Dislaimer: i do not own Stargate sg-1 or nay of it's characters. they all belong to MGm and the other people that produce it. no money has or will exchange hands and this story has been wrtten purely for entertainment value
i'm so sorry for the long time between updates - i've had exams and everything that goes with them to deal with. i would like to thank all those that have been reading and reviewing this, it means alot to me that so many people have enjoeyd and stuck with this story.this is actually just the first part of the epilouge - as will be expalined at the end. once againthankyou all very much.
"I guess some things never really change." Amy commented as she stared out through the briefing room's window and out onto the magnificent Stargate that still stood before them. Naomi who stood at her side smiled.
"Oh they do, it's just that you never seem to notice until you look back." She told her quietly, the look in her eyes telling Amy that Naomi was far more personally involved than she was aware of. She wasn't going to ask what that was because it looked as though the brunette was relieved at the way events had turned out, as well as a little sad. Maybe we'll have this conversation another time.
In her heart Naomi knew that justice had been done, Kinsey was finally dead – he wasn't coming back. This reality was finally completely free from the threat that had destroyed her world, her family and broken her heart.
Her new reality, had in fact, managed to do more than save her life. Her friends and adopted family had given her back that feeling of security and Todd had managed to repair her shattered heart. In the SGC Naomi had found a new purpose for her life and a use for her 'talents' as well as justice for a man who had destroyed her life in the first place.
"Hey guys, whatcha up to out here?" the voice belonged to Liam as he strode towards them from the door that lead to the main corridor of the SGC.
Amy immediately smiled and turned towards him, taking his offered hand and leaning into him.
"How did your meeting go?" she asked, knowing that he had been subjected to the same thing that she had – a medical followed by an interview with General Hammond that was disguised as a meeting by the fact that it took place in one of the upper level rooms rather than his office.
"Oh well you know, I just had too verify everything that had happened and let him know a few things that might get 'us' off of the proverbial hook that they're currently being held on." she nodded, knowing what he must have told them.
"So when to they let us out of here?" he asked a few moments later – this time to Naomi, she seemed the logical person to ask because she knew so much about what was going on.
"After the final de-briefing, which will be when General Hammond has finished his meeting with Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter." She explained and Liam rolled his eyes, they'd been back for two days, granted the first one had been spend recovering form their ordeal. But he still didn't want to spend any more time there than he had to – he was sure Amy felt the same.
"What exactly will the de-briefing be about?" Amy asked, something about the look Naomi was giving her told her it was more than just some normal briefing.
"Kinsey's plans and the research he was conducting, as well as what actually took place." The pair nodded before moving to sit at the table, aware of the meeting that was going on in the Generals office.
"As I'm sure you're aware the pentagon is grateful for the threat you managed to expose and in fact defeat. They are just beginning to uncover the full extent of damage Kinsey was planning to cause and each of you, including the civilians that were involved in this investigation will receive letters of commendation." He paused and both Jack and Sam knew what was to follow.
"However, in this case the ends do not justify the means and the investigation into your actions with regards to your clones activities – particularly Major carters clone would have, had it not been for information we received in the last two days, resulted in court marshal for both of you."
Sam looked confused; she couldn't imagine what information that they had managed to come across. "Sir may I ask what information you found?"
The General nodded and continued to explain. "Due to the fact that you managed to set up all of your clones accounts and identities by the proper means and without her taking an money from the state no action will be taken with regards to that. When it comes to the actual cloning issue, it appears that there are no regulations that deal with that, so therefore you didn't technically break any rules."
Jack thought about this for a few seconds before commenting." You mean we got off on a technicality?"
"Not totally no, but having spoken with your clones some rather interesting information has come forward with regards to why Thor though it right to clone Major Carter in the first place. It seems that it was necessary to clone the pair of you." When neither Jack nor Sam said anything in response to this he continued. "And so in light of this no action will be taken against you, you can return to SG-1 after you've had some well deserved time off."
Jack looked to Sam almost as though the thought of going back to work sounded worse than being court marshaled, but Jack gave Sam a small smile and she nodded. General Hammond couldn't help but be worried about what the small gesture meant.
"Dismissed." He told them when nothing else was said between the three of them.
"Yes sir." Sam responded, standing and leaving. But Jack stayed; looking at the General in such a way that the other man knew exactly what was to come. He both welcomed and dreaded it.
Jack had said nothing through out the briefing that might indicate what had gone on with regards to the meeting he had just been in, instead he chose to pay full attention to what had been discovered during the investigation into Kinsey's plans.
"It seems as though he was planning some sort of exchange for weaponry and medical advancement, we do not know much more because the Goa'uld and most of it's fleet were completely destroyed in the attack. The system lord involved was new to the proverbial scene so didn't really pose much of a threat in the first place. He saw the technology that he was going to hand over to Kinsey as a small reward for what he would gain in return." Daniel explained, using a slide presentation to show some of the evidence they'd managed to recover from the base computers – due largely to Naomi and Jonas.
It was the latter that took over. "His plan was to use the clones for information and use them as leverage with the rest of the system lords – that of course enerv happened and from what we've been able to gather – he didn't tell anyone else about his plans – he didn't want Goa'ulds with faster ships and bigger armies to take his 'prize' as it were." The general nodded.
"But this doesn't explain the torture they but Amy and Liam through, Kinsey must have had his own ulterior motive." Sam commented, looking around the room for an answer, it was Naomi who spoke at this point.
"Kinsey was doing much the same sort of research he was doing in my reality, only this time it was based around the clones and the abilities that they possessed. He was looking into being able to clone actual humans by looking at what Thor had done to each of you, he was looking at a way to make sure people could live as long as possible." She paused. "There's something else as well – something I managed to retrieve from the computers – but it's something that Kinsey didn't know about – it's why the drugs wore off an Amy before they were supposed to."
Sam looked at Naomi carefully, in much the same way that Amy was doing. "What did you find out?"
"Thor altered both Liam and Amy's DNA structure so that they would be immune and in fact able to kill any Goa'uld symbiote that posed a threat to them, Kinsey's data base didn't contain enough information to figure it out – id he had, I think he would have been even more of a danger."
Liam and Amy looked at each other, relief crashing over them as they realized their situation wasn't as dire as they thought it had been.
"You ready?" Sam asked her clone as she neared the elevator that would take Amy, Liam and Naomi back to the surface and eventually home.
"Yeah." She was on her own, the others were gathering their things from the mountain and as she hadn't expected to be there, there was nothing for her to take with her – she did however, have something to give.
"Hold onto him Sam." She said quietly, silencing her older self. "I know what you're thinking – I may well be the only one qualified to say that, but it's true. No matter what you should strive for what you want with him. It's worth it – all of it and when you finally feel his arms around you you'll know."
"I think I already do." She whispered, just loud enough for Amy to hear and they shared a look, younger and older counterparts knowing they would share the same path – different means but the same ends would follow.
"Sam? Amy?" Naomi asked, trying to get their attention. Both turned around at the same time.
"No much of a leaving party is there?" Liam commented, throwing his bag over his shoulder and swiping his visitor's card though to access the elevator. Before moving over to Amy an talking her hand, squeezing it tightly for a few seconds as if making sure that she was really still there.
Sam watched and smiled, thinking wistfully about how lucky they were, aside from the current events - they got to spend everyday together without prying eyes. She wondered what had gone on between Jack and the General and how soon it would be before he was allowed to retire. It was a decision that she'd protested about, but he'd been adamant that he was going to find a way for them to be together. It was a romantic notion that would have worried her had she not seem Liam and Amy – or spent the last few years repressing a powerful feeling that took over her heart and threatened her sanity.
She shook slightly when she felt a warm hand take hold of her own, Turing to look behind her she let her eyes show her heart for once as Jack nodded. Needing no more than that and not letting go of his hand she followed the three teenagers into the lift with Jack at her side.
She felt freer than she had done in a long time, as if a weight had been lifted and she could finally be free….
Seven years later.
"Remind me why we're here again?" Jack asked playfully as they moved through the apparent corridors of artwork that had been displayed in the Gardens of the Californian university grounds. He couldn't make head nor tail of most of them – 'modern art' seemed to be the theme of the current section, one he wanted to leave as soon as possible.
His wife chuckled at his side, "you know why we came, we were invited. Besides Alison and Jake seem to be enjoying it." He raised his eyebrows at that.
"Sam, he's one year old – he makes that face about most things, and Alison is only interested in the 'pretty' stuff." He gestured to their son and daughter in turn, at five Alison was the image of her mother except her hair curled in soft waves about her shoulders and she seemed to possess his sense of humor.
"Still, you know why we're here. She's graduating today and her work won an award." She spoke quietly, despite knowing that Jake couldn't have understood what exactly they were talking about anyway.
"Yeah well I just hope it's better than any of this cr- 'modern art'."
"It will be." She promised gently. The letter they'd received was the first contact they'd had with their clones since they'd left the base seven years ago. Of course they'd seen Naomi – still did for that matter as she still worked on the base and would be starting full time after the summer was over, having graduated with an astrophysics degree at the same university as Amy.
"What time does this presentation thing start anyway?" Jack asked, keeping an eye on his daughter who seemed to be wandering a little too far away from them for his liking. She seemed to have developed her mother's love for exploring as well.
"You've got about fifteen minutes until the actual presentation – but that shouldn't take long." The voice that answered belonged to Todd and managed to surprise both Jack and Sam, seemed he was picking up on his fiancé's habit to appear when she was needed.
Sam nodded, knowing anyway, but Jack seemed to take the opportunity to talk to the young man. "So, how's everything going down here?" it was a pointed question – as there were still things Jack wanted to know that the letter hadn't told him, and by the look on Todd's face – he wasn't going to find out from him.
"It's going well – now our degrees are out of the way we've just been taking it easy until the real work begins." He explained, the checked his watch. "I'm going to have to head over there – me and Naomi are helping to set every thing up. I'll see you guys in a few minutes."
"Thanks Todd." Sam called after him as he ran off – apparently late for whatever it was he was supposed to do.
the second part of this will be up with in the next few days - it;s almost finnished i just have to finalise the end. as always reivews and constructive critisism is welcome. thanx
by the way - any opinion 'jack' on modern art is not shared by me.