Ready, Set, Fire
Chimera crept into the Medical Ward, darting under the beds to one side. She watched the boots of the soldier she had followed through the door as she slunk along the beds. Her tail twitched as she stopped under one bed, the boots having come to a stop and another pair of feet joining them. Peering out, Chimera saw a large woman with a fearsome scowl and a nurses uniform.
"What can I do for you Smitherson?"
"I was wondering if you had any Aspirin Ma'am."
The nurse peered at the man.
"Migraine again?"
Chimera slipped past to the next bed as Smitherson nodded. The nurse grunted, turning away.
"Doctor Henders isn't here, but I will let him know you stopped by. He thinks something in your diet might be causing them."
Chimera ignored any further conversation, slipping through into the hallway and down to the storeroom while the nurse was distracted. She appeared to be the only official on duty. Chimera padded to the doorway of the Loading Bay and saw it was empty. She sat down and studied the cameras positions better, cocking her head to one side as she listened to the humming in the walls. She bruffed against the wall beneath the electronic lock and closed her eyes, feeling the minute vibrations from it. She was about to shift back when, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Before she could react, the floor suddenly dropped away.
"Who do we have here then?"
Chimera found herself suddenly at eye level with the scowling nurse. A scowl which quickly changed into a smile.
"Well aren't you just the cutest."
Oh, bugger.
Chimera thought, her ears going back. This was going to be tricky to get out of.
Dean tried to hide a wince as he adjusted the gun hidden in the small of his back. Sam grinned smugly.
Stiff Dean?"
His brother glared at him, but Sam just kept up with the shit eating grin.
"No."
Dean huffed but couldn't help the grin that spread.
"Not really, but she is definitely a wildcat. Literally. Got one hell of a set of claws on her."
Sam pulled a face.
"I do not need to know."
Dean glanced at his watch. It was gone one and Chimera still hadn't shown up.
"You think we should go find her?"
Sam checked his own watch.
"She is fifteen minutes late and I get the feeling that is not normal for her."
Dean nodded and they headed for the Medical Ward.
"Maybe she got caught."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Changing from a cat? That would be impressive. How do you think she would explain that?"
Dean grunted and they walked in silence. When they reached the Medical Ward, he pulled open the door and his brother walked past. Dean didn't realise his brother had stopped until he almost smacked into Sam's shoulder.
"What?"
He followed Sam's gaze to a the desk at the end of the Ward, where a woman in a nurses uniform, built bigger than the two boys, was cooing at a black cat with a white bib and two white feet, nestled on its back in her arms. The boys exchanged a look, approaching the desk while trying not to laugh. Dean could have sworn the cat's eyes got narrower. The nurse looked up and Dean almost did a double take from the foul tempered look.
"Can I help you?"
The woman stroked the cat, who purred in her arms.
"I'm Agent Clyde. This is Agent Bonnie. We're looking for our colleague. Agent Felix. She was suppose to meet us at the Cafeteria and never showed. She said she would visit here first."
The nurse shrugged.
"Haven't seen her."
Dean nodded, returning his badge to the inside pocket of his jacket. Sam smiled.
"Nice cat. Is he yours?"
The nurse smiled, her face softening and becoming less terrifying.
"It's a girl and no she isn't mine, unfortunately. She wandered into the Ward all on her own."
"Did she now? Fancy that."
Dean grinned at his brother who tried to keep a professional face, unable to help the small grin. The cat twitched its tail sharply, it's gaze fixed sourly on the boys. Sam cleared his throat.
"Yes, well. That cat violates health and safety regulations I'm afraid."
"I know that. I'm the only one on duty and I'm not allowed to leave my post except on emergency. When I am relieved of duty, I plan to take her to the base vet. He will find her owner. Don't want you to accidentally wander onto the weapons range now, do we?"
The nurse went back to cooing at the cat like a baby.
"No, of course not. Wouldn't want the cute little kitty to get shot up the ass now, would we?"
Dean said with a grin to the cat. Her expression had him imagining her saying that she would take getting shot in the ass any day over her current situation. Sam elbowed his brother in the ribs.
"You know, I'm pretty sure I saw the vets down by the barracks. How about we take her for you. We were heading that way anyway."
"Unless you would prefer to do it yourself."
Dean added from the side, getting another tail swish in response. Sam tried not to stand on Dean's foot. The nurse shook her head.
"I have work to do I'm afraid. If you're heading that way, then I suppose you should take her."
Sam stepped back, nudging Dean to take the cat. He cautiously approached as the cat almost launched at him.
"Aw, she likes you Agent Clyde."
Dean's smile turned into a grimace as the cats claws dug in deeper then necessary. The boys backed away claiming the need to find their partner and get the cat to the vets, making a quick getaway out the door. Once they hit outside, they vanished round the back of the building and the cat leapt from Dean's arms. Before it hit the concrete, the cat had changed into a flustered Chimera. She spun round and raised a finger.
"Not one word. Not one freaking word or I will end the both of you so thoroughly, not even your God will be able to bring you back."
"Yes Agent Felix."
Dean smirked. Chimera growled, low and animalistic, but the boys didn't lose their grins. They did breath a sigh of relief when she spun around and stormed off though. They snorted with laughter and followed her.
"Did you manage to figure anything out?"
Chimera huffed.
"Not before I was assaulted. Horrid woman. I did find out though that there is a nurse in at all times. Even through the night. She's got the shift tomorrow night."
Sam nodded, looking back over his notes as he took a bite from his burger.
"According to the drivers, the truck should arrive at the main gate by eight. By quarter past it should be parked in the Medical Ward and gone by half past. After that, it's all laid out in the Loading Bay, being sorted by the staff, consisting of the on duty nurse and maybe one other. Depends on how much there is."
Dean washed his food down with a mouthful of beer.
"Can we get in through the Loading Bay door?"
Chimera shook her head, darting a hand out to thieve one of Dean's chips. He scowled at her smug grin.
"Nope. They lock the door and I saw motion sensors the first time."
"We also need to get past the electronic lock to destroy the remaining vaccines."
Sam added, rolling his eyes as Dean stole Chimeras bottle of coke.
"I can hack the lock. We also need the cameras disabled. I thought about using it for the fire, but the camera runs on a separate electrical system to the medical freezers. it would look strange."
Chimera snatched the bottle of coke back as she spoke.
"Could we put it on a loop?"
Sam grinned as Chimera aimed the bottle at Dean and twisted the cap. Dean flinched, almost ducking as he expected a fizzy spray. Nothing happened except for a hiss.
"Maybe. If I get my Second to hack the system, she can put it on a loop and leave me the electronic lock to deal with."
"Second?"
Dean asked curiously. Chimera grinned, her fangs showing.
"Second in command and before you ask, yes she is cute, no I am not asking. Not even for you."
Dean raised his hands in an innocent gesture.
"How do we get to the Medical Ward without being seen by any other cameras?"
"You two don't. I'll get by as a cat and change when in the blank spot. No one will noticed that."
Dean scowled.
"What are we supposed to do? Sit here and twiddle our thumbs?"
Chimera leant across the table and patted Dean's cheek.
"At least you'll be cute while twiddling your thumbs."
Sam frowned.
"What?"
Dean shook his head.
"Don't ask. What if you get caught by nurse cuddly again?"
Chimera sniffed.
"I'll keep a better eye on her this time."
Sam suddenly grinned.
"Hey Dean, you said we needed a distraction."
Dean looked at Sam perplexed, then caught on. He grinned at Chimera.
"Yes I did, didn't I."
Chimera eyed them suspiciously.
"What? Oh. Oh, hell no."
"Come on, it's perfect. You lead her away, we sneak in behind her, break into the storeroom, grab a vaccine and set the fire."
Chimera gave him a look that would make a rabid wolf cower in fear.
"You need me to hack the lock and rewire the freezer."
Dean nodded to his brother.
"Sam's a computer genius. Give him a quick rundown and I'll be the one on watch."
Chimera looked ready to argue, then slumped in her seat with a scowl.
"Fine. You better get me out of there as soon as you can though."
Dean shrugged.
"How? You're going to have Nurse Cuddly on you."
"Won't the fire distract her enough for you to escape?"
Sam interrupted. Chimera nodded, still unhappy.
"Alright. I will be the decoy. I hate you both."
Dean snorted.
"No you don't."
Sam laughed when the coke lid bounced of Dean's forehead.
Chimera had once more taken the black and white feline form and stood flexing her claws, glaring at the double doors.
"Go get em tiger."
Sam and Chimera both looked at Dean with raised eyebrows, which for a cat, was impressive. Dean shrugged.
"What? I could have said 'There's a good kitty.'"
Chimera flicked her tail in disapproval, glowered once more at the boys and slipped through into the Medical Ward. The delivery truck had gone just a few moments before and the delivery had been small enough to only need the on duty nurse. Nurse Cuddly, as Dean had named her, was down in the Loading Bay, sorting through the new supplies. Chimera padded quickly down the Ward and into the hallway. She peered into the doctor's office and saw no suitable hiding place. The window into the Ward also made it risky for the boys sneaking by. The door to her right though seemed to open into a staff lounge. The windows looked outside and there was a sofa in the middle. Low enough that she could just slip under. The plan forming in her head, Chimera padded towards the Loading Bay, meowing. She heard a clatter as a box was shifted, then a muttering. She meowed again. A shuffling noise alerted her to movement, just moments before Nurse Cuddly appeared in the doorway.
Dean thinks she's scary for a nurse. He should try it from my angle.
Chimera thought as she stood watching the nurse. She meowed once more.
"Well, well. What are you doing back here? Did you miss me?"
I missed you about as much as I miss fleas.
Chimera headed back down the hall, keeping ahead of the woman. The nurse followed, just as they had anticipated. The cat spotted Sam and Dean taking cover in the main Ward. She gave them another glare and darted into the Staff Lounge, followed closely by Nurse Cuddly. Chimera circled the nurse's feet, yowling as she headed for the kitchen unit. The nurse giggled.
"Hungry are we?"
The nurse dug through the cupboards and Chimera watched the boys sneak past. When Dean was in the doorway though, the nurse straightened and started to turn. Dean froze and Chimera leapt forward. She shot past the nurse's feet, almost tripping her and vanished under the sofa. Nurse Cuddly spun with her.
"Now why did you do that? Silly puss. Come out here and have some fish."
Chimera rolled her eyes. She peered out at Dean, who had vanished as the Nurse got to her knees on the far side of the sofa. An open can of sardines suddenly appeared just inches from her nose and Chimera nearly gagged.
"Come on sweetie. Come have some food."
Chimera huffed. Dean owed her, big time.
Dean breathed a sigh of relief as he crept past the kitchen. That had been a close call. He had a sinking feeling that Chimera would make them pay for this at some point and it would not be pleasant. Sam was already working on the electronic lock and Dean listened to the cooing of the nurse in the Staff Lounge. Yep, Chimera would make them suffer for this. A soft beep and click told them the lock was disengaged and they slipped into the storeroom. They took a moment to see if the nurse had heard, before pulling out the flashlights. Chimera had told them to look for an experimental vaccine on Smallpox and Measles, most likely still in a shipping crate. The new delivery was all set up on the table in the centre of the room and that was where they started. Sam found a clipboard with a delivery invoice and scanned it. He was wearing a pair of sunglasses, which was odd considering the time of night. Chimera had given them to him earlier in the day, with a small device attached to one arm, effectively turning the glasses into a camera. This allowed Tanya to see what Sam was seeing from the Dark Star and an earpiece meant she could give Sam instructions to tamper with the electrics.
"Got it. Bains Pharmaceuticals, Experimental vaccine, Crate three. There should be a hundred bottles in it. Looks like it's the only box with vaccines in it."
Dean looked at the numbers on the crates. One, Two and Five.
"I don't see number three here."
Sam checked himself and the two exchanged a look over the crates.
"Hang on, what's that crate behind you, set to the side?"
Dean spun round to see another crate sitting on top of a low freezer. A large red three was painted on the top and he laughed.
"Thank god for that."
He pulled the crate open and looked at the layer of small glass bottles. Sam pulled one out and peered at the label. His hand went up to his ear.
"What is it?"
Dean asked his brother.
"She says we need to hurry up and the top layer has about fifty bottles, so check for a second layer and they will all be there."
Dean stared at Sam for a moment.
"I don't want to know."
Sam snorted.
"I'm wearing a camera Dean. All she had to do was pause the video and count."
Sam paused again.
"Or use a highly advanced computer program."
He added slowly. Dean huffed, grabbing a second bottle and shoving it into his pocket. Sam shoved his own bottle into a pocket and bent next to the freezer holding the crate. As Sam listened to Tanya, Dean lifted the top layer and made certain the rest were underneath. He packed it all up and shoved it back into place as Sam stood up, the bare wires sparking. The fire should destroy the entire room, but just incase it didn't, they had to ensure the vaccines would be destroyed. Tanya was able to hack and disable the sprinkler system and fire alarm from the Dark Star. Job done, they slipped from the room and it automatically locked behind them. They could still hear the nurse cooing in the Staff Lounge, frustration lacing her voice.
"You can't hide under there forever. Come on."
They crept past, seeing the nurse was still on her knees, this time with her back to the door. Dean could see the lights reflecting from Chimeras eyes in the shadows. They speed walked out of the infirmary, relaxing only when the doors swung shut behind them.
"Damn, that was close."
Sam nodded.
"Least we got out quick. Was easy, considering we are in a military base."
They rounded a corner and were met by a pair of guns. The boys went for their own guns automatically.
"Don't. Who are you?"
The taller, dark haired man spoke, his gun aimed at Dean, who noticed they both had strange black tattoos on their foreheads. The Winchesters removed their hands from their guns, raising them to show they were empty.
"Be very careful where you're pointing that boy. Someone could get hurt."
The dark haired man scowled, exchanging a look with his blonde companion.
"Who are you and what is your purpose here?"
"We're Agents from the OSI, following an investigation of a black market smuggling ring."
Sam answered. The dark haired man shook his head.
"No your not. Earth military has no records on you. Who do you work for? Which System Lord?"
The boys glanced at each other confused. Sam was about to say something, when the dark haired mans head snapped back violently. The three men watched in surprise as he dropped to the floor, lifeless. Dean felt his gun tugged from his holster and there was a bang, the blonde dropping beside his partner, a bullet between his eyes. Chimera flicked the safety on Dean's gun and tossed it back to him, where he randomly noticed that she had shot the man with her left hand, not her right like usual. He stared speechless at her.
"What? We have a deadline."
She shrugged and stepped over the dark haired mans body. Sam was peering at the bloody mess that use to be the man's right eye.
"Is that…?"
"I think so. She killed him with a mechanical pencil."
Dean frowned.
"can you even do that?"
Sam shrugged.
"Apparently she can."
They hurried after her. Chimera was already on the phone as they stepped outside and headed up a path.
"Yes Sheppard, I shot one of them. No I didn't shoot the other one. I know I said they were both dead. You know, there are other ways to kill someone without shooting them."
She was silent for a moment.
"I used a pencil."
She spoke offhandedly, as though it was not such an unusual thing.
"Yes Sheppard, it is possible. For a start it was a metal pencil. Of course it matters. Metal is stronger than wood. The wood would have splintered upon impact and not gone deep enough to penetrate the bone behind the optic cord."
They walked in silence again and Dean saw Chimera roll her eyes.
"I took them by surprise. They were asking the boys which System Lord they served. Looks like they got past your cover story but couldn't find any records of the boys. Or, they couldn't find me and assumed the boys were like me and not from around here. Either way, I saw a metal pencil on a nearby desk, used a maneuver I learnt in Academy to put extra force behind it and aimed it straight through his eye. Then while everyone stood looking stupid at him, I took Dean's gun and shot the second one. That's the full story. Are you happy now?"
Dean smirked and Sam shook his head with a faint smile. They glanced around, looking for any sign that the shot had been heard and the bodies found, but no one appeared to be heading in their direction. Chimera kept walking with no apparent concern. Then suddenly, there were sirens going off. Chimera flinched, bringing a hand up to one ear and turned to look to her right. They watched as a fire truck shot past to the Medical Ward which was smoking excessively, an orange glow beginning to show around the edge.
"I got to go."
Chimera hung up the phone without bothering to wait for a response.
"Looks like our work is done."
She said softly, the three stood watching as more people gathered at the burning building. They could see the roof start to catch fire.
"Who were those two you killed?"
Sam asked. Chimera shrugged.
"Two Jaffa soldiers serving the Goa'uld. They must have been placed there to protect the vaccines and got suspicious of us."
"How did you know they were Jaffa?"
Dean looked at her and was taken by the way the fire caught her face partially. One eye glowed gold, her hair shimmering like Snowflake Obsidian.
"The tattoos on their forehead. It indicates the System Lord they serve. Each Goa'uld had a symbol, a crest if you will. The Jaffa Prime, or what you would call their General, had molten gold as the mark of their rank. The rest just had a tattoo."
"Sounds painful."
She grunted, her attention shifting to something happening by the burning building. The Winchesters tried to follow her gaze as she cocked her head to one side.
"What is it?"
Dean tried to ask but she shushed him. The boys shrugged at each other. Suddenly her face fell and she glanced around as though unsure what to do. Finally, she huffed, straightened her jacket and pulled out her sunglasses.
"Stay here."
Chimera threw over her shoulder as she strode away. She headed back down to the burning building, towards the cat loving nurse, who was stood to one side with another woman.
"What if she didn't get out? She could still be trapped in there. I didn't see where she went."
The nurse had tears running down a soot covered face as her friend tried to console her. The woman hurried away to fetch some water and Chimera stepped in, a soft smile on her face.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhear your concern of a black and white cat in the fire."
The nurse turned on her and stared in astonishment.
"I never told anyone that she was a black and white."
Chimera turned to face her.
"Would it help if I told you, that I can guarantee, personally, that she escaped unharmed?"
The nurse sniffed, a look of hope in her eyes.
"How do you know?"
Chimera pulled her sunglasses off just enough to show her yellow eyes, let out the same distinct purr as the black and white cat had and winked. Her hair glimmered in the firelight.
"I promise."
That was all Chimera said and she saw a sudden look of dawning hit the nurse as she smiled, her sharp canines flashing in the firelight and walked away. She ignored the stuttering of the nurse behind her and wondered if she should mention the woman to Woolsey. The nurse seemed intelligent and Chimera had overheard her name. She returned to the boys, who raised their eyebrows.
"Did you get the vaccine for Carson?"
Chimera strode past them, ignoring their expectant looks.
"Two bottles."
Dean showed her a glass bottle and she took it, peering over her glasses at the label. Sam had moved to her other side as they headed back to their accommodation. His own sunglasses were back in his pocket. Chimera handed the bottle back to Dean.
"Good. That should keep Carson busy. We head back to Atlantis in the morning."
"What about this?"
Sam gestured to the fire behind them. It was getting smaller, the fire teams successful in their attempts to put it out. Chimera shrugged.
"The supplies will be destroyed. No doubt Colonel Smith will call us either tonight or in the morning. Let me do the talking when that happens."
She pulled open the door to the barracks and held it for the boys.
"Won't they suspect us? Or want us to investigate the bodies?"
Dean asked as they headed up the stairs opposite the door.
"Actually, they probably will. I plan to claim that the medication was contaminated and the two men attacked us when we got to close to finding out during our investigation."
Sam frowned.
"That might work. It wouldn't be the first time someone tried attacking a military base. Although, terrorists usually go for more public places."
Chimera smiled.
"It's called twisting the truth. Now, we should get some sleep while we can and hide those bottles. We don't want them to be found."