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Chapter 3: Crystal Ball
One week later, SGC Briefing Room
They were again gathered around the briefing room table anxiously awaiting the arrival of their base commander. Today they would get an update on what the Joint Chiefs had decided about the device from PX7-496. Sam, Daniel, and Dr. Brightman all had provided multiple reasons for the SGC to return the device to the planet. Sam had even drafted a feasible plan for destroying it safely. They believed their reasons for wanting to get rid of the weapon were more than valid, but it was up to the Joint Chiefs what the next step would be.
General O'Neill stormed into the room, disrupting the three people around the table from their thoughts. His expression did not convey optimism. He sat down at the head of the table and began his update.
"Well folks, I've got bad news. I talked to the Joint Chiefs, the head of Area 51, and the President for two hours yesterday. I sent them your reports on the weapon and virus and I backed your recommendations up one hundred percent." He paused for a second before adding, "They still want to keep it."
Daniel immediately exclaimed, "They can't! Jack, this virus is too dangerous. It could wipe out the entire planet if it gets out."
O'Neill ignored Daniel's outburst and continued his explanation of the situation. "The scientists at Area 51 have read over Carter's and Dr. Brightman's reports. They think they can handle the material safely and study it by taking every precaution they can think of."
Carter interjected, "But sir, Daniel has read more about the people of PX7-496. They were not the kind of people to be rash or careless. They took every precaution and look where it got them."
He reassured her, "I know, Carter. Believe me I know. I let them know that if you all think it is too dangerous, then it almost certainly is. After all, you are hardly ever wrong. But they still think there are benefits to be gained from examining it."
Dr. Brightman handed a couple of folders to General O'Neill and copies to Daniel and Sam. "If I may, sir...My staff has done more tests on the virus. We tested it on a larval Goa'uld that was supplied by the rebel Jaffa. The virus had absolutely no effect whatsoever on it. In other words, the virus will not harm the Goa'uld. We also conducted tests on human cells and tissue. We have found that the virus replicates at an unbelievable rate. It is highly contagious and air-borne. If it does get out, it will be able to spread quickly and easily across the face of the planet within a few months, and there is little we would be able to do to contain it."
O'Neill interrupted her protest, shaking his head in dismay, "I understand, Doctor. But Doctor Holder, the head scientist at Area 51, made a pretty convincing argument. He believes that since you and Carter have been able to study it successfully so far without any harm that they can too. He also predicted that your tests on the larval Goa'uld would come out exactly the way they did. He said something to the effect that although it will not hurt a Goa'uld by itself, it might have an effect on the human host of the Goa'uld – at least enough to weaken the Goa'uld's natural defenses a bit. I know, it sounds crazy to me too."
Daniel's tone was indignant as he replied, "Not to mention immoral. What are they thinking? That it's alright to infect innocent humans, who through no fault of their own just happen to be taken as hosts?"
"Is there nothing we can do, Sir?" Carter inquired.
O'Neill shook his head discouragingly, "I don't think so, Carter. Both Hammond and I kept repeating your arguments to both the Joint Chiefs and the President. We fought as hard as we could. Dr. Holder was just more convincing and he made it sound like his people could really come up with something useful from this virus. I'm sorry. We have to release the device and virus for transport to Area 51 by the end of the month. In the meantime, I am not going to give up on this just yet. Both Hammond and I will continue working on the President and the Joint Chiefs to try and get them to change their minds."
"And if you can't?" Daniel asked worriedly.
O'Neill shook his head wearily and rubbed his hands through his hair. "Then it goes to Area 51 and we hope they don't mess up and end up turning Earth into another 496."
Later that Evening, Sam's House
Bizarre images flashed through her mind. The places and faces were strangely familiar, but they did not make any sense. People from her past – long gone – mingled with scenes from her present life. Throughout it all, Sam was keenly aware of her own feelings of anxiety and confusion. She moved erratically in her sleep, twisting and turning in the confining sheets of her bed. Suddenly, her chaotic dreams became more focused and lucid.
She was sitting on one of the beds in the SGC infirmary - a place so very familiar to her. But this time she found it odd that it was the only bed in the room, located in the exact center of the room. She patiently sat, like a spectator waiting for a show to begin, observing the puzzling scenario unfolding all around her.
Daniel was in one corner of the gray room loudly discussing the wonders of ancient Roman cuisine with Dr. Brightman. General O'Neill, in full dress uniform heavily adorned with medals, suddenly entered the room, swinging his yo-yo in loops and humming an off-key tune. Another corner of the infirmary was filled with brightly lit candles that lent a golden aura to the room. Sitting in the middle of the candles was Teal'c, wearing an Indonesian ceremonial dragon mask.
Unexpectedly, Dr. Janet Frasier came rushing into the room to stand beside Sam's bed. The deceased doctor shook her head wearily as she spoke bluntly to Sam. "I'm sorry, Major. I just got the results of your tests back from the lab and they don't look promising."
This conversation did not make any sense to Sam – Janet was dead and Sam was now a Lieutenant Colonel, not a Major. And Janet hardly ever addressed her by her rank. "What is it Janet? Is something wrong with me?"
"Yes, Major. Unfortunately, there is something very wrong with you. I'm afraid you can't have children."
"What do you mean? What tests are you talking about?" Sam was becoming more and more agitated.
"The virus...it damaged your ovaries irreparably. You will never be able to fulfill your life's purpose." Janet frowned and scolded, "But you did it to yourself – don't expect any sympathy from me. You could have destroyed the virus. You had the opportunity. Because of you, life on Earth as we know it is over." Janet continued to scowl at Sam disapprovingly, blame emanating from her.
General O'Neill then sauntered over to the bed, throwing his yo-yo up and down. He grinned inanely at Sam and joked, "It's okay, Carter. You still have SG-1. You don't really need a life, or kids, for that matter. Do you?"
Suddenly, Daniel was standing beside the General. He chimed in merrily, "The people of PX7-496 didn't after all. Why should you or any of the people of Earth for that matter?"
Sam awoke with a start, sitting bolt upright in her bed, her heart racing and her face and body drenched with sweat. A sleepy voice coming from beside her mumbled sleepily, "Sam, honey? You okay?" The figure lying next to her didn't even bother to wake up enough to turn over and face her.
"I'm fine Pete...just a bad dream. Go back to sleep," she reassured him. He didn't even hear her as he was already quietly snoring once again. Within a few minutes, Sam had calmed herself down enough to follow her companion into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, she was once again plagued with peculiar dreams.
She was walking in the park across from her house, wearing a long gauzy white dress and no shoes. The day was warm but overcast with threatening gray clouds. There was a strong wind bending the trees erratically above her. She was alone. She walked slowly down one of the paths. As she turned a corner, she saw a woman sitting on a park bench, gently rocking a baby carriage. As she drew near, Sam noticed that the woman was quietly crying. Sam stopped beside the woman, anxious to see if she could offer any assistance. The woman's head snapped up and her eyes glared angrily at Sam.
"How dare you!" the woman screamed. "You took my baby from me. You killed my baby!"
Sam quickly turned, trying to escape from the irate woman. As she did so, the woman latched onto her arm. "Don't you dare walk away! Look at what you've done. May God have mercy on you, Samantha Carter."
The woman pulled Sam by the arm until she was forced to gaze into the baby carriage. Sam was confused at what she saw – there was nothing inside. The carriage was empty except for a small teddy bear and a soft yellow blanket.
The woman spoke again accusingly, "See what you have done?"
As Sam looked back up at the woman, she was horrified to find the stranger's face had transformed into one that was astonishingly familiar. Although contorted with anger and pain, the face she was staring at was her own.
Sam woke this time with a tiny yelp, easily waking Pete from his slumber. "What's going on Sam?" His tone was filled with concern as he sat up in bed. She had had bad dreams before, but never had he heard such a sound emanate from her. He turned on the bedside lamp and examined his fiancé carefully. She was trembling slightly, her face and hair damp from sweat.
Pete took her gently in his arms and spoke softly to her, "It's okay...it's okay baby. It was just a nightmare. You're all right now. I'm here." He repeated this mantra until he was able to lay her back down in the bed and her eyes closed in a flutter.
She was dressed in her BDUs, carrying her P-90. She was alone. The planet was like a desert – all rocks, sand, cliffs, and rubble. The terrain was so rocky, that she had a difficult time keeping her balance as she picked her way towards an opening in a nearby cliff. She reached the crevice and found Teal'c standing in the shadows wearing a dark cloak.
"Teal'c? What going on? Why are you dressed like that? Where's Daniel?"
He answered somberly, his face betraying no emotion. "Daniel is dead, Samantha, as is everyone else. You and I are the only ones left."
"What happened? What planet are we on?"
"We are on Earth and everyone is dead." He paused and stared at her intently.
Her voice shook as she replied, "What?"
"Everyone gradually died of old age, except you. The virus killed the children...the future. Come... See," he ordered softly.
She followed him into the cave until they reached a small, glowing pool. "Look," he commanded.
She gazed into the pool and was shocked with what she beheld. It was her own reflection, but she was no longer the young, vibrant Lieutenant Colonel she had been. She was old and withered. Her green BDUs swamped her frail body. Her face was heavily lined with creases and her silver hair was neatly tucked under her cap.
"You see," Teal'c sneered, "you are alone." When she looked up, he was gone and she was surrounded only by shadows. She contemplated her reflection for a while longer, Teal'c's last words still reverberating through the cave – 'You are alone...you are alone...you are alone...'
Sam awoke again, Teal'c's voice still echoing in her head. Pete was stilkl sleeping soundly beside her with his arms wrapped loosely around her. She gently extricated herself from his grasp without waking him and got up. She rubbed her forehead soothingly and then headed down the hall to the kitchen.
She fixed a pot of coffee and prepared to spend the rest of the night on the couch. She was determined not to go back to sleep. The dreams she had been experiencing all night were too disturbing. It was like someone or something was trying to tell her something. Every dream centered around PX7-496 and the horrific device SG-6 had brought back with them.
In her dreams, the virus had led to death, disappointment, and loneliness. Worse than that, in every dream the culprit for bringing disaster to her friends, her planet, and herself was Sam. It was her fault the Earth had been destroyed and she had been left completely alone. It was her fault that she and every other woman on Earth could never have children. It was clearly a sign.
Then and there, Sam knew what she had to do. She could not let them continue to experiment with the virus – she was now sure that it would only lead to sorrow and pain. And she would be responsible if anything happened, as she was now certain it would. She could stop it – prevent her dreams from becoming reality. 'Daniel was right,' she thought to herself. Crystal balls, even when they came in the form of bizarre dreams, could prove invaluable.
TBC
