns stared at each other for a few moments and then
she smiled. "Which one? First, second, or third?"
Burns returned the smile. "First I think. You were a lot less
argumentative then."
"Aw Admiral. You enjoyed it and you know it."
"Me and my ulcer."
"So what's a colonel, a captain, a doctor, and a Teal'c need from
me?" asked Quinn looking pointedly at Jack.
Jack sighed and looked somewhat relieved now that everything
seemed to be back on track. "We need you to investigate an
information leak and a possible murder ... and it's classified."
"Isn't everything?"
"Not really," replied Jack.
"Are you sure?"
"Quinn." Burns interrupted. "Colonel, you see what I had to put
up with?"
"Actually, she sounds a lot like Jack," put in Daniel.
Both Quinn and Jack turned to stare at Daniel. Daniel returned
the stare. However he wasn't really any match for the two of
them and finally he dropped his gaze. "Sorry."
Quinn started laughing and the humor she saw in the moment became
contagious and Jack started chuckling also, as well as Carter and
the Admiral. This seemed to embarrass Daniel, but it soon passed
and he began laughing with the rest of them.
When the laughter started to die down, Quinn turned once more to
Jack. "Alright Colonel, you've got your investigator. Now tell
me all about it."
Several hours later, the lemonade was gone as well as all the
cookies. At first she balked at what she was being told, but SG1
finally convinced her that they had been traveling to distant
planets, fighting Goa'uld, and discovering that some of the
planets out there had been populated with people from earth. It
was a lot to take in, in such a short amount of time. Jack gave
Quinn credit though. She knew the right questions to ask to get
the answers she needed.
"Well Commander. What do you think?"
"Quinn. Call me Quinn. I'm not a Commander any longer. I'm
retired."
"Okay," Jack responded. "What do you think?"
"Well you guys certainly have it over Asimov and Heinlein. Not
to mention Steven Spielberg, Chris Carter, and George Lucas."
"Who are Asimov and Heinlein?" asked Teal'c.
"Science fiction writers Teal'c. They wrote stories about the
future. And Spielberg and Lucas made movies about aliens,"
answered Daniel.
"Chris Carter?"
"He's made a TV show called The X-Files about two FBI agents
looking into alien abductions and stuff. I don't think you'd
like it Teal'c. They make the aliens look like bad guys."
Teal'c's left eyebrow elevated as he digested this new piece of
information.
Quinn grinned slightly at Teal'c's reaction and shook her head.
"It's all rather fantastical Colonel. Now tell me, you don't
think it's anyone at your facility, but you've got all sorts of
other places where this leak could have come from. How do you
suppose you've managed to keep this a secret this long?"
"Everyone at the SGC knows how important this project is and what
it could mean if it ever became public knowledge. The Air Force
has managed to debunk all the stories about Area 51 for 50 years
and the political involvement ... well, there have been numerous
covert ops that have remained secrets for longer than we've been
in existence."
"Granted, but you've mentioned that there might be corporate
influences here. Wherever there are corporations involved,
there's theft of information. All I can say is you guys are damn
lucky that you've kept it quiet as long as you have." Quinn
turned to the Admiral who had been sitting quietly listening to
everything for the past two hours. "God Admiral, this is bigger
than Balthazar and there are a ton more people involved here."
"I know Quinn. But you went through Balthazar in less than a
week and by yourself without your team. I know you can handle
this."
"By myself?"
"Balthazar?" queried Jack.
"Your security clearance isn't high enough Colonel," Quinn
answered.
"I have an SC3."
"Not high enough Colonel. I repeat -- by myself? I need my
team."
"Sorry Quinn, not an option."
"Admiral, you're asking me to investigate not only a security
leak that involves 100s of people, but a possible murder as well.
By ... My ... Self. It's impossible. I need a team."
"Uh Jack, why couldn't we help," Daniel ventured.
"Daniel, this investigation is off the record. We're not even
supposed to be here," Jack explained.
"Well I've got vacation time. I could take that. No one would
know what I was really doing."
"Colonel, Daniel has a point. We've promised to take Teal'c out
several times, show him around. We could all take leave and use
that for the excuse," suggested Carter.
Quinn looked at each member of SG1. "We're talking about a
possible murder and cover up and a security leak that could reach
as high as Capitol Hill. This isn't going to be any walk in the
park. It's going to be dangerous."
"Dangerous Commander?"
"Quinn."
"Dangerous. Try having all of your atoms broken down and put
together again somewhere else."
Quinn grinned. "Nice try. But you're a little off on the quote.
I think it's ..."
"Quinn."
"Okay Admiral. I could use them. There's going to be a lot of
leg work involved in this, a lot of computer time, and some old
fashioned breaking and entering."
"Breaking and entering? That's against the law," said Daniel.
"Of course it is. So is what I plan on doing with the computer,
but that's what makes it so much fun." Quinn turned serious.
"If you guys are in you have to realize that I'm in charge. You
balk at even one order and I'm out of here. This is what I did
for a living and I know what I'm doing and how to do it.
Conscience isn't an option. Is that clear?"
"How about loyalty?" asked Jack.
"It depends on where you place you loyalties Colonel. If it
begins to look like it was someone in your SGC and you don't want
to believe it, I can't help you."
"Where do we start?"
"We start with you getting your leave."
***