Thanks to both new and repeating reviewers! It's nice to see people are still reading and enjoying this. Here's the next installment - let me know what you think: as ever comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Chapter 14: Planet-Hopping with a Schizophrenic Werewolf

The newer version of Thor's Hammer was the first thing both Einar and Sam saw as they stepped through to event horizon to the Norse world of Cimmera. With a screeching blue beam of light, the device scanned Sam, and then drifted over to Einar. Caught off-guard by the Hammer, he shrunk away and covered his eyes. Sam watched apprehensively.

The beam hovered over the wolf momentarily before shutting off completely. She relaxed – if she still held any suspicions that he was in truth a Goa'uld, this eliminated them.

Out of the immediate rush to avoid discovery or capture, Sam took the chance to absorb everything. Back to square one, he had said… that was frustrating in itself. She was still holding the staff weapon Einar had hurriedly handed to her. It looked the same size as the Goa'uld design, but this one shared the same elegant curving that the Innarim's bracers utilised, and was also infused with faintly glowing kurstallis crystals. Her mind strained to run after the opportunity to fully grasp how the Hakonan technology worked.

Another weapon that intrigued her was the energy blades. Though they were now deactivated, she remembered their eerie ambience in the darkened lab. They too were fascinating, even more so than a staff weapon. She'd seen and examined the workings of a staff weapon; she hadn't seen the likes of this technology before.

In her mitigated panic at the Stoneheim lab, she had numbly accepted Einar's Innarim form without much thought or question. Sam had read through the database entry about the lupine creatures, and so didn't take long to reason such a being could exist. Yet, as reality caught up with her, she felt a wash of surrealism – she was busy planet-hopping with a schizophrenic werewolf.

She'd seen a lot of new and alien things, but she inwardly thought that this was setting new records for strangeness.

Einar tweaked his ears keenly, and sniffed the air, before focusing on the foliage of the tree line surrounding the gate. No doubt his superior wolf senses had found something. She followed his line of sight, but saw nothing.

"What?" she whispered to him.

"There are humans over there, watching us," Einar stated, peering through the branches. "They're coming closer."

Within a minute, a small group of Cimmeran men had closed on the Stargate clearing, their swords drawn. Yet, when Einar pushed his way past some of the overhanging foliage, the warriors all gasped and halted, raising their weapons. Sam joined Einar's side, but the Cimmerans ignored her completely, fixated completely on the giant wolf. They were clearly startled by the Innarim, but their culture demanded no fear, and it held their courage.

One of the men took some bold steps forward, and as an instinctive reaction to the threat, Einar activated his energy blades and fell into a combat stance. With cries of panic, the Cimmerans retreated into the trees. As they disappeared, Einar straightened up and listened to the distant, panicked hollering.

"Hmm… I'd be lying if I said that was new," he stated simply.

"What did they just shout?" Sam questioned, stunned by the brief scene.

"Something about the end of the world," he scratched his head pensively. "You and O'Neill know these people. I will let the Colonel take control for now."

She nodded in agreement, and Einar began to flinch, twisting about and flattening his ears against his skull. After this display of discomfort, he looked at her and gestured for her to follow.

"OK, Carter. Let's follow them," Jack was obviously in control once more. "Hopefully Gairwyn is still around here."

Sam followed Jack's lead. This was the first time he had been in control ever since the failed transfer and his behaviour was making her jumpy. Every few seconds, he whipped his head about as if sensing something that wasn't there and his ears were flat almost constantly. She was no expert on canines, but she was sure that meant something – anger, discomfort, weariness? She caught him wincing.

"Are you in pain, sir?"

"No," he dismissed distractedly. "I think they're heading this way."

Before she could press the matter, he started off in what she hoped was the direction of Gairwyn's village.


"You seek to bring doom on us once more, warrior of Midgard!"

The pair of them immediately recognised the axe-wielding speaker as Olaf, a Cimmeran who they had worked with during their last mission to the planet – he hadn't been too pleased to see them then either. They had just cleared the wooded expanse and could see Gairwyn's village on the plateau before them. Yet, the group they had followed now blocked their way, joined by at least a dozen more armed villagers, and some were equipped with bows.

Gariwyn recognised Sam and took a step forward, yet making sure she kept her distance.

"Major Carter, why have you returned here, and why do you travel with Fenrir?" she appealed anxiously.

"Fenrir?"

"Einar says it's a Norse thing," Jack whispered from the corner of his mouth.

"Fenrir is an enemy of Thor! The wolf monster that will attack the noble gods at Ragnarok!" Olaf waved his axe threateningly at the Innarim.

"Woah, wait!" Sam propped the staff against herself so she could hold up both of her hands defensively. "We aren't here to attack anyone. He's not Fenrir, either. His name is Einar."

He looked at her pointedly, silently reminding her who was actually in control.

"Well, sort of," she added.

"You have proved your friendship in the past, Major Carter. It will be dark soon. Come with us to the village and we will talk further," Gairwyn instructed, and ordered the warriors to surround both of them as an escort guard.

It took only a few minutes to reach the centre of the village, where fires were being constructed for the coming night. Jack and Sam were instructed to sit by one of them. Olaf and a handful of the warriors stayed close by as Gairwyn joined them. Jack glanced around, suddenly aware of how clear everything looked even in the half-light of evening. He could see people keeping their distance from them, and mothers herded curious children back into their homes.

"Now, what manner of creature is this, and what foul magic does he possess? The men feared he was some kind of sorcerer," Gairwyn began, sword close to hand.

"It's a long, complicated story, but in short, he's an alien, an Innarim, called Einar. There was this accident and Colonel O'Neill's mind ended up trapped with him," Sam attempted to explain.

"So, this is your leader from before?" she quizzed, glancing at the creature nervously.

"Not exactly," Sam corrected. "Both Einar's mind and the Colonel's mind are inside this one body."

"Two minds in one body? Such a thing is unheard of," Gairwyn blinked in disbelief.

"Not anymore," Jack growled darkly. The Cimmerans backed off slightly in surprise, but he pressed his question anyway, ears flat. "Does anyone else think this fire is too loud?"

Puzzled, the assembled people shook their heads. Groaning in discomfort, Jack relinquished control to Einar.

"Ugh… O'Neill is unused to these heightened senses," Einar explained. "I shall remain in control until he's used to them."

Sam gave a wry smile, not envying Einar for having to put up with an uncomfortable, cranky Jack first hand. Yet, this explained Jack's odd demeanour back in the forest – no wonder he was getting paranoid, being bombarded with every slight sound, smell and movement around him.

"Gairwyn, this is Einar – an Innarim warrior," Sam introduced. "Einar, this is Gairwyn – one of the leaders of this village."

Einar bowed his head respectfully: "Forgive me for startling your people, Gairwyn. There has been some misunderstanding."

"What is there to misunderstand?" Olaf declared from the sidelines. "Clearly he is the wolf the old tales speak of – the god killer! We should not allow him to remain here."

"Olaf, the people of Midgard are our friends. Surely if Major Carter trusts him, we can too," Gairwyn chided. "Thor's Hammer would have stopped him if Thor deemed him an enemy."

"We won't stay long," Sam assured, interjecting into the increasing heated debate. "We're just here to…"

She trailed off. In truth, she had no idea why they were here. They had run for the gate on Stoneheim, and once through they had been occupied with the Cimmeran warriors. At no point had there been any chance to ask what Einar's bright idea had been. He was leading the way – Sam turned to him with an uncertain frown.

"Actually, Einar, what are we doing here?"

"I asked O'Neill who we could ask for help other than the SGC. His immediate suggestion was an alien named Thor, and he stated that this planet was where your people first contacted him," Einar turned to Gairwyn. "We wish only to be taken to the Hall of Thor's Might."

"Aha," Olaf bellowed, rising to his feet. "You intend to find Thor. What if he wishes to do so in order to attack him, Gairwyn?"

"You are Olaf, yes?" Einar questioned calmly, still seated. "Well, you are right about one thing. I am a god-killer, but I am a warrior against the Goa'ulds: false gods, Etins… I have no quarrel with the Aesir."

Who the hell are the-

They are the warrior gods of Norse legend, O'Neill.

Oh, Thor and Co.

Olaf didn't look convinced. Gairwyn stood and held him back firmly, frowning disapprovingly at her companion.

"It cannot be Ragnarok, friend. There has not been a succession of three winters; the stars have not vanished from the sky," Gairwyn punctuated this with a wave of her arm at the silver specked sky above them, "the ground does not shake… I say we trust them."

"Be it on your head, then" Olaf snarled, stalking off.

"Forgive Olaf, my friends," she shook her head helplessly. "He is still bitter about the circumstances of our last encounter. Now, let me offer you some food and a place to rest."


Gariwyn had space in her own home for the two of them. The beds were simple benches covered in woven bedding, clearly usable as seats during the day – they were far from comfortable compared to a proper mattress, but Sam had suffered worse off-world before. She did wish they hadn't left behind their supplies and equipment on Stoneheim, yet they had been in a rush to get to the gate.

She shifted about, turning from one side to the other. Einar seemed to be confident about what he thought he was. But he was not the soldier, he was the gun… She wondered what he would do if and when he found out, and how long the information could be kept from him. As with the meeting with General Hammond and the others, she agreed it was better all round to conceal it. However, it started to prey on her mind. He had a right to know, did he? They had to tell him sometime, right?

She glanced over at him. Einar had curled up like a dog, his side rising and falling steadily with each breath. Aside from being a giant, fearsome, sentient predator, he looked almost adorable like that. Of course, she'd have to avoid telling him– she knew Jack at least would cringe at such a blow to his tough guy reputation, and standing in front of a very tall wolfman and calling him cute probably wasn't a good idea. With a slight smile to herself, she turned over again to face the wall and attempted sleep once more.


Einar had his eyes closed, but over the crackling of the fire he could hear Sam's breathing – he knew she was still awake, though weary.

I wonder what she's thinking about.

If I know Carter, then it's these weapons of yours.

At the time of night?

She probably analyses stuff like this even when she's asleep. I'd be worried if she ever stopped thinking.

I'm sorry about all of this, O'Neill

So you should be! All that talk about being so close to a solution? 'A few more days', you said. Now I'm trapped in a body that's too painful for me to control!

This wasn't intentional, but you'll get used to it.

I don't care! The fact is we've got even less chance of getting around this mess now.

Oh, and you'd prefer being back on Earth with the NID sticking electrodes to your skull?

It's OK for you; you're back in your own body. What's to stop you disappearing off now you're back where you want to be?

Einar growled, baring his teeth.

Your friends saw me as a person, not just some alien to be used as a lab rat – they risked a lot to help us, Sam in particular. I can at least try. Not to mention, you can still take control if I'm asleep, despite the fact I have priority in my own body. I don't want you trying to go back to Earth whenever my mind is dormant.

I still don't trust you.

What else is there for me to do right now, O'Neill? You think I have some major dinner appointment to rush off to?

Einar's anger became tinted with a trickle of despair, and the Innarim flashed a momentary image of the ruins of Hakon at Jack's mind.

You know, if you can't trust me any longer like this, there is one way we could solve it.

Humouring you for no reason…

We both allow the other access to all knowledge and thoughts we possess. We would know each other's intentions, and it would become impossible for us to deceive each other…


Sam awoke to find herself alone, but daylight was streaming in through the open door. Beside her was a bowl of water and a simple tunic similar to the one Gairwyn wore, presumably left for her by Gairwyn herself. Glad for the immediate privacy, Sam quickly washed and changed.

Einar was ambling about aimlessly just outside. He gave her a distracted smile, half-amused.

"What?" she probed with a curious frown.

"I'm not used to seeing you in something other than BDUs, Sam."

She deduced it was definitely Einar in control – surely Jack wouldn't be so informal with her.

"Suits you actually," he added.

She rolled her eyes: "What are you pacing about for?"

"Gairwyn said she would lead us to the Hall of Thor's might – she just had something to see to first," Einar trailed to a halt. "And O'Neill and I are once more at a disagreement."

"What'd he say this time?"

"He's hurt that you assume it's his fault," Einar smirked. "He doesn't trust me anymore – not after yet another accident at a Hakonan lab. We do not see eye-to-eye on the best solution."

"Which is…?" Sam quizzed expectantly.

"Sharing all of our knowledge completely, so we can't deceive," he answered simply.

"Oh… dear," Sam responded, putting her hand over her eyes.

"Yes, well O'Neill's reaction was closer to 'not a chance in hell, you furry jackass'," Einar sighed. "I could live with it, but for O'Neill it is too close to the Tok'ra and Goa'uld. He refuses to be like them."

"Well, hopefully the Asgard can help us," Sam commented. "Jack keeps saying they owe us some favours."


With Gairwyn as a guide, they made good time to the small hammer-obelisk of the Hall. Sam assured the Norse woman that they could backtrack easily, and she bade them farewell as she headed back to the village. Having long since completed the trials of Thor's Might, Einar and Sam were transported immediately to the room with the runes.

"Hopefully the device is designed to locate Thor and not the Biliskner," Sam stated as she pressed the red activation switch in the circle among the geometric shapes on one of the walls, remembering how they'd crashed it into the ocean.

The switch glowed and flickered for a second, but nothing happened. Sam tried again, and the same thing occurred. Einar growled.

"I'm tired of things not working!"

"It must have been linked to the Beliskner," Sam ventured.

Before Einar could reply, both of them were enveloped in a blinding white light. As it faded, they found themselves on the unmistakable structure of an Asgard ship.

"Or not," Einar corrected.

Sam heard a gentle pattering of feet, and the pair of them turned to the door as it slid open to admit the small frame of Thor. However, instead of greeting them as he always did, he stopped short. His wide eyes met those of Einar, and for a minute he looked frozen, before he took a very hesitant step backwards. Sure, the Innarim was tall and had claws but the Agard had kept his cool even when replicators were swarming all over the place.

Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet, was terrified of the Innarim.