CHAPTER 32

After the Doctor had fixed the systems more better for the human soldiers to handle, Carter and Ford helped seeing they had the scientific know how and thought it was cool to work with futuristic technologies, the human's left giving much thanks to the Doctor and Carter's team. The Doctor helped them look at the buried gate and DHD after the ship was gone. The Daleks had unburied most of the gate, but otherwise had never noticed the DHD.

"According to these readings, this DHD as you call it, is mostly part of the wall now. Interesting, a volcano must have erupted some time ago and buried this impressive piece of technology. You say it will take you anywhere?"

"Only to other planets that have the gate system." Carter explained.

He nodded as she told him some of the places they had been to and more technical information about it.

"I've never seen one of these rings before. Impressive. Unfortunately you can't use it. Most of the bottom of the ring is badly damaged by the lava flow and time."

"The T.A.R.D.I.S. can get us home." Ford said.

"How? It can't get to our universe, can it?"

"No, but the doctor can go back in time until we find it in working condition. From there, I have an idea on what we can do. The Doctor once went to a parallel universe by accident. The Doctor has a way of doing the impossible. He'll get us home."

"I could do that, but how you actually get home is something that eludes me. Tell me this idea." the Doctor said moving away from the gate and going into the T.A.R.D.I.S.

He had brought it there and luckily it had came without any trouble so they didn't have a long walk through the woods. Inside he started setting the coordinates for a hundred years in the past.

"What if someone is there and sees us? Won't that mess with the time line?"

"It would if we were seen, but the TA.R.D.I.S. can look at wherever it goes, once it's there before completely dematerializing to see for danger or other problems Sam."

"You seem to know a lot about my TA.R.D.I.S. or T.A.R.D.I.S.'s in general. How is that?" the Doctor asked turning from the console.

"You have to read my mind Doctor. It's the only way to truly understand what I'm talking about."

The Doctor looked at him funny and puzzled.

"Wait. He can read minds?"

"Not in the way you're thinking Sam. You'll see though. C'mon Doctor. Let's get this over with. You'll see how we can get home then."

The Doctor brought his hands up placing them on either side of Ford's head and looked deeply into his eyes. Several minutes later the Doctor blinked and turned away mumbling as he worked on the console. Ford blinked a few times and started off down a corridor. When Sam started to follow the Doctor stopped her with a wave of his hand while he continued to work.

"Ah, ah my dear lady. He is gathering a few tools for this endeavor. We figured out a plan between our two minds and are in the process of implementing it. He is more of under a spell if you will, for lack of better terms. He's doing a programmed suggestion I placed in his mind. I will remove it after he has completed this task."

Ford came back out a few moments later and had a bundle of wires and a few circuit boards and other things. He made a couple more trips before starting to work on putting things together. It reminded Carter of when Jack had that Ancient information downloaded into his brain.

"You've brainwashed him!"

"No." Ford suddenly said surprising the Doctor. "I am aware of what is going on and what I'm doing."

He was plugging a few large coils into some small box with more wires and coils hanging out.

"I could possibly stop, but then I might not be able to start again and something tells me that the suggestion as he calls it could not be put in again. Quite fascinating what he has me building."

The Doctor didn't say anything as he shook his head and continued working. Carter asked if there was anything she could do to help and Ford instantly had her help him before the Doctor could speak.

"Need blue coil with three pronged end and that black cable with the two slanted ends." he said all the while looking at a larger box he was plugging things into. There was a lot of wires and circuits laid out.

A few more switches and a couple of buttons later and the strange column in the middle of the console activated making the grinding, winding noise again. It rose up and down as the T.A.R.D.I.S. made its descent into the past. He first tried a hundred years, but it was still buried so he tried two hundred more and still got the same result. One hundred more years after those he got it and made the T.A.R.D.I.S. land. Outside was lush and green with trees in the distance. The Stargate was standing up on the ground by a small platform holding it. No stairs, no trail, no red carpet. Just dirt and grass growing around it and the DHD. The Doctor got out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. and looked the DHD over as he wrote on a paper pad. Ford and Carter brought the metal box with exposed circuits and wires out. With Carter's help, Ford had her removed the cover to expose the red master crystal. From there, wires were hooked in after removing the crystal. The Doctor went back into the T.A.R.D.I.S. and started hooking cables into the underside of the console. This took a good hour so Lara spent the time looking over the book the Doctor had out. Melissa was enjoying the view outside. She was really enjoying the sun on her face since for once it didn't burn like it did before.

After everything was hooked up the Doctor snapped his fingers in Ford's face. Ford shook his head like he just had been woken up out of a nice slumber.

"What the….! What's going on? How did I get outside?"

"You don't remember working on this?" Carter said pointing to the large metal box of circuits and wires and cables sitting inside the middle of the DHD.

"No. The Doctor did this didn't he? I guess I didn't do to bad a job." he said admiring the mess he had made. It looked like a mess.

"Yes you made that. I gave you the knowledge temporarily and as it was suppose to, the knowledge disappeared after you completed the task. Though I have to admit I was beginning to wonder if it would." he said checking it over. He nodded going back into the T.A.R.D.I.S. and activating his console.

"What now?"

"Major was it? Reminds me of my days in UNIT working with those soldiers. You dial home if I remember correctly from what I learned from Ford's mind."

They all went outside as Carter pushed the seven symbols that the Doctor believed to be the right ones that he figured out with his and Ford's mind.

The large ring spun locking in place on each symbol. She didn't start at first seeing as this wasn't Earth and started saying that when he interrupted her saying trust him. As the last one locked in place the event horizon opened sending out its wave before settling back into a stable wormhole.

"Incredible!! A stable wormhole. This is a truly fascinating technology." the Doctor said as he admired the gate and scanned it with some device.

Carter pushed the GDO buttons signaling the other side of SG-1's return home.

"Well Doctor, you can look it over once we are gone. We won't need it and I seriously doubt we will be back. Hey can I ask you for a possible favor?"

He whispered something to the Doctor who smiled and gave him a nod. The Doctor went back in and came back out with a small chip a few minutes later.

"This should be accessible to the technology of your era. Even UNIT could access it when I was there, but that was with that King Arthur incident with Ace." he said looking lost in thought.

"Well Doctor it was nice seeing you and I hope you have fun on your many other adventures." Ford said taking the chip and shaking his hand.

"It's always fun. You know, I might make him again. I miss him sometimes."

"So do I. He was truly fun to have around even though I never really knew him."

"We got to go before they think about closing the Iris."

Carter shook hand with the Doctor and started toward the gate.

"You all have fun. Tell Hillary that I found a place where I wanted to settle down where it was quiet. He'll accept that. He knows what to do with my will." Lara said coming out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. "I'm not going along."

"Lara. Are you serious? I'm mean sure this is a chance to explore more than we ever will, but you'll never get home again."

"Ford, you know I've traveled the world, Earth I mean, going from place to place, archeology, tomb raiding, that sort of thing. Now I can expand my horizon and search out other planets and other times. What's to really miss back home. I have no family I'm leaving behind and no regrets. Major, it was nice knowing you."

"We can't open this again once we are gone."

"I know Major." she said taking Carter's hand. When she touched the ring on Sam's finger she got a shock and suddenly felt different.

"What was that?" Lara said stepping back.

"Incredible! You're human!"

"I was always hu…" she started saying when she looked down at herself. She was indeed back to herself again.

The other two tried touching the ring but nothing happened. Rubbing it didn't work either. Carter was going to have the Doctor scan the emerald for energy emissions when the ground started quaking.

"What it the world?" Ford said smelling smoke and fire.

All around them was starting to heat up and very close in the distance the ground erupted as lava poured out.

"Well that explains where and how it got buried." Ford said as the ground collapsed a couple hundred yards away.

It was a very big and gaping hole with extreme heat coming from it. The grass land caught fire quickly.

"We've got to go!" Carter said helping Mel off the ground and running to the gate.

The ground started breaking up near the gate so they had to jump through rolling. Ford turned seeing the T.A.R.D.I.S. leave and made his run for the gate. He jumped going through sideways thinking that it was no surprise about when the T.A.R.D.I.S. had landed. He was wondering why Cassandra had said earlier to them to roll when they came through and now he knew why.

Episode------HEROES PART 1

The incident with K.A.R.R. and the others was finally over and done in just the right time. The people sent to do interviews and film things came two days day later and all evidence of the attack outside was gone. They were in the briefing room taking shots of the gate while it was inactive.

A slightly heavy set man with a dark suit and long skinny black tie against a white shirt was directing a airman who was holding the camera making him back up some to get a better look at the people down below who were working on the large ring as part of the regular maintenance. His hair was curly and black. Another airman was standing next to the camera man helping.

"Yeah it's amazing."

"Yes it is." said a balding on top man with a mustache only as he walked up holding out his hand. "Mr. Bregman."

"Yeah." Bregman said turning to the man and shaking the offered hand.

"Colonel Tom Rondell, Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Public Affairs Liaison."

"That's quite a mouthful."

"Yes sir."

"Call me Emmet. This is my posse. Tech Sergeant Dale James." he said pointing to the camera man.

"Airman First Class Shep Wickenhouse sir." Shep said introducing himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you sir. But what are you doing here?" Tom asked.

"We're getting some establishing shots. The first of many I hope, while we are waiting. In fact we should get a shot of you." he said looking at the camera man.

"I'm sorry but you're not authorized to begin until your briefed by General Hammond."

"I've already been briefed, Tom is it, by the Defense Department. I've been cleared to shoot here." He turned to his two guys asking them. "Maybe you guys haven't been cleared. Have you guys been cleared? Sorry what's the problem here?"

"General Hammond is ready to see you now."

Bregman followed leaving the other two behind.

"This should be fun."

"Oh yeah." the two camera guys said to each other after Bregman left.

Hammond was looking through a folder as Tom walked in with Emmet.

"General Hammond sir. This is Mr. Bregman."

"I'm very excited to be here sir." he said holding out his hand. Tom handed over a folder to which Hammond opened it ignoring Emmet.

"You may find that we're not all as giddy as you are about this project, Mr. Bregman." Hammond said turning to him.

He stuttered a bit before talking.

"Well I'm personally and professionally excited, I think excited to be here General. I…haven't been giddy since well you don't want to know about that." he said walking in front of the desk.

"No. I just want to be as clear as I can up front."

"Sure."

"Your presence is highly unorthodox and I won't let it threaten the security of ongoing missions or the safety of my people."

"Well I've already been frisked three times already. You can make it a fourth time if you want. Personally if you like. Get to know each other a little better General." he said with a small laugh.

Hammond was not amused as he briefly looked over at Tom then back as Emmet.

"I considerer it my responsibility to protect my peoples interest. And quite frankly I should warn you that no one around here wants to be part of your little reality show."

"Oh. I see. You know General. I think you are probably well aware that there were film crews on the beaches of Normandy, decades before Survivor debuted on CBS. Personally, I think that it has been a outrageous oversight that the Stargate program has not been chronicled up to this point."

"That's because it's top secret. Only a hand full of people will see anything you shoot."

"So far General. So far, eventually, inevitably, this program is going to be shown to the American people, and to the whole world. That this small film here might provide insight into what has really been going on here for the last six years." he said.

"What's really been going on?"

Emmet laughed shaking a finger at him.

"You know what General, I can respect what you are doing here General, I can respect that you want me out of here, but the President of the United States invited me to do this."

Hammond almost smirked at the man. He pointed at a object on his desk.

"You see that red phone? You wouldn't be here if he hadn't."

"The I hope I can expect the full cooperation of you and your personal."

"To the letter of these orders." Hammond said tapping the open folder.

"To the letter. I see. Thank you." he said with irritation in his voice.

"You have high expectation to meet." Hammond said as the guy left the room.

Tom stood at attention. "General." he said getting a nod from Hammond then followed Mr. Bregman out.

Hammond sighed as the door closed. He could already tell that this Bregman was going to be trouble.

Outside in one of the corridor's of the SGC Emmet and Colonel Rondell were arguing. Emmet was looking through his tote bag as he called the men something else. They continued at it as Jack came down to go past them.

"Is that who I think it is?"

"That's Colonel Jack O'Neill."

"Colonel. I…"

Jack passed him by one his way to the elevator and started talking over the man.

"I like vanilla over chocolate, my favorite color is Peridot, I think Tibet should be free and if I could have dinner with anyone in the world it would be Mary Steenburgen." he said entering the elevator.

Ford was standing there, and stayed quiet seeing who was with Jack. He played the part of just another guy not drawing any attention to himself as Jack was still being questioned.

"No, no, no…I'm just trying to….Mary Steenburgen?"

"I think she's nice."

Ford barely kept a straight face. He coughed to cover his laugh. Jack glanced back at him as he tried to close the door, but Emmet put his foot in the way.

"Look I just need a moment of your time."

"Look I really don't have time at the moment. I've got a briefing to get to."

Emmet kept talking as Jack tried to close the door.

"I understand. I'm Emmet.' he said holding his hand out.

Jack coughed into his and then tried to shake hands where Emmet pulled his away. He laughed at the attempt by Jack.

"No look. I won't be able to get a perspective on the Stargate program without you Colonel so when is a good time for you?" he said holding the elevator open as it tried to close.

"Anytime's good. Just send me a memo." he said pushing the man out of the lift.

"A memo." Emmet said as the door closed.

"I really sense he's starting to trust you." Tom said from behind him. Emmet raised a finger to the man who smiled and walked away.

After the door closed Jack looked at Ford.

"Mary Steenburgens?" he said through a chuckle.

"Yeah. From the Joan of Arcadia show. I think she's hot. So what?"

Ford couldn't hold it any longer and laughed hard to the point he couldn't stand any longer. Jack waved his hand turning back to the door.

"I'm sorry Jack. It was that guy harassing you that I got a kick out of. And were you serious about that color and what was that Tibet thing?"

Jack shrugged then turned around asking him something.

"Why is it, I hear, that you are not to participate in this," he said waved his hand. "You know, the annoying guys thing."

"President said no, Hammond said no, ah…"

"I figured that, but why? It is because of your past?" he said as the elevator stopped.

Ford stopped Jack and kept the doors from opening. He leaned against the wall with his head down as he talked. Jack kept his hands in his pocket listening.

"I've kept something from everyone here that Hammond now knows about after I gave him that file I brought back from my universe. I was a consultant for the show for over a year. Part of the fifth and some of the sixth year. That's one of the reasons I know so much about this place other than watching the show. They don't want me saying something I shouldn't or might accidentally say. Also being from another universe doesn't help. And the immortality thing is a top secret issue."

Jack thought a moment then gave a small grin.

"You got lucky. Though why didn't you tell us before?" he said.

"Hammond said to keep it quiet. Ordered it. Sam doesn't even know. Telling you is a violation, but you deserve to know."

"Okay. I won't say anything then. Wait a minute. You must have been there when that other me pulled that prank on Carter."

Ford coughed out a couple of yeahs.

"I was…umm, in on the……revenge part getting back at you. It was actually me that got the powder."

He left muttering something with Ford followed going a different direction. He had personal to train in hand to hand combat seeing as it was the easiest way to stay out of that camera man's path.

Carter was standing in the gate room getting a small mike attached to her shirt as Emmet spoke to her. The guy looked he was having trouble placing it, at least to Carter. She was in her black long sleeve shirt and SGC black fatigue pants.

"Don't worry about it. He only looks unprofessional. Major, General Hammond warned me that people might not be less than enthusiastic about all of this."

"Yes. We did have a bad experience with a TV crew last year." she said jumping some as he worked around her waist.

"The Prometheus incident. I know the Air Force insisted on their own crew for that reason." he said looking at the camera crew working with him.

"You might also be sensing the reluctance of others to put themselves up on a pedestal." she said as the guy returned to working on the collar mike.

I wish Ford was doing this. At least he'd be more gentlemen like. Where is he anyway?

"I mean we are just doing our jobs."

"Just a job? Well my job is to put you on that pedestal because this job looks to me to be nothing short of extraordinary and from what I read in your file, the same can be said about you personally." he said opening a file. Carter looked over at it as well.

"See, now I'm blushing."

"Then we should start. It will look good on camera." he said walking away to a chair. Sam sat down with the controls and gate behind her.

"Are you ready?"

"No."

He said a few things making Carter feel more on the spot especially when he said say hello to the six billion people watching.

Some time later Emmet was walking and talking with Daniel. The camera was ahead of them. Tom was behind them watching.

"I don't think that I've ever asked this question before in my entire career. But what was it like to be dead?"

"Well I wasn't exactly dead."

"You were, what the word, transcended?"

"Ascended. Well I did have the unfortunate experience of dying first. Slowly and quite painfully first I might add."

"Well in your mission file, I'm quoting here," Emmet said look through a file. "Your human body transformed into energy. A bright white light rose above the hospital bed. Is that accurate?"

"Yeah." Daniel said. He kept his hands in his pockets as they walked.

"Doctor, could you…elaborate?"

Daniel pager went off at that moment.

"What did it feel like?"

"Well I don't know…" he said pulling the pager out and looking at it. "I don't remember much after that."

Daniel ran past everyone making them run along.

"Follow him." Emmet said running along.

They entered into his office as he looked over a fax that just came in.

"Doctor Jackson? What is it? What it is?" he said motioning for the camera to move closer.

Jackson said he just got in the information he needed about a mask he found on another planet. Emmet asked why it was important.

"It's fascinating."

"That's it? It's fascinating? Why were we running?" he asked while telling the camera to back up.

"Oh…um I just wanted to see if you would chase me."

The look he got on Emmet's face wasn't good. He was not happy.

"Turn it off and get that mike out of here. Turn it off." he said making them stop. Daniel went back to his fax with a small smile.

Down in one of the labs were they tested new objects and items, Ford was asked to volunteer for the new item being placed inside the SGC vest to have better protection from staff blast. Ford had been there when they started it out and it was working some, but didn't provide enough protection at the time. This was suppose to be a better version and seeing that no one really wanted a hospital visit, Ford was asked. He was wearing a vest and standing against the wall as the camera crew came in.

Aren't we suppose to stay away from them? Herc asked.

We have so far. They've seen us but asked no questions.

I've heard that one before, in your memory.

We just keep quiet and say nothing. Besides that, they don't know who we are anyway. We have no rank insignia's so we have nothing to worry about.

A scientists came around a table holding a Kevlar helmet in his hand as he explained to the camera what they were doing. He was bald and had glasses and wore what most scientist were seen in. White outfits.

"Kevlar will not stop the energy blast from a staff weapon." he said tapping the helmet.

He set it on the table and picked up a metal plate that was bullet proof.

"And the armor plating, in other bullet proof protection, gets super heated by the plasma. So while it would stop penetration, the wearer is essentially trapped in what would become their own personal microwave oven, and you know that's not a good idea." he said waving his hands showing it was a bad idea.

He got excited quickly showing off the new armor plating that Ford was going to be demonstrating.

"Anyway, what we've been working on is this.." he said holding up a very thin flimsy looking item.

It looked a lot like one of those X-ray films but much darker, blueish.

"A ceramic polymer which will resist the heat, stop the blast and fits into a standard issue SG vest." he said sliding into a vest worn by a metal dummy.

"Which this man will demonstrate for us." he said pointing to Ford.

The scientists were under orders not to call Ford by his name. Teal'c was to be the one that fired the staff weapon and almost smiled about it. Emmet moved closer to the scientists to ask him a question.

"Wouldn't it be better," Emmet started saying then turned telling the camera man to shoot the guy being shot.

"Wouldn't it be more interesting if I wore the vest?" he asked as he got behind the camera with the scientists.

When he tried to move forward the scientists were saying no, bad idea over and over. Ford was wearing the full get up, goggles, helmet, pretty much everything to due with the clothing part, no weapons though. He was wishing he had his coat since it was much better and if something went wrong and he died, things wouldn't turn out pretty bad. Maybe he should have turned it down, he thought. Teal'c activated the staff weapon and brought it down aiming at him. Ford was a couple of feet from wall which had a soft back to it so he or anyone else doing this 'stunt' didn't break any bones against a hard wall.

"Well isn't it safe?"

"Absolutely is safe. It's not like we have ever done this before." the scientists said still holding his arm.

"Okay Teal'c, whenever your ready." Ford said.

You do know we'll probably get blown off our feet. Herc said.

Without the coat and the fact we aren't trying to block it, that will be a problem.

Teal'c fired and being so close plus not having his coat to give him extra weight leverage Ford was blown off feet into the wall. It certainly was a new experience for him. The coat caught fire and a guy next to him used a extinguisher. He sat up quickly with his hands in the air. No pain but he did feel like he got punched.

Those things pack more of a punch than I thought!

"It's safe! I'm fine!!"

"See yeah, he does that all the time." the scientists said while Emmet looked at Ford bewildered.

Ford got up shaking himself off and removed the vest.

"Good work guys. I barely felt it that time."

They nodded in approval and he left before getting asked any questions.

"Who was that?"

"That is information you do not need to know." Teal'c simply said taking off his goggles and leaving the room as well.

The scientists said they were not allowed to say either after being asked as well. This made Emmet suspicious.

Carter was explaining what the computers did in the Gate Control room for the camera crew. She must have got to technical for them when Emmet asked to see the ring move.

"Yeah. It's really cool." she said going over to the controls.

Her tone of voice was that of someone who had just been put down as boring. Ford would have thought it interesting…no wait…he knows it is interesting.

A guy came over whispering in her ear. She nodded and turned to the camera.

"Sorry guys, there's an SG team ready to embark on a mission."

"That's great, we'll get a shot of them leaving."

"Actually, you're the ones leaving." she said.

"Can I ask you something…you guys can stop. Cut!"

On another planet the SG team assigned to look at this planet came through the gate. The DHD was in front where it should be with the M.A.L.P. just to the right of it as they came down off the stairs. It was a nice looking day, lush fertile looking planet. Nothing dangerous looking anywhere.

"Okay Balinsky, which way?" the leader of the team asked looking around.

"That way." the scientists of the group said using some scanning device. He didn't have a helmet on like the others.

"I'll take point." the leader said. "Wells, Bosworth, you're rear guard."

"The M.A.L.P. showed no recent Goa'uld activity on this planet." the scientist said.

"I don't see any indication of anything here." the leader said.

"Take the usual bet on that sir." the scientists said holding a black score card up.

"Sure. Wells?"

"Abandoned naquada mine." Wells said.

"Boring, but good odds. Bosworth?"

"I'm going to put my money on trees sir." Bos said.

"Bosworth is disqualified for being a smart-ass. I'll go with two headed aliens."

"Hostile or friendly sir?" Wells asked.

"One head good, one head bad. Balinsky?"

"Ruins of an Ancient city."

"Yeah, you wish." he said moving out. Along the way sometime later, they started talking about family life.

"Yeah, all night screaming, projectile vomiting, nuclear diapers. You have no idea. The reason they make them so damn cute is that you don't suffocate them in their sleep." the leader was saying.

"Sir you have four kids." Wells said.

"Yeah. Why do you think I like my job so much." he said looking around like he was enjoying the open air and field. "Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the little buggers to death. Having four kids makes going through a Stargate and fighting bad guys aliens look like nothing. This is relaxing."

"Then why did you have four?" Wells asked.

"One's pretty bad, but you figure you gotta have two, so the little guy could have a brother or sister right, so the wife says she wants a girl, so you figure two can't be bad so why not three. What you don't realize it that your brain is fried because you haven't slept. So three, four it doesn't seem to matter anymore. You're so deep in it that you don't care anymore. It's chaos. You just try to make it through each day alive. In the end, you spend all the energy you have trying to get them into bed, then you lie awake at night praying that they don't get hooked on drugs or hurt or worse, end up dead in an alley somewhere."

"Can't wait sir." Wells said. "Mr. Primus once said he can't wait to be a father either."

"Miracle of birth my ass, I'll tell you what a miracle is, birth control that works. Bet him and Carter use it a lot."

The others were surprised at his statement.

"Omit that last part from your minds people. I shouldn't have said that." the leader said.

"If it helps any sir, the rumor is they haven't gotten that close." Wells said.

"Rumors are just that, rumors. Besides, it's none of our business. Forget the idea ever came up."

They all said a yes sir. A few minutes later they came out of the clearing passing through a few large bushes.

"Well I'll be damned." the leader said looking over the vast open area.

It was a large amount of ancient ruins. A couple of temples looked to be still standing.

"I win." the scientist said surprised.

Jack was in the gate control room, near the stairs as Carter came up behind him. He was looking and sniffing his coffee. There was a coffee machine in front of him.

"Did you do your interview yet?"

"Yeah." he said taking a drink.

"Mary Steenburgen?"

"She's so hot." he said walking away. She had a small chuckle as she followed.

"Carter can you tell me the reason for this documentary again?"

"Didn't you read the memo?"

He gave her that look.

"Officially it's to chronicle the 1,000 trip through the Stargate, but I think there is more to it than that." she said following him out of the control room and down a hall.

"1,000 you say."

"I know. Hard to believe we've been at it this long."

"There should be a cake."

"With you everything should have cake." Ford said coming behind them.

He made a coughing noise so not to startle them as he came.

"That Berger or whatever his name isn't here is he?" he said looking around.

"No. I think he is with Daniel." Jack said looking at his coffee.

"Where have you been? Aren't you suppose to get interviewed?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm leaving. Have fun explaining Ford." Jack said moving off.

"Ha ha Jack."

"What is it that you know that I don't?"

"A few things."

She gave that look only woman have ever mastered. "You know what I mean."

"I've been ordered to stay away from him as far as possible. I'm not part of this documentary. Why, is I know too much and might say something I shouldn't."

"Such as?" she said as they started walking again.

"Ummm…' he said looking around. "Hammond will have a field day with me after this. Jack is the only other one that knows this so keep a lid on it."

"Don't you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Good. So?"

"Other than the fact that I came from another universe, I…" he stopped as a airman walked by. Once that person left he continued, "I knew this was coming…or something like it. I was a consultant for more than a year on the show, this show…you know what I mean. I have some clues as to what is going to happen and what not. Most of what I've seen was not part of the original scripts. I knew this day was coming…wait…I knew a film crew was coming but not when. I know also that Anubis is coming here, but why and when and how I have no idea. The seventh season was still in the starting stage and the eighth, which would be coming up soon…can't tell when though was just plans and ideas on paper. Some of what has been happening is not what was suppose to happen."

"If they found out about this…"

"I'd be sent to the nut ward or worse, sent to a government place to see what else I know is going to happen when I know very little. With Hammond backing me up and several other people in high positions, I've been able to stay here. As far as I know, Kinsey is not part of this group. Being immortal is another reason I'm to stay out of the way. The main reason really."

Carter rubbed her head thinking.

"I know that is a little hard to understand."

"Understand. I'm the only one that can understand. I've been to your world. Seen proof this was a show, is a show…whatever. You're not protecting me because something is going to happen?"

"No. That's just me cause I love you."

"That's a weight I don't have to deal with. I was beginning to think I was about to die or something."

"Not if I can help it. Besides, you're one of the main characters." he said putting an arm around her as they continued on to her office. "You're too popular to kill off or get rid of. Remember that, but be careful anyway since this is real life here."

"You didn't have anything to do with Jack's son…."

"I wasn't there during the show's construction. I certainly didn't think that idea was good and wouldn't have allowed it if I was in charge. Killing off someone's family or member is not something I like in stories."

"You said Jack knows."

"He does, but I don't think he holds it against me. I do remember something about him getting a promotion again, but when was still debatable, if it was suppose to happen too. Though everything I know all depended on things happening with me not being here." he said as the entered her office. They talked about what they might have for dinner as he helped her with a project.

Down in Daniels office Emmet was asking more questions to Daniel about his un-ascension. Daniel didn't have much on memory about when he was ascended since that was removed from his mind so Emmet asked something else.

"So the Pharaohs of the fourth dynasty did not build the pyramids?"

"No, no they didn't. They're actually landing pads for Goa'uld motherships."

Emmet explained he was quoting Daniel before he found out about the Stargate.

"So why?"

"Why what?"

"Did Catherine Langford introduce you to the program?"

"I don't know. You would have to ask her."

"I guess I will have to. So where is she, ascended, descended, what?"

"Ah no. She's retired actually. But you never know."

Teal'c's turn came up and he was sitting there as the guy asked questions. They were in another room on the base, just for the interview.

"So I'm reading your file here and it's…um fascinating. I suppose I should ask you immediately, you an alien?"

Teal'c said nothing.

"Well not to you but to us you would be…"

Still nothing.

"You were the highest ranking officer in the service of one of our greatest enemies, and you turned against them."

More nothing.

Ford was watching the monitor to the room with Jack there. Ford told him it would be a good laugh, but on Emmet. Jack agreed to come look and had to agree it was looking very bad for this guy. Teal'c wasn't saying anything. It was getting to be quite funny too.

"Why did you turn against them, when you did?"

Teal'c still did nothing. The look on his face was so funny the two thought. They were almost laughing hysterically. Emmet looked at his camera crew then at Tom who was ordered to stay with them the entire time. He sighed in frustration.

"I'm sorry, but why are you sitting there if you don't intend to answer any of my questions?"

"Because I was requested to by General Hammond."

"I see, and he didn't happen to mention that part of the interview process involved saying something."

"No."

Jack cracked up harder hearing that. Good thing they were not busy and being of higher rank than anyone, in a sense, so no one questioned them or looked much at them either despite the laughing.

"Okay…um…let's try this. Colonel Jack O'Neill. You must have a tremendous amount of respect for him." When Teal'c didn't say anything.

"Maybe you don't. Let me rephrase, Colonel Jack O'Neill is your immediate superior. Your commanding officer."

"Indeed."

"Good. Good. Okay. Good. Let's move forward. Is there anything you can tell us about him?"

"If you wish to learn about Colonel O'Neill, perhaps you should interview Colonel O'Neill."

"Okay thanks. That's a good idea. Thank you very much."

Teal'c got up leaving as the guy started to ask another question.

"Where are you going?"

Back on the planet with the SG team looking around the ruins…..

"How long?" the leader asked as he looked at his watch.

The scientist guy was looking over old fallen columns that had lots of writing on them. He was recording the writings onto a small camera and making notes. The other two were sitting on the ground a little ways off talking but keeping watch.

"I don't know. Why? We just got here."

"An hour ago." the leader said sitting what was left of a rock wall.

"Well I need more time. Just look at this place. It's incredible!"

"Yeah, you've seen one crumbled city…"

"Sir! This place was built by the Ancients."

"Are you sure?" he said getting up and coming over.

"Yes. These markings and this stone architecture. Dr. Jackson is going to die when he sees this." he said still looking it over.

"What, again?"

"Funny." he said turning to him then turning back again. He grabbed his stuff heading off seeing something else of interest.

The leader of the group shook his head. "Don't go to far."

"It looks like an alien." Bosworth said looking at the ultra sound.

"Shut up." Wells said chuckling.

"Remember that thing we ran into on P2X-787?"

"Get lost." he said taking the picture back.

"Yeah, that thing was easy on the eyes by comparison."

"Let me see." the leader said sitting down and taking the picture. "Pretty scary Wells."

"My unborn son sir."

"How can you tell?"

Wells pointed to a spot on the ultra sound picture.

"I don't know Wells, I wouldn't paint the room blue just yet." he said returning it.

"Take cover!!" the scientist said running with his yellow box.

The others got up hiding behind different fallen columns. A strange looking floating device came out. It looked a lot like those droids that the Galactic Empire used in Star Wars to search for the rebel base. It even fired at them too. The SG team returned fire but their bullets bounced off the shields around it. The scientist saw an opening as it fired at them.

"Colonel now!" he shouted.

The Colonel fired off a grenade round hitting the wall next to the floating droid. It came down burying the hovering unit and taking it out.

"Hold!" the Colonel said as they slowly got up to examine it.

It was sparking and sputtering and still partially active until the Colonel blasted a few rounds into it. Then it just sparked and smoked.

"What the hell is it?"

In the briefing room Senator Kinsey was speaking to the camera. He had came down personally to be interviewed. The gate was in the foreground of the camera shot. What was really bad was not that Kinsey was here, but that Ford didn't know he was.

"Like the people who are now serving here at the SGC, the youth of tomorrow will have to one day defend the free spirit of man kind and not just on our fair planet, but out there, through the Stargate in the vastness of our galaxy." he said pointing at gate behind him. "Where untold evil with powers we've never seen before are still waiting to prey upon us."

"Okay, cut!" Emmet said putting his folder aside and rubbing his face. Several people were in the room behind the camera crew other than the guards.

"Thank you so much for doing this. It's terrific." Emmet said getting up shaking the Senator's hand. Tom was standing next to the General and whispered into his ear as Emmet and Kinsey talked.

"It was terrific for you to come and do this."

"And these people deserve it."

"Yes and we are trying our best. Listen Senator, please don't take this the wrong way for me saying this, but it sounded a little prepared you know. A little bit like a speech. I don't think you're going to like the results." he said whispering. "Can I just throw things at you see how you respond?"

Kinsey was looking over at Hammond with a distasteful frown as the guy talked.

"No."

"No?"

Kinsey left with Hammond smiling as Emmet followed along trying to get more information.

Jack was looking over some papers, reports from what Ford could tell. He and Jack went and got something to eat after seeing Teal'c blow the guy off. Jack was enjoying some peaches, while Ford was eating a salad, despite Herc's continuous protest and demand for chocolate.

"You know Jack, it would have been easier to just buy you a new truck instead of me rebuilding it."

"Maybe, but I really like that truck and you do such good work." he said smiling.

"Just so you know, even though I didn't mind spending my own money…"

"It was your fault that my truck was practically blown up. Accidental though it was."

"Anyway, I didn't mind fixing it and adding those things you wanted, but…." he was saying when the mess hall door opened.

His happy demeanor changed as he sat back and crossed his arms. Jack looked over his shoulder seeing why Ford suddenly became hostile then turned back to his paperwork ignoring it.

Think of Carter and how she would take it. Keep restraint. Herc thought.

Easy for you to say!!! He's been trying to kill us!!

I know that and you know that, but we have no proof.

Kinsey walked in coming straight to Jack with the camera crew right behind. Jack noticed and his face changed to distaste. Ford didn't move. Kinsey saw Ford but chose to ignore him. But he did flinch seeing him and the distain he was showing.

"Ah Colonel. Mr. Primus. As I'm sure you know, I'm here to be part of the piece these good men are putting together to document the fine work you're doing here at the SGC."

"I'm leaving Jack. I just lost my appetite." Ford said shoving away from the table with a huff. "You should know where to find me if you need any help."

He gave Kinsey a death look and started to walk out and head for Carter's office. She could help him calm down.

"Mr. Primus…" Kinsey said gently putting a hand on Ford's shoulder.

Ford clenched his fist causing his knuckles to pop audibly. Even though there were very few people actually eating at the moment, they all stopped to see what would happen.

"Kinsey. Take your hand off before I lose what restraint I have left." he said with anger laced in his voice.

He said it slow, very restrained. When he looked at Kinsey it was with death in his eyes and he flashed them for everyone to see, not caring who noticed.

"Or wh…"

"I'll kill you." Ford said not letting him finish.

He shrugged off the hand and left quickly.

"No, I didn't know that. Filming is an interesting thing though Bob." Jack said acting as though Ford did nothing.

He was glad Ford left. Ford looked ready to start in on Kinsey. Jack wondered if he would have tried to stop Ford too. Probably wouldn't have he betted.

"Well I'm sure there was a memo." Kinsey said shaking it off and watching Ford leave.

The camera was still on him so he had to look like he was unaffected by the remark. Besides, now that Ford had threatened him, he could legally get Ford removed.

"Well did you tell them about the time you tried to get this place shut down?" Jack said turning to see the camera was now on. "Tried to have Ford killed, more than once, or how about the time you had Hammond.."

"I suggest you watch what you say Colonel. Slander is a criminal offense." Kinsey said turning serious as he pointed a finger at him.

"Yes. So I hear." he said not caring. "And yet…."

"I have always been a strong supporter of this program. I admit I was critical in the past, but that was because of the unrealized potential I see this operation as having. How did your interview go Colonel?" he asked changing the subject as Jack shuffled his papers and got up.

"It was short, yet oh so sweet." Jack said sarcasm in his voice laced with his humor.

"I want you to play ball on this. I hope you're not intending on disappointing our commander and chief. I would figure you'd want to show your appreciation for his backing over the years."

Jack was getting fed up with this guys bull. His patience was wearing away as well.

"Kinsey what are you doing here? Last time anyone checked you were trying to discredit the guy."

He wanted to say trying to kill a member of his team, again, but he didn't.

"His term is up. My running mate and I are merely pointing out to the American people, that there are certain areas that we can do a better job in." Kinsey said pointing things out with his right hand. It came close to tapping Jack's chest.

"And when that time comes, I know we can count on your vote Colonel." he said tapping Jack's chest.

"Yeah, that'll happen." he said meaning the opposite. He walked over to the door to leave.

"And I want you to know this." Kinsey said keeping him from leaving. "This program can count on our full support."

Jack looked at the camera. "You want to get this?"

"Sure." Emmet said moving closer.

He would find out later about this Mr. Primus and what the problem was with Kinsey. Jack leaned over to make sure that Kinsey heard every word. Kinsey looked back and forth between the camera and Jack a couple of times.

"You smarmy, self righteous, opportunistic asshole…." the rest of what he said was covered by the alarms that had everyone but Jack and Kinsey looked around.

"Unscheduled off world activation! Colonel O'Neill to the control room. Repeat. Unscheduled off world activation!!"

Some people ran out of the room by Jack and Kinsey. Ford came running up seeing that Jack was still talking with Kinsey and held the door open watching to see what would happen. If Jack went to take a swing, Ford would stop him, and do it himself. Kinsey was pissed and Jack could see it.

"Duty calls." Kinsey said with anger laced in his voice. He glanced over seeing Ford with a small smile.

"I was done." Jack said turning to the camera.

"What is this off-world activation?"

"I won't know until I get there." Jack said leaving then pointed at them.

"You all stay here." he said nearly running into Ford on his way out.

"I can read lips, so I know what you said to him. Felt good?"

"Very." he said as they ran.

"I could go back and…"

"No you're coming with me. I saw how you looked at him at the table."

M.A.L.P. telemetry was coming through the gate. The SG team that had taken out the surveillance bot was calling to inform them of what they encountered. Everyone of SG-1 was there watching.

"Is there anything worth staying for?" Jack asked.

"Hard to say?"

"We need to finish searching these ruins." the scientists said.

"How long?" Hammond asked.

"A day or two, maybe more." the scientist said.

"Be nice to send up a U.A.V. and at least get an aerial overview." Daniel said.

"Permission to remain granted. I'll send SG-3 as back up. Any further sign of threats, you get out of there immediately Colonel."

"Yes sir." he said moving away from the M.A.L.P. camera.

"In the meantime I can run some test on what's left of the device. See what its been doing there."

"Send the device back and report in on the hour."

"Yes sir. SG-13 out."

Carter and Ford went to get it while Jack got up to talk to Hammond.

"Sir. It's not that I don't appreciate.."

"I knew Kinsey and Bregman were headed your way…and I thought you might be looking for an excuse to get away Colonel."

"I thought as much sir and I just wanted to express my deep and unveiled…love for you sir."

Tom came up the stairs behind them and told Hammond Bregman wanted to talk to him. Hammond looked back at Jack who just stared. Hammond sighed as he started to walk away.

"Ah sir."

"Yes Colonel?" he said turning around.

"Ford was in the room with me when Kinsey came in."

"Dammit. What happened?"

"Nothing…unfortunately in many cases. What did happen though was Bregman was there and caught Ford on film telling Kinsey to back off or else he would kill him."

"And you didn't try to stop him from saying anything?"

"I thought about it, but….." Jack said trailing off.

"Wonderful. Thanks for the info Colonel."

In Hammonds office the two of them argued about what could and could not be filmed. Hammond said he was holding Bregman to the letter of the folder he was given by the Pentagon and that it was up to him to interpret those rules. When the red phone rang that was when Hammond ordered him out of the office. He also told Bregman to edit out that incident in the commissary or else.

Down in Carter's lab, Teal'c was more or less just sitting there, probably to keep away from Bregman. Ford had an excuse for it, but was also helping Carter.

"Reminds me of those dumb…what were they called…ah not protocol or maybe it was. Anyway, those droids that the Galactic Empire used on Hoth in that Star Wars movie. Know what I mean? I know it's a probe of some sort."

"Indeed. There is s striking resemblance."

Carter chuckled as she worked around in it. "It kinda does now that I think about it."

"Maybe they watched the movie."

"You ever seen anything like this?" she asked Teal'c.

"I have not." Teal'c said putting a part down.

"Well it's definitely a remote probe of some kind, just like you thought Ford. The storage capacity of the memory crystals is immense." she said messing with wires.

Ford was helping at first then backed off when she had said she needed to think so he was now just handing tools to her and watching.

"But so far all I've found is detailed images of the ruins."

"Doctor Jackson will be satisfied with that information." Teal'c said.

"Yeah, he will. But it makes sense if you think about it.. We use a M.A.L.P. Why wouldn't the Goa'uld." she said after a thought.

"The Goa'uld are scavengers. It is quite possible they got the idea from us."

She nodded agreeing with him. Then she brought up a different subject Ford was trying to ignore. He heard something about Kinsey wanting Ford to be interviewed and he had insisted that Hammond order it so.

"So you do your interview with the documentary crew yet?"

"Indeed."

Ford looked away as he tried to keep a straight face.

"You know I have to admit, I can't wait to here what everyone else said."

"I did not say much."

"Even less than that." Ford said trying not to laugh and failing. "I heard it from somebody else."

"Really Teal'c? That is surprising. Usually it so hard to shut you up."

Teal'c regarded her statement by raising his eyebrow.

"I found the entire experience unpleasant."

"They want to talk to me again."

"Did your interview go well either?"

"I thought it was fine, but apparently I looked….nervous."

"I heard that was true too."

She turned looking at him.

Ford waved his hands. "I wasn't there. That's just what I heard. If you say you weren't I believe you."

"Hmm." Teal'c said. "Mr. Primus. Have you been interviewed?"

"No. Hammond had orders from above to make sure I was left out. Despite Kinsey wanting otherwise."

"Indeed. As Colonel O'Neill would say, lucky you."

This got Carter to crack up along with Ford. It wasn't often Teal'c made a joke, but when he did, it usually was good.

"I heard that something almost went down in the cafeteria."

"As did I."

"Uh, yeah….I…..Kinsey tried to talk to me and I told him….off."

"In front of the camera crew?!" Sam said stopping her work.

"What is it you said Mr. Primus?"

"If he didn't get his hand off my shoulder I'd kill him."

They had shocked looks.

"Would have really…." Sam began.

"Within a heartbeat."

Down in one of the hallways, the film crew were working on the camera switching tapes as Emmet came around a corner. Other personal were walking by going to whoever they had to be at that moment. Emmet tried to find out what he could about this Mr. Primus and his problem with Kinsey but Hammond said that was off limits as did Kinsey. No one else he talked to would even comment either.

"What is the meaning of off world activation, what is that about?"

"I'm not privy to that sort of information." Tom said standing near the film crew.

Emmet was tired of the run around routine and you could see it on his face.

"And you wouldn't tell me if you did would ya?"

"We have orders…."

"You remind me of the miners they used in the gulf to censor reports."

Emmet walked over to the camera crew leaving his back to the Colonel.

"Look, it's not as if we are conspiring to cover up the truth."

"Oh sure." he said sarcastically.

"And censoring reports in combat just makes sense." Tom said trying to get his point across. "You do not jeopardize the lives of troops involved in ongoing missions."

"It makes no sense!! It's a documentary! It's not the news! What are you telling me, that you broadcast the news to enemies on another planet! Look I have been denied access to several prior mission files because no one wants me to know how close we've come to…..well why don't you tell me Tom. You're not conspiring to cover up the truth. What it is? Come close to what?"

"Being compromised." Tom said after a moment.

"Being compromised. That a euphemism. Being compromised. Close to planetary annihilation is probably more accurate! That's why were not allowed to film these ongoing activities. Because every time they open that gate, something could go cataclysmically wrong." he said with a wave of his hands.

"In which case it wouldn't really matter what he had on tape would it?" one of the camera guys said.

"What did you say?"

The camera guy stepped back at Emmet moved closer.

"What did you say? It doesn't matter. If that's your opinion, then if you have any integrity at all you would resign before I had you replaced."

"I'd rather be replaced than court marshaled. I'm not going to do anything I'm not authorized to do."

"The bottom line is the SGC is not going to let anything out until it's declassified." Tom said.

"Then what's the difference then? Let's shoot it and decided later."

"It's not up to me." Tom said.

Emmet threw his hand up in frustration and slapped them on his legs.

"Not up to me."

The elevator opened and O'Neill stepped out and started to turn around seeing the camera guys.

"Colonel. Colonel. We're all set up for you right here. We're all set up." Emmet said as Jack brushed past on his way to the stairs going into the gate control room.

"Briefing!" he said walking past quickly.

"Colonel. Colonel! You know I'm going to get you on camera sooner or later even if they are a series of shots of you avoid being got."

"Fire away. I hope shots of my ass serve you well." he said turning away from Emmet and going into the control room.

"Alright pack up. What are we doing here?" Emmet said after watching the Colonel leave.

Carter was being in interviewed again in the control room. She was sitting with the computer banks on the walls behind her.

"What about Colonel O'Neill?"

"He's an amazing man. After everything he's done, he's still modest and quite self-effacing actually. He even likes people to think he's not as smart as he really is. Bottom line is that he's an incredible strong leader who's given more to this program than any man has given for well…..anything I can imagine." To a point.

"Spend a lot of time outside of work?"

"We don't have much time outside of work. When we do, our personal interest are a little different."

"Did you ever hear the expression opposites attract?" Emmet said taking a drink of what looked to be alcohol. He was sipping at the small glass. Scotch from the color of it.

"We have a very professional relationship."

"Really? You do? Professional? After everything you've been through, you must have, if it's not to much to say, face death together."

"Yeah, unlike countless military personal throughout the years." she said knowing where this was going. "Look I won't deny there's a bond between us, Daniel, Teal'c and Ford are also like family to me. Colonel O'Neill is first and foremost, my superior officer. Besides that, I have somebody that I'm with so O'Neill isn't and never was an option."

"Who is that if I may ask? And who is this Ford really? He isn't the one your talking about is he?" Emmet said sitting up.

He was leaning back in the chair but this new news caught his attention. No matter who he asked or where he looked, this person was never around anymore. The last time he saw him was when he threatened Kinsey and since then had been missing, but was still on the base.

Carter mentally slapped herself.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss those issues." she said looking away briefly.

Emmet shook his head.

"Alright then, lets continue on."

At the gate controls themselves….

"Basically when the gate is dialing, I say chevron one encoded, chevron two encoded, and so on incrementally until the seventh chevron. Which is a little different because that's when the wormhole connects. When that happens I like to change things up a bit. Chevron seven locked." a guy with white fuzz for hair and glasses said. His name was Walter.

"Locked? Great that's good. Anything else?"

"I'm responsible for this." he said touching a panel with a hand print on it. It turned from blue to red and the Iris closed on the Stargate.

"Open the Iris." he said touching it again. "That's pretty much my job right there."

"That's it?"

"Yeah pretty much."

"I think you're being a little modest."

"Don't get me wrong, it's really rewarding, it really is. We have tried various automated scenarios, but the SG teams just agree that when they send their Iris code through the wormhole, they like to know that there is a real person on the other end, someone they can trust to get it right. And…um…that gives me and the other gate technicians a great sense of pride."

"Sure that's good."

Daniel was down in his office going through different things. Stuff he might need on the next mission, mostly putting things in his pack when Emmet came into his office.

"Ah, Doctor Jackson, hi."

"How's it going?" he said stuffing more into his pack.

"I see you're packing. You're going on a mission off….I'm sorry what's the expression?"

"Off-world?"

"That's it. So you're going?"

"Nope. No. Just going through my pack."

"That's the camera you use." he said slowly picking it up.

"Yeah."

"I've seen hour and hours of your footage. Hours of it. Inscriptions and ruins and artifacts."

"Cool huh?" he said taking the camera back.

"Uh….I was wondering if you get the opportunity, maybe you could point your camera at some action, just for a change."

"You see that's the thing. When there's action, I'm too busy to be pointing a camera. I'm busy running, shooting, trying to translate what bad guys are trying to say."

"It's just that you know, I think for, even though I've heard about these amazing things, my medium is visual. I can't tell a real story unless I have pictures. I'm not suggesting you put anybody in danger, but you know, if the opportunity arises, just for a second, just point your lens at something that moves." he said slowly backing out of the room.

"All right. But I'm not really scheduled to go on a mission off world for another few days." Daniel said looking at his watch.

"No, no, no. If it's there, shoot it."

"Right."

"Just not the inscriptions all the time. Just some action would be good. Action." he said as he passed by the doorway and out of Daniels view.

Daniel stuffed his pack a little harder than usual after Emmet left.

Down on level B-3 Carter was still at work on the Goa'uld probe. With Ford's help they had gotten a visual on a computer screen finally. She was working inside it when Daniel walked in.

"Hey."

"Hey, one second."

"You wanted me to translate something?" he said putting his elbows on the table.

"I tried but couldn't figure it out. Only bits and pieces. We haven't really gotten the screen clear enough for me to translate accurately." Ford said.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to get the interface connection more stable." she said still tinkering with it. "SG-13 really kicked the crap out of this thing. The system log seems to be isolated on a separated crystal from memory control."

"I heard that they knocked a wall over on it."

"Really?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah. That's what the Colonel of SG-13 said." Ford said as Carter shook her head.

"You know, Bregman actually had the nerve to suggest that all that archive footage I gave him was boring." Daniel said changing the subject.

They both gave him slightly sympathetic looks.

"Okay, here's what really bugs me. The only reason he is here is because this President knows he's on his way out and he knows it, right. He just doesn't want to look bad when and if the Stargate program goes public. It's not about truth, it's about political posturing."

"Man he really grilled me on that." Sam said. She was still working on the busted insides.

"About whether or not the Stargate program should go public?"

"Yeah."

"What did you say?"

"I babbled incoherently."
"I mean could you imagine if it did."

"I try not to think about it."

"Looks like you got it Sam." Ford said pointing at the screen which changed from looking like a aerial view of some terrain to symbols, Goa'uld transmission symbols. They looked at it while Daniel tried to translate.

She moved over grabbing what looked to be a joystick and shifted it around clearing up the picture.

"There."

"It's mostly just technical stuff."

"Anything jump out at you?"

He touched the screen. "Well, here's where it encountered SG-13. Uh-oh."

"What uh-oh?" Sam said.

Ford looked closer seeing it as well.

"Oh no." he said sounding like Tim Taylor from Home Improvement.

"What?" Sam asked.

"Well, after it engaged shields and weapons it activated a long range communicator."

"We got to inform Hammond, now. The Goa'uld know someone is there." Ford said.

"Let's go." Sam said nodding to them as they all left the room.

"Colonel Dixon, this is General Hammond. We have reason to believe that the Goa'uld probe send out a subspace transmission prior to your disabling it." Hammond said through the communications line. They dialed up the planet SG-13 was on right after the three came in telling what they learned from the probe. "I'm ordering you to return to Stargate command immediately."

Colonel Dixon was sitting down on some rocks while the scientists was still looking things over. The other two were scouting around elsewhere.

"Roger that sir. Estimated arrival time is fifteen minutes. Dixon out." he said getting up and going to the scientists. "Pack it up doctor, we are going home."

The doctor looked up from what he was doing and shrugged a sigh of frustration as Dixon called the other two.

"Wells, Bosworth."

"Wells here." he said into his com unit as they walked along near a hill.

"Bring it home boys, we're bugging out." Colonel Dixon said.

"Roger that. We're moving out." he said.

"It's about time." Bosworth said when a staff blast hit Wells in the back.

Bosworth got down next to Wells and fired his MP-5.

"We're taking fire! Wells has been hit!" he yelled through his com unit.

"Get to the gate!" Dixon said to the doctor. "SG niner requesting assistance." he said running with the doctor.

Janet was going through her medial logs about Colonel O'Neill to Emmet on camera. Nothing that breached protocol or privacy. Emmet was having trouble understanding some of what O'Neill went through.

"Unscheduled off world activation. Repeat. Unscheduled off world activation."

"Is that an unusual thing?"

"No that happens from time to time." Janet said.

"And what does it mean?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"You got that announcement in the clear?' he asked the camera man.

"Yeah we're good sir."

"Okay. And thank you Dr. Fraiser."

He sent the camera crew on there way to go look things over seeing as he wanted to talk to Janet in private. He asked her if she would have lunch with him in the mess hall.

"Wells is alive, but he's hurt badly and he can't be moved." the SG-13 doctor was saying to Hammond.

"How many Jaffa?" Jack asked coming into the room.

"I don't know."

"Five, ten, an hundred what?"

"Colonel Dixon said there were six of them. They were able to fend them off and their holding position protecting Wells."

"Did the Jaffa come through the gate?" Hammond asked.

"No they had to come by ship. SG-3 was covering the gate."

"The gate's clear?" Jack asked.

"Half of SG-3 were still there when I left."

"General?"

"Take SG-5 and 7 and take Doctor Fraiser."

"Thank you sir." Jack said running out.

"Colonel?"

"I know it sounds like an ambush to me too but there's nothing we can do right."

"Right go!"

"Unscheduled off world activation. Repeat. Unscheduled off world activation!"

"What now?" Hammond said rushing down.

As Hammond came into the control room after telling Jack to continue after he started back into the room, the airman on duty said it was SG-1's Iris code, though a old one.

"SG-1? What the….open it! Security to the gate room!"

The Iris opened and at first nothing happened. After a few seconds a lady in a red suit came flying through and rolled as she hit the ramp. She stopped short of the wall. Another lady, a white fox came through in a SGC off world uniform and rolled stopping just off the ramp. One more person came through as the gate shut down. This guy was in a large black coat and bounced off the railing of the ramp and rolled down the rest of the way badly.

"That certainly felt like homecoming." Ford said rolling over groaning as he shifted to allow ribs to repair themselves.

As he rolled onto his back, he found himself staring at the barrel of a MP-5 and into the eyes of a really surprised airman. Carter was trying to sit up seeing she was on her tail. Melissa sat against the wall rubbing her head as she blinked.

"Hey guys. What's up? Wait a minute….Lieutenant Rogers? Hey, how's the home life? That money helped didn't it?"

"Mr. Primus? But how?" he asked really confused.

Rogers happened to be the guy holding the gun on the blue fox. His voice was almost enough to identify him as Ford. The clothes and coat looked right, but the body.

"Airman! Do you know who this is?" Hammond said coming down.

"Hey General! Permission to get off the floor sir. Major Carter would like to do the same." he said seeing Carter was wanting up.

"Major Carter?" he said really confused.

"We….um…..long story sir. Can we get up?"

He nodded slowly but had everyone keep the guns on the three. Carter didn't object as her guns and weapons were taken away. Ford wasn't searched seeing as a six foot plus tall blue fox looked dangerous. Especially in the black coat.

"I can prove myself with one real thing General."

"Which is?"

Ford slowly opened his coat and asked Rogers reach behind him. Roger's looked over at Hammond who nodded. Most of the guns turned to him including the large mounted fifty millimeter. Roger reached behind pulling out the large gun. It was definitely Ford's gun. No one else had a gun like that and it was extremely heavy.

"Maybe an alternate universe thing sir." some soldier said.

"I thought about that airman."

"This is Ford's gun sir. I've had a chance to see it up close before. He also mentioned about helping me with some financial problems several months ago when he was on the floor here sir. Only Ford could know that."

Janet and Emmet were talking as they ate when an airman came in.

"Excuse me ma'am. You're required in the ready room immediately."

"Okay." she said wiping her mouth and saying goodbye to Emmet. Emmet half got out of his chair as she left.

"Let's go gentlemen." Tom said making the camera crew leave as SG-1 and the other two started coming by.

"This is all because I wanted an aerial survey." Daniel said he said putting a camouflaged bandanna.

"Not your fault Daniel." Ford said.

"It took me too long to figure out the probes sent a transmission." Sam said.

"Not your fault either Sam."

"None of that matters now." Jack said.

Episode-----HEROS part two

SG-1 came into the gate room as Hammond was still figuring out who these people were and where these people came from. Both Ford's got a strange buzz and sneezed.

"Every time." the human Ford said wiping his nose with a handkerchief.

"Where did that come from?" the Fox Ford said.

Ford saw his gun being held by Rogers and he reached behind his back pulling his out to make sure he had it. He walked past everyone grabbing it from the startled Rogers.

"Be careful wi….Whoa!"

"How did…whoa!!!"

Both Ford's looked at each other.

"General Hammond. We have to go." Colonel O'Neill said.

The gate had been activated going to the planet SG-13 was on while Hammond was figuring out who these people were.

"Sir? What's going on?" the Fox Carter asked seeing the human Ford and her human self.

Jack made it quick updating them on what happened. Everyone could tell it was Ford's voice and Carter's voice. Especially after they showed there I.D. cards and rattled off their pass codes. The Fox Carter mentioned something to the human Carter which made the human Carter believe she was Samantha Carter, but how was in question.

"I'm pretty sure that they are who they seem to be sir. I advise letting them come with us. Hell, if this guy is Ford, two are better than one." Jack said.

"Go. We'll be waiting here for you to bring them back, everyone back."

"Thanks sir. We'll explain everything when we get back and have a few questions our own." the Fox Carter said taking her gun back.

Ford grabbed one of the gun's not sure which was which until the human Ford took it back giving him the other one. They all went through quickly minus Melissa who was still standing next to the wall. She said she didn't want to go fight. Besides that, she wasn't dressed for it anyway.

"What's going on? I thought you guys were scheduled to get shots of the gate?" Emmet said as the alarms went off. He was headed toward the gate room seeing a crowd but not being able to see much more than that.

"We got bumped again." one of the camera guys said picking up the equipment.

"Something's up. Something big."

"You just missed SG-1 going off to the gate room." Tom said.

"You get it on tape?"

"It's unauthorized." Tom said.

"On going activity I know, but SG-1?"

"Yes."

"Doctor Jackson said he wasn't due to go off world for a couple of days. What changed?"

"I don't know, but it happens all the time." Tom said.

"You said it was something big?"

"Something big happens all the time." Tom said as another SG team started going by. Janet was with them.

He followed the team having the film crew go with. He saw Fraiser and called out.

"I'm sorry but I have to go." she said entering the room. Emmet and his team were blocked from entering.

"You're not allowed Mr. Bregman and you know that." Tom said.

He sighed giving up yelling or arguing.

An interview with Major Carter, in the control room still was being watched as they edited things out. Emmet and his crew were looking through the tapes.

"There are days when you feel the pressure. I'm trained to handle it."

"With all due respect Major, how can anyone be trained to handle and alien encounter where the stakes are, from what I understand, the survival of the planet."

"I think it is important to remember that it is not just about this planet. Countless planets throughout the galaxy, people who originated here on Earth, have been enslaves for thousands of years. I mean we are taking the fight back to the Goa'uld on their behalf."

"So how do you think the people of America are going to react, the people of the world are going to react when they find out that we are in a war with an alien race, that has been waged without there knowledge?"

"I don't think that is for me….are you suggesting that we shouldn't be doing this?"

"I'm not asking if we should not defend ourselves, I'm asking your opinion Major?"

"I don't think that's for me to um.."

Emmet told the man to stop the tape.

"You see this is not her fault. I backed her into a corner and I do not want this thing to look like it's antagonistic."

"Okay, so lose this?"

"I don't know, just skip ahead to the after the apology." he said touching a screen with his pen. "There. That's it."

"Major, one day this secret will all come out. How do you think the world will react?" Emmet said on the tape.

"Much better question." Emmet said scratching his head.

"I honestly don't know. I hope they can appreciate everything we've been through, what it all means for our continuing existence. In light of that I hope they understand why the people in charge choose to keep it a secret as long as they have."

"Is it difficult to keep the secret?"

"Yeah. With all the things I do around here, that thing is the hardest. Sometimes you look at the things going here on Earth and it makes you want to scream. You want to tell people it is so much bigger than what they think." she said on the tape.

"Okay stop it right there and go right to Dr. Jackson saying whether I was right." Emmet said to the guy working on the computer. "And you're going to put me into the Carter interview, the second half, especially the line is it difficult to keep the secret."

"Okay."

"All right move."

"Whether I was right or not doesn't matter given the scope of the truth." Daniel said from the tape.

"And the truth matters to you?"

"To everyone I hope."

"And what truth Dr. Jackson? To the people here on Earth or people on other planets?"

"We are talking people here. People on other planets are no less human, people who have their freedom usurped. People being forced to worship false gods to master enslavement. People on other planets who aren't even human at all and are being used as slaves."

"What about the people here on Earth? Are they entitled to the truth, do you think?"

"Is that what this is about?"

"This? I'm not in control of when this airs. Do you think this should get out? If it were up to you." Emmet asked on the tape.

"They cut together." Emmet said to the camera guy as the video continued.

"No that's a complicated issue." Daniel said.

"No Dr. Jackson, I'm asking you, do you think that people on Earth should know about this, right now?"

"What do you think about it?"

"I think the people don't care much about what I think."

"Okay cut that line. Nobody cares that nobody cares what I think." Emmet said as the guy started typing. "Lose it."

"It's gone." he said after a moment of typing.

"Moving on." Emmet said.

"I haven't done what you've done Dr. Jackson."

"Well I think it's a relative question, depending on your point of view." Daniel said on the tape.

"Stop it. This is terrible." he said shaking his head.

"I think it's pretty interesting stuff, I think you did a good job…"

"Yak, yak, yak. A bunch of talking heads is what it is." he said waving at the screen in frustration.

'Personally I could watch Major Carter's head all day…."

"We need pictures, we need images to tell the story." Emmet said ignoring him. "What these people are doing here, good or bad, makes the lunar landing look like we were touching our toes in the ocean and we have nothing to show for it. Yak, yak, yak, nothing. Where's the equivalent shot of Sheppard playing golf on the moon? Unbelievably boring." he said throwing his hands up in more frustration.

As soon as they exited the gate Jack had one SG team stay and guard the gate while the rest went in. The other Carter was ordered to stay near the DHD and guard it with the other Ford. He pulled out his shotgun and Desert Eagle but not before handing his personal cannon over.

"I can't use this anymore, so you can have it. To loud." the Fox Ford said touching his ear.

Ford understood taking it and heading off with Jack. He remember something he heard about when he was back home, in his universe, and took off with Daniel and Janet. Carter got near the DHD and took shots when a Jaffa got close enough to hit. Fox Ford closed his coat and watched them leave taking out a Jaffa he saw coming with the Desert Eagle. They could all hear Ford fire a couple of rounds from the personal cannon.

Jack, Teal'c and Major Carter moved in behind rocks as they fired at the approaching Jaffa. Explosions and energy fire hit the ground or past them as they took positions or better positions. Other SG team members were firing at advancing Jaffa or at the cargo ships over head.

"Hi Jack! Thanks for coming!" Colonel Dixon said firing. Jack just got down next to him behind a rock firing several burst from his PC-90.

"I was told you said there were six Jaffa!!! Where did you learn to count?!!!" Jack yelled back.

Jaffa were being taken out quickly as they advanced on everyone's position. Carter took out a few with a burst of her rifle as Teal'c blasted a couple with his staff weapon. A Goa'uld ship flew by to their right dropping several bombs lighting up the area with loud explosions and catching the ground on fire.

"The ships didn't start coming down until you radioed that you were through the gate!" Colonel Dixon said changing clips.

More fire erupted around them as other teams laid in on the approaching Jaffa. Teal'c took another out nearby. Jack fired again then had to get down to change his clip.

"Something tells me they're throwing this party in your honor Jack!" Dixon yelled. "Got those clips?"

Jack reached into his vest pulling a few out as his com unit activated.

"Colonel O'Neill! Our position is being compromised! We won't be able to hold the gate for very long!!!"

He grabbed his unit.

"It doesn't matter! We won't be able to hold this position for very long! Where's that other Ford and Carter?!"

"Running out of ammo!" was replied back.

"Great." Jack said as his com opened again.

"Colonel. I need more time to stabilize this patient. He can't be moved yet." Frasier said.

"Sir! We've got to fall back." Carter yelled firing.

A soldier nearby aimed a bazooka and fired. The shell flew several yards and landed behind a pile of rocks that some Jaffa had taken refuge behind. They were blown clear of it as were the rocks. Jack started aiming again when he saw a Jaffa creeping through a bunch of bushes. He got up to move over when a staff blast caught him in the lower left side. He fell back and his hat came off as he hit the ground

"Sir!" Carter yelled running over.

Teal'c looked over from his position seeing Jack fall. His vest smoking. Another Goa'uld ship came flying by dropping more bombs as Jack hit the ground. Dixon looked over at O'Neill as Carter came up checking on him. Jaffa started coming quicker but they were repelled quickly by cover fire.

In the gate room the Iris was closed and the Walter was showing Emmet around. The camera was recording.

"That's fifty caliber right? You get really shaken up if you don't know what your doing?" Emmet said looking at the stationary gun.

"All are guys are trained to handle that kind of torque."

"I'm just kidding. What is this? Get a shot of that. Can you explain how this operates?" he said as they walked over to the wall where a couple of tall computers were.

"Sure our guys like to play a little space invaders when there's not much going on."

"Ha, ha. Funny."

"No obviously I'm kidding." he said putting his hands out. "Certainly it would be completely inappropriate for an airman to play games on active duty."

"I got it. Okay. Can we move on?"

"Sure."

"What is this on the wall?"

"Right over here is the manual override for the Iris."

"Are you kidding?" Emmet asked touching the box.

The alarms went off suddenly.

"No I'm serious. Incoming wormhole!!"

"What does that mean?" Emmet asked.

Tom got in front of the camera signaling to cut it off. "We're going to have to leave now!"

"Shoot it!"

When the guy started to put the camera down Emmet took it and aimed it at the gate.

"I can do it."

"Remove that camera crew!! Now!!!" Hammond yelled from above in the control room. Several soldiers entered the room shoving him and the other two out.

"We're under fire and have several casualties sir!! And we're hot!!" Carter yelled, her voice coming through the radio.

"Open the Iris!" Hammond ordered as the door closed keeping the camera from seeing inside.

"This way sir." Tom said pointing.

Emmet put the camera by his side pointing toward the gate room as he walked away, it was still on.

"Medical team to the gate room!" Hammond ordered.

As Emmet and them walked away the camera picked up the door opening and lots of medical commands being yelled as people started coming out of the room on stretchers. Tom looked down seeing the camera on and turned it off.

"Sorry about that. Here take the damned thing." he said giving it forcefully back to his camera man.

In another section of the facility Tom was with the camera crew still as they were being moved.

"In the future sir could you leave the camera work to me."

"Yeah, I'll be leaving it to you." he said seeing Carter and several other's including a man in a black coat coming down the hall.

He looked worse than the rest since his coat was smoking badly and had burnt areas. Many burnt area's.

"Here she comes. Don't look at him, we're cleared to film so let's go!" Emmet shouted as they approached.

He started down the hall motioning for them to follow.

"Bring that. Bring the sound! Major what happened?" he asked getting near her as she was walking by.

"Please." she said putting her hand up.

She was crying and trying not to at the same time. The guy in the black coat didn't look like he was doing well either, emotionally wise. He looked like he was in more pain.

"No, I know that at least one person was injured back there and I want to say.."

"Look leave me alone and shut that damn camera off!" she said pointing at it as she stormed past.

She and the others walked through a passage and he was cut off from going with.

I now know why the expression, God I hate the press is said.

Yeah Herc, I know to.

"I just wanted to say how sorry I am!" he said as he was stopped.

A couple of guards and a few doctors were there too keeping him back. Emmet looked at the guard then at his crew. The guy holding the camera turned it off.

"Why is that camera off?!! You don't know what you're doing here?! Maybe I know what I'm doing here?!" he yelled first pointing at them then at himself. "These people are out there risking their lives for us. I want to see what they're going through, even if they don't want us to see it. And I want other people to see it. What do you think they're doing out there? Protecting and defending the world of secrecy. That's the world of MAO, the world of Stalin, the world of secret police, secret trials, secret….secret deaths!" he said waving his hands around in anger.

"You force the press into the cold and all you get is lies and innuendo, and nothing, nothing is worse for a free society than a press that is in service to the military and the politicians. You turn that camera off when I tell you to turn it off!!" he yelled loudly at the guy. Everyone was looking at him still.

"You think I give a damn about what you think about me! You serve the people? So do I!" he said pointing at them.

He walked past everyone quickly going to opposite direction of Carter and the others. Everyone started dispersing after that.

Later toward night time Emmet was sitting at a table in the mess hall area while one of the janitors was mopping the floor. He was just sitting there thinking. His hands rubbing his forehead.

"Hi. How's it going? I don't suppose you know about anything that is going on around here?" he started asking as the janitor walked away.

The two camera crew guys walked as Emmet was asking his question.

"There were multiple injuries and at least two people were hit with staff blast. Actually full contact hits. That man that had the smoking coat was hit numerous times, but it's normal for him and he wasn't injured." one of the guys said sitting down across from Emmet. The other guy sat down next to Emmet.

"How do you know?" Emmet asked. "What was that guys name?"

"There was a fire fight of some kind. That guy was Ford Primus. We aren't allowed to ask anything about him or talk to him no matter what."

"Great. Another cover-up." Emmet muttered.

"Apparently one of the teams got ambushed so they sent in SG-1, SG-5, and Dr. Frasier and a medical team to extract them."

"Some one from the original team must have been badly hurt otherwise Frasier wouldn't have gone in at all." Emmet said.

"According to the nurses there was possibly one casualty."

"Casualty? Did somebody die?" Emmet asked.

"She wouldn't say who."

"Well, Carter's a seasoned officer and she wouldn't be crying unless…" he said looking up at Tom who just came in and came to their table. "I mean, we heard that somebody actually may have died. What have you got?"

"O'Neill." Tom said looking upset by trying to keep his professional composure.

The table occupants looked at each other a moment.

"You sure?" Emmet asked Tom.

"No. I heard O'Neill is on a gurney. He took a blast. He's not moving."

Several government cars came through the archway into the mountain. Hammond was writing on a report when a knock was at his door.

"General Hammond. Mr. Woolsey." Tom said opening the door letting a slightly bald man with a blue suit and glasses come in and was carrying a large black folder.

(Author's note: The actor is the guy who played the ships Doctor in the Star Trek Voyager series.)

Hammond closed the file he was working in and set it aside.

"General." Woolsey said handing a file from his folder to him.

Hammond picked it up and promptly dropped it on his desk..

"I already know these orders originated from Senator Kinsey's office. Why don't you tell me the rest."

"As Chairman of the Intelligence Oversight Committee, Senator Kinsey has asked that I review your command decision regarding the recent attempted rescue of SG-13."

"Attempted?"

"As I understand it there were several casualties sir. I hardly call it a success."

"My command decisions are reviewed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the President of the United States. As of yet, I haven't even filed a preliminary mission report. When I do, you're welcome to read it." he said with a anger laced voice.

"I have been authorized to begin a full investigation into the matter. As part of a larger examination of SGC strategic policies that the committee is preparing for the President. I've enclosed a list of people I will be interviewing and a list of materials I will require. I expect your full corporation." Woolsey said turning around after been done. Tom opened the door and let him out.

"General." Tom said as Hammond nodded to him leaving.

Hammond walked into Carter's lab as she and Ford were talking. They stopped seeing him.

"How are you two holding up?"

"I'll….be fine." Ford said slowly. He didn't sound fine though and had teary eyes.

"I'll be okay sir." Carter said.

"Did you talk to Agent Barret?" Hammond asked putting his hand on the table.

"He said as far as he knows, Woolsey is clean." she said with a small nod. "But he did say that he is as sharp as they come. He's got a MBA and a LLB from Harvard, he was lead counsel for the Army Core for Engineers for ten years and later sat on the Defense Policy board. He was asked to resign last year when it was disclosed that he had financial ties to a large corporation that had been awarded over $800 million dollars in private sector defense contracts by the Pentagon. He's been with the N.I.D. since then. Barret faxed me this internal N.I.D. memo that Woolsey recently wrote. I think you should read it." she said handing it to Hammond.

Her voice somewhat betrayed the fact she was really sad.

"Looks like somebody I saw back home or recently. Won't help us here though." Ford muttered.

"What do we do sir?" she asked after a moment.

"Just tell the truth." he said closing the folder.

"Yes sir."

He nodded and started to leave.

"Sir. How are you holding up?" she asked as he started to leave.

He turned back to them and breathed a few times before speaking with a slightly cracked voice.

"You try to tell yourself that ever man and woman under your command means the same to you. Each has to be equally valuable if you're going to make the kind of decisions that effect their lives the way I have to. But you can't help it, you get closer to some people…you don't want to lose anyone," he said pausing.

Carter nodded understanding as was Ford. He hadn't moved from the stool he was sitting on and was wiping his eyes.

"Well…." he said turning away and leaving and closing the door.

"I tried Sam. I was there. I was there! And I failed. She asked me not….not to…"

"I know. Daniel told me what happened." she said also tearing up.

"I wasn't fast enough." he said breaking up finally as he lost control. They held each other glad for the privacy.

Much later……

In a secure room Woolsey was set up to interview the people he requested. He was looking through a folder as the door was opened by an airman letting Major Carter in.

"Have a seat Major." he said. "Let me explain why I'm here."

"I know why you are here." she said sitting down.

A camera was recording everything across from the small table on its tripod. He came around the table to his seat and activated the camera. A light was in the middle of the room lighting up the table, mostly.

"I believe classified military operations require oversight."

"This isn't the first time we've been scrutinized by the N.I.D."

"I know the stakes around here are always high, but there were serious causalities in this instance." he said not sitting down. "Someone of great value to this program is most likely dead."

"I know that. And don't dare think that anyone is taking it lightly." she said forcefully.
"You're a seasoned combat officer. This isn't the first time you've lost a close colleague." he said getting water from a table nearby.

"I just want to make sure, it wasn't avoidable in this case." he said putting the water on the table. "Despite what you might think, the only reason I'm here is to get the truth."

"Did you have a question?" Carter was angry, but kept herself in check.

Woolsey reached down activating a tape recorder.

"A few. What made you think it was safe for SG-13 to remain on the planet?" he asked walking around the table

"That's not really my call." Daniel said.

"But you thought it was worth risking the lives of an SG team to get an aerial survey of these ruins?"

"The device was damaged. It took awhile to get the proper interface and the data crystal contained and enormous amount of information." Carter said.

"So you would have me believe that this was an acceptable risk?"

"This is what we do?" Daniel said plainly.

"Make bad decisions."

"Yeah, it's pretty easy to predict the score after the game is over and if we found powerful weapons in those ruins capable of defending this planet against the Goa'uld we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?" he said smartly.

"But you didn't and we are. In fact had there been powerful weapons in those ruins, they would now be in the hands of the Goa'uld. In fact this mission was botched from the beginning to the end." he said leaning over the table.

He said the same thing to Carter.

"We don't leave people behind. You can't ask airmen, soldiers, human beings to risk their lives without backup, without knowing that we would be there for them." Carter said forcefully.

"You yourself have been asked to go into combat were you knew there was no backup. That is always a possibility on any mission that goes through the Stargate, is it not?" he said moving from the front of the table and moving around again. "And please Major, no one likes to admit it, but there are military situations in which the life of one human being has to be considered an acceptable loss."

"That wasn't the case here." Carter said looking at him.

"No in this case it was just, dumb luck that many more lives were not lost." he said throwing his hands in the air as he moved back to the front.

"I would say that it was skill, training and fortitude."

This guy was pushing the wrong buttons. If this guy pulls this with Ford, he'll probably kill him.

"Based on your expertise's in Goa'uld tactics was it not reasonable to conclude that this was an ambush?"

Teal'c was there now and not talking. Woolsey was just standing next to the table as Teal'c looked ahead.

"While you are not an official member of our military, and not eligible for court martial, I shouldn't have to remind you that you are expected to follow the orders of your superior officers."

"As I was doing on the day in question." he said.

"If you fail to testify here today, I will have you jailed. Until such time that you do." he said leaning into Daniel's face.

Daniel picked up the small mike on the table and talking into it.

"You fire me, you throw me in jail. You do what you want." he said getting up and leaving.

"Have a seat Mr. Primus."

Ford sat down being quiet about it.

"It's Ford or nothing."

"Fine." he said sitting down and looking through a file. "I don't pretended to understand what you are or anything really about you. You're an enigma that I have yet to completely figure out. Your files are more closely guarded that of the President and this facility. Even Kinsey has trouble with your file, and you personally. I don't know what it is, but he has a lot of distain and hostility towards you. What I have found is that you should have been able to…."

"I wasn't fast enough dammit! I already told Hammond what happened!"

"Fast enough? I've seen some of the mission reports that have been done with you lately that a great many people have been saved because of you and your unique capabilities. I have to question where those capabilities were on that day."

"What the hell does that mean?" Ford said leaning over the table.

"I am here to understand what happened on that day." he said not intimidated.

"I heard already. What's the question?"

"Simple and to the point. Like Major Carter. First do you think that this mission should have took place?"

"You want my opinion? Even with the former rank I used to have," Woolsey raised an eyebrow at that. "I still would have authorized the rescue mission. I've seen the enemies tactics, know the enemies tactics! Other than the fact whoever gets injured out there or possibly gets killed, you don't leave them behind. The Goa'uld can bring people back and torture them for information or just torture for fun. That is why I believe that, even though the odds were against us, that this rescue should and did take place."

He stabbed the table with a finger hard enough it almost knocked over the water as he continued.

"Had General Hammond ordered me to do so, I would have done it solo!!"

"What would have you done if it was Major Carter?"

"What?" he hissed out real harshly.

Oh no. He brought up the wrong subject. Try to stay calm Ford.

Calm?!

"If it she was hurt out there instead of that soldier, or if she was injured while you were helping Doctor Frasier. Would you have left to save her or gone on a rampage as I have heard a reference to?"

Ow. That pushed the wrong button. Herc thought. Remember, he's doing a job, a despised one, but still his job.

Keep me from killing him.

Ford clenched his fist making them pop audibly as he stood up. Woolsey looked up from his folder seeing a extremely pissed off man. Ford brought his right arm down on the table snapping it in half as he rose sending the papers and other items crashing to the floor.

"You son of a bitch! I know where to draw the line!! I wouldn't leave someone like that that was injured unless ordered to go! That question was way out of line!! I was providing backup where it was needed most!" he yelled slashing his right arm out in a gesture making Woolsey back up a few steps.

The guard came in almost right at the time Ford smashed the table.

"I'm leaving before I do something I regret! Don't call me back in for this bullshit interview." he said walking out passed the guard who looked ready to call for backup.

Daniel was typing on his computer when Emmet walked in. Daniel's camera was sitting out near his pack on the table.

"Doctor Jackson?"

"Yeah, it's not a good time right now."

"I've just been hearing bits and pieces of what happened, I was hoping you might be able to confirm some of it."

"Sorry." Daniel said still looking at his screen.

He walked in slowly and pointed at the camera.

"Did you…?"

Daniel looked up seeing the camera sitting out.

FLASHBACK………

Out on the field where the battle was taking place Daniel, Ford, and Janet were heading over to the man that was shot down recently. He was face down on the ground still.

"You're going to be alright Simon. Hang in there buddy! It will be over before you know it." Bosworth said to the guy on the ground. He saw Janet coming.

"Over here!!! Man down over here!!!"

Janet, Daniel and Ford came rushing up through the smoke as other soldiers ran by.

"Right here. There's a lot of blood coming from underneath him." he said standing up so the other three could get close.

"I'll cover you up on this ridge." he pointed taking off.

Ford was using both personal cannon's picking them off as he could.

"Yeah." Janet said pulling her pack off. Daniel got down next to the guy on the ground.

"I'm Doctor Janet Frasier! Can you hear me?" she said getting down as well.

"Yeah. I'm shot bad. I can't move! I can't feel my legs!!" he said. "I think it went right through me!"

"What's your name?' Daniel asked.

"I'm Senior Airmen Wells. Simon Wells. Am I going to die?" he said crying in pain and in panic.

"Not if I have anything to do with it. Okay we need to roll him over and stop the bleeding." she said to Daniel.

A few more loud shots made them jump slightly.

"Okay. Simon you hanging in there?"

"Yeah." he said through clenched teeth.

"Alright on three." she said moving to his head. Daniel was grabbing his feet.

"One, two, three!"

Simon yelled in pain as he was turned over. He was breathing harder and his voice was laced with pain.

"I'm Daniel Jackson."

"I know. SG-1!"

A couple more loud shots.

"You're going to be fine." Daniel said as Janet worked her magic.

"Son of a bitch! Came out of nowhere and shot me in the back." Wells said with anger.

"Let's talk about something else right now. Let's talk about, hey what's going on at home right now?"

"Ah….ah…my….my wife is pregnant."

Another couple loud shots.

"Yeah. Is that…is that your first?"

"Yeah."

"Congratulations."

He cried out as Janet messed with his wound.

"That's good. At least you felt that." she said with a raised voice.

Over the com line.

"Colonel O'Neil! Our position is being compromised! We're not going to be able to hold the gate very long!!"

"It doesn't matter!!! We're not going to be able to hold this position very long!!!" O'Neil's voice said.

Another loud shot.

Janet grabbed her com. "Colonel. I need more time to stabilize this patient. He can't be moved yet."

"Go without me! Leave me!!" Wells said.

"Nobody is going anywhere."

"I can't believe I'm not going to be able to see my son." Wells said, his voice cracking.

"Just stay focused." Daniel said holding a saline drip. "Stay focused. You know it's a boy you're going to have. Right?"

He nodded. "Tell me the truth. I'm not going to make it right?"

"You're going to be fine." Daniel said.

"Doctor Jackson! Please, please, please! Just let me tell my wife." he said grabbing Daniel with his right hand. The fear of dying in was in his voice.

"Let me tell my wife…" he started groaning again as pain hit him.

Daniel looked at Janet and she took the saline drip and put it on her shoulder holding it there with her head as Daniel got his video camera out. A few more loud shots.

"Okay. Okay."

"Breathe Simon." Janet said.

Daniel got it ready and pointed it at him.

"I said now is not a good time." Daniel said getting up from his computer and grabbing the camera off the table.

"You got something on tape didn't you?" Emmet said nodding his head.

"Get out. Get out." Daniel said moving forward making Emmet back up.

"Okay. I'm going alright." Emmet said turning around.

Daniel went back to his computer and picked the camera up. Emmet turned around near the door scratching his head.

"You know, I uh, I once did a piece on this war photographer, his name was Martin Krystovski, for about six months he was with this unit in Vietnam. And the day before he was scheduled to leave, the day before, he was out with the unit and it was just a routine patrol, and then suddenly the Lieutenant pulled him down. And Krystovski hadn't intended to take a picture at that moment, and his hands were on the camera, but he hit the ground so hard that it just went off. And the picture captured the Lieutenant…getting shot…in the head." he said gesturing with his hands.

Daniel had been listening but hadn't turned around and still didn't.

"And Krystovski said to me, he said, 'Well that bullet could have hit me, should have hit me.' And he never showed that picture to anyone. Not for twenty five years." Emmet said moving into the room going over to Daniel as he continued.

"But twenty five years later, he got up one morning and he looked at that picture, and he saw, something that wasn't….horrific. And he decided to tell the story because he realized that he hadn't accidentally taken a picture of a man dying. It was of a man saving his life."

"The picture I'm making, that I'm trying to make, is what you people do every single day in extreme circumstances." he said as Daniel finally looked over at him. "That no one can even imagine. I don't know what happened out there and I'm sorry about what happened, whatever it was. And if you did tape something of it. That's not going to change what it was. What will change is how you feel about it." Emmet said.

He slowly walked off and left the room. Daniel turned back around thinking.

Woosley was sitting at a new table, same room, and writing as Hammond entered the room.

"I've prepared a written testimony." Hammond said tossing onto the desk.

Woolsey looked up, not happy.

"This is your mission report." he said looking it over.

"I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone."

"Well then. I guess I'm done." he said putting the file in his black folder case.

"You'll be leaving then?"

"The President will have my preliminary report by the end of the week." he said writing. Hammond leaned over the table.

"I sure it will be every bit as interesting as your memo on economics on the SGC."

He looked up quickly.

"I won't bother asking how you got that."

"What was the dollar value you attributed to an SG team member?"

"You know damned well I was not pegging a value onto a person's life."

Hammond shook his head.

"It's a cold hard fact that it cost millions of dollars to train these men and women, and that is a fraction of the funds being subverted by the Pentagon for this operation." he stood up getting in Hammonds face. "I think it is reprehensible that the tax payers of this country are paying enormous sums of money to wage a war they know nothing about, and getting little if anything in return. If the Stargate's existence were public knowledge and your actions were being judged in a court of public opinion…"

"You're the one's suggesting that sending a rescue team worth $27 million dollars to save the life of one man is a bad business decision."

"You're putting words in my mouth." he said turning away. He turned back as Hammond spoke with force.

"You said it in black and white." Hammond said tapping the table with a finger. "And I don't think you would dare do such a thing if this wasn't a classified operation. The President has asked a documentary team to get to the truth of what's going on around here. So why don't we just go down and give them the whole truth as you see it, right now?"

Woolsey closed his folders, picked them up and came around the table.

"That memo is classified. This investigation is classified. If you so much as utter, a hint of either, I'll see your put away in a cold, dark place, for the rest of time." he said seeing Hammond's face change to extreme restraint.

He left leaving a very pissed off General that could do nothing about it.

Hammond came running through the hallway coming over to Tom after getting call Bregman was up to something.

"What is it Colonel?"

"Security caught Mr. Bregman trying to access the infirmary." Tom said as he saw a angry look come over Hammond face.

"He claims he was lost, but I've shown him all around this complex." he said as Hammond nodded. People were getting off the elevator behind them as they spoke.

"Get rid of him." he said obviously upset.

"Sir? Have our orders changed sir?"

"Toss him out on his ass Colonel. If he refuses, have Ford do it personally." he said practically smiling at the thought.

Tom went back to the room where the camera crew was staying and told them to pack it up. He sat down waiting as Bregman came in.
"What's this? What's going on?"

"Mr. Bregman, General Hammond has ordered you off the base." Tom said.

"No, no. He can't do that." he said closing a box.

"He is a General." one of the guys said.

"Would you stop packing." Emmet said leaving the room.

"Keep packing." the Colonel ordered.

Hammond was working with one of the airman when Emmet burst into the room.

"You have one hour to get off of my base and out of my sight forever." Hammond said.

"Whose authority?"

"My superiors."

"You think I stepped over the line. I don't. I just want to make a phone call."

"Call whoever you want on your way out. There's a pay phone on the surface."

"I was actually talking about your red one." he said pointing at it.

"You have some nerve Mr. Bregman."

"So my mother used to say."

Bregman moved to grab it and Hammond stopped him by covering it with his hand as he stood up.

The had a short staring contest then Bregman turned around almost slamming the door as he went. Hammond looked over at Walter and sighed.

Daniel was still working on his computer when Hammond came in.

"I've been ordered to turn over the tape."

Daniel turned away going to get it.

"Look. I'm not happy about it either, I could fight it, the tape could get lost or accidentally erased. These things happen. But I'm not going to do that." he said as Daniel sat down.

"You know I had that little weasel of a man thrown out of here, but in light of the N.I.D.'s latest investigation I'm beginning to think that there should be a record of what goes on here beyond classified reports."

"And you trust Bregman to portray that?"

"At the moment. I have no choice."

In the briefing room, Daniel walked in dropping the tape on the table. It had P3X-666 wrote on the side. He walked out quickly as Bregman picked it up and left quickly under Hammond's scrutinizing gaze. He went straight to the room that they were using to edit and make the tapes they've been working on.

"Hey, hey, I got the tape. Put it on." Emmet said tossing it to the guy working on the computer. He closed the door as the guy put it in.

"Preliminary mission files have just been declassified…" Tom said entering the room as Emmet sat down. He was holding a blue envelope.

"Hang on just a minute." Emmet said looking at the playing tape.

On the tape it showed Wells face as he spoke to it to make a message for his wife.

"I'm so sorry about this." he said. "I love you so much. God I just wanted.." he started screaming in pain and loud shots were heard in the background. "Oh God!!! Oh God!!! Shut it off!!!!! Shut it off!!!! I don't want her to see me die!!!!"

"Simon!!! Simon!!!! Look at me!! You're not going to die!!!' Janet said holding his head. "I did not come all the way out here for nothing!!"

They saw her turn and yell at someone off screen.

"Enough! That is too loud Ford!!! Use something else!"

He dropped the guns reaching for his revolver. The camera didn't show Ford though.

"Now I've stemmed the bleeding. We're going to get you on a stretcher and you'll be back with your family in no time. Okay? Now you hang in there airmen!"

"Yes ma'am!" Wells said.

"DOWN!!" Ford yelled seeing a Jaffa coming off the hill.

He hadn't gotten his revolver out yet and loaded. He looked down quickly and kicked his pistol into the air, grabbed it and fired several times. A staff blast fired at the same instant Ford hit the guy. Janet was blasted back from Wells landing on the ground face up.

"Oh God! What happened?!! Is she hit?" Wells asked.

Machine gun fire erupted as cover came. Ford dropped his gun rushing to Frasier. Daniel was checking her too.

"Janet?!!!" Jackson yelled. "I need a medic!!! Frasier's been hit!!! I need a medic!!!!"

"Is she okay?" Wells asked. He couldn't move to see.

"Sierra gulf niner. Doctor Frasier's been hit positions…..ah…I need a medic!!" Daniel yelled through his com as Ford tried to help her.

Tom was pulling a file out of the orange manila envelope as the screen kept playing. This time the camera did show Ford working on her. His coat smoking from several places.

Ford was holding his hand over the wound where she had been hit just above the left side of her waist. Her eyes were open but she wasn't responsive. Ford was then hit in the shoulder and chest making him fall back. Daniel grabbed the machine gun and shot the guy then went to applying pressure to her wound. Ford hadn't gotten up yet as the camera man turned off the tape. Tom spoke still holding the file.

"O'Neill's alive and so is Airmen Wells. Frasier is still an unknown. They had to bring her back from flat lining twice. She's currently in a coma and doesn't look like she's coming out of it." Tom said slowly.

He turned around leaving quickly afterwards.

"Sir. I heard you were up and around." Sam said coming into a room where Jack was at.

He was sitting on the bed putting a black shirt on over the large bandage wrapped around his middle. His face showed some pain and sadness to it.

"Yeah. Still a little tender but they said I could go home."

"You're lucky that staff blast hit you were it did. Those new vest inserts work well." she said calmly.

"Didn't help Frasier much." he said slowly.

"Not really."

"It's my fault. I wasn't fast enough." Ford said sitting down on the end of the bed. Jack got up and got his on duty coat.

"I heard what happened out there Ford. You did the best you could."

"I failed to do my best! I got her killed. She told me to…"

"I heard. She's in a comma, which is better than dead. She has a chance." Jack said putting a hand on Ford's shoulder.

"I listened despite my better instincts. I dropped them and had nothing to protect anyone. I could have pulled one while holding the other or grabbed Wells's dropped weapon. Or…."

"You're not helping yourself of anyone else like this…."

"Dammit Jack I knew!! I knew it was coming!! Somehow I knew that this was going to happen and I failed to stop it." he said burying his face into his hands.

Jack and Carter sat on either side of him as he silently cried. The two also wiped their eyes.

"I failed." he muttered several times over.

Daniel walked into the infirmary going over to Airmen Wells's bed. Other patients were in beds being tended to by nurses and other orderlies as he walked by.

"Doctor Jackson…" Wells said turning his head.

"Hey. Please, just call me Daniel." he said pausing a moment. "So I hear you're going to make a full recovery."

"So they say." he said weakly.

"Talk to your wife?"

"Yeah."

"Never asked you when she was due?"

"Couple of weeks. I should be out of here by then."

"That's great." he said looking at the ground. "I just…uh…wanted to see how you were doing, so.."

He started walking away.

"She's dead because of me." he said sadly.

"No. She didn't die. Not yet and hopefully not at all. She was injured by that Jaffa that shot her. She was doing her job. The same way you were doing yours when a Jaffa shot you."

He sighed. "I can't make it feel right."

"Nothing about it was right. But it also wasn't your fault."

Wells nodded then closed his eyes to get some rest. Daniel patted him on the arm and left.

After seeing Jack and the brief talk, Carter was back in her office with Ford. Even though not being his fault, as everyone kept saying, he still felt guilty and kept beating himself up about it. She wanted him to stay near her since he said it helped him stay more focused and not fall apart or start destroying something's like he did in the gym. They needed to replace several bar bells plus a few weights he broke in half, a few holes in the walls, several mats and three punching bags. Hercules had several memories of things that had happened close to this situation and they kept coming up making it more difficult seeing as Herc threw and destroyed a few things once too.

Emmet walked into a empty medical room were the lights were practically off. He was looking for Daniel.

"Over here." Daniel said as Emmet started leaving.

"Oh…I didn't. I was told you would be in here Doctor Jackson."

"Yeah." he said from the dark corner of the room. He got up wiping his eyes.

"I just ah, came by to give this back to you." Emmet said placing the tape on the empty bed. "I'm not going to use it."

"Wait. I want you to." he said making Emmet turn around as he was about to leave the room.

"You know, I died in this room. Ascended." Daniel said walking back and forth beside the bed. "Doctor Fraiser did everything she could. I think she went three days without sleep. In the end she didn't want to let me go."

He stopped and thought a moment before going on.

"I owed, owe her……a lot more than I ever gave back. I thought a lot about what you said about Krystovski." Daniel said picking up the tape. "I think this shows what Janet Frasier was all about."

"Me too." Emmet said.

"I want people to know. Just in case." he said holding it out.

Emmet came over slowly taking it. He nodded walking away with it. Daniel looked up at the ceiling thinking. He stayed awhile longer as he sat down on the bed.

Emmet had just about finished his documentary and showed what he had done. Hammond thought it was a great job and admitted that he was wrong to try and stop the process. It was a shame that no one was going to see, Hammond had told Emmet. Emmet told him it needed one more thing to be finished.

"I'll get right on it." Hammond said with a chuckle.

Jack sat down in the briefing room and looked at the camera. The SGC insignia was on the wall behind him. One of the film crew put a mike on his lapel.

"Okay, um….guys. Tom." Emmet said taking a drink of coffee. He looked back seeing Tom coming up behind him.

"Emmet." Tom said.

"We ready? Sound?" Emmet said looking at the camera then his open folder. The camera guy nodded. "Okay….first question."

"Okay." Jack said. It was oblivious that Hammond had ordered him to do this.

The day after the Emmet and his crew left, the animal versions of Ford and Carter along with the human Melissa told their story to SG-1 and Hammond. Due to everything that was going on with the camera crews they were told to stay in private quarters and to call if they needed anything. With the exception of Melissa who was escorted around seeing as she was human, now. Once it was over they were allowed out to other places. As strange as their adventure away from home was, the animal versions of Carter and Ford knew that things were not going to work out staying at the base, especially with there being two sets of them. Ford and Carter decided to go live with the animal race on Melissa's planet, helping them with technology there and with the possibility of it being a third base site. Melissa said she was going with them to explain to her Uncle what had happened then come back here to help fight the Goa'uld. Hammond didn't object. They were surprised to hear that Lara stayed behind with the Doctor. At least they didn't have to deliver her message. At the bottom of the ramp they were giving them a send off.

"Well, the last couple of days have been strange, but I had fun talking to myself." Ford said.

"I have to agree to that. I do miss having Hercules though. As far as Carter could tell, my Carter, Hercules must have tried to save me or did something that ended up like Jolinar. I got the protein marker and still the strength, but…." the Fox Ford said.

"It was interesting to talk and learn about those things you encountered. Time Travel is possible now that you've actually seen it happen. I certainly have never lied to myself."

"That's true." the Fox Carter said to Sam. "I only wish I paid more attention to be able to make a time machine."

"I'm going to learn how to use energy weapons, since…" the Fox Ford said pointing at his ears.

"Yeah. The hearing thing."

"They are certainly right. Having enhanced hearing can make things difficult. That being the case, I left all my, our weapons. Yours now, in your room. Everything is there. I'm keeping the coat though. I'll have to make a sword once I get to Mel's planet, just in case you know who comes along."

"I can understand why. This thing has kept us alive for a long time."

"I got something special from the Doctor. I'm not going to be able to make it though, so I figured you could." he said handing over a few CD disc.

"What are these?"

Ford's face lit up as the Fox Ford whispered in his ear.

"You're kidding. He actually gave you the schematics?!"

The Fox Ford nodded and said enjoy. And to eventually show him when it was finished. The others exchanged a few more words then headed out saying goodbye. It wasn't anything they were going to leave in any reports. Melissa was going to have a interesting background, mostly left blank saying she appeared one day out of the gate. She was to be assigned to a research team later seeing as she didn't really feel like fighting unless necessary.

A couple weeks later…..

Daniel knocked on the door and Wells opened it. Daniel waved hi with the small teddy bear arm.

"Hey. Come in. Come in." Wells said backing up on his cane.

Daniel walked in following him into the living room off to the left of the front door. A red headed woman was sitting on a couch with a small baby.

"Daniel, this is my wife, Marci."

"Hi. I'd love to give you a hug, but…"

"Please, don't get up." Daniel said kneeling down to see the baby closer.

"This is my daughter." Wells said.

"Oh…she's beautiful. I guess that ultra sound was wrong, huh?"

"Yeah." Marci said.

"What's her name?"

The two parents looked at each other.

"Janet." Wells said.

"That's nice." Daniel said nodding with a smile.

Janet did indeed come out of her coma a week later, but her injury was bad enough that she wasn't going to be able to go back to active duty. She was going to be walking with a cane pretty much the rest of her life and despite what Ford tried to do with the healing device, he couldn't help her much when they brought her in after being shot, though he tried till he actually passed out. She was alive and going to be able to be with Cassie more now, she was never going to have children either. Everyone was sad to see her go, but seeing her have to go home was better then seeing her put in a grave. Ford felt better knowing he had been able to save her and Janet was extremely grateful he was there. Cassandra was too seeing she wouldn't have to worry as much about Janet being in danger anymore. They all felt better, all of the SGC did.