Big thanks to Eruannelaviriel! Without her I dunno what I'll do!
Merry Christmas. :)
The one who seeks cannot see.
What is that suppose to mean?
Within is drawn potential
Daniel sighed and rubbed his eyes. He'd been looking at these riddles for hours and he didn't know what they were talking about. Other writings just tell about how the weapon was put into the temple and a warning to stay away. Nothing to give insight to what the riddles mean.
Seekers are tainted within
Was that referring to the last statement? No the writings are separated... I don't know...
Pure is untapped but merges with the tainted
Nope I'm lost.
Darkness cannot contain light.
"Daniel? Daniel!"
Daniel blinked and looked up towards the voice. It was Janet and she didn't look real happy.
"You been at this for hours. You need to rest"
"I know but-"
"No buts Daniel. You're body has been through a lot. While you're in my care I'm going to make sure you're going to eat and sleep properly or you won't have your books to study."
Daniel grumbled something inaudibly. Janet kept her displeased look.
"I'm serious Daniel. I do this because I care" Janet reasoned.
"Yeah I know" Daniel sighed.
Janet picked up his books from the bed and left them on the nearby gray desk. Daniel was already in a gown so he slipped in to bed. Janet attached small sticky pads to his forehead as he rested his head on the pillow.
"I want to monitor you're brain activity while you sleep. Tomorrow I'm going to give you an MRI scan, since we discovered the problem late today. If this is affecting your brain chemistry I want to know how" Janet explained herself
"Oh"
Lab rat...
Daniel took his glasses off, pinched his noise and squeezed his eyes. I hope I didn't just hear that.
"Are you ok?" she asked noticing his discomfort.
"Yeah fine. The lights are bright" he half lied.
"I'll turn them down when I leave" she smiled.
"Thanks"
Sam knocked on the General's door the next day.
"Sir? You wanted to see me?" Sam inquired.
"Yes. Come in Major" the General motioned her in.
She entered and saw someone in the chair in front of his desk. From what she saw the person had gold hair that had a dusty twinge of brown to it. She looked at the General.
"Major Carter I would like you to meet Dr. Lindal Trall. She's been flown in by the President to help you work on the Ancient's weapon device"
"Sir?" Sam blinked. When did this happen?
The woman stood up and turned. Sam stood back somewhat surprised by her striking appearance. She had short straight hair, that had the gold dusty brown tinge. She was in civilian clothing, she wore a white blouse with black pants. Her skin was a beautiful tan that told Sam she didn't hang around in labs very much and her eyes were a light brown that held a striking stare.
The woman held out a hand for a hand shake. Sam locked eyes with her and reached out to shake her hand in politeness. The woman had a strong grip and she felt suddenly felt funny but it quickly passed. She suddenly remembered why the woman was here. She opened her mouth to ask but the General already knew what she was going to ask.
"Dr. Trall specializes in astrophysics, robotics and engineering. She has familiarity with alien technology that has been sent to Area 51. She was personally recommended by the president to help with the progress and speed of research and problem solving of the Ancient's Weapon Device"
Sam raised her chin, "Yes sir"
"Dr.Trall" the General nodded, "Its a pleasure to have you aboard"
"Thank you General" Dr. Trall nodded before taking her leave, "Major"
"Sir" Sam addressed the General after the woman was gone and out of earshot.
"Major, I am not belittling you're brilliant abilities, but the President is under pressure to produce this weapon"
"What about Daniel, sir?" Sam asked
"That is why the President sent Dr. Trall to help remove the device from Dr. Jackson. If the Powers that Be had their way Dr. Jackson wouldn't be here. They're breathing down my neck for this technology as well, Major, and I want to ensure that Dr. Jackson isn't in any danger"
"Yes sir" Sam said more submissively, now that she knew the situation
"Dismissed"
Sam left the office and head towards the elevators. This sort of thing wasn't new, and a civilian scientist wasn't new either. But something about the doctor chilled her to the bone. Made her want to get her out of here, but she couldn't leave because she just have bad feelings about someone right?
"Major?"
Sam turned to see the newly appointed scientist approach her.
"Dr. Trall" Sam nodded formally, ignoring the flip flop her stomach made.
She flashed a smile. Her teeth were a brilliant white, "Please call me Linda"
Sam forced a smile, "Sam"
The doors to the elevator opened. They both stepped in Sam pressed her floor.
"You want to get started right away?" Sam asked.
"Yes please. I love a tricky puzzle" Linda grinned.
Sam smiled at that. She loved technological puzzles herself.
"What happened to your arm?" Linda asked, gesturing to
Sam's sling.
"My shoulder actually. Hit with a staff blast on a
mission"
"Owch" Linda replied bluntly.
"Ok then" Sam blinked, "Where you from?"
"Oh I worked in pretty heavy classified stuff I'm afraid" Linda said sadly.
Sam frowned, "Really?"
Linda nodded, "Lets just say Major... I'm really good at what I do"
On cue the doors opened and Dr. Trall exited the lift. Sam followed behind behind her. She shouldn't be surprised. Her C.O was in some pretty classified stuff himself but he was military. He was in Special Ops. It was a little unusual for a civilian to be in large, heavily classified operations. The General said she worked in Area 51. Maybe she was into something before that. How much it bugged her she knew she had to let it be. Knowing classified things without permission could put you on the wrong side.
Sam lead the civilian to the observation deck of Isolation Room 2. The scientist saw Daniel awake and busy reading the notes in front of him. Dr. Trall entered the room and with a stalking stride she made her way to the large durable two way window. Her light brown eyes kept a firm stare on the archeologist below. Sam knew something more was going on.
"Dr. Jackson, I presume?" Linda asked looked at the man.
"Yes" Sam replied as she came up behind her to stand next to her.
Dr. Trall looked at the monitor that showed Daniel more closely and got a better look at the metal. Her eyes were wide and in awe, and sam Sam saw another glimmer of emotion that she couldn't identify.
"Its made with 10 naquada, 20 tritium and 20 titanium. The rest of it is an unknown mineral that we've yet to discover" Sam explained the bracelet that the doctor was interested in.
"Amazing. The rest of the unknown mineral has to be the combining agent, and it has to have a way to charge itself if its used as a weapon. Have you see it in action"
"Not really no" Sam admitted
"Who has?"
"My teammate, Teal'c" Sam told her
"The Jaffa?" the civilian asked. She was briefed on the team, the mission and anything else that was related.
"Yeah" Sam nodded, "It worked like a Ribbon Device and it acts like an all-proof armor"
"Explains the naquada and titanium in the metal makeup. Have you studied the unknown metal?"
"Yes, I got some studies done" Sam replied
"May I see?" Dr.Trall asked
"Sure. This way" Sam gesturing to the exit. Dr. Lindal Trall nodded her head as she took up on the Major's offer. Sam followed behind and they both left. Daniel was unaware of the two women's observation.
Jack sat in the lunch room, taking a break from all the paperwork he was catching up on. The team was on stand down until that armor was off Daniel. Carter was doing what she could to trying to get it off and Teal'c was busy replacing Daniel for Goa'uld translations.
Jack bit plainly into his turkey sandwich. Times like this he wished he was on the field or back at his cabin fishing. It would give him something to do other than paperwork.
Jack saw a tray loaded with food being put onto the
table. Jack looked to see Teal'c sitting beside him.
"Got enough?" Jack quipped at Teal'c's large amount of food
"Indeed"
"So how are you going with translating for the geeks?" Jack asked, making conversation.
"It surprises me how many Tau'ri of this facility do not know Goa'uld" Teal'c said in disgust in a stoic way
"Yeah me too" Jack said plainly and had another bite of his sandwich
"Hey" Sam greeted
Both men looked up to see Sam and another woman beside her. They stared at the newcomer with a curious but cautious look.
"Who's your new friend?" Jack was the the first to break the silence.
"Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c meet Dr. Lindal Trall. Dr. Lindal Trall meet Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c" Sam made the introductions, "She was sent in by the President to help removing the Ancient's weapon device from Daniel"
Jack's and the woman's eyes locked. It showed something familiar, perhaps arrogance or superiority. Jack took an immediate dislike."Oh. Hi" Jack greeted. Great another geek. Something about her gives me the willies.
Teal'c stared at the woman with a hard stare but politely bowed his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both" Lindal's voice was strong, but calm.
"Likewise" Jack tried to keep his sarcasm out of the statement, but didn't do a great job.
Lindal's eyes shot a look at the Colonel before it was replaced with warmth. She turned to Sam.
"I have some last minute paperwork that needs to be filled out. If you excuse me..." she nodded to all of them before taking her leave.
Sam sat down with her tray, "So?"
Jack looked up from his sandwich, "So... what?"
"What do you think of her?" Sam asked
"I dunno. There's something about her that gave me the creeps" Jack muttered.
"You too?"
"Why do you get the heebie jeebies?"
"Well she comes from Area 51 and beyond that is heavy classification"
"So she's in pretty secret stuff?" Jack asked, partly interested.
"The General appointed her to help me with the Ancient's weapon device" Sam informed, "The Government powers are pressing to get their hands on the weapon"
"So they send a creepy classified civilian geek?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"The General had no choice. Even the President had no choice. There is pressure for the weapon, with or without Daniel attached" Sam said glumly.
"Typical" Jack growled, "After all that Daniel's done for this project and they don't care about him?"
Sam sighed, "I don't know sir. If they take him they'll try to take it off him some how but I don't think he'll come in tact"
Jack pressed his lips together. He didn't like that idea.
"How long do you have?"
"I don't know. I don't think I would have that much time to figure it all out"
"You'll figure it out Carter. You're smart. Geez, the the smartest person I know, and you work good under pressure. I know you'll pull through for Daniel" Jack encouraged
"As do I. I have no doubt in your abilities" Teal'c interjected.
Sam smiled a little, "Thanks guys"
Jack didn't feel hungry anymore. The news dampened his appetite. He put down his sandwich.
"I'm going to the gym for a while. See you guys later" he excused himself before leaving.
Teal'c and Sam watched him leave. They knew why he behaved that way and they couldn't blame him. Sam turned back to her meal.
"So Teal'c, how did the translations go?" Sam asked making conversation
Daniel sighed. He came back from doing an MRI scan for Janet. Now he was bored again. The text that he thought provided him answers only gave him more questions. None of it made sense and that was the lack of information and history. The Ancients didn't have a recorded history... well maybe the Repository but that's about it. There were just warnings about the weapon, that didn't give Daniel any comfort. Warnings about not wearing it... it was too late for that. He had no idea how to take it off. It had to be done somehow. If the weapon was used before, than how did it come off and end up on the pedestal?
He started to pace again. He looked up to the observation deck to see a scientist there. Where were his friends? He knew they would be trying as hard as they could to get rid of this thing. He looked at the scientist and glared at her as if she was an offensive fly. She wasn't suppose to be there... one of his friends supposed to be!
The woman looked more intrigued and sat down. Daniel noticed the scientist's interest. He noted the features of her body. She wore a lab coat, she had golden brown hair with brown eyes and tan skin. She took notes down. Is this what he was now. A science experiment. Just something to be observed! Where were his friends? Did they care? Of course they cared! Why then, was he being treated as a scientist's playground?
He felt angry and somewhat hurt. He needed some reassurance that he wasn't alone. He knew that his friends would never leave him when it came to the crunch but being alone all the time, like it always had been, made him rethink his trusts and values.
Lab rat...
Great. He was going nuts as well! Just what he needed. Now he's a experiment and a schizophrenic. Stupid armor! Why didn't he listen to Jack? Why did he had to pick it up? What made him think he had the right to this armor?
They'll experiment on you...
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He hated being here. He wanted things to go back to what they were. He wanted to do what he loved and now he's just stuck here all alone.
Alone...
Damn it! Now he was going crazy! Soon enough he'll be back in Mackenzie's care in a white padded cell. What difference did it make? Not much at the moment, he would still be alone... Anger shot through him. It rose like a pressured volcano. His thoughts fuelled it to a point where he stopped pacing to glare at the scientist with hatred.
The scientist stared back at him coldly. It only fuelled Daniel further. He was sick of being here. He was sick of being observed and treated like today's ice-cream special! There was no answers, there was no hope of getting this weapon off him. He would be stuck here or somewhere worse and be experimented on all his life.
The scientist perked up as she saw the armor spark in activation. Yellow sparks snapped on the metallic surface. A small smile played on her lips and quietly observed the man closely on the monitor. Daniel turned to the window and started to yell. His voice was muffled out by the sound barrier window. Daniel saw the scientist smirk and found himself enraged. The woman was laughing at his suffering!
They don't care...
He turned and picked up the chair at his desk. It lifted like a bag of feathers in his armored hand. With all his might he threw it at the window. The force cracked the durable window but one chair leg made it through. A small hole was created and the chair leg hung from the wedge. The scientist moved back but couldn't hide the wide smile that was on her face. Daniel didn't see it but he wanted her to suffer too. He picked up items off his table and threw it at the observation deck window.
The scientist stood up and on cue the doctor came in. The petite brown haired woman stopped in her tracks when she saw the chair in the window. She ran to the phone and ordered for security. She ran out of the room, not even noticing the scientist there, smiling.
We must escape...
Daniel chucked everything that he could but it wasn't enough. He needed to get through that window, get out of here and find someplace he could hide from these people. Coldness crept across his chest but he took no notice of the metal that now covered his upper torso. He focused on the window and stretched his arm out. He spread his fingers out and aimed at the window. A red glow appeared in his palm as it powered up.
The thick isolation room door opened and there appeared Doctor Fraiser and armed men. Daniel saw them. He quickly turned and aimed his charged weapon at them. He released the energy and, like a Ribbon Device, they were all thrown back. He saw the entry way open so ran out for his escape.
One armed man struggled up groggily and raised the alarm. His comrades moaned and Doctor Fraiser, suffering the full extent of the blast, was unconscious. Things went like a chain reaction. The base went on lock down and The General was ordering him to be found and alive. Search parties were sent and they swept through the base.
Jack cut his own workout time and joined his two remaining teammates.
"What's going on?" he asked Sam
"Daniel's escaped sir" Sam told him
"What?"
"Daniel's under the weapon's influence"
"Aww crap"
"Here sir" she handed him the tranquilizer gun.
"Thanks"
She received a zat gun off Teal'c.
"Carter?" Jack questioned
"Sir?" Sam replied
"You're injured" Jack gesturing to the sling on her left shoulder
"I can still shoot, sir" Sam quietly protested, "I'd rather help search than sit around."
Jack nodded. Armed with zats and a tranquilizer gun, they joined the hunt. They were on the bottom level of the facility sweeping the halls for signs of Daniel.
They passed down every turn, corner and room but they...
Found nothing.
Suddenly the Klaxons rang. The team were alerted and thinking along the same lines, that made a dash towards the Control room. They climbed the spiral staircase to find...
No one there.
They quietly entered the room and searched it out, with their weapons at the ready. Sam went to the control panel to stop the dialled address. But something cold and hard hit her in the chest. The force threw her across to the other side of the room.
Jack and Teal'c turned with weapons raised but found nothing. Teal'c stood motionless as Jack shifted his gaze ready for anything.
"O'Neill!" Teal'c shouted
The split second went like slow motion. Jack turned to Teal'c to see his zat gun pointed at him. Jack instantly knew he had to move and so he did. Soon as the way was clear Teal'c shot where Jack had been and the blue bolt smacked into an invisible form behind Jack's place.
The figure fell and Teal'c closed in. Jack did the same to see their escapee. The invisible layer left to reveal Daniel.
"Christ!" Jack swore
Daniel breathed heavily on the floor, armor covered his whole torso and possibly his back. Daniel struggled to a sitting position, determined not to give up. He pushed himself away, but Teal'c's weapon was trained on his movement.
"Go on. Kill me" he taunted the Jaffa, "I'd rather die than suffer for the rest of my life"
"Daniel what the hell are you talking about?" Jack growled
"Like you don't know" Daniel sneered
Daniel struggled to his feet to make his getaway. Jack raised the tranquilizer gun and shot at Daniel's unprotected leg. Daniel fell at the shot but he got back up again. Daniel was determined to get out of here, despite the odds. The drug was quickly taking over but he continued to drag himself across the room to the control panel.
They want you to suffer. They want you to stay and be experimented on.
"No..." Daniel moaned as he struggled to raise himself to the panel, "No..."
Jack didn't want to shoot him again. Firing another tranquilizer could kill him. Teal'c was in the same boat. They had to apprehend him by force. The room suddenly became alive with solders. Men came in gun-ho pointed their projectiles at the limp armored man. The General came in behind them
"Dr. Jackson stand down" the General barked
Daniel turned to the General with dangerous fury in his eyes. Then his eyes rolled back, his legs collapsed from under him and he sank to the floor. Darkness ensured his recapture.
"What on earth happened?" the General asked the group in front of him.
The rest of SG-1 and Dr. Trall sat on chairs in General Hammond's office. Dr. Faiser was in the infirmary along with other airmen from the blast Dr. Jackson produced. Dr. Jackson was in another isolation room, heavily restrained. He reviewed the security tapes of the isolation room and in the observation room. Dr. Trall was present during the turn of events and, by the looks of things, did nothing.
General George Hammond's eyes focused on the only civilian in the room, "Dr.Trall?"
"I was merely observing him General" Dr. Trall said innocently
"So you provoked him?" Jack asked sarcastically
"I did nothing!" Dr. Trall defended herself, "Only to complete my analysis of the weapon. I simply watched how it affected him"
"And did nothing!" Jack pointed out
"I didn't realize he would get so violent Colonel!" Dr. Trall snapped and her fiery temper flared, "From what I heard of Dr. Jackson, he's a kind and generous man. I didn't expect it"
"He's under alien influence!" Jack used the tone that it was a fact that even babies would know
"None of us did, Dr. Trall" the General said plainly, "Yet the issue still remains. Did you calm him down?"
"No I didn't" Dr. Trall said levelly
"And why not?" the General demanded
"I told you, I wanted to observe how he reacts the weapon"
"He's not some freaking lab rat" Jack snapped
"You want me to help you with this or not?" Dr. Trall stood up and raised her voice. It became strong and bold, like an angry school principle yelling at a boy who was in trouble, "I know how much you want this weapon removed, but I need to look at all aspects of it. There is no doubt in my mind that this will happen again and we need to know why and how we can counteract it"
"That's no excuse to let him go like that! He has injured and could of killed good men out there today. Not to mention his own mental well-being" Jack countered
"Colonel" the General warned at his hot temper
"Then perhaps Colonel, or one of you, should have been there when this happened. Since you knew him better than me he might take more comfort into knowing a friend was there with him and not a stranger"
Those cold words pierced right through Jack's heart. Did Daniel think they'd left him alone?
Seeing she got through to him she spat, "If you think you can do a better job at this, then you can take my place and help the Major here figure it out!"
Before they could do anything she stormed out of the room. Jack ran his hands through his face. The room was left in awkward silence. Sam shifted in her chair as Teal'c sat, his face showing nothing.
"Sorry sir" Jack muttered before sitting down
"I understand Colonel. Given the circumstances, you all have the right to be worried and stressed. Dr. Fraiser has yet to find the cause of his current condition. Dr. Trall maybe a little unorthodox..."
Jack quietly snorted.
"But" the General ignored Jack's disrespect to the Doctor, "She's the best help we can get at the moment. For now, I want you all to hold your tongue"
"General-"
"Colonel, I have no choice" the General interrupted, "I don't like this as much as you, but until that Ancient's Weapon Device is removed from Dr. Jackson she is staying"
Jack pursed his lips to express the displeasure he couldn't say. He let out a breath and nodded.
"Yes sir"
"Alright. Dismissed" the General said wearily
To be continued...
That was a fun filled day. Looks like the weapon is spreading its influence and the team isn't too fond of this civilian Dr. Lindal Trall.... are they? What's going to happen to Daniel now? How will this turn out? Stay tuned to find out!
Please review. What's you opinion on this situation?