Chapter 2
Grissom was intrigued when he heard of the body that was sitting in his morgue. He nearly ran to the autopsy, hoping that he hadn't missed anything.
Poking his head into the room he asked, "Doc, have you started on the new vic yet?"
"I was just about to start. I suppose you would like to watch, even though this isn't your case." It was more a statement than a question.
"Of course, you don't get to see an autopsy on a body like this everyday."
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Several hours later Doc concluded, "Well, this has certainly been an interesting autopsy. Did you see anything that I didn't? Because I'm not convinced that the gapping hole in his gut is what killed him."
"I'm as stumped as you are, but this man did die and there is some reason for his death. Hopefully tox will come up with something. As it stands, I'm wondering if this pouch, or hole, or whatever it is, was created after his death since there is such a lack of trauma," Grissom responded.
"You know, I'm no expert, but it looks as though this may be some new form of occult. Think of it Gil, a stylized tattoo on the forehead, a hole gut into his gut, various strange devises found around the body. You might want to think about suggesting to Catherine on calling in an occult expert."
"I have thought about that. I did some calling around already and it seems the best person on the subject is a man in the FBI, so as you can guess, I'm a little reluctant to suggest him."
"Well, if he's as good as everyone says, you certainly could use all the help that you could get on this one."
"Well, the other thing is that, even though he may be the best, he is considered by some as, well, spooky."
"Hmm. Gil, you realize that you are considered a little weird sometimes too?"
Grissom shrugged and nodded his consent.
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On the other side of the country in the FBI headquarters at Langley, two agents met in a tiny basement office to discuss their next case. Agent Scully walked down the many flights of steps and entered the office where agent Fox Mulder was already set up with his slide projector, waiting to show her the details.
"Thanks, for coming Scully, looks like we got a legit case this time that requires my expertise," Mulder commented sarcastically as Scully entered the room.
"You're kidding. Someone actually requested us for a case?"
"Seems so. A CSI team out in Las Vegas came across a body that they feel may be somehow connect with a new occult. Would you like to see the pictures?"
"Please."
"Hit the lights and let's start."
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Back at Las Vegas, Greg was in the lab. Normally, this would be business as usual. But today he was acting a little more off than normal. Even though there was nothing really that he was currently working on in there he seemed to be very busy none the less. But what he was busy doing was rather counter productive to any testing.
Finding himself alone, Greg began carefully disassembling different pieces of equipment and removing various parts. Methodically, he worked his way around the room, seemingly removing parts at random, though he certainly knew exactly what he was doing.
Just when he had finished pocketing the last piece and set the room back to looking like normal, Mia walked in and found him standing over one of the printers. "Greg? What are you doing here?"
His back had been to her so she didn't see the moment of disorientation that seemed to wash over the CSI before he answered. "Oh, I was just waiting for the analysis on the patch that we pulled off that strange vic."
"Well, I haven't processed that yet. But I'll page you as soon as I get the results."
"That'll be great. Thanks," and with that he walked out of the lab and to the break room.
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Meanwhile, under the earth in the Cheyanne Mountain complex at Stargate Command, a very serious meeting was taking place.
"So, Davis, what new national security threat have you come across that requires us to save the day yet again?" General Jack O'Neill said as he was the last to join the meeting. Colonel Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, and Major Davis were already there.
"Well, I'm not sure how this happened but we have just received word that two FBI agents are currently on their way to the CSI lab in Las Vegas as consultants on a body that was discovered as of 1300 hours today."
"A body? Well that in itself doesn't sound too bad, but I'm sure there's more to it." Daniel interrupted.
"Yes, Dr. Jackson, there's more. I have obtained the photos that were sent to the FBI agents for study and you're not going to like what you see." Davis then passed out the different pictures of the Jaffa body to each one there. Various reactions rippled through the room, Daniel simply mouthed and "Oh," while Sam commented, "This could be a problem."
Jack threw the picture to the table and hollered, "For crying out loud, how did this happen?"
Teal'c raised an eyebrow and coolly said, "This appears to be a body of an Apophis Jaffa."
"Ya think?" was all Jack said to him. "Davis, I repeat myself, how in the hell did this happen?"
"As I already said sir, we have no idea how this happened or where this guy came from. The best guess is he was some sort of Jaffa spy since he was dressed as a businessman from Earth and had some type of covering patch over his tattoo. But the fact that there is obviously a Jaffa in a Las Vegas CSI morgue is not the largest of our problems."
"It's not?" Sam asked
"No. Besides that fact that the two agents that have been called in on this case are known conspiracy theorists…"
"Well that's not good," Daniel inserted.
"…What is most disturbing is that there has already been an autopsy of the body and there was no Goa'uld found inside."
"The larval form of the Goa'uld would not survive long outside of its Jaffa," said Teal'c
"No it wouldn't, but what if it hasn't been found because it found a host?" Daniel asked.
"So what you're saying is that not only do we have to somehow cover this whole affair up and not look like a cover up, but we might have a Goold running around in the middle of Las Vegas doing who knows what Gooldish things?" Jack asked.
"Yes sir, that is about the whole of it." Davis answered.
"Well, this is just great." Jack said, throwing his hands to his head and spinning once around in his chair.
"Sir, this is going to take some very careful maneuvering. We are going to need to know everything that we can about the situation before we act. I think that maybe just you and I should go down to Las Vegas and meet with these agents as well as the CSI's and see what they are thinking this is. If they don't suspect any alien involvement, then we may be able to make it look like this whole thing is what they have come to suspect, whatever that is," Sam suggested.
"All right Carter, we leave in an hour. Daniel, Teal'c, I want you to do some research and see if you can figure out what one of ol' Apophis's Jaffa is doing here, or rather, in Vegas."
"Well, if he was a spy, then there is one reason that he may be in Las Vegas," Daniel said.
"And that would be?" asked Jack.
"Well, Vegas is pretty close to Area 51 and that is where we are storing the alien technology that we have brought back through the gate. He may have been trying to determine how much we have acquired and if we know how to use any of it."
"Yeah, but Daniel, that doesn't explain why one of Apophis's Jaffa would be here. He's been dead for years now," Sam said.
"Maybe that's why he's here, no one came to bring him home."
"Well anyway, we still have rogue Goold out there that needs to be found." Jack said.
"Perhaps since the Asgard are not so occupied with the replicators anymore they would be willing to assist us in locating the Goa'uld," Teal'c suggested.
"Hey, good idea. Those guys still owe us several favors and now they don't have such a big excuse anymore. You two," Jack said indicating Daniel and Teal'c, "contact the Asgard and see if they can use their scanny thing to locate our Goold."