A Kind of Singularity

Chapter Seven

Genesis

"Let's go."

Cassie leapt from the co-pilot chair and marched into the cargo hold. She bent over the controls by the door and painstakingly translated the symbols on each button. Marco made some adjustments to the tel'tac before joining her.

"You can't really want to go down to that piece of rock."

"I really do. How do we activate the rings?"

"The what?"

Marco scratched his head, and the silver transporter attached to his wrist flashed against the gold décor. Cassie stepped back from the controls. Of course Marco wouldn't use the rings; he had his own means of getting down to the planet.

"Never mind. How do I make this thing work? Do I just say 'Execute'?"

The rushing sense of stepping through a Stargate and the brutal impact of feet on earth answered Cassie's question. Not ready for the transport, but at least accustomed to its effects, Cassie managed to stay on her feet. She scrapped her hand on the hard ground as she struggled to right herself.

"Yes," Marco replied drolly, appearing next to her.

Cassie turned in a full circle taking in the planet. A flat and desolate landscape extended to the horizon in all directions. The ground beneath her tennis shoes was nothing more than charred and cracked rock. Cassie closed her eyes and tried to picture the Abydos Jack and Daniel had known on the first trip through the Stargate. Sand blowing across dunes, pyramids to rival Giza, a wood-and-canvas city. When she opened her eyes, she was confronted by another planet decimated, another human civilization massacred by the Goa'uld.

"I wonder why this rock was in the Lucian Alliance database," Marco mused. "There's no people, no resources, no point to it. Sorry I couldn't have taken you someplace better."

"No, this is perfect, Marco. It used to be populated by humans taken from Ancient Egypt by Ra, and it was the first mission for Earth's Stargate program. Abydos is the beginning of everything – Earth's exploration, the downfall of the Goa'uld. If there had been no Abydos, I would have died on Hanka along with everyone else or been taken host by Nirrti. My mom would have never gone to Vallini to set up clinics."

Cassie turned to Marco, but the harsh setting sun blinded her, and she couldn't see his expression.

"So what happened here?"

"Anubis."

Marco nodded and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Abydos had always been a hot, desert planet, but the baked mud desert offered no reprieve from the battering sun. Cassie could almost feel her pale skin burning after ten minutes.

"I know there's nothing to see here," Cassie began, "but I'm glad this is where we ended up."

Standing on Abydos, Cassie felt an affinity to the other humans in the Milky Way more keenly than ever before. Proof of kinship surrounded her. Here lived another society of humans equally oppressed, equally punished for committing no crimes, and ultimately, victims of genocide. She could see the ghosts of Skaara and Sha're and her Hankan parents in the heat devils. They were the same whatever planet they called home.

"Did you know anyone from Abydos, then?"

"In a manner of speaking," Cassie replied. "Execute!"

The command to the transporter sent a chill crawling down her spine that had nothing to do with soaring through space to the tel'tac.

The interior of the ship felt blessedly cool after the sweltering heat of Abydos. Cassie's arms bore signs of the vicious sunlight. Less than a quarter of an hour on the planet, and her skin bore angry red blotches and prominent freckles. Marco looked much the same way, minus the freckles.

Travelling from Earth to the tel'tac to Abydos and back, Cassie understood what Sam had told her about gravity. She felt lighter, almost buoyant on Abydos and strangely heavy back on the ship.

"Back to Earth, then? Or do we have time for one more attempt at finding a good planet?"

Cassie shook her head. When she remembered her first trip in space, she wanted to think of Abydos and how she found a piece of herself there.

o o o

The journey back to Earth seemed to take twice as long, but Marco assured Cassie they were travelling at the same speed. What she had imagined as a short trip on the way to Abydos had in fact been several hours long. Marco had packed extra rations, but even so such a confined space triggered claustrophobia and fatigue after awhile.

"Are your ships as cramped as this tel'tac?" Cassie asked, midway through a yawn.

"No," Marco laughed. "We'd all go stir crazy …. Like you are." He flashed her a teasing smile. "The Savarna is big – about the same size as your Prometheus. We only have about half the crew, though, so everyone has room to breathe. More or less."

Cassie had never seen the Prometheus except in archive photos. She knew it was smaller than the George Hammond, though.

"It would take some time to adjust, in any case," Marco commented. "But it grows on you. I couldn't image living any other way. Kaldarri are free to do what they want, when they want." He glanced sidelong. "How's the sales pitch?"

"Good. Tempting."

The flight consoles informed Marco and Cassie they were approaching Earth coordinates. The star streaks shrank into regular pinpoints of light and Earth rose in the windows. Smiling brightly, Cassie relaxed in the co-pilot chair and rolled her neck so she could look at Marco.

"This has been, by far, the most wonko date the planet Earth has ever known. It's too bad none of my friends have security clearance. I'd love to make them jealous. Knights in shining really can't compare to Kaldarri in spaceships."

"A knight in what?"

Cassie didn't answer. Her relaxed posture morphed into rigid fear as two Earth battlecruisers maneuvered between the tel'tac and Earth. Apparently, the Sun Tzu had repaired its weapons systems.

"Radio!" Cassie cried. "We have to tell them who we are!"

"What? They wouldn't just fire on a – "

"Earth is already on high alert. The Lucian Alliance attacked us through the Stargate two days ago, and we're in one of their ships. Not to mention we've been gone gods know how long, so they probably think you're Lucian Alliance and you kidnapped me."

Marco cursed in a Goa'uld dialect unfamiliar to Cassie and hurriedly tuned the radio to the frequency used by Earth defense. Before he reached the correct band, a squadron of F-302s swarmed from the George Hammond's hangar bay. The Sun Tzu fired a warning shot across the tel'tac's bow.

"Just be glad that wasn't an Asgard weapon," Cassie said, when Marco cursed again.

The radio came to life, transmitting Sam's voice through the tel'tac intercom system. "… identify or we will fire."

Cassie slammed her palm down on the button as the Sun Tzu fired another burst so close to the bow she thought she saw the projectiles fly past the window.

"Sam, it's Cassie. I'm on the tel'tac. Don't fire!"

That wasn't even close to proper radio communication protocol, but it was the best Cassie could muster with so much adrenaline racing through her system. She felt fortunate her brain could still form coherent words.

"Cassie?" Sam replied after a long pause. Shock and relief flooded her voice. "What the hell happened? And where have you been?"

"It's, uh, kind of a long story. I'd be happy to explain everything when we're on the ground."

There was another silence, presumably while Sam relayed orders to the Sun Tzu's commander and the 302 pilots. "You'll be escorted to Peterson by four 302s. Do not attempt to deviate from the flight plan or cloak the ship. Do you copy, Cassie?"

She glanced at Marco, who nodded. "I copy, Sam. I'll see you planet side."

With the radio off, Marco felt free to speak his mind. "Bit of overkill for one small cargo ship, eh?"

Cassie exhaled deeply and tried to force her heart to stop flipping over in her chest. "You'd think. But our enemies have done a lot of damage with one small cargo ship."

Marco followed the lead 302 into Earth's atmosphere. The ship jostled despite the inertial dampeners, and flames leapt up around the windows during reentry. Just as suddenly as it started, it was over and they flew through thick, wet clouds in the upper atmosphere. When she could make out the shape of North America, the 302s banked hard right and touched down at Peterson Air Force Base.

The scene outside the tel'tac matched Cassie's expectations exactly. Twenty or thirty armed airmen and marines had circled the cargo ship. Three black SUVs idled around the perimeter, and officers in dress blues climbed out of the backseats. The 302s circled the base in case Marco tried to take off.

The moment Cassie stepped out of the ship, a pair of immensely strong hands clasped her upper arms and steered her towards the first idling SUV with such force she couldn't resist. She glanced behind to see several airmen muscling Marco in the same way, but he put up a fight. Cassie recognized his look as one of fear turning into defiance.

"It's okay, Marco," she called. "They're taking us to the place where we keep the Stargate. We have to talk to them, and then you'll be allowed to leave. I've got it all worked …"

But she wasn't allowed to say anything more. The owner of the strong arms pushed her into the backseat and slammed the door. She had a glimpse of Marco, now walking willingly, through the tinted glass. The other door opened and closed. Cassie turned to see who had joined her.

Teal'c wore a look of such outrage, Cassie momentarily forgot he was a gentle and just friend. She saw him as a Jaffa, and her eyes flickered up to the gold serpent tattoo on his forehead. It might as well have been the bird emblem of Nirrti for the fear it inspired in her.

"What thoughts were in your head, Cassandra?" His tone was not what he would have used with enemies of Apophis, but perhaps with a very young Ry'ac. He became Teal'c again, and Cassie could breathe easier.

"I know what it looks like, Teal'c, but that's not what happened."

"It would appear that you were unexpectedly transported out of your home, but then willingly left Earth with an alien man, giving no notice to the authorities who permit or deny such travel. The authorities who are also the people who love you and care for your well-being. And in doing so, you left these people to believe for twelve hours that you had been abducted by a ruthless enemy who only two days previously killed many good and innocent people."

Cassie froze, all traces of placating good humor wiped off her face. She had judged this situation wrong. Again, a nagging voice in her head shouted hubris! because she had counted on Jack waving his magic three stars at the problem and making it go away. For her. Just for her.

"Who is riding with Marco?" she asked, deflecting the question. There would be plenty of time to tell the story – which she now knew would beg the question: 'Did you ever once ask him to turn the ship around?' – and receive the punishment for answers that would be unsatisfactory.

"Colonel Mitchell thought it prudent to keep me separated from the alien."

"And yet, here you are."

Teal'c lifted one eyebrow, either to signal that he recognized she was an alien too or to warn her that he did not appreciate her cheek. She dropped all attempts at lightening the mood and went silent for several minutes.

"Teal'c … How do you know when you're not free?"

Teal'c remained still for several moments before wondering, "Why do you ask me this question now, Cassandra?"

"It's something … I've just been thinking a lot lately about my future."

"Many things can enslave us, Cassandra, and freedom has many definitions. I can speak only of my own experience, and it will not mean anything to you, for you have not lived the life of a Jaffa."

"In my civics class, we defined freedom as self-determination."

Teal'c bowed his head. "A worthy definition and one used by many Jaffa. But I believe self-determination has two definitions, Cassandra. While I refer to one, you refer to the other. I will not say your definition is less worthy, but I caution you. Such freedom can itself be a slave master. Consider Ishta's people who once used any means to gain their freedom, and in so doing, hindered their own cause by unknowingly striking down their brethren."

The train of SUVs pulled into the Cheyenne Mountain complex, and Cassie joined the cluster of airmen taking the access elevators down to the SGC. Still watched closely by Teal'c, she kept her eyes to the front, trying to rehearse a version of the story that exonerated both Marco and herself.

"General Landry is expecting you in the conference room," Teal'c said when the second elevator opened onto the familiar scene of concrete tunnels.

"And Marco?"

"He will be accommodated elsewhere."

Cassie knew what that meant. She kept quiet and followed Teal'c up two flights of stairs. Sam waited by the bank of windows looking down on the embarkation room. Her lips pressed into a thin line, brow furrowed, she looked every bit the Air Force Colonel. Daniel stood a few paces away looking more worried than angry. He offered her a grimace that she supposed was meant to be a smile. General Landry entered from his office, impassive as always.

"Sit. Now, will someone tell me why my very pleasant dream about relaxing vacations and red-crested pochards was interrupted at one in the morning?"

Cassie's jaw slipped. Teal'c had said she'd been gone twelve hours, but it hadn't registered in the litany of other offenses he'd listed. Her eyes swiveled to the clock. It declared the time 0200.

Sam cocked her head in Cassie's directions, still looking furious, and Teal'c glanced sidelong at her. With a deep breath, for courage or to buy time, she explained about her conversation with Jack, Marco's unexpected trip to the tel'tac in orbit, and their departure into hyperspace.

"When this young man, Marco, opened a hyperspace window," General Landry began, irritation now dripping from his voice, "did you consider sending a radio communication to Stargate Command first?"

Cassie said nothing, and that was answer enough. Sam looked away, and the gesture spoke volumes of outrage and hurt. Cam entered the room and took a seat at the table. Apparently, one of the SGC's "guest rooms" now held Marco.

"So then what?"

Cassie answered the General's question as succinctly as possible. "We flew to the closest set of coordinates in the database. Abydos."

Daniel's head snapped up from the notebook he'd been jotting in, and Sam deigned to look at Cassie for the first time since she'd started explaining a quarter of an hour ago.

"And did you …." Daniel trailed off.

"We transported down to the planet." Cassie checked her arms. No longer angry red, her skin was nonetheless bronzed and covered in freckles. "There's … there's nothing …"

"And then?"

"And then … we came back," Cassie finished lamely.

"And ignored the Sun Tzu's hails for a full five minutes," Sam snapped. "You're lucky we didn't blow you out of the sky."

"I'm going to tell you a story now, Cassie," General Landry began waspishly. "While you were off doing everything you've always wanted, we had a war room going. The Lucian Alliance are after doctors now, as you were told three days ago. Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c thought you'd been snatched from right under their noses. That's a great feeling for an Air Force officer and a Jaffa."

Cassie felt her shoulders hunch, as if poor posture could save her from the General's brutal sarcasm.

"We double timed the Sun Tzu's repairs while we collected a list of planets they might have taken you. Three SG teams scrapped their missions and mounted a rescue, because we don't leave our people behind. As we speak, all three teams are off world in enemy territory searching for you."

Cassie blanched.

"So was it worth it?" Sam demanded. She stared at Cassie like a wrong answer might send her flying across the table in a rage. Cassie recognized the look. Her mom had worn it many times when she'd mouthed off too much.

The right answer, of course, was no. No, it was not worth risking the lives of twelve people and wasting valuable time and assets. But part of Cassie couldn't be sorry. The wonderment of seeing Earth from space, of stepping onto an alien world, of feeling the kinship between herself and all the other humans in the Milky Way ….

"General Landry, sir. I am truly sorry that I didn't think about – about anyone else. I can't excuse what I did. After we talked about how I could never go through the Stargate or be part of the SGC in the way I wanted – "

"You are not seriously … Cassie, that's an excuse!" Sam cried.

"And a pathetic one at that," the General echoed.

Cassie felt her cheeks burning from a mixture of shame and anger. She wanted to protest, but Teal'c laid a hand on hers beneath the table. She hesitated, and General Landry had the final word. Rising from the table, he stared down at Cassie, his fury showing only in his eyes.

"A lot of powerful people are very fond of you, Dr. Fraiser, and you've been granted a great deal of latitude because of it. A less diplomatic way of saying it might be to compare you to a spoiled child. Let's see how your behavior improves if you're treated like every other civilian medical student in the world. Your security clearance and access to this base is hereby revoked."