Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
"What do you mean 'The way to Atlantis'?" Nathan demanded as he faced the young doctor across the table in the conference room.
She frowned, "I thought I was pretty clear."
Nathan glared at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Atlantis is a real place, Captain," Arianna told him, "It has been colonised for over ten years. In fact my parents are living there at the moment."
He stared at her as she waited for him to catch up; Nathan finally sank into a seat.
"Alright, Dr Jackson," he said slowly, "I want a full explanation of what my boat is being pulled towards."
"The readings your WSKR things are receiving are the same as the readings that are sent out when a Stargate is open," she paused and gave an annoyed sigh, "I need to explain the Stargate, don't I?"
"That would be helpful," Nathan told her wryly.
She let out another long sigh, "Alright, from the beginning. 1924 Giza Egypt…"
x
Ari finished giving the standard SGC debrief to the man across from her and waited. She knew it was a lot to take in, even for someone with as much experience as Bridger. She had of course left out her unusual origins; she really didn't want to get into that can of worms.
"So, you're saying there is something out there that is connected to the planet Atlantis is on?" Bridger asked sceptically.
Ari shook her head, "I don't think it's actually connected yet. As I said before Captain, I'm an archaeologist and linguist. This isn't exactly my area of expertise."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Ari let out a long breath, clicking her tongue in thought, "I need to talk to the SGC."
"The…"
"I'll explain to Lt O'Neill the way to contact them," Ari cut him off before he asked, "Captain, I know this is a lot for you to take in but you have to trust me."
"Why you?"
"Excuse me?" Ari asked, a little bemused at the segue-way.
"I wanted to know why you are the most qualified person to deal with this?" Bridger asked pointedly.
Ari shrugged, "I'm the daughter of Daniel Jackson, the man who opened the Stargate and was at the forefront of just about every discovery related to it. He trained me and, as he's currently somewhere else, I'm it."
"And there's no one more qualified?"
Ari stared at him for a few seconds, "For this – no."
x
"What's wrong?" Jack demanded the moment he appeared on the screen.
Ari took a deep breath aware of Bridger standing next to her, "General, we have something sending out signals that match the ones we receive when a wormhole is open."
"Interesting," he mused and Ari did her best not to smile as she knew the tone he had in his voice.
"General," Bridger took over, "I want answers."
"Don't we all," Jack retorted automatically.
Ari frowned at him trying to convey this was not the time to be himself.
"General O'Neill," Bridger grimaced, "This is not a joke."
"It never is, Captain," Jack replied, "Ari, is there any sign of a Stargate?"
Ari shook her head, "No."
"What about any tech that could give off this signal?"
"From the sweeps the crew have done there were none," Ari reported.
"And the box they found?"
Ari paused, "It hasn't been opened yet," she looked up at tilted her head thoughtfully, "It's the box. It must be sending out some kind of signal. I need to check the box."
Ari nodded to Jack quickly before she jogged out the room.
x
"General," Nathan demanded the moment the young woman had left the room, "Have I been told everything?"
The General chuckled, "Not by a long shot but we've told you what you need to know. I know it's irritating but it's the best I can do for you."
Nathan frowned before nodding, "You have your orders."
"I do," the other man stated before adding, "Captain, there is one more thing before I go."
"And that is?"
"Arianna Jackson. You need to trust her because she knows what she's doing. We trained her very well," he paused for a second, "That girl is also part of my family and if anything happens to her I will hold you personally responsible."
Nathan smiled slightly, "I would in your position."
x
Tim stood watching Ferguson and her team as they prepared to open the box. They were getting some amazing readings from it and she had decided it was time to know what was inside.
"Alright," Ferguson called, "Do we have the quarantine set up?"
"Yes, Dr Ferguson," one of the scientists replied.
She smiled, "Let's get this done then."
Glancing up she saw Tim and touched the comm., "Lt O'Neill, hopefully there will be something inside for you."
He gave her a quick smile and nod before leaning back against the wall to watch.
"What the hell are they doing?" the voice of their guest jolted him out of his thoughts.
"Opening the box," Tim replied confused by her yell.
"What?" she snapped, "They can't," she slammed her hand on the button for the comm., "Stop what you're doing!"
Ferguson turned demanding, "Who are you?"
Before another word could be spoken the lid of the box opened and bright light filled the room. Tim heard screams before he felt something force him to the ground then the world went black.
Jonathan watched the WSKR readings with Ortiz waiting for something to give them a clue to what they were watching. Suddenly the entire boat rocked and he had to grab the back of Ortiz's chair to keep upright.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded to anyone who could give him an answer.
"Unknown, Commander," Lucas piped up, "It appears to have been some kind of energy wave from inside the Seaquest itself. I'm trying to locate the source."
"It's the lab," Ortiz called a few moments later, "We have several people trapped. Including Tim."
Jonathan grimaced and made the call for a rescue team before he joined Ortiz to help.
"Dr Smith," Jonathan called finding her getting ready for any casualties, "Can you tell me anything?"
Smith shook her head, "There's too much confusion within the room. O'Neill is uninjured as far as I can tell," she added, resting her hand on Ortiz's arm.
"What about our guest?" Jonathan asked, "She was heading this way not long before whatever happened."
Smith frowned slightly, "I can't sense her."
"So she's not in there," Ortiz nodded in relief, having heard the General's comments to Bridger.
Smith shook her head, "I mean I can't sense her anywhere on the ship."
Jonathan frowned, "That is not good."
x
Tim groaned as pain radiated through his back and he strained to remember what exactly had happened. Pressing a hand to his eyes he tried to find his glasses so he could see.
"Dr Jackson?" he called, remembering her entrance before his bout of unconsciousness. Tim struggled to move, every muscle felt like it had been turned to lead but finally he managed to pull himself off the ground.
He found the young woman, who must have pushed him before whatever had happened, unconscious in the other corner. Quickly he checked her pulse relieved to find one before he turned to check on the other scientists.
"Oh my God," he breathed in horror at the sight before him. Every one of the scientists who had been working on the box had been turned to stone.
"Lt O'Neill, Dr Ferguson," Commander Ford's voice made him jump, "Can anyone hear me?"
Tim staggered towards the control panel, "I'm here, Commander. But Dr Ferguson and her team…they're…they…I think they're dead."
He heard the horrified pause on the other side of the radio.
"Tim," Wendy Smith called, "Are you alright?"
He shook himself, "A little sore but Dr Jackson needs medical attention. She's unconscious so I don't know the extent of her injuries."
"Hold on," Smith cried, "She's in there? And alive?"
Tim frowned a little bemused at the strange demand, "Yes."
"We're trying to get the door open," Ford took over, "We should have you out in a few minutes."
Tim glanced to where the group of scientists stood, frozen like statues their faces contorted in fear and hoped it was only a few minutes.
x
Jonathan motioned Wendy to one side as the team worked to get the door open.
"I thought you said Dr Jackson wasn't in the room?" he asked, his arms folded across his chest.
Wendy shook her head, "I was sure she wasn't. Commander, I honestly have no idea how I was unable to sense her."
"Could it be because she was unconscious?" Miguel asked.
Wendy shook her head, "I can usually get a sense of someone better when they're unconscious as they're more open. The thing is even if she was actively blocking me there is no way I wouldn't know she was there. It's like she doesn't exist."
"That's impossible," Jonathan said.
Wendy nodded, "I know."
The clang of the door interrupted their conversation and Wendy moved quickly to check on the casualties. She stopped just inside and stared at the group of scientists behind the quarantine field.
"Oh my God," she breathed in astonishment.
"Dr, you said there was too much confusion to tell if anyone was injured," Ford reminded her.
"There is," she whispered, turning to him Wendy's eyes were filled with horror, "They're not dead."
x
Nathan jogged through the corridors to join the rescue operation, stepping inside the lab he stopped staring at the scene before him. Dr Smith and her team were examining at the research team.
He reached out and rested his hand on O'Neill's shoulder, checking the younger man. O'Neill turned and nodded at him as he stayed at the side of their unconscious guest.
"Dr?"
Smith turned to him, "I don't know. We're trying to do our best through the quarantine but until I can get them out of there…"
She was cut off when a loud bang sounded and the entire ship jerked throwing everyone across the room. Nathan saw his communications officer throw himself forward to ensure Dr Jackson wasn't hurt anymore than she probably already was.
"Bridge, what the hell was that?" Nathan demanded.
"Something's pulling us forward," Henderson replied, her voice filled with confusion, "Captain, I can't stop it."
"Lucas?"
"The readings mean nothing," the teenager called back, "Captain, we can't get away from it. You better hold on. It looks like it's going to get bumpy."
"Lucas," Nathan asked.
The teenager let out a long sigh, "I can't find anything to tell us where we are. All the normal communications satellites seem to have vanished."
"Darwin says the water is odd," Jonathan added.
Nathan looked round the room at his people, "Is it possible we actually went through this Stargate?"
Ortiz chewed his lip, "Honestly, sir I have no idea but from all the evidence – yes."
Nathan turned to Wendy, "Is Dr Jackson awake yet?"
"No," she replied, "She should wake up soon assuming I'm reading the information right. To be honest, Captain the only reason I know she's in the infirmary is I have it on security camera. I still can't sense her."
Nathan mused on this for a moment, "Okay, Henderson keep on our current course. Ortiz, standard pattern with the WSKRS, Lucas and O'Neill monitor all frequencies. I want hourly reports."
"Yes, sir," the all nodded before heading to the bridge leaving Nathan, Jonathan and Wendy in the room.
"Alright, let's go have a chat with our guest," Nathan said darkly, "I've had enough of her playing games."
x
The moment they stepped into the infirmary Wendy checked on all her patients with the other doctors. Nathan listened to the updates confused as Jonathan suddenly spun to stare at the bed Arianna Jackson was lying unconscious on.
"Something wrong?"
Jonathan shook his head, "Just thought I saw someone standing over her, it must have been a trick of the light."
Nathan shrugged before looking at Wendy, "How is Dr Ferguson and her team?"
Wendy let out a long sigh, "They're alive. That's about as much as I can tell you. Whatever is covering their skin is impenetrable."
"What about Dr Jackson?"
"All her blood work came back clean," Wendy replied, "She should wake up soon."
Nathan walked to the guard nearby and took his handcuffs, "I want to make sure I know where she is."
x
"I'm gonna throw up," Ari muttered when she woke up. She blinked several times as she tried to get her mind focussed, confused as she heard a clatter before her arm wouldn't move any further. Looking at her arm she found a metal bracelet on her wrist attaching her to the bed, "Are you kidding me?" she snapped.
"Not even slightly," Bridger's voice came from her other side.
Ari turned and stared at him coldly, "Captain, I'm sure General O'Neill told you to trust me."
"Perhaps," Bridger replied, "But trust is earned, Doctor."
Ari grimaced, "I'm guessing something happened for you to chain me to the bed."
"I want to know where we are and what happened to Dr Ferguson's team?" Bridger told her.
Ari stared at him for a moment before channelling the man she called Uncle Jack, "You do realise I've been unconscious, don't you?"
"Yet, I still think you know more than anyone else what's going on," Bridger shot back.
Ari rolled her eyes, "Seriously?" she took a breath, "Okay, let me up and tell me what's going on then maybe I can help."
Bridger shook his head, "At the moment, I want you somewhere we can keep an eye on you."
"Put a guard on me," she challenged, "I promise I won't try to slip away."
"Tell me why Dr Smith can't sense you?" Bridger demanded.
Ari used every trick she'd been taught by Teal'c and Nick not to show anything at his demand, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"So you have no idea why the resident telepath can't sense you at all?"
At his demand Ari shrugged, "Maybe she's not that good."
Bridger's annoyance was easy to sense even without her gifts and Ari kept her expression neutral, relieved when he marched out leaving a guard on her. Glancing at the handcuffs Ari decided to leave them on just now, he didn't trust her as it was.