Chapter 37
In this one, KABOOM!
Chapter 37
The search was underway. Jack knew he took a chance the perpetrator would try to hide it again, but he hoped with enough eyes, there wouldn't be opportunity.
The first place he had them check were the primary systems: ventilation, water supply, computer controls and Markus' office. Erin had let Teal'c search Markus' personal quarters. All came up empty. So far he hadn't had to worry about how to search the restricted area, but he was already dreading it. He knew Markus was going to want to keep Meaghan a secret -- which was going to mean Markus and SG-1 to comb over a four isolabs by themselves. He hoped Markus had been searching on his own while he'd been so strangely absent for the past few hours. Jack wasn't looking forward to reporting they'd come up empty.
Or the worse news from Raymond, who had finished a more detailed inventory. Three guns were missing. One person could only use two at most, so that suggested there was more than one person involved.
Kurdy joined him in the hall outside Markus' office. "My team's cleared level twenty-one. I thought the infirmary might be a target."
"Good thinking," Jack commented, though he was just as glad it hadn't come true. But, if twenty-one was checked, it left fewer places as possible targets. "Where's Jeremiah?" he asked, noticing the absence of the young man.
Kurdy gave a sigh. "He's visiting Waverly. That letter got him riled up."
Jack nodded with sympathy. "Okay, take your team through level twenty-two."
Kurdy nodded, but then the floor shook and the door in front of him rattled violently in its frame. Jack yanked it open and rushed into Markus' office. Through the large window he could see smoke billowing out from behind the Stargate. The back wall of the fountain was also gone, and water was now pooling under the gate. Either the shrapnel of the rocks and broken tiles, or just the force of the explosion, had hit several carts filled with vegetable laden plants, which had splattered, leaving juicy remains dripping from tables and the walls.
The small crowd of people in the cafeteria were just their feet and anxiously checking each other for injuries. But as Jack's gaze swept the scene, he didn't see anyone who looked too badly hurt. Luckily the fountain and the Stargate itself had deflected most of the force of the blast into the back wall, where no one had been.
"That's it?" Kurdy asked, sounding relieved but also confused.
Jack shook his head immediately. Even with the blast mostly contained, the explosion wasn't nearly strong enough to account for all the missing explosives. So, what purpose did this explosion serve, if it had never been intended to do much damage?
It had to be a diversion. There had been detonators and timers missing as well, which allowed the bomber to position himself wherever he wanted to be. Something to pull the mountain's security down into the deepest level of the mountain, away from the upper levels. But the mountain was still in coded lockdown, so the diversion wouldn't help anyone get out.
Then he realized with something like an electrical shock to his whole body, that there was someone who could get out. Waverly. That was what the three guns were for.
His hands went to his waist, needing to feel the comfortable weight of his P90, but instead came up with his trusty zat. It would have to do.
Tearing out of the office, he headed for the elevator.
Just as Jack entered the elevator, Kurdy stuck a hand in between the closing doors and forced them open again. "You can't take on whatever alone," he said bluntly as he got on.
"Are you armed?"
Kurdy gave him a blank look. "I was looking for a bomb, not fighting a war."
Jack didn't want to argue with him, even though they were clearly fighting a war. "Fine, you watch my back, but I'm going in first."
The elevator doors opened on the thirteenth floor and Jack made them climb one of the accessway ladders, just in case there was some kind of welcoming committee in the corridor on twelve. But they had to hurry. If people were trying to free Waverly, they'd have a good head start.
---+---
Jeremiah stood in front of the cell door glaring at the man who was responsible for his mother's death long ago, and now his dad's.
"Who're you, boy?" Waverly asked with a sneer.
"Jeremiah," he responded, without breaking eye contact.
"Devon's kid?" he asked incredulously. "You've been here all along?"
Jeremiah didn't answer. "Why'd you do it? My mom just wanted to find her kids. Why'd you have to shoot her as she was --"
"Trying to escape?" Waverly finished for him.
"Escape? That's what you call it?" Jeremiah could feel the rage like acid burning in him. "Because of you she never made it home."
Waverly said, "It was escape. Devon and Janet --"
"Her name was Mary!" Jeremiah snapped.
Waverly went on as if he hadn't spoken. "They were sneaking out of Valhalla, so Devon wouldn't have to work on the virus any more. But I knew he didn't have the stomach for what was required of him, so I made certain he was watched. You tell yourself all the bedtime stories you want, but he wasn't running to you, but away from us."
Jeremiah exploded, pounding his fist against the wall. "Son of a bitch," he shouted. "You murdered my mother, using her to get control of him."
"Of course," he answered coldly. "I would have used you, too, if I could have laid my hands on you. I kept hoping you'd show up, knocking on the door see your dad. But you never did. I assumed you hadn't made it, or I would have searched harder for you." There was a menacing look in his eyes that captivity hadn't quenched. He didn't look beaten, only contained.
The door to the hall opened, and Jeremiah assumed the guard was coming in to tell him to leave. Instead, he found himself looking down the barrel of a silenced semi-automatic held by a woman with eyes just as cold as those of the man behind bars.
"Open the cell," she ordered.
Jeremiah looked incredulously at her. "What ? You think I have a key? I'm just a peon in this place. You'll have to ask Markus."
She pulled the trigger, sending out several shots, which sounded like a cat throwing up. The bullets came enough, he caught the heat of one as it bounced back at him. "I said open it."
"Where's the guard who was outside the door?" Jeremiah asked, realizing he hadn't heard anything.
"Dead. He didn't have the keys on him," she threatened. Keeping her gun trained on Jeremiah, she walked over to the cell. "I planned a diversion, sir, but we don't have much time. Stand back." She tried raining bullets on the lock with no result.
Jeremiah quickly ran through the possibilities in his mind. He might be able to get the jump on her, but could he succeed without getting shot? Doubtful. She held herself like an expert.
Her head suddenly swiveled to the door. In a flash she threw the gun inside Waverly's cell and pulled out a handgun.
"Drop it, lady," a stern voice commanded from the hallway.
Jack.
In response, she turned her gun to point it straight at Jeremiah. "You drop yours, or he's dead."
Jack hovered outside the door, but peeked around the corner holding the "s" shaped gun he'd used on Jeremiah before. Hadn't they said twice killed? If he got shot again would he die? He looked into Jack's eyes and saw calm confidence, but also deadly intent. He wasn't gonna let her go.
"Sorry, Jeremiah." And he shot them both.
---+---
Kurdy looked on with disbelief as Jack fired his fancy taser gun right at Jeremiah and the girl. Both crumpled to the floor.
"You ain't getting out of there, General," Jack called out from behind the corner. "Not while there's breath in my body. You're a disgrace to the military and have to be stopped."
"By you, O'Neill?" Waverly called back, taunting.
"Hey, I'm the one you're stuck with. You'll have to make do."
Kurdy was getting frustrated. His friend was lying in a heap on the floor and all Jack did was trade threats with the jailed asshole. "I can't believe you shot Jeremiah!" he accused. "Couldn't you have found a better way?" He tried to brush past Jack to get to his friend, but Jack held out his arm and wouldn't let him into the room. "Let me in," Kurdy demanded.
Jack let out a dramatic sigh and stepped into the room. As Kurdy entered behind him, he saw Waverly pull up a gun and aim it at Jack. But before he could fire, Jack used his own gun and Waverly slumped to the floor.
"My way is so much neater," Jack said matter-of factly, as he removed her handgun, frisked her for more weapons and then dragged the recumbent body into the vacant cell.
"Are they alive?" Kurdy asked, bending over Jeremiah, and began looking for a pulse.
"Of course. It's hard to interrogate a dead person." Jack sounded pleased as he shut the second cell door with a clang. "Hopefully Valhalla doesn't have anyone else in here. We're running out of cells."
He then walked over to the cell containing Waverly and stuck a hand through the bars to pull the gun free of the lax hands.
Kurdy shook his head at him, and asked, "How long will it take for them to wake up?"
"A few minutes. You'll stay with Jeremiah? I need to go report this."
Kurdy looked doubtfully up at Jack. "He's really not hurt?"
"He might get a headache, but he's been zatted before," Jack called out as he left.
"Zatted before?" Kurdy muttered to himself, disgusted. "What the hell kinda mess did you get yourself into?" he asked the unconscious Jeremiah.
---+---
Sam left her makeshift lab and headed to the gateroom to help as soon as she heard the explosion. She only discovered that the gateroom was the site of the explosion when she got there.
Erin was standing on the side of the fountain, talking with a few of the residents.
Sam looked around. It was a mess, but the worst damage was to the fountain. She judged the central point of the blast and splashed over there, sifting through the wet debris. She found the remnants of a timer and shook the water off it. Standing, she surveyed the scene again, trying to figure out what this was supposed to accomplish.
She moved back to Erin, where the younger woman was watching her curiously. "Erin, do you know where Colonel O'Neill is?"
Erin shrugged her shoulders. "Haven't seen him. What did you find?"
"Part of a timer --" Sam started but was interrupted, as one of the others called out.
"There's Jack."
Sam turned and saw the colonel loping towards them.
"Did anyone get hurt?" he asked.
"Some cuts and scrapes. Nothing major, thank God. Just vegetables," Erin answered.
Sam opened her hand to show O'Neill what she had found. He glanced at it, nodded, and didn't seem surprised.
"I've caught the saboteur," Jack announced, taking both women by surprise. "She used this as a diversion to spring Waverly."
"She?" Erin repeated curiously.
"Yeah. I caught her in the brig, zatted her, and locked her up in the other cell." He grinned. "They should be waking up about now."
"They?" Sam blinked. "How many did you zat, sir?"
"Well, Jeremiah, too. She had him hostage. Then Waverly, when he picked up a gun. I left Kurdy with them." Jack looked around, with a puzzled frown. "Where's Markus? You'd think having a bomb go off would bring him running."
Sam saw that Erin wasn't worried, but looked more resigned.
"He's not inside," she explained in a low voice. "He said he'd be back around dinner time."
"He went alone? That doesn't sound too smart."
"He took Lee," Erin added, with a shrug.
Jack stiffened. "Only Lee? Not Teal'c or someone else?"
"No. And don't ask me what he's doing 'cause he won't tell me. It's a big secret. I begged, demanded, asked nicely, and even tried to trick him into telling me where he was going and he said he'd let me know if everything worked out. Until then I had to trust him. I hate it when he stoops to the trust argument," she vented with disgust. "I can never win against it."
---+---
Daniel stood in the background listening to Jack. He shook his head. Only Jack would zat the whole room. Maybe he ought to go up and see how Jeremiah and Kurdy were doing. He hadn't had much chance to talk to either of them since they got back. He wanted to know more about what happened between them and the Tok'ra, just in case either found out. Kurdy might take it okay, but after Jeremiah's experiences with Seth, he might not be as relaxed.
Daniel didn't want to even think about Jeremiah finding out about Malek.
When he got to the hall outside the brig, he saw the guard dead and a gun with a silencer lying next to him. He picked up the gun and clicked the safety on, not wanting it to land in the wrong hands.
"I can't believe I'm still alive," Daniel heard Jeremiah saying.
"Well, if that bitch had anything to do with it, you'd have been dog meat."
Daniel entered the room in time to see Kurdy help a woozy Jeremiah to his feet.
"Jack's done it to me a few times," Daniel told them. "And always without warning."
"But I thought two shots killed you?" Jeremiah asked, brushing off his pants.
"Only if it's twice in rapid succession." Daniel looked over to the cells and saw the woman trying to sit up. "That's her?" he asked walking closer. He had wondered if he knew her from his reality and was glad she was a stranger.
"Are you Markus Alexander?" she asked in a haughty voice.
"No," Waverly inserted, now that he was awake. "He's Daniel Jackson. We never did figure out how you fit into this."
Kurdy started laughing. "You could take the next ten years and not even come close."
Daniel silently agreed. Then he turned back to the woman. "What's your name?"
She looked over at the general who nodded. "Lt. Susan DiTullio."
"Let me guess, munitions expert?" he asked, but she remained silent.
"Come on, we got better things to do." Kurdy urged Jeremiah to leave.
With a last glare, Jeremiah left.
Daniel turned to follow, but couldn't stand the thought of Waverly gloating. Not after all Waverly had done. He deserved to sit in there and squirm.
Daniel looked back over his shoulder and felt very vindictive as he said, "I prefer my generals crispy."
He knew it would never happen -- although Malek was going to have some interesting ideas for suitable justice -- but Daniel was grimly satisfied by the look on Waverly's face. Perhaps he was starting to understand the depth of his mistake.
---+---
Markus had a lot to think about. The meeting with the Brothers had turned out better than he had imagined. Brother Clarence, the one who had met Lee before, had spoken openly to him of his beliefs. While Markus had little use for religion himself, he was nothing but respectful and interested in Brother Clarence's explanations of what the Brothers believed. Their faith was certainly useful for what Markus wanted.
When asked why he'd waited so long, Markus had confessed to not listening to Lee, wrapped up in his grief for Simon and the complications of opening the doors. He also admitted to being a prisoner of Valhalla Sector, without being specific about how long he'd been there. Clarence had kindly changed the subject for him.
Markus told Clarence that he had wanted to be the first to tell them that the threat of the Big Death would soon be over. Valhalla Sector had fallen and its leaders were mostly gone. Brother Clarence seemed relieved by the news, which helped Markus decide a few things.
During the tour, a carefully casual question had revealed that, although the Brothers were men, there was a 'sister' group not far away, and the two interacted fairly often. Since neither Markus nor Malek had seen or heard anything to suggest the Brothers were anything more or less than they appeared, he decided to go forward with step one of his plan. With Lee listening nearby, Markus had spoken to Clarence of his main problem and how he hoped the Brothers might be able to help him.
Much to Markus' relief, Clarence's gaze had been bright with compassion and he had nodded once, patting Markus' shoulder. "Yes, my son. We will help you. It's a wise and compassionate choice you have made, and we will gladly take up the burden of that man's fate for you. He will stay here securely, and he will learn that the path to forgiveness is neither quick nor easy."
Markus had seen Lee's mouth open as he'd figured out the plan, but he'd stayed silent, backing up Markus completely.
Malek said silently, apparently remembering along with him. *Yes. Before I wasn't sure where he placed his loyalties, but now I know he believes in you.*
*How do you know?* Markus asked.
*Before, when I knew him, he was always hiding, from himself most of all, I think. But not now. And,* Malek's mental "voice" lightened to more of a tease, *because he declined your generous offer to betray you. I know that's why you wanted him along.*
That was true. It had been the only argument to sway Erin -- they could never be sure if Lee wasn't playing a deep game of his own, unless he refused some perfect opportunity. She'd said it was too dangerous, but Markus knew the stakes had to be irresistible.
Since Lee hadn't tried to dispose of Markus by the side of the road or take him straight to Colonel West, Markus had decided full trust was possible again. He was glad Malek trusted Lee, also. It made him feel better about having to tell Lee about his symbiote.
*Yes. You should. Considering the part he must play in the rest of your plan.*
*All right. Here goes nothing.* Markus inhaled a long calming breath and directed, "I think it's time you heard the rest. You should probably stop the car."
Lee stopped dead in the middle of the road. They had yet to see a living soul on the highway, so it wasn't wrong that he should stop that way. But it felt odd: a hold over from before the Big Death. After stopping, Lee turned in his seat looking squarely at Markus. "There's more?"
Markus asked, "Did you get to meet Doctor Fukizaki, while you were at Valhalla?"
Lee blinked, looking disconcerted. "Sure, but I didn't have much to do with him. What does this have to do with the Brothers?"
"Nothing. But bear with me. Why didn't you?"
"I didn't trust him. He was one of Waverly's backers."
"No," Markus corrected quietly. "He always understood the virus, Lee. He kept it from Waverly for fifteen years. And he can cure it, too."
"But -- but," he sputtered, came to a stop, and started again. "'Can cure'? You said he was dead."
"He is, sort of. But not really."
Lee groaned. "Listen, Markus. I know how much you enjoy --"
"Because of him, I can cure Meaghan."
Lee's jaw dropped. "You can? How?"
Markus ignored the question and took a deep breath. This was the sticky part: revealing Malek without freaking Lee out. "When our visitors came through the Stargate, do you remember what they called me?"
Lee frowned, trying to understand, even though he didn't have all the pieces yet. "They thought you were someone called Malek."
Markus licked his lips and explained, "Yes. And now it's come true in this universe too. Malek is the name of an alien symbiote, a small eel-like intelligent creature that requires a human host to survive. Both share the body. Malek's previous host was Gordon Fukizaki. When he was dying, Malek came into my body and saved my life."
Markus watched Lee. At first he looked doubtful and confused, but then the blood left his face and his hands tightened into a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. "Saved your life?" Lee repeated, hoarsely.
"I'd never have made it out of the cell without him. I had suffered a lot of internal bleeding, my ribs were broken, and I'm sure Malek could give you a long list of other things he found wrong with my body."
*Kidney damage, splenic failure, pneumonia, hypoglycemia, dehydration…* Malek continued, rather too cheerfully until Markus told him to stop.
Markus finished quietly, "When Gordon was shot to death in front of me, I made the only decision I could, to save both Malek and myself by accepting him."
Lee was silent for a long moment working it through. "That's why you can save Meaghan," he said finally. "Malek knows how, he's inside you, so he told you."
"Right." It was close enough for now.
Lee seemed to have himself in better control. His face had regained its color and he'd relaxed his death grip in the wheel. "You're not going tell anyone else?"
"No. Only you and Erin. You two know what Meaghan is, so you have to know how it's possible she can be cured. But no one else." He chuckled shortly. "I don't think our people are ready for aliens, not yet. Maybe not ever."
"So. There's an ... alien in you?" Lee asked, squinting at him as if he could see Malek if he looked hard enough.
Malek nudged him mentally. *Let me.* Markus felt his head droop a little as Malek stepped into control and lifted his head back up to face Lee.
"I am Malek."
Lee pushed himself instinctively into the driver's side door away from the odd voice. "Markus?" his own voice was shaking.
*Try not to frighten him too much, please,* Markus advised.
"He hears you," Malek said aloud. "I'm sorry; I didn't intend to scare you. I came forward so you could speak with me and understand that Markus is telling you the truth. I am not here to hurt anyone. I spent fifteen years in Valhalla Sector trying to manage the lesser of two evils, and now I'm here to support Markus and his dream as much as I can. I don't intend to speak often, only among those who accept me. I hope in time you can be one of them."
"I ..." Lee straightened up from the door, still watching Markus warily, but without fear. "I'm glad you saved Markus," he said finally.
"I am too," Malek answered and bowed his head again, to let Markus slide back into place.
"You know," he said in his own voice, trying to be casual and ease Lee's anxiety, "that bugs me. I hear myself talk, but it's not me. It's very odd."
Lee's eyes widened again. "Markus?"
"Yes. It's not like I left." He asked curiously, "Does it bother you talking to Malek?"
"No. No, I guess not."
Lee fell silent, and Markus was about to question Lee on what he was thinking, when Malek told him, *Relax, let the boy figure it out. We should rest, since there will be a lot for you to contend with when we get back home.*
INDEX or on to Chapter 38
Chapter 37
The search was underway. Jack knew he took a chance the perpetrator would try to hide it again, but he hoped with enough eyes, there wouldn't be opportunity.
The first place he had them check were the primary systems: ventilation, water supply, computer controls and Markus' office. Erin had let Teal'c search Markus' personal quarters. All came up empty. So far he hadn't had to worry about how to search the restricted area, but he was already dreading it. He knew Markus was going to want to keep Meaghan a secret -- which was going to mean Markus and SG-1 to comb over a four isolabs by themselves. He hoped Markus had been searching on his own while he'd been so strangely absent for the past few hours. Jack wasn't looking forward to reporting they'd come up empty.
Or the worse news from Raymond, who had finished a more detailed inventory. Three guns were missing. One person could only use two at most, so that suggested there was more than one person involved.
Kurdy joined him in the hall outside Markus' office. "My team's cleared level twenty-one. I thought the infirmary might be a target."
"Good thinking," Jack commented, though he was just as glad it hadn't come true. But, if twenty-one was checked, it left fewer places as possible targets. "Where's Jeremiah?" he asked, noticing the absence of the young man.
Kurdy gave a sigh. "He's visiting Waverly. That letter got him riled up."
Jack nodded with sympathy. "Okay, take your team through level twenty-two."
Kurdy nodded, but then the floor shook and the door in front of him rattled violently in its frame. Jack yanked it open and rushed into Markus' office. Through the large window he could see smoke billowing out from behind the Stargate. The back wall of the fountain was also gone, and water was now pooling under the gate. Either the shrapnel of the rocks and broken tiles, or just the force of the explosion, had hit several carts filled with vegetable laden plants, which had splattered, leaving juicy remains dripping from tables and the walls.
The small crowd of people in the cafeteria were just their feet and anxiously checking each other for injuries. But as Jack's gaze swept the scene, he didn't see anyone who looked too badly hurt. Luckily the fountain and the Stargate itself had deflected most of the force of the blast into the back wall, where no one had been.
"That's it?" Kurdy asked, sounding relieved but also confused.
Jack shook his head immediately. Even with the blast mostly contained, the explosion wasn't nearly strong enough to account for all the missing explosives. So, what purpose did this explosion serve, if it had never been intended to do much damage?
It had to be a diversion. There had been detonators and timers missing as well, which allowed the bomber to position himself wherever he wanted to be. Something to pull the mountain's security down into the deepest level of the mountain, away from the upper levels. But the mountain was still in coded lockdown, so the diversion wouldn't help anyone get out.
Then he realized with something like an electrical shock to his whole body, that there was someone who could get out. Waverly. That was what the three guns were for.
His hands went to his waist, needing to feel the comfortable weight of his P90, but instead came up with his trusty zat. It would have to do.
Tearing out of the office, he headed for the elevator.
Just as Jack entered the elevator, Kurdy stuck a hand in between the closing doors and forced them open again. "You can't take on whatever alone," he said bluntly as he got on.
"Are you armed?"
Kurdy gave him a blank look. "I was looking for a bomb, not fighting a war."
Jack didn't want to argue with him, even though they were clearly fighting a war. "Fine, you watch my back, but I'm going in first."
The elevator doors opened on the thirteenth floor and Jack made them climb one of the accessway ladders, just in case there was some kind of welcoming committee in the corridor on twelve. But they had to hurry. If people were trying to free Waverly, they'd have a good head start.
---+---
Jeremiah stood in front of the cell door glaring at the man who was responsible for his mother's death long ago, and now his dad's.
"Who're you, boy?" Waverly asked with a sneer.
"Jeremiah," he responded, without breaking eye contact.
"Devon's kid?" he asked incredulously. "You've been here all along?"
Jeremiah didn't answer. "Why'd you do it? My mom just wanted to find her kids. Why'd you have to shoot her as she was --"
"Trying to escape?" Waverly finished for him.
"Escape? That's what you call it?" Jeremiah could feel the rage like acid burning in him. "Because of you she never made it home."
Waverly said, "It was escape. Devon and Janet --"
"Her name was Mary!" Jeremiah snapped.
Waverly went on as if he hadn't spoken. "They were sneaking out of Valhalla, so Devon wouldn't have to work on the virus any more. But I knew he didn't have the stomach for what was required of him, so I made certain he was watched. You tell yourself all the bedtime stories you want, but he wasn't running to you, but away from us."
Jeremiah exploded, pounding his fist against the wall. "Son of a bitch," he shouted. "You murdered my mother, using her to get control of him."
"Of course," he answered coldly. "I would have used you, too, if I could have laid my hands on you. I kept hoping you'd show up, knocking on the door see your dad. But you never did. I assumed you hadn't made it, or I would have searched harder for you." There was a menacing look in his eyes that captivity hadn't quenched. He didn't look beaten, only contained.
The door to the hall opened, and Jeremiah assumed the guard was coming in to tell him to leave. Instead, he found himself looking down the barrel of a silenced semi-automatic held by a woman with eyes just as cold as those of the man behind bars.
"Open the cell," she ordered.
Jeremiah looked incredulously at her. "What ? You think I have a key? I'm just a peon in this place. You'll have to ask Markus."
She pulled the trigger, sending out several shots, which sounded like a cat throwing up. The bullets came enough, he caught the heat of one as it bounced back at him. "I said open it."
"Where's the guard who was outside the door?" Jeremiah asked, realizing he hadn't heard anything.
"Dead. He didn't have the keys on him," she threatened. Keeping her gun trained on Jeremiah, she walked over to the cell. "I planned a diversion, sir, but we don't have much time. Stand back." She tried raining bullets on the lock with no result.
Jeremiah quickly ran through the possibilities in his mind. He might be able to get the jump on her, but could he succeed without getting shot? Doubtful. She held herself like an expert.
Her head suddenly swiveled to the door. In a flash she threw the gun inside Waverly's cell and pulled out a handgun.
"Drop it, lady," a stern voice commanded from the hallway.
Jack.
In response, she turned her gun to point it straight at Jeremiah. "You drop yours, or he's dead."
Jack hovered outside the door, but peeked around the corner holding the "s" shaped gun he'd used on Jeremiah before. Hadn't they said twice killed? If he got shot again would he die? He looked into Jack's eyes and saw calm confidence, but also deadly intent. He wasn't gonna let her go.
"Sorry, Jeremiah." And he shot them both.
---+---
Kurdy looked on with disbelief as Jack fired his fancy taser gun right at Jeremiah and the girl. Both crumpled to the floor.
"You ain't getting out of there, General," Jack called out from behind the corner. "Not while there's breath in my body. You're a disgrace to the military and have to be stopped."
"By you, O'Neill?" Waverly called back, taunting.
"Hey, I'm the one you're stuck with. You'll have to make do."
Kurdy was getting frustrated. His friend was lying in a heap on the floor and all Jack did was trade threats with the jailed asshole. "I can't believe you shot Jeremiah!" he accused. "Couldn't you have found a better way?" He tried to brush past Jack to get to his friend, but Jack held out his arm and wouldn't let him into the room. "Let me in," Kurdy demanded.
Jack let out a dramatic sigh and stepped into the room. As Kurdy entered behind him, he saw Waverly pull up a gun and aim it at Jack. But before he could fire, Jack used his own gun and Waverly slumped to the floor.
"My way is so much neater," Jack said matter-of factly, as he removed her handgun, frisked her for more weapons and then dragged the recumbent body into the vacant cell.
"Are they alive?" Kurdy asked, bending over Jeremiah, and began looking for a pulse.
"Of course. It's hard to interrogate a dead person." Jack sounded pleased as he shut the second cell door with a clang. "Hopefully Valhalla doesn't have anyone else in here. We're running out of cells."
He then walked over to the cell containing Waverly and stuck a hand through the bars to pull the gun free of the lax hands.
Kurdy shook his head at him, and asked, "How long will it take for them to wake up?"
"A few minutes. You'll stay with Jeremiah? I need to go report this."
Kurdy looked doubtfully up at Jack. "He's really not hurt?"
"He might get a headache, but he's been zatted before," Jack called out as he left.
"Zatted before?" Kurdy muttered to himself, disgusted. "What the hell kinda mess did you get yourself into?" he asked the unconscious Jeremiah.
---+---
Sam left her makeshift lab and headed to the gateroom to help as soon as she heard the explosion. She only discovered that the gateroom was the site of the explosion when she got there.
Erin was standing on the side of the fountain, talking with a few of the residents.
Sam looked around. It was a mess, but the worst damage was to the fountain. She judged the central point of the blast and splashed over there, sifting through the wet debris. She found the remnants of a timer and shook the water off it. Standing, she surveyed the scene again, trying to figure out what this was supposed to accomplish.
She moved back to Erin, where the younger woman was watching her curiously. "Erin, do you know where Colonel O'Neill is?"
Erin shrugged her shoulders. "Haven't seen him. What did you find?"
"Part of a timer --" Sam started but was interrupted, as one of the others called out.
"There's Jack."
Sam turned and saw the colonel loping towards them.
"Did anyone get hurt?" he asked.
"Some cuts and scrapes. Nothing major, thank God. Just vegetables," Erin answered.
Sam opened her hand to show O'Neill what she had found. He glanced at it, nodded, and didn't seem surprised.
"I've caught the saboteur," Jack announced, taking both women by surprise. "She used this as a diversion to spring Waverly."
"She?" Erin repeated curiously.
"Yeah. I caught her in the brig, zatted her, and locked her up in the other cell." He grinned. "They should be waking up about now."
"They?" Sam blinked. "How many did you zat, sir?"
"Well, Jeremiah, too. She had him hostage. Then Waverly, when he picked up a gun. I left Kurdy with them." Jack looked around, with a puzzled frown. "Where's Markus? You'd think having a bomb go off would bring him running."
Sam saw that Erin wasn't worried, but looked more resigned.
"He's not inside," she explained in a low voice. "He said he'd be back around dinner time."
"He went alone? That doesn't sound too smart."
"He took Lee," Erin added, with a shrug.
Jack stiffened. "Only Lee? Not Teal'c or someone else?"
"No. And don't ask me what he's doing 'cause he won't tell me. It's a big secret. I begged, demanded, asked nicely, and even tried to trick him into telling me where he was going and he said he'd let me know if everything worked out. Until then I had to trust him. I hate it when he stoops to the trust argument," she vented with disgust. "I can never win against it."
---+---
Daniel stood in the background listening to Jack. He shook his head. Only Jack would zat the whole room. Maybe he ought to go up and see how Jeremiah and Kurdy were doing. He hadn't had much chance to talk to either of them since they got back. He wanted to know more about what happened between them and the Tok'ra, just in case either found out. Kurdy might take it okay, but after Jeremiah's experiences with Seth, he might not be as relaxed.
Daniel didn't want to even think about Jeremiah finding out about Malek.
When he got to the hall outside the brig, he saw the guard dead and a gun with a silencer lying next to him. He picked up the gun and clicked the safety on, not wanting it to land in the wrong hands.
"I can't believe I'm still alive," Daniel heard Jeremiah saying.
"Well, if that bitch had anything to do with it, you'd have been dog meat."
Daniel entered the room in time to see Kurdy help a woozy Jeremiah to his feet.
"Jack's done it to me a few times," Daniel told them. "And always without warning."
"But I thought two shots killed you?" Jeremiah asked, brushing off his pants.
"Only if it's twice in rapid succession." Daniel looked over to the cells and saw the woman trying to sit up. "That's her?" he asked walking closer. He had wondered if he knew her from his reality and was glad she was a stranger.
"Are you Markus Alexander?" she asked in a haughty voice.
"No," Waverly inserted, now that he was awake. "He's Daniel Jackson. We never did figure out how you fit into this."
Kurdy started laughing. "You could take the next ten years and not even come close."
Daniel silently agreed. Then he turned back to the woman. "What's your name?"
She looked over at the general who nodded. "Lt. Susan DiTullio."
"Let me guess, munitions expert?" he asked, but she remained silent.
"Come on, we got better things to do." Kurdy urged Jeremiah to leave.
With a last glare, Jeremiah left.
Daniel turned to follow, but couldn't stand the thought of Waverly gloating. Not after all Waverly had done. He deserved to sit in there and squirm.
Daniel looked back over his shoulder and felt very vindictive as he said, "I prefer my generals crispy."
He knew it would never happen -- although Malek was going to have some interesting ideas for suitable justice -- but Daniel was grimly satisfied by the look on Waverly's face. Perhaps he was starting to understand the depth of his mistake.
---+---
Markus had a lot to think about. The meeting with the Brothers had turned out better than he had imagined. Brother Clarence, the one who had met Lee before, had spoken openly to him of his beliefs. While Markus had little use for religion himself, he was nothing but respectful and interested in Brother Clarence's explanations of what the Brothers believed. Their faith was certainly useful for what Markus wanted.
When asked why he'd waited so long, Markus had confessed to not listening to Lee, wrapped up in his grief for Simon and the complications of opening the doors. He also admitted to being a prisoner of Valhalla Sector, without being specific about how long he'd been there. Clarence had kindly changed the subject for him.
Markus told Clarence that he had wanted to be the first to tell them that the threat of the Big Death would soon be over. Valhalla Sector had fallen and its leaders were mostly gone. Brother Clarence seemed relieved by the news, which helped Markus decide a few things.
During the tour, a carefully casual question had revealed that, although the Brothers were men, there was a 'sister' group not far away, and the two interacted fairly often. Since neither Markus nor Malek had seen or heard anything to suggest the Brothers were anything more or less than they appeared, he decided to go forward with step one of his plan. With Lee listening nearby, Markus had spoken to Clarence of his main problem and how he hoped the Brothers might be able to help him.
Much to Markus' relief, Clarence's gaze had been bright with compassion and he had nodded once, patting Markus' shoulder. "Yes, my son. We will help you. It's a wise and compassionate choice you have made, and we will gladly take up the burden of that man's fate for you. He will stay here securely, and he will learn that the path to forgiveness is neither quick nor easy."
Markus had seen Lee's mouth open as he'd figured out the plan, but he'd stayed silent, backing up Markus completely.
Malek said silently, apparently remembering along with him. *Yes. Before I wasn't sure where he placed his loyalties, but now I know he believes in you.*
*How do you know?* Markus asked.
*Before, when I knew him, he was always hiding, from himself most of all, I think. But not now. And,* Malek's mental "voice" lightened to more of a tease, *because he declined your generous offer to betray you. I know that's why you wanted him along.*
That was true. It had been the only argument to sway Erin -- they could never be sure if Lee wasn't playing a deep game of his own, unless he refused some perfect opportunity. She'd said it was too dangerous, but Markus knew the stakes had to be irresistible.
Since Lee hadn't tried to dispose of Markus by the side of the road or take him straight to Colonel West, Markus had decided full trust was possible again. He was glad Malek trusted Lee, also. It made him feel better about having to tell Lee about his symbiote.
*Yes. You should. Considering the part he must play in the rest of your plan.*
*All right. Here goes nothing.* Markus inhaled a long calming breath and directed, "I think it's time you heard the rest. You should probably stop the car."
Lee stopped dead in the middle of the road. They had yet to see a living soul on the highway, so it wasn't wrong that he should stop that way. But it felt odd: a hold over from before the Big Death. After stopping, Lee turned in his seat looking squarely at Markus. "There's more?"
Markus asked, "Did you get to meet Doctor Fukizaki, while you were at Valhalla?"
Lee blinked, looking disconcerted. "Sure, but I didn't have much to do with him. What does this have to do with the Brothers?"
"Nothing. But bear with me. Why didn't you?"
"I didn't trust him. He was one of Waverly's backers."
"No," Markus corrected quietly. "He always understood the virus, Lee. He kept it from Waverly for fifteen years. And he can cure it, too."
"But -- but," he sputtered, came to a stop, and started again. "'Can cure'? You said he was dead."
"He is, sort of. But not really."
Lee groaned. "Listen, Markus. I know how much you enjoy --"
"Because of him, I can cure Meaghan."
Lee's jaw dropped. "You can? How?"
Markus ignored the question and took a deep breath. This was the sticky part: revealing Malek without freaking Lee out. "When our visitors came through the Stargate, do you remember what they called me?"
Lee frowned, trying to understand, even though he didn't have all the pieces yet. "They thought you were someone called Malek."
Markus licked his lips and explained, "Yes. And now it's come true in this universe too. Malek is the name of an alien symbiote, a small eel-like intelligent creature that requires a human host to survive. Both share the body. Malek's previous host was Gordon Fukizaki. When he was dying, Malek came into my body and saved my life."
Markus watched Lee. At first he looked doubtful and confused, but then the blood left his face and his hands tightened into a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. "Saved your life?" Lee repeated, hoarsely.
"I'd never have made it out of the cell without him. I had suffered a lot of internal bleeding, my ribs were broken, and I'm sure Malek could give you a long list of other things he found wrong with my body."
*Kidney damage, splenic failure, pneumonia, hypoglycemia, dehydration…* Malek continued, rather too cheerfully until Markus told him to stop.
Markus finished quietly, "When Gordon was shot to death in front of me, I made the only decision I could, to save both Malek and myself by accepting him."
Lee was silent for a long moment working it through. "That's why you can save Meaghan," he said finally. "Malek knows how, he's inside you, so he told you."
"Right." It was close enough for now.
Lee seemed to have himself in better control. His face had regained its color and he'd relaxed his death grip in the wheel. "You're not going tell anyone else?"
"No. Only you and Erin. You two know what Meaghan is, so you have to know how it's possible she can be cured. But no one else." He chuckled shortly. "I don't think our people are ready for aliens, not yet. Maybe not ever."
"So. There's an ... alien in you?" Lee asked, squinting at him as if he could see Malek if he looked hard enough.
Malek nudged him mentally. *Let me.* Markus felt his head droop a little as Malek stepped into control and lifted his head back up to face Lee.
"I am Malek."
Lee pushed himself instinctively into the driver's side door away from the odd voice. "Markus?" his own voice was shaking.
*Try not to frighten him too much, please,* Markus advised.
"He hears you," Malek said aloud. "I'm sorry; I didn't intend to scare you. I came forward so you could speak with me and understand that Markus is telling you the truth. I am not here to hurt anyone. I spent fifteen years in Valhalla Sector trying to manage the lesser of two evils, and now I'm here to support Markus and his dream as much as I can. I don't intend to speak often, only among those who accept me. I hope in time you can be one of them."
"I ..." Lee straightened up from the door, still watching Markus warily, but without fear. "I'm glad you saved Markus," he said finally.
"I am too," Malek answered and bowed his head again, to let Markus slide back into place.
"You know," he said in his own voice, trying to be casual and ease Lee's anxiety, "that bugs me. I hear myself talk, but it's not me. It's very odd."
Lee's eyes widened again. "Markus?"
"Yes. It's not like I left." He asked curiously, "Does it bother you talking to Malek?"
"No. No, I guess not."
Lee fell silent, and Markus was about to question Lee on what he was thinking, when Malek told him, *Relax, let the boy figure it out. We should rest, since there will be a lot for you to contend with when we get back home.*
INDEX or on to Chapter 38