I hated Simmons from the start, mainly because I could see the others hated
him. General Cassidy glared when he saw Simmons, and summoned him to his
office. I just stood and watched this man everyone looked at with such
hatred in their eyes. I could see so easily the way they felt about him,
maybe the nano-processors enhanced my perceptions, or maybe it was because
I'd known them for seven years.
Once Simmons had gone into Cassidy's office, Daniel lay a hand on my shoulder and led me to his lab. I let him, I'd spent a lot more of my time with Daniel since I'd found out the truth about my origins, and trusted him absolutely. Even with all that followed I've never stopped trusting him. He was probably trying to reassure me that Simmons wasn't there for me. I trusted him, and he'd told me they'd never let the NID take me, I knew he would do everything possible to stop them. But that didn't stop me worrying. I knew what Simmons was capable of, and I was scared Daniel wouldn't have enough power to keep me from him. I was right.
I'll never know what was said in Cassidy's office, all I know is that Cassidy somehow managed to arrange it so that I'd still be at the SGC. He thought that as long as I was there, he'd be able to protect me from Simmons. I was grateful for that, and I still am. But he had no idea what he was letting himself in for when he tried to protect me, none of them did.
Cassidy found a spare office for Simmons to use while he was on the base, not wanting us to be in the briefing room the whole time, so our meetings were very private. I noticed when I first went into the room that the video camera in the corner was switched off, no one would know what happened in this room. He dismissed the airman who had escorted me down and sat opposite me. I was glad there was a table between us, something about him made me feel very uncomfortable.
"Well," Simmons began in a voice I suppose that was meant to sound friendly. He wasn't a very convincing actor. "It's time you and I had a little talk, Susan." I'm not sure which made me more angry, the mispronunciation of my name or the way he was acting like I was a baby. "I'm sure you're aware you're a very special child."
"My immune system is as effective as if I carried a Goa'uld symbiote, I have nano-processors that increase my intelligence and learning capacities, I will live at least twice as long as an average human, my bones are strengthened with trinium to prevent them breaking and I have naquadah in my blood which allows me to use Goa'uld technology." I think my recitation threw Simmons out of stride.
"Yes, exactly." It took him a few moments to recover, but then he continued as if nothing had happened. "Now, we want to do a few tests to see just how these differences are affecting you."
He continued for a few minutes until I got sick of his condescending tone and interrupted. "Would you mind not simplifying things like that, it's very annoying." I don't know what possessed me to continue the way I did. "Oh, sorry. You're making it easier for yourself, aren't you? I'd forgotten that since I'm ten times as intelligent than an average human, I must be about a hundred times more intelligent than you."
That pissed him off, and he just sat for five minutes, looking very much like he wanted to hit me. Lots of comments ran through my head about how difficult it must be for him to come up with a response to that, but I managed to hold them in check. I think the time I'd spent hanging around with Jack had given me a sense of humour similar to his. That' not always a good thing, especially when dealing with people like Simmons.
I think he gave up in the end, judging by the way he flung an intelligence test on the table and stormed out. I did the test and then left it on the table, going off to see Daniel, once I'd finished. All of SG-1 were in hysterics when I told them what I'd said to Simmons, something they couldn't say themselves because of his power over them. He would never be able to tell anyone about what I'd said for fear of being made a laughing stock, having a little girl say just how much more intelligent than him she was. I doubt it was true, Simmons had to have been intelligent to get to the position he's in, but I enjoyed saying it all them same.
The NID spent the next few weeks giving me tests: medical tests, intelligence tests, aptitude tests. Simmons came and went throughout, and I insulted him at every possible opportunity. I even took to carrying a tape recorder around in my pocket so that everyone else could hear some of the better insults and his feeble responses. It was probably this behaviour that let to him hating me the way he does now.
At the end of those few weeks, Cassidy summoned me to his office. Simmons and all of SG-1 were there. I knew from their expressions that something was wrong, and I was worried. There was only one possibility I could think of that would have them all here like this.
Cassidy spoke first. "Susanne, Colonel Simmons has had an official request to take you off the base so that the NID can find out more about the effects the changes to your body are having. You will be taken to a secure facility for the duration of the tests." Otherwise known as my entire life. I knew that they would never let me go once they had me, and the SGC couldn't protect me any more. There wouldn't be any more of Janet's tests, these would be of the cut you open and remove your insides variety. I would be losing more than my freedom.
"What about her rights?" Daniel's question echoed my thoughts. He spoke angrily, using a tone I'd heard before, just not from him.
"She has none," Simmons replied bluntly, "she has no record of birth in the United States, and according to all records she does not exist. She has no parent or legal guardian to answer for her."
"What about her rights as a human being?" Daniel was almost shouting. It was clear the others felt the same way, but they weren't saying anything, it was Daniel who was fighting for my very right to live.
"Any doctor would find it very difficult to class her as human considering her altered physiology. I don't think those apply."
"She is a living, intelligent person! She has a right to freedom and to make her own choices!"
"She is a very important asset for this country, and it is the duty of this government to protect her. The SGC is a very dangerous place for such an important asset."
"You're talking about an innocent child! Not an asset!"
"Doctor!" Cassidy exclaimed sharply. When he spoke again it was in a much softer voice, one filled with sorrow and compassion, "There's nothing anyone here can do to stop this."
"I can't believe ANYONE would let this happen!" Daniel stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The bang rang in my ears afterwards, my only hope departing through it. Daniel had given up hope that he could get me out of there, and I was left. I had friends in the room but they wouldn't be able to help me. I was losing my freedom, my friends, my rights and, in all probability, my life as well. There was a black hole in my heart, dragging all the happiness out, filling me with a huge pit of despair. I fought back the tears rising behind my eyes, I didn't want to make this harder on my friends than it already was. I knew that they must have spent a long time arguing with Simmons and Cassidy about this, and that meant there was no way out. Someone in the Pentagon or the White House had signed my life away.
"Don't give us stupid euphemisms, Simmons. You're not taking me away to protect me, you're taking me away so you can lock me up where no one can stop you doing what it is you want. You're not going to be giving me tests, you'll be experimenting on me, just like you did when I was born."
"Very well, whatever opinion you have on our plans for you, you will be coming with us, no matter how you protest."
"When did you leave your conscience behind, when you joined the NID or before?"
"What I'm doing may one day save this world from the Goa'uld."
I snorted. "Whatever."
"Get your things, young lady! We'll be leaving in an hour!" I'd made him angry. I could hear the raised voices as I left the office and headed back to my room. It wasn't like I had any choice. Tears blurred my vision, but I didn't let them fall, I wouldn't until I got somewhere private.
"Susanne!" Daniel's voice called out from behind me and I turned. He held a large bag in his hands. "Come on, I've got your things." I didn't understand what he was doing, but I went with him. "I promised I would never let the NID take you." I knew then what he was planning, he was taking me away, somewhere where I could have freedom and rights. The black hole had gone and hope was returning.
"Where will we go?" I asked as we got into his car.
"Back to my apartment to get my things and some supplies. After that, who knows?" The world was a dark place, full of uncertainty. We had no idea what would happen to us, where we would go or how we would survive. I turned back to look towards the SGC as we drove away, thinking of the friends I never even got to say goodbye to. I didn't know if I would ever see them again, and for the most part I still don't.
THE END
The sequel will be coming soon
Once Simmons had gone into Cassidy's office, Daniel lay a hand on my shoulder and led me to his lab. I let him, I'd spent a lot more of my time with Daniel since I'd found out the truth about my origins, and trusted him absolutely. Even with all that followed I've never stopped trusting him. He was probably trying to reassure me that Simmons wasn't there for me. I trusted him, and he'd told me they'd never let the NID take me, I knew he would do everything possible to stop them. But that didn't stop me worrying. I knew what Simmons was capable of, and I was scared Daniel wouldn't have enough power to keep me from him. I was right.
I'll never know what was said in Cassidy's office, all I know is that Cassidy somehow managed to arrange it so that I'd still be at the SGC. He thought that as long as I was there, he'd be able to protect me from Simmons. I was grateful for that, and I still am. But he had no idea what he was letting himself in for when he tried to protect me, none of them did.
Cassidy found a spare office for Simmons to use while he was on the base, not wanting us to be in the briefing room the whole time, so our meetings were very private. I noticed when I first went into the room that the video camera in the corner was switched off, no one would know what happened in this room. He dismissed the airman who had escorted me down and sat opposite me. I was glad there was a table between us, something about him made me feel very uncomfortable.
"Well," Simmons began in a voice I suppose that was meant to sound friendly. He wasn't a very convincing actor. "It's time you and I had a little talk, Susan." I'm not sure which made me more angry, the mispronunciation of my name or the way he was acting like I was a baby. "I'm sure you're aware you're a very special child."
"My immune system is as effective as if I carried a Goa'uld symbiote, I have nano-processors that increase my intelligence and learning capacities, I will live at least twice as long as an average human, my bones are strengthened with trinium to prevent them breaking and I have naquadah in my blood which allows me to use Goa'uld technology." I think my recitation threw Simmons out of stride.
"Yes, exactly." It took him a few moments to recover, but then he continued as if nothing had happened. "Now, we want to do a few tests to see just how these differences are affecting you."
He continued for a few minutes until I got sick of his condescending tone and interrupted. "Would you mind not simplifying things like that, it's very annoying." I don't know what possessed me to continue the way I did. "Oh, sorry. You're making it easier for yourself, aren't you? I'd forgotten that since I'm ten times as intelligent than an average human, I must be about a hundred times more intelligent than you."
That pissed him off, and he just sat for five minutes, looking very much like he wanted to hit me. Lots of comments ran through my head about how difficult it must be for him to come up with a response to that, but I managed to hold them in check. I think the time I'd spent hanging around with Jack had given me a sense of humour similar to his. That' not always a good thing, especially when dealing with people like Simmons.
I think he gave up in the end, judging by the way he flung an intelligence test on the table and stormed out. I did the test and then left it on the table, going off to see Daniel, once I'd finished. All of SG-1 were in hysterics when I told them what I'd said to Simmons, something they couldn't say themselves because of his power over them. He would never be able to tell anyone about what I'd said for fear of being made a laughing stock, having a little girl say just how much more intelligent than him she was. I doubt it was true, Simmons had to have been intelligent to get to the position he's in, but I enjoyed saying it all them same.
The NID spent the next few weeks giving me tests: medical tests, intelligence tests, aptitude tests. Simmons came and went throughout, and I insulted him at every possible opportunity. I even took to carrying a tape recorder around in my pocket so that everyone else could hear some of the better insults and his feeble responses. It was probably this behaviour that let to him hating me the way he does now.
At the end of those few weeks, Cassidy summoned me to his office. Simmons and all of SG-1 were there. I knew from their expressions that something was wrong, and I was worried. There was only one possibility I could think of that would have them all here like this.
Cassidy spoke first. "Susanne, Colonel Simmons has had an official request to take you off the base so that the NID can find out more about the effects the changes to your body are having. You will be taken to a secure facility for the duration of the tests." Otherwise known as my entire life. I knew that they would never let me go once they had me, and the SGC couldn't protect me any more. There wouldn't be any more of Janet's tests, these would be of the cut you open and remove your insides variety. I would be losing more than my freedom.
"What about her rights?" Daniel's question echoed my thoughts. He spoke angrily, using a tone I'd heard before, just not from him.
"She has none," Simmons replied bluntly, "she has no record of birth in the United States, and according to all records she does not exist. She has no parent or legal guardian to answer for her."
"What about her rights as a human being?" Daniel was almost shouting. It was clear the others felt the same way, but they weren't saying anything, it was Daniel who was fighting for my very right to live.
"Any doctor would find it very difficult to class her as human considering her altered physiology. I don't think those apply."
"She is a living, intelligent person! She has a right to freedom and to make her own choices!"
"She is a very important asset for this country, and it is the duty of this government to protect her. The SGC is a very dangerous place for such an important asset."
"You're talking about an innocent child! Not an asset!"
"Doctor!" Cassidy exclaimed sharply. When he spoke again it was in a much softer voice, one filled with sorrow and compassion, "There's nothing anyone here can do to stop this."
"I can't believe ANYONE would let this happen!" Daniel stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The bang rang in my ears afterwards, my only hope departing through it. Daniel had given up hope that he could get me out of there, and I was left. I had friends in the room but they wouldn't be able to help me. I was losing my freedom, my friends, my rights and, in all probability, my life as well. There was a black hole in my heart, dragging all the happiness out, filling me with a huge pit of despair. I fought back the tears rising behind my eyes, I didn't want to make this harder on my friends than it already was. I knew that they must have spent a long time arguing with Simmons and Cassidy about this, and that meant there was no way out. Someone in the Pentagon or the White House had signed my life away.
"Don't give us stupid euphemisms, Simmons. You're not taking me away to protect me, you're taking me away so you can lock me up where no one can stop you doing what it is you want. You're not going to be giving me tests, you'll be experimenting on me, just like you did when I was born."
"Very well, whatever opinion you have on our plans for you, you will be coming with us, no matter how you protest."
"When did you leave your conscience behind, when you joined the NID or before?"
"What I'm doing may one day save this world from the Goa'uld."
I snorted. "Whatever."
"Get your things, young lady! We'll be leaving in an hour!" I'd made him angry. I could hear the raised voices as I left the office and headed back to my room. It wasn't like I had any choice. Tears blurred my vision, but I didn't let them fall, I wouldn't until I got somewhere private.
"Susanne!" Daniel's voice called out from behind me and I turned. He held a large bag in his hands. "Come on, I've got your things." I didn't understand what he was doing, but I went with him. "I promised I would never let the NID take you." I knew then what he was planning, he was taking me away, somewhere where I could have freedom and rights. The black hole had gone and hope was returning.
"Where will we go?" I asked as we got into his car.
"Back to my apartment to get my things and some supplies. After that, who knows?" The world was a dark place, full of uncertainty. We had no idea what would happen to us, where we would go or how we would survive. I turned back to look towards the SGC as we drove away, thinking of the friends I never even got to say goodbye to. I didn't know if I would ever see them again, and for the most part I still don't.
THE END
The sequel will be coming soon