Warnings and disclaimer in Chapter 1. Enjoy.
"Hey Jack." Jack looked up from his coffee to find Jacob hovering sheepishly in front of him. "May I?" he asked, gesturing with his tray. Jack shrugged.
"Sure."
"Thanks," Jacob told him as he put his tray down and sat down. "I want to apologize for earlier," he said as he got his dinner situated. "I know Sam never wanted you to see us argue."
"It was a bit of an eye opener," Jack remarked casually, taking a sip of coffee. Jacob followed suit.
"I know you think we have a rock solid relationship," Jacob started, scooping up some mashed potatoes with his fork, "but in reality, this closeness is relatively new. And it's easier to fall into old habits, especially when we don't agree."
"Did you really side with the snake?" Jack quietly. Jacob didn't answer right away, instead focusing on his dinner for so long Jack thought he would never answer.
"I don't like it," he finally said, "but this is war and sometimes you have to do some damn distasteful things to get the job done. And the simple fact is it's easier to get a new host than it is to get a new symbiote."
"How very Goa'uldish of you," Jack said, his face unreadable. Jacob shuttered.
"I don't like it," he repeated, "even Selmak doesn't like it, but that doesn't change the facts. Sometimes there are just no good choices." Jack nodded. That, at least, he could agree on.
Jack watched him eat in silence until Jacob cleared his tray. "How's Carter?"
"She's fine," Jacob told him, moving to refill his coffee. He held the pot toward Jack, but he shook his head. Jacob nodded, poured himself a cup, and returned to the table. "She cried herself to sleep," he told him as he retook his seat. Jack looked alarmed but Jacob held up his hand. "She's been doing that a lot this week. She'll sleep for an hour or so before the dreams will get too intense and wake her up."
"A snake can have that much influence on a host?" Jack asked.
"And a host on a symbiote," Jacob answered, "at least in a true blending. The Goa'uld never let their hosts have that much freedom." He put his coffee down. "For example, I lost my wife fifteen years ago. I loved her and mourned her deeply, but I had to move on. Before today, I hadn't seriously thought about her in years, and when I did, it would be a random thought or fleeting memory. But just those brief seconds that I saw her before Sam passed out brought about such intense feelings that Selmak is now ready to defend her as part of the family, just like the rest of you."
"Wow." They both turned, surprised to find Sam standing right by them. "I didn't realize."
"You were barely out of your 'boys have cooties' phase," Jacob told her, pushing out a chair for her. "As much fun as embarrassing you by kissing your mom in public was, we tried to limit our public displays of affection for the sake of you kids."
"Thanks," she said, flashing him a big smile before turning it into a frown. "I'm sorry about earlier." Jacob waved away her apology.
"Water under the bridge Sam."
"Speaking of earlier," Jack started, eying her with concern as she took her seat, "does Fraiser know you escaped? Cause you still look a little pale to me."
"Don't worry, Sir. Janet released me."
"With the provision you consume a midday meal," Teal'c added, bringing a tray piled high with food to the table.
"I'll get something later," Sam told them as Teal'c claimed the spot opposite her. But he didn't sit down. He simply stood there, his calm gaze never leaving her face. She sighed. "I promise."
"Then it is fortunate that I have arrived so you may fulfill your obligation." She looked up at him in confusion. He laid the tray in front of her. "Doctor Fraiser enlisted my help to ensure you complied with her instructions." He sat down in front of her, hands gently clasped in front of him. "And you promised." Sam closed her eyes in resignation. She could never break a promise to the Jaffa.
"I'm never going to be able to eat all this," Sam murmured, already reaching for her fork.
"As much as you can," Jacob encouraged. "Maybe while you eat Jack can bring us up to speed about their guests."
"Sure," Jack agreed. He turned to Sam. "But no speaking till you're done. I don't want Fraiser pissed at me for helping you circumvent her not working orders."
"What?" she started, only to be interrupted by Jack.
"Ack!" he chastised. "She didn't say something about no work until you've eaten and slept?" Sam made no comment and just looked down at her tray. Jack shifted his glance to Teal'c.
"Indeed." Sam opened her mouth to reply but Jack waggled a finger in her direction in warning. She sighed and began eating.
Jack began telling them all he knew about their visitors. He told them about their appearance in Area 51 and their debriefings, both the formal and informal. "Which reminds me Jacob. How did the Goa'uld manage to stay alive inside Kawalsky?"
"What?" Jacob asked.
"One of their first missions through the Chapp'ai was to Chulak." Teal'c informed him.
"Right," Jacob agreed. "Where they met you. You joined them and have been fighting on our side ever since."
"Indeed." Teal'c bowed his head respectfully and continued. "O'Neill insisted on saving all prisoners. That act allowed Serpent Guards time to regroup. There was a battle at the Chapp'ai. The warriors from the Tau'ri were victorious, however an immature larvae left his dying Jaffa and infected Major Kawalsky."
"Kawalsky would have blackouts," Jack continued, "whole hours where he couldn't remember anything he'd done. Eventually we found the snake and realized what was happening. We tried surgically removing the snake, even managed to extract the damn thing from around his spinal cord. We thought it worked. We thought we saved him."
"How did you find out you didn't?" Jacob asked.
"A few days after the procedure the Goa'uld came to me," Teal'c explained. "In its arrogance it revealed to me the truth. What the surgeons removed was merely a husk that was unnecessary." Jacob bowed his head.
"That unfortunately is true," Selmak told them. "The first time a symbiote takes a host, the symbiote's body undergoes a metamorphosis. They evolve from a being living inside a Jaffa's pouch to a being able to wrap itself around a brain stem. They develop the tendrils that allow them to infiltrate the mind of their host. And most importantly, they start developing their own personalities."
"I thought they were born with all that," Jack interrupted.
"They do have genetic memory," Selmak confirmed, "and the innate desire to conquest, but having that knowledge and being able to put it to use are two separate things. During this crucial time they are learning, as much from the host as the Goa'uld to whom they pledge their loyalty. Also, during this time their consciousness, for lack of a better word, is temporarily displaced from their body."
"Displaced?" Jack asked while Teal'c looked at him curiously.
"Until the metamorphosis is complete, the symbiote's body is dormant. The symbiote's body, or more accurately, the tendrils mature symbiotes are able to interject inside their host's brain, are what allow a symbiote to completely control their host. That is why it is physically impossible for a host to overpower a symbiote. But, on the initial blending, the symbiote's body is changing and dormant. The power struggle between a host and a symbiote is all in the mind. Which is one reason they like to keep their populations as downtrodden as possible."
"That's why Share and Skaara were able to influence their Goa'ulds," Sam piped up, before withdrawing into herself, "and I wasn't." Jack, realizing she was self-depreciating, raised his finger in warning. "Empty tray, Sir," she smiled before continuing her thought. "You liberated Abydos and Daniel lived there for a year teaching them about freedom before Apophis came. They weren't scared villagers in fear of their God anymore." Jack looked thoughtful.
"A highly likely scenario," Selmak agreed. "The longer the larvae matures, the more likely the Goa'uld is to be triumphant in this initial battle of wills. However, there are times, for example if the symbiote is injured or removed, where the Goa'uld will simply possess the initial host.
"Like Kawalsky," Jack commented. Selmak nodded her head.
"It is not something that is generally done," she acknowledged. "Without the physical body of the symbiote the Goa'uld cannot subjugate the host, or even change hosts as they prefer. They will be stuck in one body for their entire existence, and their host will always be able to challenge them." Jack frowned.
"Don't ya think this is something we might have wanted to know about?" Jack asked sarcastically. Selmak bowed her head, giving control back to Jacob.
"We were under the impression you tried to avoid all encounters with larval Goa'uld," Jacob answered.
"We do," Jack said, "but that's not the point. The Tok'Ra are constantly leaving out little details that we need to know about. That's got to stop with this new treaty."
"It's not done intentionally," Jacob defended them. "Mostly it's common knowledge things that are so mundane to the Tok'Ra they don't realize that their allies don't understand. Did you warn Thor about human adolescence and puberty?" Jack was silent. He sighed. "I'll make a note to the High Council to include more detailed briefs."
"Thank you," Jack said diplomatically. The table fell into silence. They were just about to leave when they heard Daniel's voice coming from the hallway. They turned as he led their guests through the mess hall doors for a late lunch. They froze when they saw Sam and Jacob, a look of fear and hate on their faces.
"Oh," Daniel said, stopping when they did. It only took him a moment to realize why. "Sorry. I thought the mess would be empty by now." He shrugged apologetically to the group at the table before he turned to Katherine. "We can come back later or even have something delivered to the room."
"That will not be necessary," Katherine said, forcing the fear from her eyes. She turned to her daughter. "I told you there were differences. This is not your sister."
"Because you died before I was conceived," Amy said in disdain. "That makes it all better." Katherine narrowed her eyes in warning. Amy huffed and made her way to the chow line, Daniel following cautiously behind.
"Sorry," she apologized, heading closer to their table. "We know it wasn't you who ruined our world, but it's hard not to see her when we look at you." Grace twisted around in her arms until she spotted Jack. She reached out for him. "Do you mind?"
"Sure," he said, reaching for the child that was reaching for him. He looked at Sam guiltily as Grace got settled on his lap. She stared transfixed at the child. Katherine waited for another moment, making sure Grace was settled, before joining her youngest daughter in line.
"Can I sit next to you?" a timid voice sounded next to Jacob. He turned, surprised to see Amy fidgeting next to him.
"Sure." He smiled reassuringly at her while he tried to move his tray to make room for her. She surprised him by simply pushing another table next to theirs. "Or we can do that." She smiled at him and sat down and started eating. A few minutes later Katherine joined her.
"We've been going over the differences between our realities," Daniel started, trying to break the silence. "It's amazing how closely they mirror each other, despite some pretty significant differences."
"Differences?" Sam perked up, tearing her eyes away from the toddler sitting in Jack's lap and turning her attention to Daniel. "Like what?"
"Their gate's public," he said. Sam's eyes got big as she turned to Jack.
"I hadn't gotten to that point yet," he shrugged apologetically. Sam turned back to Daniel.
"Apparently there was a short time after disclosure when offworld travel was suspended, but with the backing of the world, they were able to get even more SG teams than we have now. They've been to places we haven't even heard of."
"Good for them," Jack commented.
"They've even started offworld colonies Jack," Daniel said in excitement. "Not just a military base like we're thinking about, but an actual colony with families and children and crops and marketplaces and local government. And not just the US. There's an international hub that supports and coordinates all offworld colonies. About a dozen countries have solitary or joint offworld colonies, not to mention the different military bases the US and other nations have. It's like they're reliving the colonization of the 16th century but on a galactic scale."
"That's impressive," Jacob said.
"Indeed," Teal'c added. He turned to Katherine. "Your reality appears to be suitably prepared to take your place amongst the stars."
"It's all thanks to George," Katherine said, frowning slightly. "It's almost like he knew this would be happening and took steps to prepare everyone." Sam frowned, throwing a look toward Jack.
"I think we should be saving this for the debriefing," Jack said. Everyone nodded and began gathering up their trays when a shy voice sounded from Jacob's other side.
"Ummm dad?" Jacob turned to find Amy looking very nervous as she tried to look anywhere but into his eyes. Jacob simply looked at her, letting her set the pace for whatever she wanted. Finally she screwed up her courage and looked him in the eye. "I know you're not my dad, not really, but at the same time you are him and I miss him so much. Can I hug you?"
"Sure kiddo." He smiled at her and opened his arms. She fell into the embrace, sobbing quietly on his shoulder as he held her tight. He glanced over questioningly at his wife.
"Our Jacob died of cancer a few months ago," she told him gently, watching the interaction with tears in her eyes.
"Selmak wasn't able to help?" he asked quietly.
"Selmak?" Katherine asked. "Is that your doctor here? They must be amazing. You've never looked better." Jacob shared a look with Sam.
"Didn't you meet the Tok'Ra?" Daniel asked, wariness replacing the excitement in his eyes.
"The who?" Katherine asked uncertainly, with just the barest hint of recognition in her eyes.
"The Asgard? Tollan?" Jack asked. She looked at them blankly.
"Do you not have offworld allies that assist your world in their fight against the Goa'uld?" Teal'c asked solemnly.
"We've made a few friends through the gate, but all our friends are less advanced than us."
"What about the Nox?" Amy asked, pulling away from Jacob. She looked at her mother beseechingly. Katherine nodded.
"SG-1 met the Nox on one of their first missions," Katherine explained. "They are an advanced race, but thought we were too…"
"Young?" Daniel supplied.
"I take it you've met them." He nodded. "They helped SG-1 return through the Stargate and then buried their gate. We haven't had any contact with them since."
"And they're the only advanced race you've come across?" Daniel asked.
"Except the Goa'uld," she said as they put their used trays away and headed to the briefing room. "I don't diminish the help our offworld friends have given us. They have been a godsend to the offworld colonies. They practically supported a few of them while fields were being set up and through the first harvest and sometimes beyond. They provide a safe place to trade. They introduced us to their friends. We have learned much from them. But they are ill equipped to offer military aid, nor would we ever ask them to do so."
"How did you get colonies going already?" Daniel asked as they took their seats. SG-1 and Jacob on one side and their visitors on the other. Hammond motioned through the window that he would need another few minutes.
"It helps when the whole world knows about the gate," Katherine started. "We had a list of the most brilliant people in the United States. People who would be brought through the gate in the case of an emergency."
"The genesis list," Sam said, speaking up for the first time.
"We called ours the eden list," Katherine said, giving her daughter a hard look. Sam blushed and looked down. "The final list had just been approved when Kinsey shut the program down. The supplies arrived, but there was little point telling people they were going to be saved by a program that was no longer there. Then SG-1 went rogue and used the gate while everything was being shut down. That pissed Kinsey off big time. He ordered everything shut down by the next day and that nobody look for the supposed invasion force that he was convinced was just a desperate attempt to keep the SGC open." She sighed, taking a deep breath, lost in her memories. "We were caught totally off guard. When the first ships arrived, we had no defenses. Air traffic came to a halt, gliders shot down anything that tried to fly whether military or commercial. We had the list of survivors, but no way of getting them to the gate."
"Ground transportation?" Jack asked.
"Some," she admitted. "For the most part everyone went home and locked their doors and windows. Trains were an easy target for the Death Gliders. Convoys were another favorite target, especially when they left the safety of the cities. The highways became impassable in places. A single car, traveling on back roads or cross country was the safest way to get around but not many people tried. It seemed that the whole world stopped moving and just stared at their TV screens. Except in Colorado Springs." She focused her attention on Jack. "Everyone returned to the mountain as soon as the ships were sighted. When it became apparent that they would not be able to carry out the eden list, George opened the gate up to anyone. Teams were sent out to bring the families of everyone at the SGC to safety. Their families were shipped offworld while the soldiers stayed to fight. Eventually they brought back anyone they could find. That was our first trip through the Gate," she said, gesturing to her daughter and granddaughter.
"You've been through the gate?" Jack asked gently, glancing at the child in his lap. She just grinned at him.
"We arrived on the other side to an empty field, a crate of supplies, and not much else. The SGC was constantly sending through refugees and supplies; whatever they could scrounge up. We all thought the world was lost. Especially when the gate went silent. Then a few days later, when we started arguing amongst ourselves over everything and nothing, the gate dialed. Jacob stepped out and told us the world was safe. We went home, to what was left of our homes. We were in shock." She was lost in her memories for a moment. "We had to rebuild anyway. Some liked the thought of rebuilding on alien soil. A true fresh start: where we could skip the mistakes of the past and start again with everything we've learned. Then the President announced the Stargate program would continue but with the world being part of it. A very vocal group pushed for colonization. Those that lost everything were given first dibs."
"It sounds amazing," Hammond said, coming into the room in time to hear her last comment. Major Davis right behind him. Jack and Sam immediately got to their feet. Hammond waved them down. "As incredible as your tale is, you still haven't told us why you are here or what you want."
"I'm not sure what we want," Katherine admitted, sharing a look with her daughter. "Coming here was not our choice. Your world is perfect. So similar to ours that it is very easy to simply ask to stay and live our lives here. The fact that we can is very tempting." Amy frowned at her mother. "But that would dishonor everything our friends did to rescue us."
"Rescue?" Jack asked, sitting up straighter. "From who?"
"My daughter, Samantha Carter." Every eye turned to Sam, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from her mother's gaze.
"Our world was destroyed by Sam," Amy said, speaking up for the first time. Hatred burned in her eyes as she glared at her sister. "And when we tried to escape through the Stargate with the rest of the world, she kidnapped us and hid us in a bunker. She said it was to keep us safe, but I know it was just because she's a giant loser who was too afraid to die alone and needs to take the whole planet with her!" Her voice grew steadily louder until she was on her feet, shaking in anger. "I hate you!" she yelled moments before running from the room.
Sam was frozen in place, her face paling as the accusations were thrown at her. Then, as soon as Amy's footsteps faded, Sam pushed back her chair and bolted from the room.
"Sam," Daniel called in concern. He pushed back his chair and was getting ready to follow when Hammond's voice stopped him.
"Let her go, son." Daniel looked at the older man before nodding. He quickly retook his seat. Hammond looked at his guest. "I think you better explain."
AN: The alternate timeline sticks relatively close to the established timeline. Pretty much everything that happens in the beginning of the series happens in the alternate universe, just the order and timing is a little awry.
Also, that is my attempted explanation for my biggest pet peeve of the series. Kawalsky's Goa'uld. I'm gonna say that's what happened until someone comes up with a better explanation.
