23: Headquarters

It had been sometime since Daniel had been to Washington DC. In all honesty, he was not a fan of the place. Sure, there was the government district with its famous monuments, from the White House to the Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial. However, beyond that the city seemed somewhat unremarkable, with rows and rows of dreary apartment buildings and drab houses. He and Teal'c had driven through such neighbourhoods on the way to the NID headquarters, using a rented sedan to do so, all while Rodney McKay sat fidgeting in the backseat. The flight over had proceeded without a hitch, and the trio had arrived in the city about half an hour ago. It was nearing evening now, the sun gradually lowering itself behind the horizon with the workday ending, ensuring that the roads were at their busiest. Daniel found himself angrily honking the sedan's horn at a black Volkswagen that cut him off at the latest intersection, doing so with nary a flash of the indicator. It was the kind of sleek, luxury car a congressman might drive. It seemed the more money someone spent on a car, the more likely they were to believe they owned the roads.

McKay had said little on the way over. He had voiced his displeasure at checking in at the airport for a short domestic flight, and so Daniel had used his Air Force credentials to bluff the airport staff into getting them tickets. Daniel knew that if anyone was after McKay, then his passing through an airport was likely to alert them via whatever surveillance systems they had in place. Thankfully, being employed by the USAF and granted a high security clearance came with its perks. Even so, someone somewhere would have taken notice that Doctor Daniel Jackson had flown from the American heartland to the United States capital. There were likely people trying to keep track of him now, for whatever reason. Anyone flying into Washington DC was presumably kept track of through whatever means the various security agencies had at their disposal.

They were not far from the NID headquarters now, home to just one of the United States' numerous alphabet intelligence agencies. It was also one that had been, for many years, a thorn in the side of the stargate program. Things had changed since those days, but Daniel still held little to no trust of such organizations. Many wielded far too much power, a law unto themselves, operating beyond the reach of the elected government. And here he was, practically ready to break into the headquarters of such an agency. He must have been crazy, he had often thought he was. All he had to do was look back on all that he had done with SG-1 and realise that only crazy people would think all that was normal.

"You said you had someone on the inside?" It was McKay who asked this, breaking the silence that had pervaded the inside of the car for much of the drive. Daniel, seeing the light ahead turn green, hit the accelerator and started them down the street once more. Office buildings became apparent, each only two of three floors in height. Somewhere much further ahead would be the headquarters, and he suspected he could see the top of it now, situated on a corner about a kilometre down the long, busy road.

"An old acquaintance," Daniel replied. He glanced at McKay in the rear-view mirror. He certainly looked better now that he had shaved and cut his hair. Less like a homeless man, more like the physicist Daniel had known him to be. He still carried himself uncertainly, having been plunged into the outside world so suddenly. Spending close to seven years living as a recluse was bound to put a damper on one's social skills, especially for someone already as awkward as Rodney McKay.

"That's it, up ahead." The headquarters building for the NID was a wide, four-floor office complex cladded in grey and brown blockwork. The national flag hung high over its entrance, accompanied by a flag bearing the emblem of the NID itself. Immaculately tailored lawns and hedges were around its perimeter, and a long line of visitors' cars were parked on the street outside. The staff car park was around a corner further ahead, which took one into a large underground garage. As for the three of them in their sedan, Daniel went past the building and took them around a left-hand corner into a less crowded lane. Here, they parked up alongside the curb, still close to the headquarters but not so much as to be obviously headed for it. Switching off the ignition, Daniel turned to Teal'c.

"You keep an eye out here. Call me if you see anything unusual." As for what that 'unusual' thing may be, Daniel could only guess. Teal'c was smart enough and experienced enough to understand what Daniel meant, and so he gave a curt, affirmative nod in reply. Daniel then turned to McKay.

"You wait here. I have to make sure my old friend's actually in there. If he isn't, we may have to alter our plan."

"This doesn't seem like a good idea," McKay countered. "Especially if Holt is here."

"You really think he's out to get you?"

"He'll recognize me, at the very least."

"So you stay in the car. I'll scope it out, see if I can't get a meeting with my old friend." 'Friend' was perhaps stretching things a little; 'acquaintance' might have been more apt. Nonetheless, this individual was their best bet at getting deep into the NID headquarters without creating a world of trouble. As for Daniel himself, he knew that the NID would know who he was. At the very least, he would be able to get in using his Air Force credentials, thereby improving his odds of succeeding at the intended objective. Of course, if Holt was around (or anyone who was in league with him), they would know who he was also. They would see his arrival as suspicious, as Daniel had never actually once set foot inside the NID headquarters. He had never needed to, and he had made a point of actively avoiding intelligence agencies in general.

"If you get a chance, take this." McKay pulled a small device from one pocket. It was about half as thick as Daniel's thumb, with a simple rectangular shape that was comprised of black plastic. A small light was on it, inert for the time being. Extending from one end was a slim antenna, about three inches long. Daniel took the device, giving it a close examination.

"This is the transmitter?" Daniel asked. McKay had mentioned such a device on the way here. Something he had cooked up himself, during his spare time (and he had had much of that during the past several years).

"Stick it on any computer and it will wirelessly transmit the data saved on there to my own computer." He patted the laptop bag on the seat next to him. Among the items he had brought with him from his forest cabin was one of his laptop computers, modified for his own purposes and brimming with the research he had compiled during his self-imposed exile.

Daniel took out his smartphone and placed the slim transmitter next to it within its cover. Closing the leather cover, nothing appeared amiss from the outside.

"I'll see what happens," Daniel said. He was still unsure if he would chance getting to Holt's personal terminal now, or if it was better to work out a plan once he was sure of what he was heading into. Hacking the computer of a federal agent was a serious crime and Daniel did not fancy becoming a fugitive. Nonetheless, in the case of Conrad Holt, it had to be done.

"Like I said, call me if you see anything unusual."

Checking his reflection in the mirror, Daniel adjusted the collar on his brown jacket. He hardly looked to be on official business, but he was not about to put a suit on either. The NID would have to take him as he was.

He opened the driver's side door and climbed out. The air was cool, the sky above scattered with wispy clouds. The lane they were in was fairly quiet, although the main road ahead was busy. Daniel closed the door after him and started back around the corner, headed for the headquarters' main entrance. It was typical for an office building's lobby, with sliding doors, an open tiled area dotted with pot plants and seating, and a reception desk nestled behind a thick plexiglass window. Daniel approached the window, sighting to his left a pair of metal detectors that lead into a wide hallway lined with elevators and ending with the stair access doors. A pair of bored security guards were standing guard over there. As for the reception desk, it was occupied by a middle-aged woman in business attire, and she looked up through half-moon spectacles as Daniel approached.

"Can I help you, sir?" She asked him.

"I'm looking for Malcolm Barrett," Daniel said. "He's Assistant Director here. I need to speak with him."

"And who are you, sir?"

"Doctor Daniel Jackson. Mister Barrett knows me."

The receptionist did not appear convinced. Nonetheless, she leaned forwards and picked up a phone from the desk.

"May I see some ID?" She asked him, whilst she dialled a number.

Daniel retrieved his driver's license from his wallet and placed it against the plexiglass, allowing the receptionist to eyeball it carefully. She gave a nod, seemingly satisfied, and Daniel slipped the license away whilst she finished dialling an internal number. Waiting a moment, phone to her ear, she was put through to Barrett's secretary.

"Yes, is Mister Barrett in?" A pause as she listened. "Very well. Tell him I have a Doctor Daniel Jackson here to see him." She then looked to Daniel again. "What is the purpose of this visit, doctor?"

"It's business. You know, not the kind I can really talk about."

"Right." She spoke into the receiver again: "Yes, business related. The doctor here assures me that the Assistant Director is familiar with him." Another pause, and Daniel could imagine the secretary on the other end putting the call on hold whilst she mentioned his name to Barrett.

"Is that so?" The receptionist looked surprised then, as the secretary returned to the phone. "Very well. I'll send him up." She put the phone down and eyed Daniel curiously. "It seems that the Assistant Director would very much like to meet you. I'll need you to check in." She slid a clipboard and pen under the window, whereupon a list of visitors and their check-in (and check-out) times were written. "Name, signature and contact number, please."

Daniel provided the necessary information. A visitor's ID was passed to him, and he clipped it to the front of his jacket. The receptionist gave him some directions, before sending him on his way. Firstly, he was directed to the metal detectors. There, he emptied his pockets of anything metal, which in his case were his car and apartment keys. He also put his phone in the tub with them. As this was passed through the X-ray machine between the two metal detectors, Daniel waited with suddenly raised anxiety at the thought that McKay's device would be discovered. However, the guard seated at the desk did not react, he simply glanced at the monitor in front of him whereupon the keys and smartphone had been scanned. To him, there was nothing unusual about the items, nor what looked like a pen in with the phone wallet.

Once through, Daniel picked up his keys and phone. He breathed a sigh of relief before he continued onwards, headed into the corridor where a handful of elevators were situated. With the push of a button, he called one down. He only had to wait a moment for the doors of one to open, and so he stepped on inside and hit the button for the second floor.

When the doors opened on that floor, he found himself stepping into a central corridor that ran the length of the fourth floor, flanked on both sides by offices of varying size and importance. NID agents, men and women, young and old milled about on their duties, barely offering the visiting archaeologist a second glance. Some of the windows separating the offices were unobstructed, others had been closed over with blinds. All seemed busy, and a meeting was in progress in one of the conference rooms closest to the elevator. Overall, the place was very much the picture of a functional intelligence agency, wherein the staff were working instead of simply milking their government pay.

Barrett's office was further down the hall. The door was open, granting access to a sparse anteroom where the secretary, a young brunette, was working at a desk. As for the Assistant Director's office itself, that was through a set of double doors past the secretarial desk.

The woman looked up when Daniel entered.

"Are you Doctor Jackson?" She asked him.

"Yes, that's me." Daniel stopped before the desk. The overall interior was mostly shades of neutral greys and some blues. The fading light of twilight seeped in between the blinds on a window at the far end. Compared to the activity in the corridor, it was quiet.

"Mister Barrett can see you now. Just head on in." She nodded towards the door. Daniel thanked her and headed inside, making sure to close the double doors behind him.

Malcolm Barrett's office was spacious, wood-panelled and adorned with framed photos of the Assistant Director shaking hands with a variety of important people. The blinds were closed, casting the overall room in a muted illumination. Barrett was seated at his desk, scribbling some notes down on a set of papers in front of him. At his back was a bookshelf packed full of thick volumes, most of which pertained to the law in some regard. There were a few scientific texts in the mix, including one about 'wormhole theory'. Barrett had been doing his research, given his prior involvements with the stargate program.

He looked to Daniel, a mildly bemused look crossing his face. He was outfitted in a black business suit, his hair neat and short, his face carrying a similarly ageing look as Daniel's own. Barrett had helped the SGC in the past, had even assisted Colonel Sheppard in regards to a rogue humanoid Replicator and, most recently, he had assisted the team when the alien Field Marshall and his followers had attacked Area 51 and staged terrorist attacks on Las Vegas. He was an ally to the SGC, except it was not often that they called him on for assistance. It was even less often that one of their own visited him in his office.

"Doctor Jackson." Barrett leaned back in his seat. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Is this place, you know…" Daniel mimed putting a hand to his ear, as if listening for something. Barrett quirked an eyebrow, but he understood the gesture immediately. The office had to be bugged, that was standard procedure in NID headquarters.

"It's like that, is it?" Barrett's face adopted a resigned, accepting look. He knew right away that Daniel had come here for a reason well outside any routine kind of business. "I've got a meeting in an hour, so whatever you want, it can't go on for too long. Come on, we'll get some air." He rose from his seat, and he gestured for Daniel to follow. The pair left the office, passing by the secretary who looked up at them with a curious glance.

"Hold my calls will you, Jeannie?" Barrett asked her. "My friend and I are going out for a bit. We'll be back shortly."

"Of course, sir." Jeannie returned to her work once the pair had departed. Barrett took Daniel to an elevator at the rear of the second floor. Inside, he punched a button that directed it to the ground floor.

"You could have called, Doctor Jackson," Barrett said. Daniel turned to him, unsure of how much he should say when they were still inside the building.

"This isn't something I want to talk about over the phone. Besides, what I'm after is here, from what I've worked out," Daniel replied. "And what I need isn't necessarily from you. It's…"

Barrett held up a hand, signalling him to be quiet.

"Not yet, doctor. Let's head into the courtyard. It's nice weather out there." The implication was clear: the inside was bugged just about everywhere. The elevator stopped, putting the pair into a service corridor. A brief walk took them to a metal exit door, and through it they stepped into a small, rectangular courtyard in the heart of the complex. They were flanked by walls and windows on all sides, the sunset light colouring the sky above a deep purple. Hedges and flowerbeds were all around, among them seating benches and even a simple water fountain, situated in the middle with the gentle sound of trickling water backgrounding the otherwise quiet garden. Barrett lead Daniel to one shaded corner of the central garden, which put them under a simple canvas roof under which was a small table surrounded by a trio of weathered metal chairs.

"We're good out here," Barrett said. He sounded sure of this. Daniel supposed he would take the man's word for it. "What is it, Doctor Jackson? More of those mimetic aliens?" He, of course, referred to the alien Field Marshall and his cohorts. Daniel wished it was as simple as a bunch of alien terrorists. However, it had become apparent that 'simple' was a thing of the past where SG-1 was concerned.

"No, nothing like that. I came here because I need to look into a colleague of yours. Conrad Holt. Do you know him?"

Recognition flashed across Barrett's face. His eyes narrowed, and he watched Daniel with increased uncertainty.

"Holt? What do you want with him?"

"It's complicated."

"Then simplify it." Barrett looked about the courtyard, no doubt making sure they were alone. For the time being, it was just the two of them out here. Under the canvas shelter, they were not easily seen from any of the surrounding windows.

"Look, I wanted to give you a heads-up. I don't expect you to help me, because doing so would put you in an awkward position."

"Heads-up? What are you planning?"

Daniel thought about his answer carefully. How much should he tell Barrett? The man could be trusted, this much he was sure of. Even so, he had to be careful with what he said. A means to get Barrett on board came to mind then, and Daniel offered his old acquaintance a reassuring look.

"You worked to take down the corruption in the NID. You put your life on the line to stop the Trust. Thing is, you're working under a man whom I have reason to believe is part of a dangerous conspiracy."

"You mean Holt?" Barrett did not appear convinced. "Why? What's he been doing?"

"That's just it. I need to be sure, and that means I need to access his office. More specifically, his computer."

"You're joking." Barrett frowned when he saw just how grim Daniel appeared then. "Okay, so you're not joking. But what the hell is Holt involved with?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't need to be here," Daniel said. "I just know he's behind a lot of the problems that have been going on with the stargate program. He may also be involved in the clandestine construction of a large battle-station that was in the orbit of Jupiter."

"What?" Barrett had never heard about the Broadsword, it seemed. This was not surprising.

"Don't worry about it, we took care of it. Stopped it from being used for evil." At least that was one success in what Daniel considered a stream of dismal failures. It had been a while since they had caught a solid break; first with the Field Marshall, who had struck at Earth and caused so much chaos. Then with Sanctuary and the Janus AI, both lost, despite having been their best chance at stopping the 'Void Demons'. The Broadsword being sent back in time was perhaps the biggest success they had had in the past eighteen months, if only to guarantee that the timeline suffered no extreme alterations.

"Look, I don't expect you to understand it all, but Holt's dangerous. I need to find out more, and I need access to his computer."

Barett appeared conflicted. After all, Holt as Deputy Director was his superior. Even so, Barrett knew that Daniel could be trusted, more so than a man like Holt. It was this familiarity between them, the history Barrett had of helping SG-1, that Daniel was counting on.

"You're putting me in a tricky position," Barrett said.

"I know. That's why if you don't want to help, just back out now. I'll get what I need some other way."

"How? By breaking in?"

"If I have to." Daniel had considered that course of action. It would not be easy, but he was sure they could figure something out. Likely some half-baked and foolhardy scheme that would lead to further trouble, but if it had to be done, then it had to be done.

"Look, Doctor Jackson, I can't say I'm sure of what's going on here, but if you need some help I'll be willing to give it. I can get you into his office, I just can't afford to be implicated."

"No, of course not." Barrett had to work in this building, for this organization on a daily basis. Going after his direct superior would only make his life more difficult. Daniel had not expected him to be willing to help with this in mind, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear him offer his assistance.

"I just need to get into his office," Daniel said. "I can do the rest."

"You're in luck, because Holt isn't here," Barrett replied. He gestured for the nearest door back into the building. "Come on, I'll show you the way."

Holt was not here. Convenient, to an extent. Maybe if he had been here, they might have been able to kidnap him instead and get some real answers. Daniel put that plan aside as a last resort and instead focused on the task at hand, following Barrett back into the headquarters building. They went for an elevator just inside the corridor the doors opened into, and inside Barrett hit the button for the topmost floor.

"I can get you a distraction, but you'll have to be quick with whatever it is you're going to do." Barrett spoke quietly, likely concerned that there may have been a listening bug inside the elevator. "As soon as I get you that distraction, you wait until the floor is cleared. Understood?"

"You know, Malcolm, I didn't think you'd be on board with this."

"Doctor Jackson, you're someone I know I can trust. We've helped each other out in the past, why would now be any different?" Barrett offered him a warm smile. "I spent years clearing out the corruption in the NID. I wanted to make it a force for good. If the new Deputy Director is into something bad, I want it gone. I will not see this organization corrupted again."

Daniel felt like adding that Barrett might have been a little late in that desire, for the presence of Holt here as Deputy Director was corruption enough. Holt had no history with the NID, he had no doubt landed such a prominent role here because of the powerful people he was on good terms with. And what better place to hatch a conspiracy than at the head of one of the nation's most prominent intelligence agencies?

The elevator doors slid open onto the fourth floor. The corridor ahead was quiet, home to somewhat larger and certainly fancier office spaces. The executive suites, of a sort. Barrett stepped over to a red case by the wall off to the left of the elevator, wherein a fire extinguisher was enclosed. Next to it, a fire alarm switch under a flimsy glass case. Without warning, Barrett elbowed the weak glass, shattering it and sending the alarm wailing. The ringing pierced the quiet, and straight away some startled staff members appeared at their office doorways, looking around in surprise and confusion.

"Come on people, let's move!" Barrett called, and he stepped further into the corridor. His voice had taken on an authoritative, commanding tone. It was the kind of tone people would be inclined to follow. Some of the staff members started hurrying from their workstations, racing for the stairwell. Daniel ducked off to one side as the scattered group passed him by. Barrett looked back at him, and with one hand motioned him to follow.

"Come on, out! Everybody out! Electrical fire on the third floor!" Barrett continued down the hall. He stopped at a doorway on the right-hand side, one that opened into a small grey security room. Monitors lined one wall, displaying live feeds from the cameras about the office.

"Daniel, Holt's office is at the end of the hall. I'll disrupt the surveillance, you go in and get what you need." He was risking a lot by helping him. Daniel wondered how he could thank him, as words would only seem hollow. With a grateful nod, Daniel started down the wood-panelled corridor.

A line of framed portrait photos was down one stretch at his left, showing the faces of past NID Directors and the like. And there, right at the end, was Holt's own portrait, the latest Director of them all. Close-cropped black hair, piercing blue eyes and an expression that was both stern and intimidating; Holt was a hard looking man, and in his portrait he appeared to be staring down at those who walked by with the smallest trace of contempt in his gaze. Daniel did not like the way he looked. He knew then that if he ever met Holt, he would not like the man himself either.

Daniel pulled out his phone as he jogged down the corridor. He had Teal'c on speed-dial, and the Jaffa answered almost as soon as the phone started to ring on his end. Coming to the door of Holt's office, Daniel pushed it open, entering the small anteroom in which Holt's secretary would normally be working. That secretary was absent, allowing Daniel access into the main office itself.

"Teal'c, tell Rodney I'm about to get him what we need," he said into the phone. With it to his ear, he pushed open a set of double doors into the Deputy Director's spacious office, adorned with a bookshelf piled high with thick volumes, a set of framed photos at the opposite wall and a globe of the Earth at one end of a solid mahogany desk. Nothing here suggested 'conspirator', not at a glance anyway.

Daniel raced over to the desk, upon which was a laptop computer. A plaque reading 'DEPUTY DIRECTOR C. HOLT' was positioned at the front edge of the desk, and a small black notebook had been left by the computer. Daniel, curious, picked up the notebook and flicked through it. There were some scrawled notes in there, written in a cursive that was barely legible. Not much help, Daniel mused, and so he put it back down and instead retrieved McKay's device from within his phone wallet.

"I'm connecting the device now," Daniel said into the phone, and he placed the device upon the laptop computer's base, by the number pad keys. With a flick of a switch there, a red light upon it started to blink. Daniel looked about the room, keeping an eye and an ear out for anyone who might come by. The fire alarm was still ringing, although the lack of an actual fire was bound to be noticed soon enough.

"How long do we need?" Daniel asked. He heard McKay say something in the background, before Teal'c's voice cut in, relaying the information.

"Three minutes," he stated.

It was the longest three-minutes of Daniel's life. About halfway through it, the fire alarm ceased. He thought he could hear the sirens of a fire truck outside. He could only hope that Barrett had disrupted the surveillance here, as that was likely the first thing they would check when investigating the start of the fire alarm. Barrett could probably cover their tracks well enough, but that thought did not allay Daniel's concerns entirely.

"We have what we need, Doctor Jackson." Teal'c's voice again. Daniel felt a wave of relief and he snatched up the device, doing so with increased franticness. He was taking a chance the longer he lingered here, and his odds of discovery only increased with each passing second.

"All right, I'm on my way out." He hoped that this trip had been worth it. He emerged back into the corridor, finding no trace of Barrett or anyone else for that matter. They were likely outside in their designated evacuation zones, waiting for the fire department to come in and give the all clear. Daniel found his way down the stairs and towards a rear exit, specifically one that put him into a small parking lot at the back of the building. Putting his phone away, he hurried by the small crowd that had formed out here, comprised of mostly bemused staff members and NID agents who were trying to determine if the building was truly on fire. And there, at the back of the group near the perimeter fence was Barrett. He was talking to a couple of other workers, and he caught Daniel's eye as he set foot into the outside air.

Barrett gave him a nod. Daniel returned it in a short, subtle way. There was no need for the pair to talk. It was best that Daniel leave and take his stolen data away with him. Barrett could tidy things up on his end, even if the thought of that worried Daniel. If this conspiracy was as far-reaching as he suspected it was, even a man like Barrett would not be safe, no matter how well he covered his tracks. Some guilt came to the fore within Daniel's psyche, and he wondered if his coming here had brought a world of trouble down upon Barrett. It seemed likely that a whole world of trouble was going to fall on himself soon enough, if they continued with this pursuit of the truth. The same people who had had the Broadsword built were likely able to put a stop to an archaeologist and his few conspiracy-exposing compatriots.