CHAPTER 22

 “VIP floor,” was the answer the security man gave to the microphone that was sown into his sleeve. The man on the other end of the radio was in the nerve center of the casino. It was a room that would have fit right in on a Federation Starship. The computers and video screens in the Security Center monitored everything in four casinos. The man who had called the security guard on the floor was watching one of those monitors as he told the man, “you have an unauthorized coming up the elevator.”

    

“Roger that,” the security agent replied before turning to his fellow guards and saying, “got to be that stupid kid that's been causing all that trouble downstairs.” 

 The two other guards smiled and drew revolvers from the inside of their coats. This kid had beaten up a couple of friends of theirs and they were looking forward to repaying the debt. They rushed down the hall and heard the elevator doors opening. When they turned a hall corner they saw the kid just standing by the elevator and looking confused. Maybe he was lost? Finally, when the kid saw the guns pointing at him he then jumped back into the elevator. The guards rushed to catch him before the doors closed. Unfortunately for them they made it. The basic problem with their plan, they realized only too late, was that there was no elevator to jump into. It was one floor down and soon they got a close examination of this fact as they landed on the cars roof. They did not get back up.

Little Jack swung back off the cable he had been hanging on to in the open shaft. He looked down and saw the guards moaning and squirming but, still alive. He had stopped the elevator one floor down, climbed up to this floor, and opened the doors manually. Now, Jack closed the doors and hung and out of order sign on them. No one would be coming up this way for the time being. As he walked off, almost as a parting thought, he mumbled, “watch that first step guys.”

 There was little time to rejoice in a small victory that even Jack was surprised had really worked. Now he had other concerns. As he ran for the room where they were holding Cassie he could hear a horde of reinforcements running towards him. He looked for a place to duck but then realized that the cameras were all over the hallway. At first, when Little Jack began his plan, he had used the camera's to his advantage by causing a linked series of highly visible disasters that served as a diversion. That part of the plan was the most fun and consisted of kicking the ass of one or two security guards who had obviously never considered the fact that a teen age kid was also a trained commando. Now the camera's were no longer working Jack's favor. The bad guys had obviously figured out what was going on and concentrating their efforts in his direction. This revelation caused Jack to mumble as he looked for a hiding place, “Cassie! Anytime would be good!”

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“So what is that thing?”

Janet smiled and tipped her head from side to side. She bounced and crossed her arms, shoving the Zat gun up under her arm, “what is what Mister Jones?”

Tom Jones pointed to the Zat in the hand of Teal’c, “that thing right there.” The singer then reflected, “you know I was in that movie Mars Attacks. Looks kind of like some of the stuff they used.”

Teal’c inquired in a way that sounded as if he were genuinely interested, “is this movie about your planet’s war with Mars?”

Daniel raised an eye brow as he shifted about uncomfortably.  Unlike Janet, he had no idea who Tom Jones was, “excuse me for a minute. You said Mars Attacks? Correct me if I’m wrong but there isn’t anything on Mars to attack is there?”

Carter was busy trying to get a handle on the situation, “they’re just toys. Really we got them for my niece. You can buy them at the gift shop. I bet they really did come from your movie!  Yeah…” Sam thought about it, “that has to be it.”

Tom Jones shrugged and then silently waited for the elevator doors to open. Before they could he became seriously concerned, “you know if I’m missing out on the merchandising of this stuff, and nobody told me, I’m going to be angry.”

Still looking at the crack in the elevator door, Teal’c replied without batting an eye, “indeed. Believe me when I say that I understand your quandary.”  

The doors opened.

Teal’c stepped out and found himself confronted by a horde of security guards with their weapons drawn. They were on the other side of the hall and trying to get another set of elevator doors opened.  

Raising his Zat, Teal’c proclaimed, “kash na rumel! Surrender your weapons or face immediate destruction.”  

The guards did not heed his warning and, as a result, they were quickly enveloped in a field of blue lights that shot through their bodies causing obvious and horrific pain. One guard was still moaning when Teal’c stepped over the stunned bodies. He kicked that man in the head and the moaning ceased. Then the Jaffa looked back to his companions in the elevator, “I believe this is what we call in the world of broadcast radio, the coast is clear.”

 Tom Jones fought to keep his eyes in his head as he stepped out of the elevator. Daniel just shrugged at the guy, “must have put double A’s in there.” Then Danny scolded Sam, “I told you those batteries were too big.”

“Um,” Sam had no idea what Daniel was talking about, “yeah right.”

 She nudged Daniel and pointed down the hall. Teal’c and Janet had already ran that way without hesitation. Before Sam even took two steps her companions came running back. Janet was in the lead and obviously frantic. She grabbed Sam by the arms and shook, “she’s not there Sam! We have to find my baby girl!”

Sam tried to calm the Doctor but it was of little use. Teal’c stepped in and spun Janet around.  “Doctor Frazier before I give you the calming ritual, of Kel Tash Ree, please be aware that I hold the greatest respect for you.”

Janet armed her weapon and the Zat made that funny sound it always did when it uncoiled, “back off Jaffa, I’m packing!”

Tom Jones was simply rubbing his chin and taking all of this in. It was at this point they all noticed him standing there. Before he could be bombarded with explanations he explained, “hey no need. I’m a Sinatra Fan. Before Frank died he even autographed my left cheek. I can figure out what’s going on here.”

Daniel crossed his arms and waited, “you can?”

Jones pointed down the hall, “service elevator on the other end.”

Everyone ran except for Sam who lagged behind long enough to say, “thanks.”

“No sweat,” Jones noted as he watched the blond vanish around a corner.  He looked at the bodies on the floor and shook his head, “aye chi waa waa.”

Teal’c was the first to reach the service elevator where he waited for his companions to catch up. Then he noted the obvious, “the crude form of vertical transportation seems to be in use.”

Daniel grunted, “they’re moving her.”

Sam was quick to whip out her phone and hit the speed dial, “got to call Skully. They’ll have to intercept. If the Colonel can…  Hello? Agent Mulder? Look they…” After conversing with the FBI man for a moment Sam hung up in frustration, “they’re in there with Benedict right now!”

Teal’c nodded politely, “was that not the plan Major Carter?”

Sam was worried, “Colonel O’Neal’s not with them.”

Daniel’s head dropped in resignation. He mumbled, “how is it we go to Vegas and can’t even find a pair of Jacks.”

The floor indicator for the elevator stopped counting down. The numbers began to increase incrementally and Teal’c pointed this out. They all stood by and waited for the doors to open.  

The power went out.