"I don't understand," Ian admitted. Of course, there was a shit load of things he didn't understand, but that was beside the point. "What's so special about the reality I'm from?"

The three Ancients looked at each other for a moment, then Sander shrugged.

"So far, it's the only reality we've found that has everything going right."

"Going right?"

"It's complicated."

"Try me."

"We don't have time for this," Dotty said. "The window is getting close to closing, and-"

Sander held up his hand, and she fell silent – although she scowled.

"In all realities there are the same people," he told Ian. "Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Charlie O'Neill, George Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Shawn Ad-"

"I get it." Ian interrupted, wondering if the guy was going to recite all the people on Earth. "Who's Charlie O'Neill?"

"Jack's son." Alexander answered. "Who – in your reality, and most of the others – shot and killed himself with Jack's gun accidentally when he was a boy."

"Jesus…"

Dotty nodded, knowing that he was thinking about how badly that had to have hurt Jack. This Dotty understood all too well how much it hurt to lose a child.

"So the players – as they are – are all the same in each reality. It's merely the circumstances that change. Like O'Neill's son. Or Jack and Samantha becoming romantically involved. Or-"

"They don't get married in all the realities?"

Sander shook his head.

"In many they're not even close to it."

Wow. That was something he couldn't even imagine. Jack and Sam were so perfect together – even someone as cynical as Ian could see that.

"We have always watched your people, because there are certain people that definitely play a major role in the shaping of your world – and in shaping your world, they shape the future of the worlds that they are in contact with. The other planets they visit, the other races of people they meet. Even our own."

"Jack O'Neill is one of those people. Maybe the most important of them all."

"Why?"

"Because decisions he makes – or has made, in some realities – are what change the path the future takes for your people. Had he not decided to spare the Abydonians, Daniel Jackson never would have forgiven him, and would certainly have never become involved with the Stargate program – which would erase all that Daniel has accomplished. Had Jack not won over Teal'c, then the Jaffa would have remained with Apophis – perhaps to live and wreak havoc on other worlds, or perhaps to die brutally, killed by his Master for allowing his indecision to show at the wrong moment. Whatever would have happened, he certainly would not have gone to Earth and the people of the SGC would have not gained from his wisdom the weaknesses of the Goa'uld. Had Jack not accepted Samantha Carter as a member of his team – truly accepted her, instead of merely obeying orders – she might not have remained with them, and might have gone on to teach at the Air Force Academy or some other institution, instead of helping to advance the technology of your people, and without her, Earth might have been destroyed several times over."

"Not to mention," Alexander added, "Her father never would have met Selmak, and chances are slight that the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri ever would have formedthe alliance they did."

Ian was completely lost. He didn't have a clue what an Abadonian was, he didn't know who Apophis was, and what the hell was a Goa'uld? Add in something about a Selmak – who sounded like a person – and Jacob Carter and whoever the hell the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri were… it sounded like a whole bunch of Greek to him. And the worst part was, he couldn't admit he didn't have a clue, because he'd as good as told them to throw this at him. There was no way his pride would let him admit that they'd been right about it being complicated. It sure the hell sounded complicated. Who knew Jack was so important?

"So you're watching Jack," he interrupted, before they could start throwing more for instances at him. "Because he's important."

"He's not the only one," Dotty said, "as we've already mentioned. There are far more things going on than any one man could be responsible for. But he's at the center of so many crossroads that it's vital to us to keep watch over him."

"We're not telling him what to do," Alexander added. "It's not our place to tell him – or anyone else – what to do."

"Then what are you there for?"

"To help him if he needs it – to safeguard him – or to be there for one of the others, if we can."

"Like when I was shot?"

"Yes."

"We couldn't do anything to keep you from being injured, but our other selves were there to keep you from being lost."

"I already saved Shawn, though, so what's the point?" Ian asked. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but how are you going to know when it's time to stop watching?"

"We won't." Sander said. "And as long as things are going in the right direction in your reality, we don't need to move on and look for a different one. All the key people are still alive in your reality. Which is what makes it so very different from so many others. Your reality – at the moment – has the best chance of seeing things through to a happy future, because all those necessary for accomplishing it are still there."

"Shawn?"

Dotty shook her head.

"He has a different destiny. Saving the Earth isn't it."

"What about-"

"We can't tell you what future is in store for everyone you know, Ian. It changes as circumstances change."

"What's my role in things?"

"We're not certain." Alexander said. "Originally, I would have thought it was simply to be there to save Shawn from the Ashrak, but things aren't shaping up in that direction. The very fact that you're here proves that."

"What do you mean?"

"No human has ever been here, Ian." Sander said.

"Ever?"

They all shook their heads.

"Which means…?"

"That you might be more of a key figure than we anticipated. The fact that you possess a gene and an ability to remember things has set you apart. The fact that Jack O'Neilllikes you – and even better – that you like him, sets the stage for many things that we've never seen in any of the other realities. We can't control them, but we are going to try and help where we can. Even if it means bringing you here so we could run tests to see what makes you so special."

"So that's why you brought me here."

"Yes. Jack's important, but he's not the only one. If it turns out that telling you these things and learning as much about you as we can helps in any way, then what we've done today is as great an accomplishment as any of the times we've saved Jack's life."

"Huh."

Ian was having a bit of trouble with the whole thing. It sounded about as far-fetched as possible that he could be all that important. He hadn't even graduated from the Academy, for Christ's sake. Shit, he didn't even know what he wanted to do with his life. It was going to be hard for him to help mankind to some great future when he couldn't even figure out his own.

"You look confused," Dotty said, apologetically. "We know it's a lot to take in one lump like this."

Ian shrugged.

"I just need a chance to think things through, I guess…"

"Time is something you have plenty of, but which we don't," Alexander told him. "We need to get finished here, and return you to your proper reality before the others discover you're missing."

"Are we done here?"

"There's only one more thing to accomplish," Alexander told him, walking over to the far wall and pressing an invisible button. An odd looking contraption came out from the wall, and the Ancient beckoned Ian over.

The cadet walked across the room, and Alexander took the box from him, and gestured to the device.

"Look into that, please."

"Why? What is it?"

"It's a test," Alexander told him.

Ian frowned, suddenly suspicious of the way that Dotty ad Sander both seemed to be watching so closely, but he couldn't think of any reason not to. What harm would it do? He looked at Alexander for a moment, then turned and looked into the device. All he saw was darkness, and then some swirling lights. And then there was a tightness around his entire head, and although he struggled to get free, something grabbed him and held him, and he felt a great stabbing pain somewhere deep inside his brain. And then he didn't feel anything.