A/N As a result of that experiment he was subjected to in High School, Xander is literally pure poison to Goa'uld and Wraith. Which is understandable, some marine creatures are among the most poisonous ever to evolve. But finding that out has taken a tole on Xander as well, sometimes emotionally, sometimes physically. Poor Xander, he does seem to be a universal butt monkey sometimes. And then there's his connection to Atlantis. No, Xander will not be able to control Atlantis. The Ancients used a mental interface with alot of their technology. And this makes sense, your mind can process and respond before you consciously realize it. Eventually, Xander won't need the holographic interface to inform him of anything in regards to Atlantis' status, his brain is going to be constantly monitoring Atlantis and he'll just know. And now, I'm changing things up a bit. In canon, Jack got promoted to Homeworld Security, he will be here too, I thought about not promoting him so none of Xander and Cordelia's Stargate friends, aside from General Hammond ever know, but realistically, Jack earned that promotion, so I'm working it into the story.
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Xander's visit to the Gamma site ending with him being called to Jack's office before he headed back to Atlantis because Jack had some news for him.
"Carter's being promoted to full bird Colonel and assigned a ship. They're still refusing to name it Enterprise, don't they understand what a great name that is?!"
"I'm right there with you." Something seemed a little off in regards to Jack, he wasn't looking at Xander with the usual warmth, he was looking more reserved then usual? Had something happened? Yes, something had.
"Hammond's also retiring, bad ticker. Wants to spend some time with his granddaughters and who could b!ame him. Which means I'm being moved up the chain. I'm now Major General Jack O'Neill of Homeworld Security." Oh. So that's why Jack was looking at him like that. He now knew vampires and demons existed. Oh, goody, this was going to be fun, like poking his own eyeballs out fun.
"Which means you'll be in charge over both Stargate Command and Demon Command." Xander said softly.
"Yes. How long have you known?"
"Since three weeks past my sixteenth birthday. They took my best friend and made him one of them. It's not like with the Goa'uld. The Goa'uld only claim nothing is left of the host once they take control. With a vampire, there really isn't anything left. They animate a dead body, which means they have to make it dead first. When I destroyed what was left of Jesse McNally, I knew it wasn't him. Jesse was full of life. He was a happy guy. He didn't have eyes like a shark, flat and cold and lifeless. They may have access to the brain and the memories, but they are not that person and you can clearly see a difference in the before and after. When I first contacted you, it had been a bit more then a year since I'd first found out. A year of fighting them, of fighting to survive. I was barely hanging on by a thread, Jack. I honestly thought I'd die fighting that war. Kids shouldn't be fighting wars, Jack. We had no training, little resources and only two adults that gave a shit. Cordy and I saw a way out and we took it. Some times I wonder if that made me a coward."
"No, it made you a scared kid. You were fighting a war you were totally unprepared for. Humans have learned thru centuries of warfare, that soldiers do better, handle themselves better, survive longer, if they're prepared and have some idea of what to expect. The old teach the young. I can understand why you wanted out and I can understand why you kept it from us. You would have had to prove it to us. You wanted us safe from it and you didn't want the reminder. Apparently, the Demon Command has improved things considerably in your hometown."
"Yeah, the death tole has come down nearly a hundred percent. And considering it was hundreds of people, mostly kids and teenagers dying before that, that's a pretty significant amount."
"I know they're called demons, but what exactly are they?"
"Exactly? They've got scientists studying the rift, as they call it. They think it's another dimension, which is different from another reality. Physics is different there and the things that come from there, evolved differently. Which makes them a different kind of alien. But I don't think the words matter as much as the actions. Some of them are intelligent enough to have language and can learn ours and we can learn theirs. Bottom line, they're like the Wraith and the Goa'uld. They simply don't care about our intelligence or wants, they get a sadistic glee out of torturing and killing us. So it's us or them. I choose us."
"So do I. I made that choice fighting the Goa'uld. Okay, so more bad guys, I can handle it. So. Any suggestions on what we should call Carter's new ship? I am being allowed to offer a suggestion."
"Considering who the Captain is going to be and since they like using names from myth, I'd go with Athena, goddess of knowledge, craft, wisdom and strategic and intelligent warfare. So, sound like anyone you know?
"Yeah, Carter. That would a great name. I'll pass it on. Well, you've got to head back, kid. Don't be a stranger. I'm getting used to the Grandpa Jack idea."
"Oh, gods, you're going spoil her, aren't you?"
"Grandpa's prerogative."
