"What's happening Lieutenant?" The general asked making sure to be heard above the alarms that signaled an unscheduled off-world activation.
"Sir we are receiving an incoming message from P2S-4C3" The communications officer responded.
"Langara? I thought they destroyed their gate?" Sam commented slightly out of breath from her rush up to the control room.
"Langara as in Kelowna? As in, "we want to blow ourselves to hell" Kelowna? Did someone want to get Jonas?" Jack asked from behind her.
"He is off world sir, on P2X-567, till 18:00" Sam responded.
General Hammond looked to the Lieutenant manning the helm. "Who is exactly is calling?"
"It's First Minister Valis's, IDC, sir."
"Well let's see what he has to say, open a channel but keep the iris closed. We have no way of knowing what this is about."
There was static and a woman appeared onscreen, hard to make out through the grainy feed. "Hello, are you receiving me?" the woman asked a sense of desperation and urgency in her voice.
"We are receiving you. Where is First Minister Valis?" The general asked the obvious, concerned about a new face using the restricted IDC code.
"First Minister Valis was killed in an attempt to regain contact with earth, and I was his contingency plan." She said quickly and then with more urgency, asked, "Please I need to speak with Jonas Quinn."
Teal's raised an eyebrow inquisitively at the request and the General responded. "Jonas Quinn is not available, please state your reason for contacting earth."
"I would like to request asylum." The woman said in desperation. Somewhere in the background of the video feed an annoying beeping started the woman's shifted from the screen for a moment assumedly to attend to the noise.
"Is there anyone from the Council available to speak to us." the General questioned.
"There is no-one. There is no council. Please . . . "
The general broke in, knowing he could not realistically allow an unknown alien on the base without a solid defense to the joint chiefs. "I am sorry, but without further information and a very good reason for this contact we cannot harbor you."
The woman pressed on, ignoring his disavowal. "You don't understand. I must speak to Jonas Quinn!"
"Exactly what information do you need to deliver?" The general asked searching for a reason to aid her in her obvious distress.
"I have important information about a weapon that could help defend your world."
"Yeah, we know about your Naquadria bomb and we aren't interested." Colonel Oneill spoke out.
The woman sighed, "The information I carry has NOTHING to do with Naquadria, but I have little time and I have to speak Jonas."
Sam looked at Jack who raised his eyebrows at the woman's proclamation.
"Please, I will share my information with I only ask that you allow me to speak with Jonas Quinn . . . he . . . he is my brother." She revealed to the surprise of the listening party.
"Well, I did not see that one coming." Jack said looking to the general.
SGC 18:23, Outside the Infirmary.
"Jonas." Sam said grabbing the young man's arm as he left the infirmary.
"Hey Sam," Jonas greeted with her with a smile, but, noticing her grim face, knitted his brow. Is something wrong? Does it have anything to do with why my post mission briefing was just canceled?" Jonas asked tossing a look over his shoulder at the starring airmen they passed in the hall on their way to the briefing room.
"Something came up," Sam said vaguely as she urged him on. Reaching the briefing room doors, she pushed them open allowing Jonas to enter first. In the briefing room Jack, Teal'c and the General were sitting at the mahogany table deep in discussion. Whatever the topic of conversation it ended abruptly at their entrance.
Jack spoke first. "Ah Jonas. Your folks called."
Jonas about to grab a seat lingered for a moment, confused.
"Mr. Quinn, please take a seat." The general directed, taking command of the conversation, noting his second in command's, uncanny ability to over simplify complicated matters. As soon as Jonas took his seat the General re-started where Colonel O'Neill had left off. "Son, two hours ago we received communication from your home planet."
"Kelowna?" he asked somewhat stunned at the revelation.
Jonas looked to Sam, "I don't understand, what about the war?" he asked in confusion.
"From what we understand, the war is close to an end . . ." Sam said responded simply.
"Wh . . ." Jonas began but the general interrupted him, before the curious alien could saturate them with questions.
"Son," The general continued firmly but gently. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but from the Intel provided, the ruling council of Kelowna is no longer; Langara is in all out war." He saw Jonas's clinch his jaw preparing for the general to finish what was already the start of a bad story. "Evidently a year ago they proceeded against all advisement to create weapons of mass destruction and since then, over 40% of the planets major cities have been destroyed."
Jonas attempt to steel himself against the news wasn't enough, horrified at what he'd just been told he rested his head in his hands. Recognizing his dismay, the general was silent for moment, trying to give Jonas time to absorb the information. Raising his head, Jonas spoke first.
"Who . . .what is left?" he said his voice grave, tinged with an unreadable emotion.
"While we prepared that there might be a fallout with the governing bodies, the war has surpassed all of our estimates. Of the warring factions few remain standing––in short Kelowna as we know it, soon may not exist. I'm sorry Jonas." He paused for moment and silence engulfed the room.
The general continued, his words soft but deliberate. "Jonas, I'm afraid to say that the joint chiefs made a decision not to interfere in war this far advanced, and have determined our best course of action is to cut all connection with your home planet."
The news was terrible and everyone knew they could not imagine what devastation Jonas might be feeling. Discovering that your home was self-destructing was bad enough, but knowing that and realizing that the people you knew to accomplish the impossible most days, would not take any action to stop it had to be heart wrenching.
The room was silent as the team sadly watched their friend absorb the information that his home world was essentially lost, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Jonas's mind whirled. Ultimately he had always known this was a possibility, but he could never fully crush his hope for reconciliation between his countrymen. He had always hoped; in even in his fear. But now his fear had become the reality. So many emotions enveloped him; he couldn't decide which ones to hang on to. His warring conscious made it easier to push aside his feelings and focus on the facts. There was still a question that remained to be asked.
"Was anyone saved?"
"The person who contacted us was one of the last remaining who knew of the connection to earth, she negotiated her asylum here, in exchange for the destruction of Kelowna's Stargate." Teal'c replied, even his normally monotone delivery, revealing compassion for his friend.
'Only one person? One, out of millions of lives?' These thoughts spun in his brain mixed with memories and the faces of people he knew. He suddenly felt sick.
"Jonas, I know this is all very difficult but there is something else, you need to be aware of." The general spoke out breaking the heaviness of the room. "Jonas, the person who contacted us, claims that she is your sister."
Jonas looked up bewilderment in his eyes. "What?" he said his voice sounded stretched. It was all too much to take in. He felt himself start to go numb, but this latest revelation helped him keep a grip on his senses.
Sam put hand on Jonas arm and softly interjected. "She said her name was Aeron Quinn."
"That's impossible. My sister died when we were kids." He said with conviction.
For most in the room, they too were surprised when they had first heard the woman's declaration. As far as they new Jonas was an orphan with no family, a fact that had made his transition to earth that much easier. They had never asked beyond that, all except Sam. She knew. The story of his sister's death was something Jonas had shared with her before he had gone into delicate brain surgery only a few months ago. He had divulged the story to Sam, to remove the burden, should his surgery have failed. Her knowledge of his sister's existence was a fact that had helped the recent refugee gain tentative trust, only a few hours ago. Still hearing it directly from Jonas, the team each realized how little they really new about their alien companion.
"Yes, Major Carter confirmed that when we first made contact with . . . Miss. Quinn." Jonas glanced at Sam, who returned a look of apology for her need to reveal such a private secret.
"That's why we need you to verify her claim. She says that she can explain everything but will only do so after she has spoken you." The General finished.
Jonas was lost in the mix of emotions he felt, struggling to keep a steady outward exterior. He didn't really believe that she could be alive but he had to know for sure. "I want to see her."
The General nodded. "Very well, she is in holding cell 12."
SGC 19:49, Outside Holding cell 12
The team walked the hall to the holding area, in silence. No one knew what was going on in Jonas's head as he walked with them. It felt somehow intrusive; Jonas preferred to deal with his pain privately, something the team understood and respected never probing into his silent past. Yet it was unspoken that even if he'd asked they wouldn't now leave his side. Instead they followed him, sentinels to whatever pain might be shortly revealed.
They reached the door that lead to the viewing area for Cell 12.
Jonas entered first walking directly to the large one-way mirror that predominately decorated the room.
It only took a look through that window, and he knew without a doubt. He couldn't believe it, it had been 20 years but she was unmistakably Aeron. Jonas felt a strong hand grab his arm and realized he must have swayed in the shock. He instantly straightened not willing to show such weakness in front of people he so admired for their strength.
"Jonas?" Sam asked with concern as she watched his face pale.
"I'm fine." He affirmed, and then in a voice mixed with fear and awe he said; "It's . . . her."
"Jonas, are you sure? It's been along time." Jack asked eyeing the figure sitting alone in the room.
"I don't know how I know, but I know. It's her, there is no mistake." Jonas confirmed with amazement.
He starred at her transfixed by what seemed an apparition. Dark wavy hair, worn the same way he remembered as a little girl, rolled around the crown and pulled loosely to the side in a ponytail. She was still slight in figure, and her eyes were the same honeyed brown, but the fear that he so poignantly remembered lingering in them had disappeared, replaced by an indecipherable emotion.
The room was quiet for a moment. "She doesn't even look like you." Jack couldn't help but say his distrust of the unknown getting the better of him.
Jonas didn't say anything. It was true that she was a contrast to him his hair a sandy blonde and his eyes green. But as he looked at her through is own reflection on the glass he saw the similarities the colonel missed. Aside from gender and pigment differences they could be twins. Looking beyond her appearance Jonas shifted trying to understand what seemed to be an apparition in front of him. Aeron unaware of his study, sat as if lost in thought subconsciously tapping on the arm of the chair she sat on. She started to hum softly, the melody coming through the hidden speakers into their viewing area.
"I know that song . . . " Jonas began to say when the figure in the room abruptly went silent and looking up. She focused her gaze eerily at him, more accurately she looked directly into Jonas's eyes as if acknowledging his presence.
"Jonas?" she called out into the empty room.
Spooked, the team exchanged glances, startled by her exclamation, there was no way she could see any of them. Still Jack felt compelled to ask no one in particular. "She can't see us right?"
Jonas backed away from the window, and turned to the General. "I'd like to see her please."
The general nodded his head to the MP, who shifted indicating Jonas was to follow him into the other room. Jack and Teal'c started to follow but Jonas turned and said, "Just me please?"
Understanding they held back and watched behind the glass as he entered the cell alone.
Aeron stood as Jonas entered. They were both silent for moment barely a 3 feet from one another. Aeron was the first speak.
"You look . . . tall." She said breaking the silence.
Jonas didn't respond, instead he took a step forward and engulfed her in an embrace. She was stiff in shock at first not expecting his reaction but quickly adjusted to it.
"I thought you were dead." He said into her hair. Tears stung his eyes and blinked ferociously to hold them back.
"I know." She replied softly and then followed with "I'm not." and softly laughed.
SGC 19:49, Inside Holding cell 12
A few minutes later Jonas sat across from the newcomer from Kelowna the woman who claimed to be his sister. Their similarities were undeniable, same smile and facial structure even some of their mannerisms weirdly mirrored one another, yet she stood as a contrast to him. Her dark hair and eyes created a definite distinction, like two different sides of the same coin.
"What happened?" Jonas asked hesitantly, his question probing into a past that he didn't wish to recall.
"You really don't remember?" Aeron asked with a mix of surprise and relief. Aeron seemed ready for the question. "After the shelling I don't remember much. I guess I was pretty badly hurt." Jonas shifted in his chair guilt building in his chest. "I woke up 2 months after the accident."
At the mention of 'the accident' Jonas's face paled a bit. "They told me you had died." He explained, painfully.
Aeron reached across the table, and laid her hand on his. "I don't know why they told you that. All I know is that shortly after you left me there; Tiranian fighters overtook the camp. One of the Tiranians's was a doctor he took me under his care. By the time I had come back to my senses I was in Alespian, thousands of miles away. They told me that whole area had been destroyed in the attack. I was the only survivor and I thought you were among the dead." She explained.
"Aerie, if I had known . . . " he said trying to explain what seemed like abandonment.
She was surprised at his use of her childhood pet name. Yet it made sense, as he was the only one who had ever used it. "Jonas, no. You did your best, you carried me 10 miles to that encampment and you were wounded as well, don't forget." Aeron protested.
Jonas wanted to forget, it was his darkest memory. So he diverted the conversation. ''I just can't believe that you're here." He said sincerely.
"I know." She replied smiling.
"When did you realize I was alive? How did you find me?" he asked his natural curiosity overcoming his other emotions.
She shifted back in her seat and the emotion in her voice flattened almost imperceptibly. "That is a long story, the gist of it is, about 5 years ago, I saw your face in a piece of Intel we attained from Langara and I have been trying to find you since."
Jonas pressed for more information. "So you had been living as an Tiranian? How did you get to the stargate?"
"I devoted all my time trying to find you, I masked my search by also gaining information on Andari and Kelownan secrets. I became Tiranian spy. And that's what led me to find out about the portal and . . ." she broke off shame in her eyes.
"What?" he probed gently sensing her discomfort.
"I'm afraid my research also may have been what caused the war to escalate." Watching the look in his eyes she quickly defended herself. "I saw the Tiranian forces do terrible things to the Kelownan's and I knew it was my own people they were attacking I knew I was on the wrong side, but it was too late, I had already delivered the information on how to create the Naquadria Bomb. They took the stargate and bombed Kelowna the fallout was beyond belief . . . I can't begin to describe the devastation." She paused and looked down, a moment passed and she continued. "After the slaughter I turned against my superiors. With the help of First Minister Valis who had escaped with a small band of Kelownan scientists we worked to re-establish a connection with earth by reconstructing the stolen stargate underground. A day ago we were found out and most of our contingent was killed, Valis sacrificed himself so that I could have a chance. He said, you were the only Langaran that saw this coming and that cared enough to try and stop it, and that if anyone deserved to have a chance at reclaiming a lost life it was you."
Jonas sat mutely. Starring at her he saw the guilt and regret in her eyes. He understood how she felt more than she realized; he also knew that if anyone's research was to blame for impending destruction of Kelowna it was his.
He looked her in the eyes. "Langara?" he asked with some hesitancy, knowing it was going to be bad news.
"There was no saving it Jonas. We have been fighting for generations; no one really knew the reason why anymore, it was just how we lived." She said with finality and continued with hardness in her tone that hinted at some darker place. "The Langara you know is gone."
SGC 21:15 MST, Holding cell 12
After an hour Jonas left to finish his post mission briefing. Aeron was given the second half of the "welcome to earth, here's what you should know." run down They did their best to pull information about the weapon out of her but she feigned exhaustion and promised to follow up with the as soon as she was able to rest, they were easy to manipulate but still after everything was over she found actually was exhausted.
Lying down on the bed in the locked room to which she had been assigned she thought over the events of the day. It had been 5 years of waiting of searching and she had finally found him. He was just as sensitive and caring, as he had always been and somewhere deep down she felt tiny spark of regret for what was going to happen to him. But, she reminded herself; he was already dead to her. No matter what memories he might make her recall she did not know him. She was honestly surprised he didn't remember their past even though he remembered enough to recognize her. She could tell he was oblivious to his, no, their origin. He wouldn't be held as such an ordinary being amongst these people if he had. That was good it would be easier without him fighting her, but she would have to be very careful.
SGC 21:15 MST, The Briefing room
After his post mission briefing with SG-6 the General asked Jonas to stay behind instead of leaving with the other soldiers. Dr Frasier joined them after the last SG member left the room.
"Jonas, I have recommended to general Hammond to put SG-1 on stand down for the next week. The information received today I'm certain is very difficult for you right now and . . ."
"I really don't see why all of SG-1 has to stand down because of . . . recent events." Jonas said his voice flat. His mind finally succumbing to the encroaching numbness he felt earlier.
"Jonas, SG-1's investment in Kelowna and in you, has made this news hard for them as well." Janet continued.
Although she hadn't meant it this way Jonas realized one of the 'investments' they made was the loss of their teammate Daniel Jackson, who had sacrificed his life for what Jonas now knew was a doomed race. Jonas couldn't help but feel the guilt of the archeologist death resurge and add to his already heavy emotions. He had enabled his race to kill itself; ignorance wasn't a good enough excuse anymore. The blood on his hands was heavy and he knew he couldn't ever clean it away.
Janet was still talking but Jonas tuned her out his thoughts drifting to another scientist, a brilliant mind that had been so consumed with the excellence of his work he did not realize the weight of his actions until it was to late. A man, who, in the midst of his realization of the destruction he had caused, had coined it perfectly, "I have become death, destroyer of worlds." Langara's development of the Naquadria Bomb wasn't so different from Earth's own A-bomb during World War II, and Jonas had often searched out information on the era hoping to find some similarity or correlation that would help keep his own people from what seemed like self-inflicted annihilation. But Jonas instead found himself again and again relating himself to J. Robert Oppenheimer who had tried so desperately to unfurl the unexpected evil he had unleashed into his world.
Jonas now realized, that Oppenheimer had wasted his breath, that there was no going back. The earth scientist may have enabled his people to destroy cities but Jonas had aided in the destruction of an entire world and because of that Jonas now knew by experience, that the day a doomsday weapon is invented, it is already to late to prevent the coming doomsday.
"Jonas . . . Jonas." Janet said trying to get the drifting man's attention. Jonas snapped from his reverie and Janet shared a concerned glance with the general.
"Jonas, I am putting you on mandatory down time and I would like you to report to Dr. Hunter at 08:00 tomorrow. After that please visit to the infirmary. There are some tests I need to run on you and Miss Quinn."
"I understand." He said without feeling.
"Jonas, I am asking that you get some needed rest it's been a long day, son." The General added.
Jonas just nodded and excused himself, his heart heavy in his chest.
SGC 21:15 MST, Sam's lab
"Hey what do you say we go get some pie," Jack said from the doorway Teal'c standing tall behind him.
"No thanks sir, I want to get some of this paperwork done." Carter replied not looking up from her work.
"Carter you have all week to do that stuff." Jack whined.
Carter put down her pen and sighed. "I don't know sir, it just seems so . . ."
"Filling?" Jack interjected
"No . . ."
"Fattening?" he asked?
"No."
"Filled with preservatives and delicious high fructose corn syrup."
"No, sir." Sam said with slight annoyance at his ridiculousness. "What I mean is something isn't right."
Jack finally addressed the subject he was trying to avoid discussing with her. "Well, lets seeeee. Jonas's world has gone down the tubes, which, I predicted by the way, and he found his sister. I know it's tough but hey, at least he's got family to help him through it."
"It is difficult to understand why a world that held such potential could not rise above their draw to consume." Teal'c interjected thoughtfully, ignoring his commander ambivalence.
"It's not just that, though." Sam continued, "Yes I'm upset that Kelowna couldn't overcome, but there is something else that bothers me. I think it's Aeron, there is something about her, I just can't put my finger on it."
"Well, Carter we don't know anything about her . . . and she was dead. That's enough to put her in my 'aliens we should not trust category.
"Major Carter can you relay to us what you know of Aeron." Teal'c asked enquiringly.
"I honestly don't know very much. I think Jonas is going to have to tell us himself after he . . . processes all this."
Jack and Teal'c looked at her.
"Listen, when Jonas was experiencing his 'visions', after he knew he would have to have surgery he came to me. He told me he knew his chances . . . and he needed someone to carry a burden of his, just in case. I don't think he would have told me anything if he hadn't thought . . . there was a chance he might die."
"I agree with you Carter, she seems a little . . . off. The only reason I want to know what happened is to make sure she isn't hiding something. Jonas aside, the Kelownans haven't really set the example for being the most upfront about their actual intentions."
"Perhaps we should question Aeron Quinn, and determine her reason for contacting Jonas Quinn." Teal'c suggested.
"You mean besides the fact that they are family?" Sam remarked.
"I mean it just seems too convenient." The colonel declared.
The three friends silently agreed.
SGC 21:15 MST, Jonas's Quarters
He woke in alarm and his body screamed at the movement. His ears rang incessantly and the shrill noise threatened to overcome his shaken senses. He closed his eyes trying to fight the pain that encompassed his body. Opening them again he attempted to orient himself. The scene before him was apocalyptic. As far as the eye could see the rubble of once solid structures laid haphazardly strewn, abstract monuments to appalling destruction. Around him smoke curled from the wreckage toward a newly risen sun Jonas squinted against the acrid smoke and light, trying to understand the horrific images in front of him. With each coherent moment he felt new pains, shifting his gaze from the landscape he surveyed his body. There were numerous cuts and abrasions on his skin and his clothing, singed, torn and covered here and there with blood and earth. Something dripped into his eye and he reached to wipe it, but cried out suddenly, at the unexpected pain that came with the contact to his brow. He pulled his hand away, looking at it he saw blood and realized he must have hit his head. Unexpectedly through the relentless shrill in his head he heard another sound not far away.
"Jonas."
Someone was calling to him. Slowly he worked to get his footing using the nearby piece of rubble he pulled himself into a standing position. He found that he could stand with little trouble and pushed away from his makeshift aid. With his new vantage, the true impact of the destruction around him became clear. Bodies lay strewn amongst the debris, each lying in the position in which they perished, their condition too horrible to describe. Jonas's stomach rebelled at the site before him and he retched on the ground below him. "Jonas, help."
At the sound of the voice Jonas refocused himself, steeling his mind against the horrors around him he searched the refuse, for the voice. "Where are you?" He croaked his voice unnatural to his ears.
"Here." Came a gasp. And from a few meters away Jonas saw a small feminine hand rise from behind a fallen beam. Forgetting his own hurts he rushed to the wounded girl. The beam lay atop her small frame. Jonas could not tell from his vantage how badly she was hurt but he knew it must be bad. The girl was so small; her brown eyes stared up at in him in pain and fear. "Please Jonas, it hurts." She struggled out, trying pitifully to push the large piece of wood from her body. "Don't move." He ordered. Quickly Jonas surveyed the situation. The beam was twice the size of his body and it looked heavy. Inwardly he knew it might be impossible for him, only a child, to lift it. But looking around he knew there were no other survivors to assist him. Another thought sprang into his mind and after a few minutes he had gathered what he needed from the surrounding rubble. "Aeron," the name came without a thought, and with it the knowledge of whom she was. "Aeron, I am going to get this off of you but it may hurt for a minute, okay?" "Okay" his sister responded feebly.
With her acknowledgement he swiftly went to work fashioning rudimentary leverage to aid in his near impossible task. Jonas put all his weight on the lever willing the beam to shift aside, he grunted with the strain and effort. After what seemed like an eternity the beam finally moved, prompting a shattered scream from the prone figure under it. Jonas stumbled, immediately rushing to aid his newly freed sibling. Blood pooled from her stomach, and Jonas fought his instant need to vomit at the sight. Instead he pulled his torn shirt from his back, and quickly pressed against the oozing wound. Aeron didn't cry out this time and Jonas's eyes quickly jumped to the girls face. She seemed be asleep, but fear seized the boy's heart and he pressed two shaking blood slicked fingers against her neck. An irregular pulse meet his touch and he bit back a cry of relief at its appearance. He realized she must have passed out. Looking around he saw no one but fear broke a cry from his mouth. "HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!" He called, his voice echoing back to him. Instinctually he knew it was to no avail, they were ultimately alone. Tears welled in his eyes; his desperation was shifting to hopelessness. He knew his sister's life hung by a thread and he did not know how to help her. He tried to imagine what it would be like watching her die, tried to prepare for the inevitable, but he could not bring himself to the thought. A resolution began to form in his mind. As long as he lived so would she. Silently he re-fashioned his shirt into a makeshift bandage, and then, gingerly lifting her small body, cradling it against his own, he began his journey.
Jonas opened his eyes.
In Jonas's direct line of vision, Poseidon the little fish he had adopted from Daniel swam lazily in his tank. He blinked the sleep from his eyes, a re-oriented his mind into a conscious state. It had been two days since Aeron had arrived through the gate and every night he found he dreamed in memory. The memory seemed to be lingering, haunting him every time he closed his eyes. Jonas sighed and shifted from his side to his back. He never really thought about that terrible day after it had ended. But now with his dream so fresh and real in his minds eye he felt himself drift back into memory.
By the time he had found help miles away he feared it had come to late. Aeron's breathing was so shallow it was almost imperceptible. The men had pulled her from him and merely an hour later, returned to tell him her terrible fate. They proceed to ask him questions. At the request for his name he gave it numbly. They asked where he was from, what had happened, where his family was. He found he had no answers for these questions, his mind blank, those memories all lost to him. And he looked at the men bewildered. Another man with a kind face asked who his family was. The question made him think of Aeron her slack body against his, and he began to cry, unabashedly. The man had shushed him gently and pulled him into an embrace. As he held him Jonas remembered the man saying "nevermind, nevermind, my name is Dr. Keiran and you will be safe with me now."
The more Jonas thought about it he had never really lived before coming to Earth. Life had been a pursuit; it had been an escape. He realized that he spent most of his life running from his past. Since he had come to earth literally new worlds had opened to him, but more than that, his life finally meant something. People here, didn't revere him for his unnerving ability to learn, they cared for him as a person and shared their own experiences with him. He had never had that before. The thought made Jonas realize that he didn't even remember experiencing that with Aeron. He knew they must have shared things had good moments, but he couldn't remember them.
Suddenly a knock came at his door Jonas sat up and scrubbed his hands across his face sweeping the sleep from his eyes. "Come in." Jonas called doing a quick check of his uniform to make sure it was in a somewhat acceptable state.
"Hey Jonas." It was Major Carter.
"Sorry to wake you," She apologized, "I thought you might want to know that Aeron has been asking to see you."
"Has she been cleared?" It was protocol to have any unknown alien entity be detained and thoroughly questioned by an SGC intelligence officer, 48 hours before any other contact could be made. His initial meeting with Aeron had been a special circumstance and had only lasted a short time. Since then they had been waiting to hear full details from the new Kelownan.
"Major Davis just completed his investigation. He wants to de-brief us with General Hammond in 30."
"I'll be right up." Jonas said and Sam nodded leaving him to get ready for the Meeting.
SGC 08:25 MST, The Briefing room
"Major Davis what is your assessment?"
"As you all are aware it's impossible to directly check her story, as we no longer have any link to the Langaran home-world."
"We have however, verified that she retains knowledge unique to a person in high standing within the Kelownan council. Most of the information she provided has revealed her to be a very resourceful agent, who held powerful positions within at least three independent governments. Whether or not she was exactly loyal to one, if any, has yet to be determined."
"What can you tell us about the dramatic political shift in the defense policies of that world."
"From what we've gathered, Miss Quinn's main job was to amass intelligence information for the Tiranian government. Much of what she discovered was inconsequential in the progress on the Tiranian campaign but she did ultimately gain intelligence about the stargate and eventually the plans for the Naquadria bomb. " The team grimaced in understanding, they knew full well what the distribution of those plans amongst the nations enemies foreshadowed.
Davis further explained. "The knowledge of the stargate, strained any peace talks and the Tiranian's attacked the Kelownan capital. That is when Miss Quinn and her fellow operatives obtained plans for the Naquadria bomb. The Tiranian's quickly put together a plan of action to create a weapon of their own and destroyed the Kelownan capital in an effort to find the Naquadria to fuel it." Jonas breathed out loudly at this and Davis paused to give him some time to assimilate the information.
"It was during this strike that Miss Quinn realized that the Tiranian politics did not necessarily agree with her own. Making a decision she orchestrated the escape of a small contingent of scientists and three Kelownan council members. During that escape two of the council members perished leaving only Miss Quinn and High Chancellor Vinril."
There were a few nods at the table as they recognized the corroboration of what she had told them in her during the first contact with the Kelownan.
"Merely eleven months later Tiranian forces fired their 'modified version' of the original Naquadria bomb, although it was not quite the weapon the Kelownan's originally intended it had a devastating effect. This weapon initiated the fall of the Kelownan government and soon after Andari as well. Needless to say this put increasing stress on those still standing in opposition to the Tiranian government."
"Miss Quinn has informed us that during the time leading up this political action, she remained underground with Councilmen Vinril working on repairing the stargate. According to her Council member Vinril believed contact with earth to be the only way to save the planet. Shortly before the completion of the gates repair Vinril was captured and executed by a small contingent of Andari soldiers. Leaving Miss Quinn to finish the project alone. Shortly after his death information was gathered that seemed to suggest other governments had attained access to the Kelownan weapon, Miss Quinn, states that after gaining this Intel she believed it impossible to save her world and made plans to contact earth in order to, if nothing else, contact Jonas Quinn and inform him of the unfortunate turn of events."
"And . . ." Jack asked questioningly, "No offense to Jonas, but, are we just supposed to believe her?"
"Miss Quinn, was not invited here empty handed, she did provide documentation and Intel that seem to verify her claims." Davis revealed. "I have included this documentation as well as further details, in my report." Davis responded.
"What about the weapon she mentioned?" Jack asked.
"Apparently, she discovered some ancient Langarin texts while spying on the Andari's that she believes are plans for a protective device or weapon used against the goa'uld early in Kelownan history. She however cannot translate the early Kelownan language but is certain Jonas can."
Everyone looked at Jonas "I haven't seen the texts but I did my undergraduate work on several of Langara's dead languages."
"Very Good, Jonas I want you to work on translating those texts as soon as we convene. I'd like to know exactly what we are dealing with." The General ordered, before turning back to the Major, "Major Davis, what is your final valuation of Miss Quinn?" General Hammond asked.
"Officially, she seems to be what she claims, unfortunately that also happens to be a spy and turncoat. I would label her as suspect until we have further study of her. That means restricted intelligence access and limited mobility within the base I would also like to assign a security detail for the time being."
The general nodded his head in understanding and acceptance bit from the other side of the table Jonas spoke up.
"Normally I would understand this procedure, but she doesn't exactly have anywhere to go to divulge information. Our planet's stargate has been destroyed and our planet may shortly follow it. She has been upfront with us from the beginning. I hid information from my own government and you trusted me. Why can't you give her the same opportunity?" Jonas said somewhat offended in Major Davis's remarks.
"Mr. Quinn, with all due respect, your relative positions within your former government were very different. Please do not forget that while you made decisions based from your experience as a scientist she made hers as a soldier. And although related you have not seen your sister in 20 years, you cannot say exactly what her intentions may be." The general stated firmly.
Jonas slowly shook his head. "But she had no other choice, she was a casualty of war."
"Jonas, stand down." Jack ordered. Sensing the younger man's frustration building. "The general just wants to be careful, you know that."
"The colonel is right. If you truly believe your sister's intentions to be good then she also will understand our trepidation in trusting her." Davis added.
Jonas pursed his lips and scrubbed his chin in frustration. He knew they were right but it made him crazy. He just wanted the opportunity to share with all that he had learned since coming to the earth, to give her hope. But he knew with her restrictions and his highly sensitive work he would have to be careful and would not be able to share anything with her for the time being.
"I understand." Jonas said finally.
SGC 21:15 MST, The Briefing room
Jonas stirred fitfully in his sleep, his mind fraught with nightmares. The room vibrated with energy it pulsed in and out mimicking the heartbeat of the unconscious man. The desk lamp that glowed from a far corner eerily lit his face, which was beaded with sweat. Next to the lamp on the desk, two canopic jars danced with the vibration that filled the room, joining in with the other jumping items left loose in the room. A slight gasp escaped the dreamers' lips and as if on signal, suddenly all the objects in the room quieted, his rigid and fighting body relaxed and the pulsation stilled. Merely a moment later, as if lifted by some unseen force, the loose items that surrounded him in his quarters began to slowly rise from there resting places. Moments ticked by and the objects levitated, defying all gravity and known science.
From another room a muffled explosion broke through the silence and immediately klaxons began their ear-shattering wail.
Jonas woke with a start and in the same instant every item that had previously floated around him crashed unceremoniously to their respective surfaces.
It took him a minute to gather his senses. His dreams lost their grip on him and faded to the back of his mind as alarm pushed itself to the forefront. There had been an explosion! The broken items and the disarray of his things made him conclude incorrectly that the blast must have been close to his quarters. He quickly scrambled from his bed, discarding his night clothes and dawning a more appropriate dress before heading out the door.
"Sargent what happened?" He called out to the airman who was hurrying by. "There was a malfunction in the lab, small fire."
Jonas ran to catch up with him "Was anyone hurt?" he asked worryingly.
"No there were no personnel in the area." The airman replied before ushering a quick "excuse me sir" and brushing past Jonas into the smoke filled Lab not far ahead.
Jonas slowed to a stop as he saw that everything was well covered and the first response team was doing their duty. Knowing his presence wasn't needed he slowly turned away from the scene and turned back towards his own quarters. As he walked he passed an open doorway and suddenly stopped his mind recognizing something odd. He backed up a few steps and looked into the empty room. It was another airmen's sleeping quarters and it to seemed filled to the brim with knick-knacks and personal effects. Nothing out of the ordinary, everything was perfectly arranged and in it's place. But that is exactly what bothered Jonas; this room lay only two doors from the blast origination, while his own chamber, was much further, at least seven rooms distance. His mind puzzled over the haphazard state in which he left his room and this new evidence that seemed to contradict his original reasoning.
"Can I help you sir?" Came a question from behind him. Jonas broke from his reverie and awkwardly realized he was blocking the entrance of the room's occupant.
"Oh sorry," Jonas mumbled quickly moving and allowing entrance to the young soldier who in return gave him a suspicious glance. Jonas tried to think of a way to explain his seeming voyeurism, but only succeeded in making things worse as he stood awkwardly, saying nothing. The airmen crossed his arms impatiently. "Um, I have to go." Jonas stumbled out with a sheepish smile and then turned on his heel back towards his own quarters.
As he left he heard the now really perplexed soldier disregard him with a word. "Aliens."
Back at his quarters Jonas surveyed the damage that he'd left. There were a few pieces of paper and errant pencils on the floor along with his entire supply of fish food. On his desk the canopic jars he had found on P34-X78 lay shattered next to his overturned lamp. Jonas sighed at the sight he hated to see the history that the artifacts represented and now lost. Around the room things seemed to have shifted or turned over. But Jonas noticed with puzzlement that none of the pictures that hung on the wall had moved, something he would have expected with a concussive blast.
His next thought was that maybe someone had broken in while he had slept and riffled through his things. But looking at the broken jars and overturned objects he was sure he would have woken to such a ruckus. Jonas was stymied. He sat on the edge of his cot and rubbed a hand on the back of his neck as he felt a headache coming on. He looked at the clock and realized it was almost 07:30 hundred and remembered that he was meeting Teal'c and Sam for breakfast in 30 mins. He pushed his mystery away for the moment and went to work picking up its pieces.
SGC 21:15 MST, The Briefing room
"Apparently there was an energy surge in the lab the team is still working on pinpointing its origin but I ordered a full diagnostic on the labs systems this morning just in case so I can't stick around. I just wanted to let you guys know." Sam said holding an orange juice, banana and granola bar to her chest in preparation for her departure to her lab.
"Do you need any help?" Jonas asked having just sat down at there habitual table.
"Nah I've got it you can stop by after breakfast if you like though." Sam said absently as her intelligent mind was already dancing with probable causes to the earlier incident. "See ya." She said pushing her chair and heading out of the mess hall.
Jonas smiled after her knowing the feeling. "So Teal'c good kel-no-reem?" Jonas asked pouring syrup over his pancakes.
"It was." Teal'c responded. "Were you awakened by the disturbance this morning?" He asked his eating companion.
"Yeah, actually. In fact I thought it was closer to me than it was . . ." Jonas replied through half bites.
"How so?" Tealc inquired his head tilting a centimeter as if to emphasis his interest.
"I don't know I mean doesn't make any sense but my room was a mess this morning I thought it was from the blast, but . . ."
"Nice one Jonas, I'll have to remember that one next time I don't clean my office." Jack interrupted, joining the two men at the table with his own food-laden tray.
Teal'c mouth quirked in mirth and Jonas shook his head with playful denial catching the joke.
"No mountain of food today?" Jack asked the younger man, eyeing his lonely looking pancakes on the tray.
"Yeah, headache." Jonas explained.
"Janet." Was Oneill's reply.
"It's really not that ba . . ."
"Hey, I'm not asking. I'm ordering. This is the third headache you've had since yesterday, and I'm tired of keeping track." Jack commanded.
"Jonas Quinn have you seen your sister since our debriefing yesterday?" Teal'c asked changing the subject.
"Not yet. It's kind of hard to know what to say since my life here is 'classified' and I don't remember growing up with her. So that leaves us to talk about the war or the day she died and lets just say I'm not exactly jumping at the thought of those conversations." Jonas replied poking at his pancake.
"Perhaps, you are not allowing the opportunity to find another topic in which to communicate."
"Yeah maybe."
"Sooo" Jack started slowly, "You don't remember anything about her?"
"Not really." Jonas was silent for a moment he really did not want to have this conversation now and he could hear Colonel O'neill's suspicion hidden in his voice.
"Will, you work with Miss Quinn on the translation of the ancient Kelownan texts?" Teal'c asked pressing his earlier topic.
Jonas began again his voice too upbeat. "I don't really know, but I have to get going I want to see if Sam needs help pinpointing the cause of the energy surge from earlier." Jonas said quickly standing he grabbed his tray with it's half eaten contents and headed away, calling "See you guys later." behind him.
Jack looked at the retreating man's back and then exchanged a glance with Teal'c "Touch-y." He said summarily.
"Indeed." Came the response.
SGC 21:15 MST, The Briefing room
They were suspicious of her. She had expected that but still the restrictions they had enforced were annoying. After her laborious two-day conversation with the dull Major Davis; he had left, only to return a few hours later to notify her of her limitations. Since then she had lain on the military bed provided to her and re-thought her plan. She thought back to her first contact with Jonas Quinn, when he had hugged her in the holding cell. In that moment she knew he still had his powers but she could also sense that they laid dormant and unknown to him. During their exchange she waited for an appropriate moment to initiate an awaking within him. He was very sensitive, and yet his weakness gave her the perfect opportunity. She saw that he blamed himself for her supposed death and she took that moment to cast the spark. Reaching out as if in comfort she put her small hand over his. In that instant she instigated his dormant powers back to life. 'Like flipping a switch,' she thought. He and his hidden counterparts were none the wiser. In fact she truly believed it had cast a bit more believability to her story.
Soon, she knew, he would begin to change. His powers would come back to the surface and he would realize his old self. She had gathered that he still did not remember their past. It amazed her. He truly did not understand his significance and he also did not remember his role in her death. She remembered. It was what had propelled her to find him after all this time.
"AERON NO!" Jonas cried out from across the room. Aeron ignored his call concentrating only on killing the man before her. The man lay on the floor grasping his head, his faced lined with excruciating pain. "Please!" Jonas called out again. Aeron turned to him her eyes black with evil intent. "They deserve to die." She said without feeling and turned back to the man who was beginning to scream the end closing in on him. Suddenly she found herself on the floor on her back and her mental connection was broken her malicious task incomplete. "You are weak." She said with disgust. Their eyes locked and Jonas pleaded with her psychokinetically "This is not our purpose, we must help these people." "It may not be your purpose, but I am not so poorly designed." She responded in her mind. In that moment she felt Jonas reach in further and realized as his eyes widened with alarm that he had found her hidden intent. Knowing he would do everything he could to prevent her plans she took advantage of his moment of shock and sent out a bolt of energy knocking him across the room. "It's nice to know you care," she said to his crumpled form, which lay incapacitated against a far wall. Stepping over the man she had so recently killed she crossed the room and approached the large machine that occupied it. Touching the panel she could feel the call of the powerful crystals that ran it's systems under her small fingers. 'What a waste' she thought knowing what power those crystals really held. The power she would soon weld. She smiled and began to input the right sequence that would release the crystal core from it's housing. After a few moments there was a small noise a hissing and clicking and from the center of the long panel an opening appeared. Aeron reached her slight arms out to retrieve the crystals from there home, annoyed at her short stature. But finally she had them. She ginned widely at the faceted surface she held, eager to begin the transference of energy. But before she could begin the crystals were pulled from her grasp by an unseen force. She looked to where she had left her brother. Jonas now stood holding her crystals in his hands. Blood dripped from a wound on his head into his eye. He looked at her steadfastly, "I will not let you do this Aeron." He affirmed. And swiftly he hurled the crystal down against the floor where it shattered, pieces scattering across the shiny surface. "NOOOO." Aeron screamed. She lunged at Jonas and he met her halfway. They mimicked one another as they both stretched out there arms channeling all their will against the oncoming party. Bright light surged around them; every ounce of power each held was used as they both tried to upset the balance of their abilities and gain the upper hand. The struggle was too even and as they fought the earth below them began to tremble, cracks and fissures appearing from the tumult. 'We have to stop we will tear this place apart!' he said to her mentally. 'I care not.' She replied struggling against his force of will. 'We could die.' He reasoned. 'I will not die.' She replied with arrogance.
She quickly sat up realizing who had attacked her. Jonas was now a few feet from her kneeling over to attend to the fallen man. He stood when she did, and turned to her tears of fear and disbelief welling in his eyes. "You killed him." He said brokenly and looked at her.
The light continued to grow with the struggle and with it the earthquake increased until it's roar and the light seemed to encompass everything. She felt her will begin to falter; it could not be, he could not be stronger than she! She began to worry that perhaps he was right and that she would die and then without notice she was lost in a sea of darkness.
When she woke she had found herself pinned beneath a heavy beam lying amongst an incredible amount of destruction. She was in such pain. She tried to use her power to push the object from her but the familiar internal flow did not appear. Her powers were gone! She did not fathom how it could be.
I took her years to understand how it had happened but she finally realized that he had taken it from her. Over time some of it had returned, the Naquadria had helped but it wasn't enough she wasn't even half as powerful as she had been as a child. But that would change now that she had found him again. All she had to do was wait until his powers resurfaced then she would take back what was rightfully hers and make him pay for his betrayal.
To Be Continued . . .