GENERAL O'NEILL'S FLYING VISIT AT NID HEADQUARTERS

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

ℷ

All of SG-1 now knew of General O'Neill's personal problem. They had responded by unobtrusively flocking around him. Between themselves they had decided that until the problem was resolved, at all times at least one of them would stand the General's six, just in case.. ..of anything.

Today Teal'c was on the job. He was the one who would go to Washington, D.C..

Sometimes when General O'Neill had to go to Washington he liked to fly himself. This morning was one of those times. It would be necessary to take two crafts so that Teal'c could follow behind. It wasn't the best economics but SG-1 insisted. And as happens, under the circumstances, General O'Neill was glad to have a friend watching out for him. This way they'd be someone to cover for him if he started to glow.

At the General's request Teal'c remained at Andrews whilst General O'Neill and one of his aides continued on to NID headquarters. He felt perhaps he ought not to turn up at the NID HQ in strength and numbers. After all, it was only a pre-preliminary proposal that needed his approval.

Teal'c had with him one of Colonel Carter's laptop computers so he was able to carry on his petrographs examination, in the senior Officers rest room at Andrews Air Force Base. Even without the colour stone scrapings, Daniel's hypotheorem was beginning to take feasible form.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

General O'Neill did not have to sign in at NID headquarters, though his aide did do. Agent Ilona Peanna was waiting in the main foyer to greet him. She was standing, waiting, in the middle of a huge floor plaque, probably the NID identification seal. It was an odd looking circular floor plate. Marble or something. On first view the logo appeared happy and normal, it almost looked like Justice with her sword and scales, only it wasn't.

There was a pair of scales in the picture logo, but in place of a sword was a lance, a spear type thing. It was interesting to see what was on the scales, NID scales with their version of justice. On one side coinage was piled high and on the other side of the scales logo was what looked to General O'Neill to be a dead bird of something in between a parrot and a pigeon. Oddish he thought. But probably quite representative, given it was the NID.

They took the express elevator up to the fifty fourth floor. A conference room had been set up and there was already quite a few people in there. Including two of agent Peanna's cell, Mates and Banks.

The General immediately saw a friendly face in Major Davis who was making a beeline straight for him. Major Davis was there with two others, taking notes for General Hammond and General Greer and TIGETS as a whole. There were two aides present from the Chairman of the Joints Chief's offices and there was also Mr Rushton's personal assistant. And there was of course in attendance General O'Neill and his aide.

In addition there was the transcriber, that was a touch The SGC had insisted on. Independent and selected from the Airforce's high level clearance pool, selected by TIGETS, and present to take down an accurate account of every word spoken.

There were three security guards outside the room. Two of them followed General O'Neill and his aide and agent Peanna into the conference room, remaining just inside the room, surrounding the doorway.

"Hello Major."

"Hi General, did you have a good trip?"

"Rocket fast and turbulent, so yeah thanks for asking. Bit of a crowd we've got here."

"It is isn't it. I didn't expect quite so many."

"Me neither."

"The Generals asked me to come over. They said you want everything done by the book."

"Everything Davis!"

"Yeah we're on that Sir."

Major Davis was speaking to General O'Neill while the General was looking outside into the corridors. Two of the conference room walls were thick clear glass. The room occupied a corner position on the fifty fourth floor of NID headquarters. You could see through the glass and down two adjacent corridors.

Something had caught General O'Neill's attention. He was carefully and discretely watching the blaggard agent Kennedy talking to the third security guard and two other NID personnel. Was it possible General O'Neill could read lips.. ..he was entirely absorbed with the scene.

"Sorry Davis, em sorry what was that?"

"Sir I was just saying.."

"Davis whats going on here?"

"General, Sir you mean the meeting, its not started yet but.."

"No Davis, not the meeting, theres something up."

"Ah Sir, you mean something to do with the funding application?"

"Davis put this gun in your belt."

"What??"

"Take my gun, put it in your belt. Stay near the back and be ready to move on my command. Keep your eye on those two."

General O'Neill leaned forward and whispered into Major Davis's ear.

"Be ready!!"

The Major felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising up. His heart was pumping at a canter and he could feel the blood streaming through his arms and legs. He was in NID headquarters, a stones throw from the Pentagon, and General O'Neill had just silently flagged battled stations.

"Yes Sir!"

"Alert the other TIGETS people.. ..quietly Major."

"Yes Sir."

"On my mark!"

"At the ready Sir."

Major Davis scooted off to alert his colleagues. Both of whom were unarmed. General O'Neill quietly briefed his aide Captain Amerson. It didn't take much, Amerson was ex Special Forces. Or maybe reassigned Special Forces. Either way he was one of General O'Neill's aides and as such he was SGC personnel and he was very capable.

Agent Kennedy entered the room and closed the door behind him. The three people he had been talking to further down the corridor were now stationed outside the conference room door.

Three outside the door. Two inside the door. General O'Neill was doing his sums. Counting his odds. He saw Kennedy nod to agent Peanna. He himself nodded to Major Davis who circled round to take up a casual stance close to the door. He looked at Amerson who responded by taking up position close to the door, across from Major Davis.

The two lieutenants from TIGETS did not nod but did acknowledge their readiness to the General. The games afoot!

"Would everyone please take their seats."

Odd! Seat. Trapped. With handbrake skid speed General O'Neill came about and landed a jaw busting smack in the mouth, Kennedy's mouth. The agent folded and bit the dust, the carpet. Out cold. The room was stunned. But only for the tiniest moment. Then all hell broke loose.

Major Davis sprang onto one of the security guards at the door. He pulled him down by the hair and fed his knee in somewhere above the guys shoulders. Nice one Davis, very swift. The guard went down. Davis turned to plot General O'Neill's position. The General was actually running straight for Davis, which came as quite a shock to Major Davis. General O'Neill threw his arm out and blocked Davis hard across the chest sending him jogging backwards. He then quickly took up his seat and smashed it on top of the security guard who had been about to shoot Major Davis in the back.

Captain Amerson had been throttling the other security guard at the door. He just wasn't passing out. Captain Amerson always made a point of keeping his paperwork up to date. He'd read all the minutes of all the meetings, Briefings and Debriefings. He recognised the difficulty he was having immediately.

"Sir 377s!!"

"I know."

General O'Neill indicated to Amerson, the leg. Captain Amerson shot the guard in the leg and disarmed him. Major Davis did the same to the other security guard who both he and General O'Neill had knocked down. The guard had been in the process of getting up again to attack. A bullet in the leg slowed him down. But didn't stop him.

The three NID people outside the door were trying to push their way in. The two shot heavy security guards were on the floor and in the way.

Agent Peanna had a hold of Mr Rushton's personal aide. She held a gun to his chin. The transcriber had no experience of field work. She was trying not to get in the way. It seemed to her that the tall nice looking General had suddenly gone bananas and attacked another man. She could see all the men in military uniform wailing in on almost the rest of the room. Something must have gone wrong she thought. She was right. Very wrong. For a start, they tried to catch the wrong General. Well the right General, but definitely the wrong move.

The aides from the Chairman of the Joint Chief's office were also unarmed. Without hesitation they stood with General O'Neill. Agents Mates and Banks had overpowered the TIGETS Lieutenants and were now holding guns on the other two aides. Agent Peanna was shouting for General O'Neill to surrender.

Agent Kennedy pulled himself together and jumped up. General O'Neill ran from the other side of the room and took off from the ground feet first dead centre onto Kennedy's chest. General O'Neill flattened him. They both went down, General O'Neill rolled back onto his shoulders and ejected himself up onto his feet. Kennedy wasn't moving. He was out cold again.

Agent Peanna was screeching for surrender. There was an enormously loud smash. The three personnel that had been stationed outside the room rammed a boardroom table into the glass wall bring the wall down with a scattering torrent of razor sharp shards. General O'Neill could see more agents approaching along one of the corridors. They would soon be greatly out numbered.

The three NID personnel struggled and clamoured over the table to get into the conference room. The two wounded security guards had Major Davis pinned down, his revolver had flown askew as he wrestled.

General O'Neill ran at the security guards holding Major Davis, as did Captain Amerson. The NID agents Mates and Banks began firing at them. They winged Amerson. It seemed as though they were being careful not to hit the General.

General O'Neill couldn't get to Major Davis without seriously endangering both Major Davis and Captain Amerson.

The other agents were coming up the corridor fast. In the conference room the Lieutenants were now unconscious and the other aides were cornered. The transcriber and Mr Rushton's aide obeyed agent Peanna.

Agent Kennedy was up on his feet now and screaming like a lunatic. General O'Neill ordered his aide.

"Leg!!"

Captain Amerson fired a shot. Kennedy went down again.

"Sir I'll be okay. Come back for me?"

"I will Major. Count on it!"

General O'Neill pointed at the remaining glass wall.

"Amerson!"

Amerson fired into the glass. It shattered but the wall didn't fall.

"Lets go!!"

General O'Neill flew shoulder first at the wall. He brought it down. There was glass everywhere. He tumble rolled on the ground to break his speed. He was covered head to toe in sharp glass. He got to his feet and shouted.

"Lets go!!"

Captain Amerson leapt through the broken glass wall and followed General O'Neill down the clear corridor.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

Kennedy, who was again up on his feet, dragged himself after Captain Amerson. The other three NID personnel ran after him. The agents, four of them, who had been running up the west corridor, joined the chase.

General O'Neill made it to the elevators. An adjunct who had been waiting for the lift, on hearing the commotion dropped his papers and went for his gun. He came face to face with General O'Neill.

"Drop that!"

The man didn't, instead he raised and aimed his weapon, so the General O'Neill effortlessly drop kicked him down. The General spotted an access door to the secure stairway across from the elevators.

Captain Amerson caught up. They could hear the infected NID agents closing in on them. General O'Neill began quickly searching the adjunct. He tore at the man's shirt pocket and snatched his clearance card. Agent Kennedy came up round the corner.

"Amersom!!"

Kennedy dived on Amerson knocking him to the ground.

"Sir!"

General O'Neill burnt over to Kennedy and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck dragging him backwards off Captain Amerson and along the ground. Kennedy was lashing out trying to get hold of the General any way he could. General O'Neill let go of agent Kennedy and as soon as he began to stand up again the General booted him hard in the leg where Captain Amerson had shot him. He didn't yell out in pain but he did go down again.

The other three NID personnel jumped Captain Amerson and grappled him to the ground. General O'Neill ran to help him. The four agents who had been in the west corridor turned up. General O'Neill and Captain Amerson where out number.

"I am General Jack O'Neill of the United States Airforce. You will release my man immediate.."

All four of them attacked the General. He tore at them good. He was very skilled in a wide variety combat moves. He laid into them fighting, fighting for his life, fighting for The SGC. They had him. He slammed himself into the corridor walls, each time cushioned by an NID agent. General O'Neill broke loose of their grip. He gained a bit of clear ground. They began moving in on him again. Captain Amerson was out for the count.

The General was cut off from the elevators, he was sure that by now there was no way he could get to the ground floor without being caught. He swiped the reader and got quick access to the secure stairwell. The infected agents were deeply shocked. They hadn't realised General O'Neill had managed to secure himself an access pass.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

The door snapped shut behind him. He started punching at the door's electronic operating unit with his bare hands. He stepped back and levelled a few kicks at it. It was loose, he pulled it further off the wall and began gently wiping the insides with his jacket sleeve. There was a few sparks and the red light on top of the unit went out. He'd deactivated it using the sterling metal buttons on his cuff. It was an old Special Ops trick. Point being, the door was now off line and locked shut.

The agents were trying to break down the door. General O'Neill was already one floor up and battering the stairway security door operating unit off the wall. He ripped it open and short circuited the electronics. That door was now also locked shut. It would take a blow torch to open it.

Doubtless all access routes to the ground floor were locked down, boxing off his chances of a ground escape. He thought he may have a chance to escape from above. There was a clear pathway up to the roof of the building.

He was in tip top condition and cleared the next three flights no problem, racing up to the fifty eighth floor. He bounded up the next two flights using the energy that had naturally built up in him over all his years of Special Ops training. He was nackered! He'd managed to widened the gap between him and the infected shells, Peanna's cell and at least half a dozen others. Obviously they had an insidious plot in which it seems he, or shell of him, was to play a central role. He had to get clear of them.

The thing he could rely on was the strength in his legs, sure enough they carried him rapid up another two flights. They were big flights with a lot of steps in each one. His heart was bursting for air, he was gasping loud like a flailing swordfish. He could see the security door to the rooftop two floors up. He would make it up there, yes he would! He was exhausted. There was searing pain in his thighs. He could run cross country at a good pace, easy peasy. But legging it top gear up ten flights of cold stone steps, chased by an evil enemy that wanted to take over his body, ouch! Double drat and damn deuced hot bother. Ouch!

He got there, right up to the sealed entrance to the rooftop.

The Nebulium infected NIDs we're on the stairs now. They we're very quick. There was an eerie, slippery motion in their gait. They were very fast. They were followed by other NID personnel, not infected, and not aware of the truth of the situation. They only knew they were on the heels of an intruder. They had no idea the so called intruder was General Jack O'Neill of The SGC.

Low kicks. High kicks. Shoulder tackles. He went at the door with everything he had, including the knowledge that it they got their hands on him they would infect him and then infect The SGC, or possibly just kill him, or both. He could feel the door giving. He could see them gaining. They were only a few floors down now. A few more Kicks and a final shoulder tackle and he fell out onto the shale rooftop sixty four storeys high up in the air.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

He'd lost his cap in the conference room. He tossed his tie as he came through on to the roof. He was still wearing his jacket. In the warm midmorning sunshine he looked quite smart, especially with the bright coloured bar array on his jacket front. Of course he wasn't wearing medals. He actually had a tidy collection of metal work. Badges for this, medals for that. All manner of honour and bravery, saving and saviour. Yeah General O'Neill really had achieved a great lot. Most of it highly classified, which went a way to complement his modest nature.

On second thoughts he looked in a bit of a bad way. His legs were shaking. His chest was exploding, but only internally. He was in quite an amount of pain. He was in fear for the well being of everyone who'd been captured. He was devastated by the degree of jeopardy The SGC may be in. And he was very concerned that he still had not found an escape route.

It was warm but tremendously windy up there on the rooftop. There was nothing to jam the roof access door with. No way to wedge it shut. He had to find a way down and quickly. He ran out to the edge, no joy! Panicked he started running round the circumference. No joy!! It was a detached building. There was no way off the roof. Nowhere to jump to. He was trapped.

They'd reached the roof. Five of them burst through the access door. There was a handful more in the stairwell. One of the five shells instructed the uninfected NID personnel to wait in the stairwell whilst they 'flush' out the intruder. The shell then closed the rooftop door so there would be no witness to the attack. The Nebulium were on the NID HQ rooftop sixty four floors up in the sky in Washington, D.C..

General O'Neill was cut off without a hope. He was still frantically peering over the edge, looking for something. Maybe he could take a risk, jump down. He could possibly land on those telephone wires hundreds of feet below. They looked springy, perhaps they could break his fall, yeah right. Sure, instead of frying him, break his fall, and he could then sprightly nip off the wires and magically flutter safely down to the ground. Gawd damn it. General O'Neill was well and truly cut off without a hope!

There was no way down. He would have another go at them. He was definitely up for that. The shells were spread out and trying to surround him. He went at one of them, went at his knee more precisely, with side of his foot he chopped into the shell's knee, it instantly took him down.

The other infected agents didn't even flinch at the loud snap they heard as their fellow agent fell to the ground. He didn't cry out and he couldn't move much either. One down. Four to go. Maybe after all there was a chance. The General could take them, he knew he could.

Agent Ilona Peana and two others rushed out on to the rooftop closing the door on the other agents behind them. No chance! Seven infected NID personnel all began to crowd the General, trying to corner him in. Capture him. He brought his hands up to his head and swept his face and hair. Times up. He knew it.

Others we're depending on him, many others! If these Nebulium got to him, through him they would get to his people, they would get to The SGC. No!!

The tides coming in. Running out of time. He looked very placid. All the infected agents around him looked relieved. Brigadier General Jackin John Jankin O'Neill had given up. Surrendered. High up there in the sky Jack looked around him. Everywhere a beautiful warm azure. Kinda reminded him of Minnesota. His people, his friends, his family.

"We will access your StarGate programme. We will access your StarGate. We will use it to harvest. We will infiltrate your militia. We will harvest. We know all of your Government's activities. We will defeat you."

"Cut the crap. We will defeat you! Oh, that reminds me, I think someones looking for you. Have you heard of the Asgard.. ..how about the Goa'uld, now I just know you've met those guys."

"We fear no one."

"Are you sure about that, I mean really sure?"

The General was thoroughly exhausted. He was buying time.

"We will defeat our enemies."

"Give it up, you know you're not going to get anything out of me."

"Au contraire General O'Neill. As you can see there is no way of escape for you. We have control. You have no chance. Your only choice is to submit yourself to us."

"Per contra agent Peanna, as you will see with us humans, there is always a way. And there is always, always a chance."

"You think you are clever do you not General O'Neill of The SGC?"

"Yeah sure Mates, clever just like you, hope not. Hows your eye there, looks sore."

"General O'Neill there is no need to resist us. You will still retain great power."

"You know Peanna I owe you an apology."

"You do General O'Neill?"

"Yes I do. I actually though you were sane, but you're a stark raving nutter aren't you?"

"General O'Neill you should speak as a civilised human being."

"Well you're right about one thing there, I am being human."

"We have no desire to injure you."

"Well stand aside then and let me leave."

"You must come with us."

"Look its been nice an'all, great fun, but I need to get back to work now."

"You do not need to think about work anymore General O'Neill."

"That's nice, really, but my people are waiting for me, I have to go now."

"They will all soon have something much more important to think about."

"Okay, I've had enough of this. Whos Ingsa Vas by the way?"

That did it. Agent Peanna and the others began shirking. The noise was mostly drowned by the wind, but they did sound vile.

General O'Neill stooped down a like a silver back gorilla. He really was not placid at all. He stretched both arms out, clenched fists raised up at his enemy. It sounded like he was growling and snarling at them. They we're caught by surprise, all of them.

He steamed in at three agents standing close to each other. He mowed through them, dragging them down with his out stretched arms, his knees and his iron shoulders. Yeah real silver back, wildman Jack. He was fiercesome, but then he wasn't just fighting for himself.

He had a go at another agent, charging at him. Balang, the flat base of General O'Neill's fist slapped heavy against the shells Adam's apple. Like a blamonge he plopped to the ground. NID agent Billy Banks, down and unresponsive.

He was dreadnought now, he had everything to lose. The three agents he'd bowled over were picking themselves up. The rest were manoeuvring in. Suddenly General O'Neill stopped still. He closed his eyes and frowned. The infected agents were studying him. What was he doing, he couldn't defeat them, their number were to great against one.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

What exactly was he doing. He was remembering. He was remembering everything. He opened his eyes and turned away from the shells. Be began running. The agents knew they had him. There was nowhere for him to run to.

He kept on going, gathering up speed as he ran towards the edge of the sixty four storey high rooftop. He knew exactly what he was doing. He never slowed as he launched himself off the shale roof and into the air. Now he'd surrendered. Now he looked placid. He let his arms glide out gracefully like a hovering eagle. A handsome General soaring the skies. But in an uncontrollable rapidly plummeting motion.

He was falling fast down to the ground, crunch level. Aaahhhh! Aaaaarrrrhhhh!! Errrrhhhhaaaa!! Oh G_d help me, help me please. Aaaaarrrrhhhh!! He was floating, though excessively quick. He was whirling round and around and around at full speed. He could see things flashing by, things from below, cars and things, they were getting bigger and more colourful, like a big blur.

It felt like a tunnel of air was blowing, raging through the front of his forehead. He felt like he was flying through a wormhole back in the early days when it used to leave you freezing cold and trembly. He was losing consciousness but could still see flashes of the sidewalk. He didn't regret it. His people would be safe. He wished he could have..

Radiant light was engulfing him. He could see the light coming up on him from all over. He could feel the cold. Freezing cold. All he could see was ultra bright light. He was floating again but this time it didn't feel like he was shooting towards the ground. It felt like he wasn't going anywhere, suspended animation. He felt the cold again. He was falling! He was upside down, free fall!

Aaaaarrrrhhhh!! He hit the pavement. The side of his face, his jaw, met with a nasty accident. All of his left side was squashed under the rest of him, pressing down and killing. He was in massive amounts of pain. Everything was dark. He could feel the hard ground with his back and his legs and his elbows. One things for sure, he wasn't on the rooftop anymore.

Aah jeez, he was suffering a type of severe pain that he'd never previously come across. Even being shot, at least that was localised. He could barely move, his body was rigid and in agony. Everywhere pain, sharp, glancing, piercing, penetrating pain. He was in bits. And bloody painful pieces.

Nanonuts before General O'Neill splat crashed onto the pavement he'd uncontrollably phase shifted into a glowing ball of floating light. Still descending, but nowhere near at a fatal rate, he unshifted a few meters from the sidewalk at the rear of the NID headquarters. He'd bounced down hard onto the ground.

He was weak. He was in an excruciating amount of pain, sore and bruised all over. He was disorientated. He was completely naked. And due to the intensity of the light, he was completely blind.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

"Hey mister, you better get off the street. They see ya like that, they'll have ya. Here yar mate, have a drink of this."

"Whos that?? Help me! Help me!! Gad help me! I can't see!! Its dark. Everythings dark!! I can't see!!"

General O'Neill was crawling about on the floor in the back alley. He looked like a seasoned maniac. He was scared and he was very panicked. He didn't know where he was. His mind was lying in shock, it hadn't quite tuned back into his present situation. He was disorientated and confused.

"I can't see anything! Whats happened. Is it dark? I can't see!!"

"Is that why you've not put on any clothes then Jimmy?"

"What??"

The General was unaware of the fact.

"What? Where are you?"

"I'm right here Jimmy."

The indigent put his friendly grubby hand on General O'Neill's shoulder.

"Here I am Jimmy."

"Are you Cauac? Are you Cauac?"

"Nooh laddy I'm Mac."

The personal contact was helping General O'Neill to get a grip. He was starting to pull himself together and as a result was becoming even more freaked out.

"Jeezzasss! I can't see!! I can't see a gad damn thing! Is it dark?"

"Yes Jimmy its dark. I can't even see the moon."

Despite the fact it was a lovely warm, clear bright morning, General O'Neill was loosing it in a dark cold hell.

"Hey buddy, Mac, have you got a jacket you can let me have?"

"Do you think you might be better off with a pair of trousers Jimmy?"

"Oh. Okay. Have you got a pair for me?"

"Nay laddy but I've got this, take a swig, it'll warm you up."

It did, it warmed him up. If you wanted, it could even wash paint off brushes. The General violently vomited the methylated spirits, and the fright.

"I still can't see! Mac. Mac?"

"I'm here laddy."

"Mac they're after me. If they find me."

"Don't you worry none lad. You come on with me now."

"Are we.. ..where are we? Are we on Earth?"

"That's what a lot of them call it lad. Come on over here with me. Live in a big castle you know. Just down these here steps. Me and a few of us. Nice and warm it is Jimmy. Got us a nice little cosy set up."

"Theres someone chasing me, some men. They look normal."

"Some aliens I bet they are. Don't worry about them Jimmy lad, you'll be safe down here with us."

As well as being exceptionally freaked out, the General did sort of feel safe. It was something he picked up in Mac's voice. Yes he would be safe with Mac, for the time being.

"You come on with me jimmy, I'll look after you."

"I can't see! Mac. My eyes!!"

"I told you lad you needn't worry. Anyway you have to be able to see to fly and by the looks of things you'll be flying again someday. You'll get your wings back lad, I know you will. I know these things."

"My eyes, I will! I have to!!"

"Then you will. Take a hold here, grab the back of this here coat tail. Down we go, some steps here lad so watch ya fall."

"Where am I?"

"You're here jimmy. You're safe now, you're with us."

"I need my friends. You have to get me to a phone Mac."

"Lets get you dressed first lad."

"Have you got a phone?"

"A phone, me, what for?"

"Okay can you get me to a phone?"

"What about thems there chasing ya."

"Well if we see them we'll duck down."

"You can see then jimmy?"

"No. Nothing. Its just dark. Em.. ..bright, dark. I can't see anything! Its temporary though. It has to be, right?"

"To right Jimmy."

"Can you get to a phone for me, its very important Mac. If we can get my friend here we can get this sorted out. They'll come and get me."

"Have you got money for a call jimmy?"

"I've got nothing, and I can't see a gad damn thing. It is dark down here?"

"Nothing but shadows Jimmy."

"Have you got change for the call, I'll give it you back."

"I've got no money for them things Jimmy. No money for food really."

"I'm sorry about that Mac. I'm sorry to have to ask you."

"I'll help ya lad."

"Thanks. Thank you. I'm honestly grateful. I'll repay you for your kindness Mac."

"Do you know how much that costs laddy?"

"Err, no."

"That's why its call kindness Jimmy, it don't cost a thing."

"You're a good man Mac."

"And you're an angel Jimmy, a true in the flesh flying angel. I saw ya laddy."

"Yeah Mac. Can you make a collect call for me?"

"I sure can do that for you lad."

"Okay now write this number down."

"Have you got a pencil Jimmy?"

"Aahhh! Its hard. Its killing me. Ahhh the pain. Aahhh!"

"Come on now lad get this down you."

Mac poured some liquid nectar down the General's throat. Although it wasn't nectar for the g_ds, and although it tasted like molten lava, it did have a miraculous effect on General O'Neill. He quickly came to and shrugged off the pain. Numbed it really. But unfortunately he wasn't able to shake off the overwhelming terror that was brewing up inside him. His mind still was not addressing the issue, his complete inability to see a gad damn thing.

"Oh em.."

"Its alright Jimmy, tell me the number, I've got a good head for figures. I used to be a banker don't you know. Very long time ago it was too."

"Mac tell him to get down here straight away. Tell him to watch out for the Nebu.. ..I mean, tell him to watch out for the 377s. Thats very important Mac, please make sure you tell him that, he'll understand."

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

"Gordon?"

"There is no Gordon here. Where did you obtain this telephone number??"

"Your friend Jimmy told me to call ya."

"I know of no one called Jimmy. Terminate this call immediately!!"

"He said watch for the 377s. He said you would come and get him."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Mac Gordon."

"My name is not Gordon."

"Jimmy can't see! He said you would help him."

"Who is Jimmy?"

"Hes an angel. Hes got no clothes. Flew right passed me him did."

"Where are you?"

"I'm here laddy."

"Where is here?"

"We're under the cobbles. Oh, we're on Earth."

"What else did Jimmy say?"

"He said you was his friend Gordon and you would come to get him."

"You must tell me.."

"Can you spare me a few coppers for my purse?"

"Pardon?"

"Hey mister, can you spare me something, its for my supper."

"Hello. Hello? Mac? Hello? Mac.."

The phone line went dead.

Teal'c had just received the strangest telephone call ever. And although it seemed bogus it was playing havoc with his synaptics.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

"Maybe it's a joke."

"The joke Daniel Jackson, would be O'Neill allowing someone to relieve him of Air Force property."

"Yeah you're right Teal'c that would be a joke, sorry."

"Teal'c its not showing up that it came from his cell phone."

"Sergeant Harriman is still trying to patch through to his mobile."

"And?"

"Hes getting nothing."

"No answer?"

"No nothing."

"I too have been unable to gain connection to O'Neill's cellular telephone."

"Teal'c hold on, we're just playing back the call now."

"That's a Gaelic.. ..Celtic accent."

"He does not sound intelligent."

"Actually Teal'c he sounds like a drunk. You know what I mean?"

"Yes."

"So that sort of makes it less likely that it's a genuine call, except did you pick up on the 377 reference?"

"Yes. The type of remark O'Neill would make if he needed to relay information through uncleared channels."

"He would. He would Teal'c. You two carry on I won't be a minute."

"Teal'c, Sam's just gone down to the Control Room. She won't be long."

"Have you managed to speak with the agent O'Neill was meeting?"

"No, but the NID said Jack left at ten thirty."

"A short meeting."

"Yeah, a flying visit."

"Have you spoken to General Hammond?"

"Sam wanted to hold off on that for the time being. She didn't want to alarm General Hammond, not with out knowing the full facts."

"Yes, I understand."

"Shes back."

"Teal'c."

"Yes."

"Walter's got the precise location of where the call came from. Hes just arranging for a vehicle for you. Are you still in the Officer's lounge?"

"I am."

"Someone will come and call you out. Teal'c do you think it might be better to go alone?"

"Yeah that might be best Teal'c."

"Yes, it is not wise to alert anyone to the fact that we may have a problem."

"Oh, what? Thanks Walter."

"Did you hear that?"

"No Daniel Jackson I did not."

"Sergeant Harriman just came up and said the phone booth where the call originated is next to NID HQ."

"Teal'c I think maybe you should take back up."

"Colonel Carter, we will keep an open line together. If back up is necessary perhaps General Hammond.."

"Excellent. Good thinking. Okay. Watch your back. It may not be anything, but like you said, how would this guy have your unlisted, untraceable phone number, unless it was to send a message."

"Teal'c do you want me to fly over, someone could take me couldn't they Sam?"

"Yeah absolutely but.."

"Thank you Daniel Jackson. I should first discover if O'Neill requires our assistance."

"Good point."

"Okay Teal'c we'll be monitoring."

"Thank you."

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

"There are no signs."

"Have you been into NID headquarters? You might be able to pick up his tracks from there."

"Colonel Carter I wish to avoid going in there."

"Why?"

"Because I believe there is no truth in the claim that O'Neill left NID headquarters after only half an hour. The half an hour in question would also include the time it took for O'Neill and Captain Amerson to get to the office where the meeting took place and also to make proper introductions. It would also include the time it took to finish the meeting, leave the office and return once again to the reception area of the building. This would leave very little time for the actual meeting itself."

"When you put it like that it throws a totally different light on things."

"Yes it does."

"Teal'c it makes no sense, why would the NID lie?"

"Daniel Jackson, apart from one person, every member of the NID I have ever met seemed intentionally devoid of truthfulness.

When O'Neill left Andrews Air Force Base he told me he expected the meeting to last at least an hour, possibly one and a half hours. He intended to read the documents they had prepared for him, during the meeting. He said if any changes needed to be made they could do it whilst he was there."

"Teal'c maybe he accepted the proposal as is."

"The NID Daniel?"

"Yeah but.. ..oh."

"O'Neill has disappeared at some time between entering the NID headquarters and my receiving the unusual phone call from a Mr Mac."

"Teal'c are there no signs at all? How about the phone booth?"

"I can find nothing. I also see no drunken people."

"You know a lot of those drunks don't actually look like there drunk."

"I am aware."

"What do you want to do?"

"I will search the area."

"Okay, keep the line open won't you?"

"I will Colonel Carter."

"Teal'c wait. Listen, you know when em.. ..Mac, when he said they're under the cobbles, if this guys from Scotland he could have been referring to the fact that they're underground somewhere."

"How so Daniel Jackson?"

"Well cobbles, they're not used anymore, they were smallish, flattish round stones that were used to make roads, and pavements."

"So you think the Mac person may be underneath the pavement?"

"Well not exactly but just keep it in mind."

"I will Daniel Jackson. This is our only clue."

"Teal'c something else, if the guy is a drunk or homeless person, he probably hasn't strayed that far to come and use the telephone."

"Yeah Sam, you're probably right about that."

"Teal'c it will be worth starting your search at the phone box and fanning out from there."

"I will do so Colonel Carter."

"Watch you're back!"

"Yeah Teal'c take care."

"Thank you."

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

Teal'c was wearing a Murray hat. He wanted to remain inconspicuous to all at the NID. He had a gnawing feeling that something was amiss, added to the fact that after visiting them his friend was now missing.

He entered an alleyway behind the back of an international freight forwarding company. He already walked along every street running out from every direction from the phone booth where Mac had made his phone call.

What was it about this particular alleyway that he'd not notice in the others he'd searched nearby. Yeah, that was it, there was an awful lot of empties strewn about the place. Broken bottles, cans. Other things. And oh, the back end of the NID headquarters.

He began methodically searching. As he worked his way along the alley he checked each dumpster, he rattled each door and checked each window. If he found an opening he would follow it. There were steps leading down to a boarded up basement. He could see an empty plastic cider bottle lying crushed at the bottom step.

He jump down to the bottom and tried the door. It didn't seem to be locked but it also wasn't opening. He pushed against the door but even though there was some play in it, he still couldn't get it open. His search had been quiet and he'd been careful not to draw attention to himself.

"Colonel Carter, Daniel Jackson."

"Teal'c."

"Here Teal'c."

"I had found a possibility."

"Where are you?"

"I am directly behind the NID building."

"Has anyone seen you?"

"Not that I am aware."

"What have you found Teal'c?"

"I have found traces of alcoholic drinking, I have also found very faint prints."

"Of ?"

"Perhaps I should pursue my search in this direction."

"Of Teal'c?"

"Teal'c what have you got?"

"Prints of bare feet."

"What?"

"What sort of feet Teal'c?"

"Like a wolf or something?"

"Like a man Daniel Jackson. A man who is not wearing shoes."

"Well that's not Jack then is it?"

"Um."

"Teal'c?"

"Teal'c is there something you're not saying?"

"Indeed there is."

"Spill?"

"I have seen such prints before, recently."

"You mean just before, now."

"No, I think I should remain silent while I continue my search."

"Okay."

"Copy that Teal'c. Watch your back."

"Thank you."

On seeing those faint footprints Teal'c's anxiety level swung high. He was exceedingly worried. He proceeded with caution but he hadn't drawn his gun. He examined the door in front of him to find the impedance. It was cleaver but simple. It was necessary to lift the door by the handle and lower hinge, it was the only way to clear the projecting stone lip which was preventing the door from opening.

Once inside he quickly realised it was a place were people, poor, hungry and homeless people, and drunks lived. He detected no animosity. There was no danger there.

"O'Neill! O'Neill?"

He was running through the place now. He'd been down a few levels, there was lots of people quietly milling around. He could get an answer off no one.

"O'Neill! O'Neill?"

"T! T!! Teal'c where are you? I'm here."

"I see you O'Neill."

And whata sight he saw. Teal'c felt physically sick. His friend looked terrible. For a starter he was filthy. He looked stranded. He was dressed in a dirty smelly duffle coat. He stank of alcohol, the commercial kind. He was staggering and fumbling.

"O'Neill you do not look well, come we are leaving."

"Teal'c. Teal'c buddy, wait, come here, stand next to me, give me a hand."

"What has happened? You are injured!!"

The bubble was beginning to burst. He'd held it together for as long as it took, but now he had some he could depend on a hundred percent, now he could address that issue.

"Teal'c. Teal'c?"

"Teal'c?"

"I have him. Something unpleasant has transpired. Something serious I believe. Colonel Carter I wish to close down our connection until we are safely in the Andrews vehicle."

"Okay. We're standing by. Shall I contact General Hammond, hes close by to where you are."

"I do not believe O'Neill will wish that."

"Copy that Teal'c."

"Yes, copy."

"Was that..?"

"Yes, Colonel Carter and Daniel Jackson are standing by to assist you. O'Neill we should leave now."

"Little bit of a problem here Teal'c, can't quite see."

"There is something in your eye O'Neill?"

"Something, but not sight."

"O'Neill 377s. The Nebulium. O'Neill?"

"No, no. yes and no."

Teal'c stood back and drew his gun. General O'Neill heard that but didn't mind.

"Explain please O'Neill.?"

"T my eyes, are they there, are they in my eyes."

"O'Neill you are not making sense."

"Teal'c my gad damn eyes! Are they missing. Look and see if my eyes are there!! Check them for me!!"

Teal'c was beginning to freak out a bit as well. The state his friend was in was causing him no end of distress.

"O'Neill let me see."

"Okay yeah. You see for both of us."

"I will!"

"My eyes T??"

"O'Neill your face looks blooded but your eyes look good."

"Do they look normal?"

"Yes O'Neill they look exactly normal. Your eyes are in good condition."

"Teal'c buddy I can't see a gad damn thing!! Ahh jeezzaasss!!"

General O'Neill was beginning to tremble all over. Delayed shock. He was starting to hyperventilate.

"Teal'c?"

"O'Neill please you must calm yourself. It is very important that you calm yourself."

A homeless or hungry person walked by the room they were in now and then but nobody paid the slightest bit of attention. Mac was nowhere to be seen.

"Start to tell me how you come to be here."

"Well my mate Mac brought me here. I met Mac right after I jumped off the top of the NID building."

"O'Neill?"

"Its true."

"But you are.. ..did you have a parachute device."

"No Teal'c I had an Ancient's device."

"Yes, yes, I understand. O'Neill you flew down to the ground by using the phase shifting ability of the Ancient's."

"Must be. Aahhh! Jeezzz! Teal'c. Aaaahhh. Pain. Oooohhh!!"

"O'Neill we must leave immediately. You need medical assistance."

"Mac. Mac?"

"There is no Mac here."

"T, he gave me a bottle of some crap. Give me the bottle, aaaaahhh, it kills the pain."

"O'Neill there is no bottle here."

"Have a look. Teal'c have a look, aaahhh!"

"Now I understand. You have been temporarily stunned, optically. You will regain your sight."

"I will?"

"Yes I am positive."

"Oh err, come on we've got to get clear. Big trouble abound. Big trouble with the NID."

"O'Neill I am deeply concerned about your condition."

"I am too T. I think I'm starting to see outlines, dark shapes."

"O'Neill I am most certain you will regain your sight within a reasonable period of time."

"Whens that then?"

"Soon!"

"Lets go T. Teal'c, the NID are compromised by the Nebulium. Call George!"

They moved to leave but the effort was to much. General O'Neill collapsed onto the floor. Teal'c helped him up and he sat back down on the makeshift table in the centre of the room.

"Aahhh! Teal'c the pain, its killing me!"

General O'Neill was in absolute agony. He was thawing after the fall. His body was waking up to face the impact he'd received from his slowed descent of a sixty four storey fast flight down to earth. His pain was thickly coated with the terror of loosing his sight. He couldn't remain conscious very well.

"O'Neill? O'Neill? I will call an ambulance?"

"T, no, our people only."

"General Hammond?"

"Not for this, not now. Ahhh! Aaaahhh!"

"O'Neill we will leave. I will carry you."

"I can walk."

"I will carry you."

"Ah g_d Teal'c, I can't see a thing I can't see anything, nothing!!"

"But you will see again."

"When?"

"O'Neill you must allow at least some time to pass in order for regeneration to take place."

"Jimmy lad. This your friend then?"

"Mac you're back."

"Yes. I must thank you for looking after my friend. You have indeed served a great purpose."

"Our Jimmy, he can fly you know."

"Yes."

"Here are lad have a drink."

"No."

"T."

"Very well, I will have a small drink, thank you."

"Thank you, I'd wait till you drink it first T."

Teal'c sipped and made no comment.

"Can you still not see Jimmy?"

"He will see again!!"

"But I can't see a gad damn thing now, T my eyes, I've lost them?"

"No O'Neill no you have not. After regeneration.. ..how long has it been?"

"Is it still this morning?"

"No."

"I don't know. I don't know. its em, gad I don't know."

"O'Neill?"

"Right, okay, the meeting was this morning, em is it still this morning, you said no.."

"Yes. How long has my friend been here?"

"Oh hes been here a couple of weeks on Tuesday now laddy, full bed and board hes had. We looked after him didn't we Jimmy?"

"Yeah, sweet Mac. Nice one."

"Yes, thank you. O'Neill it can not have been more than four fours since your eyes were subject to some kind of intense light radiation. Induced by the phasing.."

The General wasn't listening, he was mildly cracking up. An involuntary phase shift. The belief that you won't be seeing tomorrow. The though that you'll never see another today. The pain wreaked throughout his body. He began to pass out again. Mac had disappeared again.

"O'Neill?"

"Is that you? Are you here? I can see my son. I can see my boy."

"O'Neill you see with your heart."

"Teal'c am I dead?"

"No, no O'Neill you are not dead."

"Are you sure. How can you be sure, the fall it was so.. ..it was so far down."

"You are very much alive O'Neill and you will soon be in a position to realise that for yourself."

"I can't realise anything if I'm dead!!"

"O'Neill you are not dead. I am positive. You are not dead. I am not dead and you are with me."

"Teal'c I think maybe, maybe I didn't.. ..are you sure, it was high, very high. It was a long way down, long way. The fall.. ..aaahh!"

"You are in to much pain. We must leave this instance."

"Oh g_d Teal'c. Teal'c. Oh my g_d, my eyes! my eyes!!"

"O'Neill I will sedate you?"

"I can't see! They took my eyes!! I cant see anything Teal'c. Aaaaahhhh!! G_d!!"

General O'Neill was beside himself. He needed timeout to collect himself together. He needed to escape the experiences of the mornings traumatic events. Sedation, it seemed the safest option. Teal'c softly imprinted his gold, first prime of Apophsis emblem onto General O'Neill's forehead. Crushed ice on boiling blood. He was well and truly sedated. And under the circumstances, it definitely was the safest option.

~ Γ ≈ ≡ µ ± ∞ Λ ⊰ ~

Teal'c headed for a small private airfield that he and his colleagues had used on many occasions. Bladon airfield was managed by an ex Army Colonel, his wife and their eldest son. It was also the airfield General Hammond used for private charters. Teal'c was confident he would be able to get a lift back to Colorado no questions asked.

He telephoned The SGC and spoke to Colonel Carter who then arranged to have a small plane standing by at Bladon to bring both Teal'c and the General back to Colorado. ASAP.

General O'Neill started to come round. Teal'c kept his eyes fixed on the road and began shouting at O'Neill to force the General to concentrate on his Voice.

"O'Neill you can not see. You fell from the NID building. You phase changed, temporarily enabling you to escape the effect of gravity. Your sight will return O'Neill! You must believe me O'Neill your sight will return!!"

The General had been listening. He'd also been focusing, his mind. He was in so much pain but.. ..right. He was extremely uncomfortable. He was sitting in a dark and hazy continent of hidden colours. Everything felt very loud and very dark. He couldn't see but the recent past events we're stacked neatly in his mind.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because it is the truth."

"Really?"

"Yes O'Neill most really. And if you are in doubt as to my honesty I will remind you of a device once used on myself to heal a similar affliction. A device which is safely in the property of The SGC in lab B on Level twenty."

"Oh the.."

"Yes O'Neill the device Nyan presented to me after you allowed him to journey to Earth with us from Bedrosia. O'Neill your optic vision will return to you as soon as it is biologically practical. If the delay becomes unbearable, we will employ the healing abilities of this device."

"Teal'c you know I trust you. We won't need that device."

"We will not O'Neill."

General O'Neill felt very strong.

"T quick call George. Listen in."

"George we're under attack!! No. The NID building. Yeah. Fifty fourth floor. It was west side of the building, em. Ten in the room. Your people were in there. I'm not sure if anyone else got out, doubt it. Peanna, Kennedy, the other two. Five back up and up to six others, that I saw. Don't know. They seemed to be possessed. Nebulium.

Big picture, can't be sure George, but for one access to The SGC. Your people we're there, access to TIGETS. Joint Chiefs people,, ,,gad damn! You're telling me. Such a simple meeting, they could have got their hooks in everywhere.

Yeah, no. Yeah now! Can you lock down the whole building. Get Teams in there. Medical sweeps, everyone, plus a verify. In fact we should stick them all into quarantine. Aahhh! My head. No I'm fine George. My head.. ..headache. I will. Have them set something up in the basement. Nobody gets out. Nobody gets in. George the Teams need to very very careful. Em.. ..no.

I'll have one of my Teams come up from The SGC in the Teltac with some Griff devices. You know the helmets. Whoever goes in George, tell them to watch their backs. These Nebulium must have got in somehow. No idea. No. We know they can't last very long in our atmosphere so the point of entry must be somewhere close. Its probably in the NID HQ itself. No. No George. Don't know what the heck we're looking for but its probably in there so em..

Okay. Yes. Teal'c. You betcha. We're heading straight back to Base now but we're going by domestic so. Bladon's. Carter's been on. Sweet, tell him a fast one. Carter will set up a conference. As soon as we get back. Okay. Okay. Yah. Yah. Okay George. Thank you, thanks, I am yeah. George look em, I'm gonna ask Teal'c to keep in contact with you once we're in the air. Okay. Yeah he will, okay. Speak to you in conference. No I'm fine, sure. Code Six. Good!"

Teal'c hadn't gone into to much deal with Colonel Carter as even though their phones were scrambled he knew of to many technological devices that could unscramble their waves. He requested that Colonel Carter and Daniel Jackson meet them on the tarmac as they touched down. The anxiety in his voice and his tone were all the Colonel needed to read the situation as very serious.

For General O'Neill, other than being struck with fear-palsy and suffering torturous pain, the whole experience had been completely expiscatory. He now knew for sure something at the NID was shark sized fishy. He was exhausted. In a lot of pain. Afraid, he didn't show it but he was, deep down. He was totally drained. And even more certain than ever that Thor had left something of the Ancient's inside of him. He slept like a baby all the way back to the springs.

~ Π Φ Ψ χ  ∞ Ц Π Ω π √ Γ Ξ ~

:: Mission Accounts ::

© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006