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Veritas	By : Kali Category: Stargate: SG-1 > Stargate Atlantis Views: 4567 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Kali & muses do not own any of Stargate or NCIS, nor make any profit from this work; we just borrowed them for the sake of this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
�Disclaimer:
The author does not own any of NCIS or Stargate, only borrows them for the sake
of this fanfiction.� No profit is made by
the writing of this story.
Warnings: Anything one
expects to see on Stargate or NCIS, expect it here; also, slash in the form of
Jack/Daniel, and John/Rodney; het pairings include Tony/Ziva, Gibbs/Jenny.
If you dislike such things, or are underage, do not
read!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank you, Emergency70 for the beta!

Chapter
VI

�� The
door opened before John even made it to the front steps of the house.
�� Colonel
Sheppard.�� Gibbs greeted him, a bottle
of beer in one hand.� �Come on in.�
�� Agent
Gibbs.�� John returned, pausing at the
door to introduce the party-crashing General and linguist.� �I hope you don�t mind, but a couple of
friends invited themselves along.� Dr.
Daniel Jackson and General Jack O�Neill, USAF.�
This is Special Agent Gibbs.�
�� Gibbs�
eyes flicked back and forth between them, widening minutely but otherwise
remaining calm and welcoming.� �Not at
all, Colonel.� The more the
merrier.�� He offered a hand to Jackson,
then O�Neill.� �Can I get you something
to drink?�
�� I�ll
just have coffee, if you�ve got it, Agent Gibbs.� Black.��
Daniel requested.� Jack, on the
other hand, pointed at the bottle in Gibbs� hand with interest.
�� Got
any more of those?�
�� Yep.� McGee!��
Gibbs yelled over his shoulder.
�� Boss?�� The young agent hurried over at the summons.
�� Beer.�� Gibbs raised a questioning eyebrow at
Sheppard, who nodded and jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
�� McKay
will probably have one, too.�
�� Three,
Tim.� And a mug of black coffee for Dr.
Jackson.�
�� Coming
right up!�� McGee flashed a smile and
disappeared into the kitchen.
�� Teyla
came up the steps, followed by McKay and Ronon, the two men laden down with
bags and trays of food.� Gibbs led them
all into his house, directing the food to the kitchen.� Abby appeared at Gibbs� side and accompanied
them to help get it all organized, while McGee returned with the beer and a
steaming mug of coffee.� After another
round of introductions, everyone settled in to quiet conversations � small
talk, really.� Then came the feast.
�� After
everyone had eaten and the kitchen was mostly cleaned up, Gibbs invited John
down to the basement for their conversation.�
John nodded and tapped McKay on the shoulder as he passed by.
�� Keep
an eye on things, Rodney.�� He murmured
in the scientist�s ear.
�� Go.� We�re fine.��
Rodney muttered back.
�� John
followed Gibbs to the basement stairs, unsurprised when O�Neill silently joined
him.� When Gibbs raised an eyebrow in
question, John just shrugged unapologetically.
�� Whatever
you have to say, Agent Gibbs, you can say to the General.� He�s a friend.�� John stuffed his hands into his pants�
pockets and leaned on the work table.�
�And my CO.�
�� Jack
flashed his best grin, full of O�Neill charm, and took in the work-in-progress
that was the boat Gibbs was currently building.�
�Nice boat.� If only my pond were
bigger...�
�� The
agent blinked.� �Thanks.�� He said, looking back and forth between the
two Air Force officers bemusedly.� He
stifled the urge to mutter, �Fly boys,� under his breath in exasperation.� They were flighty and enigmatic at the best
of times, and Marines often didn�t get them � which was fine because the fly
boys didn�t get the Marines so well either.
�� So
what was it you wanted to talk about, Agent Gibbs?�� John asked, leaning against a workbench and
ignoring Jack as the older man circled the boat skeleton, curiously inspecting
it and making interested and approving noises every now and then.
�� Just
�Gibbs� is fine, especially when this whole conversation is strictly
off-the-record and between us.�� Gibbs
let his gaze flick to O�Neill and back.�
�All three of us...� he added wryly.
�� Sure,
Gibbs.�� John agreed easily.
�� Well,
to start with, I�d like to explain our curiosity about you and your
people.�� Gibbs perched himself on his
stool, getting comfortable.� �I knew
Jenny for years.� Worked with her for
years, too, and considered a close friend.�
I thought I knew her really well, but I had no idea she had any
relations other than her father, Jasper Sheppard.� Your appearance was really startling and...�
�� Suspicious?�� Jack threw in, bending down to look under the
boat at...whatever it was with creaky knees and a wince.� �Don�t blame ya.� I�d be suspicious too if someone popped up
claiming to be Daniel�s relative.�
�� She
probably wouldn�t have talked about me or anyone else in the family.�� John shrugged, then decided to explain.� �Jasper was my father�s brother.� Younger brother.� Dad � Patrick � was the one who took over the
family business, but Uncle Jasper wasn�t the white collar type.� Instead, he went and enlisted in the army as
soon as he could.� Grandpa was...not
furious, but he wasn�t okay with it, either, my mom once told me.� Gramps died five years later, and Dad took it
badly.� He blamed his brother.� It caused a rift that never healed.�� John sighed.�
He understood his uncle all too well.�
�For all intents and purposes, Uncle Jasper was cut from the family
tree.� Jenny�s mother was pregnant with
Jenny at the time, and I was only about a year old.
�� Despite
the rift, I still managed to meet Jenny when we were older and we grew quite
close.� We had stuff in common, I
guess.� More than my older brother,
David, ever did.� When we hit our adulthood,
I had decided I wanted nothing more than the sky.� I went for the Air Force, and Jenny
encouraged me.� David was Dad�s son,
through to the bone.� He did everything
Dad expected of him.� I didn�t.� And when I left home for the Academy, Dad was
livid.� He saw it as being influenced by
Uncle Jasper and it just made things worse between them.�
�� Gibbs
listened attentively, shaking his head.�
He could sort of understand, as his own relationship with his father had
similar issues.� Gibbs had not only run off
at eighteen and joined the Marines, against his father�s wishes, but he�d
become a sniper � something his father � a pilot � never understood.
�� It
was partly Uncle Jasper�s
influence.�� John admitted.� I got into the Academy on his approval and
reference because Jenny asked him to help me.�
That and my grades, of course.��
John flashed a small smirk (O�Neill rolled his eyes as he passed by on
his inspection tour).� �Anyway, Jenny and
I stayed in touch over the years, even if we hardly ever ran into each other or
anything.�� He paused, debating whether
or not to get into the whole Afghanistan thing.�
Why not?� He thought.� �Then a few years ago, I was assigned to Afghanistan.� Long story short: things went very, very
wrong.� I made a decision, and I got a
black mark for it.� I would have been
given much more than that � like a dishonourable discharge, but...Jenny used
her connections and influence to get me the milk run at McMurdo instead.�
�� Antarctica?�� Gibbs wondered, looking rather
incredulous.� �That can�t possibly be
better than a DD.�
�� John
chuckled, flushing when Jack snorted and said, �The kid liked it there, Gibbs, god knows why.�
�� What�s
not to like?� I got to fly pretty often,
and I didn�t have to shoot at people or have people shoot at me.�
I found it very peaceful and beautiful.��
John grumbled, eyeing his CO.�
�Besides, sir, if I hadn�t
been assigned there, I wouldn�t be where I am today.�
�� Jack
shrugged.� �True.�
�� And
you might be dead.�
�� Jack
frowned at him, not that he would argue the point.� John�s skill as a pilot had been tested that
fateful day by the drone missile Carson Beckett had set loose by accident.
�� Alright.� So there is a real connection between you and
Jenny.�� Gibbs nodded, waving it
aside.� �You do realize it�s only that
much more suspicious because of how the Air Force is poking their nose into
things that don�t concern them.�
�� On
my authority, Gibbs.�� Jack interjected before John could
respond.� �It�s my people, my department,
that�s doing the digging.�
�� The
two men stared at one another for a long moment, neither one willing to back
down, neither one phased by the contest of wills in the least.� John � with more wisdom than many a past CO
credited him for � stayed out of it, remaining silent on the sidelines.� If Gibbs wanted to attempt to take on the Lt.
General in a pissing contest, John wasn�t going to get involved.� It was free entertainment, and he could use
some.
�� Well
are you going to tell me why?� Or at least what you�re looking for?� And
what �department� are you talking about, exactly?�� It was Gibbs who finally broke the impasse,
demanding answers.� �You can�t tell me,
seriously, that that Air Force is digging because Colonel Sheppard wants to know.�
�� John
tried not to feel too insulted.
�� It�s
not the USAF, necessarily, that wants to know what happened to Dir.
Sheppard.� It�s just that the majority of
my people at the Pentagon happen to be USAF personnel.�� Jack leaned against a workhorse, near to
John, and folded his arms over his chest.�
�I�m in command of a very top-secret department which employs a
considerable number of military and civilian personnel alike.� The military contingent is made up of people
from primarily the Air Force and Marine Corps, though we�ve expanded to include
many Army folks, too. �No Navy yet,
however.�� He glanced at John.� �Not that I recall off-hand.�
�� None
that I know of, sir.�� John agreed, not
that he hadn�t ever requested a SEAL team for Atlantis before, or would really
know what the numbers were on Earth after living in Pegasus for four years.
�� We
became concerned about the whole thing when we learned there were documents
involved in Ms. Sheppard�s death that we believe may be related to the
programme � the one my department runs, Gibbs.��
Jack continued, without giving much away.� �These documents could contain some
potentially dangerous data, not only to National Security but...also on a
personal level to however is in possession of those documents.�
�� Gibbs
frowned at both officers.� �I�m hearing a
lot �maybes� and �possibly-s� and I�m still not hearing information.� The only documents that we learned of were
contained in an old NIS file belonging to Agent Decker.� One of his old case files.� I don�t see how it could possibly be at all
relevant to whatever it is you�re so secretive about.�� He stared hard at Jack.� �Look, I can�t help you unless I know what
you want, and I mean details.� If it�s such a huge deal, I�ll sign whatever
dotted lines you want swearing to never tell another soul about it.� I�m used to keeping state secrets.�
�� Jack
sighed and shook his head.� �It�s not
that simple.� Even if I read you in �
even just the bare basics � the potential problems that would eventually come
sneaking up on you are not just annoyances, they�re real, life-threatening
dangers. �And to be perfectly frank, we �
the programme � have no use for you beyond the immediate situation and the
whereabouts of those documents.�
�� Before
Gibbs could growl back, affronted at being so blatantly termed �useless,� John
spoke up.
�� Listen,
Gibbs, I understand where you�re coming from.�
General O�Neill does, too.� All
we�re interested in are those documents.�
If we seem them, and determine whether or not they�re relevant to us,
then the problem�s easily solved.� If
they are, we take them and no one has to worry about their potential to cause
more harm.� If they�re not, then we go
away and you likely never hear from us ever again.�
�� Gibbs
remained silent for a long, tense moment, thinking that over.� Finally, still frowning, he said, �I�d like
to take you up on that, Sheppard, but I have no say over those documents.� That would be up to Vance � or even
SecNav.� Then, too, I haven�t seen them,
myself, and I can honestly say I don�t know where they are.�
�� Who
does?�� John asked.� �Director Vance?� Or were they turned over to another agency?�
�� Dear
god I hope not!�� Jack exclaimed, looking
very pained.� �I don�t want to have to
try and pry them from the hands of the CIA or FBI or whoever.�
�� Gibbs
looked just as pained, but for an entirely different reason.� It looked like he�d have to tell them what
happened at that diner after all, including the part Mike Franks had
played.� Vance wouldn�t be happy when he
found out.
�� I
need you both to just listen for a bit, alright?� No interruptions.� This is what went down at the diner and the
events leading up to it as told to me by the only person to walk away from the
gun fight alive.�� Gibbs waited until
they�d both nodded � neither looking pleased about it � before telling them the
whole story he�d heard from Mike Franks.
�� On
the mission nine years ago, William Decker was the agents� contact in
Europe.� He was the one who got them all
whatever they needed to perform the mission and get away clean and free.� Between him and the other two agents involved
a codeword was created, to be used in the event one of them was compromised as
a warning to the others.� At Decker�s
funeral, Jen heard someone using that codeword � a made-up name, Oshimaida �
trying to find any of the people involved in the mission.� As they were the only three people who�d
known the code, the guy had to have gotten it from Decker � which meant his
death was not natural or accidental.� Jen
immediately took steps to separate herself from her escort of DiNozzo and David
� for their protection � and went off on her own to deal with the problem.
�� Now
before you get mad, she didn�t try to do it all on her own.�� Gibbs assured them at the expression on
John�s face.� �She at least called in
reliable back-up.�� He was still very
pissed off she hadn�t called him,
though, since it was just as much his problem as hers, not to mention hating
how she seemed to want to protect him when he didn�t need it.� Pushing aside his anger, however, he
continued the story.� �She called in my
mentor, Mike Franks.� He�s retired, now,
but still capable and completely reliable.�
Mike met her in LA, and they did some investigating.� In the course of it, they came across
Decker�s widow, Sasha, who told them about her husband�s diner in the desert
and that Decker had told her to deliver a key to the diner to Jenny � the
Director of NCIS � if anything should ever happen to him.� She also told them Decker called it his
�insurance policy.�
�� Jen
gave Sasha her rental car and told her to get out of town.� When looking for Jenny, DiNozzo and David
found the rental at the Santa Monica pier � along with Sasha.� Dead.�
That�s how the gunmen found Jen and Mike at the diner.
�� Mike
said they showed up when he was out back behind the diner getting some water
from the reservoir.� He couldn�t make it
back in time to save Jenny, but he made sure all the scumbags were very dead
before taking the clue to Decker�s insurance policy and getting out of
there.� Not long after, DiNozzo and David
traced the place down and found Jenny.��
Gibbs blew out a harsh breath.� �I
happened to call her cell phone just then, and they informed me of what they�d
found.� By the time I got out there
myself, Vance was already on-scene and working it with my agents�
assistance.� What he didn�t know was that
Mike had called me just after I talked to DiNozzo from Washington.� We�d arranged to meet, so he could tell me
the whole story.
�� I
told him to go home after that.� I would
take care of the rest of the problem.� He
refused, even though it was a bad idea because Vance knew someone else other
than the deceased had been in that diner and walked away.� I left him in LA, hoping he�d just go home,
but I later found out he�d gone to D.C. following that clue to Decker�s
insurance policy.� By the time I got home
and put my own pieces of the puzzle together, Mike had been to the NCIS
archives and retrieved the file with the documents from the premises.� What he did with them I don�t know, and I
didn�t ask.� It was better all around if
no one else knew.�
�� I
see.�� Jack said after a long moment of
silence.� �So...call him up and tell him
you need them after all.�
�� It�s
not that simple, General.�� Gibbs
huffed.� �I�d need a damn good reason to
tell him to get on a plane and come all the way back here after just getting
home again.�
�� Jack
scowled.� �National security isn�t a good
enough reason?�
�� No,
not really.�� Gibbs replied, blunt,
sardonic, but truthful.� Now that Mike
was retired, he felt no obligation toward the government or the country any
longer.� Except for certain, extreme circumstances,
he refused to become involved in any sort of goings-on that had anything to do
with politics, the military, or NCIS.
�� Well,
give me his phone number and address and we�ll go talk to him ourselves
tomorrow.�� Jack tried, looking over at
John.� �Got a pen and paper, Sheppard?�
�� John
shook his head and at the same moment Gibbs� phone rang.� He frowned, picking it up and glancing at the
caller ID.� A feeling of dread settled in
as he saw the unknown number.
�� Now
what?�� He muttered, flipping the phone
open and answering it.� �Gibbs.�
�� Probie!� I need you down here!�� Mike Franks� voice was loud and harsh over
the static-filled line.� �Goddamn it!� You said that woman was the only loose end!�
�� She
should have been.�� Gibbs replied, not
liking the sound of that at all.� �What�s
wrong, Mike?� What happened?�
�� John
got to his feet when he heard that, and Jack straightened up, both prepared to
spring into action.� Gibbs eyed them
warily, but couldn�t do anything about it.
�� My
goddamn house blew up!� That�s what!�
�� Gibbs
paled.� �What about...�
�� We�re
lucky, Probie, that they were in town shopping at the market.�� Mike responded gruffly, speaking of his
daughter-in-law, Leyla, and granddaughter -�
Gibbs� goddaughter, Amira.� �I
stashed them someplace safe, for now, but I�m in the middle of a huge mess,
here.� The Federales aren�t very pleased
with what happened or why I disappeared right after, and there were a few
suspicious characters around town that got my gut aching.�
�� Get
on a plane and bring them here.�� Gibbs
demanded.
�� No.� Not until I know what�s going on.� So tell me, Jethro,� Gibbs fought not to flinch at the heated snap of his given
name, �What the hell haven�t you told
me?�
�� I�ve
told you all that I know, Mike.� Which is
why you should come....� Gibbs was cut off as the dial tone suddenly buzzed in
his ear.� �Shit.� Mike?��
He hung up the phone and looked at his guests.� �Cut off.�
�� That
was the guy you were telling us about?��
Jack inquired.
�� Yes.� He retired to Mexico, and lives with his
daughter-in-law and granddaughter.�
�� Jack
nodded, almost as if to himself.� He
turned away and stared at the boat, thinking.�
After a tense moment, John hesitantly dared to ask, �Sir?�
�� With
me.�� O�Neill turned on his heel and
quickly marched to the stairs.� John
hurried after him, and Gibbs followed because he wanted to know what these
people knew and what was going on.� Then
too, Gibbs intended to set McGee loose to trace Mike�s call if possible so
Gibbs would have a better idea of where to go looking for him (and Leyla and
Amira Shakarji).
�� As
soon as O�Neill walked into the room, all conversation died and all eyes turned
on him.� He was in General-mode as he
began issuing commands to his people.
�� Daniel,
call Davis and tell him we need to meet him on-board Odyssey with six standard non-disclosure and confidentiality
packages ASAP.� McKay, contact Woolsey at
the IOA and tell him we may need some help smoothing our way with Mexico.� Sheppard, call Mitchell and give him a
sit-rep, see if he can�t trace that call somehow, and let him know to standby
for transport.�� Jack paused, looked at
Teyla and Ronon, then at the NCIS crew.�
�You folks will be joining us, so just sit here and wait a few minutes
while we handle a few pesky details.�
�� Gibbs
crossed his arms defiantly, beginning to be peeved at how these flyboys were
taking charge.� He eyed Ronon and Teyla
warily as they quietly moved to take up positions that blocked any exit from
his living room.� �You don�t give orders
to NCIS agents, General O�Neill.� And if
you think I�m just going to sit around when a friend is so obviously in
trouble...�
�� I
do now, Gibbs, and did I ask you to?��
O�Neill retorted, pulling out his cell (the others were already calling
people on their own phones).� �I�m
concerned for your friend, too, and not just because of the documents.� If you want to help him, then you�re just
going to have to suck it up and deal with us because we are in a position to be able
to help.� Now if you�ll pardon me,� Jack
waggled his cell, �I have to call the President.�� With that, he turned away and made his call.
�� What?� Boss?��
DiNozzo and the others looked very confused and concerned.
�� The
president of what?�� Abby wanted to know.
�� There
is no ship designated Odyssey that I
know of...� Ducky murmured, frowning.� �A
plane, maybe?�
�� Gibbs
rubbed his face with both hands in annoyance and frustration.� �Mike Franks just called.� He told me there are suspicious people
looking for him around town and he said they blew up his house.� Then the line was cut off.�� He summarized baldly, ignoring their gasps,
widening eyes, and horrified expressions.�
�Leyla and Amira are fine, they weren�t home at the time, but I don�t
know where any of them are now.�� He
watched O�Neill and his people talk into their cells, wondering briefly what
crazy situation they were pulling him and his team into.� �And I�m pretty certain O�Neill meant the
President of the USA, Abby.�
�� Wow.� So he really is a bigwig, if he can do that
so casually.�� Tony muttered.
�� We
should go into HQ, and I can get a trace started on Mike�s call.�� McGee said
�� I
don�t think we�ll be allowed,
McGee.�� Ziva replied in a loud whisper,
eyeing Teyla and Ronon warily.
�� Jack
snapped his cell shut and looked around at Daniel and SGA-1.� �Daniel?�
�� Paul
said he�d be waiting for us, Jack.�� The
linguist responded.� �There is a slight
issue in Ms. David�s case, though.�
�� What?�� Jack blinked at him, looking over at Ziva for
a moment.� Then he frowned.� �Oh.�
Right.� McKay!�
�� ...and
they, hold on a minute.�� Rodney scowled
at the General.� �What?�
�� Tell
Dick we need Israel�s okay to read in their Mossad officer.�� Jack glared right back.� �Let�s avoid any diplomatic tangles, shall
we?�
�� Right.�� Rodney frowned and turned away again, picking
up the conversation.
�� Sheppard?�� Jack turned to the younger officer.
�� Mitchell
is standing by, sir, and he�s set some people on tracing the call.� I suggested transporting us straight to the
officer�s conference room just off the bridge.��
John reported.
�� Yeah,
good idea.� They have a lock on all of
us?�
�� Yes,
sir.� Our sub-cues and six others in the
room, whenever we�re ready.�
�� Rodney
stuck his phone into his pocket and went to stand next to Sheppard.� �Woolsey said to give him ten minutes to call
his contact in Israel and explain the situation, General.� He says he�ll meet us on board with one of
the International versions of the necessary documents.�
�� Understood.�� Jack gave a sharp nod and faced the NCIS
crew.� �Alright, listen up.� The President is very concerned at the new
turn of events, and has given me permission to bring you into the programme,
even if it�s only part way for the moment as it would take far too long to read
you in fully.� That�s time we don�t have.� Your clearance will be only for things relating
to this case...mission...situation.�
Whatever you wanna call this fiasco.
�� So
with this in mind, here�s what Sheppard and I have partially already explained
to Agent Gibbs: the programme I head is concerned about the documents allegedly
involved in Dir. Sheppard�s death because we have good reason to believe they
could be related to our work.� If they
are, then this Mike fellow is in a very tight spot.� We have several enemies who would be
absolutely rabid about getting their hands on those documents and they�re not
exactly subtle about it, nor are they merciful or humane.�
�� They
sound pretty badass.�� Tony drawled, then
flinched when Gibbs smacked him upside the head.� �Shutting up, boss.�
�� And
what is it, precisely, that your work in this super-secret programme
entails?�� Ducky asked.
�� Jack
rubbed the back of his neck, throwing a sheepish glance at Daniel.� �Uh...I really hate this part.� No matter how I say it, I always get the
�you�re certifiable, O�Neill� response.�
Danny?�
�� Daniel
rolled his eyes.� �Oh sure.� Leave it to me.� Thanks so much, Jack.�
�� This
is your area of expertise, Dr.
Jackson.� I just kill things and blow
stuff up on occasion.�
�� And
you�re very good at it.�� Daniel waved
aside the very disgruntled tone.�
�Fine.� What Jack�s being too
chicken shit to say is that we travel to other planets for a living and in the
decade or so we�ve been doing it we�ve acquired various and sundry alien
enemies as well as friends.�
�� McKay
started to snicker.� �Obviously you�ve
given up on breaking it to people gently, Daniel.�
�� John�s
mouth twitched at the incredulous, disbelieving expressions on the NCIS team�s
faces � except for Abby, who looked about two seconds away from bouncing off
the walls in excitement and glee.� He
couldn�t blame them, since he�d probably have reacted in the same way when he
found out � if he hadn�t been nearly shot down by a drone missile and had it
explained to him in an alien facility buried under the Antarctic ice and snow.
�� Alien.�� Gibbs stared at all of them with the exact
expression O�Neill feared.� �As in...?�
�� Every
clich� in the book and a whole bunch more you�d never even dreamed of.�� Jack assured.
�� I
knew it!� I so knew it!�� Abby squealed, the bouncing up and down
commencing full force.� �Aliens!� They�re real!�
Didn�t I tell you, McGee?!�� She
gave him a hard punch to the bicep.
�� Abby...they�re
kidding.�� Poor Tim winced and shook his
head.� �They have to be.� There�s just too many things that don�t add
up for aliens and UFOs and all that to be real.�� He rubbed at his arm, glaring at her.�� And OW!�
�� I�m
afraid it�s the truth.�� McKay
huffed.� �Though...I do understand your
reluctance to believe us.�
�� Okay,
enough.� Regardless of whether we believe
this ridiculousness or not,� Gibbs shushed his team with a look, �What makes
you so certain the documents are related to you?� What evidence do you have?�
�� Concrete
evidence?� None.� It�s all circumstantial, which is why we need
to see them to verify.�� Jack sighed,
�It�s why we said if they turned out to not
be relevant then we�d happily let you do whatever you wanted with them.�
�� You
have to understand how dangerous having any kind of knowledge of the programme
is.�� Daniel spoke up, tone serious.� �I can�t tell you how many people have been
ruined or even died just because they got caught up in it � whether by
voluntarily signing up or somehow stumbling into things.� It�s a very real risk you�re all into now,
even with just what we�ve told you.�
�� So
why are you telling us?�� Ducky asked,
frowning at him.
�� Because
we need your help.�� John said before
anyone else could speak up.� He was
solemn, but no less honest.� �And because
it is better, in the long run, if you�re brought in on our terms than if you
kept poking at us yourselves and ended up in the line of fire completely
ignorant.�
�� After
you�ve all signed the forest of trees we�ve killed, which prohibit telling
anyone else � and I do mean anyone �
about this, we�ll give you the chance to bow out if you want nothing to do with
it.�� Jack folded his arms over his
chest.� �We don�t keep people against
their will, and we totally understand if any of you don�t want to take the
risks involved.�
�� But
if you do...� McKay smiled faintly, glancing at John first (who smiled back),
then at Daniel (who grinned), �...if you do, I promise you�ll learn things that
will change how you perceive the world entirely.�
�� You
won�t scare me off.�� Gibbs scowled
stubbornly.� �So quit with the
melodrama.�
�� Where
he goes,� Tony pointed at the senior agent, �we follow.� Isn�t that right, Ziva?� McGee?�
�� Yes.�� Ziva nodded.
�� Yeah.�� McGee agreed bravely, despite looking
apprehensive about it all.
�� You
couldn�t tear me away with a metric ton of C4.��
Abby grinned.
�� Ducky
was silent for a moment, then sighed.� �I
doubt I will be of much help, Jethro, unless you � god forbid � send me
bodies.� However, I prefer being in the
loop, as it were, than not.� I will join
you, and help however I can.�
�� Jack
nodded, pleased.� �Excellent.�� He glanced at his watch.� �Close enough.� Sheppard.�
�� John
motioned to Teyla and Ronon to join them, and dialled the number that would be
routed through to Odyssey, orbiting
the planet.
�� So...�� Tony watched him, frowning slightly.� �Exactly where are we going?�
�� Daniel
grinned.� �Ever want to be an astronaut,
Agent DiNozzo?�
�� Six
sets of eyes blinked at him, and before anyone could speak, the bright glow of
the Asgard beam enveloped them all.
~*~*~*~*~*~
�� Colonel
Paul Davis and Richard Woolsey were waiting in the officers� conference room
with Mitchell when they were once again aware of their surroundings.� As non-descript as the room was (having had
any sort of identifying features removed or covered up by the crew), it was
still very obviously not Gibbs� living room.�
The NCIS team were in varying states of shock, amazement, confusion, and
there was even a little fear.
�� What
the hell just happened?�� It was Ziva who finally demanded
explanations, having recovered her voice the fastest.� For once, even Gibbs was slightly off-kilter.
�� Mitchell
and Davis snapped to attention and saluted Jack, though their expressions were
openly friendly and even amused.
�� Sir!� Welcome aboard.�� Mitchell offered.
�� Thank
you.� At least this time I wasn�t
kidnapped.�� Jack shot Daniel a look, and
pulled out a seat at the head of the oval shaped conference table, dropping
down into it.� Daniel scowled back and
sat next to him, on his right.
�� You�re
never going to forgive me for that, are you?�
�� Not
likely, no.�
�� SGA-1
took seats down the table on Daniel�s side, and the NCIS team slowly moved to
seat themselves on Jack�s left.� Mitchell
excused himself, and Jack motioned for Davis to get to it.� Woolsey began distributing the thick folders
he had amongst the NCIS members.
�� Well,
as you�ve been told by General O�Neill, we require you to sign these
non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements before you can be further read
into the programme.� I�m Colonel Paul
Davis, the General�s Executive Officer, and I�ll see these are processed immediately.� This is Richard Woolsey.� He is our country�s representative with the
IOA � the International Oversight Advisory committee � which is an
international council that oversees the operation of the programme.�� Davis began, introducing himself and Woolsey
to them.
�� So
this isn�t just a� US operation?�� Gibbs asked, flipping open his documents and
accepting a pen that was offered.
�� It
began that way.� But something so big and
dangerous couldn�t be hidden away forever.�
Nor could the US continue to fund the programme alone for long.�� Woolsey answered.� �Please feel free to read through everything
before signing where indicated, and ask any questions you may have about the
legalities involved.�
�� How
much funding are we talking about?�� Tony
wondered.
�� Let�s
just say the power bill for one day at Cheyenne Mountain gives new meaning to
the term �astronomical.�� Jack drawled
wryly, remembering General George Hammond�s gentle reminders whenever Jack had
complained about it in the past.
�� Ziva
took the file Woolsey handed her, pausing before opening it.� �My government...they are aware of this
also?�
�� Yes.�� Woolsey nodded.� �We have several Israeli personnel involved
in another mission, both civilian and military.�
I spoke with your leaders myself, and they have approved your admission
to the programme.� If you wish to speak
to them first, yourself, it can be arranged.�
�� Ziva
hesitated, glanced at Gibbs, then shook her head.� �No, that will not be necessary.�� There could be consequences to this, she was
certain, but what she could learn here outweighed that so she bravely flipped
open the file, took the pen, and began signing away without bothering to read
anything.
�� Just
give us the legal gist of all this, Mr. Woolsey.�� Gibbs requested, eyeing the papers.� �We don�t have time to read through all
this.�
�� Basically
you�re agreeing to never speak of any of this or any of what may occur during
the course of this investigation of this matter to anyone not involved in the
programme or approved by the people in charge � in this case, Gen. O�Neill, Col.
Sheppard, myself, or Daniel.� If you do,
you can be arrested, charged, and incarcerated without representation or a
trial under the NSA directives listed.��
Davis responded before Woolsey could.�
�It would be very much as if you were a terrorist, and one of the
charges would likely be treason.� In
Officer David�s case, she would be convicted here then returned to her
government where, I imagine, they have their own way of dealing with such
matters.�
�� Ziva
looked up, expressionless, and said only, �Indeed.�
�� McGee
looked faintly horrified and a little freaked, Tony frowned deeply, and Abby
shook her head sadly.� Ducky finished
signing and closed the file.
�� I
can assure you that any concern for our discretion is unfounded.� We are all quite used to keeping secrets,
Colonel.�
�� Woolsey
took out an ink pad from his briefcase and offered it to the M.E.� �Right thumb and index finger, Dr. Mallard,
on the last page you signed, please.��
Ducky obliged, and Woolsey moved along as each one completed their
forms.� �The documents are as much for
your protection as the programme, Doctor.�
And we believe you are trustworthy or else President Hayes would never
have agreed to read you in.�
�� After
a few more moments, the legal issues were completed and Woolsey gathered up all
the documents.� He and Davis left to
process it all, and Jack nudged Daniel with an elbow to go ahead and lay it all
out for their NCIS guests.
�� Okay,
so, you asked what happened, Ziva.��
Daniel leaned forward on his arms, folded on the table in front of
him.� �As I said, we�ve been travelling
to other planets for over a decade now.�
We started out using a device that was discovered on the Giza plateau in
1928.� We call it a Stargate, and it
operates by generating a stable wormhole between itself and another Gate
through which matter and energy can travel the kinds of distances that we once
thought were impossible in mere seconds.��
Daniel glanced down the table to Rodney briefly.� �Dr. McKay is more capable of explaining the
science behind it all, but that�s the layman�s explanation.�� Rodney nodded magnanimously.
�� So
anyway, we�ve been exploring planets around the galaxy for over ten years now,
and in that time we�ve met many alien peoples � some are friendly, and
others...not even a little bit.� One of
these friendly peoples, a race called the Asgard, were a highly advanced race
who had long ago mastered space travel with ships.� They helped us to develop and create our own
ships for space travel, among other technologies that have been vital to saving
the planet many, many times.�
�� You
are currently on board our best ship in the fleet, the Odyssey.�� McKay picked up when Daniel paused to take a
breath and let them take it all in.� �We
are in a low-earth orbit somewhere above North America, I believe. �We got here via another handy bit of Asgard
tech � a transportation beam that acts almost like a wormhole, where matter is
broken down to the molecular level and re-materialized in an instant.�
�� Abby�s
eyes were huge.� �Like Star Trek!?� Beam me up, Scotty!?�
�� McKay
rolled his eyes in exasperation but nodded when John kicked him lightly under
the table in warning, hearing the biting retort his friend typically bestowed
on people who asked that question.� �Very
basically like that, yes, and you do know they never actually said that, right?�
�� Oh
my god!� I�ve entered the Twilight
Zone!�� Tony gawked.� �Or an episode of the X-Files.�
�� Aliens?� Truly?��
Ziva was rather wide-eyed herself.�
�What do they look like?�
�� We
can talk about aliens some other time.� �Gibbs interrupted, looking somewhat shaken at
the new worldview being dumped on them, but still focused enough to drag them
all back on topic.� �Get to the part
where it involves Jenny and those documents you�re so hot to find.�
�� Another
alien race called the Goa�uld are the ones we�re probably dealing with in this
case.�� Jack responded.� �Well, a specific snake, actually.� We�ve been successful in pretty much
destroying the bastards, but this one�s been equally successful in
surviving.� He calls himself Baal, and he
controls a group here on Earth known as the Trust.�
�� Snake?�� McGee wondered.
�� The
Goa�uld are a parasitic race.� They
inhabit other beings, and take complete control of them.� They are extremely intelligent, and very
dangerous.� Baal is the last of the
System Lords � those Goa�uld that have ruled over the galaxy for thousands of
years unchallenged.�� Daniel explained,
looking grim.� �They set themselves up as
gods, using the technology and knowledge they�ve scavenged from other races,
and kept most of the galaxy under their thumbs with it.�
�� Until
we came along.�� Jack smirked.� �Of course...they picked the fight
first.� Anyway, Baal is the last one, and
he�s been doing his best to be a pain in our asses at every opportunity.� It�s likely that his organization, the Trust,
is responsible for whatever happened to your friend, Agent Gibbs, down in
Mexico, and perhaps even what happened to Jenny Sheppard.�
�� John
frowned.� �You think the Trust is looking
for the documents?�
�� Well
it can�t be the Russians.� They have no
reason to go about it so back-ass-wards because of their own significant
participation in the programme.�� Jack
reasoned.� �I asked Davis and Woolsey to
ask our Russian friends about it, and they deny any involvement.� They say if the documents contain any data
from that time period where they ran their own programme, they didn�t know
about it and have offered any and all assistance in retrieving them.�
�� I�m
sorry, but�you�re losing us.�� Tony
interrupted.� �What do you mean?�
�� The
mission Jenny Sheppard was on nine years ago may have inadvertently gotten her
involved in the programme.� At the time,
the Russians were running their own Gate programme using the Gate they
recovered from the Atlantic�� Daniel broke off, ��long story.� The point is that the documents in question
likely contained data from that time period, concerning the Russian�s
programme.� She may not have known what
it was she had, and that other Agent�Decker?�
He probably didn�t know exactly either.�
But just having them was risky enough.�
�� Jesus.�� Sheppard cursed.� �With all due respect, sir, when were you
planning on telling me � us � this little theory?�
�� O�Neill�s
glare was stony.� �Watch it,
Colonel.� I�m only going to be so
tolerant and understanding.� And to
answer your question.� I�d only just put
it together with the information Agent Gibbs gave us this evening.�
�� John
flushed and stared hard at the table top, sitting rigidly in his seat.� �My apologies, General.� It won�t happen again.�
�� McKay
cleared his throat and suggested, �Why don�t we go see how the trace is
coming?� I�m sure Mitchell has found
something by now.�
�� O�Neill
stood up, followed swiftly by everyone else, and nodded.� �You do that, McKay.� Sheppard, Gibbs, hang back a moment, please.�
�� Rodney
took his cue and gestured for the others to follow him.� �Come along, people.� I�ll yell if we have something.�� He said as he passed by John.� Sheppard nodded and watched them file out.
�� Daniel
sat back down in his seat, giving Jack his best innocent face when the older
man frowned at him.
�� Daniel��
�� Jack.�
�� What
are you doing?�
�� Mediating.� It�s what I do.�
�� Gibbs
chuckled.� �You�re a quick one.�
�� Daniel
grinned back.� �Not really.� I just know Jack and his ways far too well.�
�� We
don�t need mediating, Daniel.�� Jack
rolled his eyes at his anthropologist.�
�this is more a mission than an investigation, and Sheppard is
lead.� I�m involving Gibbs and his team
because they may be able to help us, and because the situation with the Navy is
already a nightmare.� I don�t need it to
turn into a catastrophe, too.�� Jack
turned to the NCIS Agent, meeting his gaze unflinchingly.� �I�m sure you understand how this is going to
work, Agent Gibbs � how it has to
work for the security of the programme.�
I�d rather not make enemies of you or NCIS by cutting you out of it, but
if you don�t think you can deal with it, then��
�� General,
I may not like it, but I�m not a fool, and I�m not arrogant enough to believe I
have all the answers or that I can handle the situation alone.� That you�re allowing us in on this at all is
way more than I�ve ever expected or hoped for from anyone outside NCIS.�� Gibbs stated, somewhat wry.� �We�re low on the intelligence food-chain, so
we�re used to being left out in the cold.�
I don�t have a problem working with you people � so long as my people
are never ordered to do anything against my
wishes, especially if it involves a situation where they could be injured or
killed.�
�� Jack
looked at Sheppard. �You copy?�
�� Yes,
sir.� I�d expect nothing less of myself,
sir.�
�� Knock
it off.�� Jack grunted, hating being
sir-ed to death.� �Alrighty then.� Go save the world.�� Jack waved them off.� �Keep in touch.� I�ll be at home.�� He eyed Daniel questioningly.
�� I�ll
stay here, Jack, until this is over.��
Daniel responded with a shake of his head.
�� Fine.� Just�be careful.�� Jack warned, hesitating in the doorway.� �Sheppard!�
�� Sir?�� John froze at the bark of his name, coming to
attention almost unconsciously.
�� Anything
happens to him under your watch and I find out�and I will�and it�s your
fault�� Jack�s glare froze John�s
blood.� �A Wraith queen will seem like
your fairy godmother compared to me.�
�� John
paled and nodded quickly.� �Sir, yes
sir!�
�� Daniel
scowled and whacked Jack on the arm.�
�Stop that!� Go home, Jack.�
�� Gonna
at least see me off?�
�� Whatever.� Just stop threatening John.�
�� Still
pale, John watched them head for the Ring room.�
Beside him, Gibbs observed, �You work with some very�interesting people,
Sheppard.�
�� You
don�t know the half of it, Agent Gibbs.�
We all have to be a little bit crazy to do what we do, I think.�� John shook his head and turned, walking to
the bridge.� Gibbs followed.
�� What
exactly do you do?�� The older man wanted
to know.
�� I�m
the military commander on our base in the Pegasus galaxy.� McKay is our Chief Scientist.� Teyla and Ronon are both natives of Pegasus
who joined up with us to help defeat our own resident evil alien bad guys � the
Wraith.�� John explained.� �They�re nasty.� Even worse than the Goa�uld.�
�� How?�� Gibbs couldn�t believe there was anything
worse than a parasite that wanted to take over your body.� And did he seriously just think that?
�� The
Wraith evolved from an insect called the Iratus.� Both the bugs and the Wraith feed from the
energy of living beings � meaning us humans.��
John shuddered, having experienced both, and made a face.� �The snakes just want to take us over or
enslave us.� The Wraith consider us food
� cattle � and want to eat us.�
�� That�s�highly
disturbing.�
�� There�s
no word to describe how disturbing it is.��
John agreed.
�� And
Dr. Jackson?� What�s his story?�
�� Jackson
and O�Neill are the programme.�� Mitchell responded before John could, having
heard the question as Sheppard and Gibbs entered the bridge.� �They started it all.� Jackson opened the Gate, and O�Neill led the
first team through over eleven years ago.�
�� I
still believe Sam would have done it herself.��
McKay grumbled lowly, continuing to have a high opinion of Carter�s
abilities despite any past issues he had with her work and her lack of interest
in him, personally.
�� Rodney��
John warned, then smirked, �And who was it, pray tell, who figured out the
eight-symbol address?� Not even you can
claim that one.�
�� Fine,
fine!� Rub it in some more.�
�� Mitchell
chuckled.� �We have quite a few geniuses
in the programme...�
�� Ha!� Debatable.�
�� John
not-so-subtly thwacked Rodney on the arm.
�� well,
according to that one,� Mitchell continued, ignoring the glaring contest the
two were having (Rodney rubbing his abused arm) and gesturing at McKay, �there
are maybe two or three other than himself.�
But I don�t think he�ll agree to strongly against saying one of them is
Daniel.�
�� One
of what is me?�� The linguist inquired,
strolling in.
�� A
genius.�� John grinned, not even wincing
when Rodney whacked him on the arm in
return.� Daniel just looked confused.
�� For
someone who�s in the soft sciences.��
Rodney huffed, grudgingly conceding the point.
�� Daniel,
all too familiar with Rodney�s opinion of both himself and the so-called �soft
sciences,� just grinned at him.
�� Can
we get back to the problem at hand?��
Gibbs asked, more concerned with that than what these people did or
thought of each other.� �General O�Neill
said you were running a trace?�
�� Yep.�� Mitchell nodded and went to take his seat in
the dreaded Chair.� �Major Lacey, if you
would�� he requested of his communications officer and swivelled in the chair
to face the large screen to his left.�
Gibbs walked up close to it as a geographical map popped.
�� The
call was made from a payphone outside what scans show to be a service
station.�� The Major informed them
all.� �Records declare the place
abandoned and is slated for demolition in a month.�
�� Okay�but��
Tony was frowning at the screen.� �Why
was he in Phoenix?� I thought he was in
Mexico?� And how did you run a trace when
you don�t have Gibbs� number?� It�s
unlisted!�
�� Ziva
pulled a Gibbs and smacked Tony upside the head.� �You do not seriously believe they have no
way of getting unlisted numbers, Tony.�
�� Ow!�� Tony glared hard at her.� �You do not get to do that!�
�� First
flight he could get?�� McGee suggested,
ignoring them.
�� Following
a lead.�� Ziva speculated, smirking at
Tony.
�� Or
a random destination to throw off anyone following him.�� Gibbs said, turning away from the
screen.� �I doubt he�s even in the city
any longer.� He�s either moved on
or�something happened to him.�
�� A
moment of silence descended over the bridge, and it was Ducky who broke it.
�� Jethro,
if he�s no longer there, as you suspect, then how do you expect to find him?�
�� Gibbs
didn�t answer, but did start giving orders.�
�Tony, take Ziva and McGee down to that payphone and take a look
around.�
�� What
are we looking for, boss?�� Tony asked.
�� Oh,
I don�t know, DiNozzo�anything!� I want to know if he just left or was
removed.�� Gibbs snapped.
�� Right!� On it!��
Tony knew when to cut and run, and started toward the door
automatically, only to stop abruptly when he remembered he was hovering above
the planet in a spaceship.� �Uh��
�� We�ll
beam you wherever you like, Agent DiNozzo.��
Mitchell assured.� �But
first�you�ll all need to stop by our infirmary.�
�� They
all looked at him. �What?� The
infirmary?� Why?�� McGee asked, confused and looking a tad
worried.
�� So
the Doc can outfit each of you with a very small, sub-coetaneous
transmitter.� It�s how we�ll be able to
find you and beam you out of places, if necessary, but will be completely
untraceable by anyone but ourselves � the programme.�� Mitchell explained.
�� Abby
clearly wanted to ask all sorts of questions, practically bouncing up and down
in place where she stood.� McGee just
nodded, not looking quite as worried as before but still unsettled.� Tony was frowning � almost as much as Ziva
and Gibbs.� Ducky just shook his head.
�� Col.
Mitchell, I do not believe that such measures are necessary for myself or
Abigail.� We are not field agents, and I
doubt very much that we�ll be called upon in such a capacity.�� The M.E. stated quietly.� �In fact, it may be best if you returned Abby
and myself to Gibbs� home, so that we might return to work in the morning as
normally as possible.� Our Director will
be curious about tonight�s events, and even more so about all their whereabouts
when they do not return to work.�
�� Jack
will handle that.�� Daniel assured, but
shared a look with Mitchell.� �We can
always drop in if we need them��
�� You�re
staying aboard?�� His teammate asked.
�� For
now.�
�� Mitchell
shrugged and slouched in the Chair, looking over at Sheppard.� �Your party, Shep.�
�� If
they want to leave, then fine.� It would
probably be best as Dr. Mallard said.��
John shrugged, too, passing the decision along.� �Gibbs?�
�� Yeah.� Go Duck, Abby.� Keep an eye on things back at the
office.�� Gibbs raised an eyebrow at
Abby, who looked extremely unhappy at being about to be removed from her
dream.� �Abby, you know you can�t stay
here or take anything back to play with.�
�� Yeah,
but�how am I supposed to work and act normal as if you and Tony and Ziva and
McGee aren�t out chasing down aliens?� Aliens, Gibbs!�� She bemoaned.�
McGee patted her shoulder consolingly.
�� Bad
guys, Abby. Alien or not, they�re bad guys, and we catch �em.� Not so different than our usual cases,
right?�� Tony said, smiling at her.� �We�ll keep in touch.�
�� Promise?�� When they nodded, she sighed and went to
stand next to Ducky.� �Fine.� But if we don�t get regular check-ins��
�� We�ll
take good care of them, Miss Sciuto.��
Sheppard promised.� He nodded at
Mitchell, who gave the command to beam the two back to Gibbs� living room.� A bright light surrounded Abby and Ducky and
in the next instant they were gone.
�� We�ve
got gear for all of you waiting.��
Cameron announced, rising from the Chair and motioning for SGA-1 and the
NCIS team to follow him.� �Come along,
boys and girls, and let�s get over to the Doc for those sub-cues.�
~*~*~*~*~*~
- 5
- 6
- 7
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