A Legacy left Behind - Initial encounters

Part 3

"Oh Jack, That was just brilliant! We got this bright and live holo-display on the ceiling and we saw everything! I mean everything with sound effects to boot! It even had your weight and the pulse rate on display -it was crazy- One moment this bad boy was zooming in on you to blow you up and then it just turns around, cool as you please and just comes strolling back in! You just had to see it Jack. I think McKay was asking for a recording, so you might just get to see it!"

"Gee Daniel, I'm so glad my imminent death was such a source of entertainment for you." Said the General mildly.

"Oh no. I mean, no it wasn't. Of course not." Jackson fidgeted, pushed his glasses up his nose briefly and looked appropriately contrite for about a half a second.

"But Jack, you didn't die and the Major saved you just in time! You know what this means, right? Think of the treasure trove of data he can dig up for us! Finally we can make some meaningful headway in locating Atlantis!" And he was back to bright-eyed bushy-tailed Fan-Girling excitement.

"We will let the man recover and talk to him first before we go hard wiring his ass to an Ancient thing-a-ma-jig, eh Jackson?" He patted the overly excited scientist on the shoulder and continued sedately towards the people who were waiting to give him a proper report. He hoped.

He went around the central command and continued his way towards the bigger and open area they had converted to a conference room. As predicted, Dr.Weir, Dr. McKay, Lt. Ford and Sergeant Marks were waiting for him. Jackson went around O'Neill to join the expectant and beaming faces and turned towards him, completing the united front.

This should be good, Jack O'Neill mused privately.

"Welcome to Terra Atlantus General O'Neill-I would ask how your journey here was, but we all know that it was eventful. It was a genuine accident and we managed to avert the disaster in time thanks to our newest addition, Major Sheppard. I do apologize on behalf of the team for the scare, General."

Ever the diplomat, Weir didn't waste time extending her warm and happy welcome, heartfelt apology and the main objective of this little meeting all in one breath, punctuated with a warm toothy smile.

He nodded at her but turned his attention to the young Lieutenant who was holding himself at painfully rigid attention.

"Please unlock yourself from that painful stance and tell me what happened, Ford?" He waved a hand at the Marine and took the seat at the head of the long table, signaling everybody to sit and get on with it.

The Lieutenant went to a parade rest and relaxed marginally.

"Sir, the Drs McKay and Beckett were attempting a system check with the Chair and the Drs. Gordon and Sommers were occupied with the inert missile. Then the missile went online and took off through the roof. According to Dr. McKay, this was probably due to poor or confusing mental link generation. Then the Major intervened and managed to recall the bogey back to base and store it. He informed us that it was safe from any unscheduled flights again. Sir." He sat down ramrod straight, once finished with the succinct account.

"Yes, yes, I have told him many times to concentrate properly. But seeing as he was the only one who could make the thing work, I had to get him on it. Those power readings were all over the place and I had to make sure we didn't blow up or implode. If he had just given me the Major instead of himself, I'm sure we wouldn't have launched a live missile at you-" added McKay impatiently.

"-Accidentally." He remembered to tag in.

"Are they stable now? Are we about to explode or implode?" At McKay's confused look O'Neil sighed to himself.