Science Fact
Author: ShaViva
Rating: T
Content Warning: A couple of instances of swearing is about all
Season: This is set during the gap between Uncle Evan and the beginning of Forlorn Hope. SGC timeline wise it starts 3 months before S7.07 Enemy Mine.
Summary: So how did Major Evan Lorne begin his association with the Stargate? With cautious enthusiasm, quiet bravado and a healthy dose of Lorne smarts of course! Again, pure Lorne, AU, and following on from Uncle Evan.
Classifications: Family, friendship, adventure
Pairings: None
Spoilers for: Major spoilers for SG1 7.07 Enemy Mine - if you haven't seen it you'll feel like you have after reading this!
Acknowledgements: Gateworld for information on SG-11 and the transcript for Enemy Mine.
Disclaimer: The Stargate characters, storylines, etc aren't mine. I am unfortunately not associated in any way with the creators, owners, or producers of Stargate or any of its media franchises – if I was Lorne would have been in A LOT more episodes. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, equipment, etc are the property of whoever owns them. The original characters and plot and anything else I made up are the property of me, the author. No copyright infringement is intended.
Copyright (c) 2010 ShaViva
Authors Note:
Okay folks, this is it – the LAST story before Forlorn Hope. No seriously, it's really the last story. I've plugged every hole and used every minor skerrick of inspiration gleaned from Impressions and elsewhere, resulting in SEVEN background stories (including this one). I think we'd all agree it's more than time to move back to Forlorn Hope!!! But first you have to read this one!!!
This little story was also going to be part of the big Campaign Kandahar story but like Uncle Evan, just didn't fit and ended up with it's own title (which I kind of like!). Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Are you up for it?
Early April 2003
"Drew, how's Elaine? And the baby?" Evan leaned closer to the computer camera, smiling along with Drew when the other man's face broke into a happy grin. "How's my nephew doing?" It still gave him a buzz saying that - 'my nephew' - that he referred to five month old Jonathon Rider by that title as much as he did by his name.
"They're both great. Elaine's still pretty tired but Jon's putting on plenty of weight – she keeps saying that's worth being at his beck and call 24/7," Drew returned. "She won't admit it to you but she's missing you buddy – you spoilt her spending so much time with her during the pregnancy."
"I'm missing you guys too," Evan said simply. He didn't do well with the touchy feely conversations when they were face to face but admitting to emotions was always easier when you were stationed in a war zone and the people you loved were so far away.
"How's it going over there?" Drew asked.
"Not much has changed," Evan returned. "The place is still growing – more facilities, better food," he grinned as he said that bit, remembering their conversation Drew's first day at Kandahar. Man, that seemed like a lifetime ago now. "A little more contact with the locals," he continued, "but the rest of it feels all too familiar."
Lorne had been stationed back at Kandahar after his work at Groom Lake was complete. He'd stayed in Nevada all through Christmas until the X-302 had been fully tested and shifted into production. That had been the end of Evan's involvement and after getting a commendation from Doctor Murphy he'd quickly put in a request for a return to Afghanistan. He'd gotten a fast turnaround, rotating in for another air force major who'd been due to come home just after the New Year. Instead of heading one wing Lorne now found himself running operations for three U.S. air combat wings coming from different bases across the States. He spent less time in the air but still managed to catch a few missions each week. It was exciting and challenging on a whole different level - but the responsibility felt right, and sat well on his shoulders.
"Yeah, well as long as you're not looking for trouble on the ground we'll all be feeling fine with you being there," Drew grinned when Evan rolled his eyes.
"You're never gonna let me live that one down, are you?" he complained.
"Comes with the title and increased responsibility," Drew teased. "That's what they pay you the big bucks for."
"What big bucks?" Evan chuckled. "Hey, if we were doing this for the money there'd be something seriously wrong with both of us, because the pay sucks."
"True," Drew agreed. "Listen, I'm still part of the rotation plan for the Canadian wing but Elaine and I have agreed on my taking another three month leave of absence." He shrugged, feeling like he had to justify that decision to his brother-in-law because Evan was still so heavily involved in Afghanistan. "I've got the leave there - more than enough to cover it - and I missed so much of Jon's beginnings ... I just ... I don't want to miss his first months too."
"I can understand that," Evan said earnestly. "Emails, pictures ... videos – they help but it's not the same. Not for me and certainly not for you. Tell Elaine I appreciate that she's sending me stuff though – Jon's too young to know me but at least I'm still getting to know him through her messages."
"I'll tell her," Drew promised. "So, any news on when you're rotating back Stateside?"
"Not so far," Evan explained. "I've got one wing due to rotate next month, the others are all staggered the following two months after that. Leadership stability while that's going on would help with the transition – once everyone's settled then it'd be my turn to rotate out if I want to."
"So, I'll tell Elaine still a few months yet," Drew concluded.
"Yeah," Evan sighed. "Never been so torn over where I was posted," he admitted. "Not that I'd be seeing you guys every week but it'd be easier to drop in than it is right now."
"Speaking of dropping in your Mom's coming back next week," Drew grinned. "Jon's got her wrapped around his little finger – it's pretty cool watching that. Elaine loves having her around – if Grace would agree to leave San Francisco and come live here permanently Elaine would be over the moon."
"I don't see that happening," Evan said lightly. "Mom's had plenty of chances over the years to leave the Bay but she's never even considered it."
"I know," Drew agreed with a shrug. "No harm in asking ... stranger things have happened."
The timer going off was a harsh reminder that Evan didn't have unlimited use of the computers. He had to take his turn just like everyone else ... lucky for him with increased facilities those turns came a lot more often than they had during his first tour.
"I gotta go," he told Drew. "I'll call the same time next week, okay. Tell Elaine I want to see my nephew sitting in front of the computer with her next time."
"Will do buddy," Drew lifted a hand in a casual half salute wave. "Be careful out there."
"Hey, I'm always careful!" Evan grinned even as he moved to close down the connection.
Getting up he walked back to the pilots meeting room ... he had a mission briefing to prepare for.
"Major Lorne?" Evan looked up from the forms on his desk a couple of days later to see his youngest wing member, Lieutenant Harris standing hesitantly at the entrance of what they jokingly called his 'office'. It was little more than a corner of the pilot's preparation area off from the F-16 hangar. Lorne liked being close to the planes and had pushed a desk and a filing cabinet down from the admin building so he could do all the paperwork that seemed to be a part of running operations while still keeping up with the 'mood' of all his pilots.
"Harris," Evan looked at the young officer expectantly.
"Ah, there're a couple of people here to see you Sir," Harris replied. "Big wigs ... they're waiting for you down at welcome central."
"Okay," Evan stood, taking the time to close files and lock everything away before he headed for one of the administration areas used exclusively to welcome new recruits to Kandahar. He wasn't expecting anyone new, and certainly not anyone high enough up the chain for Harris to describe them as big wigs.
He checked in at the desk and was directed to one of the small meeting rooms.
"Major Lorne," Evan stood to attention as soon as he registered the ranks of those already waiting for him. Both air force – both Colonel's – and suddenly he was wondering what in the hell he'd done to garner that kind of attention.
"Sir," Lorne nodded to one of the men, tall, greying hair, bland expression but with a hint of something in his dark brown eyes that suggested amusement. "Sir," he repeated, nodding to the second man. This one was younger, all business and clearly impatient to be done with whatever it was they were there for.
"At ease Major," the first man said casually, waving for Lorne to sit down across from them.
Lorne relaxed a little, sitting down and watching as the two retook their seats as well.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill," the older one said, "and this is Colonel Mason Edwards. Before we go any further we're gonna need you to sign a non disclosure statement."
"Ah ... okay," Evan was puzzled but he took the folder O'Neill pushed across the table to him, opening and reading it quickly.
"... Classified information is marked or unmarked classified information, including oral communications, that is classified under the standards of Executive Order 12958, or under any other Executive order or statute that prohibits the unauthorised disclosure of information in the interest of national security ... I understand and accept that by being granted access to classified information, special confidence and trust shall be placed in me by the United States Government."
It went on in the same vein, explaining his obligations and the consequences should he breach the agreement after signing it. It was a standard document, prohibiting Evan from telling anyone not already cleared whatever it was they were about to share with him. Lorne didn't mind signing it - he'd signed something similar before he'd started work on the X-302, to protect the U.S.'s interests in developing new technology and new capability in the defence of its assets, both locally and abroad.
Taking the pen Evan scrawled his name efficiently, passing it back across the desk to O'Neill. The Colonel glanced at it, signed his own name as a witness and then closed the file.
"You worked on the X-302 a few months back," Jack began, slouching a little in his seat. In contrast Colonel Edwards remained stiff and proper as he sat silently, letting O'Neill do all the initial talking.
"Yes Sir," Evan agreed. The fact that the other men clearly knew about the aircraft was enough for Lorne to feel free answering the question. "Test flights until the aircraft was cleared to move into production at the end of last year."
"And what did you think of her, the 302?"
"It was the fastest thing I've ever flown Sir," Lorne said simply. "With the inertial dampening system and the additional engine capacity I don't think there's anything else currently flying that could beat it."
"Anything else that you know of," Jack corrected.
"Sir?" Lorne frowned, confused by the correction.
"Did you ever wonder where we got the technology?" O'Neill asked.
"Every day," Evan admitted. "I've done test flying before Sir – some of it for NASA High Speed Research – and I've never seen anything that would suggest we could create something like the 302. Not for a long time anyway."
"That would be because we couldn't have ... not without help," O'Neill explained. "I've got people who could explain this a lot better than I can but in a nut shell, for the past six years we've been travelling to other planets through a device they found in Egypt in nineteen twenty something – we call it the Stargate."
"Other planets?" Lorne thought, looking from O'Neill to Edwards and back again. They both seemed to believe what they were saying but Evan's first thought was that maybe they'd been out in the Afghanistan sun a little too long. It was a harsh environment and heat stroke was all too common ... and mental confusion was up there on the list of side effects. "Right," he told himself ruefully. "Heat stroke ... that explains everything! Get a grip Evan ... this will all make sense eventually."
"A Stargate ... ri-ght," he repeated aloud, the unfamiliar word sounded odd coming out of Lorne's mouth but no odder than the expression felt on his face. There he was, thinking internally that the two Colonel's needed medical help but on the outside he tried for all he was worth to present a professional, bland facade.
"This is the part where they usually start looking at me like I'm insane," Jack commented to Edwards with a smirk.
Edwards nodded, watching Lorne closely. "He's a little more polite than we usually get though," Edwards returned. Colonel O'Neill nodded, holding in a smile as he waited for the rest of the young Major's reaction.
"Sir?" Evan wasn't sure what he was asking – but there had to be more because surely what he was hearing was a fiction of some sort.
"I don't blame you for being sceptical," Jack excused. "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it in action. But rest assured Major, we wouldn't be here if what I was telling you was anything less than the truth. We've had teams going through the gate for six years, give or take ... enough time for us to pick up technologies and enemies to keep us busy for the foreseeable future. Technologies like you've already seen with the 302."
"Okay," Evan decided abruptly that he'd play along. "Let's say I believe you Sir ... why would you be telling me?"
"Good question Major," O'Neill congratulated in a manner that was full of amusement, like he knew Lorne was just humouring him. "We're telling you because you already have experience with some of the technology. That along with your qualifications makes you the ideal candidate for a little job we have going out of Stargate Command – on a planet we lovingly call P3X-403."
"A job Sir?" Lorne felt like he was disconnected from reality – he was playing along but the two Colonel's were continuing the act beyond the bounds of any practical joke and it was starting to freak him out. Why would they come to him – tell him something out of science fiction – and then offer him a job if it wasn't true? It made no sense but at the same time Evan was completely sure it made perfect sense. And suddenly his foundation – his internal belief about the nature of existence – was shaken.
There were other planets you could go to, beyond the ones we knew about in our own solar system.
Other people ... enemies ... were out there too. Marcus's little green men were real – and contact had already been made.
The air force had actually sent people to those planets ... including the two men in front of him. They'd actually been to other planets.
And it was a secret from the entire world!
"Breath Major," O'Neill said with amusement.
"Sorry?" Evan blinked, took an involuntary breath and then blinked again. "You go to other planets through a Stargate and you want me for a job on one of them ... Sir?"
"That about sums it up," Jack agreed.
"What about my Command Sir, my men?" Lorne asked, resorting to the predictable and commonplace in an effort to counter the bizarre turn his day had taken.
"We've got someone else already lined up to take over," O'Neill replied. "We can have them here before you can say boo. So, what do you say Major? Are you up for it?"
"Sure, why not ... I'm not doing anything for the rest of the day," Lorne laughed sarcastically, wondering when the hidden cameras were going to come out. Instead he got Colonel O'Neill touching a hand to a small communication device in his front shirt pocket as he said "tell our little grey friend that we're ready down here."
A few moments later a flash of blinding white light engulfed the room. Evan closed his eyes against the glare, opening them moments later to a scene that baffled him completely. The associated disorientation was enough that he stumbled before steadying, his legs feeling weak even as his heart rate kicked up a notch.
"Welcome to the SGC Major," Colonel O'Neill said lightly.
"What ... how?" Evan looked around the room in disbelief. He'd closed his eyes on that meeting room in Kandahar and opened them to another room, drab concrete, exposed pipes running across the ceiling.
Unfamiliar.
He had no idea where he was!
"We don't usually do things this way but time's a little short so we called in a favour from one of our off world allies," Jack explained. "Asgard beaming technology. Don't ask me how it works, I only know that it does."
"So we're ....?" Evan trailed off uncertainly.
"Back on U.S soil?" O'Neill queried. "Yes we are Major, in Colorado to be precise. The Cheyenne Mountain complex. NORAD do their thing up on the surface but the lower floors are all part of Stargate Command."
Lorne nodded, struggling for a little internal calm. "This is all real Sir?"
"It's all for real Major," O'Neill confirmed. "Come on – I'll show you the Stargate and then introduce you to General Hammond."
Authors Note:
Non disclosure information from www dot fas dot org / sgp / isoo / new _ sf312 dot pdf.
I have no idea how they'd actually rope someone in for the Stargate program so used the fact that they personally visited Jeanie Miller and Eli Wallace to decide they'd personally visit Lorne too. I chose Jack for the honour because I like him! Also I gave Colonel Edwards a first name because I couldn't find one listed anywhere.
Next chapter will probably be posted after the weekend - got a busy one coming up. Thanks for reading!