The being who manipulated all these events could see from different points of view.
He could see from the perspective of the one called "O'Neill."
Standing on the transporter platform of the U.S.S. "Enterprise," Colonel Jack O'Neill casually turned toward the men at the station and offered a simple greeting.
"Howdy," he said with a sideways wave.
Pushing a button, Montgomery Scott instantly summoned help.
"Security to the transporter room," he said in his distinctive Scottish brogue.
The four figures had already stepped down from the platform. Of course the man next to Scotty was already pointing a phaser.
O'Neill waved a pointed finger. "I don't think your little toy gun will work," he said.
Next to him, a man in glasses looked mystified.
"You're Scotty," he said.
The engineer frowned. "You'll refer to me as 'Chief Engineer,' if you please."
"Bit of a mouthful, don't you think?" O'Neill said as he glanced around.
"Who are you?" Scotty demanded.
Still looking mystified, the one in glasses pointed as he made the introductions. "I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Jack, Sam and Teal'c." In addition to the colonel, Daniel pointed to an impossibly gigantic man and a blond-haired woman who looked almost as mystified and concerned as Daniel did.
O'Neill repeated the sideways wave. "Howdy. Again."
The large one with the gold medallion on his forehead, Teal'c, offered a slight bow of his bald head.
"Greetings, Chief Engineer Scotty."
"Hello," the one called Sam said nervously. Her uniform name tag read "MAJ. CARTER."
"Hello yourselves," Scotty said. "Don't step any closer."
"We're peaceful explorers," Daniel explained. His eyebrows went up as he held out a hand. "Much like you aboard the 'Enterprise.'" Here, he frowned. "If, in fact, that's where we are."
"I don't know how that could be," Carter said.
"Indeed."
Scotty wore a look that was skeptical yet friendly. "If you're so peaceful, would you be so kind as to place your weapons on the floor?"
"Sure. No problem." As he gingerly squatted to put his weapon down, Daniel quietly spoke to his companions. "Guys, go ahead. It'll be okay."
Standing firm, O'Neill looked almost as skeptical as Scotty.
"You know what, Daniel? I don't think so. I'm thinking someone disguised as a guy from 'Star Trek' might actually mean us harm."
"Indeed."
"I'm with you, sir."
"Jack, guys. Let's show him we're peaceful."
"No, Daniel."
"Please."
"Take it easy, Daniel. I won't actually shoot him. Unless he does something stupid. You're not going to do something stupid, are you, 'Star Trek' guy?"
"You first," Scotty said. With a look that was now skeptical and harsh, the chief engineer nodded. "How exactly did you activate the transporter without us?"
"We didn't," Daniel said.
"We're not sure what happened," Carter said. "We've actually been getting thrown around into a lot of different places."
"Yes, a lot," O'Neill said. "Kind of annoying, actually."
"We are not responsible for the involuntary activation of your transporter system," Teal'c said.
"Maybe you need someone to warn you about unexpected stuff like that," O'Neill said. "We've got a guy like that at our base. His name's Walter. Great guy."
As a door whisked open, men in red shirts burst in pointing phasers.
O'Neill spoke calmly. "Like I said before, those toy guns won't actually do anything."
A moment later, O'Neill was stunned, and Teal'c had to carry him to the brig. When O'Neill came to, he thought there was an open exit but he discovered, in a painful manner, there was a force field.
Shortly thereafter, a tall dark-haired man with pointed ears appeared on the other side of the force field.
"Greetings," he said.
O'Neill raised his eyebrows. "And you are?"
"I am Spock. First officer of the 'Enterprise.'"
"No, I mean who are you really? Because there's no way I'm believing characters from a T-V show have taken us prisoner." O'Neill waved his hand. "This is like when the Goa'uld tried to convince me I was in the year twenty-seventy-seven. Just more fake."
"This does seem real," Daniel said, staring at the Vulcan.
Spock lifted an eyebrow. "Most curious. You doubt my authenticity, just as I doubt yours." With a slight frown, he crossed his arms. "I have consulted our historical records and learned of 'S-G-One,' a team of intergalactic explorers that operated in secret from a base on Earth. Late twentieth century, early twenty-first century. Their activities helped pave the way for the Federation many years later."
O'Neill spread his hands. "Happy to help out. Now, mind letting us out of here?"
Once again, Spock lifted an eyebrow. "Logically, if you are S-G-One, how could you be here in this time period? And if I were to release you, where would you go? How would you return to your own time?"
"He's got a point, sir," Carter said.
"We'll think of something. And you're the one who's phony, pal!" O'Neill shouted.
Now Spock wore a slightly wide-eyed look. "I am quite real, I assure you."
"Well, we're real, too. So that puts us at a, what would you call it, Daniel?"
Daniel wore a slight wince. "An impasse?"
"Yeah, one of those."
"Fascinating," the Vulcan whispered as he turned to go.
"Hey, Spock?" Daniel said.
Spock turned back. "Yes?"
"It's a great honor to meet you."
The Vulcan lifted an eyebrow then turned and walked away.
Once he was gone, O'Neill said, "Gee, Daniel, why didn't you just ask for his autograph?"
Daniel shrugged. "What can I say, Jack? He's Spock."
"That doesn't make sense, Daniel," Carter said. "How could a person from a T-V show exist, and know about us?"
"I get that, Sam," Daniel said. "But he seemed very real. I couldn't help but be impressed."
"Then you must be thrilled to meet me."
They turned to find the captain of the "Enterprise" in his gold uniform. Or perhaps only the appearance of such.
"Ah," O'Neill said. "You must be the fellow pretending to be Captain Kirk."
"I am Captain Kirk," the man said sharply. "The question is: who are you?"
As he made the introductions, O'Neill pointed to others in the group. "I'm Luke Skywalker, this is Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Han Solo."
"Whoever you are, you're not S-G-One."
"Oh, but we are. Last time I checked anyway. And we've already been through this with the tall guy with the pointed ears." Holding out a flat hand, O'Neill gestured tall then pointed to his left ear.
"Mister Spock is my science officer, and you will speak of him with the proper respect. Is that clear?"
O'Neill made a face. "Bossy little thing, aren't you?"
"You will also speak to me with the proper respect. Now, who are you? Explain yourself, mister!"
"Like Dorothy, we just want to go home. Is there a good witch named Glinda we might talk to?"
"I want to know who you are!"
O'Neill stepped forward. "I told you who we are. Now, how about letting us out of this little science fiction convention? And while you're at it, do something about that little bit of hair over your forehead." The colonel waved a finger over his own forehead.
As Kirk sighed, Daniel stepped forward. "It's like we told Scotty. We're peaceful explorers. Much like you and your crew."
"Peaceful explorers. But you carry weapons."
"As do you and those aboard the 'Enterprise.' Like you, we only fight when we have to."
Kirk grinned. "You make an excellent point, Mister...?"
"Daniel Jackson. This is Jack, Sam, and Teal'c."
"Howdy," O'Neill said, once again offering the sideways wave.
"And we are a lot like you and your crew," Daniel said.
As Kirk considered this, Carter stepped forard. "Pardon me for asking, sir, but why would the captain of a starship, if that's who you are, personally visit some prisoners in the brig?"
"Major Carter makes an excellent point," Teal'c said.
O'Neill folded his arms. "She's got you there, 'Captain Kirk.'"
The brown-haired man grinned. "I can't help but be intrigued when I learn a group of intergalactic explorers from Earth's past shows up on my ship." He shrugged. "I had to see for myself." He then frowned. "And you could be a possible threat."
"Well, we aren't," O'Neill said. "So will you let us out now?"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Not until I know more."
"To be honest, I'd do the same." O'Neill waved his hand. "Well, it's been nice chatting with you. Now if you'll run along, we have a full day ahead of us here in the brig."
Kirk's grin returned. "Don't go anywhere."
"No promises."
Not long after Kirk left, O'Neill pointed to the new presence in the room. "Daniel, correct me if I'm wrong, but the pale smiling fellow in the corner; he wasn't there just a second ago, right?"
"No, Jack, he wasn't."
"You are indeed correct, O'Neill."
"I see him, too, sir."
O'Neill raised his eyebrows at the new arrival. "And you are?"
The pale one had a face like a skull, and as he smiled, his teeth seemed to multiply.
"Who, little old me?" he said, patting his pale chest. "Why, I'm here to help you escape, of course."
"That's swell. And why exactly would you do that?"
The smile got bigger. "So you can take over the bridge of the 'Enterprise,' of course."
"Of course."
Next thing they knew, members of SG-1 were strolling through the corridors of (to them) the fake "Enterprise." Well, not exactly strolling. More like sticking to the walls and keeping a watch out for anyone.
Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention? The pale guy arranged the return of their weapons. As a result, they grabbed a dark-haired guy in blue.
"Need to get to the bridge," O'Neill said. "And my weapon is not set for stun."
"Although mine is," Teal'c said as he held his staff weapon up.
"Still painful," O'Neill said.
One corridor and a turbolift ride later, they were on the bridge of the "Enterprise." And naturally they appeared quite threatening. Invisible to all present, the pale being giggled at the sight: SG-1 hijacking the "Enterprise!"
"Weapons on the floor," O'Neill ordered. Once the phasers clattered to the floor, the colonel gave further orders. "Take us to a planet with a Stargate."
"Sir?" Sulu said.
From the science station, Spock looked stern as he folded his arms.
"Colonel O-Neill, if that is indeed who you are, think this through logically. A Stargate cannot return you to your own time."
"It'll do for a start," O'Neill said.
Next to Spock, Kirk held out beseeching hands. "Surrender now, and we'll try to help you. We'll figure this out together."
Captain Kirk was unable to say any more because he and Spock vanished.
From his station, Chekov angrily rose.
"What have you done with Captain Kirk and Mister Spock?" he demanded.
"We had nothing to do with their disappearance," Teal'c stated solemnly.
"I just met the guys," O'Neill said.
"Trust me, Chekov, Sulu, Uhura, everyone," Daniel said. "We mean you no harm."
"Then why are the captain and Mister Spock gone?" Sulu asked.
Carter provided her answer. "It was probably done by whoever or whatever sent us here."
"Which means your Captain Kirk and Mister Spock could be anywhere," Teal'c said.
Where they were, Kirk and Spock stood with their backs to an activated Stargate. They faced a bald man in an Air Force uniform, one who spoke to them in an angry manner.
"Who the devil are you two?"
Still glancing around uncertainly, Kirk spoke. "I'm Captain Kirk, and this is my science officer Mister Spock."
"Sure you are. And I'm Darth Vader!" The bald man gestured to two armed men standing nearby. "Lock them up until they're ready to tell us who they really are."
On the bridge of the "Enterprise," Daniel whispered to his friend.
"Jack, are you sure this was a good idea? I mean, someone you've never met before tells you to take over the 'Enterprise,' and you do it?"
O'Neill muttered back. "Normally, I don't take advice from a pale guy who shows up out of nowhere. But it seemed like the best alternative at the time, Daniel."
"Maybe I can help." A grinning dark-haired man stepped forward and extended his hand. "Doctor Leonard McCoy."
With a slight frown, Daniel shook his hand. "We appreciate your help, Doctor McCoy. But aren't you worried about your friends?"
McCoy waved his hand. "Jim and Spock? They're very capable. They've disappeared before. They'll come back. They always do."
"I suppose that's true," Daniel said, adjusting his glasses.
McCoy continued to grin. "I've also been with the 'Enterprise' long enough to know things aren't always what they seem." He pointed back and forth. "Look at you four. You don't strike me as the alien invader hijacker types."
"We aren't," Carter said.
Here, Daniel quickly introduced everyone.
"See?" McCoy said. "You make polite introductions. Not something real hijackers would do. And you, Colonel O-Neill, don't seem anything like Khan."
"Well, thank you, Leonard."
"And you, Doctor Jackson, don't seem anything like Apollo. No offense."
"None taken."
Teal'c bowed. "We appreciate any assistance, Doctor McCoy."
McCoy wiggled his finger at the big guy. "And you, Mister...Teal'c, is it? You're nothing like Trelayne."
"I must take your word for that, Doctor McCoy."
Smiling broadly, McCoy dropped his arms to his side. "Let's see if we can't find some way to help you."
Carter blinked in confusion. "You want to help us?"
"Like I said, Major Carter: I've been with the 'Enterprise' a long time. I've found direct conflict usually leads to disaster."
"That's very progressive of you, Doctor McCoy," Daniel said.
"Yes. Very forward-thinking," O'Neill said.
"We appreciate it."
"Think nothing of it, Doctor Jackson."
"Please. Call me Daniel."
"Very well, Daniel." McCoy chuckled. "If you are dangerous invaders, you're awfully friendly."
"As are you, Doctor McCoy," Teal'c said, once again bowing.
"So, how did you happen to end up here?" McCoy asked.
Carter's blue eyes were a little wider than usual.. "We went through the Stargate. Then we found ourselves being sent to all kinds of different places. The side of a highway, a busy downtown."
"Next thing we knew, we were in your transporter room," Daniel said, still looking slightly confused.
"Met Scotty. A real peach." O'Neill moved his weapon to his side. "Oh, yeah. We also met this pale guy in the brig. He let us out. Gave us our weapons back. He's a real peach, too."
"Ah," McCoy said with a nod. "Another powerful fellow wreaking havoc. Seems they're always popping up on the 'Enterprise.'"
In a darkened room inside Cheyenne Mountain, Kirk and Spock discussed their situation.
"Spock, what's going on here?"
With his hands behind his back, the Vulcan wore his usual intense look, as if he were concentrating deeply.
"I believe we are inside Cheyenne Mountain. A secret underground base that served as the operations center for the Stargate missions."
"Are you certain, Spock?"
"I cannot have a high degree of certainty, of course, captain. But I do recognize the man we just encountered. His picture was in one of the historical files. General George Hammond."
As he stepped forward, Kirk looked back and forth. "Have we actually gone back in time, or is this some elaborate illusion?"
"It is impossible to know, captain. Any theory or hypothesis at this point would be pure conjecture. Without my tricorder, I cannot even ascertain if what surrounds us is material, let alone its composition, if any." Suddenly, Spock frowned. "Most curious."
"What is it, Spock?"
"According to a declassified report I read, S-G-One once traveled back in time to the year nineteen-sixty-nine."
"That's about the time we helped Gary Seven with his missile crisis."
"Exactly why it was so significiant to me."
"An event that likely would have had repercussions of dramatic proportions," someone said in a clear, cool, crisp voice.
At the sound of the voice, the two men started. An albino stood in the corner, arms crossed, big toothy smile on his skull-like face. And he wore some odd combination of a Starfleet tunic and Stargate Command uniform.
Dressed in his tattered uniform, the albino had dark eyes and a crazed look.
"Hello there!" he said cheerfully, waving his long pale fingers.
As his eyes narrowed slightly, Spock crossed his arms. "I suspect you are not indigenous to this time period or this location."
"Quite correct, my dear Mister Spock." He bowed his pale head.
"I further suspect you are the one responsible for manipulating ourselves and our visitors aboard the 'Enterprise.'"
"Right again, sir."
"That's assuming any of this is even real," Kirk snapped.
The albino went on, this time in a more high-pitched voice. "It is quite real, I assure you, Captain Kirk!"
Kirk stepped forward and grabbed him, but the pale one simply smiled.
"Who are you, mister?" Kirk demanded. "Explain yourself!"
"Who am I?" he shrieked. "Why, Captain Kirk, I am simply someone who loves playing games."
Kirk tightened his grip but found himself holding only empty air. From the opposite corner, the Albino leaned lazily against the wall as he spoke in a casual tone.
"I removed S-G-One from their time period to see the impact on history." He slapped his handa together, making a loud cracking noise. "It's been DE-lightful!"
He waved a pale hand at the Vulcan. "But now Mister Spock has given me an even better idea."
As Kirk and Spock closed in on the pale figure, he wiggled chalk-white fingers on both hands.
"Ta-da!" he said.
"It may not matter, sir," Carter said aboard the "Enterprise." "It's like Spock said. If we're outside our time period, a Stargate won't get us home."
"Maybe we're inside a television set," O'Neill suggested.
"That seems most unlikely, O-Neill."
"You never know, Teal-c," McCoy said. "There are more things in heaven and earth."
"Begging your pardon, sirs, but any Stargates in this galaxy were removed or destroyed a long time ago," Sulu said.
"Centuries ago," Chekov said. "By the Goa'uld."
"I don't see how that can be," Daniel said.
From her station, Uhura spoke up. "Most of the Stargates were destroyed during the Goa'uld-Klingon War."
O'Neill's eyebrows shot up. "The what now?"
"The Goa'uld-Klingon War," Uhura said.
With his very serious look, Daniel crossed his arms. "An event never mentioned on the T-V series. I mean, how could it be?"
Carter made a face. "How can the Goa'uld be part of the history of a T-V show?"
"They cannot," Teal'c said flatly.
"This is all fake. Fake, I tell you," O'Neill said.
"Funny, I feel real." McCoy patted his chest with both hands.
O'Neill put a hand on his shoulder. "And you've been a wonderfully fake help. But we need to find our way out of here."
"First, we need to understand the situation," Daniel said.
"I could help," McCoy said.
"Thanks. But I'm thinking a fake person wouldn't be all that helpful. You might even try to trip us up."
"Well, come on, Colonel O-Neill. I may not be Jim or Spock but give me a chance."
That was when they found themselves in a new room. A dimly lit room with high walls. And a couple of familiar people.
"Jim! Spock!" McCoy shouted.
"Hello, Bones."
"Doctor."
"Where the blazes have you two been?"
"Stargate Command," Kirk said, looking directly at O'Neill.
"Well, I hope they rolled out the old red carpet for you," the colonel said.
"Not exactly," Kirk said with a grin.
"Now we must try to ascertain our current situation," Spock said.
O'Neill lifted a finger. "You know, I was just saying that. Great minds think alike, I guess. Although yours is a fake mind, I'm pretty sure."
"We do need to understand what's going on," Daniel said.
"Indeed."
"It's the only way to start solving the problem," Carter said.
"I may be able to help there."
They all turned to the one who spoke. Shrouded in darkness, the smiling albino stood huddled up in a corner. His guests moved toward him then reeled back.
"Some kind of invisible barrier," Carter said, pressing her hands against it.
"Second time that's happened," O'Neill groaned. "Man, that hurts."
"Let me see, Colonel O-Neill," McCoy said as he proceeded to examine him.
"You again," Kirk said, holding out his hands toward the Albino.
"Oh, you've met," O'Neill said as McCoy took his pulse. "Delightful fellow, isn't he? Be great at parties, I bet."
McCoy gave the Albino a sharp look. "Who the blazes are you?" he demanded.
"Yes, explain your purpose," Teal'c said.
The Albino smiled as he held up his hands.
"I am someone who manipulates events in this timeline, just to see what happens."
"Sounds like you need a new hobby," O'Neill said.
"Doing something like that could have disastrous consequences," Carter said.
The Albino smiled. "I understand that, Major Carter. I simply don't care."
"Just what we need," McCoy muttered. "A being of great power who's a sociopath."
Spock frowned. "I take objection to power without restraint. It is both illogical and destructive."
"I don't care about that, either, Mister Spock."
"What exactly do you care about?" McCoy asked in a droll voice with a droll facial expression as he stood with his arms crossed.
"Games, Doctor McCoy. I like games." Smiling, the Albino crossed his legs like a yoga master and floated to the center of the room.
"I went back in time. Back into Earth's past. The nineteen-sixties. Wonderful era!"
"I'm sure you had a swell time."
"Oh, I did, Colonel O-Neill, I did. Found an obscure writer of science fiction stories. Convinced him he should go into television. Helped him make a little something called 'Star Trek.'" Leaning forward, he whispered as he held out a flat open palm. "Didn't whisper the stuff in his ear. As his writing partner, I just threw out ideas. Out loud. Even helped him find actors who look like Kirk and Spock here."
Leaning back, the Albino smiled as he looked back and forth. "So you see, S-G-One, that is how you know Captain Kirk and his crew from a T-V show. But you are still part of their history."
"How about that?" O'Neill lifted his eyebrows at the man in yellow. "In that case, Captain Kirk, since you're apparently real, could I sit in your chair? Maybe get a tribble or two?"
Kirk's sideways glance looked a little stern. "Maybe later, Colonel O-Neill."
"Please excuse Jack if he's a little off," Daniel said. "Before we arrived on the 'Enterprise,' we were showing up in all kinds of other places."
"We were alongside a highway, then in a busy downtown," Carter said.
"Among many other places," Teal'c said.
"The 'Enterprise' was just one more stop on our little trip," O'Neill said.
Now the Albino pressed a chalk-white fist against a chalk-white cheek. "Creating 'Star Trek' didn't have that much impact on the timeline. Quite all right. I was only experimenting."
"It's good to have a hobby," O'Neill said. "Can we go now?"
"I'm with the colonel," Kirk said sharply. "Whatever your game is, we're done playing. Send us home. Now!"
"You tell him, Captain Kirk," O'Neill said.
Still floating, the Albino smiled. "Oh, not just yet, my friends. I must tell you what has transpired."
"Must you?" O'Neill sighed.
"I must." As t he Albino snapped his fingers, he lit up. Literally. A soft white glow emanated from his skull-face. "I got the most delightful idea. I would remove S-G-One from their time period and put them aboard the 'Enterprise.' The results were astounding. The Goa'uld-Klingon War!"
"That event has always been part of our history," Kirk said.
Spock wore his usual frown. "Consider it logically, captain. If there was a change in the timeline, we would not notice. It would simply be a natural part of our history."
"Is there a way to make this fellow go away?" McCoy muttered.
Now the Albino placed fists on his hips. "In the original timeline, the Goa'uld faced major defeats courtesy of S-G-One."
"It's nice to be appreciated," O'Neill said. "We're ready to go now."
"In the original timeline, the Goa'uld removed the Stargates from this galaxy to avoid confrontation with the Federation. After all, if the Tau'ri defeated them, how much more the people of Earth in union with people from other planets?"
"Can't blame the old snakeheads for doing that," O'Neill said. "We'll leave now."
The Albino smiled as he lifted a finger. "In that new timeline, which I created, the Goa'uld didn't remove the Stargates until after they were driven back by the Klingons. Observe."
He pointed. A door flew open. Sure enough, there were Jaffa in armor firing staff weapons at bearded, armored Klingons firing their own weapons.
After a few moments, the door slammed shut.
"Well, that's something," O'Neill said. "Now, can we go?"
The Albino narrowed his dark eyes.
"Certainly not, Colonel O-Neill. We're just getting started. I have more experiments to do. I have all kinds of ways I can change your timeline. I want to throw you around into different times and see the results." He clenched his fists. "The possibilities are endless."
The pale creature threw back his head and laughed.
"We are going to have so much fun!" he shrieked.
.
.