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icarusThe Walls of Jericho - 17 (from part 1 here)
by Icarus
With a frustrated huff of breath, Daniel returned from his 'meeting' with the aliens way earlier than he was supposed to. In fact, he had just left moments before. Which somehow didn't surprise Jack a bit, though it flushed their last hope that the one member not present last night would be immune.
Daniel hovered in the doorway, rocking on his heels. "They say our meeting has been unavoidably postponed."
"Ah." Jack responded, non-committal.
"They didn't give any details."
"Really."
Jack tried to sound sincerely surprised, but he was never good at that. He pursed his lips and flipped a pillow between his hands, turned it over and dropped it on the bed.
"Jack," Daniel's mouth worked. "Just what in hell's name happened last night?"
Sam licked her lips and looked at the floor with a 'not telling till hell freezes over' kind of determination. Teal'c raised his chin like a good Jaffa. First Prime of Jack O'Neill.
Jack reminded himself to give them a raise or something.
Daniel looked from Sam to Teal'c. "That bad."
"It's immaterial," Jack assured him with a practiced casual wave.
"Well we can't just give up."
Yes. Because Daniel had a pet theory to prove. "The floor's open to suggestions." He folded his arms and waited calmly.
"Well... we can't," Daniel said helplessly.
When Frick and Frack summoned them to the noon meal, Daniel was on them like white on rice.
"So, just where is it that we're meeting?" Daniel asked them. Not when, where.
The two aliens glanced at each other. The answer came a half beat too late. "The site has not been determined at this time."
Uh-huh. Jack let his hand drop and practiced his poker face.
"It's just that we would not wish to tax your hospitality for too long," Daniel explained with utmost sincerity. "These talks are very important to our leaders."
Ooo, that was good. Even Jack translated this to: we'll just wait here for as long as it takes. It wasn't true, but it might work. A ball of rock like this probably didn't have inexhaustible supplies for visitors.
The one Jack had mentally named 'Frack' bowed and said, "We shall speak about this with the leader of our great family."
"Thank you," Daniel said with complete gratitude.
Frick didn't follow his buddy, but stationed himself outside their door as a poorly disguised guard.
So much for any more exploration.
After a few unproductive hours listening to Daniel's unsuccessful attempts to strike up a lasting conversation with their host, good ol' Frack returned. Jack sat up, grateful for just about any distraction at this point. If they led them out at gun-point it would at least bring a welcome change of scenery.
Frack bowed to them, deeper than before. "We shall take you to the, what you call, caverns. You will need all your things," he nodded at their assembled gear, "it is a far journey. We shall leave as soon as you are able."
"Well, okay then," Jack said, surprised. "Thank the boss for me."
Frick and Frack exchanged glances as they filed out.
Daniel's brows knit and he paced a little.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked, knowing he was better off not knowing. "Worried about your 'pet theory'? You'll have to go play another time. We've got our caves, and that's our mission."
Daniel made a dismissive gesture. "I just assumed we'd have to negotiate with them a bit. I mean, they didn't let the other SG team near their caverns and we haven't been doing much… better." He eyed Jack. "I was prepared to at least suggest there was something in it for them."
"The other SG team didn't even get in the front door," Carter pointed out, though her doubtful tone was clear.
"A change of heart?" Jack offered, trying to look perky because, no, this didn't smell right. "We remind someone of their uncle Sal?"
Daniel's blue eyes studied him patiently, mouth set in a tight line.
"Holiday spirit?" Jack added hopefully.
You'll be relieved to know part 18 is already up: here.
by Icarus
With a frustrated huff of breath, Daniel returned from his 'meeting' with the aliens way earlier than he was supposed to. In fact, he had just left moments before. Which somehow didn't surprise Jack a bit, though it flushed their last hope that the one member not present last night would be immune.
Daniel hovered in the doorway, rocking on his heels. "They say our meeting has been unavoidably postponed."
"Ah." Jack responded, non-committal.
"They didn't give any details."
"Really."
Jack tried to sound sincerely surprised, but he was never good at that. He pursed his lips and flipped a pillow between his hands, turned it over and dropped it on the bed.
"Jack," Daniel's mouth worked. "Just what in hell's name happened last night?"
Sam licked her lips and looked at the floor with a 'not telling till hell freezes over' kind of determination. Teal'c raised his chin like a good Jaffa. First Prime of Jack O'Neill.
Jack reminded himself to give them a raise or something.
Daniel looked from Sam to Teal'c. "That bad."
"It's immaterial," Jack assured him with a practiced casual wave.
"Well we can't just give up."
Yes. Because Daniel had a pet theory to prove. "The floor's open to suggestions." He folded his arms and waited calmly.
"Well... we can't," Daniel said helplessly.
When Frick and Frack summoned them to the noon meal, Daniel was on them like white on rice.
"So, just where is it that we're meeting?" Daniel asked them. Not when, where.
The two aliens glanced at each other. The answer came a half beat too late. "The site has not been determined at this time."
Uh-huh. Jack let his hand drop and practiced his poker face.
"It's just that we would not wish to tax your hospitality for too long," Daniel explained with utmost sincerity. "These talks are very important to our leaders."
Ooo, that was good. Even Jack translated this to: we'll just wait here for as long as it takes. It wasn't true, but it might work. A ball of rock like this probably didn't have inexhaustible supplies for visitors.
The one Jack had mentally named 'Frack' bowed and said, "We shall speak about this with the leader of our great family."
"Thank you," Daniel said with complete gratitude.
Frick didn't follow his buddy, but stationed himself outside their door as a poorly disguised guard.
So much for any more exploration.
After a few unproductive hours listening to Daniel's unsuccessful attempts to strike up a lasting conversation with their host, good ol' Frack returned. Jack sat up, grateful for just about any distraction at this point. If they led them out at gun-point it would at least bring a welcome change of scenery.
Frack bowed to them, deeper than before. "We shall take you to the, what you call, caverns. You will need all your things," he nodded at their assembled gear, "it is a far journey. We shall leave as soon as you are able."
"Well, okay then," Jack said, surprised. "Thank the boss for me."
Frick and Frack exchanged glances as they filed out.
Daniel's brows knit and he paced a little.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked, knowing he was better off not knowing. "Worried about your 'pet theory'? You'll have to go play another time. We've got our caves, and that's our mission."
Daniel made a dismissive gesture. "I just assumed we'd have to negotiate with them a bit. I mean, they didn't let the other SG team near their caverns and we haven't been doing much… better." He eyed Jack. "I was prepared to at least suggest there was something in it for them."
"The other SG team didn't even get in the front door," Carter pointed out, though her doubtful tone was clear.
"A change of heart?" Jack offered, trying to look perky because, no, this didn't smell right. "We remind someone of their uncle Sal?"
Daniel's blue eyes studied him patiently, mouth set in a tight line.
"Holiday spirit?" Jack added hopefully.
You'll be relieved to know part 18 is already up: here.
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no subject
Date: 2005-01-02 10:13 am (UTC)Part 18 is up now. I'll be replying to the reviews for 16 once I run out of steam tonight.
Icarus