Jack came to with a familiar start but he fought to keep his eyes shut. He was lying on a hard floor and...Interesting...whomever had shot them with a zat had used duct tape to hold his hands together. He didn't think Goa'ulds shopped at Lowes...
The whir of an engine had him tense and he squinted his eyes open, dismayed when his supposition was correct; he was in a cargo bay of a Tel'tek.
Correction, they were in a cargo bay. Michael lay across the room, hands and feet similarly bound with duct tape.
"Well that didn't take long for someone to figure out." Jack mumbled as he pushed himself into a seated position.
"Umrph." Jack watched with patience as Michael slowly came to consciousness, interestingly seeming to perform a similar situational analysis. After a few minutes he opened his eyes fully and blinked in confusion at the ornate golden walls around the room.
"Jack?"
"Michael." Jack returned calmly.
The younger O'Neill rolled until he matched Jack's seated position. His eyes scanned the room one more time before he met Jack's gaze deadly serious and said what Jack was NOT expecting, "Everything is going to be okay. Just stay calm, alright?"
Jack squinted in confusion, "Okay..." He agreed and then watched with interest as Michael continued to survey the room from where he sat. He was obviously confused and maybe scared but doing a good job controlling his reactions.
"Here, help me stand up." He ordered his older brother. More curious than anything else, Jack shuffled over so Michael could use his shoulders for balance as he pulled himself to a standing position.
With amusement Jack watched as Michael, still wobbly on his duct taped legs raised his hands in front of him and then snapped them back across his hips. The first time he wobbled and almost fell but the second time he managed to free his wrists from the duct tape. He immediately bent over and released his feet and then started on the tape on Jack's wrists.
"Okay," Michael spoke authoritatively, "I'm going to need you to help me look for a way...what?" after the tape was nearly off he noticed for Jack was quietly laughing and shaking his head. "What's so funny?"
Jack shrugged and peeled the remaining tape off his wrists. "Just that last night I find out my father was in the Navy and now I find out my brother works for the agency."
Michael stepped back, "What are you talking about?"
Jack stood up and pantomimed Michael's tape breaking method, "Classic old school CIA escape technique."
Michael shook his head, "Like I said last night, I'm an engineer."
Jack nodded, "I believe you. The CIA has plenty of need for engineers." He paused, "What's your clearance level?"
Michael scoffed, "There really isn't time for this right now." He turned around to examine the door.
Jack made a show of leaning back against the bulkhead and crossing his arms across his chest. "Trust me, we've got time."
Michael stopped his search for a latch looked back at Jack who hadn't moved. "Do you know what's going on?"
Jack shook his head, "Just a hunch. This situation is annoyingly familiar."
Michael glanced around the room again before squaring off with his brother and crossing his arms. "What are you talking about?"
Jack shrugged, "It's classified." He supplied nonchalantly.
Michael's eyebrows arched, "Oh really?"
Jack shrugged.
Michael shook his head, "I'm sorry, where did you say you were assigned?"
"I didn't." Jack replied patting his pockets, checking to see if their abductors left him with anything.
Michael couldn't articulate what was so infuriating about it but the calmer Jack was, the angrier he got. He paced the room, running his fingers along every seam and all around what had to be the door. Every time he glanced over his shoulder he could see Jack leaning against the bulkhead looking disinterested. Finally when he could see no obvious method of exit he turned on his heel and squared up across from Jack. He sighed and crossed his arms, "Alright, no playing around. Tell me what you know."
"Told you, Classified." He smirked. "Now, if perhaps you happened to work for an agency that gave you clearance I might be able to read you in and perhaps share what I suspect." Jack crossed his arms and leaned back, eyebrows arched, waiting.
"You want me to say it?" Michael ground out.
Jack said and did nothing.
"Fine," Michael dropped his arms, "Yes, I work for the CIA. I have clearance. Now tell me what you know."
Jack rolled his eyes, "I already knew that. I want to know what level of clearance you have."
Not moving Michael let out a short huff, "What's it matter?"
"Oh I'm sure it matters a great deal to someone." Jack smirked.
Michael put his hands on his hips and leaned in, "Well I work for the CIA and you don't so let's just assume it's higher than yours, shall we?"
For a moment Jack didn't move. His eyes flicked over Michael, and he released a short breath from between his lips. Then in a fluid motion he stood straight up and leaned into Michael's personal space, his face suddenly serious.
"Michael," he started quietly, "I'm a 2 star general running a department you've never heard of out of an office on a floor in the Pentagon's basement that you didn't think existed. So how about we stick to the old adage about what happens when you assume, hrm?"
Michael blinked. His mouth opened but nothing came out. He licked his lips and finally, "What?"
Immediately the relaxed and smirking Jack O'Neill replaced the intimidating figure which had stood before him only moments ago. "Adage. You know...Old saying about assuming..." Jack was explaining, "Make an ass out of u and me? No? Never heard it before?"
Michael shook his head, trying to get a hold on what was happening, "No. I meant what did you just say? You're a Major General? In the Pentagon?"
Jack shrugged, "It's a living."
Michael rubbed his hands across his face, "I don't believe this..." He murmured.
"If you have a hard time with that I have a feeling the next few hours are going to blow your mind." Jack muttered, smiled that infuriating smile of his and walked closer to Michael. "First of all, I've been in a hundred rooms just like this and we aren't breaking out of this one. We just are going to have to ride it out and see what's going on." He put his hand on Michael's shoulder, "Look, I was just curious about your security level to see if you maybe had any knowledge at all about our program. Obviously now we'll end up reading you in but it would be nice to know how much paper work this is going to mean for me when we get home."
Michael stared blankly at the older O'Neill. After a moment, almost without thinking he offered, "CS5. CIA Secret Level 5."
Jack's shoulder's dropped, "Not even Top Secret, eh?"
Michael shook his head, "Uh no. I really am a bridge builder, I design various tools and routes to be used in specific infiltration and escape situations." He paused, "Wait a minute, how do I know you're telling the truth? Why should I trust you?"
Jack scratched at the side of his face, "If I were in your shoes I probably wouldn't. All I can offer you is this; I'm your brother. Trust me."
Michael let out a slow breath, "Well, I guess that is going to have to be good enough for now."
Jack smiled sincerely, "Good."
Michael looked around the room again, "So you say you've been in a room like this before. Where do you think we are?"
A hand on the wall and Jack could feel the vibration of the engine humming, "I honestly don't know where we currently are but I can tell you we're in motion and are going to end up very far from where we started."
"We're moving?!" Michael exclaimed.
Just as Jack was about to explain both men were thrown to the floor as the ship came to an abrupt stop. "Well not anymore!" Jack groused from the floor.
"What..." Jack cut Michael's question off, holding up a hand. They could hear movement on the far side of the door. With sudden urgency Jack looked back at Michael.
"Don't let them know you're my brother."
"What?" If Michael had been expecting anything it wasn't that.
"Look," Jack pushed himself over to where Michael was crouched and grasped him by both shoulders, "If you want to get through this let me do the talking and no matter what, even if it seems like they already know, do not let on or confirm in any way that you are blood relative of mine. Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir!" Michael shot back reflexively.
Jack's face must have shown his surprise because Michael sheepishly admitted "Army ROTC; Corps of Engineers for 4 years out of college. Lieutenant O'Neill, retired, reporting for duty."
Jack smiled and nodded approvingly, "That's good."
At that moment the door opened and in walked one of the largest men Michael had ever seen. He was even larger than Jack's friend Murray and had an odd shaped golden brand on his forehead.
Michael was startled out of his reflection on the man's appearance by Jack energetically standing up and shouting, "It's about time! You know we were JUST about to have breakfast before you invited us to join you and there's nothing here, not even a bagel tray. I'd like to complain to whomever is charge of your hospitality. I am STARVING."
"QUIET!" The large man roared.
Jack held up his hands, "Okay, Okay, I'll be quiet, but it's your own fault if my stomach isn't!"
"Insolence!" The man sucker punched Jack with the large staff he held and Jack buckled.
"Okay, Okay, I think that will keep it quiet for a while."
The man stood over Jack and held the end of the staff to his face. Jack mimed zipping and locking his mouth shut and surprisingly the large man backed away.
"Your hijinks are well known O'Neill; though not appreciated."
Michael watch in amazement as his apparently masochistic brother yet again opened his mouth, "Oh come on that's not true! People love my hijinks. Just ask the system lords, I slayed them."
Just as Michael was certain the large man was indeed going to kill Jack a smaller man entered the room and ordered the large man to leave. Jack called after his retreating back, "Oh come on, not even a little laugh? That was funny! I slayed them! Get it? Because I DID!"
The smaller man sighed with apparent impatience and lightly touched Jack's shoulder with a pointed stick. Michael jumped back as light shot from Jack's eyes and mouth and his back arched in pain. After a few seconds he removed the stick and Jack returned to normal, although panting heavily.
The slender man tut-tutted under his breath then turned his attention to Michael, "It is good to see you do not share the same attitude problems as your brother."
"What?" Jack managed to shout from his position on the floor but the man ignored him.
Michael forced his eyes from the stick in the man's hand and shook his head, "I'm sorry buddy but I just met this guy, we aren't brothers."
The man sighed, "Shame. I had hope that you might be reasonable." He turned back around, stepping over Jack as he did. "Not that it matters. We'll be getting what we need either way."
Jack groaned as he pushed himself up, "Look. We're reasonable people. Let's talk, maybe work out some kind of deal that doesn't involve any more pain sticking? That way everyone's happy."
The man smiled creepily, revealing a mouth of dirty black teeth, sending a shiver down Michael's spine. "We've offered to work with you in the past but your minions have done nothing but hunt us down and try to thwart us. I don't think any deals will be in order General."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Great...Lucian Alliance I assume?"
The skinny man sighed, "Give the man a prize! I am Ventirii, a most respected Second in the Alliance." He leaned in close to sneer in Jack's face, "You and I are going to be good friends."
Jack looked up at him earnestly, "Ventricle was it? As a friend, I really have to tell you, your breath stinks!"
Ventirii' slim face fell into a frown and he stuck his stick in to Jack's side for another few seconds before he departed and the heavy door swooshed shut behind him.
In a flash Michael knelt next to Jack who seemed to be working on focusing on his breathing. "I don't think you should instigate these people Jack..."
Jack waved him off halfheartedly, "It's what I do."
Michael shook his head, "Well it seems like a stupid thing to do. Are you okay? That looked painful."
"Nah..." Jack tried to smirk, "I'm just overly dramatic." He winced and finally pushed himself up so he was standing. It didn't look like it would last long so Michael guided him to lean against the bulkhead again.
"So who are those guys?" Michael glanced to the door. "What do they want?"
Jack shrugged, "Mercenaries, smugglers, common con artists just out to make a buck who think they're big time because they got their hands on some fancy toys."
"Like this vehicle." Michael observed.
"Among other things." Jack confirmed.
"So what do you think they want with us?" Michael leaned against the wall too and looked back at the door.
Jack took a deep sigh, "I'm assuming it's about technology." He glanced at Michael, "Genetically activated technology. They can't activate it without particular bio data."
"Like the guns with the palm sensors on them?" Michael asked.
"Something like that." Jack hedged. He rolled his shoulders and straightened as he continued to explain, "I can use it so they probably think you can too. Two for one."
"Which is why you don't want me to confirm we're related."
Jack nodded slowly. "Exactly." He ran his hand across the back of his neck, "I'm sorry. This is going to get a lot crazier before it gets better." He set his jaw and looked to the door "I wonder how they knew..." His eyes flicked back to Michael "…or what else they know."
"My kids..." Michael's face paled.
Jack nodded, "Yes. But it is going to be okay. Between the CIA and the Air Force we will make sure your family is protected. I promise, no harm is going to come to your kids."
Jack's words were so fierce and his eyes so earnest that Michael felt no hesitation in believing him wholeheartedly.
He nodded and tried not to worry about that now. His first goal was going to figure out how to get home.