Episode Eighteen: The French Connection

[calvin]

2070
D9W-814
Clone Complex

Taking a careful breath in through his teeth, Calvin silently – which was strange for him – walked along with the duo Marions (Tin Man and a cylon…er…clone), Toto, and their brave and valiant leader – the Cowardly Lion…er…Cromin. Whatever. That nickname think was harder to keep track of whilst one’s mind was swimming in what felt like fatty, brown, warm, and mildly steamy…gravy. Not smooth gravy either – the chunky type, with little bits of the food that made the gravy still floating around in it, in the form of ominous gray masses. Mm-mm-good. In all honesty, that description was a little off. Add a super game of twister, and it was a bit closer.

Heavily blinking, Calvin slowly exhaled again, trying to keep his mind away from the gaping hole in him. It was only a wound – a flesh wound – that would hold him up for a bit, right? Oh frak it. Technically a bullet through the head was a ‘flesh’ wound, since the flesh was injured as well. That was a stupid figure of speech. Whoever thought of it deserved that exact treatment, and maybe they would think twice about what a ‘flesh’ wound was. God. Frakking idiots.

Glancing over at the silent group, Calvin couldn’t help but wonder what they were all thinking. Especially the clone. Did clones think? Hmm…

Back on topic, the computer-man felt overheated. As if he was slowly being roasted within an oven. The hunk of probably a substance that resembled lead within his arm, simply could not be helping with the fever issue. It was still in there, and frak did it hurt. Best of all – Tin Man wouldn’t dope him up with morphine. Why? Because he was so damn important. Next time he was so hiring a stunt double.

Maybe if he just took a nap it would all be better…
But he couldn’t – they were now at a cave, and everyone knows that exciting things always happen in caves. Especially to impeccably lucky people, like SD-4.

Oh look – France’s flag.
"Welcome home, Two Four Nine, I see you were successful in releasing your siblings, and brought our guests."
“Hello there.”
And he waved with his good arm.
Then tuned out. Wow…ceilings are interesting. Hearing French, however, his mind snapped back into action.
"Ah, l'original, bien c'est bien sûr intéressant."
“I want a Calvin clone to speak binary too,” Riley whispered under his breath, having no idea what the guy said. If his brain was working at full power, he could have tried to guess of looked over at Lars from the translation…but that took brainpower.
"You're not one of them are you? You're part of the French rogue organization, you are responsible for all of this!"
"You catch on quick. Two Four Nine, why don't you help our friends with their injured."

Blink.
“What?”
"Mind if I borrow your ruby slippers, Dorothy?” Tin Man asked, Calvin nodded as he rose a brow – not really sure what she was referring to until she stole his hardly-used sidearm, "No one comes near us, this operation is over, you are a disgrace to France!"
“Disgrace? It is the Americans that are the disgrace, they think they are the only ones that can do anything in the galaxy, as well on Earth."
“Oi – I’m not a fan of the Yanks either – but if you didn’t notice, some of us ain’t from there. So please just…” he paused, as the room decided to dance a little bit, “shut the frak up, get off your frakking high horse, and stop being a Sci-fi super villain. It doesn’t become of ya. You’re a boring human or something. Go home and stop annoying people away from your home. Contain your annoyity,” he paused, “Annoyiness? Annoy…ing…ish…ness…” Calvin bit his lip, feeling his mind go more. His body wanted to take a load off, but he wasn’t about to let it. Right?

As Riley opened his mouth to continue his rant, CL [cowardly lion] decided to jump in there, "Holster your weapon Lieutenant, lets not get really pissed off. We have a job to do here. Nothing happens to Finey, secure him and have him ready for evac; he is going back with us, I want to personally hand him over to the top Brass. He's got a lot of explaining to do" now Calvin got some of the action, "I believe a base like this should have a self destruct mechanism. I doubt Finey here is going to volunteer the codes, so that's where you come in Riley. But before you blow this place to hell, copy whatever you can from here or if you think it would be wise to carry some of the hardware like the hard drives or the computers it self let me know. We have some young marines here who are well able to do the Job" and he turned back to Tin Man, "Walk with me Lieutenant. Lets get into Finey's quarters and see if we can get any intel out of there and oh clean up any of your look-alikes we might run into. I see you are not in the mood to have anymore of you running around and I agree with you. Lets do this now before some top brass start requesting for us to bring a clone along with us ... and oh Riley, these marines will make sure you are ok. Lets go, grab an assault rifle from one of the marines over there."

Calvin blinked, hearing SD-4’s back up enter.
The civilian frowned, “Blow the place and get any stuff that seems frakking important,” he repeated, “Okay, whatever.”

Riley turned away from CL and Tin-Man, looking over at the Marines that now had hands on the mildly unstable man.
“Oh hi there,” Calvin greeted, quite obviously a bit out of his mind…but when was he in it? Pulling his clothing away from his wound, Calvin grunted slightly – especially when he saw the needle.
“Oi – no,” his mind oddly clear now, “Get the frak away from me, or I swear to God that I’ll—”

Biting his lip, they injected around the area, before rather impressive tweezers were pulled out of nowhere, “You’ve got to be frakking kidding me. I will pass out if you do that now. Let me blow the place – then remove the bullet. Okay? Please?” his voice desperate, glad to feel the numbing working a bit in his shoulder.

Helping him over to the computer, the geek set off – automatically going into his natural state – fingers flying over keys as the Marines helped in what ways they could. Finding what he needed, he pulled out an alien-enhanced jump-drive, burning what he needed to it, before finding the oddly convenient ‘self destruct’ sequence.

Hearing some gun-fire just outside, Calvin, glanced over his shoulder, looking at the Marine by his side, “Can you ask Marion when we need to blow this place?” since his earpiece was long-since smashed.

Looking over at Lars, Calvin smiled, “This is almost over, Toto – and you’re officially my sidekick,” he grinned, rubbing his shoulder slightly. The bullet was happy inside. Just leave it. Taking it out would only make it mad. And probably make him pass out.

<Tag YOU and YOU.>

[Lars Nyquist]

2112
D9W-814
Clone Complex

(OOC: I ... ah ... changed the time stamp, because we suddenly seemed to have 70 minutes in an hour... )

Lars felt as though he were waking from some sort of bizarre dream. Clones of Marion? Calvin being shot? Things going on around him that he could barely comprehend?

Not for the first time that he had signed onto the Stargate programme, Lars Nyquist wondered what the hell had been wrong with the recruiting officer. Why had they looked at Lars's record and determined that a peacemaker, ambassador and diplomat with no military experience whatsoever (other than running extremely fast from the army husband of one of his many liaisons) was perfect for this setup?

It beat the hell out of him.

"This is almost over, Toto – and you’re officially my sidekick."

Reaching out an anxious hand, Lars squeezed Calvin on the non-wounded shoulder. "Can't think of any place I'd rather be," he replied with a faint grin. "Just hang in there, you're going to be fine."

It all sounded rather hollow, but at least he was trying to encourage Calvin onwards. The computer specialist looked ready to pass out at any given time and whilst Lars wasn't adverse to slinging the scrawny man over his shoulder if necessary, he'd really rather not if at all possible.

<Tag: all>

[Robert "Scarecrow" Cromin]

2170 - 2112
D9W-814
Clone Complex
Finey's quarters

Captain Cromin made his way to Finey's quarters, everything was elegantly placed and it had a very french feeling about it. Images of Historical French leaders on the wall and on the table was a book called monsieur monsieur! Cromin the room first before he started to admire the elegance of the room. Rich leather sofas, thick french rugs from montreal, it reminded them of Earth.

Cromin woke up from his awe of the elegance in the room "Alright I have daydreamed enough, and like I always say, this is neither the time nor the place for all of this. Lieutenant, let's search this place and get out of here"

As he searched, he found a hidden compartment in Finey's desk. Inside he found a laptop there and some documents. He got the Intel they found and they started to head back to the others when they were ambushed. There was an ensuing fire fight that lasted for a little bit but the marines came in to support them and they killed all of the opposing clone force. They carefully made their way back to where the other people were and Cromin told Riley to set the self destruct timer for 30 mins while they bailed out; and also while he was at it to lock out anybody else from getting into the system to stop the bomb from going off. As they all finished up Captain Cromin said "Alright people, lets finish up whatever we have got left and let's go ladies, we are not here on vacation. In about 30 mins thanks to Riley this place is going to be lit up like the north pole on Christmas eve. Everybody move out, as soon as you are done, let's go!"

<Tag all>

[savage]

2120
D9W-814
Clone Complex

Marion had helped with the search in utter silence. She was angry, more then she should be, at the whole entire situation. If she would to allow herself to say anything, she feared she may snap at the wrong people. She felt, betrayed, that some of her people, people from France, would do such a thing as this.

Marion and Cromin finished up with the search and headed out of the complex. Several puddle jumpers were waiting outside, being loaded with people as stuff. Marion headed over to the one that she could hear Calvin in. The medics were finally trying to treat his bullet wound properly. Oxford, who had finally woken up was in the Jumper as well, the whole team was. They were getting off this nightmare. Personally, Marion was actually glad to be going back to the tin can Iliad.

Marion couldn't wait to sleep. The day had been long, too long. The did have some fun in the beginning, all the talk of the Wizard of Oz and all, she smiled at the thought. Marion moved into the Jumper and found a spot out of the way were she could sit. The team was loaded up, and Marion could help but click her boots together three times, "Il n'y a aucun endroit comme la maison."

[THE END]