Stargate: Through the Looking Glass

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

As Buffy jumped to close the Portal in "The Gift" Dawn was hit by a tendril of energy from the portal sending her into a new reality. Buffy is sent to continue to protect Dawn in the new universe and they are placed in the care of a certain member of SG-1 as her daughters with everyone's memories being modified to believe Buffy and Dawn had always been there.

35. Chapter 35: Moebius Pt 1

Author's Note: Nedy no the story is not done. The demon invasion storyline is done, albeit earlier than planned as I originally wanted it in the season 9 story arc. I intend to take the whole story on into SG:A and maybe even SG:U.

---

Chapter 35: Moebius Pt. 1

June 2005

Anne sits in Jack's office at the SGC talking with Jack.

"Are you sure you want to resign, Doctor?" Jack asks.

Anne nods, "With so many Slayers activated. They need guidance and training. The SGC cannot provide it as there will be Slayers in other countries around the world. An International Organization henceforth known as the International Slayer's Council will be created to do just that. I have to help them, General."

Jack sighs and nods, "Very well. I accept your resignation. Good luck Doctor Summers. Before you go what is to be done with the SD teams?"

Anne smiles, "Nothing. All members except Dawn, Willow and Sammi are members of the Air Force. Buffy, Dawn and Willow are stepping down as team leaders. Willow is naming Sammi as SD4 team leader. Dawn is naming Melissa Thompson as SD3 team leader. Buffy is naming Joellyn Wheatley as SD2 team leader. And I am naming Emily Connor as SD1 team leader. With the exclusion of Sammi all the women are Slayers. Of course Dawn and Willow will remain as civilian consultants for the Air Force. Faith has asked me if she could be given a job here also. She wants to be close to her sisters."

Jack nods, "That can be arranged."

In Sam's lab Sam is seated next to her computer monitor, which shows a schematic of a space ship. Buffy sits at another computer showing the same schematic. Dawn, Faith, Daniel and Teal'c are there as well.

Sam smiles, "The Daedalus. It has a few advantages over the Prometheus. The more advanced alien technologies were integrated into the original design rather than tacked on after the fact."

Daniel nods, "When's it going to be ready?"

Buffy smiles, "Well, they're already testing the Asgard hyperdrive. As soon as that checks out, she'll be good to go."

Daniel nods, "Hopefully, we all get to go this time."

Sam shakes her head, "Last time, they were worried about spreading our resources too thin."

Daniel nods, "Yeah, now that Anubis is gone, the Replicators are gone… Well, all except Sammi."

Teal'c smiles broadly.

Sam nods, "There's still a few System Lords out there, but without their Jaffa armies, they've lost most of their power."

Teal'c smiles, "Indeed."

Faith smiles at Buffy and whispers, "I never thought of you as a science geek."

Buffy laughs and whispers back, "A lot of things changed when Dawn and I crossed over."

The phone rings and Carter picks it up. "Carter. Yeah, hold on." She hands the phone to Daniel. "It's for you."

Daniel nods, "Hello. Yeah, hi…" He is concerned and surprised. "What? No, I was just talking to her last week… Yeah, I'll be there. Thank you." He lowers the phone. He looks sad and disturbed.

Dawn shakes her head, "What is it?"

Daniel sighs, "Catherine Langford died last night."

Dawn frowns, "She's the one that got you into the original project, right?"

Daniel nods, "Yes."

A couple days later at the graveside of Catherine Langford. A wooden casket is sitting on the ground above where it will be buried, bouquets of flowers around it. It is raining and most of the thirty or so people there are holding umbrellas.

Daniel is standing on the opposite side of the casket speaking to the mourners. "Catherine Langford was more than just kind and generous. She had a gift… of an endless, open minded, childlike curiosity. She saw the world not for what it was, but for what it could be. And she saw potential in people that others failed to recognize. Like her father before her, her contributions to science have changed the world more than most people know. I, for one, have no idea where I would be today if I'd never met her. She changed my life in more ways than I ever could have imagined."

A bit later, people are placing roses on the coffin as Daniel remains standing near it. The mourners are dispersing. A young woman with long red hair approaches Daniel from behind. "Uh, Doctor Jackson?" Daniel turns to face her. "Hi."

Daniel steps under her umbrella, "Hi."

Sabrina smiles, "I'm Sabrina Gosling. I'm Catherine's niece."

Daniel nods shaking her hand and smiling, "Oh yes, of course."

Sabrina nods, "I just wanted to thank you for coming, and for speaking. I know she would have really appreciated it."

Dawn steps up next to Daniel, "Excuse me, Daniel."

Daniel nods, "No, it was uh, it was an honor." He looks at Dawn. "Just a moment, Dawn."

Sabrina smiles and laughs gently, "You know, my Aunt used to talk about you all the time. It's funny, I always used to picture some Indiana Jones type with a bullwhip and a pistol, chasing bad guys through some ancient temple."

Daniel nods, "Yeah, well I generally leave the whip at home, so…"

Sabrina laughs, "Right. Yeah, me too." She pulls out the golden Eye of Ra pendant Catherine had given Daniel before the original mission. "Uh, she uh, wanted you to have this."

Daniel shakes his head, "No, you're family. You should keep that."

Dawn blinks, "Is that the…"

Daniel simply nods at Dawn.

Sabrina smiles, "She thought of you like a son." She gives it to him.

Daniel smiles, "Thank you."

Sabrina nods, "There are a few other odds and ends she wanted me to give you, but I wasn't able to bring them today. Is there an address where I can send them?"

Daniel nods, "Yeah, of course."

Sabrina smiles, "Great." They exchange smiles.

Dawn rolls her eyes. "Mom, Buffy and I are going back to the hotel. We'll see you there when you get back." She turns and leaves Daniel and Sabrina staring at each other.

Outside Daniel and Dawn's office at the SGC Jack is leaning casually against the wall as two airman leave the office with empty hand trucks. Dawn and Daniel arrive and are surprised by all of the activity.

"Jack?" Daniel asks.

"Daniel?" Jack asks.

More airmen leave the office, followed by Siler.

"What's goin' on?" Dawn asks.

"You two been shoppin' online lately?" Jack asks.

Dawn shakes her head, "No."

Siler hands Jack a clipboard and leaves.

Daniel looks to Jack puzzled, "Whatcha talkin' about?"

Jack hands Daniel the clipboard, "Well, you got a little delivery here."

Daniel reads the clipboard paperwork, "It's from Catherine's estate."

Dawn peeks in the door and her eyes go wide, "That's a lot of stuff."

Jack nods, "Yeah, kinda looks like she sent the whole thing."

Daniel finally walks into the office, seeing what Dawn had already seen. The office was completely full of boxes and artifacts. "Holy… Looks like her entire collection."

Jack pats Daniel on the shoulder, "I prefer stamps." He turns and leaves.

"This going to take forever to sort," Dawn said. "Good thing you got an assistant, right?"

Daniel nods but otherwise says nothing.

Sometime later Daniel comes running into the room. Dawn isn't far behind him.

"Jack! We need to— We need to talk. Oh, sorry for interrupting." Daniel says.

Jack grabs Daniel very firmly by the forearm, "No! It's okay. If it's important, you must interrupt. You must."

Balinsky nods, disappointed.

Daniel grimaces slightly, "I think we may have found a ZPM."

Jack leaps to his feet, "Yes!" He pats Balinsky on the shoulder without letting go of Daniel. "Great stuff with the rocks."

Daniel turns and begins to jog out of the room. Jack pats him on the back and follows. Dawn watches for a moment and then follows them.

Later back in Daniel and Dawn's lab Teal'c stands near Daniel and Dawn, with Sam, Buffy and Jack on the opposite side of the table. Faith and Willow stands by the door.

Daniel is pulling out a large book from the many items Catherine left him. "Among the items Catherine left me, this one in particular caught my attention. It's an original 1889 edition of The Eye of the Sun. It's uh, the only one in known existence. It details the customs and rituals observed by the ancient worshippers of the Sun God, Ra. Now, while I was flipping through the pages, I noticed this." He points in the book to a drawing of a man holding a cylinder with shapes inside it. The rays of the sun are shining down upon him.

Teal'c nods, "It appears to be a Zero Point Module."

"What's a Zero Point Module?" Faith asks.

Buffy smiles at her sister, "A Zero Point Module, is a power source built by the Ancients. Utilizing Zero point energy, it is the cleanest energy source in the known universe."

"The worshippers of Ra referred to it as the 'Heart of Light'." Dawn said.

Daniel nods, "This is a reproduction of a wall painting discovered by German archaeologists in 1885. It was destroyed in a museum fire ten years later."

"But the ZPM was never found?" Willow asks.

Daniel shakes his head, "No."

A shorttime later SG-1, Buffy, Dawn, Faith, Willow and Jack are seated at the table in the briefing room.

Sam slides some paper diagrams over to O'Neill. "We did an extensive satellite sweep of the Giza Plateau searching for an energy signature like the one given off by the ZPM we found near Taonas. Even if it's buried under dirt and rock, we should have been able to detect it. We found nothing. I'm sorry, Daniel, Dawn, but if it's there, it's probably been depleted."

Daniel shakes his head, "No, I don't think so. According to the text, it was a religious artifact, an icon."

Dawn nods, "It was never used as a power source."

"It is possible Ra simply took the device with him when he left Earth." Teal'c said.

Buffy sighs and nods, "In which case, it could be anywhere by now."

Daniel looks a bit sheepish, "We don't know where it is now, but we do know where it was. Giza, 3000 B.C."

Sam shakes her head, "You can't be serious."

Jack looks around confused, "What."

Daniel nods, "It's the only way."

Faith looks to Willow, "Are you following what they're talking about?"

Willow nods and whispers to Faith, "Yes I am actually. We found an Ancient ship a while ago that can travel through time."

"What?" Jack asks again.

Sam frowns, "No, we agreed."

Jack frowns, "If I have to say 'what' one more time, heads are gonna roll!"

Dawn smiles, "We have a time machine. We can go back and get the ZPM."

Jack is rather annoyed at what they are proposing, "She wouldn't let me go back and watch the Cubs win the World Series."

Daniel nods, "Jack, this is a unique opportunity. Ra never knew what he had, which means we can go back and take it without adversely affecting the timeline."

Buffy nods, "Actually, sir, he may be right about that."

Sam nods in agreement.

Jack frowns, "You're on board with this?"

Sam shakes her head, "I'm not happy about it, but we don't have any historical evidence to show that any Goa'uld has ever used a ZPM. In which case, it wouldn't be missed. We would have to be extremely careful to minimize our interaction with the people of the period."

Jack nods, "Yeah, there's that. But I thought you said you couldn't get it to work?"

Buffy nods, "No one at Area 51 has been able to engage the time device. In fact, they've barely gotten the ship off the ground. But you and I were able to fly it without too much difficulty."

Teal'c nods, "Indeed. O'Neill, you and Buffy Carter have demonstrated an exceptional ability to control Ancient devices."

Daniel nods, "Jack, think about it. With a fully functional ZPM, we could power Earth's defenses and open up a wormhole to the Pegasus Galaxy."

Jack looks to Sam and Buffy, who nods in agreement. He looks thoughtful but unconvinced. Finally he comes to a decision, "Very well Buffy and I will fly the thing. SG-1 and SG-S will go along.

(A/N SG-S is a new team setup at the SGC with the departure of Anne it comprises Buffy, Dawn, Faith and Willow.)

In space above Earth the Puddle Jumper with the time device is flying above Earth.

Buffy and Jack are sitting in the pilot chairs as Sam and Willow works on the time device. Teal'c is standing behind Jack while Daniel stands behind Buffy. Faith and Dawn are sitting in the rear compartment trying to stay out of Sam and Willow's way.

"Now remember, Buffy, 3000 B.C. After Sam and Willow hooks up the power to the time device, think about that date and nothing else."

Buffy rolls her eyes. "I know, Daniel."

"This thing's Ancient. How's it gonna know from B.C.?" Jack asks.

Buffy smiles, "My mind is controlling it. The Ancient computer should be able to extrapolate from my concept of time."

Jack nods, "Well, shouldn't we test it on a slightly smaller leap? Like say, to 1908?"

Sam shakes her head, "Actually sir, we were able to determine from the data log that the technology only works in time jumps longer than a couple hundred years."

The time device comes to life after Willow and Sam's efforts.

"I think that's it." Willow says.

Daniel nods, "3000 B.C."

Jack sarcastically says, "Any particular day in the century for ya?"

Buffy closes her eyes and places her hands on the controls. Behind her the device comes to life, humming more and more loudly.

The Puddle Jumper is briefly enveloped in a distortion wave.

The time device becomes quiet again.

Faith looks around, "Well?"

"What happened?" Jack asks.

Daniel shrugs, "I didn't feel anything."

Sam walks forward, "The time machine pulsed. Try the radio."

Daniel key's the radio, "Stargate Command, this is Daniel Jackson, do you read? Stargate Command, this is Daniel Jackson, come in please."

There is nothing but static in response.

Teal'c gets up and looks out the view screen. "The stars are different."

Willow smiles, "Earth was in a different orbit around the Sun 5000 years ago."

"I think we did it." Sam said.

Faith rolls her eyes and looks at Willow, "Between you, Buffy and Dawn. I feel almost like the dumb sibling now."

Willow laughs, "I guess that's true since Buffy and Dawn were made to be Sam's daughters they have a genius level IQ now."

"Way to flaunt that were smart, Willow." Dawn said.

The Puddle Jumper lands in the sands of Egypt.

Jack and Buffy finish dressing in Egyptian robes over their clothes and weapons. Faith, Dawn, Willow, Daniel, Sam, and Teal'c are also dressed in robes and turbans.

Daniel is preparing a video camera. "I can't believe I'm finally gonna get proof that the Great Pyramids pre-date the Fourth Dynasty."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "So what are you gonna do, stand in the picture holding a newspaper with today's date?"

Daniel smiles, "This is an archaeologist's dream. I'm gonna get as much footage as I can."

"I can't believe I get to hear Ancient Egyptian actually spoken aloud." Dawn says.

Faith looks to Buffy, "I can't believe I have to wear these robes," she says sarcastically.

Buffy laughs.

Sam sighs, "Just be careful. We're here for the ZPM. In and out. Minimal interaction, minimal impact."

"No problem." Daniel and Dawn say.

Sam sighs, "I mean it! All of you. Sir."

"I got it. I got it." Jack says.

Sam hands Buffy a small metal device, "You're gonna need this. We've determined that it remotely activates the ship's cloak."

"Thanks mom." Buffy says as she takes the device.

They leave the ship via the back ramp.

The team walks away from the ship. Buffy turns and activates the device and the ship disappears behind its cloak.

They walk towards a small village with large tents and several camp fires. Two huge pyramids are visible in the background. Children play with a ball as the adults do the work of the village. Jack, Sam, Willow, Faith, Buffy and Teal'c look on as Dawn and Daniel speaks to two local men. They bow to the men and walks back to the others.

"Well, my Ancient Egyptian's a little rusty, Dawn's is actually little bit better. But I think we got the gist of what they're saying. That's Katep and his brother, Silatis."

"Hey guys!" Jacks says and waves.

Daniel shakes his head at O'Neill and pushes his waving arm down.

"They're on a pilgrimage to the Temple of Ra to make an offering." Dawn says.

Jack smiles, "Oh, there's timing."

Dawn nods, "Tomorrow. We told them we were travelers from the East, and they offered to put us up for the night."

"I was kind of hoping we wouldn't have to stay that long. I'm sorry, I keep thinking I'm gonna step on a bug and change the future." Sam says.

Buffy rolls her eyes, Really, mom."

Daniel nods, "Well, we can't just walk into the temple unannounced. A public audience is the perfect way to get inside."

"We just have to keep a low profile." Willow says.

Jack nods, "Yes. But more importantly, did they say what was for dinner?"

Daniel looks at him, very puzzled.

Faith smiles, "Well a Slayer's got to eat." They all look at her. "Well just because there are no demons Buffy, Dawn or I have to fight anymore doesn't mean were not Slayers. We still have that high metabolism, remember?"

The next day Katep, Silatis, and other pilgrims enter the Temple of Ra. The brothers are carrying a large basket between them. They set it down in front of the altar. The team enters last, trying not to be noticed.

"Kree! Tal lok!" A Jaffa says.

Katep and the others go to their knees, as does the team. Ra enters, his head completely covered in a large metal headdress shaped into a stylized face. Female acolytes help him to ascend to the altar, and he sits on a bench-like throne.

"Shal'ta!" A Jaffa says.

Nervously, the brothers take the cover from their basket and wait as Ra looks inside to see it filled with beaded and gold jewelry.

"Vash'nel. Vash'nel jal'na." Ra says.

Realizing that Ra is not pleased, Silatus pulls some of the jewelry out of the basket, trying to show its worth. The Jaffa urges him back with a staff.

Jack looks on and tilts his head toward Daniel. "I don't think he was too impressed with the offering."

"To'na a'kel no'tar. Zoya noc shom." Ra says.

"He says he will not tolerate such disrespect from his followers." Dawn says.

The Jaffa activates his staff weapon and begins to aim it at the brothers. Jack reaches under his robe and draws his pistol.]

"Sir." Sam says warningly.

"Let me do it now; I won't have to do it in 5000 years." Jack says coldly.

Buffy shakes her head, "You can't do that. There's no telling what effect it might have."

Ra gives the signal, and the Jaffa shoots Silatus, killing him. The team looks horrified. Katep bows awaiting his fate. Ra rises, turns, and leaves with his acolytes.

"Kree! Ree a'noc." A Jaffa says.

Katep runs with other pilgrims to his brother's body. The team gets up and hides around a corner as others leave. Two Jaffa take the offering away, leaving the room empty. The team sees this from behind a pillar.

Daniel nods, "It's gotta be some sort of treasure room. If the ZPM is anywhere, it'll be in there."

A lone Jaffa walks down the corridor.

Jack reaches for his zat and Willow grabs his arm stopping him. "Somnus," she says and the Jaffa slides to the floor fast asleep. "Sorry but they could have heard your zat. He'll be out for awhile."

Jack nods as he and Teal'c pull the Jaffa out of the hallway.

Teal'c dresses in the Jaffa's uniform.

"You really think they're gonna let him just waltz in and take it?" Jack asks.

Daniel nods, "Well, like we said, they don't even know what the ZPM is. To them, it's like any number of dozens of ritualistic objects they pull out for any number of occasions. Besides, he's wearing the shiny suit."

Teal'c activates the helmet and it forms into place around his head.

"Good luck." Faith says.

Later Jack looks around a corner, Zat in hand. He checks his watch. Sam and Daniel are waiting with him. Behind them stand Faith, Buffy, Dawn and Willow watching their backs.

"Come on, T." Jack says impatiently.

"We would have heard something if he was in trouble." Daniel says.

Jaffa footsteps are heard and a Jaffa approaches, his face hidden behind his helmet. It is Teal'c, and he holds out the ZPM, which is glowing with energy.

Jack takes the ZPM from Teal'c, smiling at him, "Nice!"

"So that small thing could power a city for like a lifetime or two." Faith said.

Buffy nods, "Or longer."

Jack hands it to Dawn to stow in her pack.

The team exits the temple and approaches the Puddle Jumper stealthily, dropping down to hide behind some sand dunes in order to have a look. There are voices, and when the team looks they see that the while the Jumper is still invisible, it has been partially covered with sand that has formed around it. It has been discovered and is surrounded by Jaffa.

"Oh my god!" Sam says.

"All right, we got a little problem here." Jack says.

Faith rolls her eyes, "You think?"

Daniel nods, "Must have been a sandstorm during the night."

"The Jaffa will soon call for reinforcements if they have not already done so. We must move quickly." Teal'c says.

Jack and Buffy pulls out their weapons.

"Sir, Buffy, we can't!" Sam says.

Jack frowns, "We've taken on more Jaffa than that."

Willow nods as she figures where Sam is going, "This is exactly the sort of high-impact event we're supposed to avoid."

"They have the ship. Will that not alter the future more than anything that we could do?" Teal'c asks.

Sam shakes her head, "Not necessarily. They don't know what it is, and even if they did, they can't use it. None of them have the gene. Even Ra won't be able to make it work."

Dawn sighs, "So what are we supposed to do?"

Sam looks to her daughter, "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Jack asks.

Sam nods, "Well, close to it."

Faith smiles, "No, here's a better idea. We take back our ship!"

"Faith, we kill those Jaffa, or worse, get captured, and we could alter the future immeasurably. If you're thinking we could go forward and then back again…" Sam says.

Jack nods, "Just a couple of days! Then we park that thing where nobody can find it."

Sam shakes her head, "We alter this timeline, and the future is already different. We could set into motion a spiral of changes that we could never fix. We've already done too much. I'm sorry, sir, I should never have allowed us to do this."

They get up and begin walking away from the ship and the Jaffa.

The team walks in single file through sand dunes, on a path back to the village.

"So what? We live out the rest of our lives here?" Faith asks.

Sam sighs, "Well, we know there's gonna be a rebellion eventually. The human slaves rise up, and Ra abandons Earth. Daniel learned that on Abydos nine years ago. When it happens, there is a chance that we could get the Jumper back without creating too big a ripple in the events of this timeline."

Jack nods, "When does that happen?"

Daniel shrugs, "Well, I don't know the exact date. It could be years."

"What? Years?" Willow says.

Sam nods, "We don't have a choice."

Jack frowns, "Carter, what about the ZPM? If we wait, we lose any chance of getting it back to our time."

"Preserving the timeline is more important." Sam says.

Jack shakes his head, "For all you know, things could get better!"

Buffy sighs, "Or, they could be worse! We can't take that chance."

"Well, I know a way we can get the ZPM back to our time, even if we don't. About a month before we left, there was an archaeological dig that uncovered a First Dynasty tomb near Giza. All we have to do is bury the ZPM in that tomb, let them find it, and maybe our future selves won't have to take on this mission." Daniel says.

Dawn smiles, "Wow. That's bizarre, but it just might work."

"Carter, a lot of good people died when Anubis attacked Earth. I don't think their families would mind if we futzed with the timeline a little." Jack says.

Sam sighs, "Sir, I know this is hard for you. Your instinct is to change things, make things better. But for once, that's exactly what we can't do. We have to let things play out exactly the way they're meant to."

PRESENT DAY, ALTERED REALITY

In the Dept. of Aerospace Research HQ in Washington D.C.

Samantha is obviously pacing, she is alone, "This is totally unbelievable! You are a small and pathetic man! Those were my theories on spin wave technology and the effects of anti-gravity on electromagnetism, and you know it!" She looks at the empty desk of the man she has been pretending to yell at. "Now, just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn't… God! That's horrible! Who would ever say that?"

The door opens and a man enters.

Dr. Hershfield looks at Samantha, "Carter." He looks around office, "Who you talking to?"

Samantha shakes her head, "No one."

Dr. Hershfield nods, "Are you talking to yourself?"

"No." Samantha says.

"Have you proof-read my review of the solid fuel rocket ship?" Dr. Hershfield says.

Samantha nods, "I'm almost done. Good job!"

Dr. Hershfield smiles, "Thank you. Keep up the good work, Carter; you'll be moving up around here." He gives her an up and down look and she looks down at herself.

The door opens and Major Davis and other officers appear. "Excuse me. Major Davis, United States Air Force."

"Dr. Hirshfield," Dr. Hershfield says as he extends his hand.

Davis shakes the Dr.'s hand, "I know who you are."

"What's this all about?" Dr. Hershfield asks.

"It's a matter of national security. I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that here." Davis says.

Dr. Hershfield looks behind him at Samantha, "Oh, of course, by all means. We can talk privately in my office."

Davis shakes his head, "Oh no, I'm not here to talk to you. I'd like to speak to Dr. Carter."

Samantha is amazed and nervous, "Me?"

"Well you and your daughters. Who are being picked up from school as we speak." Davis said.

"What?" Samantha says.

On the way to the airport they stop in front of a school. Elizabeth and Dawnie Carter are escorted into the car.

"Mom?" Elizabeth asks. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, Buffy." Samantha says.

Later in Cheyenne Mountain complex in the briefing room Danny is standing in the room alone when the door opens. Davis ushers Samantha, Elizabeth and Dawnie into the room.

"If you'll just wait here, Ma'am and Misses Carter, General Hammond will be with you in a moment." Davis says as he shuts the door on them.

Danny smiles, "Hi."

"Hi." Samantha, Elizabeth and Dawnie says.

Danny reaches out to shake Samantha's hand vigorously, "Doctor Daniel Jackson."

Samantha nods, "Doctor Samantha Carter. These are my daughters Elizabeth and Dawn."

Danny grimaces as he thinks Samantha might have misunderstood, "Oh! Ah, Ph.D."

Samantha nods, "Oh, me too. Astrophysics."

Danny nods, "Oh, Egyptology!"

"High School students here," Dawnie says.

Samantha nods, "You wouldn't happen to know why we're here?"

Danny laughs, "Oh, 5000 years ago maybe, but uh now, no. I was kinda hoping you did."

Samantha sighs, "Sorry. Though what worries me is why my daughters had to be dragged out of school."

There is a moment of silence as they can't think of what to say to each other.

"I teach English as a Second Language." Danny says.

Samantha nods, "Department of Aerospace."

"Oh!" Danny says.

Elizabeth shakes her head, "Not as an Astronaut! Despite the fact I keep saying mom should try for the astronaut program."

Samantha sighs, "I check other peoples' scientific reports for factual errors or omissions before they get sent up to the Director."

"Yeah mom's a glorified secretary." Dawnie said.

"Dawn Joyce Carter!" Samantha said.

"Sorry mom." Dawnie said.

George Hammond enters the briefing room, "Doctor Jackson, Doctor Carter, Miss Carter and Miss Carter. I am General George Hammond." He gestures for them to sit. "Please."

They sit dawn and open the files Hammond has placed in front of them.

"What's this?" Danny asks.

George Hammond nods, "A non-disclosure agreement. What we're about to discuss has been classified Top Secret by the United States Government."

Danny closes the file and places his hands on top of it, "What if we don't want to sign it?"

George Hammond gestures toward the door, "Well then, you're free to leave."

"No offense, Sir." Elizabeth says. "But Dawn and I are underage. We can't sign these."

George Hammond looks down at a file, "Hmm someone made a mistake then it shows you two as being 18. We'll just have your mother sign them then."

Samantha grabs a pen without hesitation and signs very quickly. She then grabs Elizabeth and Dawnie's NDA and signs them. Danny concedes and does the same. They pass the signed documents to George Hammond, who gives them the Top Secret files.

"You have a background in archaeology, isn't that right, Doctor Jackson?" George Hammond says.

Danny nods, "That's right."

George Hammond nods, "But your theories failed to gain much acceptance among your colleagues."

"You could say that." Danny says.

"Egyptian pyramids as landing pads for alien spacecraft," George Hammond says.

Danny sighs, "I did not say that unequivocally. I simply put forth the possibility, that based on the knowledge that—"

George Hammond nods, "It's all right, Doctor, you don't have to defend your theories here. A month ago, a team of archaeologists from the University of Chicago uncovered an ancient Egyptian tomb near Giza. Inside they found artifacts typical of the period, plus one or two objects that have yet to be identified, and a video camera."

"A video camera!" Elizabeth said.

George Hammond shows them a picture, "It was perfectly preserved in a vacuum sealed canopic jar. The technology is somewhat different than what is commercially available today, but we managed to charge the battery. However, we didn't bring you here because we found the camera. We brought you here because of what had been recorded on the tape inside that camera."

George Hammond activates the tape playback on the large projection screen. The original team is on the recording, dressed in the robes they were wearing in ancient Egypt.

"Okay, uh, my name is Doctor Daniel Jackson. I'm part of a team called SG-1, and we have just traveled back in time 5000 years." Daniel says.

Samantha, Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie look on, amazed.

"You see, the thing is, we're not sure we're gonna make it back. Um, the chamber where you discover this tape should be discovered shortly before we're set to leave. Hopefully the timeline hasn't changed at all. Let's see, what are some recent major events. Uh, communism recently failed in Eastern Europe. Um, they should be well on their way towards democracy by now. Henry Hayes is President. What else."

"Henry Hayes?" Samantha asks.

George Hammond nods, "Secretary of the Interior. President Kinsey was less than amused when he saw that portion of the tape."

George Hammond continues the playback.

"Sam, help me out here." Daniel says as Sam joins him in front of the camera.

"Um, Samantha Carter, Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force, and a member of SG-1, and mother of Isabella, Elizabeth and Dawn Carter. I suppose we should tell them about the Stargate."

Elizabeth and Dawnie look between the video and Samantha amazed at what their seeing.

"Oh my god!" Samantha says. "Wait did she say Isabella? I don't have three daughters, just Elizabeth and Dawn."

"Believe me, we noticed that as well." George Hammond said.

Danny asks, "What's SG-1?"

George Hammond smiles, "Watch."

Daniel nods, "Right, um. Colonel Carter and I work for an organization known as Stargate Command. It is located under Cheyenne Mountain. Now, for the past eight years, we've been regularly traveling through a large, ring-shaped device known as the Stargate. It should have been discovered in 1928, somewhere near where this tape was found."

Sam nods, "Now, by means of these off-world missions, we've managed to aquire a lot of advanced technology which has helped us defend Earth against several alien attacks."

"If for whatever reason, the things we're talking about are not true, then it is possible that we have somehow inadvertently changed the future. Now the purpose of this tape is to provide you with the tools you will need to go back in time and set things right. If, for whatever reason, the Stargate has not been discovered, you will have to find it and get it up and running. Uh, Jack, you should say something." Daniel says.

Samantha, Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie are speechless with amazement.

"No, uh, I'm good." Jack says from off camera.

"We should all appear on the tape." Daniel says.

Sam nods, "We have no way of knowing how things could have changed. You too Faith, Buffy, Dawn, Willow."

Jack steps up next to Sam, "Uh, General Jack O'Neill, United States Air Force. How ya doin'."

Buffy steps up next to Jack, "I'm Lieutenant Elizabeth Samantha Carter, United States Air Force. I'm team leader of SG-S. I'm also a Slayer"

Dawn steps up next to Buffy. "I'm Dawn Carter, I'm a Civilian Consultant working for the Air Force as a linguist and a member of SG-S. I'm also a Slayer"

Faith steps up and puts her arms around Buffy and Dawn, "I'm Isabella Faith Carter, and I'm also a Civilian Consultant working for the Air Force as a hand to hand combat expert and second in command of SG-S. And I'm also a Slayer."

"Slayer?" Dawnie asks.

"They didn't explain that." George Hammond says. "They must have expected us to understand."

Willow is the last to appear on camera, "I'm Willow Rosenberg. I'm a Civilian Consultant working for the Air Force as a computer expert and I'm a witch."

"A witch?" Samantha asks.

George Hammond smiles, "Watch."

"Maybe you should show them, Willow." Sam says.

Willow nods, "Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum." A ball of fire appears between the camera and Willow.

"That's impossible." Samantha says.

"Tell them about the future." Daniel says on the video.

Jack nods, "Uh, college football is played on Saturdays, pro on Sundays, and there are no fish in my pond, at all, where I fish."

Faith smiles, "We also just repelled the demon invasion and closed the Hellmouth."

Jack looks at Sam and Daniel. "I think that covers it."

George Hammond stops the video and looks expectantly at the other two.

Danny frowns, "Did he say Stargate?"

Samantha shakes her head, "Time travel?"

Elizabeth and Dawnie look at each other and then at George Hammond, "We're only 17, we haven't even graduated high school. How can we both be working for the Air Force?" Elizabeth says.

"And I mentioned this before I don't have a third daughter." Samantha says.

Danny nods, "What else did the tape say?"

"Details of the Stargate, SG-1, including a fourth member who appears to be some kind of humanoid alien. Also details on the SG-S team Dr. Carter's daughters are reported being a part of.

"Are you telling us that in some alternate timeline, we're part of a team that travels to other planets and defends Earth against alien invasions?" Samantha asks.

George Hammond nods, "I know. It seems difficult to believe."

Dawnie shakes her head, "Wait, what about this Stargate. Did you look for it?"

George Hammond nods, "We searched the coordinates provided on the tape, but we didn't find anything. The area had already been excavated previously in 1934 by a Doctor Langford. We found nothing but a tablet inscribed with hieroglyphics that no one has ever been able to translate. We were wondering if you'd like to take a crack at it."

"Are you kidding?" Danny says.

Later in the Mess Hall Samantha, Elizabeth and Dawnie are seated at a table eating in silence.

Danny walks over to them, "Hey!"

Samantha smiles, "Hi."

Elizabeth and Dawnie wave.

Danny sits down across from them, "So, what do you all think of all this?"

Samantha sighs, "To be honest, I don't know what to think. I mean, it's pretty overwhelming. Plus my daughters being involved at 17…"

"About that mom," Elizabeth says. "Didn't our Principal call you in and try and get us to skip a few grades?"

Samantha nods, "Yes he did, why?"

"Well is it possible in this other reality that you agreed. We might have graduated early enough from High School and maybe even College to be able already have career's by the time we were seventeen." Elizabeth said.

Samantha thinks about it for a moment, "It's possible I guess. In fact time travel is theoretically possible. There's been a lot of research into the area of quantum gravity, which suggests that time flows like rotating fluid within our galaxy. Technically allowing the traveler to journey backward and forward at will. But, there's a huge amount of energy required."

Danny appears pained. "Actually, I was talking about us. The other us. I guess we could call it the us we're supposed to be. I mean, seriously, didn't you always think that you were destined for something more? I mean, something a hell of a lot more fulfilling than a nine-to-five desk job."

"I suppose." Samantha says.

Elizabeth and Dawn look at each other and nod. A memory surfaces in their minds a memory of a previous life where they stand upon a tower.

"I don't know. I just always felt like my life was wrong." Danny says.

"Well, life is what you make it. You know, for better or worse." Samantha says.

Danny nods, "Well, look at this as a way to change everything. If we help them find this Stargate."

Samantha frowns, "What do you think they're gonna do? Ask us to join an elite team of intergalactic space heroes? Look at us! The only reason that they showed us the tape is because we're on it."

Danny points at Samantha, enthusiastic, "Exactly."

"Oh," says Samantha, Dawnie and Elizabeth.

The next day in the Mess Hall Samantha, Elizabeth and Dawnie are eating blue jello when Danny rushes in and sits across from them.

Danny is agitated, "You were right. They're gonna shut us out." He sits back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest.

"I can't say I'm surprised." Samantha says.

"Neither can I." Elizabeth says. "Who in their right minds would send two seventeen year olds into who knows what when they haven't even finished college."

"I still haven't finished the entire translation yet, which means we still have some leverage." Danny says.

"What else does it say?" Samantha asks quietly.

"It says the second Stargate is somewhere in Antarctica." Danny says.

"Somewhere in Antarctica?" Dawnie asks.

Danny nods, "Well, it doesn't even say that. It says the land of the cold to the south. Which I'm guessing means Antarctica."

"It's a big place. Lots of ice." Elizabeth says.

Danny nods, "Yeah, I'm guessing whoever wrote the tablet didn't have a way of explaining latitude and longitude in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs."

Samantha nods, "Well at least you're still useful to them. I don't know why they're keeping me, Elizabeth or Dawn around. I mean my girls are missing school as it is."

"Well, I'm not gonna let them shut any of you out, either. I mean, we're supposed to be a team. We have to stick together. Also your daughters were on that tape also, remember. There has to be a reason for it."

"That's nice. Really," Samantha says.

Danny nods, "Yeah. We need someone who's willing to go to bat for us. Someone they can't say no to."

Later that day on a boating dock O'Neill is working on the engine of his boat, apparently without much success. "Ow! Damn!"

Samantha, Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie walk up to the boat and watch him from the dock until he notices them.

"You folks lookin' for a little tour?" O'Neill asks.

Danny nods, "Jack O'Neill?"

O'Neill looks at them warily, "Yeah."

Danny smiles, "Uh, I'm Daniel Jackson; this is Samantha, Elizabeth and Dawn Carter."

O'Neill looks them over, "You two a couple?"

"No, no, no, we just, we just met." Danny says.

"What do you want?" O'Neill asks.

"Well uh, we were recently approached by the military about a matter of, um, national security." Samantha says.

O'Neill continues to work on the engine, "Don't care."

"This is really important. All we're asking is a little bit of your time." Danny says.

O'Neill nods, "A hundred and fifty bucks an hour to rent the boat."

"We don't wanna go anywhere." Danny says.

"It's your money." O'Neill says.

A few moments later O'Neill is still working on the boat, while Samantha, Dawnie, Elizabeth and Danny sit beside each other on a couple benches, wearing orange life jackets.

"So ultimately what we have to do is this. We have to find the Stargate and then get hold of this time travel device." Danny says.

"Locate this alien named Teal'c." Elizabeth says.

Danny nods, "Right, get Teal'c first, then go back in time to change the past, fix the future."

O'Neill is working on a fishing pole, not appearing to listen.

"Are you listening?" Dawnie asks.

"I was trying not to." O'Neill says.

Danny sighs, "Yeah, I suppose it does sound a little crazy."

O'Neill rolls his eyes, "Really? Which part? I'd have to say, the moment I let you on board."

Samantha nods, "You don't have to believe us. All we ask is that you watch the tape and decide for yourself."

O'Neill shakes his head, "You know, I have decided. And hey look, your time's up!"

"Aren't you in the least bit intrigued that there might be something else out there, somewhere? Something more than this!" Danny says emphatic.

O'Neill stares at them for a moment. "No."

Danny nods, "We're supposed to be a team. We saved the world."

Samantha nods, "Several times."

"And we, "Dawnie says indicating her and Elizabeth, "closed something called a Hellmouth and stopped a demon invasion."

"Yeah. Okay. Sure. I'll buy that. Uh huh. The three of us. The world, we save it, right? Okay." He then looks to Dawnie and Elizabeth, "I think your mom here has been telling you one too many bedtime stories."

"I can't believe I wasted our frequent flyer miles on this." Samantha says.

O'Neill gives them a sarcastic 'okay' symbol with his hand.

"Sorry to bother you." Danny says.

O'Neill nods, "Not a problem."

They stand to leave. O'Neill gestures for them not to remove their life jackets until they step back onto the dock. They clumsily and angrily remove them, throwing them back into the boat.

"No worries, eh?" O'Neill asks.

Back at Cheyenne Mountain an airman is escorting Samantha, Elizabeth, Dawnie and Danny.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Samantha asks.

Danny shakes his head. They turn a corner to find Davis waiting.

"Doctor Carter, Miss Carter, Doctor Jackson and Miss Carter." Davis says.

"Major, what's this about?" Samantha asks.

"Did you find the second Stargate?" Dawnie asks.

Davis shakes his head, "No, we didn't. But we decided to show you something else." He turns to the men guarding the door. "Airmen?"

The airman opens the door, revealing the Puddle Jumper sitting in a large room.

"Whoa." Elizabeth says.

Davis nods, "We think this was the ship SG-1 and SG-S used to travel back in time."

Samantha walks up to its side and touching it, "Where'd you find it?"

Davis nods, "It was uncovered during an excavation of the area around the tomb where the tape was found." He gestures for them to continue, "Please."

They enter the ship from the rear ramp.

"This is incredible. Is it operational?" Samantha asks.

Davis shakes his head, "Not yet."

Samantha nods, "According to the tape, Elizabeth and Jack O'Neill have a special gene that makes them able to fly this thing."

"These are constellations." Danny says.

Samantha nods, "The tape said that the, that this was able to go through the Stargate, as well as time travel."

Danny sees the control panel between the pilots' seats, "So this must be what dials the gate."

Samantha, Elizabeth, Dawnie and Danny reach for the console. There is a booming voice from behind them.

"Don't touch anything! Please. Leave the touching to the experts." McKay says.

"Doctor Rodney McKay is the lead scientist on the project. This is Doctor Carter, Miss Carter, Doctor Jackson, and Miss Carter.

Samantha and Danny reach their hands out to shake hands, but he only takes Samantha's.

"Hi. Pleased to meet you." McKay says.

Davis nods, "We were hoping they may be of assistance to you."

McKay nods, "Hmm, yes, well, thank you."

"I'll leave you to it, then." Davis says and he leaves as McKay gives long looks to Samantha, Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie.

"So, did you try dialling the Stargate address that the Daniel Jackson on the tape mentions?" Samantha asks.

"No, why would we do that?" McKay asks.

Samantha sighs, "Well, just to see—"

McKay nods, "Of course we tried. It's called sarcasm. We tried the address numerous times; nothing happened."

"Did you try any other combinations?" Danny asked.

"I'm sorry. What are your areas of expertise?" McKay asks.

"Astrophysics." Samantha says.

Danny sighs, "Archaeology."

"We're high school students." Elizabeth said pointing to herself and Dawnie.

McKay frowns, "And I would listen to you, because…?"

Samantha nods, "We're on the tape."

"No you, you I would listen to if you were reading a phone book." McKay says.

Samantha frowns, "Oh, brother."

"You see, I love this whole, sexy librarian thing? Look, why don't I take you to lunch and get you up to speed. I hear it's Lemon Chicken today, my favorite, hmmm?" McKay says and he gestures for Samantha to go with him and pats her on the bottom as they leave.

Elizabeth and Dawnie roll their eyes as they watch their mother leave. "Sexist pig," Elizabeth says.

Later Samantha is walking down the hallway and sees Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie ahead of her.

"Buffy! Dawn! Daniel!" Samantha calls out. They turn to face her. "Is he behind me?"

"Who, mom?" Dawnie asks.

"McKay." Samantha says. Danny shakes his head. "Oh, thank god. I think I lost him. The guy is driving me nuts!"

"Any progress with the ship?" Danny asks.

Samantha nods, "Well, the technology is way beyond us, but I do have something. It could be big."

"What?" Elizabeth asks.

Samantha smiles, "Remember how McKay said they tried dialling the Stargate address several times and nothing happened?"

Danny nods, "Yeah."

"I started thinking. Nothing happened here." Samantha says.

"But something happened elsewhere?" Elizabeth asked.

Samantha smiles, "You got it Buffy."

In the briefing room Samantha, Dawnie, Elizabeth and Danny are seated at the table. Davis enters.

"What have you got?" Davis asks.

Danny primly, "We're waiting to see General Hammond."

Davis nods, "He's busy. Why don't you tell me; I'll decide if it's worth interrupting him."

Danny passes a file to Samantha, who passes it to Davis.

"I cross referenced our previous attempts to dial the gate with some recent seismic activity in Antarctica. They're a perfect match. The epicenter in all eight cases was exactly the same. Approximately 50 miles outside of McMurdo." Samantha says as she points to a location on the map. "That is where you'll find your second gate."

"Worth it?" Danny asks.

"Excuse me." Davis says as she picks up the folder and leaves. Samantha and Danny look smugly pleased.

Later in the Gate Room Samantha, Danny, Elizabeth and Dawnie enter to see a buzz of activity and construction. They approach George Hammond.

"General, you wanted to see us?" Samantha asks.

They look up to see the gate being lowered into the room from an open ceiling far above.

George Hammond nods, "It was exactly where you said it would be. Good work."

Samantha smiles, "Thank you, sir."

George Hammond nods, "I want you all to know that your help on this project was most appreciated. Your country owes you a debt of gratitude."

They look at Hammond, concerned.

Danny frowns, "But we're not done yet."

George Hammond nods, "Actually, we're not done. You four, however, have a plane waiting to take you home. I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the details of the non-disclosure agreement."

Elizabeth frowns, "Wait a minute. You are gonna send a team through the gate, aren't you?"

George Hammond nods, "We're assembling a team as we speak."

"But you saw the tape! We are that team. I mean, if anybody should be going, it's us!" Danny says.

George Hammond shakes his head, "I'm sorry Doctor Jackson, but neither you nor Doctor Carter or her daughters possess the training or qualifications for a mission like this. That's just the way it is." He leaves as Samantha, Danny, Dawnie and Elizabeth watch the gate being lowered into place.