Chapter 2

As Jack sat in the briefing room for the daily mission report he found he missed Phil being his boss to some extent. Phil was far more appeasing to Jack. He would get Jack whatever he wanted. General Hammond on the other hand was not about to cater to Jack's wishes or special request. If Jack wanted a box of donuts for the briefing then a box of donuts would be brought to the room under Phil but not under General Hammond who refused the request. Needless to say, Jack was rather spoiled by Phil catering to him.

In the room with Jack and SG-1 were the Avengers as well as Jack's daughter with her report. The blending of realties gave Jack some sense of knowing her as a child but for him residue memories were very limited. He really didn't know her at all.

Major Jacqueline O'Neill was requested to give a trending analysis on how the people of Earth were reacting to the reality blending. She wore her green battle dress uniform and came to the dry erase board upon Hammond's request.

She stood before SG-1 and the Avengers and began, "As you know I specialize in trends and open source intelligence. So far things seem to be stable after the blending between our realties. Financial markets are stable and doing well. Stark Industries made some gains in the market which is a good sign…"

Jack asked, "Why is Stark's company gaining stocks a good sign?"

"It means there is confidence in the Avengers. Tony Stark is the face of the Avengers for the most part much like you are face of SG-1 off world." she replied.

Jack cocked his head, "I'm the face of SG-1 off world?"

She nodded, "I'm also analyzing off world trends in an effort to map the new universe. To the Jaffa and the Asgard, our two biggest allies, you are the face of SG-1. The Tok'ra have informed me that when the Goa'uld think of SG-1...You are the face they put to it. On world no one knows who you are due to the classified nature of the program. Off world…You're famous!"

Jack looked at Tony and then asked, "Does that mean I'm more famous than Stark?"

"Well," she pondered. "Off world…" she shrugged.

Jack glanced at Tony who rolled his eyes annoyed.

Thor smiled, "I would say they are equal to the Asgard."

Tony grinned, "So there, O'Neill!"

Jackie announced, "Basically our new reality is stable and I don't see many anomalies. However, there is a new trend happening. The trend has been dubbed the 'Mandela Effect.'"

Tony asked, "What's the Mandela Effect?"

"Many in the population swore Nelson Mandela died in prison. As we know he was released and later elected President of South Africa." she told him.

Daniel perked up, "He did die in prison. It was huge story!" He looked to Jack, "Didn't he die in prison?"

"I think so," he nodded.

Sam agreed, "He did die in prison!"

Tony shook his head, "No he didn't! He was released just like Major O'Neill said."

Jackie stated, "That is the Mandela Effect! It goes beyond Nelson Mandela. I was first keyed into it this morning when my mom and Major Carter were discussing the logo on Jif peanut butter. I recalled it being two F's in the spelling. It's now one F in the spelling."

Jack squinted as he tried to remember, "Was it one or two?"

"Other altered memories are also manifesting." she continued. "Celebrities people thought had died are still alive. The Red Square standoff…"

"The what?" Jack asked.

"You remember the Chinese man who stood before the tanks in protest during the May Day parade?" she wondered.

He pondered, "I remember that! The tank ran him over."

Tony shook his head, "The tank didn't run him over."

"The Mandela Effect!" Jackie cheered. "That's the altered memory. I think in one reality he was killed and in another he was not. People have altered memories from the previous realities. They are reporting changing logos and brand names. As far as I can tell most just shrug it off as remembering things wrong or incorrectly. The population has no idea two realities have collided and merged into one."

Hammond asked, "Any signs of people figuring out what actually happened, Major?"

"Yes," she nodded. "There are fringe groups who think we have 'slid' into an alternate reality naturally. They think the massive earthquake triggered it. They haven't figured it the earthquake was a side effect of the blending."

Daniel figured, "As long as those people think it happened naturally then it shouldn't be an issue."

"That's right," she gave a nod and a smile. "If the fringe elements think that it occurred naturally then the government isn't even aware and not to blame. That said, those same fringe elements basically figured out we have ships and made contact. So, they could be an issue later on." She warned.

Sam spoke up, "This morning you mentioned the dollar is collapsing but it's controlled. Could you elaborate on that?"

Jackie replied, "The dollar is a fiat currency along with basically all the rest in the world. It keeps value because it's the global reserve currency. All fiat currencies have a flaw. They are created by a central power and loaned into circulation at interest. The thing is no money was created to cover the interest so more money is owed than actually exist. So, we print more money to borrow and pay the interest. It's like placing ten marbles into a can and expecting to get eleven marbles out of the can. It's impossible to pay off so you keep borrowing until you become so buried in debt the system comes down. As long as it can be controlled it can come down and be replaced in the process. People will lose money but the other option is not an option."

Sam wondered, "What's the other option?"

"The US is a global police force," she told her. "We really cannot afford to do that but we have no choice. Right now the US is the most powerful country on the planet. If the dollar comes down uncontrolled it can bring down the federal government with it. The states would become nation states. The federal land would go to the state it sits in. Colorado would become a small nation. Now, without the US policing the globe the fate of the world rest on the least stable leader and some of those guys have nukes. It would create a power vacuum and wars would break out all over the globe."

The room went awkwardly silent for a moment. Captain Rodgers pondered in thought, "That would create a power vacuum."

Tony spoke up, "Which leaders should I not sell arms?"

"It won't matter," she told him. "Because that would trigger wars here in the US and states would be fighting each other. There would small state unions forming. States like Texas would just be the Republic of Texas. Hawaii will be a nation. You could see North and South Caroline combine into one Carolina. You could see North and South Dakota do the same. The state governors are actually presidents. The governor of a state becomes the President of a nation state. They would want their own military. Each state has state police who could be turned into that states military force. Can you imagine the State of New York with an Air Force, an Army, a Navy and a Marine Corps?"

Tony shivered, "Considering I live there that is a scary thought."

"New York could be under martial law," she suggested.

Sam figured, "So that is why you follow the financial markets so closely."

"Yes," she nodded. "That's my primary trend to watch."

Jack asked, "What about off world trends? Anything we should be watching out for? Like the Goa'uld filing bankruptcy."

"Anubis can be an issue," she told him. "If the planet is invaded then I don't think we have to worry about a finical collapse."

Tony kidded, "Hey that would be great for business. I would be making lots of sales…"

She nodded and stated with a serious look, "Except you want to be paid in gold."

Hammond asked, "Your analysis has Anubis as our biggest threat?"

"Yes," she nodded. "He's a half Ascended being with untold knowledge. You might as well be going up against the devil himself. If he can sucker Loki into doing his bidding he can join forces with anyone or take over and absorb more assets from Goa'uld System Lords. I would also expect him to automate things. Use machines of some sort of A.I. to his advantage….Like maybe the Replicators."

Daniel looked at SG-1 and suggested, "Anubis gaining Replicators and eliminating all the Goa'uld System Lords."

Thor warned, "The Replicators would be a serious threat to the Asgard and Earth." He warned Tony, "They would be a risk to your suit. I suggest you bring the suit aboard my ship as soon as you can and we can work on hardening it against Replicators attacks."

Tony clarified, "Replicators are the metal bugs, right?"

Thor agreed with a nod, "They are not to be underestimated."

Short Time Later

Tony Stark stood before the Gate sporting his Iron Man suit. He looked up at the control room to Sam who gave him a nod to go ahead with the test. He flipped the face mask down and spoke to JARVIS. "JARVIS do a dial test to the Beta site."

"Dialing now," the computer replied.

The Gate started to dial before them. Tony watched the time, "We gotta find a way to speed this up. If it takes this long to dial I will fly right through the center of the Gate before it even is locked."

The last Chevron locked and coded and the Gate established before him. He spoke into his radio, "Sam is there any way to speed up the dialing process? At the rate of speed the suit goes I can make a number of laps before the last chevron is locked."

"I have yet to find a way to speed up the process," she replied over the radio. "JARVIS did successfully dial the Gate remotely and that's huge, Tony."

"But it needs to be faster," he countered.

"I don't know how to make it faster," she sighed.

Tony stated, "JARVIS start doing an analysis on how to speed up the dialing process."

The computer complied. "Analysis will take time," the computer warned.

"Just keep working on it," he instructed. He flipped up the face mask and started towards the control room feeling frustrated that the dialing process would be so slow. He needed to get his mind off the issues while JARVIS worked. He walked up the stairs to the control room and spotted Sam sitting at the computer beside Walter. They were chatting like old friends.

Walter asked, "Remember Hathor and what she did to Dr. Jackson?"

"I remember," she nodded. She smiled at him, "You have to be trying hard to sort out the memories from both realties. How can you tell which is which?"

"In the Avenger's reality I wasn't in any top secret programs and my job was pretty basic. In SG-1 reality is was anything but…" he mentioned.

"You separate the realities by Avengers and SG-1?" she asked surprised.

He nodded, "Easiest way for me to keep them straight."

"Which reality do you prefer?" she wondered.

"SG-1," he admitted. "I got to do and see more. Here the Avengers are super heroes and guys like me are just ordinary."

"You are far from ordinary Walter," she assured him.

"Thanks," he blushed. "I heard a rumor and I wasn't sure about it."

She sighed, "What's in the rumor mill this time? Is it Colonel O'Neill and Daniel are secret lovers or me and Janet are secret lovers? I really liked the rumor about me and Teal'c having an affair."

Walter blushed, "You and Mr. Stark."

Her head rolled back, "Of course! Me and billionaire playboy."

Tony spoke up, "Not a bad rumor!" He walked into the room, "Better than me and Rodgers being secret lovers and that one apparently is in SHIELD. Least this new rumor I got a hot Major who is the opposite sex."

Sam kidded amused, "If it makes you feel any better Captain Rodgers is pretty hot."

Tony came up behind her and asked softly, "So what are you doing for dinner tonight. The rich billionaire is flying solo as Pepper takes over as director of my company so I can do this."

"I was going to go to Janet's for movie and pizza with her and Cassie." she smiled, "You wanna come? Cassie would like to meet you."

"Cassie is the adopted kid from outer space?" he clarified.

She nodded, "Cassie Frasier."

Tony stated, "You know you could have requested that I take you to the most posh restaurant in town and you just invited me for a movie and a pizza." He leaned closer and admitted, "That's what I love about you."

Walter joked, "You can take me to the most expensive restaurant in town if you want to spend money."

"Walter what do you do when you are not the Gat guy?" Tony asked.

"I spend time with my wife and family." he replied.

Tony replied, "Good! That's what I like to hear."

Sam asked, "Coming for movie night, Tony?"

"I wouldn't miss it," he assured her.

Sam smiled, "I'll let Janet know. She invited Bruce to come over also."

Tony sat on the nearby chair, "So just you, me, Frasier, her kid and Bruce."

"And Teal'c," she added. "He always enjoys movies and pizza at Janet's house with Cassie."

Tony kidded, "Two medical doctors, an astrophysicist, a Jaffa, a rich inventor and kid form space…" he grinned, "what could go wrong?"

Sam entertained the idea, "Let's see…Colonel O'Neill crashes movie night with Thor…Daniel shows up with a new documentary about Egypt, Captain Rodgers found out I like Glenn Miller and decides to bring his CD collection, Natasha invites herself and Clint brings a bunch of cartons for him and the Colonel to watch. Then General Hammond decides to drop by and visit Cassie and then we find out we missed one of Baal's clones."

Tony sat dumbfounded at the joke as his mind conjured up the events in real time.

Walter added, "I would like to see the Hulk take out one of Baal's clones."