Disclaimer: Please see chapter one for full disclaimer.
Another Trip into Wonderland
Chapter Nine
Morning arrived all too soon for the SGC and after finishing a less than stellar breakfast in the cafeteria SG-1 and the O'Neill's found themselves back in Sam's lab examining the alien device from P3X 964.
"Found anything yet Carter?" the Colonel asked for the fourth time as he sat in the corner of the lab bouncing Jayden up and down on his knee.
"Not since you asked me two minutes ago sir" Sam replied glancing at Samantha and Daniel with an exasperated look in her eyes.
"Oh" Jack responded as Jayden let out a squeal of laughter at the Colonel's antics.
"The child seems to have taken a liking to you O'Neill," Teal'c noted with a facial expression that resembled a look of approval.
"Nah, he's just biased" the Colonel said, laughing as Jayden's chubby little hands reached for his nose. "After all, I look like his dad."
Upon hearing that remark, General O'Neill looked up from his work and grinned. "I don't know about biased but I'd say the kid definitely has great taste."
Shaking her head at her husband's latest remark, Samantha pointed to a crystalline object at one end of the device. "I'd say you're right about this being the main power source," she said to Sam as she placed the device on the counter and rubbed her eyes.
"And this looks to have been a back-up power supply" Sam remarked as she pointed to a small rectangular object located just below the crystalline object.
"Um… I'm no expert guys but do you think that should be charred like that?" Daniel asked pointing to the back-up power supply.
"No, and look at the crystal, it looks to have been damaged also" Samantha said.
"We need to measure the output of energy remaining in the device. Without a back-up power supply the device may be practically useless," Sam stated as she began pulling out equipment from a nearby storage locker.
"Useless?" both Jack O'Neill's asked in unison.
"We don't have an alternate power supply sirs" Sam informed them, a grim expression adorning her face.
"Look Carter, you're a whiz with that Naquada stuff. Couldn't you just rig up something and use the Naquada as an alternate power supply?" the Colonel asked.
"We've done it before," Daniel pointed out.
"Yes, but not this time. You see the device is dependent on the type of energy derived from a crystalline power supply. If we attempted to introduce Naquada it would probably overload and burn out the remaining systems" Sam explained to the group.
"The whole thing could just blow up altogether," Samantha mused softly.
"Well that would be… bad," the Colonel muttered.
"Indeed" agreed Teal'c raising one eyebrow in typical Teal'c-like fashion.
"What if we could get some crystals from the Tokra?" Daniel asked.
"It's a good thought Daniel but there is no way to adapt them. The crystals used by the Tokra to create the underground tunnels are very specific in their functions. It just wouldn't work" Sam answered.
"Before we get too worked up, let's try and see how much power is remaining in this device. There may be enough for what we need," Samantha said, directing her comments to both Jack O'Neill's. "In the meantime, maybe you guys could go to the cafeteria, get some coffee and meet us in the conference room? It's almost time for our meeting with General Hammond."
"Yeah sure you betcha," the General muttered. Turning his attention to the Colonel he asked, "Do you get the feeling we're not wanted here?"
"Whatever would make you say that?" the Colonel replied sarcastically. "Come on kid, let's make a coffee run and leave the Doctors to finish their work in peace."
Jayden merely giggled in response to the Colonel's good-natured grumbling and the men left the room accompanied by Teal'c.
"Thanks," Sam said to her counterpart. "The Colonel can really get on your last nerve when he's bored."
"Tell me about it," Samantha replied giving Sam a conspiratorial wink.
Ten minutes later a decidedly dejected looking trio entered the briefing room and took their seats at the table.
"From the look on your faces, I'd say things aren't going too well," General Hammond began as he noted the expressions on Sam's, Samantha's and Daniel's faces.
"No sir," Sam acknowledged and began relating the latest problems with the device. "The main power supply was damaged as a result of the discharged energy from the staff weapon blast. In addition, the back-up power supply was completely destroyed. It looks as if the blast created an energy feedback loop and overloaded the primary and secondary power supply components."
"Can you fix it Major?" the General questioned.
"No sir. The power supply is of a crystalline base and I know of no compatible alternatives. Anything we could rig up would be incompatible and at best, overload the device's systems," Sam explained.
"And at worst Major?" the General asked wondering if there was going to be any type of happy ending to this not-so-little problem.
"At worst it could destroy the device completely sir" Sam responded.
"Is there a bright side to all of this people?" the General questioned hoping that the legendary luck of SG-1 would win out yet again.
"Yes sir although we aren't certain how much of a 'bright side' it actually is. The device still has some residual power remaining in the main crystal. It's not much but it might be good for two if not three jumps at best," Sam said noting the thoughtful look on the Colonel's face.
"So it's settled then. We take them back to their past and return to ours. Two jumps, mission complete" the Colonel quipped matter-of-factly.
"It's not quite that simple sir," Sam said tentatively.
"And why not Major?" the Colonel asked wearily. 'Why can't we just catch a break on this one?' he wondered.
"Well sir, the device won't last more than one jump if we all try to go. The more people that are transported the more energy is expended. Now usually the power supply would automatically regenerate or rely on the back-up power supply unit in the event the crystal failed but as you already know, that's not an option. We're merely hoping that what little power remains holds out long enough to return the O'Neill's to their own reality. Therefore, we need to send as few people as possible. In short, General O'Neill, Dr Carter and Jayden will have to return on their own."
"And you think this plan has the best chance of success Major?" General Hammond asked.
"Yes sir. It's a risk but it's the best we can do. The device only travels through time in any one given reality just as it only transports a person to an alternate universe in a time frame parallel to the one you are being transported from," Sam explained.
"In English, Carter" the Colonel muttered not understanding a word of what she had just said.
"Well sir, we can't just jump them from our present to their past. The machine will only cross into an alternate reality on the same timescale. That's why we transported to the exact same moment in time in their reality and not to some time in their past or future. Therefore, in order to get them to their past, they will have to jump back into our past to the precise time in which they will need to arrive in their own reality. Once they have traveled back they will have to set the device to cross realities so they arrive in their own reality" Sam explained hoping her explanation was simple enough so as not to further confuse anyone.
Teal'c, who had been quietly listening to Sam's explanations, questioned, "How far back in time will they travel Major Carter?"
"Well, that's the other problem. The greater the distance traveled the more outlay of power is required from the device. In order to give them the best possible odds they will have to go back to a time very close to the Goa'uld attack," Sam answered.
"No margin for error?" the Colonel guessed.
"None sir," Sam replied.
"General O'Neill" Hammond said turning to the battle weary officer that sat across the table from him, "this is a very risky undertaking. Are you sure that you want to go through with this? We might be able to enlist the Tokra and settle you in a different reality."
"We're sure General," the man answered. "We owe it to all of the people that were lost and even to Jayden to try and change things. We're both in agreement that this is something we have to do."
"General," Samantha interrupted "We may not have much time to try and change things but we've made a big start on our research and it's possible we can convince the Asgard to help before the ship ever reaches Earth. We have to try."
"Let's suppose you manage to make the leap back in time within your own reality and that you manage to stop the attack and change the events of the past few months. What then? There will be two of each of you within that period of time. What will you do?" the General questioned.
"Well, we could try using the device to travel forward and return us to our own time or, if that doesn't work, we could find an out-of-the-way place to settle down and live out our lives" General O'Neill answered.
"That's a pretty big risk General," Hammond said in a stern tone, staring hard at the man who had so recently come to them from another reality.
"With all due respect sir, it's a risk that we're willing to take," the man answered returning General Hammond's look with an equal intensity.
"Very well, you have a go on this mission" the General said. Looking to Sam he asked, "Major Carter, how long before the device is ready?"
"It's ready now sir and we're going to have to move within the next couple of hours before the cascade failure begins" Sam replied.
"But first I need to show you a few things regarding the research we've gathered so far on the bio-toxin. It might help you if you ever have to face a similar situation in this reality," Samantha told Sam.
"You'll depart in two hours," the General said. "We'll meet at 1400 hours in Major Carter's lab and departure can take place from there."
"Yes sir," the Colonel answered. "We may want to grab lunch before the two of you get started," he said motioning to Sam and Samantha. "I have no doubt that when they arrive back in their past they are going to have a lot of explaining to do. Explaining that will take a long time."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everyone was gathered in Sam's lab when 1400 hours arrived. Samantha was going over last minute details regarding her research on the bio-toxin and Daniel was double-checking the coordinates on the device. There was a nervous feeling in the air and even Teal'c seemed a little edgy.
"Good luck," Sam said giving both the General and Samantha a hug goodbye. "I wish we could be there to help you but the risk of being able to sustain the power supply on the device would be too great. Just remember that you'll need to jump immediately to your own reality after landing in our past. You can't afford to spend the time going through all of the inevitable explanations on account of the cascade failure."
"I know," Samantha said.
"Well, I guess this is it," General O'Neill quipped shaking General Hammond's hand.
"Yep, just another trip into Wonderland," the Colonel replied in his familiar sarcastic tone of voice.
"Let's just hope the White Rabbit stops long enough to help you out this time," Daniel said giving General O'Neill a warm handshake.
"What is this White Rabbit you speak of Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked in apparent confusion.
"We'll explain it to you later Teal'c," the Colonel assured the Jaffa. "In the meantime, take care of this little guy," he said pulling a piece of candy from his pocket for Jayden "and don't forget to kick some Goa'uld butt!"
"Not a problem," General O'Neill assured him.
"Um, sirs, we had better all clear out of the lab while they make their exit. Otherwise, we'll end up four and a half months in our own past," Sam said as she handed the device to Samantha.
Exiting the room, the group took one last look at General O'Neill, Doctor Samantha Carter-O'Neill and their son. Each sent forth their own silent form of well wishes as they made their way to stand at the end of the corridor and wait for the pinkish glow of the device to fade.
"Well, I guess that's it," Sam said as SG-1 and General Hammond re-entered the recently vacated lab.
"I don't think so, Major," the Colonel replied with a small smile.
"What do you mean Jack?" the General asked.
"Oh, something just tells me they're going to be ok," he replied softly.
"Let's hope so son," Hammond said. "But for now, SG-1, I am postponing your next mission until Tuesday of next week. Until then you are on stand down for the remainder of this week. I do not want to see you back on these premises until Monday is that understood?"
"What about SG-7 sir?" the Colonel asked.
"What about them?" the General answered, surprised at the change of topic.
"Well sir, they came barreling through the gate yesterday from a supposedly uninhabited planet with Jaffa on their tales. Don't you want us to check it out or something?" Jack clarified.
"No son. The members of SG-7 are fine with nothing more than a few scrapes, bruises and a sprained wrist. I can't find anything with enough strategic value on P3X 881 to justify sending another team into a known hostile environment to investigate" the General told them. "Besides, I think SG-1 has had enough excitement for a few days, don't you?"
"Yes sir," Jack answered for his team. "Thank you sir" he called as Hammond left the room. Turning to his team he smiled as an idea formed in his mind. "So guys, movie and pizza night at my place this evening?" He grinned when he heard the various replies of "Sure but no anchovies", "Sounds great", and "as you wish O'Neill." 'Yep, life is definitely good,' he thought with a satisfied grin.
TBC