CHAPTER 97

EPISODE…………………………..Line In The Sand.

Carter, with Ford's help, though K-9 did a lot of the work for the both of them, managed to, amplify Merlin's device. Or at least in the simulations. So the team packed up and went to a safe planet where no one was. And they field tested it. It worked as expected though the two had some concerns and wanted to go over a few more things. The rest of the team thought that they did a excellent job and couldn't wait to see it performing in the field. They dialed home and came back, Ford carrying K-9. Landry was at the bottom of the ramp waiting as they walked up. The gate shut off as the M.A.L.P. came out and stopped behind them.

"So? How did it go? It work or do you need more time?" he asked rubbing his hands together in the hope for good news.

"Absolutely incredible sir." Mitchell said as Ford placed K-9 on the ground. "You can forget about the Ori. With the act these two performed, they could headline in Vegas."

"The only thing I want to see and do in Vegas is the Star Trek experience." Ford muttered.

"Same here. We've been trying for years, but, something always comes up." she said.

"The performance of the device exceeded all expectations General Landry." Teal'c said.

"They say that they only need to fix a few tweaks and check over a few more things, but after that, we'll be able to hide anything. Troops, ships, planets…" Mitchell said.

"I'm not sure about that one yet Cam. K-9 says…." Ford began.

"A ZPM would be able to cloak a entire planet and it would become a problem only if we had to keep it cloaked long term. If worse came to worse, we can cloak Earth and be safe."

"Yeah, but we're limited on ZPM's right now."

"What about that one you and Sam were trying to recharge? Back at the house in the woods?" he asked suggestively.

"Still working on it." the two said together.

"So, all in all it was a complete success?" Landry asked.

"Pretty much sir. After those few tweaks as Cam put it, we'll be ready for a large scale test."

"Great. I have just the thing in mind." he said heading back towards the control room.

"That was quick." Ford muttered as they followed.

Now situated around the briefing table, Landry was, briefing them on a new development. Ford, Carter and Vala were on his right while Mitchell, Teal'c and Reynolds were on his left.

"Colonel Reynolds and his team have been conducting reconnaissance on P9C-882 as part of the ongoing mission to track the Ori advancement into this galaxy." Landry said.

"Approximately four hours ago the people of 882 were visited by a Prior." Reynolds said.

"Let me guess." Mitchell said looking through a file. "They made them a offer they couldn't refuse?"

"With a slight twist. They told them to build this." he said rolling out a paper that had a design on it with Ancient writing.

Vala grunted, and not in a good way.

"I've take it you've sent that before then?" Landry asked.

"Oh yes." she said with more pain than sadness, with some anger lace in. "They, use these to burn people alive who don't follow their rules."

"Daniel mentioned having to watch that happen." Ford said. "I think that's when, your Immortality kicked in. That's a guess though."

"Hmm." she said shaking away the memory.

"Our problem is, that the Prior gave the people three days to build this." Reynolds said poking the paper. "At which time he'd be back to check on their progress."

"And what has been the villagers response?" Teal'c asked.

"They already rejected the idea. They lived under the Goa'uld for centuries. They aren't about to give up their freedom now." Reynolds said. "They've asked for our help."

"You want to use their device to help them disappear." Vala said putting the pieces together before Landry could say anything.

"Yes."

"Whoa, whoa." Carter said quickly. "First off, it's Merlin's device."

"And we're not ready. When we were thinking large, we were thinking of a house or something, not a village." Ford said.

"It's possible we could, but it's not really ready for that sort of scale sir." Carter said.

"We have three days. You are two of the smartest people on the base, excluding K-9 there." he said pointing at the dog between them. "You should be able to come up with something before then. The I.O.A. looked over your reports on the experiments and I agree with them that it's ready to go from the lab out into the field. So get to it. The sooner you fix the bugs, the sooner it works. Dismissed."

They all got up as Landry left.

"We could use the T.A.R.D.I.S." Ford muttered.

"Hmm. That would work." Carter said with more enthusiasm. "More time for sure to get everything right."

"Let's get to it then."

SG-1, minus Daniel unfortunately, went to the house to work. Landry was kinda skeptical about letting them take the device and other equipment with them off the base and to their, well, vacation house as it were. That took almost an hour and avoiding telling him how they were going to really go about it, seeing as they wanted to keep the knowledge of the T.A.R.D.I.S. secret. So, in one of the labs that Carter had set up inside the ship, where there was also computers and other lab equipment that came with the T.A.R.D.I.S., they were going over the info they had gathered and fixing the tweaks as Mitchell put it. Mitchell, Teal'c and Vala were going to stay in the T.A.R.D.I.S. with them, but they said it could be more than three days. One hour later for them, the T.A.R.D.I.S rematerialized back while they were eating on the top deck of the house.

"That was quick." Mitchell said wiping his mouth.

They also ate with them, told them it took them four days to go over everything and they were pretty sure it was ready.

People were going about their business in the village, which was kept pretty well maintained, though the people were more than surviving, their clothes and some things could use help, which was going to be provided after the Ori left. The buildings themselves were mostly made from stone that had little if any seams, like they were poured out into a mold. A few others were actually made out of stones and a few others made out of wood. Lots of people were around. They came into the village with the M.A.L.P. they used before, loaded with the equipment needed and K-9 following right next to it. Plus a few extra things on it as well, just in case. A couple people along with a bald dark skinned lady, which they realized quickly was the leader of the village came up to them.

"You have returned. Bless us all." she said nodding slightly.

"SG-1, this Thilana, leader of the village." Reynolds said with a wave at her. "This is Colonel Mitchell, Teal'c, Vala, Colonel Carter and General Carter."

"Ah, these are the two you speak of that have performed many feats of miracles for your people and many others." she said and then noticed the group look at Reynolds.

"On the technological level I said." Reynolds said quickly.

"I cannot express our thanks to you in coming to our aid." she said bowing to SG-1.

"It's a pleasure." Mitchell said.

"We are at your service. The building that we have selected is this way, Matar." she said waving a hand.

"Allow me to carry this." Matar said grabbing the yellow crates from Vala's hands as a few other people grabbed other items from their hands to help.

"Thank you." Vala said smiling brightly. "Don't you just love helping people."

"She's changed a lot." Ford said.

"Yeah, a whole lot." Carter said as they watched Vala walk away.

About half an hour later, the two Carter's and K-9 had just about finished setting things up in the somewhat small building that had the village library. Wasn't a two story, but it had more than enough room for the three to work.

"I hope this location is suitable for you." Thilana said as she came in and then waved at the bookshelves. "We can have the rest of these things removed if you like."

"Oh, no. Thank you." Carter said as she set a computer system on top of another.

"Kinda reminds me of working in Daniel's office. To a point." Ford said plugging wires into the back of a system. "I like this building and what you have done with it."

"Thank you for your kind words." she said with a small bow then looked around. "For years, my ancestors have had to record our peoples history in secret. Beyond the eyes of the Goa'uld."

"Sounds familiar." Ford said.

"So your Colonel Reynolds said as well. This building now houses their legacy. It seemed appropriate that you do your work here."

"Ironic. Daniel would be drooling to look this over. We'll have to bring him here when we get him back."

"Yeah, he would like to read this." Carter said looking around before going over to her laptop that was connected to just about everything else.

"Um, I must admit. My people are concerned about what this machine will do. I would like to be able to reassure them."

"Sure, no problem. Basically, this machine will make everything disappear, to the Prior. What it will do is shift everything in its range, the whole village, into another dimension. When he arrives…"

"And probably with troops." Ford said.

"That's possible. Even if they come with a ship and land it, they won't be able to see, hear or touch anything or anyone within the field." Carter said waving her hands in a circle. "We will be able to see and hear then, but not interact with them. They'll walk right through everything, including people. But they won't be able to harm anyone. Once they leave, we shut it off and everything returns to normal."

"You need to remind your people not to leave the village. We'll have the rest of the team tell you the boundaries so everyone will know how far they can go. Anyone steps outside the field, it could cause problems for everyone."

"Like bursting a bubble. Everyone stays in, everyone is safe." Carter said.

She nodded and thanked them for their help before walking out. Teal'c and Vala were answering some questions when Mitchell walked up getting their attention.

"Those two got everything ready. We're set to go."

"Colonel Reynolds and his team are at the Stargate." Teal'c stated.

"Thanks." he said grabbing his com. "Reynolds, this is Mitchell. Remember, we'll be out of radio contact when we get out of phase."

"Understood." Reynolds said.

Mitchell climbed up onto one of the many picnic style tables that was around the area.

"Listen up folks. We're going to try a little disappearing act here. Please remember to keep all your arms and legs in the village at all times until we come to a complete stop."

They started murmuring in confusion.

"Blank stares work too." he said getting down. "Everyone's ready here. You two can do your magic."

"It's not magic." Ford reported back.

"Here we go." she said typing away. "K-9 keep monitoring at all times."

"Yes Mistress."

The three Naquada generators on the table activated all at the same time.

"So far so good." Ford said.

"And now the enter button." she said pushing it.

Everyone saw a bright light and then everything looked normal. Reynolds team saw a bright light encompass the village and then there was nothing.

"We have the craziest jobs in the world. God, I love my job." Reynolds said with a laugh. "Dial us home Lieutenant."

SG-1 was seated at one of the table like everyone else outside. Though they were at one of the tables that had been put end to end. Ford, Sam, Mitchell, Teal'c, Vala on the left with a few others after that ,while Matar and several others were on the right. Thilana was at the head of the table in a chair that was brought out. Everyone was celebrating that night. A couple of girls ran up and handed Carter a flower and then ran off.

"Thank you." she said smiling at them before they left.

Everyone got quiet as Thilana stood.

"Tonight, we honor our new friends from Earth, who's wisdom, generosity and kindness, have allowed us to resist those who wish to return us to slavery. We extend to you, are most deepest and dearest thanks."

As she bowed slightly to them with her hands crossed across her chest, everyone else around them did the same.

"Just part of…." Ford began when K-9 came through the link.

"Trouble Mistress. Come back quickly."

Ford and Carter got up quickly.

"What's wrong K-9?"

"System failure eminent Mistress. I cannot…."

Everyone kinda blinked as they saw and felt the field shut down.

"Never mind K-9, we are on our way." she said as they took off with the rest following.

"We'll let you know what's happening." Mitchell yelled to Thilana.

"K-9?" Carter asked as she sat down.

"The fail-safe program was implemented Mistress. I was unable to correct the fault."

"Fail safe?" Mitchell asked.

"Okay, in order to maintain the cloak, it has to keep a connection with every single molecular it sends out of phase. You can see by using these three generators that means we have to use a lot of power." she said waving at them.

"The fail safe is there in case of a power disruption. Shut off the system to keep the disruption from getting worse, like an explosion, though unlikely." Ford said.

"All right. Can you two fix it?"

"We thought we did. But there must be something we missed or did wrong." she said.

"Possible likely outcome of failure was due to experimentation in the T.A.R.D.I.S. Mistress."

"Explain."

"Factors for multiple moving objects, people, wind currents…."

"Basically, we were confined inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. instead of doing the test and such outside like we should have to test all the variables for real instead of through simulations and trail runs." Ford said.

"Correct Master. This is the best possible conclusion for the data available."

"Again, can you two fix this?" Mitchell asked.

"We got no choice but to try right now." Ford said pulling his Sonic Screwdriver out.

People were murmuring a lot as the other three walked up to the leader who was talking to a few others.

"You're not going to abandon us?" Thilana asked.

"We're not." Mitchell said as he kept putting his vest and gun back on. "Is there some place safe you can take your people?"

"Won't the Prior find us wherever we go?"

Mitchell looked at his team as he thought.

"Maybe we should heed the Prior's wishes." Matar said.

"No." she said sternly. "I will not stand by again while we are subjugated into serving false gods. We must stand our ground."

"The Prior is very powerful." Teal'c stated.

"Then please, you must help us. Don't give up on us yet."

"We're not. They're working on it as we speak."

Ford and Carter were still working on the system as Mitchell came in holding a cup of coffee that morning.

"Coffee's here, though it's the hot kind."

"Thank you!" she said waving a hand from where she was behind a couple of computers on the floor.

"What about me?" Ford asked.

"You hate hot coffee. Or so I was told." he said reaching into his pocket. "Which is why I have this."

"Ah, a chocolate bar." he said taking it. "I ran out of mine hours ago. Bless you Mitchell."

"Hmm, caffeine." she said then went back to scanning.

"Where's the rest of our group?" Ford asked as he handed her the Sonic Screwdriver.

"Teal'c's guarding the gate for when the Prior shows up. Vala…um, is talking with someone, I think. Or was last I saw. Um, not trying to rush you two, but any time table here? Landry was really specific about this not falling into enemy hands."

"Short of the device, we can recreate everything else. T.A.R.D.I.S. has all the specks. Actually, now that I think about it, the T.A.R.D.I.S might even be able to reproduce the effect we want without the device."

"You're right. We should be able to interface Merlin's device with the T.A.R.D.I.S and cloak the village plus the gate. That much power could probably cloak the entire planet. And the system is so much more advanced, not to mention sentient that she should be able to keep up and fix any corrections after we program what we want done. Go get her."

"I'll need this back then." he said taking the Sonic Screwdriver back and activating a different setting. "Okay, got the coordinates. I'll be back soon. Do what you can anyway."

"Get back very soon." she said as he grabbed his Tommy gun and rushed out.

"You think the T.A.R.D.I.S. idea will work?"

"Sure. We just pack it all up, go inside, dematerialize, set up and make sure everything is ready, rematerialize back in, say ten seconds after we left and whoosh. Village is protected." she said before taking a drink and going back to scanning.

"Just asking, if he doesn't return in time or, say doesn't make to the gate in time because the Prior dials in, what's the plan?"

"I've rigged a Ancient capacitor, similar to the ones used in the Stargate's. I've linked it between the device and the generators." she said sitting in front of the laptop. "It should collect the power and feed it more evenly. Though the T.A.R.D.I.S. has way better capacitors and would do the job much, much better."

"Sounds great. I hope it works if he isn't back in time."

Teal'c was still watching the gate and looked up as he heard a strange noise.

"Colonel Mitchell, do you read?"

"Yeah, loud and clear. What's up? You're not calling because the General left are you?"

"No. Our time is up."

Several small fighter crafts flew over head and passed over the city. Vala was watching the sky like many other's as the fighters flew overhead and Mitchell ran up.

"They are checking for the monument." she said.

"Sam, we have fighters circling. How are you coming with that disappearing act?" he asked quickly.

"Just a few more minutes." she said into the com before going back to turning knobs and her laptop. "I hope."

"Get these people inside, now." Mitchell said to Thilana.

She nodded and got to it quickly.

"Go." Vala said to some nearby.

"Wait, not you." Mitchell said grabbing Matar by the arm. "Hey, Teal'c buddy. We could use you back here now."

"I am on my way." he said running through the forest.

Though he stopped a moment as a fighter stopped above the ground and dropped some platform device. As it flew off, Teal'c found out what it was as rings popped out of it and troops ringed in.

"Colonel Mitchell. The Ori has deposited a ring platform outside the village. There are ground forces headed your way."

"Great. Okay you lot come with me." Mitchell said grabbing the few men that he had stay behind. "Have any of you ever fired a gun before?"

"No." one of the men said as Mitchell opened a case on the M.A.L.P.

"Okay, blank stares aren't going to cut it this time." he said grabbing a PC-90 out and showing them how it functioned and how to fire. And what to fire at and what not to fire at. And then he let everyone grab one.

"General come in?" he asked quickly. He tried again and got nothing. "Guess he made it out of here."

Teal'c meanwhile was watching the platform and when another group ringed in, he shot them all before they could get off. A few more rounds at the previous people that ringed in and a grenade took out a few more before he started running.

Back in the city, the troops entered through the very large wooden doors, only to be shot at quickly by the villagers with guns, plus Mitchell and Vala. The troops weren't really doing all that well even though they were firing back. The villagers were firing as though they had unlimited ammo, not knowing that they had limited ammo. Mitchell and Vala were firing in short burst.

"We can't hold them off forever you know." she said firing into a guy.

"I know!"

Unfortunately, the villagers helping were dying off quicker now that they weren't hiding as well as before. Mitchell noticed one guy signal a few other troops to take another direction.

"They're trying to flank us." Mitchell said firing before he took off.

Inside, Carter was working on her laptop, trying to get the program to run right. K-9 was beside her and she noticed that he turned around, but only noticed.

"Danger Mistress!"

She spun around seeing a guard as K-9 fired. It hit the guy turning him bright red before he fell down dead.

"Thank K-.."

"There is another Mistress…" K-9 said going for the door as another guy did come in.

K-9 shot him, but not before he fired and hit the table as she tried to duck out of the way. She screamed loudly, in pain as she lay on her back holding her right hand. It was burned bad enough that there was bones showing.

"Mistress…" he said rolling over.

"Don't let anyone in here!" she said barely getting up into a seated position.

"Sam?!" Mitchell yelled as he rushed in. "Oh man."

"Help me up." she whined. "K-9, door."

Outside, Vala was still firing off rounds with the few villagers left. Unfortunately, there wasn't as many villagers left and there was quite a bit more troops now. One guy died as he was shot in the back. Vala turned and shot him then noticed a guy on a roof. He died from a few rounds and fell down taking a table with him. Then problems arose as the villagers ran out of ammo. They dropped their weapons and held up their hands as the troops came closer. Vala set hers down as several troops came over to her.

Mitchell looked out the window as he saw movement. Several troops were on their way towards them.

"Sam, I know you're in pain…"

"I'm working on it." she growled more in pain than pressure. "I can't use my right hand. You have to help me. K-9…"

"Got it. What do I do?"

Outside, the troops were rounding everyone up into the center of town.

"There's only one generator that looks to be working here Sam." Mitchell said.

"Hit it."

He gave her a look then did so when she looked like she was going to get up and try. It stopped blinking and kicked on, then went off.

"Okay, that's dead. What next?"

"Disconnect the leads from all and redirect into the functioning one."

One of the men outside looked over seeing a old building with a strange object beside it. It was the M.A.L.P.

"Okay, what next?" Mitchell asked.

"Push these buttons here." she said pointing with her good hand.

"Several troops on approach Mistress."

"Can you deal with them K-9?" Mitchell asked.

"Yes Colonel. But do not believe I will be able to keep them from hitting either of you first."

"Okay, hit enter." she said.

He did as the troops got close enough to see inside the building. They stopped as it vanished away in a bright light. Inside, Sam sat back holding her hand as Mitchell started to get out his kit. He stopped as he noticed K-9 turn around and his ears were moving, a lot.

"T.A.R.D.I.S. approaching Mistress."

"Great! Fine timing he has!" she yelled.

The men turned around and headed back to the group of people they captured.

"What has happe…." he began asking.

A strange, grinding and winding noise, followed by the wind picking up slightly made them all turn as a blue box started to appear out of nowhere next to the M.A.L.P.

"Mitchell, Sam, K-9?" the three inside heard.

"Master. The Mistress has been injured."

"WHAT?! How bad?!"

"Why the hell are you late?!" came out of the speaker in the console.

"Sam! How bad are you hurt?!"

"She almost got her right hand blow off by one of the staff weapons those Ori troops use." Mitchell said.

"Why aren't you in here?!"

"I tried to dematerialize inside the building, but she won't go there because there's too much out of phase in that dimensional area."

"What?" Mitchell asked.

"We're cloaked so he can't land here." she said gritting her teeth. "Ford, I want you to…."

She stopped as they heard gunfire.

After the strange machine landed, a couple of men walked up and poked it. One guy shot it, but nothing happened.

"What it is?" one of the men by the people asked.

"I don't know. It feels like wood, but I can't even scratch it." the man said stabbing it with his staff. "This is a door of some sort though."

"What is that?" the man asked turning to their captives.

"It's called a T.A.R.D.I.S." Vala said.

"And that is what?" he asked stepping up to her.

"Oh, trouble mostly. For you anyway." she said with a small smile. "Ah and here it comes…."

Ford walked out and planted his foot into the guy's face as he turned to see the door open. It tossed the guy back a few feet and broke his neck just after the foot connected. Another guy shot him in the chest, but it didn't do anything. He looked down, brushed it off and stepped out fully.

"Drop your weapon and surrender." the guy said as all the troops pointed their weapons at him.

Ford looked at his Tommy gun and then looked at them. Everyone that could see his eyes, felt a chill.

"No." he said with the most evil sounding and fearfully tone possible. It caused one guy to drop his weapon. "Here's my ultimatum. Drop dead."

"Oh, this isn't good." Mitchell said as he watched blast after blast come and hit the side of the T.A.R.D.I.S. they couldn't see, or where the door was anyway. But the blast were starting to drop off quickly as Ford was blasting away. Vala and the villagers could only duck and cover their heads as bullets took troops down quickly. People in the buildings quickly took cover on the ground as well as they realized those bullets went through walls and just about everything else. He didn't care at the moment what he hit as he sprayed ammo at anything that looked like an enemy while he yelled. Eventually the only troops there was were coming in occasionally through the large wooden door or had ran out it. That was until the door started falling apart from being shredded. He kept firing all around the door and through it until the ammo ran out.

"Nice." Vala said sitting up.

The rest of the villagers also sat up and looked around. There was no troops anymore. That lasted ten seconds at most when a couple dozen men rushed in with their weapons ready.

"Where is he?!"

Several people all gave just about the same answer, he just suddenly disappeared.

"Where did he go?" one man asked as he walked up to Vala.

"He vanished, just like that building. Though without the light. He has a cloaking device. You won't find him."

"She and several of the villagers here opposed us. With weapons."

"They will be dealt with accordingly." the leader said as he removed his helmet.

"Tomin." Vala said in surprise.

"Have her taken to the rings. Transporter her to the ship." he said with disappointment and anger on his face.

A couple of guards walked up, picked her up.

"Spread out and find the man that did this. The Orici wants him captured."

"Alive?"

"Do not do anything that removes his head from his body is what the Orici said."

"And the rest of these people."

"Kill them."

"Tomin, no!" Vala yelled trying to break free as the dozen or so people were killed, mercilessly. After they were all killed, they took her out of the village, and Tomin didn't look at her.

Mitchell was trying to do the best he could with her hand, but other than giving her some morphine, there was little he could do. After the shooting started, seeing as the two couldn't do anything if they wanted to, he got another chair and had her sit in it while he sat in the other and looked at her hand. The disinfectant and anti-biotic made things worse and knocked her out. At least she didn't slip out of the chair. K-9 was keeping a watch on her vitals, per his orders, plus keeping a watch on the computer and Merlin's device. The shooting had stopped a couple of minutes ago, though he hadn't really noticed since he was concentrating on her hand. Almost the entire back of her hand was showing the bones and a couple of her finger bones were exposed. He was surprised she didn't pass out right after getting shot. She wasn't bleeding too badly thankfully. He jumped slightly as K-9 spoke.

"Master."

"Ah! Geez man! Don't scare me like that!" Mitchell said startled.

"Hey K-9. Cam, how bad…" he said kneeling down. "Oh god. Here I'll…"

He tried to grab her hand, but all he did was put his through hers.

"Dammit. Maybe I can…" he said trying to use his healing ability by placing his hand above and below it and then even in it slightly. "I have to actually touch her. DAMN!"

"No need to shout General." Mitchell said poking his ear with his free hand. "They might hear you."

"Sam, come on. Wake up." he said snapping his fingers in her face. "What happened?"

"Oh, they attacked shortly after you left through the gate. Um, how long were actually gone anyway?"

"An hour at most. Had to convince Landry what I needed was off base and not tell him what it really was. I should have shown up earlier."

"I'm guessing you can't do that right now." he said bandaging the hand the best he could.

"No. Cause to many disruptions in time. I wasn't really gone all that long considering." he said with extreme worry in his voice.

"Do you have anything on the rest of our team?"

"Teal'c is somewhere around here. I noticed his tracking device nearby. Vala was taken away to a ship. I now know who this Tomin guy is. He's the leader of the army attacking here. For Vala's sake only, I'm glad I didn't shoot him."

"How can we tell who he is?" Mitchell asked as they ignored the soldier who walked through the building and left as he looked around. Ford spoke only after the guy left.

"He has a cape. I know, I found it funny too." he said with a small laugh as Mitchell did the same. "K-9, can you do anything to wake her or is it not a safe idea?"

"I've got smelling salts here, but after she passed out from the pain, I figured it best to let her sleep."

"K-9?"

"Her vitals are elevated, though in acceptable levels. Her health is not in any serious danger as of yet Master."

Ford went to grab the salts but grabbed nothing. It if wasn't for the situation, Mitchell would have laughed as he placed it under her nose.

"I guess she's really…"

She sat up and ended up pulling her hand away from him to brush away the salts, and then yelled in pain as she moved her hand. Mitchell held her shoulders to keep her from moving around further.

"Sam, come on. Fight it off for me."

"Easy for you to say! You're late!" she yelled kicking him. When she saw her foot go through him. "Oh, you are in so much trouble!"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left." he said very sadly as she watched her cradle her hand close to her chest.

"The idea was worth it at the time. You can let me go Cam."

"You're not going to leave the chair?"

"And where would I go if I wanted to?! Sure, I can see the T.A.R.D.I.S, but I'm guessing the reason it's not in here is because of the field we're in. Not to mention I'd probably walk through it if I left this building. Why didn't you show up before the battle started?"

"I tried, but there was too much interference. I'm guessing by the blast marks and dead people I saw, something in their weapons was keeping me from landing. Could be that the T.A.R.D.I.S. can only re-materialize when not being shot at. Just a guess."

"Then why didn't you show up just after you left the village? That would have worked just fine!"

"Something to do with being careful now that I am a Time Lord. Not crossing your own timeline sort of thing. Had I made it back to Earth before the attack, I would have dropped in sooner. I just hoped I'd get lucky and be able after I saw those fighters fly over by. Instead of coming back, I went through the gate. I should have just came back."

"And did what? We'd already have been cloaked by the time you made it back. Even though we can't inter…"

"Danger Master."

"What's wrong?"

"The T.A.R.D.I.S…."

He got up and turned.

"Excuse me a moment. They are trying to take our ship away."

A couple of the soldiers outside were trying to pick it up and take it away. That was until an invisible force pushed them away, individually. He uncloaked, and went inside quickly. They got up and got their weapons ready as the door quickly opened and closed again moments later as Ford turned invisible again. One of the guys fired and they all noticed a visible shield around the box. It even activated as they tried to touch it. They tried firing their lance weapons at it for a few minutes, but realized they weren't going to get through and quit. And though they later questioned people about it, no one knew what it was, what it could be, or where it came from.

Vala was in Tomin's room on the ship, sitting on the bed. They had took everything from her, except the SGC BDU's. Though they had placed a dress of some sort on the bed behind her, she didn't put it on. And thankfully, they didn't try to make her or do it for her. A devastated look was on her face other than the sadness she felt for seeing all those people die without mercy. There was a wooden desk by the door, very well maintained. Books and a few other knickknacks lined the desk, though it was mostly free of clutter. A pedestal with a candle on it in the corners near the wall next to the head of the bed plus a window to see outside the ship. Some sort of pottery item was on the lip where you could see out the window. A larger pedestal on either side of the door had flames that helped light up the room. A small closet that had the door closed. There was a dresser of some sort a couple feet away from her by the wall. She looked up as Tomin walked in, in a grayish black outfit. Pants and coat over some shirt. He pushed a button and the door closed and locked.

"Why are you still wearing the clothes of a blasphemer?" he asked standing by the desk.

"If I put on this dress." she said pointing at it. "And say hallowed are the Ori. Will you stop mass murdering innocent people?"

He turned and started out of the room.

"Tomin, wait. I know that it seems that everything that comes out of my mouth is a lie. I've deceived you too many times to change that now. But there is one thing that I want you to know that is the truth. There were real moments between us. I did fall in love with you."

He didn't leave but he didn't turn around either.

"In your heart you were a good man. Not because Origin told you to be. I know that you can't possibly like what you've become. What this, 'faith' has made you do."

"After all that time we spent together, you still know nothing about me."

"I know you still must love me." she said seeing him turn just a bit more to see her. "Or else why would I be here?"

He turned and walked up to the bed slowly.

"If it were up to me, I would light the fire that would burn you for your desecration. The only reason you are still here is because it was ordered by the Orici. You will remain in this room. You will see no one and talk to no one. You will be educated in the ways of Origin until such time that evil never possesses you." he said then turned for the door.

"Tomin. I'm…" she said standing. "I'm street smart. That's what's always gotten me by. But I've never been much for school."

"Then I will teach you. This is my punishment for allowing you to deceive me. If you continue to resist, you will die."

"Not likely." she muttered as he walked out. "God I hope they don't burn me at the stake again. Bench, whatever."

Down on the planet, the people were in different buildings, all staying on the floor as the soldiers walked around. Some of the people were being tended to by other villagers, everyone inside some building or another. Only the soldiers were outside and the only ones allowed outside. Matar was over by a window nearby kneeling down and tending to another person. Thilana was helping some girl and finished as another villager helped her off a table. A tall man walked up in a robe and removed his hood.

"Teal'c." she said surprised.

"I am glad to see you are uninjured."

"You as well." she said as she went through her small supplies. "Where is the rest of your team?"

"I was hoping that you had seen them." he said with worry.

"No. Other than that General of yours, which put holes in just about everything and took out our main door, I have not seen anyone else since. Thankfully, he did not injure any of our people."

"Hmm. Was he in a rage of some sort?"

"He certainly looked mad Teal'c, but I couldn't see his eyes to tell."

Matar walked up interrupting them.

"I have spoken to many others Thilana. And as village leader, we have decide that you must forward to the Prior, and embrace Origin on our behalf."

"What? You have no right." she exclaimed.

"You see how powerful they are."

"That is a poor reason to abandon one's beliefs." Teal'c stated.

"This no longer concerns you. Your attempts to have us resist have only lead to death."

"My concerns extend to those who would worship false gods. The Ori are not worthy of devotion."

"Worthy or not, their power is real. Which cannot be said for your people. You pledged to protect us, but when the time came, you failed to do so." he said almost poking Teal'c in the chest. He turned back to her, still keeping his finger pointed at Teal'c. "We have no choice. We shall bow down to the Ori, and beg for their mercy. Or we shall all perish."

Sam was still cradling her hand while Mitchell was walking back and forth, looking out the window and trying to contact the rest of the team. Though he didn't get any responses. She was still in the chair leaning back slightly, looking at the screen to see if needed her touch, though K-9 was keeping a watch on it.

"I don't think you're going to get anyone. They are outside the field." she grumbled. "Damn, I hate not being able to do anything."

"Need more morphine?" he asked walking back over.

"I'm trying to ignore it. All those times I've heard other girls say I'd rather be giving birth than have, whatever pain they were going through. I now know what they mean."

"Is that a no?" he asked holding the small vial and needle combine.

"Not a lot and stick it in my arm, not my leg like last time."

"Still hurts there?" he asked injecting half of what he did before.

"I jerked when you stuck me. Where did he…"

"I've taken out a few other soldiers and even tried to question a couple, but I didn't get much info. Vala was taken up to the ship in orbit. The Prior hasn't came down yet." Ford said coming through the wall and kneeling in front of her. "I'm so sorry I can't do anything for you.."

"When this is over, I'm first priority, no one else. Got that?"

"Promise."

"How's that T.A.R.D.I.S.?"

"I activated the shield. Well, placed it further out from the shell, that way they can't take her away like they tried."

"What's the body count?"

"Over a dozen villagers, mostly because of that massacre they did earlier. Vala had to watch apparently, as punishment. If you're wonder about their side, um….20 plus. Maybe more. I wasn't really keeping count. Do you want me to stay here Sam?"

"And do what? You can't help me like this." she said barley moving her right arm to emphasize. "You stay here, you'll feel guilty and I'll probably yell some more."

"What are you going to do?" Mitchell asked.

"Find Teal'c. Raise some mayhem."

"Where's your gun?" he asked before Ford walked out the wall.

"I left it in the T.A.R.D.I.S."

Vala was laying on the bed while Tomin was seated at his desk, reading from the book of Origin.

"So it came to pass, that Ver Omesh was gripped by a great famine. So Markon when to the great prophet Articus and asked to go to the forest for food."

"How many people have you killed?" she asked turning over onto her stomach and looking at him. "Do you keep track? Put little notches in your Ori belt?"

"The prophet bade him to be patient, for the Ori provide all who are faithful. But Markon did not believe." he said continuing.

"Do you remember their faces?" she asked seeing him look at her slowly. "Or are there too many of them?"

He didn't continue as she walked over and sat across from him.

"Hundreds? Thousands?"

"So the prophet drew a line in the sand and told him to step across and you may do as you wish. So Markon did, and he left the village. And feasted on wild berries." he said as she got up and came around.

"What about all the stories in there that are all about not kill…."

"Enough!" he yelled slamming his hand down on the desk top, startling her. "They were each given a chance to redeem their selves. Those who do not walk the path are not worthy."

She knelt in front of him he started to go back to reading.

"You can preach all you want to me Tomin. But that is not what you believe!" she shouted over him reading. "I've read the book. I've read it. I can understand why you think that it is so important. The words give you comfort and at face value…"

He went back to reading trying to ignore her. But she talked louder.

"It appears to be meant to inspire the best out of people, honest, morality…"

He kept going as she took a deep breath and then waved her hands at him.

"This whole crusade is a big manipulation! Nothing in there says that those who don't believe should be massacred!" she said pointing at the book as he tried to continue. "Where does it say that Tomin?! Where does it say that?!"

He just kept going still ignoring her, or trying.

"The Ori are not gods!"

She fell back to the floor as he backhanded her swiftly. He got up slowly as she turned over, felt her lip and tasted blood in her mouth.

"Wow, didn't think you had that in you." she said feeling her lip as it was healing on the inside. "You should just kill me now."

He dropped the book on the desk and walked out, locking the door behind him.

Several guards came into the building where Thilana and her people were in. Teal'c was in one corner with her and covered his head as they came in.

"There is a building that disappeared when we arrived. You will tell me what trickery is being used to conceal it. And the purpose of the blue box."

"I am Thilana, leader of this village." she said getting up and walking over slowly. "We do not know what magic is at work. Nor do we know what the strange blue box is or its purpose. But it strikes me, that asking us lowly peasants, that you're saying that the great power of the Ori cannot see past such deception, much less answer these questions."

"I ask you, so that you may show the Ori the error of your ways." the guard said walking up the to table she was on the other side of. "If you do not bow, your village will be burned to the ground!"

He looked around and then started to leave.

"Wait!" Matar said getting up.

"Matar, no." she said.

"You would stand by, while more of our people were murdered?! To protect the identities of those who have failed us?!"

"What do you speak of?" the soldier asked.

"This man, is not of our village." Matar said as he walked over to Teal'c. "He came with the others to try and conceal us."

Teal'c grabbed his hand before it could remove his hood. He pushed the man away but not before giving him a look that made the man have fear in his eyes. He then turned and walked past Thilana and stood next to the table as he removed his hood and robe.

"You have served the Ori well my friend." the soldier said. "Seize him!"

Teal'c only bowed slightly to her before he was grabbed.

"Both of them as well."

Thilana and Matar didn't fight back as they were grabbed and taken outside.

Vala was sitting at his desk, feet up on it, when he came back in. A few rolled up scrolls were on his desk on the left side. Recently opened and then rolled back up.

"Forgive me for striking you." Tomin said as he entered.

"Hitting me is nothing compared to the lives you mercilessly extinguished. You can never make up for that Tomin. I thought I could save you, but I realize it's too late for that."

"Yes it is. You'll never see me again." he said as he went to walk out.

"One last story, for me." she said getting up and sitting on the desk as he crossed his arms. "A long time ago, some people like you and me, over time, evolved, and they became so advanced, that they figured out how to turn themselves into energy. And ascended onto a higher plane of existence."

She got up and walked over to him slowly.

"I know, it sounds crazy. But it happened. And then they discovered, that if regular people worshiped them, that made them more powerful. So they used their knowledge to make as many people as they could, and then created a religion that forced them to prostrate in their name. The more prostrating the more power. The religion said these beings were benevolent. But they couldn't offer their followers ascension because that would mean they'd have to share their power. They just used people up and then threw them away. And I know I'll never convince you otherwise. But everything you believe, is a lie."

He turned around and walked out, closed the door and locked it again.

The Prior left the ship after getting the report back from the planet. It was the same Prior that was formerly the guy in charge of the village that Daniel and Vala visited when they used that Ancient communication device and she got burned at the stake. All the troops were kneeling as he walked up and stopped by a solider, then looked at Teal'c.

"Tell me what you know."

Teal'c looked away and kept quiet. He continued to fight the Priors attempt to make him speak until he fell over unconscious.

"Please Prior!" Matar said getting on his knees and begging. "We were mislead. The outsiders tried to convince us the Ori are false gods!"

"Matar." Thilana said looking at him then looking at the ground as she saw it move, but no one was there that she saw. She then saw something move on Teal'cs neck, as though he was being checked for life.

"Forgive us, for we are now ready to embrace the teachings or Origin, with open hearts." he said bowing.

"Tell me, do you know how the outsiders have concealed themselves? How, why and what this blue box is?" he said waving a hand at it. "And where the leader of this group is?"

He looked over at Thilana and then spoke.

"This doesn't look good." Mitchell said as he watched from the window.

He turned to see she was starting to slump over and about to hit her head on the laptop keys.

"Sam." he said walking over and sitting her back up.

"What's happening?" she muttered weakly.

"K-9? What's her status?"

"She has developed a serious infection Colonel."

"Dammit!" he said seeing her hand was bleeding through the bandage. "How much blood has she lost?"

"The Mistress is still in very safe levels. Blood loss estimated at near one cup."

"That's a lot K-9." he said unwrapping the bandage slowly as she, thought pretty out of it, was conscious enough to feel what he was doing and groan in pain. "K-9, what else can I do?"

"There is antibiotics in the med kit Colonel."

"Not in mine. She carry's some?"

"Affirmative."

"Guess they forgot to pack it in mine this time." he muttered digging through her pack. "Okay, here they are. Sam, I need you to take these pills."

"Why? What are they?" she managed to get out.

"K-9 says you have an infection. Now take these."

"Sam?" Ford said walking back in.

"How's Teal'c?" Mitchell asked as she ended up getting more water on herself than in.

"He's alive. I so wanted to punch that Prior out, but…to dangerous with that many troops and such. Besides that, I'm sure that that Matar guy would have attacked me."

"What, he turn Origin?" he asked trying to get her to drink more.

"Yeah, dump it on her head."

"What?"

"Seriously. It will hopefully wake her up. Make her more alert."

He did it kinda reluctantly and after a few seconds she woke up shaking her head.

"What the hell are you doing?!" she exclaimed pushing him away with her good hand.

"Sam, you have to stay awake. K-9 says you have a serious infection."

"Then get off your ass and get rid of those troops so you can heal me!"

"I'm trying, but…."

"Oh crap." Mitchell said as they saw the Prior enter the room.

He stood up slowly and walked over with Ford, though they stayed a few feet away. The Prior bowed his head and then his staff lit up, getting brighter every moment. Everyone had to look away, even the people outside as it kept getting brighter and brighter. Ford put his glasses on and didn't look away, though it was getting hard to see. Then he stopped and it went away.

"Guess his bag of tricks doesn't work on us huh?" Mitchell said waving a hand as the Prior looked around.

"Show yourself or this village will be destroyed!" the Prior shouted.

"Doubtful." Ford muttered as he walked up behind the Prior, and whacked him upside the back of the head.

The Prior turned and swung with his staff, not hitting anything as Ford moved back in time. Mitchell started laughing. Carter was snickering slightly while trying not to move her hand. Ford got behind him as he swung around a few more times, repeated for them to show themselves or else, and then after seeing they refused, he started to walk out. Ford gave him a massive kick in the ass that sent him sprawling onto the ground outside the building. He lost his staff, but it came back into his grasp quickly as he got off the ground.

"You shall pay for this transgression!" he shouted before walking over to the troops quickly. But not before tossing the M.A.L.P. onto its side and burning its circuits with a wave of his staff first.

"Excuse me again. Keep her awake if you have to dump more water on her." he said pointing as he walked out. "Time to get rid of the trash."

The Prior told the troops to keep a look out and kill any opposition. And then went back to the ship. Tomin was outside the ring room as he came back up. He thought the fact the Prior had dust and hay on his robe was strange, but didn't say anything.

"Prior, I beg forgiveness for my failure in teaching the mother of the Orici."

"You have only just began Tomin." he said stopping outside the hallway.

"Please, allow me to recuse myself. She is intolerable. I fear I will be no further use. My skills are much better as a commander."

"Indeed. You have proven yourself to be a ruthless and skillful warrior and a fine leader."

"Thank you. I will head straight back down to the planet." he said turning to go.

"That is not necessary. We are done here." he said with a hint of anger.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"The village will be destroyed."

"Why?"

"They have been touched and desecrated by a great evil." he said lightly brushing his robe off. "There is no salvation for them."

"But we eliminated all the unbelievers." he said confused.

"Not all of them."

"But I thought the village had capitulated. If you will allow me…" he said turning to leave.
"Markon walked away from the Ori to satisfy his hunger." the Prior said walking away again. "But no matter how much he ate, he did not feel full."

Tomin followed him down the hall as he spoke.

"Realizing his mistake, he ran back to the Ori, but they denied his pleas and struck down the village that welcomed him back!"

"Forgive me Prior, but I was reviewing that very passage just today. Markon prayed for forgiveness and took the first step." he said walking up behind him.

"And the hands of the Ori enveloped all of those who welcomed him back. The village was destroyed. All those who stand by and accept transgressions must be punished."

"That is not the implication of the text Prior. The Ori granted forgiveness when Markon realized his mistake." he said standing in front of the Prior. "And blessed the village with their light for showing him the way back to the path."

"You dare question my judgment?!" he exclaimed as he leaned down into Tomin's face.

"No, it's just not how I was taught."

"There are many words, but only one truth!" he said then walked off as Tmoin watched a moment before walking away.

Mitchell was watching the outside as troops started leaving the village, quickly too. He had heard weapons fire earlier and it was kinda sporadic at best at the moment. Though it was only the weapons of the troops he was hearing.

"This isn't good."

"What is it?" she asked.

"They're leaving the village. And I'm quite sure that they are going to bomb it from orbit."

"Wonderful."

"We'll be okay. The device will be intact and we can go home. But all those people out there, plus Teal'c."

"And Ford." she said looking over her laptop and everything on the table.

"Won't that cloak…."

"No." she said sadly.

"Then what are we going to do to save them all, including him and Teal'c?"

Teal'c awoke to find Thilana looking down on him.

"Teal'c, I'm so sorry. I told the Prior of the device. He decreed that the village will be destroyed if they do not show themselves."

"I think it was me kicking the Prior in the ass that probably helped it along." Ford said de-cloaking in front of them. "That's why he…."

Then he vanished, and then reappeared.

"Uh oh. This…." he said vanishing.

Several men came in with weapons, leading them was Matar. Teal'c quickly got up and rolled off the cot as she stood in front of them.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Stand out of the way Thilana. He must be…." he said suddenly seeing the man that shot up the village earlier appear with a large pistol in his hand pointed at them.

"Sacrificed perhaps? No…" he said vanishing again as Teal'c rose an eyebrow. He reappeared. "Damn, must be that hit I took when I was fighting those guys outside the….."

He vanished again muttering a few choice words.

"My death will do nothing to appease the Ori." Teal'c said waving his hand and hitting something on the second swing.

"I think I got…." Ford said then vanished again.

"We think differently. If you stand in the way Thilana, you will suffer the same fate." he said pointing his knife at her.

"Any ideas yet? All we have to do is…." Mitchell began.

"Encompass the village for a few minutes at most. They think it's destroyed and they leave. The other two generators are down. We need more power to do that though."

"I have a solution Mistress."

"What is it K-9?" Ford asked walking through the wall only to disappear moments later. "Ah damn."

"What's…." Mitchell began to ask.

"The power units inside the Ori troops lances will suffice Mistress."

"You're right. Cam, pick those up and bring them here. You, if you're still here, tell me what's going on?"

"Matar, killing Teal'c will prove nothing. They won't be appeased. If those gods are truly worthy of our devotion, then pray to them. But no god, should ever have you kill and innocent man to prove you sanctity." she said walking up slowly to the twitching knife in his hand. "I know you are afraid, but if we're going to die. Let us die a noble peace. And truth of spirit."

He was crying as she took the knife away from his shaky hand. Teal'c nodded as the others slowly lowered their weapons.

Vala was half asleep on the bed as Tomin was talking to her, sitting on the bed near her.

"Why do they not reveal themselves?" she heard him ask.

She sat up quickly rubbing sleep from her eyes as she saw him sitting next to her.

"I'm sorry. Who?"

"You're friends. They are concealing a building on the planets surface. And the man that the Orici wants captured refuses to surrender much less die even under our attacks. The Prior plans to destroy the whole village because of them. Hundreds will die because of your friends treachery."

"Innocent people."

"Yes."

"You're not happy about that?"

"No." he said as she nodded. "He twisted the meaning."

"Who?" she asked in confusion.

"The Prior. He changed the meaning of the story of Markon to suit the situation. To justify killing the villagers."

"Well, if you think that's wrong, you should do something about it."

"He's a Prior."

"Tomin, those people down their don't have to die and you're the only one who can do something about it." she said sternly.

Ford fazed back in and managed to ask K-9 for help before fazing back out.

"Can't you get to the T.A.R.D.I.S.?" she asked as she pointed out where she wanted Mitchell to open the staffs.

"I can't stay vis…." he said fading away.

"He is stuck Mistress. Many words I do not care to repeat are being said."

"What's he doing to fix the problem?" Mitchell asked pulling the two crystals out of the staffs. "Now what Sam?"

"He is running Colonel. I believe in an attempt to out run the blast zone."

"Will be succeed K-9?" she said turning to him in extreme worry, only to cry out slightly because of the pain in her hand.

"Data unavailable to formulate a reply. The Master did wish me to convey the message that he did have a Ancient personal shield on his person as well."

"Sam? As much as I hate to say this, you can't think of him right now. What do I do with these?" he said holding them in her face.

"Put the crystal in the back of the device."

Mitchell opened the back of Merlin's device to find a small slot.

"They both won't fit."

"Set the other aside then."

"It doesn't fit."

"Use the power interface adaptor."

"What?"

"These things here." she said pointing with her left hand. "Attach it to the end of each side of the crystal and then to the…"

"Okay, I got it now." he said working on it.

The ship in orbit was moving closer to the planet to aim the main weapon, the Prior sitting in the main chair with his staff next to him. Tomin entered the bridge as he was getting ready to fire.

"Excuse me Prior."

"Come in, Tomin. It is good that you have seen your way here." he said as Tomin walked up but not onto the raised platform the Ori chair sat on. "Hallowed are those who walk in unison."

"Forgive me Prior, for I am still troubled. I believe we are in error. The people of the village have expressed a willingness to seek the truth. I believe they are in earnest. Do not the Ori want all that seek their wisdom to follow the path?"

"I'm disappointed Tomin. It seems that you have began to question the will of the Ori. Or is it the unbeliever under your tutelage, that has corrupted you?"

"No, I have not began to question the will of the Ori. But I have began to question the interpretation of their words." he said forcefully. "No matter what you say, I do not believe the Book of Origin ask us to massacre innocent people! And I will not stand by while the holy doctrine of good will and faith that I have sworn to uphold is twisted into a hammer and beat people down!"

"How dare you!" the Prior exclaimed loudly as he stood up quickly.

Mitchell was linking and connecting as she pointed out what needed to be placed where and in what order. As he placed the last connection on the device, it popped loudly. He jumped slightly and sucked his index finger, muttering around it in pain.

"That's a good sign."

"Great, now we both need the General to heal us after this fiasco. What now?"

"Help me closer to the laptop."

He had to help her sit up better and then scooted the chair closer to the table.

"Okay, now the easy part." she muttered as she typed with her left hand.

"Behold, the hand of the Ori at work!" he said taking a few steps forward and activating his staff.

Two blast came from the forward section and blasted the planet where the village was. A third and fourth followed shortly after. Tomin walked out quickly and went back to Vala.

"What's happening?" she asked as he walked in and grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me."

"The Prior destroyed the village. There was nothing I could do. Now keep silent please, for both our sakes." he said as he pulled her out of the room.

He quickly went thought the corridors with her and got her into the ring room. The door closed as he let her go.

"We're about to break orbit. They'll probably kill me for this, but I'm going to ring you down to the planet."

"Come with me. Please Tomin."

"You're right. I still love you."

"Then come." she said with a bright smile before he kissed her.

"This is all I can do." he said walking to the controls on the wall.

"No Tomin, there is more. Come with me."

He pressed the buttons and then looked back at her sad face before the rings came up and took her away. It took her several minutes to walk from the rings and make it back to where the village was suppose to be. There was a massive blast area and a several foot large hole in the ground.

"Hello?" she said sadly and with tears in her eyes. "Anyone?"

A bright light all around her made her blink and then she opened them to find the village was completely intact and everyone was there.

"Vala Mal Doran."

She turned around with a big smile and jumped into Teal'cs arms.

"Colonel Carter was able to expand the field around the village in time." he said as she nodded happily. "Colonel Mitchell, Vala Mal Doran is here."

"That's good news. I don't suppose the General is there with you?"

"No, he is not." Teal'c said with some confusion as he glanced around.

"Has the ship left?
"As far as I know it has." Vala said using Teal'cs com.

"Carter's been hurt really bad. We need a med team ASAP. And someone find the General. According to K-9, he ran out of the village to avoid the blast. Don't ask, just go look."

"Indeed."

"I'm not that bad." she grumbled lightly.

"Sam, K-9 says you have a high fever and a very serious infection. If it wasn't for the Generals healing power, he says that you would never gain full use of you hand ever again."

"Nice." she muttered groggily.

They called out and looked around a bit while trying their coms. When she looked down at her watch and noticed the little heart beat meter was barely registering, she gave her watch to Mitchell who ran of out the village quickly following the directional meter pointing towards his location. A few hundred meters outside the village but still inside the blast zone, was where they found him. Though they told her not to move, she went along with anyway with Teal'c and Vala helping her walk. She helped turn him over with Mitchell and Teal'c. His coat along with the rest of his clothes were badly burned along with a lot of his exposed body, such as face, hands, one of his feet where the boot was almost completely burned off and a few places on his chest and legs. He was completely bald too. She noticed as they were turning him over that he had a personal shield on that kept fluctuating on and off. It failed as she managed to reach through the weakened field and pocket it. One of his hearts wasn't working correctly while the other was trying to compensate.

"Oh god. That looks bad, even for him." Vala said.

"Vala, go dial the SGC. Tell them we need a stretcher for the General, quickly. We'll be right behind you." Mitchell said. "Teal'c, help me out here."

Between the rest of them, they managed to get his coat off and guns. Teal'c and Mitchell picked him up gently and took off as they ladies followed along with the help that had came to work on Carter. They went through the gate quickly and placed him on the stretcher and put Carter on one as well. Lam wasn't really sure what to do at first as they rushed through the corridors.

"Why isn't his body healing?" she asked herself as she looked over his wounds as they entered the infirmary. "What happened to cause this?"

Carter and Mitchell quickly explained what happened as another doctor was looking her hand over. It hurt like hell still and was bleeding again since she used it to turn Ford over and such. Another shot of morphine helped her think a little better now that she didn't really feel any pain, but it made her kinda loopy. The rest of SG-1 was getting checked out on other beds while watching and waiting.

"He should be healing, but his body isn't doing anything. He's got second and third degree burns on various parts of his body." Lam said as they cut his clothes off behind a closed curtain.

Carter wanted to see him, but Lam said it wasn't a pretty sight and not a great idea to look anyway because of her emotional attachment. Not to mention her body had enough to deal with, such as the infection, bleeding and high fever over 102. Lam said this as they finished getting all his clothes off and started doing an assessment on his total condition.

"Okay I need…" Lam began saying to a couple of the nurses when one of them pointed at Ford.

"Doctor!" the nurse exclaimed.

"Oh my god. Everyone back…" she exclaimed as Ford's body began glowing brightly. Not a blue color like when his, quickening as he called it, kicked in and healed him, but yellow. With a sort of sparkly effect.

Carter saw the strange glow and rushed off the bed, knocking the doctor working on her hand aside. Ignoring the pain in her hand, she quickly ripped the curtain open to see Ford's body glowing a bright yellow and distorted. You could make an outline of where a body was, but no defining features. The rest of SG-1 started over to see what was going on as well.

"Oh no. They might be trying to ascend him…" Vala began.

"No! You can't leave me!" she cried out grabbing his shoulders.

The glowing light engulfed her and she screamed a brief moment before letting go and falling to the ground. Lam yelled for different medical equipment and to have K-9 brought down as she rushed to Carter's side. She also told the rest of SG-1 to stay back just in case. Carter stayed glowing for a couple seconds and then it faded away.

"Doctor Lam, it's going away." one of the nurses said.

She got up quickly as everyone watched the glowing effect disappear. His body was completely healed. Though there was a very noticeable change. He had his hair back, same style, though instead of being very black, it now had a very noticeable blue tint to it, kinda like he dyed it or something. Even his eyebrows had the same color. They didn't really noticed it at first, but later found out he also lost two inches of his height and about ten years by his complexion. His face had changed slightly to, instead of the hard determined and ready at a moments notice for action look he was described as having, it now looked like he still had that, but with a more gentle appearance, less aggressive look in some ways. Even when he slept, especially off world, SG-1 noticed that Ford always looked ready to pounce, even in deep sleep. This look made it seem like he was at peace or something. What really caught most of the people's attention, mostly the ladies in the room, wasn't the fact he had no hair anywhere else, which most of the medical staff already knew about, but was the fact he was totally naked on that bed and pretty much everyone saw him. And everything. Lam quickly grabbed a sheet covering him and then started barking orders quickly. Lam wasn't the only one female in the room that had a blush on their face.

"Wow, no wonder Sam…."

"Don't finish that Vala." Mitchell warned with a glare that several others also gave her. "Can anyone explained what we just saw?"

"He's never been hurt this bad before Colonel. Maybe it's the effect that takes place….." Lam said.

Pretty much everyone went silent as they heard what K-9 reported to Lam about Ford's condition.

"Wait, he did what?" Lam asked.

"The Master has regenerated doctor." K-9 announced again.

"This does not bode well." Teal'c stated with worry.

Though Teal'c was a Star Wars fan, he had watched most of the Doctor Who episodes with Ford and Carter. Daniel watched most of them as well and Jack only saw a few, not really getting into it as much.

An hour later, SG-1 minus the two Carter's were waiting to hear news. Ford still hadn't woken up and Lam told them about his change in height and possible muscle mass. The hair was permanent. The biggest surprise was his eyes though, which she showed the team. It didn't wake him up as she opened them for the group, except Carter who was still asleep. Everyone was kinda startled at their appearance. Instead of the blue he had, even though it didn't technically exist as a color, Lam said it did now, they change to a sharp electrical ice blue.

"Kinda creepy doc." Mitchell said. "Even in this state, I'd swear he's trying peer into my soul or something."

"Yeah, I think so too. The creepy part anyway."

"What about Sam?" Vala asked.

"She's still asleep. Her body was hit with a massive dose of energy that the General's body was emitting during the regeneration phase, as K-9 described. It shouldn't have had any effect on her, or so he said. Though he didn't have enough data to say that with 100 percent accuracy. He speculates that it might have something to do with her once injured hand, though not enough data like before."

"Wait, once injured?" Mitchell asked.

Lam lifted Carter's hand to show it was perfectly fine. And smoother than before.

"Notice anything else different about her? I only noticed it after K-9 told me her condition. Though a few nurses noticed it before K-9 said anything. Though it was more of the male nurses that really noticed."

They looked at her face, seeing as that was where Lam pointed. There was something different but they couldn't really point out what it was.

"She….kinda looks younger." Mitchell said. "But then she always looked younger than her real age."

"I don't even begin to understand how it happened, but that energy that engulfed her, not only healed her hand, but gave her back three years of her life."

"Wait, did you say she de-aged?"

"Yes Mitchell. Three years."

"Wow." Mitchell said. "Wait, does that means she lost the last three years of her life too? Memory wise."

"According to K-9, her mind is still totally intact. As is the General's." she said turning around to look at him. "What the hell…."
They and the rest of everyone in the room turned to look at an empty bed. She quickly hit the alarm as Mitchell called Walter and General Landry to inform them of Ford's disappearance. The group ran out to look around with the MP's and other security. No one found him though and half an hour after he was reported missing. All the hatches were still in place and other than there being an unknown energy reading in his and Carter's room on the base, they didn't find anything. His locator beacon was gone, probably absorbed when he regenerated. His guns, his damaged coat, watch, ring, dog tags and a few other items of his were missing from the base.

"How did he get out without being seen?" Mitchell muttered as they looked around with several others outside the Carter's room. "Not even the security cameras have anything."

"I have been wondering that as well." Teal'c stated. "It is also strange that the camera outside his room was not functioning either."

"Colonel Mitchell." Landry's voice said over the com.

"Mitchell here."

"Bring everyone back in and report to the infirmary."

"Is everything okay with Colonel Carter?" he asked worried.

"Other than she is missing from the infirmary and there is a weird police box down there now."

They quickly rushed down and entered to find a couple of guards at ready. There against one of the bare walls was a tall blue police phone booth. K-9 was also missing. Landry was there with his arms crossed and a slightly angry look on his face.

"When and where did he get this? I don't really understand the whole thing about him becoming this….Time whatever person. Even with the story I heard about how it happened and Carolyn telling me about the incident with him changing. I don't watch whatever show this thing he is, is about and don't try explaining it either. What is this?"

"Basically, is a time machine sir. A very powerful one." Mitchell said.

Between the three members of SG-1 that was there, they talked.

Sam awoke slowly to hear movement. She felt, kinda different, and wasn't sure why. A quick look at her hand made her think something was up and then she remembered grabbing Ford. Sitting up quickly she noticed she was in their room in the T.A.R.D.I.S. The door was open and K-9 was next to the bed.

"Mistress."

"Hey K-9. What's going on?"

"The Master is changing clothes Mistress."

"I don't see him in the closest." she said getting off the bed and seeing she was still in the infirmary garb. "Is there anyone else in the ship?"

"Negative. Only you and the Master."

"And you."

"I do not qualify as organic life Mistress, therefore I do not include myself." he said as she got up.

"We still include you anyway K-9. Where is he then?"

She followed him down several corridors to one of the room where there was a massive spiral stair case on the middle and tons of clothes against the wall on different levels. She heard him on one of the levels looking around. Seeing as the air was kinda chilly, she grabbed a black fake furred coat off a rack and started up.

"Hey Ford?"

"Hmm. Hey Sam. How you feeling?"

"Fine. Great actually. Not sure why. Not even tired." she said looking at her hand from several angels. "Where are you?"

"What level you on? Ah, now this looks promising. Yes this will work with my new coat perfectly. And there is several other versions here. Excellent."

"Level two going on three. How many levels…"

"Twenty levels. Though we only have clothes up to level 15, or was it sixteen? Hang on, I'll be right down. Wait, what are you wearing?"

"Barely anything." she said waiting on the third level as she glanced around.

"Hmm." he said with a seductive tone. "We do have a bit of time…"

"How did I get in the T.A.R.D.I.S? Better question, how are you, what happened and what happened to me?" she asked after a few minutes.

"Well." she heard as he was walking down the stairs and getting closer. "I brought you into the T.A.R.D.I.S. Scared a few of the nurses and Doctor Lam too. I'm fine. No, feeling great actually. What happened to me, K-9 said I regenerated, which makes a lot of sense as to why I kinda feel different. A nice kinda of different. A little more cheery I think."

"Cheery?" she muttered confused.

She raised an eyebrow as she heard the tone in his voice. It didn't have that usual hint of him sounding ready for an attack to happen. That edge in his voice that was always there before was gone.

"As for you, K-9 said something about you grabbing me while I was regenerating. Shocks me because I didn't think I could regenerate. Figured I was on my last one since I heal up anyway. K-9 also says I still am immortal, though on a different level, which blows my mind. Kinda interesting combo to have, but hey. Not complaining. Must be part of that gift package I got. You were engulfed by my regenerative energies, which he can show on one of the monitors from the security cameras. Really cool actually. It healed your hand and, gave you back three years. I didn't think it could do that, but…"

She blinked a few times as he came down onto her level.

"What are you wear….wait, gave me what?" she asked in confusion.

"Three years of your life have been given back." he said walking up slowly. "Fur, thankfully fake, doesn't suit you. The jean look is better. Or those very tight leather outfits. Though just about anything red is extremely sexy on you."

She looked him up and down and raised an eyebrow at the cane as he tried to use it to lift the bottom of her garb slightly.

"Hey, not fair." she said pushing it away.

"Can you blame me?" he said with a seductive smile.

It was an octagonal cane, made of a metal that had a blue tint to it, though the name of the metal escaped her at the moment. On the front of the cane, wrote on the one side facing out, was the word "GENERAL" in capital letters, all in pure silver. The top had a diamond shape handle, about half the size of a base ball, made of the same blue metal. But without the sharp edges. On the top, inset into that under a flat diamond crystal clear cover was a solid gold Omega symbol surrounded by black onyx.

He was wearing his black coat, but it didn't have the pockets like it used to. Instead, it had two for the hands and they were barely present. She opened it slightly to see several pockets here and there, things in some of them. His Sonic Screwdriver was on the left side upper pocket. His glasses on the right side. The collar wasn't folded down, it stood up all the way around at a two inch height, apparently keeping his neck rather safe from sword swings or anything for that matter. There was barely noticeable small slits in the back for him to grab his guns. The buttons for the coat were gone being replaced with a strong zipper.

He spun around for her as she looked. He had new belts and buckles. The first one above the one going through the belt loops held his two pistols behind his back plus five clips on either side of each gun. The buckle was a solid silver, a small octagon in shape with the letter G on it. Like the G in SGC on the flag. She noticed a line down the middle of the buckle that showed where it came apart. The second buckle which was on the belt in his loops, was a bit smaller, square in shape and had the same sort of G on it. Both belts were the same type of black leather.

Dark black slacks plus a vest and dress suit coat showed it was a three piece suit that he was wearing under the heavy armored coat. A pocket watch of some sort was in one side of the vest while a chain was in the other vest pocket. A white long sleeved shirt with small horizontal blue lines was under that. The buttons were silver with black onyx setting in them. All the buttons on the shirt were that way. On the ends of the coat collar, was a solid gold star on either side facing out, signifying his rank. Just under the collar, on the right side was a small Autobot insignia pin. There was a small Star Trek pin on the other side. His stars attracted more attention she noticed only because she kept seeing them shine under the light. His dog tags, with the Stargate on it, along with the T.A.R.D.I.S key and some small little metal box were hanging from his neck outside the shirt, about near his stomach. The lapels of the shirt had a small blue G sewn into it. Also styled like the belt. As were the cuff links that had the G letter.

She quickly noticed he still had his wedding ring on along with a ring on his middle finger. He said it was made of a metal called Tungsten Carbide as she looked at it. In the middle of the ring, all the way around, was the gem sapphire. Cost him quite a pretty penny and very difficult for the jewel maker to make. He also said that there was several different colors of the same style suit and shirt, for when he needed to change. Unlike the Doctor, who never changed and probably cleaned his or changed into another just like it, he had other colors.

"I got all this, somewhat recently. I left the base, by calling the T.A.R.D.I.S. home, and spent a few days getting the coat and ring made. Though I did the coat. I also got rid of my hidden gun in my arm. Not going to bring my sword either. Just going to keep my hidden blades."

"Hmm, the woven Adamantium is in this." she said feeling it. "I guess you came back to get me….how long?"

"A couple hours after I left. I noticed you were still asleep when I dropped in. Had you been awake, I would have went back an hour. You had been asleep…..maybe ten minutes in the T.A.R.D.I.S." he said looking at the watch on his right hand. "I had planned on coming back and seducing you for a few hours, but, you woke up."

"Hmm. A nice idea." she said with a certain smile. "I like the outfit. Why though?"

"Feels right. Needed a new look anyway."

"And the cane? Which really looks funny for you."

"Feels right." he said tapping it against his shoulder. "As much as I am thinking about what's all under that coat, you need to get dressed. We are parked in the infirmary."

"Wait! You mean you the T.A.R.D.I.S. is just left in the open for everyone to see?!" she asked as they walked down.

"Why not? My, no, our ship. No one can take her away from us. She won't work for anyone else but us so, there's no danger. And if anyone tried to take her forcibly, she will kick them out. They try to do anything to you or the rest of our family, and I mean the rest of SG-1 and such, then we can all leave and go wherever we wish. Stop injustice, prevent crimes and other bad things, all from here inside this. Well, we'd have to leave the ship to fight injustice and such, but we wouldn't have any backup from the SGC if it came down to that. Go on adventures like the Doctor. That sounds nice."

"You sound serious." she said as they exited the room and left the fur coat.

"I am serious." he said eyeing her quite a bit. She kicked the cane away as he tried the attempt from earlier. "I'm tired of the people above us, technically speaking, thinking they are better than us because of their rank system. We know what we are doing. If they even try to take the T.A.R.D.I.S. away, or even announce to try, I'll pack things up and we'll leave. We'll do what we can to keep the planet protected from here. Got all the comforts of home and the supplies we need. And we can hack into any computer system to learn whatever we need."

"Except being on Earth." she said as they entered their room. "Quit looking at me like that. It's totally unfair when it's one sided. And stop or I'll take the cane away and have K-9 melt it."

"Sorry. Can't help it." he said trying once again and then stopping as he was glared at hard enough he had to look away. "Anyway, seriously, if it came down to that, we're gone. But, they know that the Earth is only protected because SG-1 and pretty much everyone else in the SGC has kept it that way. You change the status quo, it makes for bad relations with certain allies. Not to mention certain people up on the hill I know won't feel the planet is as safe as it could be. Essentially, and I seriously mean this, the Earth needs us a lot more than we need it."

"Partial true." she said as she got dressed in SGC BDU's. "You can't go out there like that. And quit watching me dress. Not fair unless you are doing it too."

"I don't see why not." he said as he walked out. "Doctor does it everywhere he goes. No one makes him change."

"But that's TV!"
"Oh." he said coming back into the room and opening a drawer. "Wear this on your hip. I'll teach you better later and why. Just wear it and trust me. It's important."

"I can't fire this." she said holding the extra personal cannon that was in a holster.

"You can if you use normal armor piercing ammo. Normal propellant anyway. Just wear it for me." he said pushing gently to her chest. "Trust me."

"Okay. We better talk about this much more later." she said putting it on her right hip.

"And none of the technology in there has been shared with us?"

"Well, Sam has been looking it over when she has time…." Mitchell began.

"Has time? From what you just told me, we've had this thing for months now. Almost a year in fact. What's the problem?" he said slapping a hand against the door rather hard.

"Well sir, the interior is rather large."

"Yes Colonel. You explained that part."

"I guess we didn't go into enough detail. We're not talking large like our ships sir." Mitchell said. "We're talking that the T.A.R.D.I.S. is completely built around a black hole, which is part of its power source. Or at least that's the way I've understood it. It's practically a small planet in there. Even Sam has barely grasped the concept behind that system. Both of them have been looking at the different systems, but some of them are so…what did Sam say again?"

"Though I have listen to her talk for many years, I still have trouble grasping many of the technical issues she speaks of." Teal'c said. "The issues with the T.A.R.D.I.S. are even more eluding."

"I said, that almost all the systems I have came across in this thing are so technologically advanced that even with K-9's help, reverse engineering the shield system alone could take months to over a year." Carter said as she walked out startling Landry. "And it takes a lot of power for just that system alone. A lot of the technology in here is made from metals and other materials that I have yet to identify fully."

"Colonel. Are you okay?" Landry asked concerned.

They all noticed the gun on her hip and she noticed they saw it.

"Just fine sir. Ford told me what happened as did K-9. I don't understand how it happened but hey, three years back is better than two sir. K-9 says Doctor Lam is looking over his and my blood results to see if she can find anything that might be able to, figure out how and what really happened. And on the long shot that we may be able to reproduce the effect, but K-9 said that it is not possible."

"And where is he?"

"He was behind me." she said pushing on the door. But it didn't open. "Damn auto lock."

She knocked on a it a few times and waited.

"He must be changing. Basically sir, even with all the time we've been in it, and technically you could say I've actually only gain two years back."

"I don't get it." Mitchell said.

"I do." Vala said. "They've been traveling around. Ford mentioned it once that they've been looking around since the ship became fully functional."

"When did he tell you this?" Mitchell asked.

"We talk, during sparring sessions. Me and Kate like to hear how things are going with them and things he does to keep Sam happy. That way we know what to look for to get Mr. Right. Though Daniel won't…"

"Anyway," Carter said interrupting. "Mostly we've been using the time to spend more time with Sally. She's at least six months older, and me and Ford are a year older, or so. Sir."

"And after all this time, you still haven't been able to learn anything at all to help us here?" Landry asked crossing his arms.

"We have been trying sir. Sure, I can hook my laptop to the console and look through most of the system, but understanding half of how it works is still beyond me. And like I said, even with K-9 helping, there is so much there that even he doesn't fully understand. The T.A.R.D.I.S. has no weapons sir. Most of the technology that she has that we would really want is dealing with the shield. But I already explained that."

"There is one other problem that has yet to be told." Teal'c stated.

"Ford doesn't want to share anything?" Landry asked.

"No. Sharing is just fine. In fact, it would make the world a much better place if people could only see past themselves and their problems with other people in the world." Ford said walking out. "But the problem I think our dear brother Teal'c is mentioning is, we have to be careful with the T.A.R.D.I.S. She's very temperamental and sensitive."

"You make it sound like she is alive." Landry said with a small laugh that went away as he noticed the looks on everyone's faces. Well, SG-1 anyway.

"She is alive. Though she doesn't talk to anyone. I don't understand all, but I've seen the evidence." Vala said.

"What is with the suit General?" Mitchell asked.

"What is everyone's problem with how I look? This is comfy and feels right. Those BDU'S started itching and were very uncomfortable. I was just looking through all the clothes in there and this spoke to me. Several actually, but I chose this one for the moment."

"Oh great." Mitchell muttered. "And he has a cane to go with the getup too."

"This is all very confusing. I can keep from saying anything, up until the point the I.O.A. and whoever else learns about this. What happens after that?" Landry said.

"Had you ever seen the Doctor, you'd notice he doesn't let a lot of people into his T.A.R.D.I.S. either. Same goes for me." he said with a small smile. "There is more than one control room, or Console room as it is called. So if anyone forces their way in and tried to take control, especially against the T.A.R.D.I.S. will, she will kick them out. Or at least that's what I understand."

"That and if anyone presses the issue and tries to order or take her away from us, we'll both quit." Carter said. "Even if they say we went AWOL, we'll take our family and leave. Not that I want to sir."

"I don't know about the rest of SG-1…" Ford said looking at the others. "But they will be welcome to come with us and help save the Earth and who knows who else, if worse comes to worse."

"Hmm. You'd probably take Walter too." Landry said.

"You're taking this rather well sir." Ford said swinging his cane back in forth in one hand by the top. "But no on that. Walter is needed here much more. I fully trust him behind that computer."

"I've learned a lot of things while working here. Especially about the close knit family SG-1 has become and the things you've done. Some have been rather illegal and wrong, but for the right reasons. But you all have always had the best interest of everyone here at heart. You've all taken care of more than just your own. So, just keep me updated on what you can on this.." he said waving at the T.A.R.D.I.S. "And try to keep out of trouble. Though I doubt you'll do that last part."

They watched him walk out with some surprise on their faces.

"That went better than I thought." Ford said. "I actually thought I was going to be packing things up. Kinda wish I was. I want to travel around more."

"What are we going to do with this? We can't leave it here." Mitchell said. "And we're still on the clock right now. And why are you wearing that Sam?"

"We are?" Ford said looking at his watch. "Funny. We got off hours ago Colonel. Especially with all that trouble we went through earlier. I'm going home."

"The gun? I'll let you know when I find out." she said making the other three even more confused. "What about our cars?"

"Everyone want a ride home? We can pick up our vehicles and then I can drop you all off." Ford said.

"Nice idea General. But what if I need to go somewhere for something. Driving my car out of the T.A.R.D.I.S. in front of everyone around my neighborhood will look a little strange." Mitchell said.

"Indeed."

"Hmm. Right, we still have to keep aliens a secret." he said tapping the top of the cane to his lip. "I forgot for a moment."

"You forgot?" Carter asked as they entered. "All these years and you suddenly space it?!"

"I'm not human anymore. So I didn't think about it fully." the heard him say as the T.A.R.D.I.S. vanished away. "No one ever noticed the Doctor…"
"You know, when I decided to work here, I never thought I'd see fiction shows come to life. Then I learned that we are one in another universe." Lam said as the watched the T.A.R.D.I.S fade away. "If I ever see anyone from one of my shows suddenly show up, I might quit."

"What do you watch that would be that bad?" Mitchell asked.

"Wel…I'm better off not saying anything. Good night. I hope you sleep better than I do. Today has been the weirdest day of work to date." she said going to her office.

"Weirdest day? Hmm, that will take a lot of thought." Mitchell said as they walked out. "What about you Vala, or better yet, you Teal'c?"

It was only later that night before Vala went to bed that she realized that Ford didn't sneeze when he came out of the T.A.R.D.I.S and she didn't get that buzz feeling.