A/N: At the suggestion of my beta, I figured out how to open up anonymous reviews. I didn't know it was closed. Anyway, thank you for the lovely reviews I've received. Isabel, you didn't leave an email address. In answer to your question, I've posted on Jackfic, Heliopolis, and Helio2. Those are all unbeta'd so I apologize for the errors (and there are many).
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Turnabout is Fair Play – Part 10
Author: Neiths Arrow
Disclaimer: The following characters are fictitious. They, in no way, make a statement about any real persons – especially since I have made up the names, histories, interests, personalities, and experiences (fictional 'facts) to suit my needs (as authors tend to do). Any similarity to real persons is just that – a similarity. The personalities are based on characteristics of people in Stargateland (MGM Television Entertainment). I don't own those characters by the way. I am not profiting from this story in any financial way. Please do not post this story without my consent.
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Scene 21 – Shipped off
Flanders became disoriented when his body shifted 90 degrees into a horizontal position. The room was cold on his wet skin; he was thankful he had rinsed the soap out of his hair before being transported. Leave it to the Asgard to choose the shower as a time to transport him. Roc observed four green lights above him. He could not feel a surface supporting his back, and he wondered if he was floating. A voice inside said, 'Oh yeah! We're floating. I remember this now.'
O'Neill requested control of the body in order to perform recognizance of the room. Besides the glowing green lights, the room contained various screens with unreadable data – presumably data retrieved by constant scanning of the actor's body. The only other life form present was a reddish-colored Asgard standing in an enclosed force field to the left of the doorway. It was not moving and its eyes were closed. On the right of the doorway a familiar, box-like container sat on a pedestal. The ornate vessel had a design similar to the one Thor had shown them at the SGC a couple of days earlier. This box, however, was a deep blue color with black trim. The inlaid design was silver instead of gold. The opening glowed a welcoming pearlescent color. His visual scan was interrupted when Roc commented again about the cold. 'Yeah, it would be nice to be wearing . . . something.'
Their internal dialogue was interrupted by the appearance of a mobile Asgard. Roc quickly took control, but shot off a request. 'O'Neill, just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll act it out.'
O'Neill responded silently, 'We just need to make sure he doesn't suspect that I'm here. Act like . . . yourself, acting like . . . yourself.' After a brief pause while they both processed the duality of their situation, O'Neill commented gruffly, 'Just make sure he doesn't scan your memories.'
Flanders watched as the Asgard continued to his side. He was struck by this alien's resemblance to Thor, but then again, he could never tell the difference between the props – they all looked alike. Flanders made his eyes widen in shock. "You look just like Thor. But how can that be? What kind of trick is this?"
"I am called Loki. You are not imagining this. I am aware of your television program about a Stargate. You may not be aware that the stories are true in my reality." The alien enjoyed these moments of superiority over his subjects.
Roc decided to reel him in further, so he widened his eyes with sudden insight. "Wait a minute. Weren't you in the episode where an Asgard kidnapped O'Neill and replaced him with a younger clone?"
"Yes. That is correct. In order to create a superior Asgard clone and save my race from extinction, I have come to your reality in order to harvest your DNA. As you may remember, Thor modified Colonel O'Neill's DNA to prevent further experimentation. I have circumvented those safeties because I have ascertained that you possess the Ancient gene." His eyes flickered to the encased Asgard body. "I have also acquired additional technology to speed up the cloning process. A Goa'uld named Nirrti discovered an Ancient piece of equipment which can modify the existing DNA of any life form." Loki pointed to the unmoving body near the door. "This Asgard body will be modified with your DNA. There is currently no occupant of the body, so there are no ethical considerations. I hope to present my findings in person to the Asgard High Council. By doing so, I will regain their respect and save our race."
Flanders was perturbed that the theft of his DNA was deemed below ethical consideration. He couldn't keep the annoyance out of his voice. "What if I don't want you to use my DNA? What if I refuse?"
Loki tilted his head and calmly responded. "That would be futile, for you have no choice in this matter. Since you are unable to contact them, the High Council will be unaware of how I came to acquire the DNA. I plan to detain you for one of your Earth days. I will return you after I am sure the modifications have been completed successfully."
Roc continued the pretense. "They'll miss me and wonder where I am."
Loki didn't even bother to look up from the monitors as he replied. "That is incorrect Flanders. You were alone in your home and you are not due to arrive to the filming location until tomorrow afternoon. I have already set the ship to transport you directly into your trailer. No one will miss your absence. Neither will they believe you should you wish to report this incident. But as an extra precaution, I will wipe your memory clean of these events."
Flanders had no further comments. The alien seemed to have thought of everything.
"I will now begin your body scan. Do not worry. You will remain unchanged by the process. After I am sure the process has been completed successfully, I will do a brain scan and erase your memory of all that has transpired here." He moved a stone and Nirrti's machine began to glow.
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The rest of SG-1 quickly contacted Thor to report the disappearance of Flanders and O'Neill. Thor transported them to his ship immediately. He gambled on his knowledge of Loki's personality traits and hoped the renegade was too focused on his project to notice the extra transmissions. "Major Carter. Are you aware of whether or not O'Neill took the crystal and box with him? It is important that he have the ability to transfer out of Flanders before Loki detects his presence. For if Loki performs a memory scan, he may deliberately delete O'Neill's essence. Then he would be lost to us."
Carter replied thoughtfully. "Thor, the Colonel didn't have time to bring the box. But we didn't find the crystal anywhere. I can only assume that Colonel O'Neill would have tried to bring it with him. But they were in the shower when they were abducted. There aren't too many places to . . . hide a crystal when one is naked."
Daniel pursed his eyebrows in thought and gave a sidelong look to Teal'c. The Jaffa frowned and rumbled deeply, "Indeed!"
Daniel lightly touched his thumb and index finger to his chin as he questioned, "Thor, aren't we supposed to . . . beam to Jack's location to rescue Flanders?"
Thor was gazing intently into a portable monitor. "The crystal, which also acts as a homing device, is undetectable at this time. I am afraid O'Neill will have to free himself."
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Roc couldn't believe how tiring the body scan was. He fell into a deep sleep shortly after Loki turned off the machine. He was awakened by a Munchkin exclamation of glee. "It worked! They will have to respect me now!" The renegade Asgard shuffled quickly from the room.
O'Neill had remained awake during the scan. He waited for his body mate to fully awaken. 'I have to transfer out before he returns. We can't let him get away with this.'
Roc was puzzled. 'Where is the rest of SG-1? Shouldn't they be rescuing us by now? Thor said he would beam to our location.'
O'Neill's response was practical. 'We can't rely on them right now. Let's come up with Plan B.' After a period of silent thought, O'Neill requested control of the body. After briefly filling in the actor on his part of the plan, O'Neill transferred the red crystal from his cheek to his front teeth. The crystal began to glow and a red beam shot out from his mouth toward the doorway.
After the beam ended, Flanders looked closely at the ornate blue box. He didn't notice any discernable difference in the glow from the small opening. As soon as Loki released him from the force field, Roc was to overpower the physically weaker alien and call for assistance using the control panel he would hopefully find in the other room. Under no circumstance was he to leave the ship without taking the blue 'sanctuary' with him. The actor was excited and nervous about this upcoming, very real performance. He did not want to disappoint his teammates. He smiled at the thought that he was currently a member of SG-1. As he attempted to make a silent comment to O'Neill, he remembered that he was now alone in his body.
Loki entered the room in an excited shuffle. As he checked a few of the multiple screens that decorated the interior, the alien steepled his fingers together and exclaimed, "Excellent."
Roc rolled his eyes before drawing attention to himself, "Helleeew! I'm still here."
The grey alien turned his body toward his subject. "You will remain to witness the genius of my work. It is unfortunate that I have to erase your memory before I return you to your world. I have already downloaded the sum of Asgard knowledge into this new body which will become my new home." He turned back to the monitors and carefully changed some of the settings. Then he shuffled toward the force field around the modified Asgard body while muttering with glee. His chest rapidly expanded and contracted with his excited breaths. After he shifted the stone to remove the force field, Loki prepared himself to catch the limp body before it collapsed to the floor.
Flanders watched with trepidation. He had not expected Loki to transfer his own consciousness into the new body. He wasn't sure how this fit into their escape plan. Though the reddish alien body looked more muscular than a typical Asgard, Roc suspected he could still overpower it.
After a brief delay, the Asgard body lurched forward onto Loki and they both fell to the floor. Loki appeared to have difficulty getting up from underneath the body. There was a lot of writhing, but no apparent progress. Roc suddenly realized that the writhing was due to the hold the new Asgard had on Loki. His body was quickly turned face down with his arm behind his back. The new Asgard turned to the actor and commanded in a Chipmunks ® voice, "Flanders, spit the crystal toward me."
Flanders was stunned for only a moment before he complied. The crystal shot through the air and the new Asgard placed the device into a groove in his palm. A red beam shot from the crystal, through Loki's head, and into the deep blue sanctuary. All struggling ceased as the beam transmission ended. The new Asgard jumped onto his feet and shuffled toward the actor. He released Flanders from the force field. "Good job Rocco. How did you know it was me? I told you I was beaming into the box."
Roc bluffed. "I've acted like you for years. I knew what you were going to do." Jack bobbed his head in disappointed acknowledgment. Roc thought it looked odd in the alien body, but he had seen the puppeteers in Vancouver do funnier things with the Asgard puppets. "Well! What do we do now, Jack?"
Jack averted his eyes from Roc's naked body and shuffled into the next room. "Why don't we check to see if this ship can make you a set of clothing. We wouldn't want . . . Teal'c to be embarrassed by your current state." Jack stopped in mid stride and looked down at his current, alien body. He continued with horrified disgust. "Apparently, I don't have anything that needs hiding."
The actor winced in sympathy and followed the airman into the next room.
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Thor and SG-1 were startled to hear a communication from Flanders through the Asgard communicator. "SG-1, this is Roc. Can you read? Is this thing working?"
"Yes Flanders. Where are you located?"
"Thor! Good to hear you. Uh! We're aboard Loki's ship. I believe Colonel O'Neill is attempting to . . . de-cloak the sensors. . . . You should be able to pick up our signal . . . now."
Thor puzzled over these last comments while he shuffled a number of stones on a console. "Yes, I am able to observe your life signature." He saw a human and two Asgard bodies. He quickly deduced that the extra Asgard was part of Loki's experiment. He was curious about the unusual life signs emanating from it, but thought he would address the anomaly in person. "We will beam aboard your vessel at once."
Roc immediately shouted, "No! Jack just discovered that this ship will automatically return to its original reality in one minute. We'll meet you at the filming location in Vancouver. Flanders out." The line clicked abruptly and there was no response to their attempts at communication. Thor was unable to find their location on his sensors.
The members of SG-1 looked at each other in puzzlement. Sam was the first to speak. "Apparently, Colonel O'Neill has transferred out Roc's body, but to where? And how did they figure out how to transport to Vancouver?"
Daniel frowned. He also lacked confidence in Jack's ability to manipulate technology. "I don't know. But I guess we'll find out when we get there."
As one, the three, team members turned to Thor. Sam asked, "Thor, are our disguises ready?"
In response, the short alien handed each a familiar pendant. "Major Carter, I have enhanced the devices to mimic your emotions in a manner expected for the character you will portray. Only your appearance will be completely modified, however. The pitch and tone of your voice will also be modified, but cadence and inflections will remain your own. I apologize for the incompleteness, but the devices require a direct connection to another living being in order to complete the simulation."
Sam nodded her understanding. As one, the three members of SG-1 applied the alien shape-shifting devices to their chests. All three were instantly transformed. Sam and Daniel stared at each other in dismay. They promptly pulled off their pendants, swapped with each other, and reapplied them. The two human members of SG-1 breathed a sigh of relief. Sam turned to Thor. "We're ready."