Author's Note: It's coming along well, I think. I hope you all agree. Bear in mind that some parts of the next chapters will be more serious, since it'll be a lot dialogue between Sam, Jack and the Pe'aoli (which I have to look up to make sure I'm spelling it right every time I type it in) Also, it's going to take a slight turn, but just for this chapter, I think....

~*~

"They look just like you," Shawn observed once the other Asgard had vanished completely from the bridge.

"To Humans we look much alike," Thor agreed. "There are some differences, but they are subtle."

Shawn nodded, willing to accept it, even though he didn't see any differences at all, and he wasn't sure what subtle meant.

"How come you speak English?" Shawn asked. "Your things aren't marked in English." He pointed at the chair arm, which had a mark of some other language on it.

"I am not speaking English," Thor told him. "I am speaking Asgard. You are merely hearing it in English. Had I been speaking Goa'uld, you'd still be hearing in English."

"How?"

"It's a program. Whoever is on the bridge will hear whatever language they and understand."

"What if they speak more than one language? Like Daniel?"

"They hear the one they are most familiar with."

"What if they're familiar with more than one? Would they hear-"

"They hear the one they speak and understand best. Doctor Jackson speaks many languages, yes, but he is most familiar with English, because it is what he grew up with. He would hear English. It is a common program."

"Can people learn your language?" Shawn asked. "Human people, I mean?" He pointed at the sign on the chair once more. "Can they learn to read it?"

"They would not need to," Thor said. "They can already understand-"

"But what if you and I were down on the planet? I wouldn't be able to understand you, then."

"I speak your language."

"But I want to speak yours."

Thor sighed. "Yes, Humans can learn Asgard. Obviously. I believe Doctor Jackson can speak and read some Asgard. I know he reads and speaks Goa'uld."

"Could I learn it?" Shawn asked, eagerly.

"I do not think Colonel O'Neill would approve..."

"Why not? Jack likes you. He told me so."

"He did?"

Shawn nodded. "He said you guys were good."

"I was not aware O'Neill held us in such regard."

"You, mostly." Shawn corrected. "He likes you. You can tell by the way he acts around you." Shawn had Jack figured out pretty well. Jack yelled at the people he liked most. And he grumbled around them. He'd seen Jack do both with Thor.

Thor was silent for a moment, looking at Shawn as speculatively as any of the other Asgard had. Finally, he nodded, reluctantly. "There is a way you could learn our language. A way you can learn it almost instantly. However, it is a secret, and I would request that you not tell anyone."

"Why not?"

"There are many reasons. For one, it would seem as though I am experimenting on you, which is something that your people have many myths and stories about already, and are very sensitive to. It is also not something I would do. For another, it is not a common technique, and is most effective when used on the very young, when their minds are still forming. It can be fatal for adults, human or otherwise. Their brains are unable to take the changes that are applied to them. I do not wish for your entire SGC to come to me wanting to be implanted."

"Would it hurt me?" Shawn asked, doubtfully. He wanted to learn the language, not die.

"No. There will be a little discomfort, and you will be disorientated for a few moments, perhaps longer. It is a method I, myself, have used when I was very young. It is how the Asgard know so many different languages. We have them implanted into our brains."

"I could learn more than Asgard this way?"

"What other language would you want to learn?" Thor asked.

"What else is there?"

"Many. But I will not subject you to that. Asgard only."

"And Goa'uld!" Shawn said.

"Why would you wish to-"

"Daniel speaks it."

"You cannot tell Doctor Jackson-"

"Okay, I won't, I promise." Shawn was practically writhing in excitement. "If your friends want to talk to me, it'd be a lot easier if I spoke their language, right? Right?"

Thor sighed, wondering how they'd managed to get the discussion going this direction. He was also wondering how this little boy had managed to get him to admit to a technique that the Asgard had held so closely for so long. It was a procedure they'd learned from the Ancients. Former allies who had long since left the known areas of space to continue their travels elsewhere. O'Neill was the only Human who'd ever experienced first-hand the effects of the Ancients' technique, which was far more potent than the Asgard version.

The Asgard had no desire to pass their entire knowledge to others. They had no need. They were longer-lived than anyone knew, and would always be around to share their knowledge when they found those who were advanced enough to understand what they were learning.

They had, however, learned the technique way back in their past, and used it to teach their young the languages of the other races, knowing that time saved in learning that could be used to learn something else. Then they'd stopped having young completely, and the technique had fallen to the side, like the simulators and other methods of learning. None were needed anymore, but all were saved and held aside, in hopes that they would be again some day. But that wasn't something Thor was going to get into with Shawn. No more than his anatomy was.

"If you wish, I will implant the language of the Asgard in your brain," Thor said.

"And the Goa'uld," Shawn said, stubbornly.

Knowing there was only one possible outcome to this discussion, Thor nodded. "But only if you give me your word that you will not divulge where you learned it."

"Divulge?"

"Tell."

"I won't tell anyone. Not even Jack."

"Very well." Thor stood up. "Follow me."

Shawn and the Asgard walked into the same room that held the simulator Shawn had been playing with most of the trip, and Thor gestured to the chair.

"Sit in it, please."

Shawn scrambled into the chair, watching Thor intently.

"This will hurt, but only for a moment. Do not be afraid."

"I'm not."

Thor brought a small glowing jewel looking thing over to Shawn, and pressed it gently against his left temple. There was a sharp pain and Shawn yelped. Before the noise was done echoing through the room, however, the pain was fading. Shawn's head felt odd, though, and the boy felt dizzy and a little sick.

"Do not move," Thor said softly, moving away to put the stone back. Shawn couldn't have moved if he wanted to just then. He closed his eyes tightly to keep the world from spinning any more than it already was, and leaned back against the head brace of the chair, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

~*~