Chapter 9
Lt. Colonels Janet Frasier and Cameron Mitchell led Jackie and her brother, Charlie off world to P3X-666 to see what happened to Jack O'Neill. They stepped through the event horizon and soon came across a teenage boy who looked much like Jack.
The boy was shorter and found Jack's clothes hung from his skinny frame. The boots were two sizes too big, the trousers needed to be rolled up and the belt tightened. The BDU jacket went down to his knees. He gave a scowl look as he barked, "You bring me some clothes that fit?"
Mitchell handed him a pack, "Here!"
Jack's clone grabbed the pack and started to dig through, "Thank god." He reached in the found a pair of boots and then slid his foot out of the larger boot and sized it against the sole of his foot. "This should do."
Jackie asked, "What happened to my dad. Why is he a kid?"
Sam explained, "Apparently he's a clone of your father who was abducted last night by an Asgard named Loki who has given us issues in the past. He has all your father's memories but is a clone. Apparently, this happened the first time for your father as well."
"So that teenager is my dad's clone?" asked Charlie as he watched the clone started to change into the smaller sized clothing.
"Yes," Sam concluded. "If Loki is behind this we need to find Thor because your father's clone said he will die if Thor doesn't stop an Asgard planted self-timer that would cause the clone to expire and degrade. Apparently, the first time the clone lived and grew normally into an adult."
"Okay," Charlie tried to judge the clone. He looked like a teenager around 15 years of age but seemed to act much like his father. "So what do we call him? I'm not calling him 'Dad'."
Jackie figured, "He's not our dad. He would be our brother."
The clone snapped, "How would I be your brother?"
"Well, you have a single source for DNA. My father is your DNA source. Many species have a single source DNA parent that pass down all their knowledge to their offspring…it's like cloning yourself. The Goa'uld for example." she then winced as she realized she compared the clone to the Goa'uld.
Charlie had to agree, "That kind of would make dad's clone our brother. I always wanted a kid brother." he admitted.
Jackie pondered, "What should we name him?"
The clone huffed, "I have all of his memories. I have his personality, his knowledge. The first clone went his own way and did his own thing. He didn't have a brother or sister and he never, ever considered him to be his father." He continued in the rant, "Loki stole his ass and made me. I am not him nor am I his kid."
Jackie disagreed and looked at Janet, "Dr. Frasier would he qualify to be an offspring of a single source parent?"
Janet slowly nodded in thought, "He would."
Charlie stated, "Let's name him Roy."
"Roy!" Jackie huffed.
The clone huffed, "Yo! We need to find Thor and Loki to get him back and save my life. I'm not a puppy. You can't just name me like that."
Charlie asked, "What are we supposed to call you then? Mini-Jack!"
The clone narrowed his eyes annoyed. "You seriously didn't say that!"
Jackie stated, "Once we fix him and get Dad back he will eventually grow up and look just like dad. Let's name him Jonathan O'Neill the Second."
The clone stood gasping, "You're serious!"
"We can name him after dad." Charlie agreed. "Call him Jon instead of Jack."
Jon asked, "Are you listening to yourselves? You're worried about naming me."
Charlie asked, "Would you rather be called 'the clone'?"
"No," he shook his head. "Jon will work."
Mitchell told them, "Thor contacted us and said he couldn't make this rendezvous point. He gave us another address to dial."
"Let's go!" Jon huffed. He realized he would expire in less than twenty four hours and though he was a clone he simply didn't wish to die.
Mitchell went to the DHD and started to dial the address. The Gate locked on the vortex established with the shimmering blue event horizon glazed over like a poll of water. He motioned, "Let's go!" He watched as the teams went through and then followed last into the vortex.
P3X-013
The land was dark and damp. A thick fog had settled across the swampy land surrounding the Gate. The area seemed ominous to the travelers.
"Creepy," noted Mitchell.
Daniel sighed, "We're in the middle of a swamp." He smelled the air, "I smell tar pits."
"It smells bad." Sam agreed wrinkling her nose. "Did Thor say why to come here?"
"Nope," Mitchell shook his head.
"Let's see what we can find." Daniel suggested. "Everyone watch your step."
Slowly they walked down the steps and found high ground that appeared to be a path. They started to walk a distance through the boggy swamp that was filled with snakes, frogs and reptiles of all kinds. They soon emerged from the swamp to a clearing. As they stepped closer the fog started to lift to reveal a step shaped pyramid in the middle of a courtyard. Slowly they continued looking for any signs of life. As they rounded the pyramid they came across hieroglyphs on large stone pillars. Daniel and Jackie both started to translate the words.
"This is a form of Aztec. It's Aztlan!" he gasped.
"Aztec?" asked Mitchell. "South America?"
He nodded, "Yeah! Aztec."
"This is the entrance to Chicomoztoc." stated Jackie as she read.
"Entrance to what?" asked Mitchell.
"The seven caves." Daniel told him. "Aztec are believed be ancient people who descended from seven tribes who came from seven caves."
"Makes ya wonder of the Aztec empire knew about the Gate." Mitchell noted. He made another step and the rock beneath their feet gave way sending them down into a dark pit.
The two teams hit the dirt floor of the pit hard. Slowly they rose to their feet while checking themselves over for injuries.
As Daniel stood up he felt a sharp pain in his ankle, "Ouch!" He suddenly went back down for he could not bare weight on it.
Janet came to his aid, "Let me see." She loosened his boot laces and rolled up the pant leg. His ankle was contorted. She gently felt the area.
"Oye, oye…" he gritted his teeth.
"It's broke," she concluded. She reached for her pack and found a SAM splint and began to unroll the item. She fitted it to Daniel's ankle to prevent further injury. "Is everyone else okay?" she asked.
Mitchell nodded, "Just banged up a little." He looked to Sam, "You okay?"
Sam held her computer up in pieces, "My bag broke my fall. My computer is shot." She looked at Charlie and Jackie, "You two okay?"
Charlie rubbed his arm and side, "Hard landing but nothing broke." He looked to his sister. She had blood streaming down the side of her head. "You're bleeding."
Jackie felt the cut above her temple, "I banged my head."
Janet yelled, "Sam check her."
Sam went over to her and stood before her. She looked at Jackie's eyes and shined a light, "Look at me. Pupils are equal and reactive." she yelled out. She grabbed Jackie's hands, "Squeeze both my hands."
Jackie did so, "I'm okay."
"You have a bad gash." Sam told her. "Touch your nose with each hand."
Jackie complied but missed her nose with her left hand. She had to do the test again to get it correct. "I'm just a little dizzy."
Janet finished splinting Daniel's ankle and huffed, "We need to get out of here."
Jon shined a light about the area. He found a human skull in a corner, "That's not good."
Mitchell stated, "There is a tunnel here. You stay here and I'll go ahead to check it out."
Just as the worlds passed his lips the top of the wall gave way and sand began pouring into the pit. As the pit began to fill they forced into the tunnel as the sand blocked the entrance.
Daniel looked back and winced in pain, "We're not getting out that way." He couldn't put any weight on his foot and just moving a few meters was painful.
Charlie made himself into a crutch and placed Daniel's arm over his shoulder. Teal'c took the other side and two men helped Daniel further into the tunnel.
Mitchell stood before the group, "Okay we move slow and precise. These ruins are likely booby trapped."
Jon sighed, "You don't say."
Mitchell threw him a look, "I don't need a teenage clone of General O'Neill mouthing off."
Jon rolled his eyes for he knew he was a clone and really had no say in the matter.
Charlie defended him, "With all due respect Colonel ease up on him. He's only a day old."
Mitchell rolled his eyes, "Right." He then shined the light ahead of them, "This way!" he stated leading them deeper into the darkened tunnel.
