IMPORTANT: Chapter 7 was updated with the full chapter that is on AO3. Archive of our own has more chapters. At minimum everything is going there first.

I also ask people to keep the people of Ukraine in their thoughts. There is going to be a lot of suffering and death this winter thanks to a very evil man. The US is doing what it can. If you live in the US your vote could matter since a change in congress, particularly in the House could drag out this war and increase everyone's danger in the long term. If your a US citizen, the president could really use your support. I know a certain minority leader of the house has suggested cutting their support, which would seem to only add to the cruelty.

Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. A few well known names may be used, but everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.

-=oOo=-

Araiansu - Chapter 8

-=oOo=-

Author's Note: Well, I cobbled together a converter to convert a semi formatted text document to something AO3 likes. I'll add more details and formatting later, but I'm definitely glad to stop using Libreoffice for editing. I have a pretty fast computer, and it stalled on big documents, plus that other site had problems importing it, unless you changed it and this one lost formatting. This way I type using very simple XML and just let the script convert it to what AO3 needs. Also, since I'm using a code editor to edit, I can even see the parts I've changed since the last save.

-=oOo=-

The general left right after they returned.

"What no food?" asked Jack after they turned back up, sans one Japanese Prime minister.

Ranma pulled out several bags of food out of nowhere and Sam pulled out another two with drinks.

"Neat trick. Can you teach me?"

Sam said, "It is actually kind of dangerous. Our kids are only allowed to maintain a very small one, and ours isn't that big."

"Dangerous how?" asked her father warily.

Sam said, "We have mostly mitigated it, but it we deliberately let the construct fail it would probably be lethal. Space folding is tricky stuff."

"And your using it for food?" asked Jacob heatedly.

"No," Ranma said. "We are using it for food so that we keep in practice. Without this skill Sam would have died. Heck, I might have died."

"Oh," he said awkwardly.

Daniel asked, "What do your children use it for?"

Avon said, "A one time shot of medical nanobots and a communicator which can work from inside our folded space."

"Sweet. Can we get some?"

Sam said, "The medical nano was provided by the Asgard. The ship can't make more."

Daniel asked, "Why the limit of one use?"

Sam said, "The medical nano are one time partly because that is what fits in the tiny container but mostly because they are somewhat dangerous. "

"Dangerous?" asked Jacob.

Ranma said, "If the kids are ever where they are bad enough and can't heal themselves enough to stay alive then the chance of causing permanent damage to their bodies with the medical nanobots will be the least of their concerns."

"Ah, one of those things," noted Jack.

Sam said, "Yes, we don't like the risk, but we all know the risk and won't use them if there is any other way."

"What about those tube things in the infirmary?"

"They have a very complex Asgard computer system guiding them that is more powerful than probably the entire set of computers connected to the internet. The medical nanobots don't."

Jack nodded.

Siler interjected, "I'm not sure when you wanted to start with the submarines, but there a dozen available to us already. I have a proposed set of modifications. I also have a company that is prepared to load shipping containers with solar panels. I'll have to weld a lot to install all this stuff. I think I can MIG weld on Mars, though I haven't tried it. After that, we can use the bracing structure to mount poles to attach the solar panels to. That way the panels can track the sun better."

Avon said, "It is possible to reprogram the transporters to do things like fuse metal, but that will put them in a mode where they cannot be used for transporting people."

Siler said, "Interesting, though I'd rather try to get welding to work. If something happens those transporters could save a life."

Avon nodded.

Sam asked, "The key factor is going to be the availability of this ship. What do you think of getting one of the submarines now, or putting several together or?"

Siler said, "Unless you have a way of holding multiple ships safely at once, then it is probably better to just move them one at a time, but we are going to need to figure out where they are going, unless you already have a place?"

Sam said absently, "Zen should have the proposed sites. Villa you finished that work didn't you?"

"I did, and I even had Avon check it over. He thinks the one he highlighted is near frozen water, but our scan was incomplete."

"Water is a priority, but we will just have to see what we find when we get there. We can leave the submarine in orbit for a time if need be." said Sam absently. She yawned. "Where is the first submarine located?"

Siler said, "That is actually the good news. The navy has donated several that are still in the ocean with skeleton crews. The weapons are removed. The crews have volunteered."

Cally said, "Under no circumstances can anyone ride in one while we have it in tether. The chance of losing air is too high. For that matter if we make a mistake with the tether field we could crush a submarine like an egg."

Siler eyes widened before he nodded.

Ranma asked, "Jack, would you like to lead this mission?"

"Sure."

Daniel said, "Jin Yang from China was my pick for an atmospheric scientist. She is ready now, and I can help her with the translations."

Sam said, "Check with her, and if she approves beam her up."

Less than a minute later she appeared on the bridge.

Ranma asked in Japanese, "Do you understand Japanese?"

She responded in Japanese, "Yes, I understand it fairly well."

He then asked in Japanese, "We agree in principle to do whatever we can to help the Earth. Some technologies are restricted. Do you agree to go over with Sam any technology you may want to bring back to Earth and get her agreement before doing so?"

"I do."

"Do you also agree not to act against the general purpose of the Earth Defense Force and those leading it?"

"I do, though I had expected a loyalty oath of some kind."

Ranma said, "You are not here as part of the EDF. That may change, but for now, I just needed to know if you would keep your word."

"How can you know that with just those questions?"

Ranma smiled a small smile and didn't comment.

Daniel said, "Well if you want to get started, I could show you to quarters. Most of your research will be done there."

Sam said, "Zen, authorize Jin Yang for access to such information that is not in conflict with Asgard directives and is directly related to repairing the environmental damage on Earth. Add food replicator access as well."

"Confirmed."

Jin bowed. "Thank you very much for this opportunity. I will try to bring honor to it."

Ranma bowed back.

Sam said, "Jack you have command. I doubt there is anything in the vicinity of the ship with we are towing, but well, we always had the luck."

"Ya, no kidding. Hopefully picking up a sub in the middle of the ocean is safer."

Ranma said, "I'll stick around till I can interview the crew, and I'll want Avon to checkout the area and apply his own interpretation to the scan data for the sub."

Sam nodded and waived before leaving.

Jacob stayed as well. He said, "So I hear you want to marry my daughter?"

Ranma gulped. "We are already married. Thor married us."

"But you aren't married on Earth, so it is technically not recognized there."

"You don't live on Earth."

"Only the best for my daughter. Doesn't she deserve the best?"

"Of course," he agreed rapidly. His children all did their best to hide smiles, as did Jack.

"So you will be giving her the wedding she wants soon."

Ranma looked around. Jin and Daniel looked curious. Their kids were all still here and were looking expectant and amused. Jack was outright grinning.

He said, "Of course. Whatever Sam wants…"

Villa and Dana snickered.

Ranma glared.

Jack said, "Well, I'm glad I don't suddenly have to impress Sam with a fancy wedding."

Ranma swallowed and glared at him. "Your helping."

"What? Why me?"

"Because I need help, and because Sam would appreciate it."

"Fine. Are you sure you can't just elope? I know a priest."

"No, well we will need a priest, but well, okay kids, Jack, other guests, what do you think of us holding the marriage ceremony on this dimensions copy of the world where I first met Sam?"

Jenna said, "Let's do it. I want to see it anyway."

That soon became the consensus.

Ranma asked, "Jacob?"

"I think we can make that work. Selmak is also curious. I presume you know which world."

Ranma nodded.

"Jin?"

The scientists blinked as she parsed the English carefully. "Me?"

"I'm taking all the advise I can get."

She replied in Japanese, "My Japanese is better than my English. What is her religion? Does she have I believe pastor is the word? Perhaps she would prefer…" She trailed off.

He replied, "Roman Catholic, and, I don't know. You bring up a good point. Thank you."

Ranma asked in English, "Jin brought up a good point. Does anyone know if Sam has a pastor she likes?"

Jack said, "I think she sometimes goes to the same church as her brother. She seems to like it, though I don't think she attends regularly. Are you thinking of asking her pastor?"

Ranma nodded.

Jack added, "Normally I'd say off world is classified, but I suppose it doesn't matter to you. You do know you could probably get the Pope to officiate your wedding if you wanted to?"

"Would that help?" asked Ranma in complete curiosity.

Daniel said, "Sam never cared that much about pomp. If she likes her pastor then that is probably good enough. Of course you may want to invite the Pope anyway. I hate to say it but you should invite at least one reporter too. Like it or not you are now public figures and you need a certain amount of public good will."

Ranma cursed before nodding.

Cally added, "You had better do it soon."

Ranma scowled. "I will leave for her brother's after we have verified the remaining submarine crew. I assume we can ask the same reporter."

They nodded.

"Then could someone maybe visit the Pope?"

Daniel said, "Sure, I could do that. Would you mind coming with me Jin?"

"I would be honored."

"Jack, can you let everyone else know that Sam would want there? The ship has the space."

"Sure, though are you sure you want half the SGC on this ship?"

"As long as you trust them."

Jack nodded. "Some won't be able to come because of duty. I'm hoping Hammond can."

Ranma said, "It is almost a day journey to the planet at normal speed. We could speed that up, if we needed to..."

He nodded.

Thirty minutes later Ranma had beamed down to the submarine. After five minutes of questioning he said, "Okay you are all hired."

"Seriously, your letting us join up that easy?" asked the grizzled old engineer.

"Let's just say that I am excellent at reading people. I can learn more talking with you than any resume you could give. I suppose we might get pickier with technical skills later, but for right now the only real qualifications are that your willing to do the job as described and can contribute."

"If you say so," the man said dubiously. "Will we ride to Mars in this bucket or ?"

"You will be assigned temporary quarters on Liberator. For now you will be limited from accessing most systems except for food and such."

"What do you need from us?" another asked.

"The main thing I need is for you to tell us what you need. We should have an improved machine to recycle air within a week. Do you have food? I assume you need environmental suits for walking outside."

"We thought our diving suits would work."

"We will get you the right thing, probably from Liberator's supplies. Keep what you have in good shape though, because you never know."

"Ain't that the truth."

Ranma asked, "Do you want to stay in your quarters during the trip or come to the bridge? There is a section where we can accommodate you, at least on this trip."

"Could we?" the old engineer asked eagerly.

"Yep. I have some other tasks to tend to, but I assure you that you are in good hands."

"Thank you."

-oOo-

Jack looked over at the old crew from the sub, and then suddenly his eyes lit up. "Dave Sharp?" he asked.

The old but unbowed engineer stood up. "Jack? Your running this show?"

"Today I am. So, you volunteered."

"Had to, when I saw that you had. Knew you wouldn't go off to just die when there was work to do."

"Health problems?" Jack asked concerned at the bitter tone in his voice.

"More than a few, but I got my meds and I ain't dead yet."

"Is it urgent?" asked Jack in concern.

"Nah. I'm fine for awhile yet."

"We'll once we get in space, let me know. We have a very good medical facility that can fix almost anything."

"You're serious?"

"I'm dead serious. We can't let everyone use it because we only have the one, so we have to keep it secret, but it is definitely there for anyone in the EDF."

"I'll take you up on that. I suspect they will as well, even though they are healthier than they got any right to be."

"Good living," one claimed.

"Smoke, booze, diesel, and soot ain't exactly good living."

"It was for us."

Jack said, "I understand."

Jack asked, "Is everyone ready?" He heard back agreement. "Zen, are we good to go to tow the submarine?"

"All systems are fully operational. The task is well within this ship's design limits."

"Then it's time to go campers. I'll maneuver her to above the sub. Villa, you are manning the tether?"

"I am. This is easy compared to that asteroid."

"Good."

The ship flew until it was pointed straight up from the ocean just above the submarine. "Engage when ready."

Villa said, "Engaging tether. Tether engaged and solid. Take us up slow. Separating out the water from the submarine is going to be a little tricky."

Dana asked, "Could we bring the water?"

Jack said, "That is a good question. Can we? Zen?"

"The water currently contained within the tethering field will require an additional generator brought online to successfully move the additional mass to Mars."

"Works for me. Avon."

"Hold. Spinning another up." Twenty seconds later he said, "Generator online. I'm also doubling up with Villa. Transporting liquids was not actually in the design specifications."

"But there is no real risk right?" asked Jack.

"No, it should be fine. Worst case is we lose the water. We should be able to keep the ship regardless. Its a little tricky keeping the water as water, but we can manage. You can go when you ready."

"Okay easing her up."

Liberator began to slowly climb into the sky as its massive engines overcame not just the submarine they were towing but as much again in water. It's continued to accelerate until less than thirty minutes later they were in space. Jack looked back to Villa.

"So far so good. Avon and I have had to compensate a bit, but we can deal with it. Just, no sudden moves. Water is tricky."

"Zen get us on course for Mars. There is no hurry. Keep us on a course that keeps the sub and if possible the water safe. You can take a day or two to get there if need be."

"The requirements were anticipated. Course laid in and executing."

Jack said, "That is it for the interesting bit. The rest is pretty boring."

"Like hell it is," Dave exclaimed.

"Well, did you want to gawk at the stars or maybe get healthy?"

"Plan B I guess."

"Well then come on. Avon, your in charge, but defer to Siler if uncertain."

"Understood."

-=oOo=-

Dave, like the others, chose to be put asleep.

Before they got in Jack said, "I know these look scary, and in truth I don't like them that much either, but they work and are a lot better than a certain domineering doctors."

Janet's voice suddenly was heard from the air, "I heard that Jack."

"What the hell?" Jack twisted, looking around for familiar red hair.

Sam came in a few moments later and said, "So my surprise worked?"

"Your the one that scared me half to death. I thought she was here with the big honking needles."

"Nah, I got her to record her voice. It played the first time you mentioned her."

"Sam," Jack drawled.

Sam walked over to the others. One was a woman only a bit younger than Dave. She asked, "Cara, is that you?"

"Yep. I saw where the little tinkerer went and I couldn't resist coming along. Boy you have aged well."

Jack snorted.

"So are you guys going to use the tubes?" Sam asked.

Cara replied, "Yes. Jack was just to the point of trying to make it less scary." A few seconds later she added deadpan, "He isn't very good at it."

"That I can believe. Well there are five of you and I need to spend some time working through some things. It is a bit overkill to use a medical interface to do work, but if it will make you all feel better."

"You don't have to," Cara insisted.

"Sure I do. Ignore the fact that I don't move. I choose these settings. They work faster. They just are kind of scary so no one expects you to use them."

Cara and the others looked dubiously as Sam laid down calmly on the farthest bed. A field rose up around her and she suddenly stopped, apparently even breathing. Sam's voice was heard in the room. "It takes some skill to speak like this while not moving, so don't be surprised if you don't manage it. It usually takes months."

Dave said, "Somehow that doesn't really comfort me all that much."

"It's fine," Sam's teasing voice came through the air.

"It really is. Not that I managed the trick, but the beds work well," insisted Jack.

Dave and the others dubiously laid down. The fields surrounded them and they were soon drifting off to sleep.

Jack touched several controls on the virtual diagnostic display over Dave's bed. He swallowed when he saw what was there. He then looked at each of the others, but they were far far less concerning.

Jack said, "Sam, Dave has very advanced cancer. The system is fixing it but it is going to be a few days. He had no business coming on this trip. None at all. If we hadn't had this facility…"

Sam's voice said, "My dad was much the same. He fought it till the end and then Selmak saved him. The others?"

"Six to twenty hours. Nothing of concern really."

"Good. I can monitor them from inside here if you want to do something else."

"Nah, I'm fine. I put Avon in charge but made sure Siler had the final say just in case. The trip should be fairly boring really."

"That sounds fine. I'm more than a little bit concerned by his AI project. It is helpful, but at the same time the Asgard ban the things. He is keeping it under what is technically an AI, but sometimes I wonder. Then again, I was never quite sure what the Asgard's line was there."

"What is the concern?" asked Jack.

"They were burned badly by the replicators and they don't want to risk a repeat."

"I can understand that. Would you like me to talk with him?"

"Yes. Ranma doesn't really appreciate some of the danger we do. He hasn't taken the same risks we have taken, even if his life was no safer. He could have been killed multiple times a week, so could many others, but he doesn't know the risks out there, not really, not like we do. He has cautioned Avon several times as have I, with more emphasis, but I thought maybe…"

"Someone who has almost died multiple times from going through the gate might get through to him just how dangerous the unknown is."

"Yes. I'm not remotely trying to discourage his ability. I am just cautious. Zen, for all his extremely elaborate programming is not truly intelligent. Oh there are some bits there to make him seem so, but he isn't. Avon is clever enough to perhaps one day manage creating a true AI. If a true AI got control of this ship and didn't like us somehow, or didn't care if we had say oxygen?"

"Yah, I get it Sam. I'll talk to him. It figures the best toys are always the ones that are the most dangerous."

A few minutes later he said, "I'm bored now."

"You should replicate a game boy or something Jack."

"You can do that?" asked Jack surprised.

"Sure, just make sure you ask it to list handheld video games from Earth, then pick one."

"You know Carter, since we missed out on all the babysitting duty, well we are going to have to do our duty and totally spoil your kids."

Sam's disembodied laughter echoed through the room. "Ranma never really had a childhood. His father took him on the training trip from hell when he was about five. He went through so very much. It took me forever to totally break him of not wanting to hurt women, even in training. If anything he was fortunate to get his curse."

"Fortunate?" expressed Jack in disbelief.

"It helped him overcome the misogynistic training his father had beat into his mind."

"I guess. So, he was really?"

"He was. He didn't understand that not just the worst of it was abuse. Probably the worst incident, which I thank the Asgard almost daily for their help on, was the Nekoken training."

"What was that?" Jack asked softly.

"His father wanted to teach his son an unbeatable technique that he found a dodgy manual far. The man didn't even read all the way through to the end where it listed all the reasons not to do this. The training involved his father collecting dozens of cats from the neighborhood and starving them. Then his father would tie his son up, wrap him in fish sausage and other things, and then throw him in the pit with the cats, before covering it with a steel grate."

"I'll kill him," Jack stated with certainty.

Sam snorted. "Get in line. He didn't do this once. Some of Ranma's memories are lost, but the best we have been able to tell is it was weeks of torture, until one day he learned it, after a fashion."

"What?" exclaimed an obviously upset Jack.

"The Nekoken truly is an almost unbeatable technique. Things are a bit different in his world. The Asgard may acknowledge magic, but they are not fans of it. This was apparently touching on what they considered demonic possession. Ranma, when exposed to even a kitten that he couldn't get away from, would revert to a cat like state."

"There is more, isn't there?" asked Jack warily.

"Yes, in this state he had the mind of a cat and he could produce six foot ki claws. He had five from each hand and foot that shredded everything the cat's mind wanted shredded. It was a miracle behind miracles that the cat personality that formed or was pushed into Ranma never really had any malice. The Asgard at Ranma's insistence checked his memories in detail. He never killed or seriously harmed anyone in that state, but he knew that it was a totally unacceptable condition."

"No kidding. I'd have shot myself before I let myself anywhere near children if I was that unstable."

"Ranma thought the same. He didn't want to die, and this was all occurring when our children were developing in their pods. He asked the Asgard to help him and they did but it was Ranma that did the work. With their help and his pure stubbornness they eradicated the Nekoken from Ranma."

"Whoa, so he really is something, and there I was wondering if he was good enough for you?"

Sam snorted. "He has had his battles, as we have had ours. They even offered to take him to a universe where they might find a way to not just remove but to actually harness the ability. At first he was interested, but when they pointed out that such solutions tend to be imperfect. There would still be a chance of him losing control if they went that route. He didn't hesitate. He chose to just get rid of it. I well remember his words. He said, 'I've never liked tainted power, or easy power. I've seen too many pursue it and it always ends badly.'"

Jack said softly, "Most people don't learn that till it is too late, if ever."

"No kidding. The Goa'uld are a walking example of that. Those sarcophagus make them worse than they might otherwise be."

"Are you sure these are safe?" asked Jack.

"Medically am I? No. I'm not that good, but the Asgard are and I trust them. Right now I didn't even engage the healing function but as a check. I'm just using the interface to multitask for my work, and, well, talk to you. These definitely do not have the same problem as the Goa'uld devices. I checked thoroughly for that much."

Jack asked, "Are you sure he is okay?"

"Yes Jack. His youth shaped him, but he never let it define him. He never gave in to the darkness that so many others did, even if he will admit getting close a few times. He is the kindest man or woman I have ever met. Yes, I've had to occasionally veto some of his training ideas, because, well, he doesn't understand how insane some of it was."

"What is the worst?" Jack asked curious.

"There is a training that I've gone through that the kids haven't. Some of them may get offered the chance soon, though not as originally done. I really don't want to do it to them, but I really don't want them not prepared. The original form ties the candidate up so they can't move and you smash them with large boulders supposedly to find the breaking point in an object."

"The what?" asked a surprised Jack.

"It is a real thing, though there are more than one breaking point per object. You basically learn to slip ki through the cracks in matter and shatter stone. It doesn't work on people."

"And you do this why?" asked a stunned Jack.

"The purpose is not to learn the breaking point. That is useful, but not the purpose. The candidate must be selected by a master and must have exceptional internal and external control of their ki. They must already be able to enhance their body with ki and absorb crippling blows, by reinforcing their body to the point that the energy passes through it, without damaging it."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, I'm dead serious. We have each trained the kids that they can do all this, though in much less hazardous ways than the breaking point training."

"Then why do the insane thing at all?"

"Ki can have sort of a muscle memory. The enhancement goes from requiring a lot of focus to instinctive. The level of protection also at least doubles the point where the kids are at now. I'm not going to force any of them to do it, but Ranma and I agree it is time to make the offer. At least we can control things enough that we know they won't be injured beyond what we can fix. Ranma had no such guarantee when he learned it on his own."

"He managed to have boulders hit him on his own?"

She nodded. "He rigged up a pulley system and triggered it himself for days and days of pain."

"I have no advice Sam. You know the math. I will back your decision if there is a need to do so."

She nodded.

"So, not to change the subject, but do you think I can addict at least one of the rugrats to the Simpsons or video games or?"

Sam laughed.

"Do we even have the Simpsons on Mars?"

"Sure, if need be most of the episodes should be in the Asgard database somewhere. Actually, come to think of it, we probably have all the episodes."

"All the episodes Carter? It hasn't been cancelled yet? Has it?"

"Remember we lived this time already in a parallel universe. I'm sure the TV shows are in there somewhere. I didn't watch them."

"You've had Simpsons from the future and you didn't tell me?" accused Jack.

"The kids liked old TV shows, particularly Blake's 7 if you didn't recognize this ship. Oh they liked Star Trek the Next Generation too."

"Not Star Wars?" gasped Jack.

"Nope," she said over the speakers with a pop of the p.

"Blasphemy."

"When you can do a lot of it for real the fake stuff loses some appeal."

"Well, maybe, but still Star Wars Carter is Star Wars…"

Zen's said, "Incoming communication from Earth."

Jack said, "Connect it."

"This is General Hammond. With whom am I speaking?"

"It's me Jack. Carter is here as well."

"Is this connection secure?"

Sam said, "Probably not sir. It is going through too much Earth technology."

"I see, then it is good I'm talking with you. I just sent a team to the home of a distant friend of Sam's. We didn't part on the best of terms the last time if you will remember, and yet they seem to be very eager to help us now."

"Seriously?" asked Jack after he figured out who Hammond was talking about.

"I'm dead serious Jack."

"Sir, that makes no sense."

"And that is why I am contacting you. I can't order you, but if there was anyway you could check it out."

"Ranma will be annoyed to miss this," Sam said.

"Do you need anything from me?"

Could you give Ranma and Dad a place to crash? They had some errands they wanted to do or they might stay with Daniel."

"Of course Sam. What about the submarine?"

"We can set it adrift and pick it up later. I think this is the priority."

"Then god speed SG-1."

"Haven't they reused the group name?" asked Sam.

"We retired the group designation. The name is yours and yours alone."

"Thank you sir."

Hammond was disconnected.

Sam's bubble opened, "There goes my plans for sleep. Thankfully these things do let you cheat a bit."