Fic: Chase the Morning {8/37}
Part Two: Fool’s Gold
Chapter One: Revelations
Date: May 16, 5 A.I. [2005]
Location: Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colorado
There was silence for a minute, and then Rodney spoke, his tone incredulous.
‘Cheyenne Mountain? You mean we’re in NORAD?’
‘More like under it.’
‘Under NORAD. Wow. Okay, then.’ John said, looking bemused. ‘So, now that we know where we are, could you tell us what you plan on doing with us?’
‘We’ve got a few questions for you, that’s for sure.’ The grey-haired man said, and then waved at one of the SFs standing guard, motioning for him to get the door. ‘For starters, where the hell you guys came from. We’ll be interviewing you individually, starting with-’ his eyes flicked from Lantean to Lantean, and then paused on Jess. ‘You. Doctor Connor, was it?’
Jess glanced at John, who shrugged, and then got to her feet. ‘Yes, it was.’ She replied, stepping forwards. The door to the cell opened and Jess moved into the adjoining room, looking back briefly at the others before following the brown-haired man through another door and out into a hallway. They walked in silence, an SF shadowing them a few paces behind. The small procession got a few curious looks from various members of staff that they passed, and Jess saw quite a few civilians intermixed with the more obvious military personnel.
The man stopped at a door and then opened it, ushering Jess inside. It was a small grey room, furnished only with a table and two chairs. The SF stayed outside when the door was closed, but Jess noticed a security camera’s light blinking in one of the corners.
‘Do you have any other color of paint besides grey?’ she asked as she took the seat indicated to her. Her companion smiled wryly, and sat down as well.
‘It’s the military; they don’t tend to go for Better Homes and Gardens décor.’ He said, withdrawing a small digital voice recorder out of his pocket and setting it on the table in front of him, turning it on as he did so. ‘Okay, then. Let’s start this out right. Please state your names for the record.’
Jess smiled indulgently. ‘Doctor Jess and Anora Connor. I don’t suppose you’ll be wanting our ages as well?’
‘If you wouldn’t mind.’
‘Very well. I’m thirty-five. I’ll be thirty-six in August. Anora is roughly the same age.’ Jess told him. ‘Can I ask you a question before we get started too much?’
The man looked surprised. ‘I guess. What is it?’
‘Your name. This would go a hell of a lot easier if I knew that. I can’t just say, “hey, you” all the time, now can I? Besides, you already know ours; it’s simple courtesy that we know yours.’ She sat back in her chair, folding her hands neatly on the tabletop.
‘Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt. It’s Daniel. Doctor Daniel Jackson.’
‘It’s a pleasure, I’m sure. So, Doctor Jackson, what else would you like to know?’
Daniel raised an eyebrow, and then leaned forwards. ‘Well, first off, where’d you and your team come from?’
Jess laughed. ‘Getting right to the point, I see. Very well. We’re wanderers.’
‘Really.’ Daniel said flatly, obviously not believing the lie. ‘Wanderers who just happen to have guns, and who look like they get regular medical attention and three square meals a day?’
Jess shrugged. ‘Look, I’m obviously not going to tell you everything without some recompense. Why don’t we do this- you share something about this place, and I’ll do the same about our base. It’s beneficial to both of us, and we may be able to figure out an agreement or alliance.’
‘I highly doubt you have the authority to do that. Besides, how do we know you’re not working for the Wraith?’ Daniel asked.
‘We could ask the same thing.’ Jess retorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and sat in silence, content in just watching Daniel.
He’s a tricky one, this Doctor Jackson. Anora mused. He doesn’t give up without a fight.
Neither do we.
They sat there for a few minutes, and then Daniel sighed. His hand dipped into his pocket and withdrew the Life Signs Detector that Jess had been carrying with her before the Lanteans had been captured. He placed it on the center of the table and tapped it with a finger.
‘What’s this?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow, ‘And how does it work?’
‘You haven’t been able to turn it on, then?’ Jess asked, amused.
‘No.’
She reached out and picked up the Detector, turning it on with a thought. The familiar blue glow of the screen and the soft tingle of active Ancient technology were soothing, and Jess took a moment to let the feeling sink in before speaking. ‘See those white dots?’ she asked, holding up the LSD for Daniel to see.
‘Yeah.’
‘The two in the middle are us. The one outside is the guard.’ Jess said, unable to hold back the small smile of satisfaction at Daniel’s impressed look. ‘It detects life signs, among other things.’
‘How’d you get it to work?’ Daniel inquired, reaching for the device. Jess let him take it, and it fell quiescent once it left her hand.
‘It reacts to a specific gene, natural or artificial, which apparently you don’t have. It would’ve turned on if you did.’ She told him. ‘Now, it’s also-’ Jess was cut off by the sudden sound of sirens, and the door opened behind Daniel, the SF poking his head in.
‘Doctor Jackson, you’re needed in the ‘Gate Room.’ He said, his hand just coming away from the radio he had clipped to his vest.
‘Wait. This would be the perfect time to help each other out.’ Jess said as Daniel got to his feet. ‘We tell you where we got the detector, and you show us what’s in the ‘Gate Room.’
Daniel paused. ‘It’ll take a lot more than that to be able to see what’s in there.’
‘Atlantis.’
‘Sorry?’
Jess got to her feet. ‘That’s where that’ she motioned at the LSD, ‘came from.’
‘The lost city of Atlantis? You mean the one Plato described in his writings?’ Daniel asked, waving the SF off for the moment.
Jess shook her head. ‘No. Look, have you ever heard of the Ancients?’ Daniel’s stunned silence gave her the answer she was looking for. ‘It’s their city. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on this. We’re a small community, but you won’t be disappointed; there’re people from all over the world, scientists, civilians, and soldiers alike who live there. Now, we’ve come across mentions of an Astria Porta and a Chappa’ai in the database and in Tok’ra legends, but we’ve never seen one. We suspect that your ‘Gate is the one and same. How’s that for a lot more?’
Daniel bit his lip, and then nodded. ‘Fine. Come with me, but the guard stays with you.’
‘Fine with us.’ Jess said, coming around the table and heading towards the door. ‘You won’t regret this, I promise.’
‘You’d better be right.’