Chapter 37 "These are definitely part of the cache our teams uncovered, sir," = Carter concluded as she scanned the weapons. "The ones Gina reported missing?" Methos asked. "The energy signatures match," she nodded. "Of course they do," O'Neill said expansively as he and Teal'c rejoined = the group. "Unfortunately, I think Slippy Zippy is a bit too smart to = put all his eggs in one basket." Carter sighed. "You're right, sir. The manifest we originally had still = comes up short. There are at least two weapons still missing." "Anyone care to wager they're the most dangerous of the lot?" Methos = asked rhetorically. Only Nordovic didn't roll his eyes at the comment. Instead, he studied = the weapons, shaking his head slowly as he examined the dozen or so = alien objects. "And this is what Pashti hoped to control? These weapons = are far beyond anything our scientists could possibly understand." Jack merely shrugged. "Pashti thought if he became a host, he'd be able = to absorb all the Goa'uld's knowledge. Not!" Methos frowned. "I don't think it works like that, even for us. And = besides, the technology isn't Goa'uld." The rest of SG-1 caught the underlying meaning of the Immortal's words, = while Nordovic simply looked at the pair of them and nodded -- obviously = confused, but accepting the comments at face value. "If we destroy these = weapons this creature will not return?" he asked. "I doubt it," Daniel responded. "And without Pashti," O'Neill added, "the highest rung on his ladder. = He's pretty much lost Gallisia as a base of operations." "The question now is, how do we destroy the damn things without = destroying the entire planet?" Daniel frowned. Nordovic smiled at Carter. "Have you any more of that plastique hidden = away somewhere?" O'Neill raised an eyebrow. "Carter?" Samantha shrugged. "Covert ops sewing kit and timer watch, sir." The colonel grinned widely. "I am duly impressed, Major. You actually = paid attention at my seminar. Are those...?" Carter only nodded and started to remove her earrings and matching = necklace. "Yes, sir. Not my style, but I think they'll do the trick." "No, they're not," Jack responded. "But Colonel Steele looked fabulous = in a set just like 'em." "Colonel Steele?" Methos asked. "Old friend from the glory days," Jack smiled wistfully. "A beautiful, = dangerous, brilliant woman with eyes to die for. Designed the sewing = kit, too." Carter cleared her throat. "I think we're ready, sir." "Give 'em here, Carter." The major handed over the jewelry and link by link O'Neill carefully = took the necklace apart placing the charges for optimum damage. The = earrings he placed in separate pockets, ordering everyone to the = surface. Above ground he moved them all well out of range, taking out the = earrings with a lopsided grin. "Positive and negative charges," he = explained then smacked the earrings together, "transmitter's in the = clasp." A moment later the ground beneath their feet violently rumbled and = shook. Then, one by one, the abandoned buildings began to collapse in on = themselves, until nothing but rubble remained of the site. "I can't believe I wore something that powerful all night," Samantha = whispered, absolutely horrified. "You didn't," the colonel casually explained. "Stuff only works when = it's unlinked and properly set. Otherwise, it's just jewelry, Carter." "Go, Colonel Steele!" Methos cheered quietly, staring at the carnage. = "Eyes to die for, you say?" "With lashes so long and curling you'd swear they were fake--but = aren't." "She sounds exquisite," Methos breathed as they moved through the woods = toward the city. "Think I could get an introduction?" O'Neill turned and paused, slowly looking the Immortal up and down. = "Nah, you're not good enough for her, Pierson." Chapter 37 "So the gate's in there, huh?" "Yes, sir." Carter responded as they looked down on the base from a = wooded ridge above. "Hard to get to and heavily guarded by crack = Gallisian troops." "We'd have to shoot our way in," Methos frowned. "Just one of many good ways to start a war with folks we'd like to = become friends with -- now that Zipak'na's gone," Daniel commented = dryly. "We could always turn ourselves in," Nordovic suggested. "You are both = ambassadors and your team's mission was to find you." "Bad idea," O'Neill said. "Pashti may have had more support than you = realize. And most governments don't like to admit to a conspiracy within = the ranks. Ambassadorial status or not, we could still be eliminated -- = just to make sure no one ever found out." "Besides," Samantha reminded Nordovic. "You're still wanted for = treason." "Yes, I am," the Gallisian agreed. "But with the Goa'uld gone--" "But nothing," Jack muttered scathingly. "You know too much. If we could = just get back to the SGC, we could maybe negotiate your reinstatement, = but--" Without warning, first Carter, Teal'c, and then Daniel disappeared in a = flash of light. Then Nordovic was gone and Methos' eyes narrowed, = looking to Jack for confirmation. "Thor!" they said in unison as the Asgard transported them aboard. "O'Neill," the little gray alien nodded politely. "Methos." "You set us up!" the Immortal angrily accused. Again the Asgard nodded. "It was necessary." "Necessary?!" Daniel put a hand on his friend's arm. "Adam, he's right. They aren't = allowed to interfere unless the treaty's been violated." "It was and it was not," Lya said from her place at Thor's side. "The = line was too fine even for the Asgard to cross." "So that's why you refused to speak with General Hammond," Carter = commented. "To lie is worse than to say nothing," Lya gently explained. "But you knew we'd interfere," O'Neill surmised, more amused than = angered by their deception. "It was hoped you would, yes," Thor agreed. "And so you have. Saving = Gallisia in the process, where we could not." "Right," Methos grimaced. "Anything else we can do for you?" he asked = sarcastically. "Clean out the trash bins, polish your boots?" "The Asgard do not wear boots," Thor blandly replied. "But there is still the conference to attend," Lya smiled. "Ambassador = O'Neill? Are you now prepared to vote on the final issue you yourself = raised?" Jack nodded slowly. "You bet your ass I am." Chapter 38 Surprisingly, Thor returned everyone but Jack and Methos to the SGC = before turning his ship back to Lakwasa. Uninvited guests, he explained, = were not permitted on Lakwasa during the conference. Though Narim, with = the council's tacit approval, had violated that directive when it = appeared the ambassadors were missing. "Wonder why," Methos murmured sardonically to Jack as they returned to = their rooms aboard the Asgard ship to once again change into their = uniforms. "Don't you dis my friend, Pierson," O'Neill responded tartly. "Thor's a = stand up guy. He had his reasons. Good ones." Methos' eyes widened, feigning astonishment. "I'm sorry. I thought you'd = be just a little miffed at being used to solve someone else's problem." "It was a lesson," Jack chided. "A first hand look at what the Goa'uld = are capable of when it comes to infiltration. And one I needed to learn, = Pierson, if I'm to stand up in front of the council and all those = delegates to make my point." "Which is?" "Whatever it takes, the Goa'uld have got to be stopped." *** "Then I gave this really great speech--" Jack broke off as Methos smirked and General Hammond tried not to laugh. "Okay, this pretty good speech about how all the delegates' home worlds = coulda been just like Gallisia, and it brought the house down." "Well, that part's mostly true," Methos interjected. "The Furling = representative did nearly hit the ceiling when the delegates rose up and = started chanting 'No divestation without representation!" "Pierson primed 'em good, General," O'Neill commended the Immortal. = "Surprised the heck outta me, but it was damn good." "So, of course the council voted to follow Colonel O'Neill's plan to = review each planet's defenses individually," Hammond surmised with a = smile. "You betcha!" Jack grinned widely. "Now that's what I like to hear, Colonel. Well done." "If that's all, sir?" O'Neill suddenly asked. General Hammond's brow rose. "Other than negotiating Mr. Nordovic's = return to Gallisia, I believe we're done here." "Good, because I never did get to finish my vacation." Hammond looked surprised, but nodded in agreement. "There are no = pressing assignments that specifically require SG-1's attention at this = time, Colonel. And I'd say you and Captain Pierson have more than earned = some time off. You're both free to leave, Colonel." The two officers rose, one smiling, the other looking doubtful as he = followed his Commanding Officer from the conference room. "We still have the place in Scotland, right?" O'Neill eagerly asked = Methos. "I should think so," the Immortal shrugged. "Why?" "Oh... You'll see." Epilogue The weather was still cold and damp, but Jack wasn't complaining. Not = when he was standing on the shore of a beautiful loch with a fishing rod = in his hands. Nearby, Methos paged through a small journal, writing in = that strange mixture of languages that confounded even Daniel. O'Neill didn't bother to turn his head as he spoke to the ancient = Immortal. "You never did answer my question, Pierson." Methos looked up, slightly startled. "Which question was that?" "Why I got blasted by the light show and you didn't." "Oh, that," Methos nodded, sitting up as he put his notebook away. "I = suppose it has something to do with the fact that your energy signature = is now similar to that of an Immortal. After all, we are just a sort of = hybrid of the original Ancients. Pashti was obviously very angry and = lashed out at the one who killed him." "He, uh, also did something else," Jack nervously admitted. "What do you mean?" "You know that Ancient wisdom stuff I thought the Asgard took out? = Well..." Jack sighed. "I think gettin' hit with that much juice all at = one time might have damaged the memory block. Now, whenever I think = about how we could take the Goa'uld down using Tok'ra's bases, I get all = these images and stats. I sorta know what they all mean, but..." Jack = could only shrug. "I see," Methos said quietly, wondering if this was where he would lose = O'Neill to the greater power of the Ancients. "You know what," Jack added. "I'll bet it doesn't help that our brains = absorbed those translation thingamajigs either." "Maybe." Methos' brows rose as Jack glanced back wearing a sly grin. "So do us = both a favor and don't tell Danny. He'd only mope about how he didn't = get a chip and we did. And you know what Daniel's like when he feels = unwanted." Methos chuckled, his heart lifting as the man he knew and respected = dared to joke about what had been done to him. "Scouts honor," he = saluted. "Not a word of this shall pass my lips." "Good," Jack nodded, turning back to his rod and reel. "Oh, and by the = way, there's someone here I'd like you to meet." Methos looked around, utterly confused. They were alone, surely. "Olly olly oxen free!" Jack suddenly called out. Nearby a bird took flight as a bush stirred and a heavy set man, dressed = for fishing and wearing nothing more dangerous than a cheerful grin = stepped out from behind a tree. "You sent for me, Jack?" "Unfortunately, yes, I did," O'Neill responded. Methos remained still as the mortal approached, unsure of the situation. = He acted like a friend, but seemed to be a foe -- how very curious. "And you must be Captain Pierson -- or do you prefer Methos?" At that, Methos slowly eased his hand toward the gun in his pocket. "Oh, relax!" the mortal waved a hand, obviously paying attention. "I've = known about you people for years. Our satellites started picking up = Quickenings way back in the fifties. Your secret's safe with me. = Besides," the man smiled widely. "I'm the one Jack here asked to keep = your Watcher records clean." "It's a boring job," O'Neill muttered disgustedly. "But some lowlife = louse has to do it." "Hey!" the mortal complained. "I thought we were past all that?" "You thought wrong," Jack told him. "But I need you. More to the point, = I need your connections." "Something big?" "You could say that," O'Neill nodded. "And since it requires absolute = secrecy, and I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, you're going = to be working with Pierson here." "Say what?" Methos demanded, getting to his feet. Jack put aside his fishing rod, introducing the mortal more formally. "Adam Pierson, Supreme Minion of Galactic Proportions, meet Harold = Maybourne. Ex-Colonel, rogue agent, escaped traitor and former member of = the NID. I'm sure you two will get along famously..." ~ ~ ~ ~ Coming Eventually... Changing of the Guard 6:=20 Back Blast! Because all Goa'uld things must assuredly come to an end. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.371 / Virus Database: 206 - Release Date: 6/13/02