Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of the Stargate Universe or those of the Highlander universe those belong to other entities whom I would beseech to look favorably on this humble work of mine. The concepts involved in these two separate television shows do not belong to me either. The story I have written however does. This story may not be posted on any pay site or in any way shape or form make any profit for anyone (I know I'm not making a thing from it)

Authors Note: This section gave me so much trouble it's not funny. So please be brutally honest in your reviews. I have the feeling that you may come up with a few major grammatical errors in this one that I am just too tired to see however once pointed out I think this will be an excellent section. Oh and to any interested beta reader who has a story or two I could or have read my typos are calling for an assisted suicide. Just contact me at me E-mail

Review Response:

Village Mystic … Again I have to say a very big thank you for your insight. I did indeed know that I was posting something that was not quite correct when I talked about the martial art styles in my last section. I was really hoping someone would catch me at it and you did –grins- I am in the process of adding a bit to the last section to bring it up to snuff.

I would like to know what exactly you are pointing at when you say uneven. If it is the fact I am jumping forwards and backwards in time a bit much I have to say that as odd as it seems that is deliberate and I think just my style. Although if it does get too annoying (enough you want to stop reading) drop me a review I will see if I can find a compromise.

Thank you for the other positive feedback as well.

SG1-Fanfic… thanks. I will endeavor to keep up my work though I may eventually have to slow to one chapter a week if it digs too much more in to my sleep time. I thought that last chapter might fix the continuity issue with Sam and Jacob. I just hoped I had not done an implausible impossible instead of a plausible impossible.

MsJonyReb… ah yes Jack… well in this bit he gets to show some of the qualities that caused him to be made a general. His quick wit and his devious plotting mind. He gets to do more sarcastic exclamations as well. As you may have noticed if you go back to chapter one and skim through again to here I have been attempting to enhance my descriptive scenes and my psychoanalysis sections. I am learning … I think.

And now…. Da da da dum……

Stargate

Secrets

Section Seven

It was at this point that Duncan and Amanda felt another immortal coming from the opposite side of the base parking lot. They finally recognized each other. Not a word was said as the fell in to step side by side. There were however a few curious shakes of the head from each.

They were passed through the front gate without incident. Both of them paused however at the squad of Special Forces Personnel that greeted then on the other side. Joe and Methos were waiting ahead of the squad to greet them.

"Mac."

"Joe."

"Macloud"

"Amanda"

"Joe"

"Methos"

"Oh For Crying Out Loud!" Jack said as he caught up to them " Lets go."

Day 5 1300 hrs

Daniel Jackson had been in his lab for eight hours thus far that day. He had taken a small break for lunch because Teal'c had physically dragged him away from the rubbings he was translating. He had to admit that with Adam around things were going faster than normal. Well they were until Adam was called away by Jack for some meeting topside. All in all he was enjoying working with Adam again and he hadn't realized how much he missed his college buddy.

"Ok. That's it I'm going to go blind if I don't take a break." Daniel told himself. He sat back in his chair stool and yawned. He considered having another cup of coffee but quickly decided against it as his digestive system made fake vomit warnings.

"Ok only one thing to do when you've had too much brew" he singsonged to himself. Walking over to his desk he opened the large bottom drawer and reached all the way to the back pulled out a purple candle and a pack of matches.

He sat the candle on an ancient disk of clay made for that purpose and lit it. Lucky for him it was one of those three inch thick pillar candles or it would have fallen over. After closing his lab door he walked back over and stood in front of the lit candle.

Daniel slowly began to even out his breathing and softly chant, "Earth my body, Water my blood, Air my breath, and Fire my spirit." He repeated this several times both increasing the volume and the speed slightly with each repetition. He visualized the energy of the earth which he was deeply buried in seeping through the walls of the base. Flowing from the mother and in to himself. Refreshing him, energizing his body. After about 20 minuets he stopped and snuffed the candle respectfully. He felt Oh so much better. After placing the candle and matches back in the drawer and making sure things were once more placed orderly in his lab he left and headed for the chow hall.

Day 5 0800hrs

Samantha Carter had completed her gate diagnostic 30 minuets ago. She had returned to her lab and started to get caught up on one of her late projects when Teal'c showed up at her door.

"Colonel Carter." Came the rumbling base voice of her Jaffa teammate.

" wha.. Oh hi Teal'c. Did you want something?" she said distracted.

"I was just stopping by to inquire on your well-being. Also …" he paused.

" What is it Teal'c? The Immortal thing got you thinking?" Sam could see the wheels turning in his mind. She loved Teal'c like a brother and after 8 years could read him just as easily.

"Indeed it has. Colonel…would you spar with me?" He asked unsure how things would go since he had witnessed her last sparring match.

"Sure, I'm not really making much progress here at the moment I think I just need to do something else for a while." She slid off her stool and walked to the door where Teal'c was standing. "Mind if we use my private Gym?"

"I was not aware you possessed such a space?" Teal'c arched an eyebrow. When she smiled in affirmation he nodded. " Very well. Lead the way."

She led him down two levels and around a few twists and turns until they came to an unobtrusive looking door. Inserting her key and giving a turn she was rewarded with a loud click. " Right this way " she motioned him to enter.

It was dark. He heard the door being pulled closed behind him and then suddenly the room was illuminated with many florescent bulbed lights. The room was about 60 x 80 feet and most of the floor was padded. On one wall there was a rack of weapons some functional some wooden replicas meant for practice. The walls had been painted the same dull shade of green and gray that the rest of the base was covered with.

" So what do you think?" Sam smiled as he took in her little dojo.

" Most functional Samantha Carter. I am impressed with your collection." Teal'c said as he walked over to the rack and began examining the stock on it. "How did you manage to acquire personal use of this chamber?" Teal'c asked.

"Oh I have my ways. It's keeping it secret that is the hard part." She replied with a smile.

" So pick your poison and let's party," Sam quipped. " I did not just say that. Did I?" she covered her face with her hands. " I have been hanging around the General way too long"

"Colonel Carter Which of these weapons is not poisoned? I do not wish to permanently injure myself or you." Teal'c queried.

"Its just an expression Teal'c none of them are tainted."

"Very well then I choose the staff." He reached out and found two Rattan staves of appropriate height. "Will this do for you?" he asked indicating the shorter of the two.

"Fine by me" she caught the weapon in the middle as it reached her courtesy of teal'c's toss.

They squared off and then began to circle each other twirling their staves occasionally to limber up. Sam made the opening move. A quick blow to Teal'c's shoulder that was not gentle at all. The purpose of course was to say 'don't hold back or I will kick your ass'. Teal'c answered her unspoken challenge with a sweep to her legs taking them out from under her. 'Ok no problem'. Sam let him get in a good solid whack she had to forcefully suck some air in after but answered with a leg sweep with her foot and a staff to Teal'c's throat pinning him for a second. 'Very good remember I'm immortal you are not'. Teal'c regained his feet and all hell broke loose as he attacked smiling. 'Message received. Let us as you say "Party!"'

A casual observer would have stated, "It's a ….B..L…U…R..R.." I can't really see anything. What's going on?" fortunately there were no casual observers as any break in sams concentration would probably result in a break in Teal'c's neck. Faster and faster harder and harder they continued to thrust, parry, block and Jab. Then something broke followed by something else.

Teal'c stood over his friend waiting for her to revive. How had she hidden such talent from him of all people? He was trained and experienced in training Jaffa. Measuring their strengths and weaknesses. Knowing at a glance whether they were ready to move on to the next level or not. Samantha Carter had well and truly deceived him. He told himself he would just have to pay even more attention to details from now on.

"What happened?" she asked after she had drawn a couple of breaths.

"It broke." Came Teal'c's stoic reply.

"What broke?" carter was obviously still out of it Teal'c surmised

"Your staff." She gave our an "oh" "and your neck." He offered her a hand up witch she accepted.

"Wow I'm glad we were not using swords then." Sam said

"Why is that? Would you not simply heal and revive?" Teal'c questioned

" Well not exactly. I am immortal but I can die if my head is separated from my shoulders." Sam said reluctantly. She trusted Teal'c with her life but it still felt wrong telling someone who wasn't immortal how to kill you.

" And you did not think this important information for us to know?" Teal'c almost sounded annoyed.

"Well its not knowledge I would have openly known to the mortal world." Sam admitted.

"I see" he replied not really seeing.

" Oh well enough why don't you go commandeer Daniel for lunch before he passes out from exhaustion." Sam suggested.

"A most excellent Idea and then I must meditate on our 'sparring match'" Teal'c replaced his staff and left the little gym.

"Well that was interesting" Sam thought as she turned out the lights and locked up.

Day 5 1100hrs

Teal'c made his way through the corridors of the SGC. Every now and then he would nod or smile at someone he knew. After a few corners and more greetings he made it to the door of Daniel Jackson's lab.

To Teal'c it looked as if Daniel was working very hard. He could see the beads of sweat from concentration on his friend's forehead. He watched as Daniel gulped down some coffee and felt sure it must have been cold long ago.

Daniel placed his mug down on a bare space of counter thus taking up the last free table space in the room. There was 'stuff' everywhere. There were books, weapons, pottery, and tablets, even a crystal sphere on one of the shelves. It was as Daniel clasped his hands together and raised his arms over his head in a stretch that Teal'c came in.

"Daniel Jackson I have been instructed to commandeer you for lunch." Teal'c said in a no nonsense manner. "Please come with me my friend."

"I'm a bit busy at the moment Teal'c can we do it a little later on?" Daniel said absently as he returned to his translation.

"I am not the one with whom the decision lies. Come and eat." Teal'c walked over to where Daniel was working.

Daniel thought back later how he must have been really out of it at the time. He certainly would have been more prepared for what happened next when he told Teal'c again that he could not leave at that time. To which Teal'c had apologized to him for what he had to do. At the time of the incident however he wasn't thinking clearly.

" I am sorry Daniel Jackson but I have my instructions." Teal'c hefted Daniel over his shoulder twisting denial around until he was laying on his front. " My instructions were that you eat." And with that he marched a shocked Daniel to the chow hall. Oh Daniel did protest and loudly. Even asked people in the hallways for help. He just didn't understand why no one was saving him from the 240 pound Jaffa. Then again he never saw the face splitting grin Teal'c displayed to passers bye either.

Day 5 0830hrs

George Hammond was getting settled into the VIP suite. Changed from his dress uniform in to his bdu's he headed out the door and stopped in the hall just outside." Mr. Tripp you are to accompany me. Your job will be to be with me every where I go for as long as I need you to do so." George instructed.

"Sir Yes Sir General Hammond Sir!" the SF barked.

" Whoa son turn down the volume a bit." George smiled and relaxed his posture a little. " And relax. You must be new. Don't believe all the stories about me you hear. And before you ask I do not turn in to a demon at night and gobble up little children." George was relieved he actually got the younger man to smile a little. "Now just come along with me as a security precaution."

They walked off down the corridor together. Eventually they would cover most of the SGC as the General began his 'investigation'.

Day 5 1300hrs

Jack led everyone inside the interrogation room.

"Sergeant we need more.." just then Sergeant Rogers entered with two more chairs. "Thank you Sergeant." Jack motioned for everyone to sit.

"Adam what is going on here?" Duncan began. He was starting to get a nagging sensation in the back of his mind.

"Is Joe under arrest?" Amanda asked.

"My this is a fine mess were in now. Damn it I'm way to old for this." Adam huffed.

"People can we have some order here?" Jack stared hard at each of them. "First you all need to sign these." Jack handed out more copies of the nondisclosure agreement. "Use your real names please."

"Joe?" Duncan looked at his friend that up to now had been acting like a flower on the wall.

Joe really did not want to have to answer this question. 'Duncan is going to be really pissed I better be ready to back up quick'. Joe looked expectantly at Methos.

Methos Shrugged 'far be it for me to ruin the Generals good time'.

After the paperwork was out of the way Jack cleared his throat.

"Ok now I want everybody to introduce himself or herself. Methos you know what I want so you start." Jack looked at the lanky man to make his point. The shocked looks on the faces of the two newest guest of the SGC were not lost on him. From the look on the dark haired mans face alone he knew Adam was going to do a lot of explaining.

"Oh all right fine listen up children." He said sarcastically. " What General O'Niell wants is for you to tell him your current name a brief and very condensed biography and your age." He took a breath and hoped he was not making a mistake. "Everybody in this room except you General knows my past. Well some of it anyway because until recently even I did not know a good portion of it." Adam carefully let out under very rigid control the part of him that was Death his now normal Mythos persona slowly faded away to be replaced by what many had called the death mask. "My name is Methos. I was born well over 10,000 years ago. In my past you will find just about every possible word deed and act has been done. I have been so many things I can't even begin to count them all. My longest single occupation however was Death." He waited for a reaction.

"You expect me to believe that one of your occupations was Dying?" Jack looked at him incredulously.

"No well actually I did do that for a bit too. It was a really good scam." He looked at the faces that were not smiling at him. "No General I was DEATH! The one and only. My compatriots War Famine and Pestilence and I rode over two continents of this planet Killing Raping and pillaging. We did this for Two thousand years. I was quite literally the monster that mothers would tell their children about to gain their sure obedience. Now I understand they say boogey man will get you. For two thousand years it was Death would come for you. I didn't do it for money or goods either I did it because I liked it and I was oh so good at it." Strain was apparent on Methos face and was suddenly replaced by relief. "And I never want to go through that or that again." He said wearily. " Sorry but you deserved to know just what exactly you were getting in to with me General." 'Never again death you monster I will find a way to lock the box I hold you in permanently someday'. Adam was silent.

Jack O'Neill's placid calm exterior hid a fear-wracked mind. He had been black ops for so long he was sure nothing would ever scare him to his core ever again. He was wrong. 'If this man ever lost control of his inner demon no force on earth would be able to stop him. Perhaps this was not such a good idea after all.' Jack took a good hard look at Pierson. 'Then again he has held it back for millennia. He was also honest enough and brave enough to bring his dark side to light so I knew what I was dealing with.' "Ok, Next." Jack smiled cheerily to hide his nervousness.

"Joe Dawson." Joe began.

"Uhm That's ok Joe I have all of your records already." Jack wanted to get to the newcomers quickly. " How about you Miss?" He looked at Amanda.

"Amanda Deveroux" she smiled charmingly at him. She made to stand and feigned a catch in her clothing and reached under the table to fix it. Once she had she stood again and extender her hand to him.

Jack took her and shook it. And watched her straighten her clothing and sit once more.

"I'm a little over 1,000 General." Amanda said in closing.

"Occupation?"

Amanda Handed Jack his wallet. "Thief." She said smugly. "Really it was nothing." She saw Jack's look of amazement. "I've had a few hundred years to practice." Duncan jabbed her in the ribs with his elbow. "What?.. It's a survival skill I needed to know who I was dealing with." She glared at Mac.

"General I apologize for my friend here." Duncan began but was cut off by Jack.

"Save it. She is correct it is a survival skill. You were both walking in to an unknown situation. Dr. Pierson tells me it is a worst case scenario for an immortal when they are in anyway tangled up with a government as ruthless as ours." Jack winked at them. "Don't be surprised I have had to deal with quite a few rouge elements in my time. Our government is rife with them."

"Which brings me to my main concern General. How do we know we can trust you with our secrets? You are a part of that government." Duncan crossed his arms over his chest. This was it he thought the make or break point and possibly the beginning of a fight or flight scenario.

Jack saw all the signs of a person who was wary of being stomped on again. Duncan was preparing to act. "I don't think I can answer that for you. However I do know someone who can." 'Damn this was going to be close' "if I may?" jack turned without waiting. "Sergeant"

"Sir?" Rogers entered the room again.

"Escort Colonel Carter in here as quickly as you can." Jack ordered. "Now while we wait Mr. MacLoud What is your story?"

"I'm Duncan Macloud of the clan Macloud" Duncan droned.

"But of course you are" Jack said in his best Sean connery 007 imitation. " Come on tell me something I don't already know." Jack rolled his eyes

"Excuse me but do you want me to tell you or not?" Duncan was agitated and it showed.

" Oh come on he only said what we were all thinking." Methos piped his two cents in.

Duncan tightened his arms across his chest and scrunched down in his chair with a sour look on his face "Fine Then." He began to feel an approaching immortal.

Just then the door opened and Sam came in.

"General you sent for me."

"Welcome Carter Join the party." Jack invited her to sit.

Sam looked at the faces in the room coming to rest on Duncan. She gave Adam a quick glance "How long has he been sulking?" she shifted her gaze back to Duncan.

"I am not sulking" Duncan snapped.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me!" Jack was expecting wisdom and knowledge from these people not childish bickering. "Here is how this is going to happen. I am going to talk you are going to listen. Understood?" he gave them a stern glare that would have caused most personnel on his base to sink in to the concrete. "Understood?!" he said a little louder. This time he got their attention. He looked in turn at each one and waited until they nodded or replied affirmative.

"Early this past century there was significant find in Egypt…"Jack related the history of the Stargate as quickly and briefly as he could. When he was finished he turned to his 2IC before anyone could start with the inevitable questions or nay saying. "Carter do you know these people?"

"Yes Sir" she replied

"Have I told them anything untrue or misleading by lying or omission?"

"No Sir you have not though Daniel would cringe at the way you butchered history." Sam laughed.

"There is something you are still not telling us." Duncan had felt the hammer rise throughout all of the Generals explanation. He knew it would fall soon.

"The go'uld are amassing a fleet with which to erase the earth from the face of the universe." Jack said. 'There I've laid out the bait come on bite.' He knew he should not have been thinking like he was but he needed these people badly. Their unique gifts would probably save the planet.

"And there it is." Duncan said monotonously. He had even forgotten to sulk from the time Jack had said, "Travel to other planets." Duncan made his choice. "How do I get in?"

Adam threw up his hands in exasperation "Don't even dare think of me crediting you with any skill in getting the Boy Scout to jump in feet first. That was so easy it wasn't funny. Keep this in mind though" he glared at Jack " I will not see my friends used and abused" Adam gave Jack the coldest stare he could muster short of deaths haunting visage.

"Of that I give you my word that it will never happen with my consent." Jack conceded. "There is however a catch if you want in." he turned his attention from Adam back to the whole group. "Carter this involves you too. I have to tell two people about your presence at the SGC."

"Who?" the immortals chorused.

"One is General George S Hammond my former CO. His ethics are better than mine. He would have told the president immediately what was going on. I didn't because you asked me not to. I may pay dearly for it." Jack informed them.

"The other?" Duncan watched Jack like a hawk.

"The President and only the President. Keep in mind this is so George won't have to." Jack smiled " Relax he is a really great guy and he likes me and Carter here a lot. Hell he pulled General Hammond here from earth's space fleet on my word alone." Jack was serious again. "Think of it this way if it comes down to brass tacks and we end up in a ground war with our enemy there won't be any witch hunts because you will be our champions. Not that I would use you as cannon fodder by any means you have much more needed skills." Jack sat back " so what will it be? In and I inform the minimum of people I need to or out and you never tell a soul what you know?"

"I'm in" That was Duncan

"I'm already in at least for a short while." Joe admitted.

"Well you know me translation is my favorite thing." Adam Said Non Plussed about the whole affair especially about Duncan being involved. He could of course only blame himself he was the one who had not covered his tracks. Now it was simply a matter equivalent to the loss of a horseshoe nail.

"What's in it for me?" Amanda Said intently.

"The chance to save the planet isn't enough?" Jack could not believe she just asked that.

"No General that's not what I mean. I'm not a soldier I'm not a tactician or a linguist though I do know a few languages. I am a Thief when I am honest with myself about it." She sighed, "Just what role am I going to play in this venture?" Amanda asked finally.

Jack though for a moment. " Well you have probably stolen at one time or another almost everything on earth you could possibly want to steal." Jack waited to see if she would get the subtle hint. She didn't. "Have you ever considered stealing the wonders of the Galaxy? We may even let you keep a few for yourself when it's over."

"IM IN. Oh yeah I am so in." Amanda lit up like a halogen lamp bulb.

Day 5 1500hrs

Jack sat in his office with the red phone to his ear.

"Jack how are things going? Did George and you get together?"

"Yes sir we did things are going steady here." Jack kept mentally telling himself he could relax a little it was only a phone call.

"What can I do for you today Jack?" the President queried.

"Well sir at the risk of pushing my luck a little do you remember when you invited me to the white house for dinner?"

"Anytime Jack and I mean it" there was a genuine smile in the president's voice.

"Sir I sure hope you mean that because I would really like that to be tonight." Jack held his breath as he waited. The wait was getting a little strained and Jack was getting worried. "Sir. Uh I."

" Hold on a sec Jack." Jack could hear him in the background. "8 o'clock sounds good." There was a loud thump and a few clicks. "Jack? Jack?"

"I'm here sir."

"Oh sorry I dropped the phone damned clutter on my desk today. Say how does 8pm sound to you?"

"Just fine sir and thank you Mr. President." Jack felt a little high from the sudden rush of fresh oxygen to his brain. He almost giggled in relief. They covered a few trivial things while they had each other on the phone and then Jack began to get things ready so he could leave the base for about 12-18 hours.