I hope you'll enjoy this new chapter. We're slowly but surely approaching the final conclusion. :)
Thanks again to Mel for her proofreading.

In the SGC infirmary, the atmosphere was calm, punctuated only by the regular beeps of the heart monitors. Victor and James sat side by side on one of the beds, lost in their thoughts. Traces of their recent battle still marked their faces, but in a subtle way, with only slight scratches and barely visible bruises.

Victor, staring into the distance, absentmindedly wrapped a bandage around his finger, as if trying to divert his mind from heavier thoughts. Beside him, James had his eyes fixed on an invisible point on the ceiling, absorbed in his own contemplations.

General O'Neill entered the infirmary, closely followed by Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c. Their arrival broke the calm. They walked with confidence, but without haste, their footsteps echoing lightly on the floor.

Jack approached Victor, his gaze betraying subtle concern. Although his eyes typically conveyed serenity, there was a hint of contained anger in them. The faint lines on his forehead and the tension in his jaw suggested that he was struggling to keep his composure.

"Victor," Jack began with a firm voice, breaking the silence, "You're absolutely reckless! Your arrival could have cost you your life; we could have mistaken you for a target!" His tone, though reprimanding, carried an underlying fear, that of a father terrified at the thought of losing his son. This fear, mixed with the anger of a man accustomed to handling perilous situations, gave his words a particular intensity.

Victor felt overwhelmed by a wave of emotions. The severity in Jack's voice resonated with his own uncertainties, magnifying his fears. Justifications for their audacious arrival flooded his mind, but he couldn't find the right words.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his head, confronting Jack with defiant yet concerned blue eyes. Their gazes locked, creating a palpable tension in the air. Victor displayed a determination tinged with vulnerability, his voice betraying a slight tremor as he asked, "How do you know who I am?"

Jack, his arms crossed over his chest, wore a perplexed expression. A heavy silence hung between them before he spoke again, "Victor, you've already come from the future. It's not something easily forgotten," he said, his evident surprise underscoring the oddity of the question.

Overwhelmed by Jack's revelation, Victor found himself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. On one hand, a part of him was intrigued by the possibility of time travel, with all its fascinating and terrifying implications. On the other hand, the idea that this might directly involve him filled his mind with questions and speculations. He frantically tried to piece together the components of this temporal puzzle. Among all the questions swirling in his head, one inquiry stood out with unwavering force: 'How is it possible that he had already traveled through time?'

Up until now, James had observed the scene in silence, standing in the background. But at the mention of time travel, his demeanor changed dramatically. His body tensed, and his face transformed with a mixture of surprise and indignation. "What?! Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" he exclaimed, turning abruptly towards Victor.

His wide-open brown eyes betrayed a mix of confusion and urgency. He scrutinized Victor's face as if hoping to discover clues, explanations that could shed light on this unexpected revelation. His intense gaze almost seemed to want to pierce the veil of mystery surrounding this time-travel story, desperately seeking to understand how his brother could be involved in such an anomaly.

Victor, caught off guard, shook his head as if trying to rid himself of an inconceivable thought. His hands nervously fidgeted in front of him, in an instinctive, almost reflexive gesture, as if physically pushing away the idea. "But no, it's impossible, it's the first time I've ever time-traveled!" he stammered, his voice betraying the confusion and disbelief that overwhelmed him.

His denial was visceral, an emotional reaction to a reality he could neither comprehend nor accept. The rapid beating of his heart was palpable, reflecting the rising anxiety and tension within him. Every word he uttered seemed laden with increasing urgency and disorientation, as if he were struggling to keep his footing in a world that had suddenly become much more elusive.

Jack's incredulity at Victor's response quickly turned into irritation. "The first time?! Are you kidding me?" he exclaimed. Instinctively, he took a step back, creating some distance between himself and Victor. The expression on his face oscillated between annoyance and the effort to understand, as if physical separation could provide the clarity needed to address this astonishing new reality.

A heavy silence suddenly descended upon the room. It was as if time itself had come to a standstill, leaving everyone immersed in their thoughts. Each person present seemed caught in an internal whirlwind of conflicting emotions and unanswered questions. James, in particular, appeared torn, his gaze constantly shifting between Victor and Jack, as if desperately trying to make sense of these temporal contradictions.

Sam, who had been closely observing the exchanges, approached Jack. She gently placed her hand on O'Neill's tense shoulder, offering a gesture of support. "Jack," she said softly, her voice low but clear, seeking to inject a dose of rationality into this agitated conversation, "the Victor who appeared two years ago is not the same as the one we have before us."

Jack turned sharply towards her, a glimmer of confusion in his eyes. "What?!" escaped his lips, his voice conveying disbelief and an urgent need for clarification. He alternated his gaze between Sam and Victor, his eyes betraying his effort to grasp this new perspective and what it implied.

Daniel, having closely followed the conversation, chimed in with a nod of understanding. "Victor has changed his own future," he explained, instinctively crossing his arms, a gesture he often adopted when deep in thought. "That means he doesn't remember his previous visit."

Hearing this, Jack rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh of frustration. These concepts of temporal paradoxes clearly made him uncomfortable. The idea that reality could be so capriciously altered by time interventions was a notion he found difficult to accept, a reality that seemed far removed from the pragmatic logic he usually favored.

Victor's eyebrows furrowed, a clear sign of the confusion swirling in his mind. "So, I've already been here?" he asked, scanning the faces of the other team members, searching for any confirmation of these bewildering assertions.

Daniel, seeking to clarify the situation without adding to the confusion, continued. "Two years ago, you came here," he explained, his hands coming together in a gesture indicating his intent to make things as simple as possible. "To warn us that the Asgard were planning to abduct you. Thanks to that information, we managed to prevent it, thus altering your future."

Daniel paused briefly, giving Victor time to digest this information. "That's why you have no memories of it. The Victor who came to warn us, in a way, ceased to exist in our current timeline," he continued, his voice calm and measured, in an effort to make this explanation as accessible as possible.

"I understand," Victor murmured. His voice, though soft, carried a hint of detachment, as if he were thinking aloud rather than addressing the others. He still seemed to be absorbing the weight of this revelation, his tone tinged with mild uncertainty. His gaze then drifted away, turning from the faces of his interlocutors to focus on a vague point in space, as if he were trying to visualize a past he had no memory of.

James let out a sudden, somewhat nervous laugh. "The Asgard, our allies, abducting us? Really?" he exclaimed, his laughter tinged with a hint of skepticism.

Intrigued by James, whose presence added an element of the unknown to the already complex situation, Sam stepped forward slightly. Her gaze settled on him. "And who exactly are you?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm, her eyes not leaving the young man.

The teenager, visibly taken aback by Sam's direct inquiry, hesitated briefly. "I'm... a friend," he replied, his voice betraying some uncertainty. He quickly turned his gaze to Victor, as if seeking some form of comfort or guidance on how to handle this situation.

His expression, a mix of worry and contemplation, suggested that he might be more involved or affected by the situation than he was letting on. The brief eye contact with Victor seemed like a silent plea for help, a non-verbal way of seeking an anchor in a reality slipping away from him.

"A special friend, then?" Daniel remarked with a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Earlier, in the embarkation room, I heard you speaking Ancient, and you seem very familiar with the Stargate," he continued, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on James. One of his eyebrows raised slightly, a clear sign of his skepticism.

His remark wasn't accusatory but rather indicative of his growing interest in the exact nature of James's connection to Victor and their current situation. Daniel, accustomed to deciphering the mysteries of ancient and distant civilizations, seemed to perceive in James a puzzle worth solving.

James, feeling the weight of curious and suspicious gazes upon him, tensed up. He cast a quick, anxious glance at Daniel and then at Victor, as if desperately seeking an escape. The ambiguity of his position was palpable, his tense body betraying his discomfort under the pressure of the situation.

Victor, recognizing his brother's embarrassment, spoke up. "We must be extremely cautious with the information we share," he said firmly, emphasizing the stakes. "Every detail could have an impact on the future."

Jack, whose patience was visibly waning in the face of the flood of mysteries and half-truths, turned to the young men with increased firmness. "Be more clear. Why are you here? What is your purpose?" he demanded, his hands involuntarily clenching. The tension in his gestures betrayed his irritation and pressing need for clear answers.

Victor, attempting to avoid the topic, responded with an evasive tone, "I'd prefer not to discuss it right now." He looked away, avoiding Jack's insistent and scrutinizing gaze. This reluctance, far from clarifying matters, only intensified O'Neill's already palpable frustration.

Feeling his patience wearing thin, Jack raised his voice. "If you've come all this way, why stay silent?" he asked, his voice revealing a mix of exasperation and perplexity at this puzzle.

James, with a sarcastically tinged smile, added, "We weren't supposed to be detected." His remark suggested that their initial intentions were quite different from the current situation.

Jack's eyes bore into James with intense focus, carefully scrutinizing the young man. Embarrassed, the teenager cleared his throat. He shifted on the bed, a seemingly innocuous movement that caused his bracelet to slide down his wrist. This small change didn't escape Daniel's observant eye. The archaeologist, recalling the earlier scene in the embarkation room, remembered the glow emanating from James's bracelet when he had uttered the word "Tace."

His attention then turned to Victor, where he noticed a similar bracelet. The presence of these two almost identical objects on the wrists of both young men didn't seem like a coincidence. Daniel furrowed his brow, his deductive mind working to connect these observations to the complex situation unfolding before them.

"These bracelets..." he began, his finger pointing to the wrists of James and Victor. His voice betrayed a contained excitement mixed with growing certainty. "They're not just jewelry, are they? Could they be linked to your time travels?" His question, posed with the precision of a researcher who had spent a lifetime solving historical puzzles, was tinged with intense curiosity.

James and Victor exchanged a quick glance, a silent communication confirming Daniel's suspicions. A tacit connection passed between them, indicating that they were aware the truth about their bracelets could no longer be concealed. However, neither of them seemed ready to divulge further details.

"May I examine them more closely?" Daniel asked, reaching out for the bracelets.

After a moment of hesitation, the teenagers nodded and slowly removed their bracelets, handing them to Daniel. Once in his hands, the bracelets seemed to pulse with a mysterious energy.

Daniel took them with meticulous attention, his gaze as both a scientist and historian analyzing every detail. James's bracelet, adorned with beads of deep blue, was captivating to the eye, almost seeming to absorb the ambient light in the room. Its finely crafted clasp evoked the power and majesty of Poseidon, the god of the seas. In contrast, Victor's bracelet, adorned with beads of dark red, had a clasp representing the attributes of Hades, evoking an underworld power.

After examining the bracelets from every angle, Daniel handed them back to their owners. "Where did you find these?" he asked, his gaze shifting back and forth between Victor and James, searching for a clue in their expressions.

Victor delicately placed the bracelet back around his wrist. "I'm sorry, but I can't say anything," his response, though evasive, reflected a determination to preserve certain secrets.

"Was it Hades who gave them to you?" Daniel persisted, his scrutinizing gaze seeking an answer in Victor's eyes.

At the mere mention of the name "Hades," Jack reacted instantly. He sat up sharply, as if the mere sound of that name had triggered a spring within him. His face hardened abruptly, his features frozen in an expression of mixed concern and anger. "Are you talking about the Hades who came here two years ago? The one I clearly told to stay away from Victor?!" he exclaimed.

Daniel, realizing the escalating intensity of the situation, raised his hands in a calming gesture, as if trying to defuse a ticking time bomb. "How would I know, Jack? I'm just asking the question," he said, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice.

Jack's gaze then turned to Victor, his eyes searching for answers that his words couldn't express. "Can you tell us more?" he asked, his voice regaining some semblance of control but still laden with urgent concern.

Victor remained silent, his gaze fixed on the infirmary floor. His emotions seemed to be in turmoil inside him, aware that every piece of information revealed could lead to unforeseen and possibly irreversible consequences.

The silence, heavy and uncomfortable, hung in the room like an unbearable burden. Eventually, it was James who broke the tension. "I think we've said enough," he stated firmly, attempting to put an end to the discussion.

Sam then approached Victor. "We don't want to put you in a difficult position," she said in a soft voice, filled with understanding and concern. Her hand rested on Victor's shoulder to convey her support.

Daniel's voice then cut through Sam with an unexpected question, "What about the Zeus bracelet?" His archaeological curiosity mingled with a keen intuition, as if he had just grasped a key piece in the complex puzzle of their situation.

Jack, taken aback by this sudden question, furrowed his brow. "Daniel?!" His incomprehension was clearly audible in his voice.

Daniel, his fingers splayed out in front of him as if enumerating an obvious fact, launched into an explanation. "In mythology, Hades was the elder brother of Poseidon and Zeus." He paused between each name, as if emphasizing their mythological significance and their potential connection to the current situation. "So, I wonder if there's also a Zeus bracelet."

The logic behind Daniel's question seemed to dawn on everyone in the room. All eyes turned to the two teenagers.

Surprised by Daniel's question and caught up in the excitement of the moment, James blurted out an impulsive response. "The Zeus bracelet stayed in our time. We didn't really want her to come with us. Anyway, she would have done everything

in her power to stop us from coming. I can already hear her scolding!" His voice, filled with affection and frustration, revealed the connection he had with this mysterious "her."

"She?" inquired Daniel, his interest piqued.

"My twin sister, Stella," James revealed almost inadvertently. The words seemed to escape his mouth faster than his intention. Beside him, Victor, clearly irritated by this indiscretion, shot him a look laden with reproach and delivered a discreet yet significant elbow nudge.

Each person absorbed this new information. Sam, whose heart was racing, exchanged a troubled glance with Jack, both clearly shaken by this unexpected revelation.

"So, you have a family connection to the holder of the Zeus bracelet," Daniel reiterated, seeking confirmation in a world where mythology seemed to intertwine with reality.

James simply nodded. Victor, next to him, appeared exasperated, rolling his eyes as if desperately seeking an escape from this increasingly delicate situation.

It was then that Teal'c, with his characteristic simplicity, asked the question that seemed to weigh on everyone's minds. "So, you are Victor's brother?"

Their response was unanimous and instantaneous, a perfectly coordinated "no!" bouncing around the room, creating an echo of surprise among those present. This categorical and synchronized denial added another layer of mystery to the already complex puzzle of their presence and connection.

Despite the firm denial from the two young men, Sam couldn't suppress a shiver of intuition. Her analytical gaze once again settled on James, and she couldn't help but note with heightened acuity the features he shared with Jack, especially the characteristic dimples that appeared when he smiled. This familiar detail fueled her suspicions.

In this atmosphere laden with unresolved questions, Victor, sensing the situation slipping away from them, made a quick decision. He took the temporal artifact out of his pocket. "It's time to go home," he announced with palpable urgency. He firmly grabbed James's arm, but before they could activate the artifact, Daniel and Jack exclaimed in unison, "Wait!" Their call was a desperate effort to hold back the time travelers.

However, to their great surprise and against all expectations, the artifact remained inert. The two teenagers stood there, unmoving, anchored in the present of the infirmary.

"Are you telling me your gadget is out of order?" James worriedly inquired.

"How could it be?" Victor defensively retorted.

"Maybe during the skirmish earlier," James suggested, trying to find a logical explanation.

"Impossible, it never left my pocket," Victor assured, his confidence in the object's reliability appearing unshaken.

"Battery issue, perhaps?" James quipped, a wry smile betraying his underlying anxiety.

Victor grimaced in annoyance at the remark, but before he could reply, Sam intervened and reached out, "May I take a look at it?" Without hesitation, Victor handed her the artifact. If anyone could untangle this technological knot, it was her.

Sam examined the artifact with meticulous professionalism, her eyes scanning every detail of the object. "I'll need to analyze it in the lab to determine if it's still emitting energy."

"I'd also like to study it further," Daniel said as he approached. "Perhaps I can decipher how it works or its origin."

At those words, James, whose impatience seemed to be mounting in the face of the urgent situation, interjected abruptly. "No need to spend hours figuring this thing out," he declared in a decisive tone. "Doctor O'Neill is right; it might just need a recharge."

This remark had the effect of thunder in the room. Jack, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c simultaneously froze, their gazes locking onto James with unsettling intensity.

James, bewildered by this collective reaction, wondered aloud, "What did I say?"

Victor, running a weary hand over his face, seemed on the verge of exasperation at this inadvertent slip-up.

Confusion reigned. Sam, with a slight incredulity tinged with surprise in her voice, repeated, "Doctor... O'Neill?"

James suddenly realized the blunder he had made and hastily corrected himself, "I meant Doctor Carter, of course, Doctor Carter!" His rush to rectify only accentuated the gravity of his slip.

The ensuing silence was heavy, each person processing the magnitude of this accidental revelation. Sam, her eyes widened in surprise, cast a furtive and questioning glance at Jack. His face betrayed a storm of emotions that he found difficult to contain.

O'Neill stood there, motionless, his gaze fixed on Victor and James. However, his mind seemed to drift to distant shores. Subtly, almost unconsciously, his right hand slipped into his pants pocket, seeking the reassuring touch of the small velvet box he had concealed there a few days earlier. As he brushed against it, O'Neill could feel the softness of the velvet covering, promising an equally precious content. It was a commitment he was about to make, and every time he touched that box, he felt a mix of nervousness and excitement.

He let out a discreet sigh, aware that Sam's gaze on him was imbued with a new curiosity, perhaps even a hint of suspicion. It was crucial for him to keep this surprise secret, to preserve it until the perfect moment. In his mind, he had envisioned an ideal scenario, certainly not an accidental revelation in the midst of such a chaotic situation.

He withdrew his hand from his pocket, acting as if nothing had happened, and focused on the present situation. They needed to manage the urgency of the moment: two young people apparently linked to their future, a malfunctioning temporal artifact, and a series of revelations that raised more questions than answers.

His gaze shifted between the worried faces of Victor and James and the artifact in Sam's hand. He felt the palpable tension in the air, like an electric current that threatened to escalate at any moment. A decision needed to be made, and quickly.

"Very well," his voice sliced through the heavy silence like a sharpened knife, "here's what we're going to do." He pointed to the temporal object with his finger, "Sam, Daniel, you're the best at this sort of thing. Take this object and see what you can make of it in the lab."

Then, he turned his attention back to Victor and James. "As for you two," he continued, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on them, "you'll come with Teal'c and me. We can't let you wander around the base with everything that's going on. It's too risky for both you and us."

He paused, weighing the impact of his next words. "You'll stay at my place while we figure this out. It'll keep you away from too many people, and... it'll give us a chance to talk a bit more."

He didn't need to say how crucial it was to keep an eye on them, to keep them away from prying ears and curious eyes that populated the SGC. At his place, he could better control the situation, and maybe, with a bit of luck, get answers to the many questions swirling in his mind.

On Ivadoll, a distant planet in space and time, the atmosphere was just as tense as in the SGC infirmary. The ancient palace, dominated by majestic columns, vibrated with a dark and unsettling energy. Inside, three figures stood out in the dim light, each bearing the mark of their role and power.

Charon paced the vast hall impatiently. His deep blue attire seemed almost alive, absorbing the faint light and projecting an aura of majesty and menace. "They're taking too long," he murmured. "I won't accept any failure. O'Neill must be neutralized, and his body must be brought to us." His tone, though measured, was as sharp as a blade, revealing his ruthless imperative.

At his side, the priestess, a figure shrouded in fabrics seemingly woven from darkness, stood with a dignity that commanded silence and respect. Her eyes, deep and black as bottomless pits, shone with a confidence and knowledge that transcended the ages. She gazed intensely at the third figure in the room: Typhon.

Typhon, immense and imposing, stood motionless like a monolith, indifferent to the whims of time and history. His broad shoulders seemed capable of bearing the weight of the world, and his imposing silhouette filled the room with his intimidating presence. The powerful musculature of his chest and arms suggested immeasurable strength, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

Freed from his millennia-old prison through the incantations and rituals of the priestess, he embodied raw and wild power, an untamed entity whose mere presence made the air in the room tremble. His face bore ancient scars, testaments to the battles he had waged. His eyes, fiery red, gleamed with an evil light, reflecting the anger and thirst for power that burned within him.

His body was covered in tribal tattoos, black as the darkness of the abyss, which seemed to come to life in the torchlight. The intricate patterns of his tattoos appeared to move on his skin, evoking mystical creatures and ancient symbols.

In his hand, he held a vial, forged from a material that defied modern classification. Inside, a residue of blood, that of O'Neill, swirled against the glass walls.

The priestess watched him with a mixture of admiration and calculation. Aware of the risks associated with his release, she also knew that his power was indispensable to their quest.

In this room, the plans and ambitions of these three figures converged towards a common goal, a goal that promised to change the fate of entire worlds. Every word spoken, every silence maintained, carried the weight of decisions that would resonate across galaxies, binding the destiny of Earth to that of Ivadoll.

Typhon's voice echoed, "Be patient, Charon. The creatures have tasted the blood of their prey. They know neither mercy nor defeat. Humans are no match for them."

Charon paused, his burning gaze fixed on Typhon. "And what if you are wrong? What if they fail?" he asked, the tension in his voice reflecting his impatience and doubts.

Typhon examined the vial, his eyes scrutinizing the scarlet liquid. "They will not return without accomplishing their mission. It is the very nature of their existence. And with this blood," he gently shook the vial, "we have a direct link to O'Neill. He cannot escape us."

The priestess stepped forward, her black robe silently rippling on the floor. "And if, by the darkest of chances, they do not succeed, we have other plans. Ivadoll is teeming with secrets and powers that even the Gods fear."

Charon, although still agitated by impatience, slowly nodded in agreement. "Very well... But remember, Typhon," he said with a firmness that betrayed his determination, "you were released for a reason. You owe me O'Neill's life. Do not forget it."

In the heavy silence that followed, the priestess wore a sinister smile, her lips outlining a promise of misfortune for anyone who would stand in their way. Typhon, on the other hand, remained stoic and impenetrable, his gaze seemingly piercing beyond the walls of the palace, fixed on a future only he could foresee.

"I will not forget," declared Typhon, his deep and powerful voice resonating through the ancient stones of the palace. "And if, by misfortune, my creatures fail in their task," he continued, "then I will personally intervene. Earth has not yet experienced a terror like the one I can unleash. O'Neill will find his destiny in my hands."

As he closed his hand around the vial, the blood inside seemed to darken, absorbing the faint light of the room. A collective shiver ran through the assembly, a silent omen that the course of destiny may have just been irreversibly altered.

After an exhausting day filled with challenging and unfathomable mysteries, Sam crossed the threshold of her house, a deep weariness weighing on her shoulders. But that fatigue was almost instantly dispelled when a little whirlwind of energy rushed to greet her. Her fourteen-month-old son, a little bundle of joy with tousled hair and an irresistible smile, toddled toward her. His clumsy, toddler steps, typical of his young age, echoed on the floor, his arms outstretched toward her in a burst of pure love.

"Mu-mu!" exclaimed the little boy, stretching out the syllables with the enthusiasm and pride that only a child discovering the power of words could muster. Each new word was a victory, a treasure he shared with boundless joy.

Sam, carried away by this wave of unconditional love, crouched down to welcome her son. She kissed him tenderly, a smile filled with love and pride lighting up her tired face. "Hey, sweetheart," she replied, her gentle voice wrapping the little boy in a cocoon of affection.

The little boy continued to babble joyfully, recounting his day in a language filled with coos and invented syllables. He pointed to the living room, where a tower of colorful blocks stood, evidence of his afternoon achievements. "Ba-ba," he gurgled, seeking his mother's approval and admiration for his handiwork.

Sam listened attentively, every word from her son, every little story, was a soothing balm for the day's worries. For a moment, the mysteries of the universe and distant dangers faded away, giving way to the simplicity and purity of maternal love.

Daniel, entering the house on Sam's heels, was immediately captivated by the heartwarming scene before him. He couldn't help but let out a gentle and affectionate laugh. "Looks like someone had a busy day," he said, a tender smile on his lips, sharing a knowing look with Sam.

Young Victor, noticing Daniel's presence, turned to him, curiosity lighting up his face. His big, clear eyes, filled with the wonder of childhood, fixed on the archaeologist. "Dan-Dan!" he exclaimed joyfully, proudly expanding his vocabulary. He then reached out his little arms toward Daniel.

Sam, smiling at this interaction, gently placed her son on the floor. Young Victor rushed over to Daniel. Daniel crouched down, opening his arms to welcome the little boy.

"So, buddy, show me what you built today," Daniel said, his tone filled with paternal warmth. He prepared himself to listen carefully to young Victor's likely incoherent but incredibly adorable stories.

In the kitchen, where the aromas of dinner being prepared mixed with the sounds of domestic life, Jack and Teal'c's conversation added a warm note to the atmosphere. O'Neill, with the infectious enthusiasm of a true enthusiast, was trying to explain the intricacies of ice hockey. But Teal'c, stoic and serious, seemed to be struggling to grasp the appeal of this rather unusual sport in his eyes.

"Teal'c, it's simple: guys, ice, a puck, and sticks. What's so hard to understand?" Jack insisted, holding a wooden spatula as if it were a hockey stick, accentuating his explanations with gestures that mimicked a player in action, making imaginary stickhandling moves and shots. He moved around the kitchen, replicating the motions of a player on the ice, with his spatula as an extension of his arm, mimicking passes and shots.

Teal'c, watching Jack's demonstrations with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, remained perplexed nonetheless. "I understand the rules, O'Neill, but the strategic aspect still eludes me," he replied, his brows slightly furrowed in a typical expression of his deep thinking.

Jack, briefly pausing his mimicry to look at Teal'c, burst into laughter. "Hockey is more than strategy, Teal'c. It's adrenaline, speed, and yes, sometimes a few fights. But that's what makes the game exciting!"

Teal'c, nodding slowly, seemed to accept this explanation, although he didn't entirely share Jack's enthusiasm for this Earthly sport. "I still do not grasp the strategic value of fighting over such a small object, O'Neill."

When Sam and Daniel entered the kitchen, their faces displayed the fatigue of a long and challenging day, but also a palpable sense of relief at finally being home. Jack turned to them with a welcoming smile, setting aside his spatula and impromptu hockey lesson.

"Back at last?" Jack quipped, a hint of relief in his voice.

"Where are our two future visitors?" Sam asked immediately.

"They're in the living room," Teal'c replied, his faint smile betraying a touch of amusement. "O'Neill put on 'The Simpsons' for them."

Sam shook her head, a amused smile playing on her lips. "The Simpsons, really?" She couldn't help but chuckle softly, imagining the scene in the living room where Jack was likely providing his own commentary on each episode.

O'Neill rolled his eyes in mock indignation.

The group made their way to the living room. On the couch, the two teenagers were sound asleep, succumbing to an unexpected fatigue. Victor, completely relaxed, had his feet sprawled out on the coffee table, while James, with his head propped on his hand, breathed peacefully, immersed in restful slumber.

Sam couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two sleeping teenagers. "Looks like 'The Simpsons' really captured their attention," she commented with amusement, glancing at the screen where the Springfield family was in action.

The little Victor joined in and began exploring his surroundings. He stumbled against the coffee table, causing a small commotion that made objects on it vibrate. The sudden noise startled James, who jolted awake, while young Victor burst into laughter, amused by his own clumsiness.

James, still groggy from sleep, looked around disoriented before fixing his gaze on the child. "Hey, be careful, Victor," he said, his hoarse voice betraying his recent awakening.

Victor also opened his eyes, pulled from sleep by the noise. "What? What did I do?" he asked, blinking to fully emerge from his drowsiness.

Sam approached to help her son get up, offering a reassuring smile to both teenagers.

Teal'c and Daniel, after exchanging amused glances at the scene, settled comfortably into armchairs, ready to engage in conversation with the young visitors. Despite the extraordinary nature of their encounter, the atmosphere remained relaxed, almost familiar, as if a subtle bond had formed between them.

Meanwhile, Jack wore a more serious expression, contrasting with the lightheartedness in the room. He made a discreet gesture to Sam, inviting her to follow him. "Sam, can you come with me for a moment? I'd like to talk to you in private," he murmured, his voice blending almost imperceptibly with the background of laughter and chatter. There was an urgency in his tone that suggested something far from ordinary.

Sam, sensing the importance of Jack's request, followed him out of the living room. The two of them left the room, leaving behind the relaxed exchanges, to embark on a conversation that seemed to carry a much greater gravity.

Isolated in their bedroom, Jack closed the door behind them, providing a haven of tranquility for a conversation that promised to be serious. He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "When we got home, James... he knew the place. He knew where the glasses were, he found the bathroom without hesitation," he began, a palpable confusion in his voice.

Sam listened, her features creasing slightly as Jack continued. "He even knew how to avoid the creak on the third step of the stairs," Jack added, his gaze fixed on her, filled with questioning.

"How old do you think he is?" he asked.

Sam pondered for a moment. "He must be Victor's age, maybe a little younger, two or three years difference at most," she replied, her eyes locking with Jack's, trying to guess where he was going with this.

Jack nodded, but a troubled expression lingered on his face. "Don't you think..." he paused, "that James might be... our son?"

Sam shook her head vigorously, a glint of panic appearing in her eyes. "Jack, it's impossible. You know very well I've been on birth control, and I've never missed a pill. Victor is fourteen months old; it doesn't add up. I'm... well, you know," she lowered her voice, "I have my period right now."

She moved closer to him, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "We had decided, no more children. After Victor's difficult pregnancy, this decision is important to me. James can't be our son. It's unthinkable."

Jack looked at her, his skepticism easing slightly in the face of Sam's logic. "I know, I know," he murmured. "But there's something about him... it's like he's part of the family."

Sam took a deep breath, trying to contain the rush of emotions welling up inside her. "We need to stick to the facts, Jack. And the facts are clear," she said firmly, even though her heart was racing.

Jack gazed at her, his expression softening a bit. "You're probably right," he conceded.

Sam gave him a smile, a mixture of gratitude and concern. "They're very close friends; they must spend a lot of time together. That's probably why he knows the house so well," she suggested, hoping their fears were just an illusion.

The unusual silence that filled the house contrasted with Stella's growing anxiety. She began to recount the evening's events in a shaky voice. After returning from the birthday party with James, she had ordered pizza, but since then, the boys had vanished.

Jack and Sam, absorbed by the surveillance screen, anxiously searched for any clues to their sons' whereabouts. However, the screen remained frustratingly empty, no signs of movement, no shadows betraying their passage.

Suddenly, an abnormal detail caught their attention. The back door swung open without human intervention, as if an invisible force were pushing it. A shiver of concern ran through Jack. He jumped to his feet and without a word, rushed towards the family safe, a sturdy piece of furniture hidden behind a painting. Stella and Sam followed suit. When he opened the safe, the interior light revealed its contents - or rather, its absence. Two slots were empty, their outlines in the cut foam were the only evidence of the missing artifacts: the bracelets of Hades and Poseidon.

Jack's face was darkened by anger and confusion. Next to him, Stella and Sam looked at the empty slots, their fears confirmed: they had taken the bracelets.

"I can't believe they did this," Jack growled.

Stella, wide-eyed, stood near him, her mind oscillating between fear for her brothers and incredulity at their audacity.

"I would have never thought they'd be bold enough to go through with it," Sam murmured. She turned to Jack, thinking back to the image of the door opening on its own. "Hades' invisibility... that's why we didn't see anything."

Jack clenched his fist, softly striking it against the cold metal of the safe. "They know the rules, we've talked about it!" His voice betrayed a mix of anger and fear over the unpredictable consequences of his sons' actions.

Sam, by his side, felt the tension running through Jack. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him. "They must be somewhere, probably unaware of the danger they've caused."

Stella, standing nearby, nervously nibbled her lower lip, worry etched on her face. "I... I don't know what got into them," she murmured, her voice betraying her distress. "I'm sorry, I never thought they..."

Jack turned to his daughter, his gaze softened with compassion. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, interrupting her apologies. "It's not your fault, Stella. We're going to find them." He then turned his gaze to Sam. "Get ready; we need to go look for them."

Dinner had concluded, and Jack and Sam's house was enveloped in a palpable tranquility. Daniel and Teal'c had bid their farewells, leaving the O'Neill family in the company of their time-traveling guests.

In the living room, Jack had settled into his favorite armchair, his gaze fixed on James. There was a kind of familiarity about the young man that Jack couldn't quite decipher, a feeling that urged him to observe with growing curiosity. Beside him on the couch, Sam was gently rocking little Victor, who was cooing in contentment.

James, aware of Jack's focused attention, tried to divert the focus by entertaining the baby. He leaned toward Victor, clowning around with funny faces and comical sounds, eliciting laughter from the child.

Victor, on the other hand, stood back, arms crossed, silent. He appeared preoccupied, torn by the dilemma of how much he could reveal without compromising their future.

Finally, Jack broke the tranquil atmosphere. "Why did you take the risk of time travel? You must have known it's dangerous."

James, casting a brief glance toward Victor, seemed to be seeking a form of silent consent before speaking. "We have our reasons, but we can't discuss them right now," he said, his voice marked by measured caution.

Jack nodded, a hint of frustration slightly visible on his face. It was evident that he wasn't satisfied with this evasive response. "And these bracelets you're wearing, do they have something to do with your journey?" he asked, his tone indicating clearly that he expected a more concrete explanation.

Victor, locking eyes with Jack, responded with a straightforwardness that left no room for further speculation about their role. "No," he said firmly, his brief response putting an end to any further speculation about their purpose.

As Sam rose, cradling the peacefully slumbering Victor in her arms, she gently announced, "It's time to put him to bed." Jack got up as well and silently accompanied them to the child's room.

In the living room, James turned to Victor, a deep look of concern etched on his features. "I'm not sure how much longer I can keep our secrets. Dad is asking too many questions; he's bound to find out the truth," he admitted, his voice betraying palpable nervousness.

Victor, his gaze immersed in deep contemplation, nodded slowly. "I know. We need to find a way back to our time, and quickly. The longer we stay here, the more we risk altering something significant."

Their eyes met, sharing a mutual understanding of the stakes of their presence in the past. They were both aware of the delicate balance they had to maintain, torn between the desire to protect their future and the challenge of keeping their secret from the perceptive and inquisitive Jack O'Neill.

The evening then unfolded in pensive silence, with each of them lost in their own thoughts. Minutes stretched on, leaving Victor and James grappling with the dilemma of their time-travel mission and the potential consequences of every decision they had to make.

In the future, the O'Neill residence was marked by an atmosphere heavy with worry and tension. Jack and Sam, fully aware of the seriousness of the situation, had hurriedly left the house to go to the Pentagon. Their departure was dictated by the need to inform the military and coordinate a search and rescue effort to find Victor and James, whose disappearance had triggered a high-level emergency.

Stella had stayed at home, at the insistence of her parents. Although she was concerned and eager to help, Jack and Sam had deemed it wiser to keep her away from the chaos and potential dangers. Alone in the vast house, she grappled with her own anxieties.

Determined not to remain idle, Stella embarked on her own investigation. She began with James's room, systematically searching every drawer, every shelf, for clues that could explain their disappearance. But the room revealed nothing extraordinary, just the typical personal belongings of a teenager: books, electronic gadgets, and various items of apparent insignificance.

Slightly disappointed but not discouraged, Stella then headed to Victor's room. She knew he had always had a passion for science, an interest nurtured by the fascinating stories of their parents related to their adventures with the SGC.

Victor's room was impeccably organized, reflecting his orderly and meticulous nature. Stella focused on the desk, where notes and complex diagrams were piled up. At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.

However, her attention was drawn to Victor's computer. She turned it on, and the screen illuminated, revealing a starry wallpaper, a reflection of the family's legacy in space exploration. Stella began to browse through the files on the computer, hoping to find a lead.

That's when she stumbled upon a file titled "The Eternal Nightmare." Her heart raced as she opened the document. Dated on the day of Victor and James's disappearance, it contained notes on a time travel device, with complex calculations and theories about temporal anomalies. The phrase "Eternal Nightmare" appeared repeatedly, a meaningful but mysterious expression to Victor.

She devoured the content of the document, searching for clues about her brother's intentions. Victor mentioned a desire to change or prevent certain past events, although the specific details remained veiled in mystery. It was clear that Victor had meticulously planned this time travel.

Stella sat there, absorbed by the revelations contained in Victor's notes. She needed to understand this "Eternal Nightmare" and her brother's deep motivations for undertaking such a journey.

She couldn't help but feel a profound fear of the consequences of his actions. Victor had pushed the boundaries of what she had always believed possible, but at what cost? And how could she and her parents possibly correct the course of events he had set in motion?

The reality of time travel, far from being a mere fantasy, now presented itself as a dangerous and consequential truth. After analyzing Victor's notes, Stella understood that her brother had used a temporal artifact. Although the technical details were complex, the essence was clear: a crucial part of this object was still at the SGC.

Determined to take action, Stella stood up with firm resolve. She headed towards the family's safe, her heart pounding at the thought of the audacious plan she was considering. Upon opening the safe, she found Zeus's bracelet, an artifact of immeasurable power, adorned with ancient motifs and emitting a subtle glow.

As she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, Stella felt a wave of energy surge through her body. She was well aware of the powers associated with this object, such as the ability to teleport.

Standing still, with her eyes closed, her breathing was calm but resolute. In the darkness behind her eyelids, she focused on a specific image: the entrance to the SGC base. It was a place she knew well, a place she had frequented many times alongside her parents.

As she visualized the entrance, she felt Zeus's bracelet begin to vibrate slightly, as if responding to the strength of her will. A sensation of energy coursed down her arm, spreading throughout her body, an electric murmur heralding the imminent journey.

The vibration of the bracelet intensified, signaling that it was ready to activate its powers. Stella took a deep breath, gathering all her courage. She knew that the step she was about to take would lead her into the unknown, but it was a risk she was willing to take to save her brothers.

She felt herself dissolve into a whirl of light. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a wooded area near the SGC base. The bracelet had worked perfectly, transporting her exactly where she had wished.

Aware of the high security at the SGC, Stella knew she couldn't afford to enter through conventional means. She had to act with discretion and ingenuity. With the bracelet hidden under her sleeve, she moved forward cautiously, each step bringing her closer to her goal.

Her objective was clear: to locate the temporal object described in Victor's notes and use it to correct the course of events.

As the dawn gently broke over the house, Jack, up since early morning, found himself facing another day of questions and uncertainties. The night had been restless, his mind constantly turning over the mysteries surrounding Victor and James. He was preparing breakfast when he was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. It was a call from Dr. Carolyn Lam, the Chief Medical Officer at the SGC.

"General, the blood tests for Victor and James have revealed notable peculiarities, particularly for James," she began. "The results indicate not only that James possesses the Ancient gene but also a high concentration of Naquadah protein in his blood."

Jack, wanting to make sure he fully understood the implications of this discovery, questioned the doctor for clarification. "What does this mean in practical terms?"

Carolyn replied confidently, "It suggests that James shares the same exceptional genetic characteristics as Victor. Their profiles are remarkably similar."

A weight seemed to descend upon Jack's heart, his eyes reflecting a complex emotion. "So you're saying that James is... our son?" he asked, his voice betraying a mixture of uncertainty and hope.

"Yes, General. The genetic profiles leave no room for doubt," she affirmed firmly.

Jack took a moment to process this information, taking a deep breath to calm the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that assailed him. "Thank you, Doctor. Keep this confidential for now. I need to figure out the best way to talk to Sam about it."

"At your command, General," Carolyn concluded.

After hanging up, Jack became lost in thought. The revelation about James added an unexpected layer of complexity to an already tense situation.

When Sam entered the kitchen, the morning light bathed the room in a gentle warmth. She placed young Victor in his high chair and then walked over to Jack with a radiant smile. "Up already?" she asked as she tenderly kissed him.

Jack's evident concern sharply contrasted with her good mood, and she noticed it immediately. "Is something wrong?" Her smile faded slightly, replaced by an inquisitive look.

Jack was caught off guard by her question. He tried to mask his worry with a reassuring smile. "No, everything's fine," he replied, embracing her and returning her kiss. But his tone lacked conviction, betraying his troubled thoughts.

Sam, uncertain but choosing not to press further, sat down at the table with a bowl of applesauce. "Are the boys still sleeping?" she asked as she spooned some fruit puree for their son.

Before Jack could answer, Victor walked in, his eyes revealing he had only recently woken up. He quietly made his way to the coffee machine, poured himself a cup, and then sat at the table.

Jack watched him for a moment, then asked, "Where's James?"

Victor, his eyes fixed on his coffee cup, began to respond. "He's still sleeping. He's a heavy sleeper, like... uh..." He stopped abruptly, realizing he was about to reveal too much. "Never mind," he concluded abruptly.

Victor's response heightened Jack's curiosity, and he felt the atmosphere growing thick with tension. Each of them seemed to carry a burden of secrets and unspoken words, making this otherwise ordinary morning exceptionally heavy with implications.

After finishing his coffee, Victor got up from the table, determined to start his day. He left the kitchen and encountered James in the hallway. James, still half-asleep with heavy eyes, was making his way slowly to the kitchen.

Upon entering, he yawned widely, stretching himself out before heading to the cereal cabinet. With a still-half-asleep look, he poured a generous bowl of crunchy cereal and sat down at the table.

Once he was settled, James turned his attention to young Victor, who was carefully observing his surroundings from his high chair. With a mischievous smile, James began making funny faces accompanied by amusing sounds. His efforts soon paid off, as baby Victor burst into laughter, his eyes sparkling with mischief and joy.

Sam, watching the scene, couldn't help but smile, touched by the interaction between James and her son. The atmosphere in the kitchen lightened up, with James's camaraderie and good humor bringing a bit of levity to the morning.

Jack, on the other hand, watched James with a mixture of curiosity and affection. Dr. Lam's revelation continued to swirl in his mind, but for now, he simply enjoyed this moment of simple family happiness.

After quickly getting ready for the day, Victor passed through the hallway to join the others. It was then that his attention was drawn to young Victor, standing with his arms outstretched toward an object on a sideboard. Intrigued by the child's focus, he approached to discover what was captivating his younger counterpart.

On the sideboard rested a necklace, with a unique appearance. Its central stone seemed to absorb all the surrounding light, creating a hypnotic effect. The stone was set in aged metal with intricate engravings.

Driven by an irresistible curiosity, he reached out and gently touched the necklace. The moment his skin made contact with the cold stone, an enchanting and mysterious voice arose, as if emanating from the necklace itself. The voice, rich with echo and resonance, seemed to call out to him. He then placed the necklace around his neck.

Suddenly, a bright light emanated from the stone, temporarily blinding Victor. He blinked in the face of the supernatural radiance, but a deep intuition compelled him to act. "Tartaros," he muttered almost involuntarily while touching his bracelet on his wrist.

A luminous halo appeared around him, vibrating and swirling with palpable energy, resembling that of a Stargate vortex. Baby Victor, a fascinated spectator of this surreal scene, watched with wide-open eyes, captivated by the dance of lights.

Victor reached out toward the luminous vortex and was swept away in a whirlwind of light. In an instant, he disappeared, teleporting to the distant and mysterious world of Tartaros. The hallway, once animated by his presence, was now silent and empty.

In the kitchen, James, who was helping Jack tidy up, was suddenly seized by a strange sensation. He felt his bracelet glow intensely, pulsating in sync with his abruptly racing heart. A sense of emptiness washed over him, as if Victor's presence had just evaporated into thin air. James was all too familiar with this feeling, having experienced it before. He immediately understood what was happening.

Panicked, he dropped the cereal box he was holding, which crashed to the floor with a dull thud. "He's gone!" he exclaimed, fear clearly visible in his eyes.

Jack, alarmed by this sudden outburst, turned toward him, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Gone where?" he asked urgently.

James, doing his best to stay composed despite the intensity of the situation, tried to explain quickly. "Victor... he's on Tartaros."

"On Tartaros?" Jack furrowed his brow, his expression becoming even more serious. "Where's that?" The urgency in his voice was palpable, every word betraying his growing concern.

James looked grave. "Hell," he murmured, as if fearing that merely uttering the word would make the situation even more real.

Upon arriving on Tartaros, Victor found himself immersed in an atmosphere that was both strange and enchanting. The landscape that stretched around him was dark and desolate, composed of vast barren expanses and massive rock formations. These lands, bathed in a perpetual night sky, exuded an aura of mystery and danger.

He already knew this place. Years ago, he had accidentally landed on Tartaros during a reckless experiment with his bracelet. His stay had been brief, but the impact of that experience was profound. The images of this strange world had remained etched in his memory: the winds whistling through the crevices, the shimmering black stones scattered on the ground like fallen stars.

This first accidental encounter with Tartaros had left him both frightened and fascinated. He remembered the sensation of raw power emanating from this world, as if every rock and grain of sand were imbued with an ancient history.

Victor felt a strange familiarity with the place. Despite its intimidating appearance, he paradoxically felt at home. There was an inexplicable connection to this world, a resonance that seemed to align with something within him.

As he gazed at Tartaros' desolate expanses, a sudden noise caught his attention. Emerging from the shadows of the rock formations, a massive creature appeared, moving with surprising grace despite its imposing size. It was Cerberus, the guardian of the place. It resembled a giant tiger, its eyes gleaming with profound intelligence.

Cerberus approached Victor. Its eyes scrutinized the young man standing before it, as if assessing his presence in this dark world. For a moment, the atmosphere was charged with palpable tension, and the silence of Tartaros enveloped the two beings in a suspended moment.

Yet Victor remained calm, an almost supernatural tranquility. He stood still, his gaze locked onto Cerberus' piercing eyes. There was a mutual recognition, a shared memory of their past encounter when Victor was a very young adventurer lost in this realm.

Finally, Cerberus seemed to recognize him. The creature's expression transformed from wariness to a kind of tacit acceptance. It moved closer and rubbed against Victor, its massive head slipping under the outstretched hand of the teenager. With surprising gentleness, Cerberus licked Victor's hand, a gesture that betrayed unexpected familiarity and trust.

Victor, responding to this sign of affection, gently stroked the guardian's head. There was no fear in his movements, only a deep understanding and respect for the creature that shared this strange world with him.

Suddenly, a melodious sound reached Victor's ears—a sweet and enchanting song that seemed to emanate from somewhere nearby. Raising his hand in a silent gesture, he indicated to Cerberus to stay in place. The tiger complied, sitting majestically, its yellow eyes fixed on Victor as he moved away.

Guided by the song, he made his way through Tartaros' barren landscape until he arrived near a stream. There, he discovered a scene of surreal beauty. Sitting by the water's edge, a young woman was singing. Her voice, clear and melodious, seemed an integral part of the stream's murmurs.

She was strikingly beautiful, with long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a white tunic, of radiant purity, which sharply contrasted with the dark hues of Tartaros. Light seemed to dance around her, creating an almost unreal aura.

Victor approached cautiously, captivated by the scene. The young woman, without interrupting her song, lifted her gaze to him. Her eyes were deep blue, reflecting wisdom and depth that exceeded her youthful appearance. She continued to gently touch the water's surface, each ripple seemingly accompanying her melody.

There was something magical and soothing about her presence, a harmony that soothed the soul. Victor, as he watched, felt strangely at ease, as if the song had the power to calm the turmoil and fears that had accompanied him on Tartaros.

As Victor approached, the young woman's face lit up with radiant joy. She interrupted her song and quickly stood up, her movements fluid and graceful. With evident happiness, she rushed towards him and enveloped him in a warm embrace. "Victor, I thought I'd never see you again!" she exclaimed.

Victor, completely taken aback by this unexpected welcome, initially allowed it, caught off guard by the young woman's spontaneous affection. He didn't remember her, his mind frantically searching for an explanation for this familiarity.

Gently but firmly, he pushed her back a bit to look into her eyes. "But who are you?" he asked, his confusion clearly expressed in his voice and on his face.

The young woman, still smiling, looked at him with an affection that didn't seem to diminish despite his evident perplexity. "Victor, you don't recognize me?" she asked, her voice tinged with a gentle mix of amazement. Her gaze then descended to the necklace around Victor's neck. A flash of recognition illuminated her face.

She cleared her throat, surprise and joy mixed in her gaze. "I'm delighted that you've kept the necklace I gave you," she added with a sincere smile.

Victor scrutinized her face, searching her features for a clue, a memory, something that could shed light on this mysterious encounter. She was enchantingly beautiful, with deep blue eyes that seemed to hide ancient secrets and forgotten stories.

In this world of Tartaros, where the real and unreal seemed to blend together, Victor faced another puzzle. Who was this young woman who knew him so well, and how had this necklace ended up with his parents?

She fixed Victor with a gaze full of knowledge and tenderness. "I am Calypso," she said softly. "We know each other, but you don't remember."

Stunned, he couldn't help but respond, "I don't see how I could have forgotten you." His confusion was palpable in his voice, his mind trying to piece together a puzzle he didn't yet understand.

Calypso smiled at him, an expression of understanding crossing her features. "The twists of time have no hold on me. I remember the different paths we've taken together, the realities we've shared," she explained.

Victor, growing increasingly confused, shook his head. "But what are you talking about?!" he exclaimed, his mind grappling with growing incomprehension.

Calypso gently approached him, serenity radiating from her presence. "Let me show you," she said in a soothing voice. She delicately lifted her hands and placed her palms gently on Victor's cheeks. Then, with a tender gesture, she brought her forehead close to his.

Closing her eyes, she seemed to focus, an aura of calm enveloping her. Victor, despite his uncertainty, allowed it, intrigued and somewhat fascinated by this strange connection she seemed to establish between them.

In this suspended moment, a stream of images and sensations began to flow into Victor's mind, memories of a life he didn't recognize but that felt strangely familiar. Calypso was about to reveal to him the secrets of their shared past, opening a door to buried memories and unexpected truths.

Jack, driven by a growing sense of urgency, rushed toward the kitchen exit, determined to start the search for Victor. But James abruptly stopped him by grabbing his arm. "He's no longer on Earth. I felt him depart. We can't just go get him," he explained, the gravity of the situation evident in his eyes.

Jack, frustrated and overwhelmed by confusion, turned to him. "What do you mean we can't go get him? There must be a way!" he exclaimed, exasperation seeping into his voice.

James shook his head, "Only my sister can go to Tartaros. I don't have that power."

Jack's exasperation escalated. "Then what in the hell is the use of your damn bracelet?!" he shouted, his helplessness in the situation making him furious.

James, sharing the same temperament, retorted in an equally agitated tone, "Oh, come on! I haven't explored all its powers yet! You've spent my entire childhood telling me not to touch it! Make up your mind!"

Jack, exasperated, pressed on, "Where can we find your sister's bracelet?"

"Even if we found it, it wouldn't work. It only functions with Stella, and I remind you that she hasn't been born yet!" James replied, his frustration evident.

"Thank you, I'm aware of that detail," Jack retorted. "You should have never come here!" he exclaimed, anger taking over.

James, equally frustrated, countered, "I know, we never listen to anything!" His voice betrayed his own sense of helplessness.

Facing James' insolence, Jack took a deep breath, trying to contain the storm of emotions threatening to overflow. "Listen, James," he said, his voice trembling with restrained anger. "I know I'm your father, and I'm doing my best to protect this family, including you and Victor, no matter where or when you come from. If you have any ideas, suggestions, I'm all ears."

The sound of a coffee cup shattering on the floor abruptly interrupted the tense exchange between Jack and James. Both turned to the source of the noise and saw Sam, frozen, a broken cup at her feet. She stood still, mouth agape, eyes wide, staring at Jack with unsettling intensity.

James, attempting to redirect the focus to the urgent situation, said hurriedly, "We have a problem! Victor has gone to Tartaros." But Sam didn't seem to hear him, her gaze still fixed on Jack.

"You are... his father?" she asked, her voice trembling but firm, revealing a sudden and destabilizing understanding.

Jack, caught off guard by Sam's direct question, cleared his throat and nervously ran his hands over his face. He searched for words, but nothing seemed adequate to convey the complexity of the situation.

Sam's insistence was palpable. "Jack! Are you his father?!" she repeated, her voice rising a notch, demanding an answer.

James, sensing the escalating tension in the room, lowered his gaze to the floor, aware that the revelation had triggered another crisis, just as serious as Victor's disappearance.

Jack, faced with the need to disclose a truth he himself had difficulty accepting, took a deep breath before responding. "Doctor Lam called me this morning. The tests indicate that James has the same genetic characteristics as Victor. So, yes... we are his parents," he said hesitantly.

Sam, stunned by this revelation, couldn't hold back her anger. Her eyes narrowed slightly, "And when were you planning to tell me, Jack?! When my pregnancy test would have turned positive?!"

Jack, attempting to defend himself, looked down and nervously scratched the back of his neck. "Don't be unreasonable, Sam." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I was trying to find the right moment. After our conversation last night about not wanting more children, how did you expect me to break the news? 'By the way, we're not having another child, but twins'?"

"You should have told me right away!" Sam insisted, her voice vibrating with anger.

It was then that James, who had been standing back until now, interjected, "What do you mean, no more children? Are you saying we weren't wanted?!"

Jack, torn between wanting to reassure Sam and address James, responded quickly, without fully considering the implications of his words. "Let's just say you weren't exactly planned."

"Great!" retorted James bitterly, his face reflecting a mix of sadness and anger. Overwhelmed by his emotions, he hastily left the kitchen and exited the house.

Jack and Sam quickly followed him. Jack managed to catch up with him outside, grabbing his arm to stop him. "Where are you going like this?!" he asked, tension and concern evident in his voice.

James abruptly pulled away from his grasp, anger clearly visible on his face. "Why do you even care?!"

As Jack prepared to respond, a luminous halo suddenly appeared, capturing everyone's attention. From the light emerged a blonde young woman whose expression was one of pure fury. Without hesitation, she lunged at James, knocking him to the ground.

The teenager positioned herself over him and violently grabbed him by the collar of his t-shirt. "James Charles O'Neill, I'm going to rip your eyes out!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying intense anger.

James, immediately recognizing his sister, made no attempt to defend himself. Instead, he embraced her, disrupting her aggressive posture. Stella, taken aback by the gesture, lost her balance and collapsed on top of him. "Stella! I'm so glad to see you!" James exclaimed.

Stella, still in shock, remained still for a moment before realizing what was happening. Her anger slowly subsided, replaced by evident confusion. However, irritation still lingered in her voice. "Do you realize what you made me do to come and get you?" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her frustration.

James attempted to respond, but before he could utter a word, Stella placed a hand over his mouth to silence him abruptly. "Wait a minute!" Her fingers gently pressed against his lips, making it clear that she didn't want to hear his apologies at the moment.

She frantically scanned her surroundings, her breathing slightly quickening, revealing her growing concern, as she leaped to her feet, her senses on high alert. "Where's Victor?!" she demanded, her voice nearly trembling.

To be continued...