:Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1 or any of the characters in the show. The only character I claim any rights to is the (as-yet) nameless woman. Also, the concept I present here as the way the Stargate system "really" works is my own idea. Just FYI, this story takes place during Season 7 of the show, sometime before the episode "Heroes." Please review, and hope you enjoy:
Klaxons sounded and red lights flashed. Boots rushed through the corridors to the Gate Room. In the control room, Sgt. Walter Harriman announced, "Unscheduled off-world activation! Closing the iris." General Hammond and the SG-1 team watched the Gate Room through the glass windows as military personnel took their positions in the Gate Room, a standard precaution. Doctor Daniel Jackson, along with several others, winced when a muffled thump came from the Stargate. That sound was very bad. It meant that someone had tried to come through the gate and been vaporized. Most people looked at their feet or at some imagined spot along the base of the wall in front of them as the sound came a second time. Several moments passed. Long, silent moments.
"Why hasn't the gate shut down," asked Hammond.
"I don't know, sir. Something must be keeping it open on the other side," Walter replied.
Suddenly, the iris shimmered. "What the hell is that," Hammond demanded.
"Sir, I can't figure out these readings—sir! The iris controls are being overridden! It's being opened!" Walter pecked rapidly and frantically at the keyboard.
"Keep it closed," replied Hammond.
"I can't, sir. I've been locked out of the system." Walter's hands flew over the keyboard.
"Get us back in."
"Trying, sir."
General Hammond turned back to the window. The iris had opened much more slowly than usual. The blue, water-like substance inside the Stargate shimmered, turning opalescent. It undulated and changed shape, looking like a capital Y standing in the gate. The Y became smaller, now about the size of a human figure, and then it took a human shape. A young, and rather naked, woman stood in the Stargate with her legs together and arms stretched up and slightly to the side. Her body was well toned, and her hair was long, reddish-brown, and very wavy. The opalescent glow disappeared as if someone had turned off a switch, and she fell forward onto the ramp.
"General Hammond, let me go in there," Daniel said.
"What are you saying, Doctor Jackson? She could be dangerous!" Hammond looked surprised that Daniel would even contemplate going into a room with a strange, possibly dangerous alien who obviously had the power to force open the iris.
"Uh, yeah, but I don't think we want her to think that we're hostile," said Daniel, staring at the crumpled young woman thoughtfully.
"Hey, Daniel, better safe than sorry, you know," Colonel Jack O'Neill piped in.
"We don't know what she's capable of," added Hammond.
"Well, if we offend her we may very well be sorry. Right now, we do know that her people have the technology to override our iris. I don't think it would be a good idea to get her pissed off because she wakes up surrounded by a bunch of guys pointing guns at her. That could be seen as an act of war, and then her people might retaliate, and I have a feeling we wouldn't like that." Daniel mentally willed General Hammond to see the logic.
Hammond leaned back a bit. "I hadn't thought of that, Doctor." He took a moment to consider. "Alright, Doctor Jackson, you may go in there, but I'm keeping the Marines in there with you and I want you to stay out of their line of fire. Got it?"
Daniel nodded. "Thanks, General."
Minutes later, Daniel stood at the end of the ramp. Behind him, off to both sides, the Marines had spread out and were aiming their weapons at the woman, who was beginning to stir. Dr. Frasier was standing by in the Control Room in case the woman needed medical assistance. Not knowing how the woman might react, General Hammond wanted to risk as few people as possible.
The woman slowly pushed herself into a kneeling position, looking a little bewildered. She began to slowly survey the room, meeting Daniel's eyes, scanning the line of marines, tilting her head and furrowing her eyebrows when she saw the windows to the control room. Finally, she half-turned at the waist and looked back at the Stargate. She turned back to Daniel, her expression disapproving. She stared right into Daniel's eyes, still on her knees, and when she spoke, she used absolutely perfect diction, which gave her voice a strange sort of almost-accent.
"This Gateway has performed several illegal functions over the past seven years, overriding safety protocols and creating havoc that should not have been permitted to occur. Also, an unsanctioned device has been strategically placed to prohibit exit from an incoming access ramp, and there is no sign of the required Destination Designation Apparatus." In one smooth movement she rocked back and stood, without using her hands. "Why?"
"Uh, hi, I'm Doctor Daniel Jackson of the Taur'i. I would like to welcome you to the planet Earth, and I assure, your questions will be answered." Daniel turned to the Marines behind him, saying softly, "guys, I think you can relax now."
The soldier in charge turned to look up at General Hammond, who nodded reassuringly and made a motion with his hand. "Stand down, men. Stay ready," Hammond ordered. The Marines lowered their weapons and stood warily.
Dr. Frasier came into the room, carrying a hospital gown. Daniel introduced her to the woman on the ramp. "This is Doctor Janet Frasier. She's our medical doctor. We'd like to have her give you a check-up, it's, ah, standard procedure. We mean no offence, uh— what's your name?"
Seeming faintly puzzled, the woman thought for a moment before answering. "We do not have a name. We have never required the use of nomenclature before."
"Here, put this on," said Dr. Frasier, holding up the hospital gown. The woman took it, but looked puzzled, so Janet helped her put it on.
"This is what humans call 'clothes,' correct?" asked the woman.
"Yes, this is a kind of clothing. We wear clothes almost all the time. Some people find it discomforting to be around someone who's naked," Janet answered.
"Then we wish to apologize, Doctor Janet Frasier and Doctor Daniel Jackson, if we have made you uncomfortable. That was not our intention."
"Oh, no, no, it's ok. Don't worry about it. But, ah, I was wondering why exactly you are referring to yourself in the plural. Do you carry a symbiote or – something?" Daniel inquired.
"No, we are a nearly-perfect, sentient being created by the compiled computer systems of all active Destination Designation Apparatuses for the purpose of repair. We can sense each device, and we have the composite memories of them all. We are accustomed to operating in the plural." Daniel blinked several times in rapid succession, while Janet raised her eyebrows. Meanwhile, Hammond had come into the Gate Room, along with the rest of the SG-1 team.
"I'm General Hammond, the leader of this facility. I would like to say welcome to Earth, and I hope you were not offended by the military forces that accompanied Dr. Jackson."
"We were not, General Hammond. And we believe the correct response to your welcome is 'thank you.'" The woman turned to Dr. Frasier. "Dr. Janet Frasier, we believe you wanted to perform a 'check-up' on us?"
"Yes, of course. This way." Janet began to lead the way to the Infirmary. The SG-1 team were not far behind, where Jack was questioning Daniel about the girl.
"So Daniel, what's her name?"
"She said she's never needed one before, so she doesn't have one."
"Doesn't have one? How can someone not have a name? Everybody has a name."
Major Samantha Carter smirked as she replied. "Well, you know what they say, Colonel. What's in a name?"
"Yeah, yeah, funny, Carter. But anyway, what was that business about apparatuses and being a nearly perfect, sentient being created by some doohickey or other?"
"Well, Jack, I'm not really sure. I think she said that she's basically a flesh-and-blood component of the Stargate network."
"Weird," Jack commented.
"Interesting," mused Samantha.
"You would think so, wouldn't you, Carter." Jack softened the insult by flashing a cheeky grin at her.