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Take 19: Where did they come from?
Category for this take: Sci-Fi / Angst (minor)
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"This is great."
"I told ya!"
"I can't believe we didn't do this years ago."
"Yes, well, let's not dwell."
"Didn't that tape say there were no fish in your pond?"
"Close enough."
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"Carter, I've been wondering about the team on the tape."
"What about them, Sir?"
"Where did they come from, before, they went back in time?"
"From the present."
"See that's the thing. They didn't come from our present. I know that because we are still here."
"You caught that?"
"Yes, see, I knew that was important. What does it mean?"
"On the surface, it would seem to be a paradox. But I have a theory."
"Of course you do."
"Every decision we make, we can create an alternate reality."
"Wait a second Carter. I'm having enough trouble with this time travel stuff. Do you have to add in the alternate reality stuff?"
"You asked, Sir."
"Ok, just get it over with. Decisions, reality, go."
"So in the reality of the team on the tape, they decided to go into the past to get a ZPM. In our reality we decided not to."
"But aren't we in the same reality?"
"Now we are. However, my theory is that the Ancient's time machine only allows travel back in time by shifting realities. That avoids the risk of a paradox."
"So this alternate SG-1 is actually from..."
"Another reality, just like the quantum mirror."
"Ok. That explains the other me thinking there were no fish. What about this reality that they came from? Are they without a Carter?"
"Well, Sir, I suppose so."
"I wouldn't want to live in that reality. Who would save world the next time it needed saving?"
"I'm sure they would manage, Sir."
"I'm not. So this team in the past would have been effectively out of the Air Force."
"Not much flying in ancient Egypt."
"At least they had that going for them. It would almost be worth it."
"Almost?"
"For now, we can't leave this reality without a Carter. Maybe someday we'll get our chance."