Page 57 of Yankee in the Wind

“From what I could piece together, they’re trying to build a massive quantum computer using our brain waves.”

Fox and Michelle gasped.

“What does a quantum computer do?” Lilly asked the two computer geeks.

Fox and Michelle exchanged a look. Then Fox looked at Lilly, “Not sure how to explain it, but basically a quantum computer is much more advanced than any other computer, and can compute data with a speed and efficiency that’ll make a regular PC look like an abacus.”

Michelle nodded. “Researchers are speculating that a quantum computer might be able to predict outcomes of events that haven’t happened yet…”

“…and if Smith is scanning the brains of Stargate agents,” Fox continued, “to feed this data to a quantum computer, then we must assume that the computer they’re building will be able to make predictions that are a hundred percent accurate.”

“However, to make it accurate,” Michelle said, continuing Fox’s thought process, “they need a larger sample size.”

Everybody knew what that meant.

“They’ll have to scan as many brains of precognitives as possible,” Lilly guessed.

Fox nodded. “And whoever has control of this quantum computer will have unprecedented power.”

“Nobody can be allowed to wield this much power,” Jack said.

“We’ll have to stop them from building that computer,” Ace added.

“At least you blew up the facility. You destroyed the machine,” Tiger said. “That’ll slow Smith down. And he’s lost all the data he’s collected so far.”

Lilly shook her head. “Smith snatched the hard drive just before he used me as a human shield. I saw him put it in his pocket. He still has the data.”

Ace nodded. “They can rebuild the machine, if they don’t already have another one in reserve. Smith won’t stop until he’s got what he wants.”

“We have to stop Smith,” Jack said. “Cut off the head of the snake.” He looked at Michelle. “Anything on the satellite images of where Smith was fleeing to?”

“I’m afraid not. He left in a red sedan, but he was out of the satellite’s range after a few miles. Fox and I are already combing through traffic cameras in the area. Nothing so far. He probably ditched the car as soon as he could, and fled.”

“If he reached a train station or metro station, he could be anywhere by now,” Fox added.

“At least we know now what he looks like,” Jack said.

Lilly noticed Tiger press a hand to his temple. Concerned, she addressed him, “Tiger, does your head hurt? Are you in pain? I can give you something for that.”

He forced a smile. “I don’t want any meds. It’ll just dull my senses. There’s something I’m forgetting. Something important.”

“About Smith?” Jack asked eagerly.

“Yeah, something he said on the phone. He spoke to somebody.” Tiger closed his eyes.

“Take deep breaths,” Lilly said, trying to calm him. “In and out, just breathe.”

Everybody in the living room fell silent.

“Breathe,” Lilly continued. “Don’t force it. It’ll come to you.”

Tiger took a few more breaths, then he finally opened his eyes again. “I remember now. Smith talked to somebody on the phone. He called him Mr. Jones. He reassured him that the project was on track. Judging by the way he spoke to him, I think Jones is Smith’s boss. Smith isn’t the big brains behind the operation.”

“That changes things,” Jack said. “We can’t kill Smith when we find him. At least not right away. We need him to lead us to Jones.”

Lilly looked at the four Stargate agents. They looked determined now. Somehow, they would find Smith and Jones, and stop their nefarious plan.

“Tomorrow, we hatch a plan,” Ace said. “Get some rest tonight, all of you. We’ve got lots of work ahead of us.”