Disclaimer in chapter 1
18
Sam lay on the uncomfortable cot in her cell, staring up at the ceiling. She'd tried to sleep, but there was too much running around her mind. At least they'd given her something more appropriate to wear in the chilly confines of the cell block. Not that the BDUs were anything close to warm, but it beat her pink waitress outfit. The clothes' familiarity offered some small bit of comfort. She was sure that hadn't been Samuels' intent, but she took what she could get.
All she could think about was Jack and Charlie. How worried they had to be. If only there was some way to get them a message. While she couldn't say when she'd be back, she could at least assure them she was all right. Relatively speaking.
Turning her head to the sound of the outer door opening, Sam heard voices she couldn't quite catch. She was alone in the area that seemed to house ten cells, so the visitor was obviously for her. Standing, walking to the bars, Sam found her hopes dashed when Samuels entered the detention area.
"Oh. It's you."
"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss me," he said, staring down his nose. He held up a sheaf of papers. "Apparently you have some friends in very high places."
Sam gripped the bars. "That's my release?" Even she couldn't believe orders for her discharge had been issued so quickly, if indeed they would come at all. Who knew she was in here? Wherever "here" was.
"The head of Homeworld Security himself authorized it." Sam could see he was watching her, waiting to see if she knew who he was talking about. In her world Homeworld Security was a newly created office. She knew General Hammond was on the short list for the position, but was that the case here? There were just enough discrepancies in this universe that the person occupying the post could be someone she didn't know. She took a chance.
"General Hammond? How is Uncle George, anyway?" The shock on Samuels face confirmed her suspicions. "Maybe the next time you kidnap someone you'll check out how well connected they are before you take them." Sam curbed the urge to say more, knowing Samuels already had plans to check out how she knew Hammond. Had Samantha known him? Was this Hammond friends with Jacob? Until she knew otherwise, she was going on the assumption there was a family association.
Samuels produced a keycard, taking his time sliding it through the electronic lock. At the sound of the click, Sam slid the bars open, starting to push past him, wondering how soon she could get to a phone.
"Not so fast, Ms. Carter," he stated, waving the papers and holding up a pair of handcuffs. "You have to be processed out. And just because you're being released from this facility, doesn't mean you're free to go." Samuels snapped on the cuffs, which had some kind of electronic locking mechanism. The diode of the lock blinked brightly enough to reflect off the cement walls.
Sam looked down at the restraints. "What are you talking about? You still have no right to hold me!"
Samuels gestured her forward. "Apparently Uncle George has other plans for you. He didn't set you free, just authorized your removal from this facility." Sam swallowed. Not free to go? What use could they possibly have for her?
"Well, at least I'm out of your hands," she said with more bravado than she felt. They continued in silence to the elevator. Turning around, Sam noticed there were twenty-eight buttons on the control panel. While it didn't look exactly the same as the lift in her SGC, it did set her to wondering. Were they beneath NORAD? Was this what the facility was being used for instead of housing the Stargate?
Sam had her confirmation when they reached level five and she saw the bank of elevators which should lead to NORAD and the surface. Expecting to enter the next set of lifts, Sam was surprised when she was guided to a cramped, stale office, staffed with enlisted personnel.
Samuels pushed her into a hard chair as he handed the sheaf of papers to the private in front of her. "She's got a ride waiting," he said, as if this was her pass to express check-out. The man/boy's features didn't change as he took the papers and began typing.
Sam looked around the airless room, grateful she'd never been assigned a clerical post. Where could they be taking her? A more secure facility? Surely a subterranean prison had to be the deepest, darkest hole they could toss her into. And yet, she was being released. By Hammond, no less. What the hell was going on?
Wordlessly, the private handed the papers back to Samuels who now yanked her upright in the same rough manner. "Your ride's this way." Sam gave him an expression she hoped conveyed her less-than-amused state. This time they did enter the surface elevators and Sam felt herself relax a fraction. Samuels rode in silence, but she watched his jaw working, grinding teeth in an effort to control his anger and frustration. She wasn't sure where she was heading, but it was obvious Samuels wasn't happy about it. All the more reason to be hopeful, she thought.
Once outside, Sam took a deep breath, squinting in the bright sunlight. Where the parking lot had been in her universe, a helipad occupied the space in this one. The chopper hadn't even powered down, making Sam realize this was the reason she'd been hustled out of the facility. Wherever she was headed, they were in a damn big hurry to get her there.
Samuels assisted her into the helicopter, touching her only as much as was necessary. Sam was just as glad to have minimal contact with the odious man, and held out her hands to have him remove her cuffs. The noise from the rotors precluded any conversation, and he shook his head, handing some kind metal chip to the guard accompanying the pilot. Apparently she was still considered a prisoner.
Half expecting to be drugged, or at least encased in a hood, Sam was pleasantly surprised to see the guard only signal her to fasten her seat belt. "Where are we going?" she shouted, but only received another head shake. She hoped this wasn't going to be a long flight, or they planned for a pit stop, because she really needed to use a bathroom.
XXXXXX
The intra-base phone on Jacob's desk rang twice before it was picked up.
"They're bringing her in now, sir."
"Um, good. They made good time." he struggled for what to add. "Have her escorted to the conference room and notify SG-1." Jacob's hands were sweating, and he stood to pace his office, feeling more nerves than he did going into battle. This shouldn't be that hard, he thought to himself. You don't know this woman. She's not your daughter. You don't know what she is. Running his hand over his face, Jacob realized it was more than his palms sweating, and he actually felt sick to his stomach. Some war-tempered soldier, he thought. He couldn't even face the prospect of meeting someone who resembled his wife.
The plan was to have Colonel Jackson meet her first, sound her out, see what she knew. When he felt the time was right, he'd introduce the rest of SG-1. After that, Jacob was supposed to join them and assess her himself, passing on any recommendations to Hammond. After that? He wasn't sure. He just had to get through the next few hours. God help him.
XXXXXX
Daniel sat in the vacant conference room, scanning the report Bert Samuels had submitted to the NID Agent Cross. He was quite sure the file hadn't been meant to be seen outside the Agency, but General Hammond ordered a copy be sent to the SGC. He'd never met the Lieutenant Colonel, but he knew the type: over-eager boot-licker who would sell his mother if it would get him ahead. He had no doubt the report had been embellished with Samantha's potential danger.
At the sound of the door opening Daniel got to his feet, wondering if she would recognize him. One guard entered first, followed by a blonde haired woman, and a second guard behind. She was still in handcuffs, causing the first words out of his mouth to be an order for her release. She looked up at the sound of his voice.
"Daniel? Oh, my God, Daniel!" She started to run forward causing the guards to step closer and block her from moving towards him.
"It's all right!" He barked. "And I told you to remove those cuffs!" The guard gave him a skeptical look, but produced the metal chip, inserting it into the lock on the handcuffs. As soon as she was free, the woman rushed ahead, embracing him.
"It's so good to see you! I can't believe your'e here!" Daniel returned the embrace rather awkwardly and she stepped back, appraising his appearance. "You're not him, are you?"
"Um, no, I don't think I am." All of the energy suddenly left her and she collapsed into one of the chairs parked around the table. Turning, she looked at him more closely.
"No, you're not, Colonel," she said, noting the pins on his collar. Daniel took a seat across from her, eyeing her just as closely, a grin breaking out on his face.
"You look different."
"Excuse me?"
"From the other Sam I met. She had longer hair, and glasses."
Sam blinked. "You've met other mes? I mean other Sam Carters?"
Daniel nodded, still staring at her, fascinated. This was a woman from another universe! "Well, just the one. And now you." He probably should be questioning her, he realized instead of comparing alternate reality notes. Samuels seemed to think she was a spy from this universe not some hapless visitor from another. He was probably already revealing too much by his admissions.
"I'm sorry I'm staring, it's just I never imagined you'd be in the military. My Daniel is a civilian. An archaeologist."
Daniel felt his eyebrows raise over the rim of his glasses. "Really? I admit it's a hobby, but as a career? I can't imagine trying to make a living at it."
Sam grinned. "The Daniel I know could never imagine himself doing anything else." Daniel found himself wanting to hear all about this counterpart but had to curb his curiosity for the moment. It was his job to get a feel if this woman could be of help to them or if she was going to be a security risk. He decided to see if she "knew" any of the rest of his team.
The guards were trying to look as though they hadn't been paying attention to the conversation in the room, but from their expressions, they had. The incredulous looks they were giving the woman and each other spoke volumes. "Send in my team," he told them, "And then you can wait outside."
Daniel kept his eyes on Samantha as his team moved around the table, staring at her as intently as she was watching them.
"Kawalsky? You're alive here? And Ferretti! Janet? You have no idea how good it is to see all of you!" Daniel was sure it was taking all of Samantha Carter's willpower to remain seated and not embrace the members of his team. For their part, they were exchanging glances, wondering what to say to this woman who claimed to know them.
Charlie was the first to speak. "So, I take it I'm dead?" the quip managed to break the tension in the room and everyone relaxed a bit.
Daniel wasn't sure where to start. "Maybe you could tell us how you seem to know everyone."
Samantha's thoughts seemed to turn introspective for a moment, then she looked up at Daniel. "I met you on my first mission with SG-1, to Abydos. You were living there at the time."
"Abby. . . .?" Kawalsky started.
"Abydos, named for the city in Egypt. Or the city was named after the planet. Kind of a chicken-or-the-egg kind of thing," she laughed, but no one joined her. Swallowing, she sat up straighter, becoming more serious.
Daniel pushed his glasses up. "Actually, the name is Greek, from when the Ptolemy's ruled in. . ."
"He was living on another planet?" Ferretti cut in, and Daniel restrained a sigh. Why was it no one ever cared to learn the origins of what they were discussing?
"He asked to stay. He was married to a local woman."
"Married?" Janet questioned. "You're kidding, right? The Colonel is a notorious loner."
Daniel felt himself growing defensive. "I don't know that 'loner' is an apt description."
"Oh yeah?" Kawalsky smirked. "When was the last time you had a date?"
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Daniel tried to get the meeting back on track. "I'm sure there's more to your story, but for now, how do you know the rest of my team?"
"Major Kawalsky was part of my first trip through the 'gate, which was actually SG-1's first official mission, the second time we used the Stargate. Major Ferretti had also gone on the very first mission with Kawalsky, Colonel O'Neill and Daniel. By the time I met Ferretti, he was in position to take the leadership of SG-2, should the program continue."
"See, Boss?" Ferretti grinned. "I keep telling you I'm ready to lead my own team."
"Right now we'll be lucky to get SG-1 access. Don't be picking out your team just yet."
Samantha looked confused. "You're not using your 'gate? Is that why when I came through there was no one around?"
"We'll get to that later," he stated. Right now he was interested in what else she could tell him about his team in this other reality. "You said Kawalsky is. . .no longer on your SG-1?"
Samantha looked at Charlie briefly then shifted her gaze to her hands resting on the table. "He, uh, was taken over by a Goa'uld," she said quietly.
"A go-ah what?" Kawalsky asked, surprisingly calm in the face of his own supposed death.
"Go-ah-oold," she pronounced. "You haven't run across them here?"
Daniel exchanged glances with his team. "Um, no. But then we haven't been to this Abydos either."
Samantha was nodding to herself. "That would explain a lot." Looking up, she added, "Count yourselves lucky. They've come close to wiping out Earth on more than one occasion. In fact, this is the first reality I've heard of that hasn't been battling the Goa'uld."
"You've been to others?" Daniel said, unable to hide his disbelief.
"Well, I haven't, but Daniel-my Daniel-was the first to encounter an alternate universe and we were able to use the knowledge he learned there to save our own reality. Then we had visitors come to our universe, fleeing the Goa'uld. With the similarities between our current realities, I'm willing to bet they're out there. So far your Earth hasn't crossed their radar. Yet."
Daniel wanted to tell her of his own experiences to an alternate world, but was working on getting intel from her first. Frankly, he was a little surprised at her willingness to divulge so much information. Obviously she didn't see his team as a threat, and he wasn't sure if that was a positive thing or not.
"What about me?" Janet asked. "You seem to know me as well. When did I join your SG-1?"
Samantha smiled at her with genuine warmth. "You didn't. You're our Chief Medical Officer."
"Me? A doctor?" Janet was practically speechless.
Samantha nodded. "And the best there is," she stated with pride. "You know more about alien physiology than anyone on the planet."
Janet looked over at Daniel, a self-conscious blush staining her cheeks. "I was this close to a medical degree," she said. "Until my former husband insisted I give it up." Her bitter tone alerted Daniel it was still a sore spot with her. She looked across the table at Samantha. "I'm the team's xenobiologist. Closest thing I guess I'll get to being the planet's foremost expert on alien physiology."
Samantha's smile was empathetic, and in that moment Daniel knew this woman was fast on her way to convincing him she posed no threat. Clearing his throat to get Samantha's attention, Daniel redirected her back to an earlier statement.
"Who is this 'Colonel O'Neill' you spoke of?"
"He's my CO The leader of SG-1. He. . ." Suddenly, she sat up, panicked. "Oh, my God! He still doesn't know what happened to me! Please! You have to let me call him, or contact him some how!"
Daniel looked around at his team again. "I didn't know you had a way to contact. . ."
"No! The Jack O'Neill here!" She was on her feet now. "Please! You have to let me talk to him!"
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Ms. Carter," Daniel said. "You still haven't been given clearance. Please sit down." Samantha sat on the edge of her chair, resting her elbows on the table, scrubbing her fingers through her hair.
"Look, all I want to do is let him know I'm okay. I won't tell him where I am I just don't want him to worry."
"It's not that I don't sympathize with your situation, but until you're officially cleared, I can't allow you to speak to anyone outside this facility." Daniel was getting angry; he wasn't used to having his orders questioned.
Samantha fell back against the seat of her chair. "You're being as obtuse as that assh. . .jerk Samuels," she muttered.
Daniel tried to moderate his voice. "I realize as a civilian you're probably unaware of military protocol. After we're sure of your intentions and you've signed a non-disclosure agreement, we'll see about getting you that phone call."
Samantha leapt to her feet, slamming her palms on the table. "I know all about military protocol and the stalling techniques you're no doubt going to employ. I'm a Major where I come from so don't try to bullshit me!"
Daniel was now on his feet, his own hands on the table, staring the woman down. "Then I'm guessing Colonel out-ranks Major in your world as well. Have a seat, Major."
"Sir? If I may?"
"What, Kawalsky?" Daniel bit out.
"Would it be all right if I called him? We've already been in contact over this incident. I could assure him of her safety without revealing where she is."
Daniel retook his seat, feeling some of the tension from the confrontation drain from him. "That would be acceptable. Major?"
Samantha sat down, placing her folded hands back on the table, her fingers laced together in a tight grip. Nodding, she said, "I'm sorry, Colonel. It's just a little unnerving taking orders from you. It won't happen again."
Hoping to diffuse the stress permeating the room, Daniel changed topics. "In the course of your missions, are there any other enemies you've encountered?"
"Well, the Goa'uld are certainly our priority at this point, but the Replicators are also a major threat." Daniel's gaze touched on his team members, they too realized the significance of Samantha's statement.
"Have you found a way of battling them?" Ferretti asked.
"For the most part we've just kind of gotten lucky," Samantha admitted. "So far our automatic weapons have been effective, but they learn exponentially. It won't take long for them to adapt new ways to protect themselves."
"Like a virus," Janet said.
"Exactly!" Sam said, giving her a big grin. "In fact you and I, well, Dr. Fraiser and I have theorized some type of anti-viral might be a possible solution." Daniel could practically see the wheels turning in Janet's head. The two women certainly had a common ground.
"So, the Replicators must be plaguing this universe as well," Samantha guessed. Daniel didn't want to be the one to confirm or deny her supposition. That was General Carter's call.
XXXXXX
Jacob tugged on the bottom of his dress jacket, running a finger around his collar, pulling slightly on his tie. He saw the guard notice his actions and stopped fussing. It wouldn't do to let the enlisteds see he was nervous.
"They're ready for you, sir," another guard announced, holding the door open. Jacob took a decisive step into the room and stopped cold. A blonde haired woman stood and faced him, and he was frozen, mouth hanging open. He thought he was prepared to see the image of his wife on this woman, but he was totally unprepared for the reality of it. She looked so much like Louise it twisted his heart, punching him in the gut. His wife had been about the same age at the time of the accident, and it was like stepping back twenty years into the past. She broke the spell with a single word.
"Dad?"
Jacob swallowed, hoping to find his voice, but nothing came out. "I'm sorry," she said, getting up and moving towards him. She extended a hand. "General Carter, sir." He continued to stare numbly at her, wishing something, anything, would come to him so he could answer her.
"Samantha Carter," she said, flashing him a big smile that twisted his heart even tighter. "I'm sure this is a bit of a shock, sir. Why don't you have a seat?" She led him to the table, taking the chair next to him. When had she taken control of the situation? he wondered.
"Ms. Carter," he managed, still not taking his gaze from her. She looked so much like her mother, and yet, he could see bits of himself as well, the shape of her nose and mouth, and God help her, his ears. Is this what his Sammie would have looked like if she'd survived? She was beautiful in the way her mother had been beautiful, spirit, passion and intelligence shining from her blue eyes that were unmistakably Louise's. Fortunately, Daniel spoke up, distracting him from his staring.
"General, Major Carter here has been telling us a bit about the world she comes from, and some of the common enemies we face."
"Major Carter?" he asked, taking a seat at the head of the table.
Samantha retook her own chair, smiling proudly. "I'm in the Air Force." A disapproving "hmmmph" escaped his mouth. "You are too, or rather were," she added pointedly, quelling any derisive comments he might have made.
"Followed in the old man's footsteps?"
"Something like that."
"Pilot?"
"Not so much anymore. I have seen combat, though. I keep up on my qualifiers, just in case."
Jacob's mind was starting to engage again, and while he still found himself looking for similarities, he was starting to take in information as well. "You said I was in the Air Force. I'm not any longer?"
Samantha shifted in her seat. "You're retired from the military, but not all service." At his questioning glance, she added, "Long story. Maybe we can talk about it later?" He cracked a smile. She still seemed to be dictating this meeting more than a detainee should have been.
"As I said, Major Carter was telling us about her Stargate program and some of the problems they're facing. I thought you would like to hear first hand what she has to say."
Jacob nodded. "Proceed."
"You said you've encountered the Replicators in your universe," Daniel started. "Where was that?"
Samantha thought for a few moments. "Have you met the Asgard?" The people assembled in the room shook their heads.
"No, we haven't," Jacob said. "We haven't had much chance to use the Stargate."
"Let me guess," Samantha said with a disappointed shake of her own head. "Kinsey."
Jacob perked up. "You know him?"
Sighing, Samantha answered, "Unfortunately, yes. He's been a thorn in the side of our SGC since it's inception." Jacob had a hard choice to make. Let her in on the missions and politics of the Stargate Coalition, or focus on how she managed to infiltrate Area 51. He wanted to know both facets, but right now, the Replicators were his prime concern, and Daniel seemed to believe she was vital to finding the answer. Prosecution, if he chose that route, could wait.
"Colonel Jackson, in light of the fact our guest already seems to know much of our sensitive information, you're authorized to reveal what you feel is necessary."
Given the go ahead, Daniel leapt right in. "We haven't met the, Asgard? did you call them?"
Samantha described them to the assembly, completing the picture by comparing them to the famed "Roswell Grays." "So while you currently haven't met them in this universe, they've been here in the past. Colonel O'Neill was the first to recently encounter them, and he seemed to form a bond with their leader, Thor."
"Thor? As in the Norse god?" Ferretti asked.
"Many of the aliens who've visited Earth in the past would have seemed like gods to the primitive peoples, and legends grow with each retelling. I'm guessing a little gray being half their size didn't seem very intimidating, so they made him more imposing." Ferretti shrugged, conceding the point.
Next to him, Kawalsky began to chuckle, causing Jacob to give the man a hard stare. "I'm sorry, General," he said, swallowing down his mirth. "I just have a hard time seeing the Jack O'Neill I know having any kind of a relationship with little green men."
Janet was focused on the scientific aspects of Samantha's revelation. "So this Colonel O'Neill has interacted with these beings? Isn't there a language barrier? How do they communicate? Is it just a general feel for concepts, or is it actual words?"
Jacob noticed how bright Janet's eyes had become in her excitement. He'd never been much for scientists in the military, but obviously they were a necessity. She asked questions that never would have occurred to him.
Samantha was leaning forward, the same excitement in her eyes. "That's what I wondered when the Colonel told us about his experience. He said the words kind of were just in his head, like he'd heard them, but all around him, there was absolute silence."
"So, telepathy?"
"Not exactly. Later we found out the Asgard have a technology they call 'communication stones,' but at the time, it was a mystery how we knew what they were saying. In fact. . ."
"Major, and Major," Daniel said, looking between the two women, "While this is fascinating, there are more important issues we need to focus on." Samantha's face split into a huge grin. "What?" Daniel asked.
Samantha was shaking her head. "It's just so funny hearing you taking control of the meeting. Daniel is usually the one sidetracking us."
Daniel cleared his throat. "Yes, well, apparently there are significant differences in our universes. So, you met these Asgard. I'm not sure how they figure into the Replicators, but I'm sure you're about to tell us."
"The Asgard became our allies. They brought us under their umbrella with the Protected Planets Treaty." She held up her hand, "I'll tell you more about that too, later. Instead of us relying on the Asgard for help as was usually the case, they needed ours. Apparently their galaxy was being over-run by Replicators, and they needed some 'low tech' options to deal with them. Needless to say, we were dumb enough for them."
Jacob smiled at his "daughter's" description. He liked her and wanted to get to know her better. Not only from a tactical standpoint, but a personal one as well. Sammie had so wanted to be an astronaut. It eased his heart to know a version of his daughter had gone beyond that. Done things people only dreamed of as being possible. To have a glimpse of what could have been was difficult, but he was also grateful to have had that look.
Samantha continued, "As I said, the Asgard's homeworld and their ships were being taken over by the Replicators and the only thing capable of even slowing them down were our automatic weapons. We knew it was a stop-gap measure. The Replicators were devouring and assimilating Asgard technology. We realized it wouldn't be long before they evolved past the point our weapons would be effective."
"So, have you developed another weapon?" Daniel asked.
Samantha's gaze swept the room. "Unfortunately, no. We're working on it, but so far, we haven't been successful. As I told you, the Goa'uld, are the larger threat in my universe."
"Goa'uld?" Jacob asked, looking at his colonel.
"I'll brief you later, sir." Daniel looked disappointed, Jacob decided, but not defeated. "I'll admit I was hoping you might have a solution," the Colonel told Samantha. "We first encountered the Replicators on an Earth-like planet; I don't recall the designation. At any rate we discovered a young woman, living by herself in a devastated city. She seemed rather child-like for her physical maturity, and yet appeared quite intelligent. She claimed she didn't know where all the people had gone, and begged us not to leave her alone. Naturally we weren't going to leave her by herself, and brought her back here for further evaluation."
"Let me guess," Samantha said. "Her name was Reese and she turned out to be a sophisticated android."
"Yes!" Janet exclaimed. "You've met her?"
"Regretfully, yes. But not in the same way. She was inactive when we found her, and we made the mistake of turning her on."
"Then you're aware she made the Replicators, considering them 'toys'?" Janet asked.
"Yes, but since we'd encountered them on Thor's ship, we already knew what a threat they posed. In the end, we had to destroy her in order to gain control of the situation."
"Our Reese managed to escape," Daniel continued. "I don't know why she hadn't learned how to operate the Stargate on her planet, because she certainly learned how to use ours fast enough."
Jacob watched Samantha. Her brow wrinkled, thoughts turned inward, she looked as if she puzzled long enough, she could give Jackson an answer.
"The real problem is, she took her mechanical bugs with her, wherever it is she went. We've been trying to locate her, but about the time we get a lock on where she is, she flees to another planet." Daniel pushed a printed MALP image towards Samantha. "this is recon from our last mission. As you can see, the Replicators have evolved significantly, and are now organizing themselves into ships. Reese felt we betrayed her. I have no doubt she's planning on sending this armada against Earth."
Samantha studied the image. "When was this taken?"
"Six months ago," Daniel told her.
"Six months! They could be here any day! You don't have anything more recent?"
"The Malp was the last thing to go through our Stargate before it was shut down," Jacob interceded.
Samantha turned her attention to him. "Begging your pardon, General, but that's probably the worst thing you could have done! You need to be out there, gathering intel, looking for a way to stop them!"
"This wasn't my decision," Jacob said with a sigh. "Vice-President Kinsey," in his infinite wisdom, he thought bitterly, "Feels the invasion will come through the Stargate, and his solution was to shut down the 'gate and he's doing his best to get the entire program shut down."
"What does the President have to say?"
"He says it's Kinsey's call. He's too involved trying to solve the current crisis in the Middle East."
"Doesn't he realize the threat the Replicators pose? That it won't matter who's fighting who once they attack?"
"That would be our problem," Daniel said, tapping his fingers together. "The President could probably be persuaded if he was fully briefed, but Kinsey's using this to his advantage. Assuring him the situation is under control, while making it impossible for us to adequately prepare. The truth is, we're not prepared. Which is why I was so excited to see you on the security feed."
Looking around at the people in the room, Samantha answered, "I'm not following you."
"About a year ago we traveled to P3R-233. We found what looked like a deserted lab. . ."
"And there was a device, there, a quantum mirror."
"Yes!" Daniel rushed on in his enthusiasm. "I didn't know at the time what it was, but after I'd touched it, everything seemed to be turned upside down. People I knew weren't in the same jobs; the SGC wasn't at. . .here; you were there, as Doctor of Astrophysics. Obviously I didn't know who you were, since I hadn't met you in my reality, but you saved that Earth from the Replicators."
"I did? Do you have any idea how I, or rather she, did it?"
Daniel glanced at Jacob with an apologetic look. The two of them had been over and over anything Jackson could remember. Jacob hadn't expected him to know how to build the device, but anything he could tell the engineers might have given them a leg up in their current fight against the Replicators.
"Sadly, no," Daniel said. "I was hurrying to get back to the device-mirror-whatever it was before the base was overrun. All I can tell you is it worked. Colonel Hammond of that reality was covering me, and the blast wave the device emitted caused the blocks to loose cohesion and, falling inert to the floor."
Scrutinizing her, Jacob surmised she was already working on the puzzle from the expression of concentration on Samantha's face. "Have you done any reverse engineering on any technologies you've brought back? Is there a lab where I could work?"
Jacob wasn't sure he was ready to trust her. True, she seemed invested in helping them destroy the Replicators, but other than a striking resemblance to his wife and daughter, he really had no evidence she was who she claimed to be.
Drumming his fingers on the table, Jacob could feel the weight of the stares his people were giving him. He wasn't sure where Kawalsky and Ferretti fell on the issue as they had remained mostly silent. Janet and Daniel were ready to hand over the keys to the entire facility. If she was a spy, Major Carter would be interested in what was in development. Perhaps they could start slower, allow her access to some of the oddities the military had collected over the years. Who knew, maybe she could even identify some of them.
"Colonel Jackson. Why don't you take the major to our 'showroom.' Perhaps something there will provide some inspiration." Jacob stood, effectively ending the meeting. He needed to have another conversation with George, and collaborate with him on how much he was authorized to reveal to the latest addition to Area 51.