DANIEL* AT THE SGC

~ δ γ Δ √ ∞ ≡ ⃜ ℜ Å ≡ ℷ ~

ℷ

Boxes of safety and salvation.

That was the General's voice, but the boxes and crates were stacked high and wide concealing Daniel* from the General's view. Daniel* managed himself out of the Gate Room and legged it down to his office. Down to the other Daniel's office. Safety in boxes, nice.

So from what he'd overheard Sam telling Jack* the biannuals were in session. This would give him only limited time to get everything on the list and get gone or else be stranded for at least an hour.

He was so nervous, it just wasn't fair. He was actually feeling like a real rascal in his own office. It was as much his office as his other self's. It was just awful. He had expected it to be as easy as pie. Jack* had tried to warned him about this. Emotionally it wasn't going to be the smooth hit and run he'd convinced himself it would be.

Right, books, wheres my books? No no addresses, wheres the addresses? Well the books are just there though so I could get them first. Ah no but Jack*, Jack* said the addresses are the most important. Em, em, or maybe I should go and get Sam's* tools first. Oh em then I could, err, err, just err, just hang on, let me think. Oh maybe I should get a coffee. Yeah I'll just get a coffee and a sit down, have a think.

No no the addresses. Get the addresses first. He began to rummage. He knew.. ..he thought he knew where he'd left them, but they weren't there. Orr no! Orr no! Don't tell me I've moved them. Don't tell me hes moved them. Oh gaw'd, em, okay think. Ahh no thats it, thats it, I've updated it, just a minute. Maybe the other me's updated the file. Theres bound to have been other planets which, I don't know, maybe theres been other planets which weren't mapped on the Cartouche, em which means I would have put thee file, err, over here. Ha, bingo! Hello. There you are. Easy!

Yes there it was, the Geat Gib directory, neatly filed amongst wads of sticking out papers. He found the file and had a quick perusal. All the addresses, plus some hand written glyphs at the end. Yeah a couple more planets had been added, a couple more addresses had been added by hand. A separate column ran along side of the listed addresses containing the substitute co-ordinates, which incorporated galactic drift calculations. Okay right that's one off the list.

Daniel* started looking round his office eyeing up the books that he fancied. It was strange, nothing had changed. It was just as if he'd left it yesterday. A few things here and there but otherwise it was just the same. He'd expected some big change, I don't know.. ..it was him who had changed, not his surrounds. He felt odd. He missed being home. But he missed his teammates much much more. Lets just get everything and get back as soon as possible.

Forget the books, I'll pick those up on the way back. Err right, I need to get one floor down. See what I can get out of Sam's* place. He quickly stuffed the address folios back where he'd found them. He'd get those on the way out as well.

He put his head down to make himself inconspicuous, yeah right. He double-timed it down to the lifts. Nineteen, all clear. Well not really all clear, more like no fear. He made his way to Sam's* lab. It was open, great.

Sam* had described to Daniel* exactly where he could find the things she wanted. She always kept the place so neat and tidy and well organised. And just as she'd said, the tools she wanted where exactly where she said they'd be. He gathered them up quickly. They didn't take a lot of room. He pocketed them and marched out.

Next stop the gear up quarters on twenty-five. He needed to have a quick look round to see if he could spot Jack's* favourite ball cap. He doubted it would be there but he had to give it a go. Getting it would be a nice Coup d'Etat and he knew Jack* would be real made up with his score. There was one in Jack's locker but it wasn't the right one. This was his sand coloured one, but Jack* had stressed the khaki one. He could go down and check Jack's private suite but then Jack always leaves his gear in gear up. No, its going to be on his head. He'll be wearing it. Its his favourite.. ..right. All in all no score, but there was bound to be other opportunities in the future to get hold of the favourite.

Everything had been going well up to now but Daniel* had reached the most difficult stage of his trip. He needed to get samples of the rare metals. The difficulty here was that he was obviously going to have to requisition, which would eventually pass the General's desk, who would then enquire from the other Daniel an explanation.. ..surprise..!

He got back in the lift and selected level twenty-one. Oh strategy, strategy. Maybe Jack* was right. Maybe he should go up to quad four more often, kick back, do some casting off. It certainly was exceedingly therapeutic, relaxing, cleared the mind. Fishing...

"Doctor Jackson?"

"Uhh?"

"Your floor Doctor Jackson*."

"Oh right, thank you."

Daniel* stepped out of the lift onto level twenty-eight!!

"Aaaahh.. ..wait wait, hold on, thank you, thank you." He bolted back into the lift.

"Sorry about that, wrong floor." His feigned laughter belied his horror and anxiety at the wilful occupation of the General's path.

He got back up to level twenty-one and disembarked. No worries. However he did remain standing outside the lift, thinking. Maybe, just maybe. He called the lift again and set off to the twentieth level. You never know. He'd had a bright spark and decided to check out the research labs on level twenty instead of going straight to apparatus, instruments and scientific stores, by way of Janet's office, on twenty-one.

What possible reason could he come up with for needing samples of the metals. He'd insisted in debrief that he didn't need any help in formulating his plan of acquirer acquistum. Now looking back perhaps he shouldn't have been so hasty.

Research lab one, empty, two empty, three empty. Noise from one of the supplementary compartments, microscopy. Hello? Dr Kerns and his team were working. Daniel* let himself in and started hovering around the outskirts of the room.

"Hows it going there Doctor Jackson*?"

"Oh its fine. Yep its fine there Doctor. Sam was mentioning some experiments with those rare metals. Hows it going?"

"Well that's a difficult one. We're actually.. ..it's the niquadria, its so incredibly unstable, its em, its not necessarily advisable to pursue investigation on the molecular level. But having said that actually separating the things to take us sub-atomic, that's another story. It's a very very slow process Doctor, a very slow process."

"It seems so, but at the same time I understand its absolutely worth it?"

"Phew.. ..absolutely. The possibilities with this amalgamation. Its going to bring in a lot, a lot of changes. But when is another matter."

"Erm do you mind if I have a look?"

"Help yourself. We've got various sized samples over there on the bench. If you'd like to have a look through the STM you're welcome to do that as well. But if you're more interested in the quantum mechanical properties you might want to take a look at the electron accelerator read outs that have been sent over from Area 51, there in B lab on twenty-one."

"I don't know about that Doctor Kerns, thanks I'll just take a look at the samples here on the bench, I'll leave all the micro stuff to you and Sam."

This was excellent. His whole banditry expedition reduced to a walk in the park.

Now don't touch it. Don't touch it directly she said. Okay wheres the gloves. Oh these flimsy little things, they're not going to protect me are they. There were various wafer thin splices covering a wide area of the bench, all methodically laid out. What was good about it is that the naquadah was a slightly different colour to the niquadria and one side of the bench was covered in naquadah and the other side, niquadria. Alls he had to do was remember that the niquadria has the titanium tinge. Sam* was going to know the difference anyway.

Right a larger bite of naquadah and a not so large, actually minute sample of niquadria. Glass was good. He would take the petri' with their lids. Slight of hand wasn't necessary, thankfully, otherwise he'd be leaving without his samples. As it happened Dr Kerns and his team were completely engrossed in their current test.

Daniel* was fiddling about unnoticed. He was trying to fit the petri dishes containing the metal, into a pair of surgical gloves. That would stop them opening up in his pocket. He placed the thicker sample of naquadah into his right side jacket pocket, placing the niquadria into his left.. ..stop them banging together.. ..literally.

Misplaced, no requisition, he couldn't have asked for more. He thanked Doctor Kerns and headed down the corridors to his office with his pockets full of metal sweeties.

In his office Daniel* emptied out an old poster tube and rolled the StarGate address folios up as tightly as he could and stuffed them down into the tube. At least if he got stopped it wouldn't be obvious that he was carrying the StarGate addresses around with him, because that would raise a few eyebrows.

Okay books. Don't be greedy. Fairs fair. Share and share alike, or exactly the same. He'd just take his most favourite, which yeah sure were also the other Daniel's most favourite, but whos counting. He'd been really lucky up to this point because he hadn't heard the Gate dialling out, which meant that he wouldn't be subjected to the one hour power down time out.

With his arms full of books. His left pit crammed with the locations of his neighbours, a trillion miles nor-east and beyond of The SGC. His pants pockets full of Sam's* instruments. And his jacket beefed up with rare sources of energy. He began to sneak back down to level twenty-eight and the Gate Room. Easy.. ..right?

Things had gone magnificently well. Daniel* was proud of his success and he knew the rest of SG-1* would be impressed with him. Jack* would be very pleased about him having acquired the StarGate addresses. He'd been itching to get his hands on those. He'd said they wouldn't be using them for the time being but once they were back on Mission status Daniel's* expanded Cartouche copy would form an important part of their stratagem.

Daniel* made it to the Gate Room, this was brilliant, all clear. Or not! Oh no the General's voice again. Daniel* twirled round in a tornado like torrent almost knocking himself off balance and through sheer panic scarpered up to the Control Room. Oh gaw'd wrong way, wrong move!

Sergeant Davies was curious about Daniel's* appearance in a tidy suit with an arm full of things and a panicked look. Daniel* kept well back from the viewing glass.

"Oh. Yes. Erm, I'm going back through to the Beta Site but there something I need to get from upstairs."

"We're going to be dialling out in about fifteen minutes, Logistics are taking that lot through."

Sergeant Davies was indicating at all the materials to the left of the embarkation ramp.

"Don't go without me. Please."

"You'll hear us dialling Doctor*."

Daniel* struggled to keep his load. As soon as he got into level twenty-seven's Briefing Room he off loaded everything onto the conference table. He approached the observatory heel to toe and slowly leaned into the glass. Yep General Hammond was down there alright. Well the General's not going to find me in here that's for sure. I'll wait for the last lock and then make a dash. Easy.. ..right?

Heavens knows why, but Daniel* strayed into the General's office. So maybe on reflection perhaps it wasn't that difficult to understand why, but not the fact that he very nearly sat himself down in the General's tall winged back, rolled armed, tufted, most comfortable swivel chair.. ..tut tut.

It was more the feeling of something you miss. Not the General's chair, just being in his office. The chats, the friendliness, the advice, the companionship, he missed it all. He missed the General. In fact what Teal'c* had said in that debrief, it just wasn't far fetched. I mean what was wrong with that, they we're there now, they existed, why shouldn't the General. Wouldn't it make sense to have the General with us, in our new Home-World. I mean wouldn't that just make sense. Anyway, its not up to me, but if it was..

Daniel* had a last look round the room, remembered the past and thought of the future. Time to go. He had to load up and prepare for his dash to the event horizon.

"Doctor Jackson*, helloow, what are you doing in here, can I help yoou?"

Ou! Caught out. And startled.

"Oh General, hi. Hi General."

"Hi to you to Doctor Jackson*."

He wasn't found out was he? Could he still escape? He couldn't understand how the General didn't have his game up straight away. Surely he could tell just by looking at him. He may well know, he definitely may well know.. ..but it seems he didn't. He couldn't see the wires! Cool it Daniel*. Calm down, cool, Jack*?

"General have you spoken to Jack this afternoon?"

"No. I'm sure he'll call just as soon as he can. Is everything alright with you?"

"Yes General, I was just, erm, having a look."

"Oh I see. Was there something in particular you wanted to look at?"

"Err no Sir, thanks for offering."

"You're welcome. Doctor Jackson* you're looking very smart today. I thought you were out in the field with SGs 7 and 15, securing the Beta Site perimeter."

"Yes Sir, em yes General, yep. I've come to pick up some em supplies, some parts, em sensor parts, parts for the sensors, em for the radars, for the radar in the fields with erm Major Pierce."

"What Major Pierce is here to?"

"No General, just me."

"Are you feeling alright Doctor Jackson*?"

"I think so General, not sure. Oh yes actually General I feel fine, never feel better, literally, ha."

"That's just fine Doctor Jackson*, if you say so. If you don't mind taking some advice I would suggest that you find yourself a pair of overalls, you shouldn't be working out in the fields in those fine clothes of yours."

"Thank you General, I'll do that."

"Was there something else Doctor Jackson*?"

"No thanks General, err, I'd better be going. Look after yourself General, take care."

"I will do son, and you take care to."

"Thanks General. I hope to see you soon."

"Likewise Doctor Jackson*. Likewise."

Daniel* left the General's office in all haste. He was beginning to feel as though he was about to start explaining to the General his true purpose in the base. You could tell the General anything, except perhaps that. He was likely to declare a Code Five Lockdown and throw him in the brig.

He half stumbled down the stairs into the Control Room smiled at Sergeant Davies and fled down into the Gate Room.

"Two minutes Doctor Jackson*."

"That's great Sergeant."

Daniel* could feel his legs trembling. They felt funny, warm and weak and uncontrollably shaky.

The Gate Room was a buzz with industry. It was very busy. It was well into late afternoon by now. They were into a two-minute count down to the next dial out. Great, super, safe. Easy.. ..right?

Daniel* was standing tight backed against the wall underneath the Control Room viewing glass. Wow, it was nearly over. He'd soon be back at the Beta Site. He was absolutely positive Teal'c* would be there at the StarGate to greet him. One more minute to go.

At least Jack hadn't radioed in. What a break that was. Sam* was with him. Maybe he hadn't discovered the truth. But then again, that didn't really ring true though did it, after all Jack was Jack/*. But even so, sure he could be ruthless, he was Special Ops, Black Ops all the Ops.. ..but he wouldn't hurt them, would he? That's right, right? He wouldn't hurt them. Their bonds were to strong. To Deep. And what SG-1 felt for each other, therein, SG-1* felt for each other, and what SG-1* felt for SG-1, SG-1 must, by their very nature, feel the same for SG-1*.. ..you know what I mean. Jack would never hurt them, never destroy them, they'd be safe.

Things really weren't that bad after all, and he'd be gone in thirty or so seconds. Easy.. ..right?

The StarGate started dialling. Ooh thank goodness. What a relief! ..Locked, locked again, again.. ..he loved that sound.

In the Control Room, Master Sergeant Davies spoke to his deputy Comms operator.

"Off world activation. Receiving I.D.C. Its SG-1."

Knowing that the General was talking to some of his aids and three officers from the Pentagon in the Briefing Room foyer, he raised his voice.

"Incoming I.D.C.!"

Yeah that was Sergeant Davies alright. What does he mean incoming. Outgoing right? Incoming! In fact yeah of course that's right, the Iris has just closed, of course its incoming!

Ooowww, tut! I wanna go now. Daniel* pinned himself, discretely, he thought, against the back wall, hiding behind his arms full of goodies.

"Its SG-1!"

SG-1. SG-1? SG-1! He couldn't figure it out. He had enhanced neurological capabilities but they didn't seem to be working. SG-1 incoming! what? How?

~ ± Γ ҧ ∞ Ξ ζ ω ≠ ∄ ≅ ≡ ~

:: Mission Accounts ::

© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006