CHAPTER 90
EPISODE……………..UNINVITED
Jack and a few of the other superior officers decided that after that fiasco that happened several weeks back, the incident with the Ba'als, SG-1 needed some time off. That and the fact the base needed a lot of repair where Ford put several dozen large holes in some walls. Structural damage wasn't the biggest problem. It was the pipes and wiring that needed to be looked at. K-9 was a great help in pointing out damage under the walls and such. Some of the plumbing was down and all of the bases drinking water was contaminated.
Jack was planning on joining them, but Charlie made plans to surprise him not knowing what Jack wanted to do. Jack instantly said he was sorry and was going camping with his son. Whether Sarah was going, Ford and them didn't know or find out. So General Landry and SG-1 was offered to go out to Jack's cabin. Ford and Carter were going to back out, but seeing as it was suppose to be a team thing, they decided to stay for a day or two before going back home to spend time with Sally.
The idea to have them get time off and sooner was suppose to be the plan, but things came up with a delegation meeting thing that Ford had to choice but to attend. Sam refused to go without him and Daniel needed to be there to translate. The blame was put on SG-14 for bringing the peaceful but very difficult to understand people to the table. For instance, a certain gesture such as waving goodbye could mean that or depending on the look on your face and which hand, it meant you wanted to fight. It took over a week to help get trade relations and other things started. The race, to which Ford forgot the name, mostly because it was hard to pronounce and even Daniel had trouble pronouncing, understood later that our gestures usually were self explanatory. After that, delegations were less harsh. They weren't very technically advanced, but they did have a good medicine system going that caught the eye of the medical staff and biologist quickly. After the delegation had gone, they managed to then find some time to make it possible for the group to get that vacation. Reynolds was going to be placed in charge but a mission came up that needed his team to look at and so Carter had to take over while Lee took over Carter's work load. Ford was called away from the base to D.C., not being able to get out of it. He wasn't sure why he was really called, but guessed it had something to do with killing the two Ba'als he did, in a torturous method.
The time was given off, unfortunately a slight problem came up making it so only Mitchell and General Landry were able to get to the cabin. It was a large cabin with three bedrooms. Another smaller cabin unit was off to the right of the larger one.
Landry was already there and had been for awhile when he heard a vehicle coming up the dirt drive. He was in causal clothes instead of his uniform, a blue striped button up long sleeve shirt and blue jeans with some boots. They were in a mountainous region and though it was not wet, some things were a little damp from the fog in the area. He stepped out to see a black 65 Mustang drive up. He had heard that Mitchell owned a Mustang, but he didn't know what year. Mitchell pulled to a stop a few feet away from Landry's white van that was parked next to a small tree with a tiny rock wall and flowers in it. He gunned it a few times before shutting it off and stepping out.
(A.U. As much as I wish I knew a lot about Mustangs, I don't know the real year of his particular Mustang. I'm just guessing it is a 65.)
"You made good time Colonel."
"Yes sir." he said as he got out. He had a basic brown leather jacket, two pockets, a green T-shirt and brown pants. "Well, it's a good thing I left early. I made a wrong turn at the post office and I was driving for about an hour before my special forces training kicked in and I realized I was lost. That and the road ended."
Landry nodded as Mitchell looked around.
"Wiser men than you have done much worse. General Carter once mentioned he drove for home and ended up at his old house where Teal'c now lives by accident."
"Heard about that." he said with a small laugh as he looked around. "So this is General O'Neill's place?"
"Actually, Jack hasn't been able to use it much now that he spends a lot of his time in Washington. You already know why he isn't coming."
"Spending time with his kid. I can understand why after all those years of him not being there. Dead, whatever."
"Yeah. Bright kid. Makes Jack look like a big idiot sometimes."
"Sam used to do that too. Then, Ford came along doing the same while laughing at him. I guess he feels right at home in more ways than one."
"Yeah, he does." Landry said with a small laugh. "Come on in."
"Looks like I beat the other's up here." he said grabbing his bag from the backseat. "Either Ford got lost or he's driving slowly. I could have sworn I would have seen him and the General here before me. Unless Sam's driving her car."
"Walter called here recently. Colonel Reynolds team has been delayed off world. Teal'c has gone to assist. As soon as they get back, both Carter's assured me they will be on their way."
"Reynolds team was suppose to stay on the base. Oh right, another team that was scheduled to go couldn't because one of them had a family issue and the other was sick." Mitchell said as he remembered.
"Right and the mission was technically meant for more experienced personal to be on so Reynolds team had little choice."
"And Jackson?"
"Still in England. It seems he met some Lord or Earl with a private library of Ancient reference material. He got the referral from Lady Croft who said the man is a friend of hers. Apparently the man has reference material on Merlin and Morgan Le Fay. He's obviously quite excited. Ford is working on getting him back here as quickly as possible though. Probably not going to happen since Miss Croft invited him over."
"Excited? More like thrilled beyond belief. Kinda like a fat kid in a candy store."
The smile that Landry had went away and Mitchell instantly realized something was wrong.
"I was a big boy in my youth. I never did appreciate comments like that."
"Right. Sorry sir."
"You didn't know. Anyway, Vala is hitching a ride with the other's. From what I understand, she is coming in the General Lee. Won't be hard to spot. Until then, it is just you and me."
"Well, I'll just stay out of your way sir. You won't even know I'm here." he said closing the door.
"Nonsense. Getting to know each other outside of the pressure of work is what this is all about. Kick back, put our feet up for the day." he said patting Mitchell on the shoulder.
"Well, that's kinda hard to do with the fate of the galaxy in the balance sir."
"True. That didn't stop those two team members of your from getting a life together. As for this battle, you and your team are the ones that will make the most difference. SG-1 has always made the difference. Everyone else is mostly helping along on the journey. I really didn't believe Jack when he showed me the DVD thing, but after that." he said with a shrug. "That alone shows that SG-1 is the real hero's."
"That's true. I can see what you mean about escaping the pressure."
"We all need to stop for air now and then, or we'll burn out. That's the problem with you people. Correction, that's the problem with you and Doctor Jackson. You don't ever try and sit back, relax and take a load off. Try not to think about everyone and everything all the time."
"Kinda hard not to sir."
"Yeah." he said nodding. "That's one of the reasons that Ford has all those cartoons he watches while working on paper work. Keeps him from going insane."
"That and like he said once, he never grew up."
"Right. Let's go in. I've got the coffee on."
On the planet that Teal'c was helping out on, he and a few other's were looking for missing people. They were walking through the forest, it was nearing the end of the day but the sun was just barely still out. Their location was coated with some fog. Off in the distance, above a large mountain was a twin planet that orbited it. Rather pretty sight seeing the planet was a lot closer than the moon was to Earth. The other teams were looking elsewhere while Reynolds and Teal'c were looking together.
"The first villager went missing sometime yesterday morning." Reynolds said. "Another by nightfall. They sent a search party of armed men. These people are capable hunters. By all accounts, they have lived on this planet for generations and have never encountered a animal they perceived as an unmanageable threat."
"Perhaps it was not an animal." Teal'c stated as they walked up to the rest of Reynolds team that was looking around near a few dead bodies.
"If an animal didn't tear these people apart, what did?" Reynolds asked with sorrow and disgust in his voice as he and Teal'c looked down at very mangled bodies.
Back at the SGC, Carter was currently in charge of the base. Ford was pulled away because the Joint Chiefs wanted to talk to him, which she found out later after he called once there. She didn't really want to take charge, but had little choice. Teal'c came back found her waiting at the end of the ramp. After hearing what was going on, with her being in charge he nodded and went to the infirmary. He came back with Vala and Reynolds to find Carter sitting in the chair at the briefing table. She was slightly leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed. A small hum was heard in the air.
"Are you okay Colonel Carter?" Teal'c asked as he walked up.
"Oh yes." she said with a smile. "I'd have one of these chairs put in my office, but I'd probably fall asleep in it instead of working. That and I doubt I could find any room for it anyway."
"That's right, Ford had the chair made into, um a massage unit." Vala said sitting down two chairs from her left.
"Yep. He's much better at it though, but since he's not here. Might as well enjoy it while I can."
"Are you not able to enjoy this chair when he is here?" Teal'c asked sitting in the chair to her left. Reynolds took the chair on the right.
"Yeah, but he's always in command so.." she said turning it off and un-reclining it. "It's like a principle thing. So, what have you learned?"
"The people on P9J-333 have never encountered a indigenous creature before capable of such an act."
"Do you think this is some sort of motivational tool meant to strike fear? Like a, Ori bogeyman?"
"It seems to be working." Reynolds said. "The people are terrified."
"Any chance the Prior knew you were there?"
"I doubt the message was for us. Our mission was covert, to see if the inhabitants were followers of Origin or not. We didn't make contact with the population until after people started going missing."
"Well, if this is some sort of new Ori threat, chances are that a Prior will show up to take responsibility."
"And if it is not, and it is just some vicious creature hell bent on eating a whole village, shouldn't we use our superior technology to track it down?" Vala asked picking at the table where a chunk of it had been yanked out once and glued back in. The same chunk Ford pulled out years ago.
She got looks from them all.
"You're thinking I don't care about the plight of some innocent people I met on some planet somewhere." she said still picking.
"I'm sorry, but yes." Carter admitted.
Vala was used to it, seeing as it happened on other planets and she did ruin her reputation here when she first arrived. Hitting on people and such. Trying to steal. The theft of the Prometheus was still a big stain on her record though they got it back. She knew it was going to take awhile before they realized she had changed.
"It just so happens that I have vast experience hunting rare and deadly creatures of all kinds."
"Ah, let me guess, the rarer they are…." Carter began with a knowing smile and tone.
"Please. I am here to help. If you don't think that these boys can use my experience, then fine. Then we can get started on that quality time that those people wanted us to get started on. I've actually came up with…."
"Teal'c, you and Vala head to 333 and take SG-3 and 25. See what you can figure out without being detected by the locals." she said quickly.
"Great! Let's get going!" Vala said slapping Teal'c in the arm playfully.
"Vala's experience not withstanding, I want all of you to exercise extreme caution. We should find out whether this is Prior related or not."
"Is General Landry not expecting us at the cabin?" Teal'c asked.
"I'll let him know we will be delayed a little bit." she said with a small smile.
"I'm sure that Colonel Mitchell is having fun without us." Vala said.
The other two got up leaving Teal'c and Vala at the table.
"Hey, if this creature is rare, we need to catch it alive, okay?"
"That is not our mission." he said getting up.
"Do you have any idea what this could be worth on the open market?" she asked following.
"I do not." he said stopping and placing his hands behind his back as she got in front of him.
"I propose, a 50-50 split. I think it's only fair because I'm the only one that knows all the contacts to unload something like this. Anything less would be unfair."
Teal'c opened his mouth to say something, but instead walked away.
"Okay, name your price. Say something, it's called negotiating." she called out following him a moment later.
Reynolds and Carter were talking and had been for a few minutes when the side door opened.
"Walter…" she began thinking it was him. "Ford?"
"General." Reynolds said as he stood up.
"How many times do I have to tell you to just stay at ease? She doesn't get up." he said standing there in his full uniform and coat. "Actually, I don't remember you ever getting up that way for me."
"Sorry." he said sitting back down. "General Landry prefers it."
"Oh. I can understand that." he said looking through a few folders on his desk.
"You're not back to take over are you?"
"Sorry Sam. I forgot a few folders they want to see. Ah, here they are." he said picking a pile up. "With luck, you'll be in charge for a few more hours. Unless you want me to…."
"No, please come back ASAP. Being a mother is hard enough. I don't want command."
"I'll try to make it quick then. You could give it over to Reynolds now that he is back."
"I'm going back off world to get back with my team. We're looking for a vicious creature that is killing people. Almost ripping them apart."
"Ouch. I'll try to get back then a lot quicker in case you need help." he said backing up a few feet and speaking into his watch. A moment later he was beamed away.
"There are days I wish I could do that to just go home for an hour." she muttered.
Mitchell was in a sweat shirt and some shirt under that and jeans. He was seated outside working on his laptop while Landry was on his phone. As he hung up, from Colonel Carter, as Mitchell gather at the beginning of the conversation.
"They're not coming?"
"No." Landry said grabbing a bottle from a icebox near his feet. He pulled out two beers and handed one to Mitchell. "Something is eating people on P9J-333."
"Maybe I should…"
"At ease Colonel. They've got SG-3 and 25 with them. They'll be fine. Besides that, Teal'c and Vala are going to go help out."
"And the other two?"
"General is in Washington talking to the Joint Chiefs. Why, I don't know. Glad it's not me. Colonel Carter is still in charge."
"Even with that, maybe this should be rescheduled….."
"Would you put away that laptop. You can't still be doing mission reports, and if you are, I don't want to be reading anything that long. This is suppose to be a sort of vacation."
"I didn't think you read my reports sir." he said closing the laptop.
"Both of us General's have to. You don't have to be so uncomfortable around me Mitchell."
"Sorry sir, but you're still my boss."
"And General Carter isn't?"
"Well…." he said slapping a bug on his neck. "He's different sir."
"Very different, but a higher rank nonetheless."
"I….it's probably because I look at it as I'm his leader because he's part of SG-1, but…."
"And he can pull rank anytime." Landry said as a gunshot was heard. Mitchell was visibly startled and looked around. Landry laughed. "Relax Mitchell. They're just hunters. Probably after some elk. It's one of the drawbacks of being out here."
"Not a fan sir?" he asked hearing the tone.
"Running around the woods carrying a gun never seemed like a good way to unwind." he said taking a drink. "I agree with Ford somewhat. You want to see wildlife like that, go to a zoo or look for it quietly. Don't hunt it for a trophy. Looking to kill a creature just going about its day. Not really my thing."
"No , I suppose not sir. Not if your day job is running around the woods and carrying a gun."
Teal'c, Val and Reynolds were carefully walking through the forest. Each of them had weapons, including Vala. No backpacks though. She and Teal'c had PC-90's, but she also had a short sword across her back. Reynolds had some sort of heavy assault rifle. They came upon a area that was being watched by the rest of Reynolds team. A large slightly water filled track was in the mud that they knelt next to. It was nearing daylight on the planet for them while night was starting to approach America.
"Recognize the tracks?" Reynolds asked.
"I do not."
"What we need to do first is dig a deep pit." Vala said as she got up and headed to the small clearing that the other teams were in. "This looks like a very good spot. You guys can get started."
They all gave her looks.
"What?" she asked and then turned to them. "Don't tell me you didn't bring shovels."
Teal'c slowly got up as he heard gun fire.
"This is SG-25 leader! We need back….ah!" they heard from their coms. Gunfire and painfully screams were heard in the background. They ran hearing gunfire and screams still and then nothing. As they came upon the area that 25 was in, it was really quiet. As they others were fanning out, Teal'c heard a movement or something to his left and he quietly walked toward it.
Vala was helping Reynolds and his team as they found SG-25. They were really messed up. Reynolds was with the team leader, trying to stop the bleeding that was coming from his chest as he held a large gauze pad over the injury.
"They came out of nowhere…!" he said in pain. "Never seen anything like it!"
Teal'c was slowly approaching a large tree with his weapon ready. Someone or something was behind it. As he got closer, a man stepped out with his weapon ready. Teal'c quickly raised his hand and the soldier lowered his weapon, fright all over his face.
"Remain calm, you will be fine." Teal'c said as the man started to sit against the tree. They both went alert as a unknown loud noise of some creature was heard.
"Come." he said helping the frightened soldier away.
It was night at the SGC and Ford was back. Carter was glad to give him back control. Unfortunately they couldn't leave just yet. At the cabin, it was now nighttime and raining rather heavily. A lightening storm was above them. Inside the cabin, the two had some lights on and were playing chess.
"Checkmate."
"Yep. You're too good for me sir." Mitchell said knocking his king over.
"Pandering to the ego of a senior officer Mitchell?"
"No." he said taking a drink of his beer. "Truthfully, I've always hated the game, but I have a Playstation available if you want me to kick you ass at SOCOM 3."
"Good, I want you to feel like you can be honest with me."
"Yes sir." he said setting the bottle down.
"I suppose that is easier for me than it is for you. I am the General, or one of them anyway. You do interact with him more than me even though I am on the base a lot more now than before. And he gives a lot more leeway with things."
"No, I think it is actually a lot harder for you in some ways."
"Oh, being lonely at the top and all of that?"
"No. More of what do people think of your decisions."
Landry laughed.
"Relax son." he said taking a drink. "You know, I was thinking of something you told me once. A few weeks ago or so. About you not being in charge of anything."
"I'm just use to a clearer chain of command."
"You could have picked any team you wanted. You choose to make it your personal mission to get SG-1 back together. Not even Ford could get them to stay together and he was going to leave if Carter stayed at Area-51. You managed to get the entire team back. Well, minus Jack."
"That's true. And I wouldn't change that for the world. Though I admit it would be nice to actually serve under General O'Neill off world once or twice."
"You said you wanted to learn from the very best."
"Yes I did. It's just that….after almost dying. There was a part of me that figured, I could do anything. Now, since coming to the SGC, I have learned that I can't handle any of this without SG-1."
"I believe in you Colonel. And so does General Carter."
"Yes sir."
"But we are getting our asses kicked." he said sternly.
"Yes sir."
"And we don't get medals for participation. We win or we die." he said with the same tone.
"I prefer winning."
"And that started when you brought SG-1 back together. And I need you to continue working together if we are to have any hope. Your job is to make sure that happens."
"I understand sir."
"Good. Now relax before your blood pressure gets so high you get pulled off duty." he said in a joking tone.
Vala ran back to the Stargate and was dialing for help. She just finished hitting the symbols when she stopped just above the red button suddenly feeling she wasn't alone.
"Okay, you want some dessert, come and get it." she said turning around with her weapon ready.
Teal'c came running out from the small tree line near the gate and the DHD.
"Oh! You could have warned me! I nearly shot you!"
"You should not have run off by yourself."
"I am perfectly capable of handling myself thank you. You do remember what I am? Besides that, I was trying to get help." she said waving at the DHD.
"Then why did you not finish dialing?" he asked looking between it and her.
"Because I thought I heard something growling." she said getting her weapon up as he walked to the DHD a few feet away from her.
"I hear nothing." he said placing his hand on the red button.
"Probably because you scared it away. That's good, now we can…" she was saying when they heard a growl.
Vala quickly turned and opened fire at something that was coming at them. She kept firing as Teal'c pulled out a grenade from his vest. He tossed it and pushed her to the ground as it went off. After a few seconds, they both looked to see they were not under attack and then looked at each other, faces only inches apart.
"Well, I'm flattered but I don't think we have time for this." she said with her arms around him.
Teal'c knew that Ford would have been laughing at their predicament and it made a smile come to his face. He shook his head as he helped her to her feet. She said thank you and they went over to the unknown creature. He tapped the smoking body lightly before kneeling down next to it with her.
"Shame we didn't take it alive. I've never seen anything like this before."
Mitchell was playing his Playstation that Ford told him to bring so they could play together at least once when the power went out. He got up slowly and looked out the window. A rattle out in the main room made him turn around quickly. He grabbed his nine mill from his bag and slowly headed for the door after calling out for Landry quietly. Seeing that Landry didn't respond, he headed out. His room was to the left of the fireplace that was going earlier while they were playing chess a few feet away. The fire was still going giving the room some light. It had a glass cover over it so sparks wouldn't come out at them. A coffee table and couch were in front of that. Mitchell passed them slowly with his gun pointed down. He walked passed the couch and went to the kitchen that was open to the rest of the house and just off to the right diagonally from the couch. Feeling someone behind him, he turned around to find a double barrel shotgun pointed at him. The two quickly lowered their weapons.
"Colonel Mitchell, what are you doing?" Landry asked still in his shirt and jeans.
"Whoo." he said quietly with relief. "I thought I heard a noise."
"Me too."
Landry was looking around as Mitchell laughed.
"That would have been a hell of a story sir."
"Yeah. Good thing Ford wasn't here."
"Yeah, he probably would have tackled one of us or something."
"Or shot a nice big hole in the wall."
"Yeah a very big one. Or through the roof." he said then looked at the weapon with a slightly cocked head. "Shotgun huh? I thought you didn't like to hunt?"
"I was up here last summer. Had a black bear come right through the kitchen door." he said walking into the kitchen.
"Phones are down."
"It happens. Power could be down for awhile too." he said grabbing a flashlight from a drawer. "That's quite a storm out there."
"Thanks." Mitchell said taking the light. "Well, good night sir."
He nodded and started back to his room through a passage in the kitchen.
"General." Mitchell said as he turned near the couch. "Listen, ah, maybe I'm not the only one here that needs to relax."
"I'll try not to shoot you before morning."
"Thank you sir. Same here." he said heading back to his room. "Man, I was in the middle of a good game too."
The next morning Mitchell got dressed and packed. He was going to head back to the SGC and had started out the door to his car. Tree limbs, though mostly small were all over the place. Leaves and pine needles littered the ground from where they were blown around from the storm. Landry walked up in his camo's as he opened the door. A sheriff's Chevy Blazer Truck was near the end of the drive as the sheriff was getting back in after talking to Landry.
"What's up sir?"
"Going somewhere Mitchell?"
"Yes sir. The power's out, the phones are down. I figured we'd just go back to reality sir." he said tossing his bag in the back.
"Unfortunately the storm washed out the road into town."
"The road…."
"It's the only road in and out of here. Looks like we're roughing it until they get it cleared."
"Yes sir, but you're a powerful Air Force General. You could round us up a chopper."
"The Air Force doesn't use helicopters for our own personal use Colonel Mitchell."
"Right sir." he said reaching for his bag.
"Besides, if the SGC suddenly needs us, we'll be beamed away." he said with a wave at the sky. "And unfortunately, I did check. There is no helicopters available."
"I'm really starting to wish that General Carter had came."
"Why? Is it I'm not as fun as him?" Landry asked with not upset or insulted tone.
"No. As strange as this is going to sound, his car, that General Lee. It can drive on water. Carter tried to explain it once but it went over my head."
"Hmm." he said heading back to the cabin. "In the meantime we'll be fine. Just another day or so."
Mitchell sat down in the car shaking his head.
"Why me?"
"Thanks." Ford said setting the phone down.
"Everything okay?" Carter asked sitting across from him.
"Not really." he said pulling his hanky quickly.
"Hey. Figured you would want to know that all four members of SG-25 are doing fine thanks to my part in using the Goa'uld healing device." Vala said walking into his office.
"I would have done it, but it's a little harder for me and it comes naturally to you." Ford said sitting back as she took the other chair. "I'm rather good at shooting that wave, might as well be called a Force Wave."
"Yes. But then you had a better experience with your symbiont than I did."
"True."
"So, now that that creature from P, whatever is dealt with, when are we going?"
"Going?"
"You know? The cabin thing?"
"Oh. Yes well, we have a problem with that. The road has been washed out. No one can get in or out. At least until tomorrow. No power or phones either."
"How unfortunate." Vala said with a sigh.
"I'm sure Colonel Mitchell agrees." Carter said.
"Yeah. I bet he's begging to come back here." Ford said with a small laugh. "I feel sorry for him already."
"Why can't you just have the Odyssey beam them back here?" Vala asked.
"I could if I felt the need was absolutely necessary. Such as the safely of this place or needing him for a mission. Otherwise it's not a good idea. Now if he calls, somehow, and they ask to be beamed back, sure."
"Can't the General get there?" Carter asked.
"Yeah, I could drive over the water. Why, are you wanting to go?"
"I could take over if you wanted to go get Mitchell from his misery."
"Hmm. A nice fun filled, but illegal driving involved or staying here with you?" he said acting like his hands were weights. "Um, I'll stay. It wouldn't be as fun without you there."
Mitchell was back in his outfit from last night and looking out the window. Landry was finishing getting ready to go outside as Mitchell was finishing his coffee.
"You're in for a treat Colonel." Landry said as he put his camo hat on.
"Yes sir. I can see that." he said backing away from the window.
"The Fulvous whistling duck. It's very rare. Endangered actually. Only ever spotted one once in my life. And as good fortune would have it, their mating season is right now. And they love to come out after a good rain."
"That's a good one sir." he said putting his cup in the sink before walking out of the kitchen. "You know what, the hat really sells it."
Landry's face fell some and he kinda looked upset.
"Oh, you're serious." he said also noticing the camera and binoculars. "Look sir, as tempting as a duck that whistles sounds, I was thinking about going for a little run. I was thinking of working off some of that beer last night."
"You're missing the opportunity of a lifetime Mitchell." he said holding out a pair of binoculars.
"Are you making it an order?" he asked carefully as he glanced at the binoculars.
"Birding is something you have to have in your soul son. You have to come to it on your own."
"I have to be honest with you sir. I don't think that I have it in me."
"The plaintive mating call of this duck, is unlike anything that you've ever heard." he said imitating the sound a few seconds later.
"Permission to leave sir?" he asked.
"Granted." he said watching Mitchell walk out. "I'm quite sure that Ford would have came with me."
Mitchell walked out the door looking back before taking off on a slow run.
Teal'c and Ford were both in one of the observation rooms upper section as a medical team was looking at the body of the creature that Vala and Teal'c killed. Carter came in as Ford was getting ready to leave.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm leaving before I get sick. I just wanted to see what it is we are dealing with if there are more. I don't need to see the autopsy. Reading it is bad enough." he said walking out with a shudder. "Creature was rather gruesome looking to begin with."
"Wuss." she muttered as she walked in and looked down. "Since I can't ask him, how's it going so far?"
"Doctor Redden has just began her examination. She appears to be quite knowledgeable."
"She should be. She's been heading up the Area 51 xenology unit for several years now." she said seeing the doctor remove some part of the body that kinda looked like seaweed of some sort. "Okay, there goes my idea for having lunch. I can see why Ford left."
"I believe your calling him a wuss was inadequately put."
"Yeah. Glad he didn't hear it."
"The body cavity contains mammal like organs. Unnatural looking tumors appear prevalent." Redden said as she used a tools to look inside by shifting and removing organs. "Let's get this out."
As she took something out, one of the machines started beeping making her and a assistant look up.
"What's going on?" Carter asked through a mike.
"Scans are picking up low levels of radiation coming from the body. The location is somewhere in the stomach lining here." she said searching. "It looks like there is some extraneous sac or abscess attached to the stomach wall itself. Scalpel please."
A male assistant on her left handed it to her.
"Thank you. Attempting to remove it now. Come on." she muttered cutting.
Carter noticed that Teal'c wasn't fazed by the, show going on, but she was starting to get sick. When Redden backed up with a loud whoa, she ignored her ill feelings. And Teal'c was now missing.
"Son of a…." Redden was saying as she quickly backed away.
Some strange black like slug that moved rather fast came out and launched itself at her. She jumped slightly as the bug stopped from being hit by a zat. It took her a moment to realize what happened as she looked at the bug and Teal'c a few times.
"Thank you."
He nodded as he lowered the zat.
"Is there anymore of, whatever that was?" Carter asked.
Redden looked carefully while Teal'c kept the zat ready.
Mitchell was running through the woods on a trail. He had been running for sometime and was feeling good, that was until someone called for help. Part of him thought it was an attack by some off world alien of some sort, because of the job. That lasted a very short second since his brain told him he was on Earth and not on the job. Seeing as it was hunting season, someone probably fell down or a hunting buddy shot his partner by accident. A hunter with a rifle and in camo's came running around a bunch of bushes yelling for help.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mitchell holding out his hands.
"Get out of here!" the man said really scared.
"Watch, where you are pointing that weapon." he said taking it a second later from the frightened man. "What's wrong?"
"Something attacked us man! It just came out of nowhere!" he said. "It attacked my buddy Mike."
"All right, all right." he said trying to calm the man down. "Take me to Mike."
The guy was a little reluctant, but he took Mitchell. They walked for awhile through a forest path and came into a small clearing that had indications of a lot of movement coming through that section quite a bit. The man turned away as they came upon Mike's body. The guy got sick as Mitchell looked at the practically shredded hunter. The body was gruesome enough even Mitchell felt a little ill.
"Oh man. Landry isn't going to like this."
Several hours later, Redden was in the briefing room with Teal'c, Vala, Carter and Ford. There was a picture of a sort of monkey on the screen with a silhouette of a man next to it to indicate the size difference. Information about the creature was displayed on either side of the picture.
"So it seems are large dead friend up in the lab used to look like this…." she said pointing at the picture. "Native to P9J-333, it is a docile herbivore. Very shy and completely harmless according to the locals."
"Well, it seems one of them decided to have an identity crisis." Vala said.
"A bad one." Ford muttered.
"Yes. Something caused a rapid and extreme mutation." Redden said.
"That something is creature number two." Carter said.
"Exactly." she said pointing a remote at the screen.
The strange black thing was shown next to a ruler, measuring it to be seven inches long. Rather ugly and looked like a worm in some ways.
"This little fella, gives off a type of radiation that we've never encountered before." she said changing the screen to show other pictures of the creature, like X-rays and MRI's. "It latches itself unto the lining of the stomach wall in the creature and started changing its DNA."
"Yet the inhabitants of P9J-333 claim to have never seen nor heard of any such mutation to any creature on their planet." Teal'c stated.
"Oh, I strongly doubt that our little friend here is indigenous to the planet." Redden said.
"Can you not refer to that thing as a friend? If it turns small creatures like that into bigger and deadlier ones, then a human would be much bigger and a lot worse. And quite possibly a hell of a lot more intelligent." Ford said with some disgust in his tone.
"What would you prefer I call it sir?"
He cringed slightly but let it go. She wasn't a regular to this base.
"How about slug? Ugly as one."
"Okay sir."
"Do we have any idea's where this, slug, came from? And how it got there?" Carter asked.
About an hour later, Landry and several other officers and such were there taking the body away and helping the scared hunter. The body had been taken out of the forest and brought down to the medical team on the road. Other officers were looking around and such as the body bag was zipped closed and put in the back of a ambulance.
"It was an animal. Most likely a grizzly protecting it young." Landry said as he and the sheriff walked down the dirt road toward the cabin.
"The witness is pretty freaked out."
"His friend just got mauled to death. He said it was a bear."
"He said it was a bear, or something."
"I know it can get boring up here Wade, but it doesn't mean you need to go and make up things just to make the locals excited." he said as several vehicles drove around the turn behind them, honking horns and yelling.
"I guess it's a little too late for that."
"Seal off the park before it turns into a shooting gallery."
"Look, I only have three deputies working for me, plus half a dozen volunteer rangers. This is hunting season. If I have a mad grizzly on the loose, I need it dealt with. Best thing I can do is hope that someone kills this thing before it kills again." he said before getting in his truck and leaving.
Back at the SGC, a team came back from another planet. Ford was in the gate room as they came in and a medical team arrived that had called for help before coming through.
"Lieutenant, what's going on? What attacked your team?" Ford asked as the rest of that team helped a injured man onto a gurney with his right leg all bandaged up.
"We've got a problem General."
After Ford was told what happened, he put the base on alert. He was in his office and waiting for information from other teams off world and from Teal'c. Carter was there with him as he was looking at the file on the man that was attacked recently.
"His leg was injured pretty bad. Vala was able to help fix it and get rid of the infection."
"That's good to hear. Having two people that can use those devices is better than none. Even if we had a sarcophagus, we could only use it in dire circumstances. With those healing hand devices, there is no harmful effects." Carter said.
"True." he said setting the folder down and rubbing his forehead. "But their power is limited. Can't bring people back from the dead or near death. Where is Teal'c?"
"He should be here soon. Ah, here he comes." she said seeing his coming through the window to the office.
"Teal'c, what's the word?" Ford asked as he and Vala walked in.
"There have been no attacks of this nature reported by any Jaffa settlements."
"Hmm. Well, that is good news."
"Indeed."
"None of our off world allies have reported seeing a creature or any attacks either." Carter said.
"But yet, we somehow have another attack by another deadly creature on another planet." Vala stated.
"Not to mention that it has already been converted by the Ori." Carter said.
"If the inhabitants of P2R-866 have already accepted Origin, then there would be no need of such a creature." Teal'c stated.
"Right. Somehow this doesn't seem like something the Ori would do, you know. They just outright kill or do something that leaves a message to others. Our guns and explosives can take these creatures out, so why would they make something like this?" Ford said.
"Yeah, doesn't fit there M.O." Carter said.
"So, where are they coming from if the Ori are not behind this?" Vala asked.
"We don't know. We found out something though, and it is not good news." Ford said.
"The creatures are showing up on planets that we visited." Carter said.
"This sheriff doesn't think we have a Bigfoot on our hands does he?" Mitchell asked as he buttoned up his leather jacket.
"He's a decent enough guy. Probably just watches a little too much television." Landry said handing him a twelve gauge pump action shotgun.
"On the other hand, we have seen, real live alien monsters." Mitchell said cocking the gun as he sighted it at the ground.
"He doesn't know that." Landry said coming over with another shotgun and ammo as Mitchell laid his on the table.
"True. But ah, he could be just looking for his fifteen minutes." he said loading his gun.
"He's not that sort of man."
"It could just well bring some publicity to the area. Bump up tourism."
"Whatever his motivation is, he's sure got everyone's attention about it. We've got a bunch of drunken hunters our there hyped up looking for revenge and glory."
"So, are we siding with the hunters…" he asked handing the loaded shotgun to him. "Or the bear?"
"I don't want to see anyone else get hurt."
"Just checking sir." he said loading the other one.
They headed out and started looking around. They really hadn't found much of anything dealing with tracks though after about an hour.
"This I like sir."
"A man is dead Colonel." he stated sternly.
"Yes sir, and I do sympathize. It's just that you keep telling me to relax. It has nothing to do with being around you sir. The truth is, I sit around with nothing to do, I get antsy. I'm much more at ease off world, in the thick of it."
"I was flying air support out of Bien Hoa. I caught some triple A in my left engine and I had to eject. I landed somewhere near the Laotian border, north of the DMZ zone. Cut my knee up pretty good in the process. I was lost. Bleeding badly, no food, no radio. Half a battalion North Vietnamese regulars was combing the jungle looking for me." Landry said as Mitchell stopped to knell and look at the ground.
"Tracked me day and night. Followed my blood trail."
"Obviously you got away sir." he said standing back up.
"Took me eight days." he said as they continued.
"That's why you don't like to hunt?"
"I never felt more alive." he said proudly.
"Yes sir." Mitchell said mildly.
"But I wouldn't call it relaxing."
"Oh, I'm kinda twisted that way sir." he said.
He quickly put his hand up. Landry stopped as Mitchell was looking around listening. There was some rustling noise. He slowly cocked the gun as the bushes moved, but they could easily see no one was there. He took off quickly leaving Landry alone.
"Sheriff Stokes, come in. We're about a mile northwest of Silver Creek Junction. We found another body." a officer said over the radio unit in Landry's vest pocket. "It's been torn to shreds."
"Colonel, respond."
He stopped and pulled his radio out.
"I hear it sir." he said then put it back quickly.
Landry started looking around and he came upon a couple of hunters that were just standing there, looking at something. They weren't happy either. Mitchell was there with another hunter by him.
"Colonel?"
"Victim number two." he said putting the rifle on his shoulder.
The dead man was in some bushes and between a couple small trees near a small stream. He was very bloody and really torn apart.
The group was down in her lab. He and Sam had looked over the two missions to see what common element caused this to happen.
"Okay, so these two missions to observe the people was done with those cloaking belt or arm things?" Vala asked.
"Right. We wanted to see if one planet was going to convert or not. If not, talk to them and such. Try to help them. The other was already converted and we were looking for information. All our people were hidden by the cloaking devices."
"We tested them for safety before we had teams use them for missions such as this. That started just over a week ago." Carter said slowly turning back in forth in her stool chair.
"I use it on and off and even if there was bad side effects, they would have never hurt me anyway. The General has a version of it compiled with another technology I, ahem, borrowed."
"Borrowed? Sounds more like stole to me." Carter said crossing her arms.
"Let's just say that M1-6 knows I have it, unofficially."
"Does that mean you think there is some sort of malfunction with the device then?" Vala asked from the other chair stool.
"That's where there is a problem. I asked for a complete recall of all the Sodan cloaking devices, including the ones at Area 51. Ford's is the exception."
"Yes I am." he said smiling lightly. "We found out that one of the devices at Area 51 is missing though."
"Do we know the perpetrator?" Teal'c asked.
"Not yet." Carter said.
"It's being looked at currently. All the tapes and such. For the moment, we need to have all the cloaking devices checked out. Teal'c, can you help Sam with that. I'm going to get other work done and check on Mitchell and Landry."
It had been a hour or so and Teal'c was in an observation room using one cloaking device after another. Carter was in the upper room monitoring him and the rest of the room for anything strange or unusual. Such as the ugly slug thing. Several other pieces of equipment and such were down in the room with Teal'c, none attached to him though.
"No change with this one either Teal'c." she said looking at the screen.
"Anything yet?" Vala asked walking in taking the seat next to her.
"No." she said as Teal'c decloaked.
"Any word from Area 51 yet?"
"Agent Barret called in about an hour ago. He said his team has detained everyone that has security clearance to the lab where the devices were held. He'll have more answers after he finishes questioning them." she said as Teal'c put away the device and got another one onto his arm.
"So he's made a full recovery then?"
"Well, he's cleared for duty, but he still feels responsible for what happened."
"He was brain washed. It's hardly his fault."
"He's still determined to find out how it happened and catch those who are responsible."
"It is ironic that not so long ago, the mere presence of a Goa'uld on Earth would have been of great concern." Teal'c stated.
"Seriously, who would have ever thought we'd have bigger fish to fry." Carter said as Vala shook her head with a smile. "Or that you would have ever used the word ironic in a sentence."
Teal'c smiled and nodded. She also smiled at the little joke.
"Indeed." he said pushing a button on the keyboard near him. "I am ready."
"Okay, go ahead."
He vanished and then she looked at the screen.
"Nothing as before." she said watching it. Suddenly it changed and a big white spot was on the screen of the target area. "Wait a minute. There is elevated radiation levels coming from the area of the cloaking field. Levels are climbing."
Teal'c was still cloaked and looking around. He saw something moving on the floor and he decloaked. The two women got up to look over the table and see the ugly slug thing flapping lightly on the ground. Teal'c kept his zat aimed at it, but didn't fire.
"That isn't good." Vala muttered.
Mitchell and Landry were off looking again and so were the other hunters.
"A lot of activity out here sir." Mitchell said seeing some trash against a tree and cigarette butts on the ground. A lot of them actually. All stamped out though.
"I told you, the last thing we need is for this place to turn into the O.K Corral." he said as they stopped.
Several loud guns shots went off and kept going off.
"Or a Vice Presidential bird hunt." Mitchell said as they took off.
They ran up to find five hunters firing off down a hill.
"Hold your fire!" Mitchell yelled running up.
"You boys want to tell me what you're shooting at?" Landry demanded.
"We saw something moving down there!" one of the men said pointing. Mitchell took off quickly. "Hey man, are you crazy?!"
Mitchell got to the bottom of the hill and found the area rather shot up with bullets. A few small trees were down along with bushes. He looked at one shot up but still standing tree to see blood on it. He followed the trail along, which didn't go very far. There was a large tree nearby and a small pool of blood on the ground, which was being dripped into. But no one was up in the tree. He aimed the rifle quickly.
"Turn that thing off."
A man decloaked. From the looks of it, he was shot in the lower left side. He could see that nothing vital was hit by the amount of blood that was dripping out.
"Help me." he said in fear.
Teal'c was now in the infirmary and had been checked out. Ford, Carter and Vala were there.
"Are you sure your okay?" Carter asked as Teal'c was still seated on the bed.
"I am fine Colonel Carter."
"No headaches? No nausea? No sudden indications of onset monsterism?" Vala asked.
"I don't think that's how it works Vala. Besides, the Sodan were, are Jaffa and they never said anything about seeing anything like this when we asked." Ford said.
"He is just fine General." Redden said coming out of another section of the infirmary as she looked at a clipboard. "No sign of radiation poisoning and no sign of genetic manipulation. I think the, slug, needs to sustain close contact in order to effect the victims DNA."
"That's reassuring, for all of us." Vala said.
"We're still running test on it right now. I would like to know more about what actually happened. You say it just suddenly appeared inside the cloaking field?"
"And then it just sat there like a lump." Vala said as Teal'c opened his mouth.
"The one inside the stomach of the creature was quite active." Teal'c stated.
"Yes, but that one had, food or a host for lack of a better term so maybe this one couldn't do much of anything until it had a host to take over." Ford said.
"That's a possibility General. This one has became quite active lately too in its containment tank."
"Maybe it was momentarily stunned as it was brought into our dimension." Carter said. "It would be the most logical and reasonable explanation."
"I'm sorry." Redden said.
"It would explain why the people using the cloaks haven't been attacked by the creatures."
"No, I meant the transition to our dimension part."
"Ah. The cloaking device emits a energy field around the wearer that puts them slightly out of phase with our normal space time dimension. Essentially, whoever is in this field is in a pocket of subspace making them virtually undetectable."
"That would mean that that, slug is from another universe. Well, another dimension of existence." Ford said.
"A sub space plane, yeah." Carter said.
"Great. Wonder what else is on that side."
"Ancient technology has allowed us to see extra dimension creatures before." Teal'c stated.
"That was creepy and I wasn't even here."
"But the Sodan…." Vala began.
"Are Jaffa like I said. They're symbiont probably made those slug things not come near them or they did and died. I talked to Haikon earlier and he said that they had never heard of such a thing happening ever."
"That would mean this all started when we started using the devices. And I think I know why." Carter said.
"Yeah, their unfortunate symbionts."
"No. I'm quite sure that has nothing to do with it."
Mitchell reached down and took the device off the mans left wrist. Then he did a small check of the wound.
"The bullet went straight through. Congratulations, you're going to be just fine." he said walking a few steps away.
"What? I've been shot." he said holding his side.
"Yeah, you have." he said kneeling down and looking at the Sodan device. "Hurt's don't it? Don't worry, I've had worse."
"I'm bleeding to death here! I need an ambulance!"
"I can do that." he said still looking at the device. "As soon as I find out what you are doing running around the woods with an Sodan cloaking device?"
"You're going to let me die?!"
"I figure." he said looking at the shotgun he was holding. "You're connected with the Trust. Am I right? With orders to spy on Landry and the rest of SG-1."
"Please, just get me to a hospital." he begged.
"See, you're obviously not a Goa'uld, or you'd just heal yourself."
"What are you talking about?"
"Snakes. Snakes in peoples heads. Evil snakes controlling their host bodies with megalomaniac, taking over the galaxy delusions."
"I know what a Goa'uld is." the man said grunting in pain as he held his side.
"Do you know you are working for one?"
The man turned to him quickly.
"That's who's running the Trust these days."
"You're crazy man!"
"Yeah, that's what they keep telling me." he said digging into his pocket. "You know, they really should give you a personal shield to go with that cloaking device. That and half a brain."
Landry was on the phone to the SGC back in the cabin.
"We found a car nearby with surveillance and recording equipment. I figure the most he learned was that Mitchell is terrible at chess and has some form of sleep apnea. What about your end?"
"Sleeping problems? Hmm. I'll have to talk to him about that. Our end though huh? Well, we've found out those lovely cloaking devices bring those creatures into our dimension."
"How so?"
"I thought the Sodan, who have been using them for a very long time, used their symbionts to protect them. Not the case. The cloaking devices emit a radiation that is harmful to humans. Not to me though. That radiation repels the, slug like creature. Because it was harmful to us, we had to adapt it and in doing so, that radiation wasn't there to keep those things at bay."
"So that radiation was part of the vital function of the device?"
"Yeah. Which means we may not ever be able to use these devices again. Well, Teal'c and I can and any Jaffa. Plus Vala and, well. Anyone else is at risk."
"I see. That doesn't help us and the Joint Chiefs aren't going to like this information either."
"Yeah. They wanted to have people go and take out certain targets without being seen. Which brings me to another thing. That Trust operative Mitchell found could have been out there for some time now and may even have been following you or him since we've been told to go get some down time. Whatever it out there attacking everyone, I'd be willing to bet that it's more than just a grizzly bear. Then again it could be a grizzly bear that has mutated."
"We're going to need more help out here then."
"I'm going to be there soon. The other's should be coming along."
Outside the injured Trust operative was being loaded into a army medical truck with men from a local army base. He was then to be sent to be asked questions by the N.I.D. The sheriff walked up to Mitchell as he was watching the man being taken away.
"Want to bring me into the loop here Colonel?"
"The man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Got shot for his troubles. Bound to happen with all these yahoo's running around the woods with guns." he said walking away as Landry walked up.
"Then why am I not being allowed to question him?"
"Because the Air Force is taking over this investigation in the interest of National Security, that's why."
The man nodded knowing he was getting the run around. He walked back over to his truck.
"Just a grizzly bear huh? Since when does the Air Force go after a grizzly bear in the name of national security?"
"There's nothing to worry about Wade. Things will be back to normal in no time." Landry said with a smile as he started to walk away.
The sheriff shook his head and went to get in his truck. Mitchell and Landry turned around as they heard a loud roar and saw a large unknown creature suddenly show up from the tree line near the truck and kill the sheriff. He died screaming in pain and was dragged away as the two ran up. Blood was on his door and it was badly dented in the two noticed before running after the creature. They followed as far as they could until they lost the trail. Only his hat was there with blood on it.
"Dammit." Landry swore as he lowered his gun with Mitchell.
"Help's on the way sir. We'll get this thing back." Mitchell said as they heard other's looking around and yelling.
A few hours later, armed teams from the SGC were headed for the cabin. The hunters and any other civilians were taken away from the area within a ten miles radius.
A tent was sent up and all of SG-1, aside from Daniel, was there, including Vala. Landry was to keep a watch over the command area they set up in the front yard while the other teams spread out and searched. Carter and Ford were explaining the plan. Before the entire set up though, Mitchell got a very big scare.
Mitchell and Landry were waiting for them to show up outside the cabin. He hadn't moved his car so it was still out in the open. They were sitting there on the front porch with the shotguns, just in case. They were both hoping that it would just show up so they could kill it and then go back to having a sort of relaxing time.
"Ah, that's the General now." Mitchell said as he heard the familiar sound of Ford's car.
"I guess that Colonel Carter didn't want to drive her car." Landry said as he got up.
"That or maybe because her car might not make it up here." he said getting up.
When they were still at the highway were the road to the cabin turned into dirt, Ford had everyone wait ten seconds before following up. He didn't want to accidentally have their Hummers and other vehicles all have to stop because he ended up causing damage to the windshields from his tires spitting dirt. So they waited a few moments as the General Lee went flying up the road, spraying dirt everywhere.
"Having fun?" Carter asked holding onto the hand hold above her as he flew down the road at excessive speeds.
"Hey, I don't get to do this often." he said going around a turn drifting.
"That was pretty cool! How do you do that?" Vala asked as she was looking out the windows.
"Takes a lot of practice." he said drifting into another turn and sending more dirt flying. "God how I enjoy this."
Several more drifting turns and the screen said he was coming upon his destination. He saw the readout of a vehicle profile ahead of him and what it was.
"Let's scare Mitchell a little."
"What?" Carter asked.
Mitchell came off the porch as he watched the General Lee come into the drive drifting fast, and it wasn't stopping. He dropped the gun running up waving his hands as Ford spun the car around to bring the driver side several feet from the back end of Mitchell's Mustang.
"That wasn't funny sir!" he yelled as Ford got out of the window laughing.
"I'm sorry Mitchell." he said as Carter got out by opening the door and then let Vala out. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Besides, if I had hit your lovely car, I would have paid for the damage."
"I've taken very good care of this car! You would have caused her first major damage!"
"I promise I won't do that again." he said holding up a hand as the other vehicles started showing up. "I can understand how much this means to you."
"You better. I've had this car since I was a teenager." he said patting the hood.
"You know who to come to then if you need help. Let's get to work on this beast problem."
As Ford and Landry went off to talk to the teams arriving Carter had Mitchell stay a moment.
"You are the only other person, besides me and General O'Neill, people with ranks that he's ever let yell at him that way."
"After I yelled, I actually thought he was going to yell back and give me a dressing down."
"You did have a valid point. He almost rear ended this beautiful car. Personally, mines better."
"Yeah, ever car owner says that about their cars." he said as they walked over to the tents that were quickly being set up.
They got outfitted quickly and then got back into the tent to see what the plans were. A few more vehicles arrived as they were talking.
"So we're talking about a little critter from another dimension that burrows into a bigger critter and turns it into a rampaging monster?" Mitchell asked.
"Yeah, that about sums it up." Ford said. "Good thing Jack couldn't make it, though I wish he was here."
"What's would be the problem if he was here?" Mitchell asked.
"All this going on, on is property. The lawn and everything. Personally, if this was my place, I'd hate the intrusion despite what needs to be done. And I think Jack would make it personal."
"Seeing as his families life would be in jeopardy and such, I can see it to." Carter said. "That is if Sarah, Charlie and he were here."
"Okay, before the creature decides to move onto the population, how do we find this thing?" Mitchell asked.
"Well, I've made some hand held scanners that will pick up the radiation it gives off, within a three hundred meter range of the scanner." Carter said and pointed at a large map of the park that was set up on a large backboard. "We've also created a radio active isotope package that gives off the signature that repels the, slug as it's being called. We've had them dropped around the perimeter of the park. That should stop them from getting too far."
"Isn't that dangerous for us?" Reynolds asked.
"If you get to close." Ford said. "Each team will get maps so they know where the drops are so you don't get close. If you find the creature near the drops, call it in. Me, Teal'c and Vala are not effected by the radiation."
"In six hours they will be harmless so we have that much time to find this creature before then." Carter said.
"It's going to be dark soon." Vala said.
"Yes. Which will make things much more difficult on us all." Ford said. "The sooner we get this thing found and killed, the sooner we all go home. Well, some of us anyway."
"With the exception of SG-1, everyone else will work in teams of four. You'll start here and spread out in a 300 meter radius." Landry said pointing at the map. "I want radio contact from each team every ten minutes. If there is any trouble, another team will come to your aid."
"Any questions?" Ford asked.
"Doctor Jackson isn't coming is he?" Reynolds asked.
"No, he's still in England. Why?" Landry asked.
"No offense sir, but night time doesn't seem work in his favor very well."
"Yeah, I've noticed." Ford said. "I've had to help him three times to get back to the gate with a sprained ankle. If he wasn't overseas, I'd have him stay at the base or go home."
More than several people agreed with the idea as they moved out since there was no other questions.
They had been traveling along through the forest for a few hours now. Mitchell was in the lead using his scanner. Ford was the only one without one. Every so often they heard helicopters flying over their heads. Some team, Ford forgot which one had decided to make a bet out of which one would get the first reading on the enemy. The first confirmed reading anyway. The next bet was made on which team would be the one to kill it. A problem was brought up quickly just after whatever team it was made the suggestion of the bet over the open com links. Reynolds brought up the problem saying that both General's were listening in. Landry laughed while Ford said it was a good idea to have a bet. The SGC was loaded with bets to begin with anyway. The only stipulation was that no team was to go gung ho and try to make themselves the first on both bets. Caution was to be taken seriously as though they were on another planet that was totally unknown. Any team that was found to be reckless was going to be in serious trouble. So far no teams were being reckless. And so far no teams had gotten any readings. At the moment it was night time and they were looking around with their lights even though the moon light was helping them see to some degree. Ford looked up through his glasses as the helicopter came over their position again, or so it looked.
"I seriously hope we win that bet." Carter said.
"You just don't want to share those brownies. Can't believe I fell for that bet." Ford muttered.
"The bet only works for the team that kills it." Mitchell said. "Not for getting the reading."
"I forget, what's the bet for the first reading?" Ford asked.
"I believe an amount of money was mentioned." Teal'c stated.
"I didn't make a bet on that did I?"
"No." Teal'c said.
"Why?"
"Because we might win and that wouldn't be good for us seeing as we have enough money to begin with. That's why I told everyone that we decline to be in the first part of the bet." Carter said.
"Oh. My mind must have been elsewhere."
"You do know, that even if we loose the second part of the bet, you have to make those brownies for us anyway." she said with a sly smile.
"I know." he muttered while shaking his head. "Daniel is going to throw a fit when he finds out."
"I've got a reading." Mitchell said as his scanner started beeping.
"Me to." Carter said.
"Figures it would be us." Ford said telling everyone through his com.
There was a lot of moans and Landry laughing in the background. One team was happy because they were betting on SG-1. All the teams were slowly converging as they each slowly got the creature on their scanners. They all came together about a minute later in a semi large open area surrounded by trees. But no creature was there.
"I want everyone to get into the middle of this clearing, now." Ford ordered. "Back to back in a circle. SG-1, keep a look out. And for god sakes people, don't shoot each other."
"Okay, where the hell is it?" Mitchell asked looking around as the teams had gotten into a circle kneeling.
"We should be right on top of it." Carter said looking at her scanner.
"Look, no creature, no matter how stupid is dumb enough to attack a group this size." Vala said.
"Not unless it was mad to begin with." Ford said listening closely to the ground after he told everyone to stop moving.
"True." Vala said.
"Hear anything yet?" Mitchell asked quietly.
"Yeah. Must have some big paws or whatever. It's…" he said looking up past Vala. "That's one ugly…."
"Vala…." Mitchell began.
"Move, sure." she said rolling to the side quickly as everyone spotted the large creature.
Since she was out of the way, they all opened fire. It died very quickly as several dozen rounds slammed into and/or through it. It just stood there and died without moving.
"That's going to take awhile to clean up." Ford said getting off the ground.
"That was really strange." Vala said.
"Why?" Mitchell asked as the teams started to disperse and call for a clean up crew.
"Because it attacked a large group."
"Everyone stop and move back….." Ford began.
"General!" Mitchell yelled.
Ford spun around and fired, only to miss and put a large hole in a tree as Mitchell knocked him to the ground just as the creature was about to hit him. Ford had lost both his weapons and had to use the hidden gun in his coat arm to shoot at the creature with everyone else. It backpedaled but didn't get back into the woods in time as it died like the other creature. Totally riddled with bullets. Teal'c walked over and helped the two to their feet.
"Thanks T. Nice tackle Mitchell."
"Thank you General. I did my best."
Teal'c nodded as Reynolds was relaying back that to Landry that the creatures were dead.
"That makes more sense now." Vala said as Ford muttered something about having bruised ribs a moment ago.
"What does?" Mitchell asked.
"Why the first creature attacked the whole group."
"One distracts the group while the other attacks to cause confusion in the ranks. Rather intelligent for a slug. Creepy." Ford said picking up one of his guns. "Um, anyone seen where my other gun went?"
Several people pointed at the dead creature that was bleeding heavily on the ground.
"Ah, smegging hell…."
"Ah General…" one of the men from another team said.
"Yeah?" he asked while using a stick to get his other gun.
"We all participated in killing the creature." Reynolds said with a smile that was on just about everyone else's face.
He looked up and realized what they meant, and almost felt like crying.
Ford was in trouble when they got back. He had to make brownies for all the teams that participated seeing as it took them all to kill both creatures. Thankfully he didn't have to do it until he was back at the base. It was going to take hours. At least 5 or more. On the bright side, he didn't have to go back to base just yet seeing as they were now on that, vacation. Daniel wasn't there unfortunately, but that didn't matter. All the other teams and such had left leaving SG-1 and Landry. Landry was currently elsewhere in the house while they were all still up playing poker. After all that time outside, the clean up and everything, they were still high on adrenalin. Later it was coffee and some good food.
"Let's see who's flopped their nuts." Vala said turning over a card since she was dealer at the moment. "Hmm, a Queen."
Ford saw Sam look at her cards, thinking heavily. The other's looked at their cards but Mitchell did see the look that crossed Ford's face, a hint of a smile. Carter's face was completely blank, but Ford saw her eyes smiling brightly.
"She's got another good hand doesn't she?" Mitchell asked.
"I don't know." Ford said as Landry walked up.
"Ah, hello General. Mitchell is currently the one missing the most chips. We could use some new blood if you wish to join." Vala said.
"No thank you." he said seeing the different piles. "Hmm, I see Colonel Carter is doing rather well."
"Indeed." Teal'c said with surprise in his voice.
"Yeah, there's a interesting story behind it as well sir." Mitchell said as Carter smiled.
"Oh, do tell."
"Back when me, Teal'c and Ford were going off in that Al'kesh that General O'Neill modified, we played poker to pass the time."
"I always wondered what you two would have done if Teal'c hadn't went." Mitchell said.
"Nothing unfortunately." she muttered.
"They do know how to keep protocol Colonel." Landry said warningly.
"I know sir, but…."
"I didn't mean it like that." Carter said.
"I wouldn't have done anything she meant." Ford said.
"Indeed." Teal'c said giving the two a look. They shrugged. "It wasn't until after they were married…."
"Wait a minute! That rumor is true! You waited 53 years before getting…..um.." Mitchell said stuttering off as he realized what he was saying.
"Getting laid? Kinda crude way of putting it Mitchell. But yes, I waited like I was raised to."
"Interesting. I heard that many men don't do that anymore." Vala said. "Daniel told me that."
"I don't see where this part of the story has anything to do with why Carter has most of the chips." Landry said.
"Colonel Carter, at the time of that mission. Sucked I believe is the appropriate word." Teal'c said as Ford chuckled.
She smacked his arm.
"What? It's true. First hour we played you lost all your chips, twice. I just kept giving you some of mine and you never won them back." Ford said.
"How did you get so much better since then Colonel?" Landry asked.
A smile crossed her face.
"Ford taught me."
"Kinda figured that." Mitchell muttered.
"Ah, but we play strip poker." he said with a smile. It went away rather quickly. "I taught her too well though. I end up being the one without the clothes now more often than not."
"You have taught her well indeed." Teal'c said looking at her pile and then his. She had about 80 of the chips. Ford and Vala were pretty well tied and Teal'c was rather close to them. Mitchell was almost at bust.
"Well sir, any news?" Mitchell asked.
"Final sweeps have came up empty even though the park is enormous. Our scanners do have a limited range. That being the case, we're sending in fresh radio active perimeters and sealing off the area for another week."
"That will do it. Another team came come in later and take a look around after that." Ford said looking at Carter and then his cards.
She dropped some large chips on the table while giving him a look of challenge.
"I fold."
"Again? Damn. That's what? The third or fourth hand against her now." Mitchell said.
"Fifth actually." Ford said shaking his head.
Vala set a card down and then flipped one.
"River comes up, it's a King of Spades. Possible royal marriage or King Kong in the works."
"You've been watching the poker channel again too much Vala." Mitchell muttered looking at his cards again.
"I will match your bet Colonel." Teal'c said putting his chips in.
"I'm out." Mitchell said folding.
"Sam's already won." Ford muttered.
"Are you looking at her cards?"
"I don't have my glasses on Mitchell. I can read her body language very well though."
"And yet, you state that you loose your clothing more often that not." Mitchell said.
"Between us, she hides it well. With other people, she lets me know in subtle ways."
Carter raised her ante another hundred or so.
"I'm out." Vala said.
The two stared at each other for about ten seconds. Teal'c put his in and called her.
"What do you have this time Sam?" Ford asked.
"Four Jacks." she said smiling wickedly.
Teal'c turned over his cards to show a full house.
"Sorry Teal'c." she said pulling the large pot to her. "Look on the bright side, you held out longer than Ford usually does."
"Ouch." Mitchell said.
"I will take that as a complement." Teal'c stated.
"Remind me never to play poker with you Colonel." Landry said. "I'm glad to see you're all having a good time though."
"I'm having fun." Carter said happily as she stacked her piles.
"It's been awhile since I've had a good time like this sir. Best part was when I had to tackle Ford here." he said with a chuckle.
"That doesn't count as a official take down." Ford said as Carter and Vala laughed. Teal'c was smiling with amusement. "I wasn't paying attention to you…"
"That was the point. You always say in those classes, well not always, point is you have said that in every fight you need to look at everything around you. Keep watch on where everything and everyone is so you don't get attacked from behind and such. Especially to keep watch on where your own people are the best you can so you don't end up shooting, hitting or running into them. In this case, you didn't even see me coming. I actually thought, as I was diving into you, you were going to duck or knock me aside or something."
"Surprised me too. I've never seen anyone take you down like that Ford." Carter said and then looked at her chips as she played with them. "Must be old age kicking in."
"Oh ha, ha." he said sarcastically as the other's laughed. "Why didn't you jump me instead of him?"
"Other than because I wasn't close enough, I'm not the one that's going to end up with bruises later."
"Tell me about it. My right shoulder has been aching for awhile now. Kinda felt like I slammed it into a metal pole." Mitchell said rubbing it slightly. "Can't wait to tell Jackson though. No, can't wait to hear how General O'Neill reacts."
"I'm never going to hear the end of this." Ford said shaking his head with a sigh. "There has to be some bet going on at the base that just got fulfilled."
"Wish I could have been there to see it." Landry said grabbing a chair. "Deal me in. Better yet, let me deal."
"Glad you can join us sir." Mitchell said scooting over.
"I can gladly spare you some chips sir." Carter said handing him some. "No offense, but I'll probably have them back soon anyway."
After another hour or so, they quit to finally go to bed. Cater still had the most chips. Mitchell lost early on. Vala was next to follow and after that they decided to quit.
The next day, they got together in the main room. Daniel still hadn't showed up and didn't seem to be going to. Landry went out to try looking for that duck again. Ford was going to go, but they all had important plans. Plans dealing with the house in the mountains that also hid the T.A.R.D.I.S.
"Well, we know why Jack isn't here and knowing Daniel, he and Lara are looking over artifacts and talking about past accomplishments." Ford muttered as he sat a few folders down.
"I gotta ask, what's the odds of them getting together?" Mitchell asked.
"You mean like us?" Carter asked as she opened a folder she had. "I don't know. They never really shared romantic interest before."
"I certainly hope not." Vala muttered opening a folder as Teal'c was.
"Since Daniel isn't here, and neither is Jack, I have their folders with their suggestions and such. We got to remember not to tell anyone about what we're doing here."
"You've said that before." Carter said.
"Sorry. What we want to do here could turn out to be a bad thing if certain people found out about it."
"What would be wrong about it?" Mitchell asked.
"Jack mentioned something about people on the hill looking at, SG-1, as of late. Someone knows that I've changed and have two hearts." Ford said quietly. "As for why I have two now…I guess the connections haven't connected."
"Wait, we're being watched?" Carter asked.
"Yep. At least that's what Jack figures. I haven't found who it is yet. K-9 has been checking the base and around our house for surveillance for sometime now, but nothing has came up yet. He's also been checking the satellites. Other than our homes being taken picture of, there's nothing else. Whatever is going on, has to be being done on paper since K-9 can't find anything electronically."
"Our house hasn't been bugged has it?" Carter asked.
"It was. K-9 detected it when we came home a few weeks ago. I know I told you."
"I don't remember it."
"I think you were dead tired after a mission. We all were. K-9 traced the signal, but it ended up being a dead end quickly after a van down the street took off. I couldn't get to the General in time and they shut down the signal before K-9 could tell me anything. So far, no bugs since then."
"What about our places?" Mitchell asked.
"Went and got the one from Teal'cs the next day and Daniel's too. Found the one at yours the day after. With K-9's help, and a couple of things from the SGC, and such. I placed a object in each of your houses, which includes ours. Through it, K-9 keeps a track of if anyone tries to put any more…devices. So far, no one has tried since. And in case you are wondering Cam." he said looking at him as Mitchell slightly straightened up. "You don't have to worry about anything. K-9 only scans for anything electronically that should be there. Not any…activities."
"And our vehicles?" Teal'c asked.
"They get checked at the base every time you come to work. General fried the unit one guy tried to put in his bumper. According to the surveillance camera, the guy got burned for his troubles."
"Burned?" Vala asked. "You have a flame thrower on your car?"
"No. Nice idea though, but seeing as the fuel I use. Anyway, a highly charged electrical field protects the General from intruders. You try to tamper with the him, and he doesn't recognize you. Buzz!"
"You mean like a zat blast?" Vala said.
"No. More like touching a live wire." Carter said. "Except a little worse."
"Ouch. How bad was he hurt?"
"Somewhere along the lines of first and second degree burns on his right arm."
"We should get onto this before Landry gets back." Carter said.
"Yes. K-9, let us know when he starts back hmm?"
"Yes Master."
"Okay, this here is Jack and Daniel's ideas and things they'd like to see at that house." Ford said pulling out a few papers and setting them in front of them.
"I probably don't even have to look at Jack's to see he probably asked for a pond to fish in." Carter said.
"He tried, I told him not happening. Mostly because there is a mountain lake nearby on the property anyway."
"How much property do we own anyway?" Mitchell asked.
"About 60 acres. Most of it is land that hasn't been touched. Lot of brush and down trees are around. It was easy to…put up the, rather large hanger/garage. Didn't take long either."
With a laptop and construction program, along with several other programs and pictures of the land they were building on within a three acre parcel, they talked and with K-9's help they had different models made up and such. A couple hours later, they got finished. Ford would show Jack what they came up with and show Daniel when he came back to find out what they thought and if anything needed changing. It was only a few days later that a few changes did take place on the plans and then Ford made the necessary calls.
