LOOSE CANNON
Whatever you do - don't tell anyone
12th July 2002
The plane was coming in for a landing at Heathrow at about 10:30pm. I'd flown a few times but this was my first nightime flight. The first time I'd come into London from the air and seen it all lit up. It was slightly unreal. But then again this whole situation was slightly unreal. And for someone with my experiences, that was saying something.
First things first:
Opponent: One NID assasin, weapons unknown.
Inventory: Fuck all.
Options: Call the police? Hmmmmm....tried that before - did no good whatsoever and last time out my request was half-way plausible.
Anyone else that could help? I've never been friendly with any Guy Ritche characters so no. Maybe the coppers would be my best option after all!
Later
Having bluffed my way through customs with Carl's passport, I decided to check my mobile for messages. One new message had come in.
The caller had a deep voice "Rick this is Seng'ok. General Hammond told me about the threat on your friends life, and as you said once, I owe you one."
I wasn't sure how serious I had been when I told him that, just before the ill-fated mission with SG16. Nevertheless I wasn't complaining.
Seng'ok continued: "I have been given a private flight to Denver before being booked on a flight to Heathrow. I hope you are able to keep your friend alive till then. I will call you when I arrive."
There had to be a catch I suppose. Seng'ok would probably bring weapons of some kind, probably zats, so Steve would have two bodyguards at least from that point onwards.
However that still gave the NID a window of about 12 hours plus. And I needed to tell Steve what was going on. I got as far away from the busy taxi rank as possible before calling him up on his mobile
"Steve this is Rick - I'm outside Heathrow Airport at the moment. Bad news, I wasn't able to call the assassin off."
"Any good news" I don't think Steve had wanted to hear that.
"Yeah, sort of. You know the er..symbiote I had, Seng'ok? He's now in a new host and is coming over to help me out."
"When is he going to arrive?"
"Well he's flying from Colorado Springs to Heathrow via Denver. I doubt he'll arrive before sun-up."
"Great! Look, I'm in my flat in Hammersmith at the moment. Get a taxi there and we'll talk it over.
Midnight
Steve let me into his flat
"Good to see you." he greeted "First up who exactly is it that wants to kill me. The CIA?"
"No" I replied "Bunch called the NID. Very dodgy. They're a group within the US military that want to keep the Stargate secret at any cost. And that definitely includes killing journalists who find out about it. They've done it at least once before, in Washington DC a few years back. Ran the guy over."
"Is this why you kept all of us in the dark?"
"Yeah" Not the whole truth but it would do.
Steve took a deep breath "OK. You're unarmed aren't you?"
"Yeah"
"One thing is for certain - there is no way that either of us will be able to stop this guy with our bare hands. The local police station has a few security cells. I want to at least spend the night there - I can't see this guy wanting too much publicity."
I could go with that "Are you sure they'll believe our story?"
"We're both sober and would we really have to tell them everything?"
"We'll see"
We got ready to leave the flat.
Police station
"Are you being serious?" The officer on duty was as I had suspected not impressed with our story.
"Yes" I replied, getting a sense of dj vu.
"Is it both of you that are under threat from this supposed assassin?"
"No, just me" Steve replied
"OK, I will let you have one of our cells for 24 hours but that's it" the officer stated.
Well, that was enough.
"Steve" I started "A couple of things. Who knows what, about what is going on and can I borrow your flat for the night"
The copper spoke first
"I wouldn't recommend it son, the flat could be booby trapped."
Point taken
"My parents know that I pissed off the Yanks but I've kept quiet as to exactly why" Steve added.
OK. It looked like I was going to have to find a local B+B!
13th July 2002 9am
After grabbing some breakfast I checked my mobile for messages. Nothing
So by 9am I was at the police station asking if I could talk to Steve for a while.
"Whassup, anything happened last night?" I asked quietly so no one would hear.
"Nah, the NID man must be looking to avoid publicity - no one touched this place."
"That sounds like the NID."
"What happens when I get out of here though? If he wants to kill me he's going to have to try again at some point!"
"From tonight on inwards you've got two bodyguards."
"Some bodyguards. What will you have on you?"
"I presume Seng'ok will bring along a couple of zats or something."
"Zats?"
"You know the scifi show Wormhole Extreme?"
"Yeah I know, it's based on the Stargate program what about it?"
"You know the laser guns from that show? They're based on zats. Standard Tok'ra issue"
"Oh right! How good are you with them?"
"Good enough."
"Ever done this sort of thing before?"
"What do you mean?"
"Bodyguard duty"
"Nope."
"OK, any ideas where you're going to hide me?"
"Er...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Cross it before then if you can."
"Right" My mobile rang. The call was coming from another mobile. I didn't recognise the number. "Hello?"
"Rick, this is Seng'ok, I have arrived at Heathrow airport" I had to take the guy's word that he was telling the truth about who he was, as I didn't recognise his voice - must be his new host's voice.
"OK, how am I going to recognise you?" I asked.
"Stand outside the taxi rank - I will recognise you"
"See you there" I replied
It was time to hail a taxi.
9:40 am
The taxi had done good time. I redialled that last mobile number once I got out.
"Rick" came the guy on the other end.
"OK, Seng'ok I'm here, where are you mate?"
"One minute."
Not long after a Latino guy came out of the airport. "Rick" he stated and walked on over.
"Seng'ok?" I replied, shaking his hand.
"Yes." was the reply.
"Good to see ya, who's your new partner?"
The guy seemed to loosen up a bit. "My name is Radan" he replied
"Are you comfortable with this?" I asked. If not, I didn't want him involved.
He tightened up again "About as comfortable as you were when we went to avenge Tek'rum's death" he replied with a slight grin. This sounded like it would be Seng'ok talking but it would take some getting used to. I led him into a busy crowd.
"Yeah well firstly, my mate's not dead yet and secondly, would you honestly be willing to go through this again for Radan at some point down the road?"
"I would"
Symbiote's voice. It's a weird thing - that voice is supposed to be something to fear but it was the one thing now that allowed me to trust the guy in front of me.
11pm
Seng'ok(and Radan) and I had spent the day discussing the situation, catching up on what was going on in the galaxy, hiring a car and generally just chilling out. We'd also managed to get a few hours sleep after dinner that evening which we'd probably need.
The plan wasn't the best - lead the NID agent on a game of cat and mouse using the hire car, with Seng'ok driving and me looking back for shooting oppitunities.
This was assuming that the NID guy was hiding somewhere nearby.
This was also assuming he wanted to make Steve's death look like n accident.
Anyway, we were now back at the police station in Hammersmith only to find another car had already pulled up. A familiar looking figure was getting out.
"Hang on, is that Granger?" I wondered "What the hell would she be doing here?"
"Perhaps General Hammond has sent her to assist us." Seng'ok suggested.
"Why her? She's the last person who would care about this."
"Perhaps we will find out." Seng'ok finished as he got out of the car. I soon did likewise and followed him into the building.
It was Granger, definitely Granger, that greeted us, but in a condescending British accent "Rick, I'm not completely surprised to see you I must admit" "You'll be glad to know your friend is in safe hands now."
I wasn't so sure
"In safe hands yeah..." I replied sarcastically "Who the fucking hell are you?"
"Lt Colonel Granger US Air Force" she replied, this time with her American accent. "And you are?" in her British one.
"Bullshit" I replied. Doh! Talk about speaking before you think.
She seized the opportunity for a jibe "Exactly" she smirked "You're bullshit"
She turned her back to me - talking once again to the desk officer "That's a laugh, coming from a US Air Force Colonel who starts talking with a British accent." I stated loudly "Steve's my mate, I'll be the judge of his safety."
"And what plans have you made for his safety?"
"None of your business"
"It is when I'm under orders to protect him." she replied.
"Wonders will never cease - may I ask whose orders those are?"
The desk officer had had enough
"Could you please take this discussion elsewhere?" he requested and led us to a vacant office. Radan stayed put though.
Once there I restarted the argument "I'll ask again - who sent you here? I've got a feeling it wasn't Hammond."
"And you'd be correct" Granger replied smugly "I am no longer under General Hammond's command." She finished in her American accent.
I pulled out my zat
"Look, the situation is pretty simple. Currently Steve is safe as can be in a security cell. If you want to take him out of here you'll have to get past me. Now who are you and who do you work for?"
Granger retained her smugness "That's not a nice way to talk to your guardian angel"
*"Now the only reason I'm not roaring with laughter..."*...so went Arnie's line anyway. I settled for a "Yeah right - who, may I ask, felt I needed a guardian angel?"
"Her Majesty's Government."
'Fuck off'.' That was hard to believe. "Tell her Majesty that I'm flattered by her concern but it wasn't necessary."
"Oh wasn't it?" Did the bitch have a limit to her smugness? "Then please explain the 'on world' assignments that you were given by the SGC."
"Bloody hell you people are jumpy. I accepted those assignments of my own free will."
"You shouldn't have been given those assignments in the first place. You shouldn't have even gotten involved in the Shutech operation."
"Blame my over-curiosity. The fact that the SGC didn't involve you guys is none of my concern. What is my concern is Steve Adams, if I remember correctly the 'professionals' record isn't too good where his welfare is concerned."
"Is that what this is about? There are bigger concerns in this world, no make that galaxy Rick than the welfare of a young journalist."
'Gotcha' I thought "So he's expendable? Are you sure that you are MI-whatever, not NID? Or working with them?"
"What makes you think I'm NID?" That got rid of the smugness all right
"Oh I dunno, US Air Force Colonel turns up in London, talking with a British accent, claiming to be my guardian angel - and let's face it, we were never exactly fucking each other..."
"What do you want Rick?" she interrupted coldly.
"Whatever you're doing tonight, I want both Seng'ok and I in on it."
"Why?"
"Me because I don't trust you and Seng'ok because he's come a long way and I don't want him to waste his trip." I smirked.
"I'll see." she replied before letting me out of the office.
I returned to the lobby "So?" Radan - no make that Seng'ok - enquired quietly.
"Granger is claiming to be a British spy."
"And you don't believe her?"
"Do you?"
"I hope you have not made another rash decision regarding that woman."
"I've requested that we involve ourselves in whatever plans she's got to protect Steve. Best case scenario their plans are better than ours, worst case scenario we can shoot our way out and take Steve with us."
"I am relived."
Granger entered the reception.
"You should also be relieved Rick - your deal has been accepted - my superiors must be getting soft."
Sorted!
Sunday 14th July 2am
Granger's partner - a large black guy - removed our blindfolds. Ahead of us was a fairly large average suburban house. Where exactly in suburbia? Fuck knows - that was probably half the idea.
"Safehouse?" I enquired.
"Yes" replied the black guy, with no emotion whatsoever
"Name's Rick. What's yours?"
"As far as you're concerned I don't exist."
"As far as you're concerned my partner doesn't exist" I told the iceman "He does however have a name."
"Good for him." I decided to end that line of enquiry.
"And your partner? What's her real name?"
"She's like me."
"Which one of you was driving us here? It surely doesn't take that long to get to wherever we are from Hammersmith. We're blatantly still somewhere in London."
"There was an assassin on our tail. Are you complaining that we managed to avoid him?"
I decided to shut up. Then start a new conversation "What's your tactics with this thing?"
"Two outside, two inside"
"You and Granger take outside." I said abruptly
"Granger?"
"Your partner. I know her as Simone Granger, a Lt Colonel in the US Air Force."
"Right. For the record you are not officially involved in this operation. Therefore you don't order us about. I suspect you haven't a clue how to do this."
"I'm a quick learner and I don't know whose side you're on - thanks for the safehouse but you're really surplus to requirements"
"And you are not? Don't think I won't shoot you" That was Granger coming out of the house."
"Likewise" I replied, pulling my zat out.
"Likewise." That was Granger's Iceman partner 'Crap' I thought. This was not going to be easy.
"Want me to fix up some coffee?" I enquired meekly.
2:20am
After I fixed the coffee, we made a deal that the four of us would rotate positions, to start off with, Seng'ok and I would be on the inside with Granger and Iceman outside.
Steve and I had been chatting, you know regular small talk - but he was definitely bugged about something. After twenty minutes he revealed what he was worried about.
"So, how was Munich?" he asked politely
"Interesting." I replied.
"What do you mean by interesting - any postcards?"
"Didn't get round to it."
He didn't probe any further - which was a relief. Looking back the operation against Gegenspass didn't really feel right.
Seng'ok must have sensed my nerves "Are you well?" he enquired.
"Yeah, just getting a bit hungry." I replied
Seng'ok followed me into the kitchen "Mate, someone's got to stay with Steve" I warned.
"What's wrong Rick?"
"What do you mean?"
"General Hammond told me about your assignment in Munich."
'Ah'
"Yeah - and it was a two sided coin" I got one out to show him "Hammond hired me for one part" I flipped the coin "The NID was given the other part - let's just say they're still working on it."
"I see" Seng'ok replied "Do you feel responsible for the assassination attempt?"
"No, as I said, two sides to the coin" I replied "But they were both connected and not just in the obvious way - that both had to do with the Stargate - both were connected to me. If I hadn't joined the Tok'ra, this wouldn't have happened."
"How come? Tau'ri journalists are very inquisitive people, like all scribes. Might Steve not have found out about the SGC anyway?"
"He wouldn't have gone looking for it if didn't have a best mate who was keeping quiet about what he was doing in Colorado."
"Do you regret your time with the Tok'ra?"
"No.Well...I dunno..."
"You feel you've broken your promise?"
"Not just that, the Gegenspass assignment - there was no reason for me to do it."
"Gegenspass wished to destroy the Tau'ri Stargate program."
"How much of a threat were they?"
"I was not with you then Rick - I do not know."
"What Hammond was worried about was keeping the program secret - the NID are willing to kill to keep secrets. I shouldn't have taken the money.
Enter the Iceman.
"You don't appear to be as concerned for your friends safety, leaving him alone like that"
I checked my watch. 2:30am.
It was time for me to go out and join Granger.
It was cold outside. "Rick" Granger greeted. "Are we trustworthy now?"
"Maybe" I replied "Er...not sure what to call you to be honest, I presume your real name isn't Simone Granger."
"No."
"What is it?"
"Call me Simone."
"OK Simone. Mind if I ask you a couple of questions?"
"Depends what they are." Simone replied.
"Firstly, does General Hammond know who you really are?"
"No."
"How did you get inside the US military?"
"Very easily. The fact that I'm ex-Royal Army also helped. I've got a few questions to ask you."
"Fire away."
"How do you feel about this game?"
"Huh?"
"Isn't there a Hollywood movie called Spy Game?"
Now I saw what she was getting at
"For the record, which branch are you trying to recruit me for?"
"A thorough training program could fit you into either quite nicely."
"Not sure if you were trying to flatter me or not there - are you saying you actually rate me?"
"You've got potential I'll admit. So?"
"Not sure."
"Why not?"
"A variety of reasons" I replied "Number one, you people aren't exactly whiter than white."
"And you are?"
Point taken. I wasn't sure if she knew about the Gegenspass assignment though so kept going. "Number two, if I had kept a promise I made two years ago, I wouldn't have needed a guardian angel."
"I see" replied Simone "But that promise has already been broken, hasn't it?" She asked coolly.
"And look what happened - people got nervous. Thanks for the offer but I'm not interested."
"Very well" Simone replied coldly "If that's the case then after this I don't want to hear of you again."
"What if I make it as a gameshow host?" I smirked.
"You know what I mean."
Then we spotted a guy trying to sneak round the side of the house.
"FIZZ." My zat blast went wide.
"BANG, BANG" was the reply. I managed to dodge the bullets but Simone wasn't so lucky
"ARGHH." That brought her partner out
"What happened?" he asked.
"GET SENG'OK." Was all I yelled before sprinting off in pursuit.
I spotted the assassin trying to get through the window "FIZZ" went my zat, missing again, my aim deserting me at the worst possible time.
"BANG" In reflex, my hand opened and I dropped my zat. I dived at the NID man instead, bringing him to the deck and getting his gun off him. He just got up, grabbed my zat and sprinted through the window. I followed him into the kitchen, then into the living room where Steve was.
"BANG BANG" I'd aimed low, hit the back of his knees and he hit the deck.
"Could one of you people call an ambulance?" I yelled.
5am
"Goodbye Rick" That was Seng'ok. I shook Radan's hand for both the first and last time. Once more we were outside Heathrow Airport. This time my ex-partner was headed back to Colarado then through the Stargate to home.
So that was it. Game over - and this time for good. I didn't particularly fancy pissing off either British government agency - I had a feeling I'd get eaten for breakfast!
So what was next? Well, at some point a 1000 cheque would arrive, and I'd also need to get a new passport at some point(I'd binned Carl's). Apart from that? A quiet life, get back to South Bank, same things I'd promised earlier.
The day was dawning and I was hailing a cab home. A normal life beckoned.
Right?
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