Major Paul Davis had been on the run for the last twenty-four hours or longer, and he was hitting the end of his rope. First came the call from General Hammond about three soldiers that Colonel Ferretti had discovered, but that needed pulled in fast before they had to haul them back from the middle east. He had the first checks done to get them the basic clearance, then had to make calls to get them taken off the personnel lists. And wound up in a fight with the base's general when the officer didn't want to let them go.
It took several calls with the Joint Chiefs to get the men pulled out of action. General Maynard himself finally had to contact the bull-headed idiot in California to get them out of the line-up heading to Iraq. Within ten minutes of hanging up, they got a call back from Ferretti, letting them know that he was also being thrown off the base, and he needed to move his wife out of there as quickly as possible. More phone calls had gotten Ferretti's old team heading to California with a few other personnel to help the missus move, while Davis headed west himself to make sure the General wasn't going to cause any more problems for the men and get them out of there.
Seeing how tired he was, no one bothered him on the small plane, while Ferretti spent some time making calls back to Colorado to be sure his house was clear of the former, troublesome tenants. The three 'recruits' talked quietly among themselves, and didn't bother either man with questions for the moment, but both officers knew those questions would come. Eventually.
Hitting Peterson base, Davis took a fast helicopter flight to the mountain, and soon found himself accepting a cup of the mountain's best coffee as he, O'Neill and General Hammond settled down to talk in the briefing room. The impressive array of listening devises strewn across the table made his head ache. "Damn. How in the hell did they get that many bugs into the SGC?" he questioned.
"Two, maybe three or four people on the inside," Hammond stated, scowling at the items in question. "Now, the Tok'ra brought us a Za'tarc detector earlier this afternoon. We're pulling people in from the security areas first, starting with the techs and SF's that have been searching these things out. Scientists and lab techs are next in line, followed by medical and then support staff. There have been a few complaints, but most personnel, now knowing what happened to Dr Jackson last night, haven't given us too much trouble."
O'Neill spoke up. "Well, we've had three people suddenly disappear off the base, though, and they haven't been found so far. Two of the three are SF's and could have easily gotten access to the areas were we've found the bugs. The third was one of Daniel's off-world traveling archeologists. I'm going to take a list of where the guy has been to Jacob later, and see if he or Selmak can tell us if one of the places he's gone recently might have been somewhere where he could have gotten the poison that took Daniel down."
"So that letter may never have come through the Pentagon at all, it could have been mixed in here at the SGC?" Davis questioned, scowling. He looked like he was getting a headache, and the other two could sympathize. Both had already had some pretty strong migraine medication.
"He would have had the opportunity, yes," Hammond agreed. "The person in question often sorts out the mail for Dr Jackson's departments, he could very well have exchanged the letter at that point. But we don't know for sure." He looked over at O'Neill, and from the look on the Colonel's face, Davis knew there'd been at least one heated discussion on the topic. "Right now, all we have is circumstantial evidence. We need hard facts in order to pursue a criminal investigation."
"What about the SF who killed Dr Jackson last night?" Davis asked, his look turning pained at the thought. "The guard?"
"Bribed and threatened," the General stated. "The detector proves his story without a doubt. At this point, he's being held in protective custody and guarded by SF's who have been cleared through questioning. They know he was forced into it, and they'll see to it that he's not harmed until decisions can be made about what to do with him. His family have been pulled in for their own protection and are at the Academy, also under guard."
Davis nodded, then changed the subject. "Any chance I could see Abby before I leave? I was glad to hear her paperwork went through and the transfer was approved so quickly. She was pretty miserable with the work she was doing back in Washington, seems all her patients ever wanted her to do was come up with miracle cures that wouldn't require them to change their own lifestyles. I think she'll be a lot happier working with Dr Fraiser here at the SGC. Even if a couple of her former patients are going to be more than a little bit ticked off at her being gone."
"Anyone we know?" O'Neill asked eagerly, leaning his chin on his fist, his elbow firmly resting on the big oak table.
"Senator Kinsey, for one," Davis replied. "I could tell when he'd been in to see her, an extra long run after work was always the results."
"Well, then, him being ticked off is something we can enjoy. For the moment," O'Neill added, then frowned. "Last I heard, he and Hayes were way ahead in the polls."
Davis nodded. "They're likely to win. And when they do, Kinsey isn't going to hesitate in trying to get Hayes to give the SGC to the NID."
"I've already talked to General Maynard about this," Hammond stated. "I know Hayes, served with him in the early days of my career. He'll want to hear both sides before making any sort of decision. Especially on something as important as the Stargate project." He leaned back in his chair. "And the more Kinsey pushes, the more Hayes is going to want to know why. As for the original question, Dr Sinclair and Dr Fraiser are at the new Beta site, and will be for a time. If you want to go through, I'll allow it for a while. But you really look like you need some sleep, son."
"Been on the run since this mess started. First trying to track down where the hell that letter came from, then getting those three recruits and Ferretti out of California. That damn general tried to get Ferretti court-martialed for insubordination. I had to get General Maynard on the phone to the idiot to cut him off. And in the meantime, I have those personnel checks going on. Ferretti's three passed with no trouble. I'm waiting to hear one or two things about Dr Loring still, but so far she's passed the basic checks. Unless something major turns up with the final checks, you'll have her coming in. Plus I've gotten a few more applications from Dr Gardner, students of hers that are interested in the job security. Apparently positions for archeologist and anthropologists aren't thick on the ground."
"Kinsey's got a 'list' heading for your office for 'consideration'. Said he was sure they'd all pass your security checks," O'Neill warned.
"I doubt it," Davis sighed. "We may find one or two, but most of them will likely prove to be hostile towards the very idea of working on anything Dr Jackson started." He shrugged. "I'll see what I can find. Most likely he'll try to use our turning down his recommendations as a further excuse to turn the program over to the NID."
Hammond agreed. "See what you can find, if there are good people who are open minded enough for the project, I don't care who recommends them, we need them. But I don't want troublemakers either."
Nodding in agreement, Davis finished off his coffee. "Let me make a call to my office to start things rolling, I'm sure he's gotten the list there by now, then I'm going to go visit Abby for a while. Maybe I'll be able to get a nap while I'm flying back to DC after I've seen her." He chuckled. "Apparently, Ferretti's boys seem to agree with your assessment about me being tired. They looked like they had a ton of questions, but they held off asking them."
"Where did Lou take them?" O'Neill questioned. "His house is in lousy shape, I oversaw the tenants eviction last week myself. His old team went in and got out the worse of the trash, but it definitely needs a scrub and paint job to go with the repairs."
"I made arrangements for the four of them to stay at the Air Force Academy with the rest of the students who are graduating into the Stargate program," Hammond informed them both. "General Kerrigan is expecting them, and has made housing arrangements in the barracks. At least until Colonel Ferretti has his house in order, though with the current situation, I may advise them to remain at the Academy. They'll work with the other students coming into the program, learn a bit more about the program itself, and hopefully stay out of trouble until we're ready for them. Which won't be until after this mess is all straightened out." He looked at O'Neill. "Jack, now that we know we can speak freely here at the base, I want you to see what you can do to find some of those NID agents. I know you have sources outside of the military, and I want you to use them if you have to."
"I may have to offer some big favors to the ones who might be the most use," O'Neill warned, rubbing his fingers together to indicate a cash bribe.
"You've got a one million dollar budget, Colonel," Hammond stated firmly. "That's what I can allow you."
"Yes, sir," O'Neill agreed, mentally going through his contacts to determine who exactly he could call on for assistance in this case. A few of them, he knew, would only talk to him face to face. But he hoped that some of them might have some information for him that he could use. "Davis, you know of anyone left in the NID that might be of some use to us?" he asked. "Barrett helped us before, but he was working with Carter, not me, and I don't know the guy."
"He's the one who sent me all the information I got on the agents gone rogue," Davis stated. "He promised he'd get in touch with me when he gets more info, and I'll pass it on to you."
"Good. Take a break though, go visit your lady for a short time, then head out, I'll see what I can find out in the meantime," O'Neill told him. "General?"
"You have your orders, gentlemen. Dismissed."
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At the Air Force Academy, Ferretti got his men settled into the barracks wing they'd been assigned, thanking the young officer who directed them to a series of four rooms where they'd be staying until things were set at the SGC for their arrival.
Usually the rooms were for two cadets, but they'd been given four so they'd each have a private space. The grounds were open to them, including the training area, and he inquired where cadets waiting to go into their new posts of the mountain were working and learning. Air Force personnel had a habit of scoffing at 'jarheads', while Marines tended to look down at Air Force personnel as 'flyboys' and general non-combat officers. These were misconceptions from both sides that he wanted killed as soon as possible. He was pleased to hear they were quartered in the level above them, in the same building.
He had just gotten his own bags settled when a messenger arrived to take him to General Kerrigan. He had half expected the call, and had his uniform out and ready. It took only a few minutes for him to change, then follow the young man back to the General's office. It took a bit longer than his guide clearly expected, but Ferretti could only move so fast. Many people gave him odd looks, clearly surprised to see someone still in uniform limping along the way he was, but no one commented.
Kerrigan himself had clearly been warned about his handicap, he returned Ferretti's salute and motioned the Colonel to a waiting chair without even giving the cane a glance. "Glad to see you made it, Colonel," he stated with a friendly smile. "We're working on your transportation troubles right now, but my staff is aware of your… limitations. No one will be upset by any late arrivals."
Ferretti nodded, but his look was curious. "What kind of transport?" he asked. "I've used a scooter in the past, and officers tended to frown and wonder how the hell I managed to stay in the service if I can't get around on my own two feet."
"You won't have that problem here, I've already talked to people about who you are and why you're here. As for the transport, we've ordered you a heavy-duty Segway. I've been informed that one will reliably be able to take you anywhere you need to go on the grounds."
Ferretti looked very pleased with the idea, and for a second Kerrigan was reminded of the look a little kid had going into a toy store, but the man quickly smothered his glee. "Sounds good, sir. Am I being transferred to the Academy on a permanent basis?"
"Yes, you'll be joining my staff as an evaluator and a combat teacher. I had a few people voice some worries about having a Marine in that position, but after reading your secured file as leader of SG-2, I have no doubt that you know what our people will need to know when they go into the SGC program."
"I was just thinking that there needs to be more integration between the Marines and the Air Force personnel before they hit the mountain. We've had people hurt because Air Force can't believe that a 'jarhead's' got a brain, and Marines can't believe that Air Force can fight well enough to back them up. Better both sides get that nonsense knocked out of their heads here where they're not in real combat conditions."
"I agree, but what about civilians?" Kerrigan asked. "I know there are some on the teams, though not many."
Ferretti looked a bit rueful over that. "Only after going through some pretty rigorous training, and the few of those that do are the exception to the rule. In fact, other than a few scientists and a handful of archeologists, most of them don't go off world at all. Or at least that's the way it was when I left a couple years ago."
"As I understand it, the SGC has started doing some major recruitment for scientists, and they're definitely looking for ones that can handle off world travel. You've been filled in on the current situation at the base?" Kerrigan asked, then continued when Ferretti nodded. "Personnel hired on will be directed here for evaluation before going on to work at the mountain when that situation has been dealt with. That includes the trio you brought in. Now, given that they aren't students, I expect them to stay busy doing something while they are here, I don't want them lazing about."
"They're not the type, and I plan on keeping them with me. I have a house I need to set right before the missus arrives, and they'll be a big help doing it. Besides, this group probably will be interested in some of the classes. Don't spread it around, but all three of those guys probably have as much schooling as most of your cadets. One of them has a PHD in Geology in fact, as well as a couple of bachelor and master degrees. One of them might well give Teal'c a run for his money when it comes to 'primitive' weapons and could probably keep up with Major Carter when it comes to the chemistry behind blowing things up. The third wants to know everything there is to know about history. None of them are what you would call 'typical' Marines."
"I've never been one to believe there is such a thing," Kerrigan admitted. "All right, I'll give you a few days to put your affairs in order, Colonel, and if you need more hands, well, there's always a new way to work off demerits for the students. This is Monday, do you think you'll be ready to get started by next week in your new position? I've got a half dozen new candidates for the SGC who could certainly use the rawness knocked off of them."
"Should be ready to take them on then, sir, thank you," Ferretti assured him. "In the meantime, I need to learn the layout around here, and make sure my boys stay in shape."
"Very true. Well, you said one was familiar with ancient weaponry? There's a survival class just starting this afternoon, in about an hour in fact. If you take your boys out the back of the barracks where you're all staying, and down the right hand path towards the woods, you'll find the class about a hundred yards into the trees. Some of the other SGC picks are going to be there, might be good to let everyone start getting familiar with each other."
"Yes, General, it might well be a good start. Thank you, sir, for your support, I hope I don't disappoint you working here," Ferretti told him as both men stood.
"It will probably help that I'm aware of the program already," Kerrigan admitted. "I did get a report on the problems you had on your last posting, and you won't have them here, Colonel. Now, go get those boys of yours moving, I may come out later myself and see how things are going. Dismissed."
Ferretti saluted and headed back out to the barracks. There, he told his men to get ready for a run and survival class while he changed out of his dress uniform and into fatigues. Leaving the building, he sent them off ahead of him to find the class, warning them all with a soft voice to 'play nice with the children', since most of the students were several years younger than any of his men.
The three answered with a crisp 'yes sir' and took off, heading down the path at a steady jog with Ferretti following them at his much slower amble. It didn't take them long to find the woods trail that had been indicated by General Kerrigan and from there it wasn't to hard to find the gathering class.
Apparently the instructor had known there was a possibility they could show up and was unsurprised when they joined the growing group of cadets, but the cadets themselves turned and stared when the three older marines took up a spot on the edge of the covered area where the class was being held. A few more cadets followed them in, then the class was called to order.
Ferretti arrived shortly into the note taking session, and found a seat on the edge of the grandstand style seating where he could sit and prop up his leg to rest it. The instructor traded salutes with him, called the student's attention back to himself and continued the lesson, which was on how to make weapons from common items found in the woods around them. "If you know what to look for, have a good, sharp knife and a bit of patience, you can make functional weapons out wood, stone and bark," he told them. "Bow and arrow, spear, even a club made from a good, stout stick can keep you alive if and when your conventional weaponry fails you. And there will be times that it can fail you. Plus there is always the danger of capture. If that happens, then you're going to need what you learn here to survive…"
Dividing them up into teams, he sent them off into the woods to see what they could come up with for weapons, mixing the three marines into the crowd of curious cadets. He was as curious to see what they would do as Ferretti was, and settled with the Lieutenant Colonel to have a talk and watch.
To start with, the cadets didn't seem to know what to think of the three marines, but when Heasley spotted a suspicious mound of rocks and identified them as flint, they started to come around. Following his lead, they picked up a number of the rocks, which he didn't tell them had been planted, since flint wasn't found in that area, and carried them back to the training area.
The instructor found his class rather disrupted for the next half hour as the geologist gave them all a lesson on rocks, and how to knap flint to make spearheads, arrowheads and axes…. And very, very effective ones, too. When Carlson showed up with a long, straight, knot free sapling and asked him for a wood scraper, he'd been quick to supply it, and his fellow marine had gone to work on making a very efficient long bow, much to the surprise of the cadets, but not their instructors. Ferretti had filled his fellow colonel in on the background training of his trio, and they were watching with as much interest as the students.
General Kerrigan found the class all working together some time later, the teachers learning as much from the students as the marines showed everyone a few new tricks… He laughed quietly to himself, and wandered on, pleased, without anyone noticing.
Yes, it looked like this was going to work out just fine.
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Refreshed from a long nap on the trip from Colorado to Washington DC, Davis headed straight back to the Pentagon to find out the results of his orders. His half dozen aides had already started to go through the list that had arrived from Senator Kinsey's office, and dismissed most of them as probable troublemakers. There were, however, a few surprises, and he called in Dr Truman to see if he knew any of them.
Dr Joseph Truman had worked on the project pre-SGC, joining the staff even before Daniel Jackson had been brought in, and had had little luck dealing with the Stargate mystery. When the project had closed down after the Abydos mission, he'd gone his own way, but returned later when the SGC had been formed. However, he and Daniel had never quite been on the best of terms, and the older professor had never set foot through the Gate. The one time he'd been called on to try, he'd frozen in the doorway, unable to move, and it was quietly determined that he had a definite Stargate phobia. It wasn't something that they ran into often, but when they did, it was dealt with as quickly as possible.
The decision was made to move Dr Truman out of the mountain itself and put him to work, not at Area 51, but rather at the Pentagon, a move which Daniel himself had suggested. Dr Truman wasn't a linguist, but he was very good anthropologist with a good background in archeology. And he was more than good enough to be put to work with Davis turning Daniel's very terminology heavy reports on foreign cultures into something that the President and the Chiefs of Staff could understand.
Arriving shortly after Davis did, Truman looked over the list and shook his head. "You're right, these three are the only ones even remotely suitable for work with the SGC. The rest of them… Well, someone must have been trying to put together a list of the most unsuitable people possible when they sent you these names. My research assistant, Dr Phillips, would be better suited at the SGC than any of them would, and he knows absolutely nothing about the project. Two of them, actually, have been suspected of destroying artifacts that might have proven Daniel's theories were correct." He shook his head. "Good for the SGC, but no good for the advancement of archeology if the project ever goes public."
"Which it will eventually, we all know that," Davis sighed. "And yes, you're probably right about that list, given that it came from Kinsey's office. These last three were written in on the end of a typed list. I doubt the Senator knows their names are even there."
"Probably not a good idea to tell him that they were, either. If they work out, it would be a shame to get someone on our side in Kinsey's office in trouble."
"Very true. All right, I'll get full checks going on these three, see what they've been up to, and decide if we want to call them in and make them an offer."
"I heard about the attack on Daniel, how is he doing?"
Davis look turned grave. "He died last night. A second assassin was in the SGC itself, and got to him early this morning. They gave him a Tok'ra funeral early this afternoon, barely managed to keep the NID at Area 51 from grabbing the body. That's when they ran into Kinsey and he told them he'd be sending us this list."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Dr Truman stated, and Davis could tell he meant it. "Daniel and I didn't quite see eye to eye on things, but he was good with his work, and his theories have all panned out over the years. Do they have anyone in mind to replace him at the SGC? Or have they not gotten that far yet?"
"No one firm yet, but Dr Teresa Loring might well be a candidate if the last of the background checks clear. I should be hearing back on them any time now. She's young, but so was Daniel when he first came into the SGC. She's not as versed as he is with languages, but few people are, and she knows enough that she'd be useful offworld. She does have a similar background with Archeology and Anthropology, however. That's a major plus in her favor. She's also working in Chicago with Dr Sarah Gardner, and Dr Gardner is very sure she'll fit into the work at the SGC with no trouble at all."
Truman agreed. "If she says this young lady will work with us, then she's definitely a good candidate. And if she's learned any languages at all, she'll be able to pick up more of them with exposure, we've found that happens a lot over the years. I have, for example, a passable knowledge of Goa'uld." He smiled. "My assistant, Dr Phillips, has indicated a few times that he'd be interested in going to the SGC to work, though he's not fully aware of the nature of the project. I don't know what I'd do without him, however, and I don't want to advance him out of my office, I don't think he'd be at all suitable for the place. Besides, he has no language ability and has never been anything but a student on a dig, so if he approaches you on the subject, turn him down gently, all right?"
"It doesn't sound like he'd be qualified at this point any way," Davis assured him.
The two discussed several other issues they had going, the Dr Truman headed off for his own office, neither he nor Davis seeing the young woman who lurked just outside the colonel's office.
Leaving the area, she went out to the inner courtyard of the Pentagon, finding an isolated area and pulling out her cell phone. She made sure the scrambler was in place, then called an unlisted number. "Davis is saying that Jackson is dead," she stated without preamble. "Dr Teresa Loring is the current candidate to replace him. Gardner has her in Chicago. She could be a danger to our plans."
"Understood. She'll be… discouraged," came the simple reply, then the phone shut off.
Putting her cell away, the Air Force Captain went to get her coffee, then headed back for the office. She still had a lot of work to do, getting the information together on the new personnel for the SGC.
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Heading out of Denver, O'Neill listened to some of his favorite opera music as he thought over the morning's events, glad that he'd gotten some decent sleep the night before since the morning had sure been full of surprises. And a lot of relief. All of the SGC personnel had cleared through the checks with the Za'tarc detector, and everyone they'd tested had passed with flying colors. The hunt was on for the missing personnel, especially the missing archeologist. If any of them were found, then the questions would be very, very different.
Word from Beta had Daniel doing much better, sitting up now and was able to at least move around the medical tent with assistance. Carter had spent the night there, talking with her dad, and Janet would be there for the week while Daniel's healing was going on. O'Neill had invited Cassie to spend the week with him, and after making sure there were no bugs at his place, had filled her in on the events of the past few days.
News coming from Davis in Washington had yielded even better results. All three of Ferretti's recruits had passed the last of their checks, as had Dr Loring in Chicago. Davis had sent a courier with the last of the papers for her to sign, and she'd been eager to do so, so they had her on board as well. She had two weeks to go to finish getting her degree, so they were delaying her move to Colorado until she was done.
The courier had returned later than planned, having called only to say he was delayed, and deposited another two dozen applications and resumes on Davis' desk, all of them from students who worked with Sarah is Chicago. Some were serious archeologists like Daniel, but at least three or four were from older folks looking for research positions. A letter from Sarah explained that she thought the SGC team archeologists spent too much time trying to link things together, something that these people would be better able to do on a full time basis. Daniel was good at yanking information off the net and out of publications, but some of the others weren't so lucky about it, and having help could, admittedly, cut down on some of the turn around time for getting reports done on some of the things they brought back.
O'Neill spotted his turn off and left the highway, moving into a rest area and parking as far as he could from the public restrooms, which was where most of the other vehicles were congregating. A trail led away from that end of the parking lot towards a small stream and a copse of trees, and that's where he headed.
Out of sight of the parking lot was a fallen tree that lay across the streambed, and he found a comfortable place where he could lean against it, enjoying the sunshine for a change, and the rare opportunity to get out of the mountain, and yet still be on the same planet. The tree was a thick one, a comfortable height for him to prop his arms on the top without having to lean over much. "This is a nice place for a meeting, Scotty," he stated out loud, closing his eyes and trusting that his contact was already there.
Sure enough, about a minute later, the log shifted as a second man took a similar position on the other side of the trunk and down just a bit from his position. "I rather thought so. You don't get out much, do you Jack? 'Radar Telemetry' keeping you busy?"
"Don't go fishing there, Scotty, that's deep water with bigger sharks than you want to deal with." O'Neill warned. "You heard about my friend Daniel?" he asked.
"You got a lot of people unhappy at Area 51 about not getting his body, though I'm not exactly sure why," Scotty told him. "Some of them, though, are really happy he's dead." He smirked. "Including Senator Kinsey."
"Yeah, I knew about that one. Question is, did Kinsey have anything to do with his assassination?" Taking out an envelope from his pocket, O'Neill laid it down on the trunk. "And if he did, can you get me proof of it?"
"He was overheard gloating about it, but seemed as surprised an everyone else when word started circulating about Jackson's death. Personally, I don't think he had anything to do with it." Scotty rested his chin on his knuckles, elbow on the trunk. "Kinsey doesn't like you much, Jack. And he's been getting his people to pull up any dirt they can possibly find on you and your friends. He makes Vice President, and he's going to come after your people with everything he's got, true or not."
"We think it's NID rogues that might be helping him, and that may have taken Daniel out. Any clues in that area?" O'Neill asked, pulling out a second envelope and tapping the first one with it.
"There are two groups, and they're both mighty antsy about what you and your people are doing up in that mountain. One has plenty of money, and the right connections, and is led by Ed Carson. He isn't after you; he and his people feel that you're doing what you think is right, no matter what their money sources say. And I don't have proof yet, but I'd say that they're likely the ones that gave Kinsey that bundle that might get him into the vice president's office. I'm going to keep digging on that one."
"And Hayes?" O'Neill questioned.
"Has no clue at all about the project, and no idea where his running mate is coming up with so much hard cash. From what I've seen of him, if he wins and you present your case to him carefully, then you'll win him to your side. Kinsey's a snake, and he knows it…."
O'Neill laid down the second envelope, then pulled out a third. "So far you're confirming most of my suspicions," he stated, again tapping the other two envelopes. This one was thicker, holding more cash than the others. "This other group, what can you tell me about them?"
"About two dozen people, half of whom are still working from the inside. David Fredricks is the one behind the group you're after. He's still got a couple of people working inside the Pentagon, and probably at least one, if not more, at Area 51. Problem is, he's not got the backing from on high that Carson does. Or people in the right places to do much good getting what he wants."
"So, any idea what his full plan is?" O'Neill questioned.
"Get your man Jackson out of the way and get someone of their choosing into his place," Scotty replied. "There's other things they want, but I'm not sure what. That's the main excuse though… Jack, you better realize, if you start bringing in more people they don't like, they may start moving against them unless you start getting Fredricks and his people soon."
"Great. And you say he's got people inside… Who?" O'Neill asked, still holding onto the third envelope. "How do we find these guys?"
"You may not have to, actually. Way they're going, I think Carson's group is about to start taking them out if they screw up any further. Fredricks and his people are drawing way too much attention to the rogue NID, and they're not being as smart as they could be about their targets. As for where to find them, they're close to their targets. I think you're likely to find that they're right under your nose. Fredricks is one to stay close to what's most comfortable to him, and if you look at his file, you'll see that he grew up hopping trains."
"The old train boneyard?" O'Neill asked.
"Can't give you a definite answer there, Jack, but if I were a betting man, that's where I'd put my money."
O'Neill nodded thoughtfully as he laid down the last envelope and stepped back. "Do I want to ask where you got all this information?" he questioned.
Scotty picked up the envelopes, and for just a second he reminded O'Neill of Harry Maybourne. "You'd probably be happier not knowing, Jack. But you know I'd never lie to you."
Conceding the point, O'Neill turned away, heading back to his waiting truck. "Take care of yourself, Scotty, and stay in touch. I got more where that came from if you got more info for me."
"I'll keep that in mind, Jack," came the voice from behind him, then there was only silence as they went their separate ways.
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Never before could she remember being in so much pain. Every breath was agony as she forced bruised and broken ribs to move, to draw in life-giving air, and it didn't help that she was bound face down on the ground.
They had surprised her late in the evening as she was finishing up grading the last paper for the night. Sarah had been tired, the last week had been hard on her, and she was still mourning the loss of her good friend, Dr Jackson. The yearly finals had been turned in, and when Teresa had offered to go through the last class' worth for her, Sarah had been grateful to get away and go home for a change. Neither of them ever would have expected three men wearing masks to burst through the door and attack Teresa as she worked…
They hadn't been gentle, especially since she fought back, but with the odds at three to one, and they being similarly trained, the outcome hadn't been in any doubt. From the first blow, Teresa had feared she was going to lose, and when they got her down, they took her down hard.
What had followed had started like something out of a nightmare. Two of them had pried her mouth open so the third could force in a huge rubber gag, dislocating her jaw and completely muffling her cries for help. A leather hood had followed before she was bound, then dragged up the platform that held the classroom desks. She knew that there was a trap door in the back corner that allowed the janitors access to the area underneath. The hatch was just big enough for a grown man to get through, and they had dropped her down into it, then followed.
They tortured her, pure and simple. Her heavy sweater had been torn off, as had her shoes and socks, leaving her only a light blouse and pants. Her futile attempts to struggle had resulted in more blows, mostly kicks that left her gasping for breath as she felt ribs crack under them. A blow to the jaw nearly made her pass out. More blows followed as one of them began to speak in a hissing whisper, telling her that she wasn't going to be getting that new job, they were going to see to that… It was nothing personal, she was told, she was a threat to their plans and had to be removed… She had lost consciousness before the worst of it had started, but the results were worse than anything she'd ever felt when she roused again.
An attempt to move to bring some relief to the pain brought dizziness and nausea, and the last thing she wanted to do was throw up. Her mouth filled with rubber, she would choke to death, and knew it. She had heard muffled voices, off and on, as well as footsteps on the platform over her head.
Desperate, Teresa tried to force her legs to move, shoving against the ropes that held them bound to the support post, and the resulting flair of agony sent her spinning into darkness…
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Two chapters in one week... How is this for faster turn around. :D Unfortunately, the next chapter hasn't been started yet, so it may be a bit before the next one.
Please, read and review? Thank you!