Jacob lifted his head, and Selmac looked out of his eyes. It was an eerie thing to see but the team seated around the conference room was more than used to the change. Hammond waited for the Tok’Ra to speak, his fingers playing idly with the papers in front of him. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, one presaged by the words he dreaded to hear.

“General Hammond, we need the Circle.” the words, softly spoken sent ice down the General’s back. He dropped his head for a second considering, then in his soft Texas drawl answered.

“Are you certain, Selmac?” his gut clenched, his ulcer stabbing at him, promising another visit to the infirmary. He didn’t take his eyes off his friend’s face, hoping beyond hope that this wasn’t their only option.

It was Jacob who answered, “George, it’s the only way. The Tok’Ra have tried, your own teams have met with no success. IF we are going to succeed against Anubis, we NEED these people.”

Jack O’Neill started to speak, but was forestalled by Hammond’s quiet acquiescence. Confusion reigned around the table as Hammond stood; he opened the door to the Briefing Room and spoke softly to the Airman standing guard.

He rejoined the group at the table and spoke again to Jacob. “You realize that I’m not even sure they will respond.”

Jacob nodded. There was an emotion in his eyes that no one could place. “It would be their right.”

Jack could take it no longer, “Excuse me, General, but what are we talking about here?”

General Hammond’s answer was cut off by the opening of the door. The airman entered carrying a black laptop computer. He placed it in front of General Hammond, and retreated back into the hallway. Hammond looked at the laptop like it was a snake about to bite him.

“George, would you rather I do it?” Jacob asked only increasing the confusion around the table. O’Neill shifted in his chair obviously impatient for answers; Carter was looking between her father and the General trying to read the byplay between them.

Hammond shook his head. “No, if we are going to do this, I had best be the one to…” he lifted the laptop screen and turned on the computer. For a moment, the boot up screen flickered, and then the desktop appeared. The standard windows desktop with only a few programs shown. He turned the screen so that others could see his keystrokes. He opened a program that none of them recognized, MIRC. The screen took a moment to load and as it did so, he accessed a folder.

“Are you absolutely sure Jacob?” he asked for the last time as the screen began to load, data moving too fast for the watching team to read it. Jacob nodded. With that nod, Hammond typed in a command. A screen appeared, the lines of a conversation became apparent, and a list of names.

Hammond didn’t hesitate but typed in one word.

DRX: Mindcrime

The result was immediate. There was a flurry of script and suddenly the room was empty of all by the name Sairys and DrX. The members of SG-1, thoroughly confused, leaned forward to read what was on the screen. Hammond hadn’t indicated that this was private, but instead had turned the screen where they could see it.

Sairys: what the FUCK do you want?

Hammond flinched then replied. ‘Need to talk.’

Hammond quirked his eyebrow and looked at Jacob. Jacob nodded.

Hammond closed out the programs and turned off the computer. He sat back in his seat heavily. Jacob met his eyes.

“You realize what this means?” Hammond said softly.

“My affairs are in order.” Jacob said with a tight smile. “have been for quite sometime.”

“Would some care to tell us what exactly is going on?” O’Neill’s voice was cold and irritated. “Just what was that all about?”

Jacob answered. “Twenty years ago, there was an ‘accident’. An experiment went wrong in Area 51. General Hammond and I were indirectly…”

Hammond hmpfed emphatically. “Be honest, Jacob, we WERE responsible and they paid the price.”

“Colonel, I’ll send you the files on it. Easier if you read it.” Hammond said rising swiftly. “This briefing is over.” his departure forestalled any further conversation. Jacob watched him leave, sadness in his eyes.

O’Neill turned his eyes to Jacob. “Jake?” the Tok’Ra Selmac answered.

“They have never forgiven themselves, O’Neill. They would have left them in peace, but their unique ‘abilities’ are required for us to succeed.”

“Selmac, just what the hell is going on?” Carter asked. Her voice was strained and her eyes worried. The Tok’Ra smiled sadly but gently at her.

“The files will explain, Sam.” he said, then he too left the room. The members of SG-1 looked at each other.

“Did you all see what this ‘person’ said?” Daniel asked. “He said that he should have killed them when he had the chance.”

“Indeed, there appears to be some animosity between the General and this ShadoSensei.” Teal’c agreed.

“Ya think?” O’Neill said sarcastically. The Jaffa merely raised an eyebrow at the sarcasm. Any further conversation was interrupted but the entrance of an airman carrying a computer disc. He handed it to O’Neill then retreated. O’Neill leaned forward and pulled the laptop to himself. “Let’s see what this is all about.”

Hours later, the SG-1 team sat back in their seats. “Holy shit.”

“Indeed, DanielJackson.”

The atmosphere at SGC for the next few days was strained to say the least. General Hammond didn’t speak to anyone and refused to meet with the members of SG-1. He spent his time sequestered in his office. Since the Briefing, the team had been put on stand-by, which meant that none of them could leave the base. Daniel was filling his time catching up on a few translations brought in by other teams, O’Neill moaning in his office trying to catch up on his reports (much hated things that they were) Teal’c training the new recruits and Sam, working on some pieces of tech they had found yet hadn’t figured out. Although they were occupied, the thoughts they shared were about this mysterious Circle they were waiting for. The files they had read only fueled their speculations, and concerns, for contained in them were the threats uttered by the mysterious Shadosensei.

It was on the morning of the fifth day that the tension was finally broken. The call came from Hammond for the team to meet him in the Control Room. They met up in the hallway leading to the Room, each out of breath from jogging through the corridors, even Teal’c was slightly winded. They didn’t speak but moved into the room.

Hammond was standing in front of the security screens. His eyes glued to the monitor for the front gate. “They are here.”

All eyes turned to the view. Six identical black cars bearing identical plates lined up waiting to be allowed entry. The phone rang and Hammond answered. He spoke briefly, eyes never leaving the monitor, giving them access to the complex. The camera panned to follow the cars through the gate. Daniel whistled slightly under his breath.

“Nice cars.” he said to no one in particular. “This year’s model if I’m not mistaken. GTO’s.”

The camera switched to the parking lot, where the cars parked side by side. The team found themselves holding their breaths as the doors opened and one by one, the mysterious members of the Circle came into view.

Four women and two men. Two of the women were Dr. Frasier’s size and dark haired. The other two were taller, closer to the men in height; one was a blonde and the other a brunette. The two men were both close to six feet tall if not taller, one dark haired and the other had light brown hair. They were dressed identically, black jeans, black shirts, long black dusters, leather from the looks, even the sunglasses were identical. Dark black and expensive. The shortest dark haired woman took the lead, heading toward the entrance, with the others arranging themselves behind her in a semi circle. A stray shaft of sunlight turned her hair into the color of dried blood. Not a brunette, a red head, O’Neill thought to himself. The same shaft of sunlight glinted coldly on metal, catching his attention.

“Whoa.” he said softly. He pointed to the backs now in full view of the parking lot cam… “swords.”

Sure enough, carried in sheaths strapped across each back, the team could see the hilts of ronin blades. They exchanged uneasy glances, the words of the reports and the threats echoing in each mind. Only Hammond seemed unaffected. The team watched as their guests made their way into the complex. The Circle didn’t speak, didn’t look at anyone but made their way silently through the halls and into the elevators. At the checkpoints, they didn’t halt, the guards seemingly oblivious to their existence. As they passed through the detectors, SG-1 held their breaths expecting the alarms to sound. Yet only silence. Teal’c and O’Neill exchanged concerned looks over the heads of Daniel and Carter. Hammond moved glancing at his watch. “0928.” he spoke as the doors to the elevator opened. “Right on time.”

0900

Shadosensei~ Hi guys. Sorry we had to see each other this way. God I have missed you all.

The cars pulled into the parking lot. Doors opened and the travelers climbed out. Despite weary bones and stiff muscles, none of them stretched.

Shadosensei~ we’re being watched.

Shado taking the lead began to walk to the entrance of the mountain complex. The others followed in a semi circle behind her.

The six entered the hallways, and began the trek into the depths of the complex. They didn’t halt at the checkpoints or the scanners but continued until they reached the control room. The door slid open.

On To Chapter Two