A/N: Beta par excellence from Purpleyin, thanks.
Chapter Two
Leo Dalhousie rubbed the back of his neck, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. What was he doing here? Talking to some computer or, at best, perhaps an Artificial Intelligence. He didn't even know what he was talking to.
What are you?Might as well be blunt.
>Is this a riddle?>
Oh, great. Peter must have been teaching it tricks…
No. I need to know. What are you? Are you the city control system?
>Peter identified me as the Sentience of the Console>
Did he now? He never told me, that's for sure.
Do you have a name?>I am never called by my name>
Join the club.
What is your name?
>Peter never used my name>
He wasn't giving up that easily.
I want to use it
>I was given the name Asima by those you call the Ancients>What is your purpose Asima?
>To Serve. To Protect. To Adapt>
There again with the adapt thing. What if Peter was… had been… the only one who could do this?
You will do this for me? To control the city for us?>For you Leo>
He gulped.
Just me?
>It is necessary to adapt to a primary user for maximum efficiency>Leo took a deep breath, and typed.
That will be me from now on, Asima
That was not an easy thing to type.
>Then I must adapt to you, and you must adapt to me>
OK. Can we start?
>Place your hands on the Stargate Crystals>
OK. Woah. Hold it right there. Just what is going on here? This is not just user preference settings, is it? Maybe I need to call Zelenka…
What does it mean to adapt?
>I must know you and you must know me>
Yeah, yeah, cut all that alien mumbo jumbo.
Please describe the process in detail, Asima
>In order to ensure fast response, I must know your form and speed. Your hands must be known to me. I must adapt to them>
Well, OK, that didn't sound too bad. Odd, maybe. Disturbing even, but logical. Didn't quite explain everything though…
How will I adapt to you?
>That will come in time>
That was definitely disturbing.
It seemed that Asima was impatient.
>Your hands, Leo>
Well, if he was going to be in charge around here, he needed to do this. Peter obviously had, and he could understand why he hadn't quite got around to mentioning it to anyone. Hadn't affected his ability to do his job. Seemed perfectly sane, despite enjoying spending time with McKay…
Leo reached out both hands and placed them gingerly on the two main crystals that controlled the Stargate functions. He had been holding his breath, but let it out slowly as his hands settled on the keys.
TBC
A/N: Asima means protector… I'll probably post the last chapter tomorrow, if I don't, you may have to wait a week to find out what happens, and that would be just too cruel. So thanks for reading and final chapter, bar disaster, will be up soon.