DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters that have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
Manifestations
Part six
'Let me go!' Sandra was woken from a very deep sleep by the sound a child screaming and crying. 'Let me go!' As she leapt out of bed, Sandra realised Alysha had woken in the night and, not knowing where she was, attempted to find out only to be stopped by an SF outside the infirmary. From the sounds of it Alysha was fighting like a wild cat, her recent experiences making her distrustful of most people wearing a uniform.
'Alysha,' Sandra spoke firmly, trying to catch the girl's attention, ignoring the gathering of airmen and medical personnel wondering what to do. 'Alysha, look at me, you know who I am don't you honey?' Alysha stopped her struggling as the familiar voice reached her and she looked into the face of the one person who had been there for her through everything that had happened to her. 'It's ok, you can let her go now,' Sandra said to the SF still holding Alysha, and when he didn't comply, 'She's not going anywhere, just let her go please.'
It looked like they were at a stalemate when an authoritative voice behind the SF spoke up. 'Do as she says, airman. Let her go.' Recognising the voice of the base's second-in-command, the SF reluctantly let go of the girl and stood to one side to allow Colonel O'Neill through. In an instant, Alysha had raced to stand behind Sandra, putting the woman between her and all the people who had gathered.
'Ok, that's all folks, everything's under control here now. Dismissed.' Jack ordered the group away and a few moments later the area was deserted aside from the nurse who had alerted Colonel O'Neill to what was going on. 'Good work Philips,' Jack smiled at the nurse who returned the smile and returned to her night duties in the infirmary. 'How's Alysha?' Jack asked Sandra who was now crouched in front of the little girl, hugging her tightly to stop the panic attack that was threatening to take control of her.
Alysha pushed herself away from Sandra as she looked towards the familiar voice and face who had just rescued her from that other man in uniform. Jack took a tentative step towards Alysha, not wanting to alarm her or set her off again and smiled when the child approached him, putting her arms around his waist, pressing her face into his stomach as she hugged him silently in thanks. Jack ruffled her hair before lifting her easily, feeling her arms circling his neck and her legs wrapping around his waist as she enjoyed the feeling of being hugged by someone who didn't have a bad feeling about them like those horrid people back at that other place.
'I think we'd better get you back to bed,' Jack spoke soothingly to her. 'I bet you're still tired aren't you?' Alysha vigorously shook her head, her body stiffening at the thought of being returned to that place that reminded her so much of unpleasant tests and people wanting to hurt her and use her. 'Oh? Well, then how about we get something to eat. You hungry?' Alysha nodded this time and allowed Jack to carry her into the infirmary and give Sandra instructions to change Alysha into something more suitable for wandering around the base, the nurse coming forward with a bag of Cassie's spare clothes that someone had collected earlier. 'I can take it from here, get yourself back to bed.' Jack spoke to Sandra, seeing dark circles under her eyes still.
'I'm alright, sir,' Sandra tried to argue. 'It's nearly morning anyway, I may as well stay up.'
'That wasn't exactly a suggestion, Sergeant,' Jack said as kindly as he could. 'You're one of the few people Alysha trusts right now and I need you to be properly rested so you can carry on looking out for her. We'll be fine while Sandra gets some sleep won't we?' Alysha nodded her agreement, trusting this tall man. It was good to have someone else she knew would make sure nothing bad happened to her. 'See? We'll be back in a few hours so make sure you get some good quality sleep in.'
Her shoulders sagging in acceptance of this order, Sandra reluctantly returned to her bed and was asleep almost before Jack and Alysha had left the room, evidence as to her to still exhausted state.
XOXOXOX
'Here we go,' Jack ushered Alysha into the briefing room in front of him, one hand on her shoulder, reassuring her. They'd had breakfast in the mess hall, then responding to a summons over the intercom, made his way to the briefing room with Alysha. Alysha, looking around nervously, was relieved to see Sandra there and after a quick glance at Jack to make sure it was ok, silently pulled out the chair beside Sandra and sat down, scooting the chair as close to Sandra as she could get it.
'I need to go see General Hammond,' Jack advised Sandra. 'I'll be back in a couple of minutes. If you need anything, ask one of the SF's outside the door.' Smiling at them both, Jack headed towards Hammond's office and disappeared from view.
Five minutes later, Jack returned, accompanied by General Hammond. Sandra immediately got to her feet and saluted, her body tense and rigid, the tiredness of the day before having gone now and she was aware that she could be in a lot of trouble for disobeying orders from her most recent posting.
'At ease Sergeant,' Hammond spoke quietly, not wanting to startle the little girl who had jumped up at his entrance and was doing her best to burrow into the Sergeant's chest to hide from this stranger. Jack and Hammond took their seats and Hammond continued speaking. 'Colonel O'Neill has brought me up to date on the situation, and while I'm not happy with the way events have occurred, I am prepared to offer whatever help we can to Alysha. I agree with Colonel O'Neill that Alysha's incarceration was inappropriate and that she should be afforded our assistance.' Alysha, hearing her name mentioned had released her grip on Sandra and turned around so she was now perched on her lap, watching the proceedings warily. 'I've also got the paperwork here authorising your reassignment to this facility. With immediate effect you are now under my command.'
'Thank you, sir. I never expected…' Sandra stuttered, but the relief and happiness on her face told Hammond and O'Neill everything.
'You must be Alysha,' Hammond turned towards the little girl who was studying him curiously. She hadn't understood exactly what had happened but she knew this cuddly-looking man had done something to make Sandra happy and she could sense only good things coming from him. Jack also seemed to trust this man and this was enough for her. Slipping down from Sandra's lap, she approached Hammond and stood beside him. When he turned his chair to face her, she reached forward and gave him a hug before returning to her own chair, not noticing the bemused expression on his face.
'It's nice to meet you Alysha,' Hammond continued, ignoring the grin on Jack's face. 'I know you've not been treated very well since you arrived on our planet and I'm really sorry for what you've been through. You must have a lot of questions and we'll do our best to provide answers. In the meantime, there's someone I'd like you to meet.' In response to this cue, the door opened and Cassie entered, walking between Janet and Sam.
The two girls looked at each other for a brief moment before they rushed towards each other, hugging each other close, tears running freely down their faces. The adults watched this scene for a few moments before Hammond gestured for everyone except Janet and Sandra to leave the room to allow the girls chance to catch up, and also for Cassie to reassure Alysha that she was safe.
An hour later, Alysha and Cassie were still talking nineteen to the dozen as Hammond and SG1 returned to the room, their arrival ignored by the girls who continued their reminiscing, until Janet spoke quietly to Cassie who in turn nudged Alysha and they at last fell silent.
'Alysha,' Hammond broke the silence. 'Has Cassie been able to answer some of your questions?' Alysha nodded, her expression indicating she still had more questions. 'Good, now I'm sure there's still a lot you want to know, but first if we can find out what you do know?' Hammond looked to Dr Fraiser and Sandra to supply this information.
'It appears that Cassie and Alysha had similar experiences on Hanka,' Janet began, appreciating that Sandra was still unsure of her standing in the group. 'Their people got sick and died, but while Cassie had us to take her in and look after her, after Alysha was "rescued", she was sent to Area 51 and had various tests carried out on her in order to understand what she was capable of doing for them. From the sounds of it, they had plans to use her as some kind of weapon to take control of the SGC.'
'Nothing new there then,' Jack muttered, his face scowling. He fell silent at a warning look from Hammond, allowing Sandra to take up the tale.
'She got away from the people watching her for a short time and got into one of the store rooms. Cassie explained about the quantum mirror and other realities and it looks like Alysha touched the mirror and found herself in our reality. That's where we found her, and I've been with her since.'
'In that case, what we need to consider next is what to do with Alysha,' Hammond spoke thoughtfully. He had been extremely annoyed at the actions of SG1 while they were with Colonel Maybourne, but now he had the full facts he realised they hadn't had any option and he was willing to do what he could to protect the little girl.
Alysha, on hearing this immediately tensed up. She had relaxed considerably once she had met Cassandra, even though the circumstances were really weird and this Cassandra wasn't the one she had been friends with, the similarities were enough for her to ignore the weirdness.
'What are you going to do?' Sergeant Brown jumped in, all reserve gone now as she realised these people were going to do whatever they could to help Alysha, not use her for their own purposes against her will.
'Before we can make any decisions, we really need to know what we're working with,' Hammond informed her. 'From what I've heard, I understand Alysha has some unusual abilities which will limit our options. Alysha,' Hammond spoke directly to her, 'would you be willing to take part in some tests so we can find out what you're able to do?'
'What are you going to make her do?' Cassandra spoke up quickly, surprising everyone present at the force with which she spoke.
'We're not going to make her do anything Cassie,' Sam replied. 'We won't do anything unless Alysha agrees to help us. What we're hoping is that she will help us with the tests to find out the extent of her mental abilities. We will need to do some blood tests and scans which aren't very nice, and then we'll need to hook her up to some monitors while she does some exercises we've got worked out for her. Alysha, if at any time you want a break or don't want to carry on then just let us know and we'll stop straight away.'
Alysha considered this, her young face taking on a very serious expression as she looked intently at the faces around the table, trying to make sense of the feelings emanating from all of them. Finally she spoke up. 'Can Sandra stay with me?' She asked.
'Of course, and I'll make sure you have plenty of time to spend with Cassandra as well,' Hammond smiled warmly at Alysha. 'Dr Fraiser, I'd like regular updates on your findings please…' Before Hammond could dismiss those present, raised voices could be heard outside the door, followed shortly after by a figure wearing full dress uniform bursting into the room, his face red as he tried to keep his temper under control.
'General Hammond, I'm here to collect Alysha and take Sergeant Brown into custody,' Colonel Maybourne spoke from between clenched teeth, turning to the two SF's he had brought with him to take charge of Sandra.
'I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Colonel,' Hammond emphasised Maybourne's rank as he appeared to have forgotten that Hammond was a superior officer. 'Sergeant Brown has been transferred to the SGC with immediate effect and Alysha is now under our jurisdiction.'
'I'm going to need to see the paperwork, General,' Maybourne's voice bordered on insolence as he moved to stand behind the chairs in which Sandra and Alysha were sitting. Alysha slunk lower and lower in her chair until she was almost invisible while Sandra sat rigidly in her seat, her face white as she waited for the outcome of this confrontation.
'That can be arranged, Colonel,' Hammond spoke frostily as he stood up, drawing Maybourne's attention away from the two chairs directly in front of him. 'Please accompany me to my office.' Hammond extended an arm for Maybourne to precede him but Maybourne was not prepared to give in that easily.
'I would prefer it if you brought the paperwork here, General,' Maybourne snapped. 'I am not going to risk losing sight of my charges.' As he spoke, he glanced at the seats in front of him and realised that one of them was empty, along with the chair right next to it that had previously been occupied by the Fraiser kid. 'What's going on, General? Where…' He broke off as he saw the two girls scuttling down the staircase in the corner of the briefing room leading down to the control room.
Maybourne hastened to follow them but just at that moment the alarms sounded, warning them of an unscheduled off-world activation. Within moments the corridors were swarming with armed guards and security doors were closing at every turn impeding Maybourne's progress. By the time the situation allowed him to leave the control room, there was no sign of the girls.
Half an hour later, General Hammond found Colonel Maybourne waiting impatiently for him in his office. Hammond calmly took a seat behind his desk, not allowing the sight of Maybourne standing right in front of the desk and leaning on it to intimidate him.
'You let her get away,' Maybourne hissed, in his anger completely unaware of Jack's presence behind him. 'You'd better get her here pretty quickly or…'
'That is enough Colonel,' Hammond bit out sharply. He searched through the manila folders on his desk before turning his attention back to Maybourne. 'Here are the orders transferring Sergeant Brown to my command,' he passed the papers to Maybourne who glanced at them and tossed them on the desk.
'And what about Alysha?' Maybourne asked, standing up straight and toning down his voice as he realised he was bordering on a reprimand if he continued in his previous manner.
'Alysha is under my jurisdiction now,' Hammond stated firmly. 'The president agrees that we need to re-home Alysha and that is what we are going to do. Until that time, she remains here. Is that understood?'
Maybourne's face turned white as he restrained himself from saying what he really wanted to. 'Yes sir,' he said, snapping a brief salute at the General before taking his leave, pushing past Jack who was leaning against the wall just inside the door.
'Well that kind of answers one of our questions doesn't it sir?' Jack spoke up as soon as Maybourne was clear.
'It's what we expected though,' Hammond sighed deeply. 'Jack, I want you and your team to go through our list of allies and come up with some options. I know we can't make any decisions at this point but we need to know what options are available.'
'Yes sir,' Jack acknowledged his orders and left the General's office.