Chapter 14: Arthur's Mantle

COLORADO SPRINGS – CHEYENNE MOUTAIN BASE - SGC - SAMANTHA CARTER LAB

Samantha Carter shifted her shoulders energetically to shake off the aches and pains that were building up in her body as she spent yet another hour at her laptop. Her computer was connected to an ancient alien device that she had been working on since its discovery, but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"You are still working on that thing." Mitchell had just entered her lab and was staring at her in dismay, leaning against the door frame. His expression was reminiscent of Jack O'Neill's when she was working hard on her reactor in Naqahdah. This reminded her that the waiting period would end in a few days. The end of the month was near. And Samantha had been working hard for weeks to vent her frustration, today being no exception.

"Oh, hi." Samantha's voice marked a slight annoyance, as if the remark about her relentlessness wasn't the first the military had made to her. Which it was. But, she couldn't really open up about what was causing her workaholism.

"Did you sleep here last night?"

"Of course not. I slept down the hall in my quarters." She sighed.

"Sam..." Mitchell began, obviously concerned for her.

"This device was recovered from the cave under Glastonbury, who knows what Ancient secrets it may hold?

"Well, obviously not you ... or Doctor Lee, who's been working on that thing for what? Six months? I think it's time we let the eggheads at Area 51 take a crack at it. Cameron argued. Samantha sat up, puzzled by his lack of confidence in their ability to solve the mystery. She didn't understand why he seemed so worried about her.

"Not yet. I'm, I'm actually making some progress here."

"That's what you said last night." Samantha rolled her eyes, annoyed. "And I'm hankering for hash browns so let's get some breakfast." He started to leave the room, but Samantha froze, staring intently at the computer screen. She had noticed something.

"Hey. This is interesting. This is the first time one of my verification scans kicked back a positive result." Mitchell reluctantly paused, waiting for her to finish.

"Does this mean I'm not getting my hash browns?"

"It means this device is interactive." She pressed a button and a moving blue graphic appeared on the screen. "I'm reading an E.M. output that keeps fluctuating between high and low frequencies. I'm going to try to stabilize it.

"Sure. What have you got to lose?"

Samantha clicked a button on the computer and the blue crystal on the device began to glow bright white. The glow emanated from the device and passed over Samantha and Cameron. In a flash, they disappeared. Leaving the lab empty.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – HOMELAND SECURITY – OFFICE OF GENERAL JACK O'NEILL

"How did it disappear?" Surprise and a hint of anger pointed in the Brigadier General's voice. "How did two senior officers and an archaeologist disappear from the SGC, Hank?"

"Dr. Lee is working on the issue."

"Ah if Lee is plotting on the issue... Then we're saved." Jack ironized as he opened his computer to access the reports that Samantha and Lee were regularly sending out about the Ancient device. "Keep me posted, Hank, I want to know what his research is coming up with."

COLORADO SPRINGS – CHEYENNE MOUTAIN BASE - SGC - OFFICERS' MESS

"Shriveled... Honestly Sam, don't make me believe that you would have given credence to this far-fetched theory!" Cameron asked, waving her fork in the air near her teammate.

"At least Bill got credit for being ... creative with the information he had." Tried to temper Samantha with a smile.

"In any case, you shouldn't have wandered away from the SGC, Cameron, this was a very bad idea." Daniel added before taking a sip of water.

"Hey, Teal'c needed me! Right Teal'c?" The Jaffa merely raised a wary eyebrow. "Come on man, a little support! I've already taken quite a beating from General Landry." Samantha questioned him with her eyes. "My little "escapade" didn't go over well with the SGC, or the higher-ups apparently... But, Teal'c needed me. Right Teal'c ?" The jaffa simply gulped down another mouthful of cold roast beef. "Teal'c ! Come on !" The higher-ups ? Samantha felt her stomach knot up. A few more days... A few more days.