The Roman Touch [Ant+Harb]

[Harbinger]

"Eh, you know me," he shrugged, "I had to pick up a few things too," he added, wondering when his phone was gonna buzz. "I have a day off and all the fun happens,"

"I know right!" Vala grinned, "Sam was just telling me about this Vorenus guy, sounds a hoot,"

"Right," Daniel replied, unconvinced.

[Anteyra]

"So General O'Neill has allowed us to see them?" Sam raised her eyebrows slightly. Daniel sure was a persuasive guy with Jack.

[Harbinger]

"Yeah, well you and me," he replied, "Doesn't want the iris being tricked with again but you never know when trouble brews around the corner."

"He's only been back here for less than a week and trouble starts," Mitchell added, smirking,

"Comes with the territory," Daniel nodded, "I've already asked for the one in charge..."

"Vorenus," Vala butted in

"Er, Vorenus to be brought to an interrogation room. I'm sure I've read that name somewhere," he replied, frowning.

[Anteyra]

"Ok." Sam stood up, leaving the rest of her lunch behind. "Let's go and see him."

"See ya later, Sam!" Mitchell called, waving his spoon in the air slightly.

[Harbinger]

"Ha, you too," she replied before she left them to be engaged again with Vala.

---

The room was strange and nothing he was used to. The chair seemed ridiculously small when the airman insisted Vorenus on sitting on it. His helmet was on the table, Still, the fact he had been brought here was something. Perhaps Vorenus could actually get somewhere with this people.

[Anteyra]

After a few minutes the door opened and Colonel Samantha Carter walked into the room, followed by her close friend. She looked to the airman and nodded her head, indicating he could leave. The airman looked at her for a second, then at their 'guest' and then left the room, closing the door behind him. Sam watched him leave and once the door had been shut she turned her attention to the man. "How did you disable the Iris?"

[Harbinger]

Vorenus yawned, he was tired and exhausted from recent battle. It had not been an easy battle and it was a bittersweet retreat. So many had needlessly died. He heard the door shift and he stood, his fingertips resting on the tabletop. He glanced back at the guard, watching him leave before he looked at Daniel and Sam. He sat back down as she asked the question.

"We asked around, we didn't know before then what defenses you had to protect your gate. To be honest, I didn't think it was going to work but I couldn't take the chance you would let us come without the long discussion." he said

"I'm a soldier, not a scholar or scientist, what have you. I'm not sure I entirely understand it but it sends out this beam into the portal, detects what's blocking it and unblocks it. I was told it was only temporary, it wouldn't disable it forever."

"As far as I'm told, it was the only one made and we left it behind so it's probably damaged or destroyed by now from all the fire rain," Vorenus tried to explain as best as he was able but he was just a simple soldier. He left all the science play to those better minded for it.

"So you're accustomed to advanced technology then?" Daniel asked, curiously perplexed.

"Something like that, yes sir"

[Anteyra]

"You never even tried to talk to us first." Sam sighed slighty. "And we don't take kindly to people just walking onto our base like that. You obviously know how the Stargate works, so why didn't you go somewhere else as a refuge where you could then try and talk to us?"

[Harbinger]

"We were under fire, I made a decision and I'm not going to waste time on regrets about whether it was the right or wrong one. You want my head for it, go ahead but I made that decision," he replied before frowning. "If I had the time, if my men were not dying like flies around me, we would have hailed you the normal way but by Jupiter's stone... leave home? How can you say such a thing? The Senate would not come to that decision lightly and the people wouldn't go for it." He was looking at them as if they had multiple heads at what Sam had suggested.

"It's our home. Perhaps not the ancestral home but it is our home. We can't abandon it like stale bread. And I don't know how the Stargate works, Tiberius did and he died for it,"

He looked away from them, his fists clenching and unclenching in physical and emotional pain, "The gods piss on me," he was getting nowhere with these people. He looked back at them, "Whoever it is that is killing my people in the thousands, they won't stop with just our world. Does that not worry you, even in the tiniest bit?"

Daniel watched in silence, studying the silver embossed images on the man's breastplate as much as he could see past what was clearly blood and dust. "If you've advanced enough to travel through the gate, surely your weapons are more advanced?"

Lucius looked at Daniel and rubbed his face, "They're not just swords," he said simply before looking back to Sam. "Besides, apart from Cimmeria, we don't know any other place than this "

[Anteyra]

"We have tons of sources out there, they would have warned us if there was a new enemy threatening to destroy everyone. We've heard nothing. So you'll have to forgive us if we don't take your word for it." She paused for a second. "The device you used to disable the iris. Where did you get it from then if you didn't make it? And how did you know what it would do?"

It was as this moment a slight buzz could be heard as Daniel's phone vibrated from getting a text message.

[Harbinger]

"Oh so every little bad guy out there you can spot with eagle eyes?" he raised his voice, pointing to the ceiling in gesture as he continued, getting more frustrated with her as the minutes wore on, "You know every little nook and cranny of the universe, what's in it and where any bad guy is? Has it even occurred to you that the people that did this to us might have evaded your scope? That your spies are not so informed as you might like them to be? Are you that omnipotent?"

Daniel frowned, "Please, there's no need to shout,"

"You haven't even heard me shout," he frowned up at the man before dark eyes swerved back to Sam.

"I never said anything about us not making it. I'm a soldier. Gaius Tiberius was that person, he knew everything about it and he died trying to get us here!" He frowned slightly and then leaned forward with a disbelieving questioning look, "You do know what dead means right?"

Daniel blinked and excused himself for a moment earning himself a look of disapproval from Vorenus. He moved to the door before seeing who it was that had sent it. Smiling slightly, he texted back 'Okay. Will let you know when I am leaving to arrive at yours'. Vorenus continued on his rant, trying to get his point across.

"If Tiberius was here, I'm sure he would love to tell you the ins and outs of the device. the idiot could never keep his mouth shut. And if, by the Gods, Romana is still intact I'd be obliged to bring to you and show all that you would need to know. All is asked is that you at least take a look at our situation before you leave us to di inferni!"

[Anteyra]

Sam sighed and turned, knocking on the door to get the guard's attention. the door opened and he walked back in. "Escort him back to the holding cells." She took one last look at Vorenus before looking at Daniel, giving him the look that said they were done for the moment. The man wasn't being very helpful, and in his current state she wasn't going to stay any more and listen to him.

Out on the corridor she turned to look at Daniel, having noticed his smile when he read his text. "Who was your message from?"

[Harbinger]

He looked between them and scowled as she went for the guard. He sighed heavily, leaning back in the seat looking up at the ceiling, doing his best to try and reign in his temper. However, this woman seemed shorter than most planks. The guard returned and touched Vorenus' shoulder when he didn't move. Sighing, he waved the man's hand away before hes rose, picking up his helmet, muttering.

Daniel titled his head slightly understanding most of what the Roman was saying and waited before answering, "Oh, someone I bumped into today. We were after the same book, so I offered to share,"

"I'm somewhat concerned he's telling the truth you know,"

[Anteyra]

Sam sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, Daniel. We've had others come asking for help from us and it's all turned out to be a ruse. One great big lie."

[Harbinger]

"And we've had it the other way too," Daniel replied, hands going into his front trousers pockets, "Whoever it is, he's spooked. He said 'di inferni' which the Romans used when referencing their Gods of the Underworld. I'm sure I've read his name somewhere..." he frowned.

[Anteyra]

Sam sighed again. "Why don't you see if you can get the address of his planet off of either him or his two friends?" She placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's her name?"

[Harbinger]

"Hm," he nodded, "I think it's better if we let him and his men sleep first but all right," he moved to leave before being stopped. "Taryn Donovan. She's at university, doing Archaeology. Coincidence Sam, nothing more," he replied.

[Anteyra]

Sam just smiled. "All right. See you tomorrow." She turned and walked off down the corridor.

[Harbinger]

Daniel watched her for a moment before shaking his head before leaving himself, deeming it fit that the three Romans were at least fed and watered before he left for Taryn's. For the most part, he shared Sam's concerns but Daniel's heart was the most charitable out of the lot. Sighing, he collected what he needed from his office before leaving for Taryn's. He got into his car, sent her text and drove off.

[Anteyra]

When Taryn received the text she jumped up and began to try and tidy her house up a little bit. Books, papers, magazines, pictures were strewn all over the place. It was in essence, a complete tip and unsuitable for guests.

[Harbinger]

The drive wasn't that long and about an hour later he pulled up outside where she had said she was staying. He collected his things and made for her door. he presse the buzzer

[Anteyra]

She jumped up and opened the door. "Mr Jackson! Please come in."

[Harbinger]

"Daniel, please," he corrected softly before nodding and moved inside passing her. "How's the studying going? Bars the hindrance of no book, that is"

[Anteyra]

"Daniel." She nodded her head in acknowledgement. "It's nearly all there. I just need a couple of hours with that book. You do have it with you don't you?"

[Harbinger]

"But, of course," he replied, "It's why I'm here isn't it." he smiled, clutching his papers and books.

[Anteyra]

She smiled back, leading him to the room where her table was with various books and papers were. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

[Harbinger]

He followed her and raised a brow at the laden table, not unlike his own both at work and at home. "Er, coffee, thank you. No milk," he replied, nodding his gratitude. He managed to find a spot clear enough to put his own work and and he brought out the wanted book.

[Anteyra]

"I'll be right back." She said and moved into the kitchen. A couple of minutes later she came back with a tray, two mugs and a plate of biscuits. "I can't thank you enough for this. It means a lot to me."

[Harbinger]

He looked around after she disappeared. He turned when she reappeared, "No, it's no problem. No reason why we can't share."

"So, what's your essay all on?" he asked, genuinely interested.

[Anteyra]

"Mainly Ancient Egypt. But there is also a little but on the Romans too." She sat down on the opposite side from Daniel. "I've been on several digs with my father, but it's only recently I decided to really go for it."