A Matter of Honor Read online

  Her vest lay in a puddle of the team's belongings two feet away, everything tipped out and scattered across the previously pristine floor. Ammunition mingled with old Mainstay bar wrappers and the Naked Lady playing cards the colonel always carried and didn't think she knew about.

  "Take off your boots," the soldier demanded.

  She rolled her eyes and was about to protest when she caught the subtle nod from O'Neill, ordering her to co-operate. Fine! She bent to unlace them. If GI Joe wanted to hunt around in her boots - which she'd been wearing non-stop for the past thirty-six hours - it was his hard cheese. Literally. "Enjoy," she said, offering them to him with an unfriendly smile.

  Sadly, his reaction was lost in a buzz of excitement that bustled into the far comer of the plaza. The infuriated tone of Bill Crawford preceded him like the whine of a mosquito. Just what they needed.

  "Oh great!" O'Neill muttered.

  The ambassador was accompanied by Councilor Damaris and a small entourage of soldiers, led by a grizzled man who looked like he meant business. The councilor seemed as frosty as she'd been during their previous encounter in the hospital. Her eyes found O'Neill, and she strode toward him with a ferocity at odds with the Kinahhi's usual languor. "Explain yourself, Colonel," she demanded.

  "With pleasure," came the surly reply. "As I've said to your people here - a hundred times! - we went for a walk!"

  Damaris folded her arms across her narrow chest. "I do not believe you."

  "We were bored! We've been stuck in this place for days. Days! We were going stir crazy."

  Crawford appeared at the Kinahhi woman's elbow. "You've crossed the line this time, O'Neill. Not even Hammond can protect you now."

  Whatever his thoughts, the colonel gave nothing away. "We went for a walk. It's not a crime where I come from." He threw a glare at Crawford. "At least, not yet."

  The councilor was unimpressed. "Perhaps I would believe you, Colonel, were it not for the fact that data of extreme sensitivity was downloaded from our central computer last night. A copy was made. What do you know of that?"

  Interesting, Sam thought, but nothing to do with us. Except Crawford looked like he could barely restrain his triumph, all but hopping up and down at the councilor's side. What was he expecting?

  "I can barely download my email," O'Neill said coldly. "I don't know anything about your central computer."

  Crawford glanced up at Damaris with a sly smile. "The colonel is indeed technologically inept." His menacing gaze drifted, then came to land squarely on Sam. "Major Carter, however, is something of a genius."

  What the hell was he trying to do? Frame them? "I'm flattered, Ambassador," she snapped, struggling for what dignity she could muster with half her kit on the floor and her boots missing. "But I don't know anything about it, either. I'm sorry, Councilor, you must have some kind of internal leak because it's nothing to do with us."

  Leaving O'Neill, the councilor stepped over their scattered belongings toward Sam. She was trailed by the old soldier who walked with the swagger of command, a man used to his own power and not afraid to use it. He almost looked more dangerous than the councilor. Almost. Up close, her colorless eyes were forbidding and Sam had to repress a shudder. For a long time Damaris just stared at her, as if trying to dig out the truth from within. Then she turned and addressed the soldier at her side, "Search their quarters."

  "Oh come on!" O'Neill protested.

  Damaris whirled on him. "You will be silent! Thirty-eight Kinahhi citizens died in the blast yesterday. And if I find that you are in league with the dissidents who terrorize our city, then you will suffer the full weight of our law!"

  The colonel's gaze didn't waiver. "I'd rather die than help the people who planted that bomb."

  "For your sakes, I hope you speak the truth."

  O'Neill looked over the councilor's shoulder, toward Crawford who had started poking around in their quarters as their packs were dragged out and emptied onto the stone floor. For a brief moment Sam had a feeling he knew more than he was letting on. Suddenly nervous, she watched the soldiers search their belongings with a keener interest. They seemed so certain that there was something to find. But she knew they had nothing, she hadn't even had time to make notes on Tsapan before-

  "Oh, hey, careful with that!" Daniel's voice came from the other side of the courtyard, where he sat propped groggily against a wall. One of the soldiers, surly and bullish, held up a digital camera. Daniel's camera! Daniel had been taking photos of Tsapan's mosaic ceiling...

  Forcing herself not to react, Sam stared in morbid fascination as the soldier studied the device. He clearly didn't know what it was, and she prayed Daniel wouldn't enlighten him. Or that Crawford wouldn't notice the exchange. Inevitably, the question came. "What is it?"

  "Oh, it's ah...a barometer."

  A barometer?

  The soldier frowned. "Explain."

  Clearing his throat, Daniel considered. "It- You press the button and it takes a snap-shot - so to speak - of the, uh, climate. Air quality. That kind of thing. You know?"

  Still unconvinced, the soldier pressed a button and the camera bleeped obligingly. He probably got a good shot of the inside of his nose.

  "We use it to determine if alien environments are safe for us," Sam added. "It's quite a useful device, actually."

  Deliberately unimpressed, he made a show of dropping the camera carelessly amid the growing pile of belongings. Daniel winced as it clattered against the butt of his weapon, but there was relief buried in his eyes too. There was more at stake here than a few pictures of a mosaic.

  Breathing more easily she turned away, hiding a smile as she watched Teal'c glaring silently at the unfortunate soldier ordered to search him. She almost felt sorry pity for the scrawny red-haired kid patting down the Jaffa's muscular arms and legs - had to make the guy feel inadequate, she figured.

  Time moved on and the soldiers became increasingly disconsolate as they realized that no missing documents were to be found. The colo nel, who hadn't moved from the center of the courtyard, eventually called out to the councilor. "You satisfied yet?"

  Damaris was not. She stalked toward O'Neill, Crawford trailing along behind, unable to hide her disappointment. "There is still the matter of your unauthorized absence," she said coldly. "And for that reason I shall be requesting that General Hammond withdraw your team from our world, Colonel. If you cannot respect our law, you cannot remain."

  The colonel was unfazed. "Fine by me. We wanted to leave yesterday, remember? Maybe if you had let us..."

  He let the sentence hang, but the Kinahhi woman picked it up. "Yes, many things might be different." She addressed the soldier at her elbow. "Return your men to their duties, Commander Kenna, and prepare to open the Stargate." He nodded and smoothly withdrew as the councilor turned back to O'Neill, "Gather your belongings. You have one hour."

  With that she spun on her heel, but Crawford couldn't resist a final dig before he was swept away in her wake. "I'm so looking forward to writing my report, Jack."

  The colonel's flat smile was dangerous. "Yes. I bet you are."

  If Crawford heard he didn't respond, scurrying after Damaris like a lapdog. The Kinahhi soldiers fell in efficiently and quickly behind them, apparently doing their best to trample as many of the team's belongings underfoot as they went. But at last they were gone, although Sam had the distinct feeling that cameras, if not eyes, were still watching them. Clearly the colonel had the same thought, because he cast her a warning look and simply said, "Get ready to move out, people."

  She nodded, but her attention lingered on him as he bent to gather his scattered kit. He headed straight for his vest and slipped it on, methodically replacing items in the pockets almost without seeing them. His eyes were scanning the ground the whole time until a hand shot out and snatched what looked like an old Mainstay wrapper from beneath a pile of unopened MREs. Without missing a beat he stuffed it into the pocket of his BDU pants and went on picking up his things.
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  Mindful of Big Brother, Sam said nothing. But she made a mental note to ask him about it once they were safely back at the SGC. He was keeping secrets, she'd put money on it. And when the colonel kept secrets it was never, ever good news.

  CHAPTER NINE

  hings were starting to fade, graying out around the edges. Daniel had the distinct impression that he wasn't doing so well.

  "Daniel?" The voice seemed to come from nowhere, which was when he realized his eyes had drifted shut. He levered them open and saw Sam's face hovering in front of him. "Hey," she said softly. "How you doing?"

  The answer I'm fine flitted through his mind, but even he knew it sounded ridiculous. He opted for the truth instead. "Ah, not so good."

  Sam nodded, her hand stretching out to touch his forehead. "You're a little warm," she decided. "Hang in there, we'll be home soon. Think you can stand?"

  He risked a nod, but the subtle movement tightened the vise around his head. "Just give me a moment." She did. Several as it turned out, and when he opened his eyes again Teal'c was also crouching at his side.

  "I will assist you, Daniel Jackson."

  With Teal'c's help, he stood. The world was fading to gray, and he had to breathe short and sharp to keep his stomach from revolting entirely. God only knew how he was going to survive the roller coaster trip through the `gate. He plastered what he hoped was a smile onto his face and willed himself not to succumb to the creeping grayness. "Let's go."

  Kinahhi soldiers in drab uniforms fell in around them as they left the plaza. Time was measured in footsteps, one foot, then the next, one foot, then the next, as they walked interminable white corridors toward the Stargate. Had it really been this far? Perhaps they were being taken somewhere else entirely?

  As if at the end of a long tunnel, he suddenly heard Jack's voice. "Quit stalling, I need to get him home. Now!"

  Stalling? Daniel lifted his head, making his vision swim, and saw Jack and Sam standing before a tall narrow door. Jack looked about ready to C4 the thing out of his way, but one of the soldiers blocked his path. "You must await the arrival of the Security Council."

  "Screw the Council! One of my people needs-"

  The door hissed open behind him and the soldier stepped out of Jack's way with obvious relief. Jack nodded toward Daniel and Teal'c to follow as he and Sam pushed through the door and into the massive `gate room where they'd arrived just a few days earlier. A flutter of white robes told Daniel that the Security Council was present, but his vision was too unfocused to pick out many faces. He recognized Damaris though, and Quadesh. The latter stood in close conversation with a man Daniel didn't know, but even through his muzzy head he could sense the tension in the room.

  "Carter," Jack ordered, "dial it up."

  "That will not be necessary." Councilor Damaris waved one of her soldiers toward the DHD that sat behind tall, clear panels.

  Ever suspicious, Jack nodded Sam in the same direction. "Make sure he doesn't dial a wrong number."

  The idiom probably went over the councilor's head, but Jack's distrust was hard to miss. "Your people," she observed dryly, "are truly in need of our assistance."

  "Yeah," Jack agreed, "like a hole in the-"

  He was cut off by the distinctive and vastly reassuring clank of the Stargate spinning into action. Daniel felt a burst of relief at the sight. Thoughts of Janet and morphine ran through his mind as fast as the chevrons engaged. Chevron six locked and he thought he was on the home straight when-

  KABOOM!

  The blast came from behind the DHD, knocked him flat, and sent him shooting across the smooth floor and into the opposite wall. He felt the impact, hard stone smashing against arms raised protectively over his head. Then, with a flash of brilliant light, everything went black.

  Teal'c was on his feet instantly, choking in the dusty air. "O'Neill!" he yelled, coughing as the dirt caught in his throat. He could see and hear little. Sirens were wailing and the air was thick, glowing a strange, luminescent blue. It took a moment for Teal'c to realize that the Stargate had opened.

  He took a step forward, his booted foot coming into contact with something soft on the floor. Squatting down, he rolled over an inert body and found himself staring into the dead eyes of a Kinahhi soldier. Alarmed, he rose to his feet. "O'Neill!"

  Someone behind him groaned loudly. Turning toward the sound he saw Daniel Jackson through the murky air, curled in a miserable heap next to the wall. Afraid of what he might discover, Teal'c hurried to his friend's side and carefully rolled him onto his back. Well-practiced fingers checked the pulse of the carotid artery. It was strong; his friend was in no immediate danger. As if to prove the point Daniel Jackson's eyes fluttered open, bleary and disoriented. "What...?"

  "I believe we have fallen victim to another dissident attack."

  "Again?" He coughed, but the cough quickly turned into a retch and a pitiful groan.

  Teal'c eyed the open Stargate. Certainly the Kinahhi had earned few favors from them, and for a moment he entertained the thought of simply carrying Daniel Jackson through the `gate and abandoning the Kinahhi to their fate. However, he had other teammates to consider first. "Do not move," he instructed his friend "I shall return."

  The dust was falling like soft rain now, clearing his view. The sight it revealed was grisly. The Kinahhi Council lay stricken, white robes dirty and bloodied. Amid their ranks Teal'c saw two of his own; O'Neill was groggily pushing himself to his hands and knees, head swaying from side-to-side. Major Carter, who had been much closer to the blast, sprawled motionless some feet away.

  He ran to her, stepping over the motionless soldier at her side, and dropped into a crouch. The blood trickling from her nose and left ear was disturbing. "Major Carter?" He shook her gently by the shoulder. "Major Carter, can you hear me?" There was no response.

  Lowering his cheek to her lips he felt a faint puff of breath against his face. As he straightened he saw O'Neill, frozen halfway to his feet, staring at them with scarcely concealed panic. "She lives," Teal'c said.

  O'Neill surged back into motion. "Where's Daniel?"

  "In need of assistance." He gestured toward the wall.

  "Get Carter home," was all the colonel said as he strode through the devastation toward his friend. While he was moving, soldiers swarmed through the door into the `gate room, bringing help. The men tended to their own, the living and the dead. Teal'c scooped the limp form of Major Carter into his arms and rose to his feet. O'Neill joined him momentarily, holding Daniel Jackson upright with an arm firmly around the man's waist. "Go," O'Neill ordered.

  Walking carefully up the steps with Major Carter in his arms, Teal'c was on the threshold of the event horizon when an exclamation stopped him.

  "Colonel O'Neill!" It was a woman's voice, cold as crushed ice. "Stop, or I will order my men to open fire!"

  Back stiffening, Teal'c slowly turned. Six soldiers had them in their sights. Behind them stood a bloody and disheveled Councilor Damaris. O'Neill and Daniel Jackson were still at the foot of the steps, and Teal'c could see the brief calculation in the colonel's eyes. But it was obvious that they would not be able to escape to safety. With a grimace, O'Neill carefully lowered Daniel Jackson to the ground and turned around, hands raised. "Let us go, Councilor. This had nothing to do with us."

  The Kinahhi woman almost screeched her response. "And you expect me to believe that?"

  "Why would we do this?" O'Neill persisted. "Our own people got hurt."

  "And many of ours are dead!" Her hand lashed out toward the DHD where bloodied soldiers lay broken and still. "Even- Even members of the Council! Quadesh, our-"

  "Quadesh?" Teal'c did not miss the beat of alarm in O'Neill's voice. "Quadesh is dead?"

  The councilor, however, was oblivious. She stepped closer, voice harsh. "Do not attempt to feign sympathy, Colonel. It will not absolve you of this crime."

  O'Neill said nothing. Following his line of sight, Teal'c saw the slender form of the Kinahhi man who h
ad guided them through the city. He lay prone, a soldier respectfully straightening his legs and arms. In the process of so doing, the young man pulled something from Quadesh's hand. Turning the item over carefully, he glanced up with a look of confusion on his young face.

  "Take them away!" Damaris ordered, reminding Teal'c of their current plight. "We will deal with their treachery once-"

  "Not gonna happen." O'Neill's weapon was raised and leveled. "Teal'c, get Carter out of here. Daniel-"

  "Jack, I don't think I'm going anywhere." Daniel Jackson looked like a man clinging to consciousness by his fingernails. "Sorry."

  O'Neill settled his weapon more comfortably against his shoulder. "Teal'c, that was an order."

  "If he moves," Damaris countered, "you will all die." Behind her, the weapon of every Kinahhi in the room was raised and pointing in their direction.

  No one stirred and the moment stretched long and taut, as brittle as blown glass.

  Suddenly a voice broke the silence. "Councilor!" Commander Kenna stepped in front of his own men, blocking their line of fire. "Councilor, there is something you must see."

  "Not now! Take it to-"

  "You must." He held out a small, blackened device. "We found this."

  Cross, her attention rested only briefly on the object. "What is it?"

  "It's a detonator." The answer had come from O'Neill, and when Kenna turned his eyes on him he added, "Right?"

  The soldier nodded, tight-lipped. "Colonel O'Neill is correct."

  "And so you incriminate yourself!" exclaimed Damaris. "I think-"

  "It does not belong to O'Neill," Kenna interrupted, although he seemed reluctant to confess as much. "Councilor, we found the device in the hand of Councilor Quadesh."

  Damaris froze. After a moment her mouth opened, then closed again and opened once more. She seemed deprived of all speech. O'Neill, however, was not.

  "Quadesh?" He sounded as shocked as the councilor appeared. "Are you sure?"

  "I am," Kenna told him. "And why should you care, Colonel? This discharges you of responsibility."