I AM GENERAL GEORGE HAMMOND OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND YOOU, YOOU AND YOOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

ℷ

"General I'd like to see it if you don't mind."

"No Carter, I don't mind at all. Err, sure, by all means."

"Sir are you leaving it where it is or will you be taking it out?"

"Well, Carter, the plan is to take it out."

"When Sir?"

"Immediately, well as soon as you've finished doing whatever you're gonna do to it."

"Okay, so I need to leave soon?"

"Yes Carter you do."

"O'Neill theres been no signs of the infected NID Kennedy cell?"

"Not a dicky bird T. George has still got some people lying low at the headquarters, they'll em, I think by tomorrow they're gonna wrap it up. That's why if you wanna see it Carter you need to get up there today, check it out, see what you can find out, then, we'll have it taken out."

"Jack do you think they're still on Earth?"

"I do. Yah Daniel. I do."

"Sir where do you think they are?"

"No thoughts on that one Carter. Who knows. What we have to remember is that they weren't seen leaving the building. Now we know for a fact the missing personnel were shipped, uninfected, through that NID floor plate to 377. The NID cell and the five identified security guards, and some other agents, they were all infected. Carter according to one of your Reports those Nebulium minkies can't travel through the crystallo-system in a shell. And we've found no empty shells, so to speak. None of them appear to have left the building, so.."

"So O'Neill, there is another way in and out of the building. A way we have yet to discover."

"Like so."

"Sir they don't know that we know the floor plaque is a crystallo-system?"

"No reason why they should do."

"Well maybe General Hammond's people should take the glass sheet off it and just leave it open for a while. I mean they've got no more hostages, prisoners. You yourself don't think the Nebulium are going to step down.. ..em, I don't know Sir, its just err.. ..I don't know."

"So you're suggesting we leave it open?"

"Yes Sir, guarded and monitored but, you see if the Nebulium don't know we know it's a transportation system, and given that through their NID shell they'll know what the security procedure is at the NID HQ under these circumstances, they'll know the building would have been locked down. They'll realise an NID code six would have been enforced and they'll know everybody would have been checked out, and also cleared.

Sir they'll also know all this would be carried out within two to three days, which it has been. The building checked top to bottom, rechecked. Everyone accounted for, head count etc. two to three days, they know all this."

"Point being?"

"Well they'll also know that at some stage its going to be safe to return."

"You mean get access to the floor plate?"

"Yes Sir. Providing nobody knows about it. And theres no reason on Earth for them to suspect we do know about it."

"Let me think."

"Colonel Carter is correct O'Neill. Should the Nebulium have plans to continue their attempted infiltration into Earth's human society, they will attack again, and possibly quite soon."

"Yeah Jack, they really don't seem shy about coming forward."

"I know. I'm just weighing up the benefits of keeping the NID gateway open for a few more days. Comin' up blank!"

"Jack we'll be recovering the agents. The NID agents."

"Yeah, Kennedy."

"Him as well yeah."

"Sure, and there is the five missing security guards. You think the Nebulium might turn up, try and dump their shells and jump through the gateway. You want to try and catch them out. Get them before they can use the floor plate?"

"We could try. The Griff helmets do contain, they work. We've got the oxygen. You've got quite a few Teams now Sir who've got good experience in dealing with them."

"Carter tell me something."

"Sir?"

"Okay say we leave the lid off, let them attempt to return to the building to use the gateway. What happens if in the meantime more minkies come out of the thing, floor plate, from the pyramid, come out shooting at that, shooting those doomsday rays?"

"Sir, I understand. That's a whole didn't matter altogether."

"Indeed it is. With weapons such as those they can launch a formidable attack."

"The sound weapon they've got, you say that takes a while to be effective?"

"Yes Sir."

"So that's something that could do no harm if it was taken out immediately?"

"Yes Sir, yeah."

"So its just those wave.. ..wave emitter things?"

"They're a killer."

"Yes I believe they are Carter. Em, look, benefits, NID personnel, what strikes me about all of this is the fact that they could talk. From your Retrieval Mission Report and from what we've already seen, these Nebulium can't talk or won't talk, unyet Peanna, Kennedy, couldn't shut them up.. ..all nonsense of course but nevertheless chit chatting lively."

"They were making sounds, weird noises, when they jumped us in that upper hallway, in the tunnels."

"Did they speak to you?"

"You mean like asking for directions?"

"Yes Daniel, directions, which way to Earth?"

"Oh I'm sorry, I'm still not fully with it."

"Since when?"

"Ha, hahhh yeah. No, I don't think they could speak, not so that we'd understand anyway. Besides that though Jack, they have a complete lack of interest in communicating with us."

"O'Neill they did attack us several times, they appeared to have a desire to capture us, perhaps for usage."

"As shells?"

"Yes."

"General the autopsy results on em.. ..Sir."

"I know its not easy to think of them in that way Carter."

"Sir Philips and Doctor Balinsky."

"Go on."

"I've been through the findings and have also discussed the Reports in depth with Gavin Appler, the lead physician who performed the autopsy at area 51. Sir we can now shed light on the Nebulium ability to make sounds, their ability to speak.

The autopsy results show the Nebulium have different degrees of possession. Once the Nebulium infects the body, it essentially grows into the person's, the 'shell's' systems.

It seems to incubate itself during which time is grows itself, for want of a better word, into the shell. Doctor Brigham has confirmed that the recovered missing personnel had not been fed or watered since capture. We believe the lack of certain nutrients in the shell's system to be an enhancing growth bed facilitator for the infection, the Nebulium.

Doctor Appler and his Team found the first organic systems to be infiltrated are the nervous and the circulatory, the essential life support systems. Once the Nebulium is capable of regulating those systems it spreads out.

The autopsy results for both our men, Philips and Balinsky, show that the creatures that possessed them had not had time to take over the speech organs. If it had the chance, perhaps after a few more days incubation, it would have been able to manipulate their speech centres."

"You mean in which case they'd have been able to do the all talking, singing routine like Kennedy and Peanna?"

"Definitely. That's full possession. I suppose what it indicates is that the NID cell, agent Peanna's cell, has been em.. ..the incubation took place over a longer period of time, wherein the Nebulium had time to basically settle in. They had time to fully infiltrate the body and take over the systems, full drive."

"Carter what you're saying is that the NID people have been infected for quite a while?"

"Yes Sir. Can't say how long quite a while is in their case, but from what they've come up with at Area 51, judging by the incubation and infiltration growth rate, possession to that degree would take at least two weeks."

"O'Neill your meeting at the Pentagon, at the Trans Global Extra Terrestrial Security ~ Inter Alia offices with General Hammond and General Greer. The NID agents who attended must have been possessed by Nebulium even then!"

"Nebulium attending meetings. Um. Industrious! Frightening! Which means what else have they been up to. They've had time."

"Yes Sir they've had time. We can get on to that straight away. We'll do a background check. See what they've been working on."

"You do that Carter. But don't expect them to have made a note of everything they've been doing."

"Yeah with you on that Sir. We'll do an extensive check. See where they've been, who they've been visiting."

"Okay. And the Nebulium down in the tunnels, they weren't talking Daniel, they were making noises?"

"Yeah Jack they weren't talking."

"Sir Doctor Appler and his Team have been doing extensive studies of the Nebulium anatomy. In the raw state they do have full speech capability. From what we experienced in the 377 chambers, I would say they do talk but its beyond our range of hearing. Which is interesting because the weapon they've manufactured, the sound weapon, that was also operating on frequencies near and outside our audible range."

"So they know how to manipulate low frequency sound waves. Bone shakers, thats low frequency right?"

"Yes Sir, very effectively too. It also demonstrates a great understanding of sound waves."

"Um. Noisy Nebulium."

"Very noisy Sir. Very destructive."

"Benefits, tell me something else Carter. With all this incubation and such, infiltration of the body, what chances do these NID shells have of recovering?"

"Oh, Sir, that though went through my mind."

"Really? Did it do any summing up on the way?"

"Sir as you mentioned earlier, the infected NID cell were talking. On a priority basis, Doctor Appler believes the speech centres are one of the last systems the Nebulium connect with. Which means with the NID personnel, it's a total possession. Now, Daniel I hope you don't mind me bringing Nick up.."

He didn't mind, Nick was recovering slow but nicely.

"..Nick had presence of mind enough to be able to escape. He escaped using the crystallo-system of the Crystal Skull, the golden one. If the Nebulium had a degree of control over Nicks biological functions it would not have allowed Nick to use the Skull, as it knows it can't survive the ride. We know Nick did use the Skull, therefore the Nebulium infecting him was in the very early stages of possession.

This early stage of incubation left Nick in a terrible state. If we're talking about somebody who has been infected and is at the full possession stage, Sir I'm afraid to say they only have the slimmest chance of recovery."

"Tok Ra?"

"O'Neill they may have the means to cure. They have always been quick to assist, but that assistance is marred by liking and affection. We have good relations with the Tok Ra. The NID do not!"

"Its never easy."

"Sir?"

"Carter you understand me alright."

"Yes Sir I do."

"I know what you mean Jack."

"Choice of this nature, it is not easy O'Neill."

"Yah. Err, okay. What about these little monsters, creatures, I've seen the video stream but its very dark, can't really see them properly."

"That's not the light Jack, you really can't see them properly. They blend in perfectly with the surrounding walls."

"But you say they're human right?"

"Think so, at least they used to be. Sam?"

"Well Sir Daniel reckons they're Archaic origin."

"What they're old?"

"Old yes. From the Mesoamerican regions Jack. They've evolved into some kind of subterranean rock mutant."

"Whats that then?"

"Jack these rock devils are obviously descended from the slaves taken to the pyramid when it was being built, we're talking four or five thousand years ago. Living in that environment for all that time, their physiology would have had to develop and mutate in order for them to survive. I think the rock creatures that attacked us are a result of that transformation."

"That's bad news. Em, Carter from what I've read in your Mission Report they're not a serious threat?"

"Not by any means Sir. As long as they're not in close quarters."

"They're very primitive Jack, and so is their idea of fighting."

"So the rocky horrors won't be showing up any time soon?"

"Very doubtful."

"I doubt it too Carter. However.. ..they are human and we should look into the possibility of repatriating them, given their alternative, hell."

"Jack that would be a very kind thing to do. But I think it would kill them."

"What??"

"Well they were human, but now.. ..it would take them thousands of years to readapt themselves, living above ground, and in fresh air."

"Oh I see."

"Jack, the question is how to bring about that readaptation without killing them. It may not even be possible for them to revert back to a complete human physiology."

"Killing them with kindness.

Bummer.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Cater you need to get yourself up to D.C.. George is eager to personally show you round the NID building.

Report to me before you leave Andrews, see where we're up to."

"Ou, can I go?"

"Do you want to go Daniel?"

"Yeah, take some images for the database and err.. ..yeah. They've got archives haven't they?"

"Ha hahh.."

"Perhaps I also should go to inspect the fifty fourth floor, the scene of the crime. Perhaps also I could inspect their armoury."

"Ha ha hahh.. ..naughty children, but nice. Unfortunately George has had to disable the NID security cameras. Hes installed in situ field video surveillance, visual, infra red and thermal whats its."

"But not connected to the NID circuits Sir?"

"As I said Carter, unfortunate, for the NID! Yeah, alright, you can all go, we're still in Code so you need to be cleared through Medical on sixteen before you can leave. Oh and I want you there and back today. Don't forget we've got visitors tomorrow, day after tomorrow."

"Sir have you heard from my father?"

"Nope."

"Still, not yet?"

"Carter hes either holding up with Thor or hes busy somewhere else."

"Yes Sir."

"Don't worry, as soon as hes got something to report, as you know, he'll be in touch."

"Yes Sir."

"T, if you're going can you do me a favour?"

"Of course O'Neill."

"Can you take err, something for err.. ..Mac. Maybe take him some warm clothes, some food, things.."

"Yes. I will take him some supplies O'Neill. Yes I will. And I will pass on your kind regards to him. "

"Thanks buddy. Thank you."

"Carter read this en route. They've come up with a way of dealing with the megamammoth task of testing all the floor plates, plaques.

Some kind of epoxy resin stuff that they're just gonna smear over the things. You'll be able to see the logos just the same but they won't be letting anybody in, or out.. ..if they could. If any of them do turn out to be these crystallo-systems nobody will be able to get through."

"Sir coating the plaques. Thats a good idea. That would eliminate the possibility of the Nebulium getting back through to Earth that way."

"Certainly hope so. Let me know."

"Jack any word on the identity of those four unknown missing?"

"Nothing Daniel. We're optimistically assuming they've been taken from NID HQ, because if they haven't, we all know what that means."

"There is another Nebulium transportation system that we have not yet discovered."

"Well you could put it like that yeah. The problem is the NID don't exactly come clean about whose on their books. George is running their mug shots through face recognition."

"Sir they wouldn't be in Trans Global's databases would they?"

"And that would be a problem Carter, if he was using Trans Global's database."

"Sir! General Hammond's hacked in to the NID mainframe??"

"Carter I'm sure it would be considered hacking if he wasn't currently in charge of the building and all its contents.. ..lockdown remember. By the way, feel free to take your laptop with you. Take a few extra harddrives as well. You never do know when you're gonna need that extra little bit of data storage space."

"Good to be prepared Sir. I'm sure General Hammond won't mind if I do a little computing while I'm there."

"You betcha. Just, Carter, no traces of your visit eh."

"Not a glimmer Sir."

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

General Hammond had sent somebody from Trans Global to collect Colonel Carter, Daniel and Teal'c from Andrews Air Base. They were taken directly to NID headquarters, downtown Washington D.C. It was one of the highest buildings on the block, given that no building in D.C. is actually any higher than five hundred and fifty five feet. Still an awful long way to fall down though.

The building looked empty, deserted. They were taken in via the underground car park.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

The Generals, Greer, Hammond and O'Neill had been chewing over Colonel Carter's comments about the possibility of the missing NID personnel, the cell, Kennedy cell, led by agent Peanna, and the five missing security guards, that they may well yet return to the NID identification seal, the floor plate located in the NID HQ foyer.

There was a lot to consider. Certainly it was important to recover them, if at all possible. However two operatives had already been lost in the 377 tunnels. They'd also lost a member of the high level clearance admin pool, Ms Carmel. In addition to that it was touch and go as to whether up to half of the recovered missing would survive.

The General's were not prepared to endanger the lives of any more of their people. That decision was greatly driven by the knowledge that the Nebulium had sophisticated weaponry. At the same time they did appreciate that the NID personnel had been overtaken by the infectious Nebulium and therefore their actions had not been of their own design.

What to do! All considered, including the fact that there was now medical evidence to support the unlikelihood that having recovered these NID missing, the missing themselves would be able to survive loosing their Nebulium occupant. The General's agreed in video conference to keep the plate open, the gateway, open for another twenty four hours. The same amount of time left incidentally, that General Carter had estimated it would take the Kresh'taa Hadad to reach Zipacna's space.

Since Trans Global's remit was mainly administrative they only had one small squad attachment. The twenty four hour stealth surveillance was to be in operation with TIGETS Ops and two SGC Units, strategically placed around the foyer and other entrances. General O'Neill was not happy about deploying his Teams. However in the interest of retrieving more missing people he agreed to station SG-3 and SG-6 in the NID building. For twenty four hours only!

All the Ops were under strict orders to use extreme force should any of this highly technical wave weaponry be detected.

SG-1 were on hand to brief all the Operatives on the appearance, use and effect of the Nebulium wave weapon. They advised that there was only two defences against such a weapon, to take cover behind extremely thick stone pillars, or to take out the weapon wearer before it had time to fire. As it happened, there were quite a few marble stone pillars in the foyer.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

General Hammond was there to greet SG-1.

"Congratulations all of you. Very well done. Excellent work. Everybody's delighted with the results."

"General none of them are out of quarantine yet, its going to be months."

"Doesn't matter Colonel, the fact that you've recovered members of staff from four very key organisations, we're all very grateful."

"So does that mean its reflects well on The SGC General Hammond?"

"It does Doctor Jackson. Shinning glory. And at a time when Jack's pushing for more funding. Very well done. Good work!"

"Thank you Sir, that's err.. ..Thank you."

"General Hammond, the NID cell and security people are still at large?"

"We're doing what we can son. We're giving Colonel Carter's idea a try out. If it provides a chance for us to retrieve them, all very well and good. However Jack's informed us as to the chances of survival of the infected people after we expel the Nebulium. I understand those numbers are extremely low."

"Yes Sir, based on probability, very low General."

"Which beggars the question, is there sufficient benefit to be had by endangering our people any further."

"Sir that's practically what General O'Neill said. He was assessing the benefits of that as well."

"We're prepared to give it one last shot Colonel. After that this floor plate is being dismantled. You're aware we're sealing all the others?"

"Yes Sir, that will really speed up the job, and em, less disruption all round, as you said, it will work."

"Yes. Well according to your Report it will work Colonel?"

"It will work General."

"Shall we.."

They'd arrived at the NID headquarters. Still off limits to anybody who had business to conduct with the nefarious, insidious, dastardly organisation. Still out of bounds to anybody who worked there. And still a no go zone to anybody who didn't have special clearance to enter.

"You've seen the footage Major Harper shot?"

"We've watched it quite a few times Sir. We was looking for clues. Its good to have a chance to be here. Is it alright to examine the place General?"

"Go right ahead Colonel, I was hoping you'd do that. Make sure you stop by the east wing of the fourteenth floor. I'm sure you'll find something interesting down there. And Doctor Jackson, I understand you want to do a spot of reading while you're here, fourth floor for you."

"Understood Sir. Thank you."

"This is a real treat General."

"Help yourself son."

"General Hammond I would like to inspect the fifty fourth floor. Where the initial attack took place."

"Can do Teal'c. Why don't we all go up there first, we pass the armoury on the way, Jack said you might want to look at what kind toys they play with."

Alabalabuscha. Sweet!

What they wanted to do was follow the exact same path General O'Neill had taken during his flying visit at NID headquarters. They intended to follow the path right up to the roof's edge. Apart from Major Harper's video footage this was the first chance anyone from The SGC had had to conduct a detailed examination.

Teal'c kept smiling to himself during his inspection of the General's flight path through the upper levels of the NID HQ. He was truly proud of the amount of skill General O'Neill had employed to evade capture. It had been a bad do and a long run, hunted from the conference room on the fifty fourth floor up to the rooftop ten storeys above. The General had been faced with overwhelming odds. He'd come up against many, many infected personnel, and many more not infected. Unyet, somehow he had managed to smash, dodge, fight and flight his way to safety. Where others had failed, he really had done tremendously well to succeed.

General Hammond was downstairs now with his men and also the two SG Units. He was overseeing the stakeout. SG-1 had been there for hours. Photographing, scanning, copying and downloading, big time. They were back on the fifty fourth floor again, down by the lifts now. Still looking, searching, nit picking and trying to visualise.

By the time they got up the ten flights of stairs and out onto the rooftop, they understood completely the speed, stamina and skill and determination that had been needed to have kept ahead of so, so many pursuing foes. General O'Neill really had done unbelievably well to have escaped. Outstanding! If he hadn't of managed to do so though, gawd knows where they'd all be right now. Breathing in alien atmosphere and travelling by Ninth Chevron, Nth Dimension no doubt.

No clues. No signs. Clean getaway for all those concerned. What was left for them to do was a thorough examination of the downstairs ground floor and basement. But first they would check out the east wing of the fourteenth floor. Colonel Carter had full access to the NID mainframe. A situation the NID would never, ever agree to, not under any circumstances. Being invaded by Nebulium was, unfortunately, a circumstance they didn't foresee. Access Granted!

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

General O'Neill had been invited to go on the trip to NID HQ, but declined. It wasn't because he was aware of the determination the Nebulium had to infiltrate themselves into the upper echelons of government and power. It wasn't because he understood the subtly of their invasion, the ease with which they'd already successfully infiltrated and situated themselves into one government department. It wasn't because he understood the importance, strategically and otherwise, of not allowing himself or members of his Command to be possessed by the Nebulium foe. And it wasn't that he was reluctant to return to the seen of the crime. Plain and simply he had men down and he had responsibilities. It was not a good time for him to leave The SGC. He had a Gate to guard, people to protect and a battle to plan.

Things had changed. He now had a StarGate address to bargain with. A bargain which would no longer lead to the loss of the missing people. Handing over the address to P7X 377 was a thing he was willing to discuss. He was willing to negotiate, the only problem remaining was the fact that the negotiatee was a Goa'uld, and a hellish Goa'uld at that.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

Pure oxygen had been pumped into the NID reception foyer for days. The atmosphere around the seal was very oxygenated. Very explosive. Very fresh,

SG-1 imaged every aspect of the NID seal, floor plaque. They were now in the basement. Still searching for clues, and any other possible exits not accounted for. They were coming up with nothing new.

"Colonel your position??"

"General we're in the basement, we're far side to the, err, left, the, err, east south."

"The Thermal monitors are picking up movement in the basement. Three marks! Four marks!"

"General Hammond we are three!"

"Do we have an echo Colonel?"

"Position Sir?"

"Dead centre west."

"We're on it now General, one minute."

It was the Kennedy cell. They were coming in at near terminal velocity. They shot into the basement through the air vents.

All four of them sprang into the NID basement, up the stairs and into the foyer.

"Four of them! Heading your way fast General! Its Kennedy!!"

SG-1 tore after them at full throttle.

As sudden as loud, P90 riproar was sounding off on the floor above.

SG-1 got to the foyer in time to see Billy Banks starting to pop. He fell to the ground and began to roll and slam into the floor. He was about to lose his occupant. He was in an enormous amount of pain. If they could knock him out he could be spared the unbearable agony of enduring a Nebulium ejection.

Daniel ran and threw himself at Banks. He kicked him, not very hard, or so he thought, in the head. He'd been aiming for the shell's chin, he managed to hit him somewhere round the head. Still throwing himself about the ground, Banks became quiet and asleep.

Bright lights began to fire in all directions out from the floor plate. The NID infected were all preparing for ejection. Once the Nebulium were loose they would be able to escape through the floor seal.

"Cover it!! Cover it!!"

General Hammond wanted to shut the door. Close the gateway. Seal the seal. Catch the infection. Interrogated it! The glass cover was quickly set across the floor plaque.

"General eight more thermal marks in the basement!!"

"Get ready people! They're coming in fast!!"

It was the security people and other infected agents. That was it, the missing were found, all back to base.

Kennedy, Peanna and Mates came close to the floor plaque. They could see thousands of tiny lights bombarding but not penetrating the glass shield. The lights were fizzling out. The gateway wasn't open.

General Hammond made himself known.

"I am General George Hammond of the United States Air force and yoou, yoou and yoou are all under arrest."

Any thoughts the Nebulium had of ejecting and escaping were retracted and shattered. They scattered, double quick time.

Agent Kennedy and the other two were in complete silent panic.

Just then the five infected NID security guards, and three others, blazed into the foyer. All running towards the floor plate and all looking as if they were preparing to shed themselves.

The cell and eight were not armed.. ..well they had arms, but no weaponry was apparent.

General Hammond called off the gatling-guns.

"9 mils only people. Aim low!"

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

Kennedy and Co., bolted back down to the basement. He burnt across the foyer and bounced into the door to the basement. He fell onto the stairs injuring himself but carried on back down to the basement. Although they could pick up a good speed, they were nowhere near as agile as the Nebulium rawhides. Consequently they where fast, but very clumbsy. Agent Peanna was right behind him, followed by Mates, all of them jetting down the stairs and looking to escape back into the vents.

Teal'c was the nearest one to the basement stairs. He sped after them. Colonel Carter and Daniel gave chase. SG-3 took up their six, closing the door to the basement as soon as they got through to the stairs. The foyer was now sealed off.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

The oxygen was having effect on the infected. Two of General Hammond's men ran in with a Griff device. They hooded Banks and stood back. The smoky cloud bled out of him and crawled onto the glass shield. Oxygen advantage, Nebulium dead.

Two of the security guards, one night, one day shift, were starting to convulse. They were preparing for ejection. They were to quick to be caught.

The front wall of the building was glass. All glass. Aware that General O'Neill had rammed through a sheet of thick glass, General Hammond ordered leg shots at any infected who made towards the glass wall.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

Down in the basement Kennedy was racing straight for the air vent. From a distance Teal'c blasted the thing and fused the metal grill grid to the wall. Kennedy couldn't open it to get through. Peanna and Mates turned back and darted at Teal'c. They were very strong.

Kennedy shouted at the other two.

"Roydair! Rydair, shu ku me raft ineh!"

Kennedy joined in the attack on Teal'c. The oxygen must have gotten into their systems, they were becoming weakened. Teal'c was fighting with all shells. The four of them were on the ground now, huddled, grasping and grappling. Peanna and Kennedy were trying to hold Teal'c down. Mates started to shed himself. He popped there and then. A milky white rawhide rushed out of him. It attempted to enter Teal'c, but couldn't he was wearing goggles. Everyone in the building had been issued with goggles and ordered to wear them.

Agent Peanna was pulling at Teal'c's goggles from the front. She hadn't figured on Daniel's handy work. The glasses were suckered onto Teal'c's face. Pulling at them only enforced the vacuum, they needed to be peeled off, and non to roughly either.

Mates's Nebulium somehow discovered a zebra crossing. A marsûpium safety zone. It found it's way inside Teal'c's military utility vest and jacket. Glazed down under his swat T-shirt and swam itself up into his marsupial pouch. Teal'c could feel the agents grabbing and punching him but did not see the ghost like rawhide slip into his belly. At the same time though he felt excruciating pain in his abdomen. He was still fighting with Peanna and Kennedy. Mates was puss on the floor, he wasn't moving. Fallen agent, broken shell.

Teal'c was struck by severe stomachic pains. He stopped struggling with Peanna and Kennedy. He was in so much pain he could hardly breathe. The extreme gastro enteric distress was totally debilitating. Teal'c could hear Colonel Carter shouting to him. Trying to get a beat on his location. The thermal scanners had him but he was in a visual blind spot. He tried to call out but was stumped by pain.

Agent Peanna was riding on Teal'c's back. She had hold of him round the neck and wouldn't let go. She was trying to pull him back down to the floor. He was far to big and strong for her to be able to do that by herself, consequently where ever Teal'c moved, she was dragged along with him. Teal'c was to distracted by the pain to do anything about Peanna, his demented passenger. Colonel Carter was getting closer, she'd spotted the commotion and was running to assist.

Right then Kennedy popped! His internal companion belched out of him at great speed. The milky cloud slipped its way into Teal'c's pouch, snug as a bug.

The pain and Peanna prevented Teal'c from actually seeing the smoky cloud penetrate his pouch. However he did witness the event in measure of pain. Teal'c fell to the floor. Evil Sokar! Ahh gad, pain like this..!!

Colonel Carter and Daniel drew up in time to see Peanna hightailing and Teal'c throwing up. Colonel Carter and Daniel helped Teal'c up onto his feet.

"Teal'c, Teal'c are you alright?"

"Teal'c??"

Things were a little clearer. He could see Peanna trying to break open the air vent grill. He tried to speak but his mouth was very dry. He was trying to point his arm, instead he just looked like Oscar looking for a paw shake. Daniel had hold of his staff weapon. Teal'c took hold of it and cocked his head for the others to follow his view. Ah!! Panicking Peanna tryin' to get loose. He fired his staff weapon at the air vent again. Peanna wouldn't be getting out that way.

Colonel Carter's charge on the infected agent was led by the toe of her boot. One, two, she floored Peanna. Jaspers had a hood handy, SG-3 capped the agent and on Colonel Carter's orders carried her back up to the foyer.

The Colonel ran back over to be with Daniel and Teal'c.

"Teal'c are you alright?"

"Now I am."

Teal'c sounded dry and surprised. Looking round at the mess of Mates and Kennedy on the floor Colonel Carter was very concerned.

"Wheres the things out of these two? Teal'c the Nebulium, have they ejected?"

"Yes, they ejected, one after the other."

"Where are they Teal'c?"

"I do not know Daniel Jackson. I was still engaged with the agent Peanna. Trying to confine her. I was unable to see where they went."

"Oh heck. Err. Tony can you send two of your men back down. We need oxygen down here as well."

"They're on they're way! Reynolds out."

"Daniel you take down there. Make sure your goggles are tight. Teal'c, you sure you're alright?"

"Yes."

"You take over there. General we've got two Nebulium loose down here."

"Nothing on the monitor Colonel. Is there a chance they could have made it into the air vents?"

"If they're not showing up on thermal.."

"Sam, General Hammond, we don't know if they give off thermal reading do we?"

"No Doctor Jackson, we've got nothing on that."

"My understanding is they can't last very long in our atmosphere. We saw that at The SGC."

"Thats what we're finding up here son, however we do need confirmation, deal with it Colonel. Out."

"Teal'c is there anyway they could have got back into the vents."

"Negative Colonel Carter, as you can see the entrance is now fused."

"Okay, theres two of them down here, we need to find them, flush them out."

"Teal'c are you alright?"

"No Daniel Jackson I am not. I feel dizzy."

"Teal'c.. ..they did, did one of them get in you?"

"No! We will all be subjected to a Medical examination, at which time we can confirm that I was not infected."

"Yeah sure, yep, okay."

While Teal'c was finding his feet Colonel Carter and Daniel stood back and watched him.

"Sam I really don't like the look of Teal'c."

"I know Daniel. Unless its been an injury hes sustained in battle, I don't think I've ever seen him poorly."

"Well we sort of are in battle now but that's not it, he just doesn't look well."

"I know. I think maybe we should call a Medic down for him to be tested straight away. If theres anything wrong.. ..the quicker we get it out."

"What, do you think he could be infected?"

"To be truthful Daniel I don't, but, what else could it be?"

"Yeah Sam, like you said, lets clear him right away because if there is anything wrong the quicker we deal with it the better his chances are. I think he'll be okay though."

"So do I. Okay. General Hammond, Sir could you send a field Medic down, em we need Teal'c to be tested straight away.. ..for infection."

"Oh good lord. Aw no!"

"Actually General we don't think he is infected but he just isn't looking very well, if we could eliminate that possibility I think we'd all feel a lot better."

"Colonel we have a situation up here, do you need assistance?"

"No Sir its okay. Its all in hand, given whats going on up there, we'll be up soon Sir."

"If you say so Colonel. Theres a Medic on his way."

"Thank you Sir. I'll keep you informed."

"Very well. Hammond out."

Tested and cleared!

"Well whats wrong with you then because I mean you don't look well. You said yourself you don't feel well."

"Maybe it's the oxygen. Teal'c is the oxygen effecting you?"

"No Daniel Jackson. It is good to breathe in such rich air. It is not the oxygen. I am now feeling more myself once again."

"Do you think you were injured when you were fighting with those three agents?"

"No!"

"Oh, okay."

"There may be a chance that the close proximity to the infected persons caused within me some type of allergic reaction."

"What?? Allergic to what?"

"I do not know Daniel Jackson."

"Well erm, err, okay. Look we really do need to find these two missing raw states. We need to get this contained. Lets just keep looking."

"Yes."

"Okay Sam."

"And Teal'c, as soon as we get back to The SGC you need to check in for a full medical."

"I fell well again."

"Even."

"Very well then. If you insist."

"Well I think you know I do."

"Indeed."

"Sam that's clear down there, I'll go over here."

"Thanks Daniel. Sergeants can you take that corner over there please."

"Ma'am!!"

No Nebulium in the basement. Not in any corner. Not in anywhere. Banks was down and empty up in the foyer. Peanna, now contained and still unconscious, was up there too. Kennedy and Mates had lost their infection. The basement was clear. And there was two missing travellers.

Colonel Carter and Daniel and two of SG-3 carried Kennedy and Mates up to the confinement of the foyer. Teal'c made sure the door off the foyer, down to the basement was sealed shut.

~Θ Φ ζ Λ Σ γ λ   ~

A terrible side show was in progress in the foyer. The eight had been going ape. Throwing themselves and thrashing themselves about. Three of them had now popped. The Nebulium had jumped shell. Prematurely as they discovered moments before being asphyxiated. Three empty shells and three oxygenated Nebulium. They lay with Billy Bank's deflated goo on top of the glass sheet covering the NID floor plaque, the gateway to hell.

General Hammond's Medics were pulling the empty shells to the far left corner of the foyer. In procedure they were putting containment helmets on all the formerly infected NID personnel. It was procedure, besides you really can't be to careful in these situations.

The five remaining infected NID persons were unsure. They were, it seemed, captured. Cornered in the vast surrounds of the NID foyer. Denied escape through the sealed seal doorway to Xibalbah. The Nebulium would not be travelling lightly. Not through that floor plate at any rate.

The five shells were in a holding pattern around the NID floor seal. There was no way out for the Nebulium. If they ejected they would fry in a breath of fresh air. If they remained cloaked they were going to be subjected to excess levels of oxygen, they would fry.

"Sir we have agent Peanna, shes still infected."

"You think we should remove the glass cover, let them make a run for it?"

"Yes General. They can't take the people with them.."

To slow! All five shells began to make a dash for the huge smoke glass wall. It wasn't likely they'd be able to get through the glass, it was exceptionally well re-enforced. However.. ..If they could get to the other side of the defences and through the glass wall they'd be safe. They charged at the military.

Not wishing to shoot them unless completely necessary the Units laid into the charging NID personnel. Fighting in the foyer ensued. It was chaotic. The shells were very fast, and strong. But the Units were a part of the best trained troops in the world. They pinned the shells down. Tackled them down. Booted them down. Karate chopped them down. They had three of them restrained for sure. SG-3 got the Griff devices on each one of them and then sedated all three struggling shells. Having learnt from Level thirty-one A, they realised the sedation would not necessarily prevent the shells from moving round. Colonel Carter ordered the units to keep the shells pinned down.

The three Nebulium ejected and began to make a dash for the see through wall. Actually it was more of a splutter. One of them diverted towards the floor plaque, which was still covered. The other two changed course as well, staggering over to the plaque. They we're attacked by an unavoidable excess of healthy air. Three, dead by breathing!

The remaining two loose NID cannons were still making for the glass wall. General Hammond came out from his Comms station. He lunged at the forward shell and wrestled him down in a headlock. The General gave the NID shell a real mean knuckle duster sandwich.

"Do you want some more of this?? Or are you going to give up??"

Oh la! Bulldog Hammond's in the mix. The shell was still squirming and trying to get free.

"I warned you!!"

Yes he did. He wrapped his wrestling arm tighter round the shell's neck. With his free arm he swung up a good spinach blow, knocking the shell senseless straight to a place called sleep.

Exceedingly effective General Hammond! Oh la!

Sergeant Jaspers and a Medic ran over to the General's position and put a containment helmet on the sleeping shell. They began to pull him by the feet across the floor, over to the far left of the foyer.

The last infected person was boxed in by SG-1. Daniel was trying to communicate.

"If you tell us what you want we may be able to help you. We've seen where you live. The pyramid. What can we do for you? Why are you attacking us? If you talk to us we can help you."

"Ramedorr ineh. Ramidar sha."

Helloow. Cuse me. What. Without rhyme and definitely reason, the Nebulium shot out of the missing NID shell at high velocity. It flirted itself top speed at Daniel, who only just about managed to throw himself clear to the ground. Teal'c blasted at it with his staff weapon but missed. It dived a great height up into the air and then deliberately, recklessly aimed and plunge dived down at the NID floor plate. The floor plate was transmitting. There were countless thousands of pretty little lights coming out of it, though all of them getting knocked back by the re-enforced glass shield. The last Nebulium nose dived slap onto the glass, a mere reflection away from escape. Eeek, harikari, bushido, smoky cloud totally smoked!

General Hammond was pleased. The lockdown could be shutdown. The Recovered missing were to be specially transported to The SGC for transfer to quarantine on the Beta Site. The smoked Nebulium, nine of them, were to be specially transported to Area 51. There was intense discussion as to what to do with agent Peanna and the still infected NID security guard General Hammond had taken down. Daniel said their condition was a chance to discover what the Nebulium where about, what they wanted. For now the safest place for both of them was the Iso Unit at Beta Site quarantine.

The most pressing issue, pressing in that it required immediate resolvement, was the whereabouts of the two missing raw state Nebulium. Where were they. As Teal'c quite rightly said, he had fused the air vents shut, there was no escape to be had in that direction. It was a serious problem. The surveillance Team could not pull out until all had been accounted for.

True the Nebulium are sneaky little minkies. They can squeeze themselves into the most petite spots. That being so, TIGETS in advance of a possible return to the floor plaque by the NID missing, had prepared the field. All doorways off the foyer had had a gelatinous solution pasted round the seams. The basement was the same. The air vent had not been properly sealed due to the fact that there is a complicated series of large extractor fans with large sharp blades blowing air to the outside. It was not envisaged that entry by that route could be achieved.

So now the air vent was also sealed and there really was no way out.

"General theres no way out."

"That's what I thought Colonel Reynolds."

"General they can't last for very long outside the body. Maybe they're dead."

"I agree Doctor Jackson, I'm sure by now they are dead. But that still doesn't account for them being missing."

"No it doesn't does it."

"No son it doesn't. Okay folks, I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary, we've all had a very difficult week, however, we are going to have to do another full sweep. We've got six Units here in all. One Unit per floor. Ten floors covered by each Unit. I suggest Units split into pairs, one search group covering north of east, the other, south of east. You four Units each take an extra floor. SG-1 you'll take the basement as well. Teal'c, SG-1, quick word before you set off. Everyone, make sure your goggles are tight. Watch your back's people!"

"Sir!!"

~ ≡ Λ ∏ ω Δ Σ Ψ γ Δ √ ∞ ~

:: Mission Accounts ::

© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006