Disclaimer in chapter 1

22

Sam gazed around the woefully ill-equipped lab. The assistants were helpful enough, but until that moment, she hadn't realized how much of her diagnostic equipment she'd configured and built herself. Every time she went for a tool or a program, she found it was something that didn't exist here. She didn't have time to re-write what she needed, and decided she had to get a little more creative.

Despite the drawbacks, there was an element of fun in all this, Sam admitted to herself. Even though she found she actually liked waitressing, there was no comparing it to the thrill she got analyzing alien technology.

"Okay," she said, placing her hands on her hips, addressing her two new lab assistants. "Let's start with getting an electro-magnetic scan on the ring. Dr. Lee, if you would do the honors?"

"Please, call me Bill," the shorter, balding man said, smiling widely at her.

Sam smiled back and nodded. "Bill. Why don't you use the bench over there," she suggested, pointing to her left.

"And . . ."

"Chloe."

"Chloe, if you could, take a look at these crystals. I'm pretty sure there's no power left in them, but we can't be certain. So, be careful; they may zap you."

"So, you've seen these before?" Chloe asked, obviously in awe Sam knew what the crystals were capable of.

"Yes, that's why I think they're inert. But don't take my word for it, there could be a residual charge." Chloe nodded, moving to another bench.

Sam turned around and began examining what she'd concluded was most likely a weapon. The design definitely fit the standard model for Ancient technology. The rounded lines and ultra-light metal spoke for themselves, and she grinned at the chance to take it apart.

XXXXXX

Daniel stuck his head into the underused lab, noting the three occupants busily working, oblivious to his arrival. Sam in particular seemed consumed, removing a piece from the partially disassembled "gun," and logging it in on the new laptop.

"Hey," he said, hoping he didn't startle her. Sam stood up, stretched her back and smiled brightly.

"Hey."

"How's it going?"

"Slow, but I want to make sure I've properly recorded how it was taken apart so I put it back together in the right order." Daniel nodded.

"You still think this is 'Ancient' technology?"

"Oh, I'm certain of it. It follows their usual pattern, both in looks and in internal configuration."

Daniel felt a surge of hope. "So you know what it is?"

"Absolutely no idea."

"How about a guess?" he ventured.

Sam moved around the bench she was working at, looking at the device from several angles. "Well, I would say a weapon, but a weapon against what I don't know. It doesn't employ ammunition as we know it. It appears to be energy based."

"So, a ray gun," he joked, but Sam didn't crack a smile.

"Actually, yes."

Clearing his throat, Daniel tried to recover some of his decorum. "Have you figured out how it's fired?"

Sam held up a part that had what looked like a hand print in the middle of it. "I think this is the interface. But check this out," she said, eyes shining. She placed her hand on it, and the material the object was made from began to conform to her hand, reminding Daniel of an amoeba.

Daniel pushed his errant glasses up his nose. "That's amazing!"

"Now you try it," she said, pulling the part off her hand with a sucking sound. He watched as it retook it's generic shape, regaining its solid appearance. Sam picked up his left hand and placed it in the palm print. There was a sensation of heat as the piece formed itself to his hand.

"That's incredible!" he cried, turning his arm around, testing to see if the part would fall off, but it remained attached to him. Sam gently pulled, and the piece came off, once again becoming solid.

"I'm guessing the conformation is so whomever uses this weapon is fully integrated with it. It's a way of personalizing it." Daniel was still nodding in awe, thinking how valuable this material would be to make a suit of armor, adapting to anyone who wore it.

"I think it's fired like this," she said, pulling Daniel back to their present conversation. She flexed her fingers, pressing down with the pads of her finger tips. She started with one, then continued to add digits until all her fingers were pressed into the material. "I think the number of fingers increases the amount of energy output, but it's just a theory since I can't seem to make it work."

"Does it need the crystals or something?"

"No, they work in bigger constructs, like ships," she said, using a forceps to reach into the mechanical guts of the object. "This is the power source, and it looks fully charged."

Looking at the tube Sam held, it was glowing a phosphorescent green. He had to agree it looked active. "Then why do you suppose it won't turn on?"

Sam replaced the power cell. "I think it needs to be activated by someone who has the ATA gene."

"The what?"

She took a seat on the stool next to her bench. "It stands for Ancient Technology Activation gene. It was kind of a fail safe the Ancients built in to keep non-Ancients from using their technology." He must have looked confused, because she added, "some devices have to be used by an Ancient or one of their descendants, others simply need to be activated by someone who possesses the gene. Once it's activated, anyone can use it."

"Which do you think this is?"

Shaking her head, Sam looked up at him. "I can't say. My guess is this would just need to be 'jump started,' but I don't know for sure."

"So, we're back to square one," he sighed.

Sam looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting together nervously. "I have an idea, but you're not going to like it."

"I haven't liked very much about this situation," Daniel said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hit me."

"The ATA gene is extremely rare. As you can imagine, after centuries of interbreeding, the DNA has become quite diluted." She took a deep breath as if bracing herself. "I know someone who has the gene, and it's actually quite strong. The trouble is, he's a civilian."

Daniel mulled over the implications. He didn't like the thought of bringing in a civilian on this. Not only granting access to this project, but letting them into Area 51 and the SGC in general. "Is there a test for this gene? Couldn't we see if one of our own people has it?"

"You could test for it," she agreed, "But it'll take time, and you may not find anyone with it after your efforts. I'm fairly certain this person is a guarantee since they have the gene in my universe. You could test him yourself to make sure."

"He?" Daniel narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. He had an idea where this was going and he didn't like it.

"Jack O'Neill."

Damn, he hated when he was right. "As in the man you're living with?"

"As in the man who leads SG-1 in my reality. Look, I know he's not in the military here, but his sense of integrity is the same. He would never betray any organization he gave his word to. Any more than I would," she added, pointedly. "You took a chance on me, couldn't you find it within yourself to do the same for him?"

Daniel hadn't had much contact with the Jack O'Neill of the alternate reality he'd been sent to. All he knew of the man in that universe was he remained determined to save as many people possible before the Replicators took over Earth. He'd been unforgiving once a decision had been made, ensuring the greater good was served, even if it mean his own demise. Did this Jack have the same moral code? Sam seemed to think so. He'd only really known her about a day, and yet he did trust her. Enough to place the fate of the planet in her hands. What was one more leap of faith?

"I'll take it up with the General," he said at length "Keep trying to get this thing to work."

A/N-Okay, I'm sure no one was surprised to hear Jack's name come up in their conversation. After all, I had to get him into the SGC somehow :-)!