:Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1 or any of the characters in the show. The only character I claim any rights to is the (as-yet) nameless woman. Also, the concept I will present here as the way the Stargate system "really" works is my own idea. Just FYI, this story takes place during Season 7 of the show, sometime before the episode "Heroes." Please review, and hope you enjoy:
P.S. – I now accept anonymous reviews, so please please please review!!:
A few hours had passed since Doctor Jackson had escorted the strange woman out of the infirmary. General Hammond was reading over the report he had written up concerning the incident. He had already contacted the president, who instructed Hammond to call back as soon as he knew what this woman intended, and how that would affect the Stargate program. With a heavy sigh, Hammond put the report down and scrubbed at his eyes with his knuckles. This particular report had proved difficult to write. Suddenly, there was a rap on the door.
"Come in," said Hammond. The door opened. "Doctor Jackson. How is our guest?"
"She's, ah, resting. Under protest." At Hammond's quirked eyebrow, Daniel continued. "She still wants to do something to 'fulfill her purpose,' as she puts it."
"I see. Has she been any more forthcoming about exactly what she wants to do?"
"I tried asking her about that, but she says she has to assess the situation before she'll know what needs to be done. To that end, she's asked me to make a few requests on her behalf."
"Go, on, Doctor Jackson."
"Well, she says she needs to interface with our computer system, which as far as I can tell is basically what she did with the computer in the Infirmary. The problem is that she'll gain access to all of our data. But she says she will eventually have to evaluate any and all programs that pertain to the Stargate so she can figure out what needs to be done. She would also like to take a closer look at the iris. She says she needs to see how it was joined to the Gate and how it works."
"I'm not exactly comfortable with the idea of her getting into our computers, Doctor Jackson."
"I know, and I tried to explain that to her, but she just kept saying that she has to do it."
"Well, let me contact the President and let him know what's going on. In the meantime, I think we could let her have a look at the iris." Hammond shifted some papers out of the way and reached for the red phone. "Was there something else, Doctor Jackson?"
"Uh, yeah, she's also requested one of those baby name book things. She wants to pick a name for herself."
"Certainly. I'll send someone out right away."
"Thanks, General."
Daniel poked his head into the laboratory Sam was working in. She didn't seem to be in the middle of anything important, so he said, "Hey, Sam!"
"Daniel! What are you doing here?"
"Gee, thanks, I feel really welcome now."
"Oh, stop it. I just meant that you were showing that woman around, weren't you? How'd that go?"
"Well, she's very impatient. Try to show her anything that doesn't directly involve the Stargate, she starts changing the subject, asking if she can see the Gate. Although she seemed interested enough when I tried to explain names to her."
Daniel started to ramble on about how the current system of nomenclature had evolved. Sam smiled and shook her head before interrupting, "So what did General Hammond say?"
"Oh, ah, well, he's willing to let her take a closer look at the iris. Actually, that's where she is now. I just wanted to ask you – "
Klaxons sounded, and Sergeant Harriman's voice was heard. "Unscheduled off-world activation!" Sam and Daniel rushed out of the lab.
The woman ran her hand along the inner part of the Stargate, eyes closed, using only her sense of touch to examine the seam where the iris connected. She jumped a little when someone put a foot on the ramp and a man's voice said, "hey."
She whirled to see who was disturbing her.
"Sorry," said Jack. "Didn't mean to scare you." He stood casually at the end of the ramp, leaning on the railing.
"We were merely inspecting the iris. Or rather, I was inspecting the iris."
"Trying to stop with the whole plural thing, huh? Well, I have something here that just might help."
"What is it?"
Jack held up a baby name book. "Here. Names out the wazoo. Pick a name, any name."
She walked to the end of the ramp and took the book from Jack's outstretched hand. "Thank you, Jack."
Opening the book to the first page of girl names, the woman placed her right hand on each page in turn, from A to Z. Once again, her head lolled slightly, and her eyelids fluttered. When she had finished, she straightened up and handed the book back to Jack.
"Well, what'd you pick," he demanded.
"Priscilla."
"Priscilla? Eww!"
"Is there something wrong with that name?"
"Well, I guess if you like weird, old-fashioned-y names."
"And you do not like such names." The woman thought for a moment. "What would you recommend?"
"I dunno. Lisa. Marge. Mandy. Angelina. Something like that."
"I chose Priscilla because it means 'of or from ancient times.' Doctor Dan – Daniel – told me that, not only has it been a very long time since the Makers left this part of the network, but your people call the Makers 'the Ancients.' Thus, the name Priscilla is the most appropriate name in that book. Lisa means 'bright,' Mandy means 'she must be loved,' and Angelina means 'messenger.' Marge, however, was not listed in the book."
"Maybe it comes from Margaret."
"There was a name in there that was listed as deriving from Margaret, but that name was Peggy. How does one get 'Peggy' from 'Margaret,' we – I – should like to know?"
"Or maybe it's from Marjorie."
"Which means 'cheeky.' Perhaps you should consider changing your name to Marge or Marjorie."
Jack glanced around to see if anyone had heard. "Are you calling me cheeky?"
"I am Priscilla, and that is final. Now, I must get back to work." She walked back up the ramp.
"Ouch," Jack muttered to himself.
He watched as Priscilla stared up along the inside of the Gate. Suddenly, she reached up and started climbing up the Gate. "You know, Priscilla, I could get you some scaffolding or something."
"That will not be necessary, thank you," she replied, neither pausing in her climb nor sounding remotely out of breath. At about the point on the Gate that would be the hour of nine on a clock, she stopped to inspect the iris. Then she climbed up higher, all the way around to the very top of the Gate. Straddling the interior rim of the Stargate, she seemed to be clinging to it with her legs while hanging upside down to run her hands along the edge of the iris.
The Gate started to spin, causing a signal to go off. In the Control Room, Walter Harriman put down the cup and the pot of coffee he'd been pouring and rushed to his station. A quick glance at the computer screen confirmed that no teams were due to return or check in, so Walter pressed the button that would sound the klaxons, making the announcement over the intercom. "Unscheduled off-world activation!" Automatically, Walter started to close the iris. Looking out into the Gate Room, he stopped just in time. That strange woman was hanging from the top center of the Gate!
"Priscilla, get down from there," Jack yelled as the Marines filed into the room and took up defensive positions.
She grabbed hold with her hands and let go with her legs, swinging them back to gain some momentum. When her legs had swung back, and then as far forward as they could, she let go. With a thump that made Jack wince, she landed on the ramp in front of the Stargate, bending her knees to absorb the force of the fall and ending up down on one knee. Somehow, she had spun around in mid-air to land facing the Gate. She only had time to throw her arms up in front of her face before the event horizon opened.
"Priscilla!" Jack yelled, struggling against the two Marines who were holding him back from leaping to the rescue.
In the Control Room, Walter started once again the process of closing the iris, but before it closed, the Gate unleashed the damaging energy that whooshed out several feet before being absorbed back into the event horizon.