Chapter 7

Thanos took time to get to know his new universe. He contacted the Goa'uld and set up a network of Jaffa spies in the ranks of many System Lords. Thanos worked his charm over the Jaffa and many minor System Lords who saw him as an opportunity to defeat their enemies once and for all. Apophis was the reigning Goa'uld system lord and Thanos found him impatient, irrational and untrusting. He figured Apophis would soon be defeated as he discovered am artificial intelligence called the Replicators were also a threat to both Goa'uld and Earth. Thanos found many different fractions of power that he could pit against one another in a tactic of divide and concur.

He focused on finding spies. Jaffa and Tok'ra were his main targets for recruiting his new spies and his new army. He also needed to find the stones. Spies informed him one of the Infinity Stones was in Asgard possession. He needed more information on the Asgard as he discovered the Asgard in the new reality were far different from the Asgard from his reality. The Asgard had technology beyond what he could muster. There was no Odin to lead them. He heard of the cloning and the devastating results.

Thanos had commandeered a Goa'uld mothership and crew from a system lord. Anubis was no match for Thanos. He killed the Goa'uld rather swiftly with a single swipe to the head. He decapitated Anubis in a moment and had the body disposed of and took over the fleet and Jaffa slaves.

Thanos had a new, much larger throne installed on the bridge. He sat on the throne, towering over his newly acquired slaves. He set forth on his next quest; to attack and defeat Apophis.

Meanwhile

Daniel immersed himself in a sea of books as he searched for any reference to the Infinity Stones. In a way he wished he had an assistant to help. Tony was a great asset for Sam and he helped keep Jack out of his hair but he found his search resulted in very little so far. Thor of the Avengers wasn't much help as he seemed to be more of a warrior than a scholar. Daniel simply did not trust Loki to help. A knock came at his door as he worked. He glanced up and spied Peggy and Steve standing at the doorway both dressed on blue battle dress uniforms.

"Come in," he motioned wondering why they came to see him.

The couple entered and were most pleasant. Peggy gave a warm smile, "Steve and I were wondering if you could use some help, Dr. Jackson."

Steve added, "We heard you were working alone on trying to find the stones."

"I could use some help." he admitted. "Are either of you poly lingual?"

Peggy spoke up, "I am."

"I know some…" Steve offered.

"Well, grab a book!" he handed a book to Steve and then one to Peggy off the pile beside him. "We're looking for anything that references the stones. Pay attention to the photos of glyphs and drawings. You might get a clue there too."

"Sounds good." Steve agreed and took the book and a seat at the table. He opened the thick book and found it was in Greek. "I can't read much Greek. I can speak a little."

Peggy switched books with him, "This one is in English. I can read Greek." she stated taking the book. She settled in with the book at the table.

Curiously, Daniel looked at Peggy. He asked, "You were the director of an organization called 'SHIELD'."

She nodded, "I am…if I get back…" she realized she maybe stuck in the new reality.

"I kind of wonder…did you ever hear of me in your reality? Do I exist?" he asked.

She nodded, "Actually…you did exist and I did meet you once before. It was in New York City. You were giving a presentation on your theory of the great Pyramids being landing pads for space ships."

He asked, "You sat through the whole thing?"

"I did!" she nodded. "I tried to recruit you into SHIELD. I found your theory fascinating."

"I turned it down?" he winced.

"You died." she informed. "Right after the presentation. You were hit by a car on your way home."

He paused a bit shocked, "I was hit by a car."

She nodded, "It was very sad." She smiled, "I'm glad you got someone to listen to your theory here. You would have made a difference in SHIELD."

"Thanks you." he smiled. He then wondered, "I'm wondering. Are you any relation to Sam in your reality?"

She nodded, "She's my niece in my reality. I guess Jacob was an only child here." She shrugged.

He gasped, "You are Jacob's sister?"

She nodded with a grin. "I am! He's my little brother."

"Did you tell Sam?" he asked.

She shook her head, "I asked if she had an aunt. She said she didn't. I don't exist here." she theorized.

Steve added, "In our reality Sam is a Major in the Air Force like she is here. Peggy tried to get her into SHIELD but she's too stubborn."

Peggy laughed, "She also doesn't want to let anyone know that Captain American is her uncle."

Daniel gathered, "So you both have known Sam all her life."

They nodded meekly rather amused.

Steve added, "I think she won't join SHIELD because Rodney is one of the scientist. He kind of annoys her."

Daniel asked, "Rodney McKay?"

He smirked, "You have a Rodney too?"

"We do." he gave a sigh. "He kind of irritates me. He's always hitting on Sam. That bugs me."

Peggy suggested, "You and Sam would make a good match." She fancied the idea of Daniel dating her niece…even if it was in another reality.

"It's not like that." he assured. "I was an only child. Sam is kind of like the sister I never had." he explained.

Steve asked amused, "Jack the big the brother you never had?"

He paused, "If he's the annoying brother…then yes."

Steve stated, "I've known Tony for some time now. I knew his father too. I can tell you one thing. Tony speaks very highly of you, Jack, Sam and Teal'c. He likes you guys. He normally doesn't like people like that. I was rather surprised when I saw how Tony treats Jack like he's his brother. I didn't expect that."

Daniel wondered, "What did you expect?"

"I don't know," he pondered. "I half expected to have to rescue him from a cell. You guys found him, right?"

"We did!" he confirmed with a nod. "He just got the snot beat out of him too. I gave him water and Sam bandaged him. He was wounded."

Steve admitted, "Thing is, if the shoe was on the other foot and say you came to my reality and was trying to warn us about the Goa'uld…I would think you were nuts. You took him seriously, tended to his wounds and brought him back to base and gave him a new life when you figured you could not send him back. Even with Thanos, the time travel, the Asgard…I never would have taken the idea of going to and from another reality seriously enough to believe it."

"The mirror!" Daniel explained. "It activated twice before. The first time it was another version of Sam who came through. We sent her back and helped stop an invasion. She was married to Jack but her Jack had died. The second time I went to another reality where Catherine Langford was running the SGC. They were invaded. She died sending me back home. This is the third time the mirror activated and you guys came through. We've been though this rodeo before."

Peggy looked at Steve, "I wonder if there are other realities where we are married?"

He shrugged, "Who knows but it's an interesting thought." He began to focus on the book before him.

Daniel looked upon Steve. "Tony said they gave you something during World War Two to make you big and strong. He said you are a geek at heart."

Steve admitted, "I guess I am."

Peggy agreed, "My husband is very smart."

He asked, "Why did you let them alter you like this?"

"It was my sacrifice for my country." he told him.

He puckered in thought and mentioned under his breath, "Not sure if that's much of a sacrifice."

Steve cocked his head and gave him a an irritated look.

Peggy explained, "We didn't know if the experiment would work. We had to be careful who we gave the serum to. It magnifies the personality as well. The man who had it before Steve was negatively affected by it."

"The Red Skull." Steve added.

"You mean, they gave that serum to more than one person?" he asked alarmed.

"Yes!" Peggy informed. "We were in a war. The Nazis were also researching the serum."

Daniel remarked cyclically, "Then we brought them here and put them in NASA." He went back to reading his book.

Steve admitted, "I wasn't thrilled with that idea either." He too started to read.

Peggy sat and realized Daniel's attitude was very similar to her husband's. She gave a sigh for Steve could be equally sarcastic at times. She concentrated the book before her.

Daniel flipped a page. Steve then flipped a page as they sat in silence.

Peggy decided, "I need some coffee." She stood up, "You want some coffee Steve?"

"I'm fine." he assured.

"Daniel?" she asked.

He held his cup up for her to take, "Please."

She retrieved the cup and left to get some fresh coffee.

Steve glanced as Peggy left and then glanced at Daniel. He asked him, "Would you take that serum if they offered it to you?"

He looked up at Steve and figured, "I don't think I would."

"Why not?" he asked curious to his line of thinking.

He explained, "It amplifies every aspect right?"

He nodded, "It does."

He admitted, "I wouldn't turn out like you. I would want revenge for my wife. I offered myself as a host just to be with her. Then I watched her die right in front of me. I would be a danger to others if I took it. That much I know."

Steve told him, "There was a man in basic training who wanted to be the first to get that serum. He was all about himself and that's why he failed to pass the test. The fact that you can determine that you would be a danger and refuse to take the serum, makes you a qualified candidate because you admit you have faults."

"Seriously?" he asked.

"Yup," Steve nodded. He flipped the page in the book. He noticed the drawing, "Daniel…this looks kind of like one of the stones." He pushed the book to before the archeologist.

Daniel read, "That a depiction of Ra on Abydos."

Steve pointed to a small stone, "That is one of the stones."

Daniel gasped, "There is a stone on Abydos!"