Author's Notes – Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.

The explanation of Ari's abilities will come. Though if you really can't wait go back to Knight And Day & Unwanted Destiny.

I have up to chapter 5 completed and betad at the moment. Hopefully the rest will come soon.

Enjoy

Nathan sat on the bridge watching his people work as normal despite the circumstances. They were stranded on an alien planet with no way home but not one of them had left their post. Wendy was still trying to help the team that were frozen like statues while O'Neill was working on the box once more.

Dr Jackson had mentioned there was land somewhere so they were currently trying to find it. He hoped there would be something there that could help them, supplies, equipment or possibly a way to contact the new planet where Atlantis now resided.

"Captain," Ford spoke up, "We've found something."

Nathan joined Jonathan and Ortiz at the WSKR control, "What is it?"

"It appears to be a small ship of some kind," Ortiz reported, "It's not in good shape. Hull is buckled and the whole front section seems to have been destroyed by the pressure of the ocean."

"It doesn't look like the last vessel we found," Nathan mused.

Ortiz shook his head, "Completely different structurally and technologically. I think this might be related to the box Commander Ford found however."

"Give Dr Jackson a call," Nathan told his Ex-O, "She might know if this is a good or bad thing."

x

Ari chuckled as Tim told her about the glowing fish poop incident. They were taking a break from translating and swapping stories.

"So do you travel through this Stargate a lot?" Tim asked.

Ari shook her head, "I don't really get the chance. I'm usually kept on a very short leash. I mostly work on the artefacts that are brought back."

"Like the box?"

"Pretty much," Ari nodded, "I took my dad's place in the SGC when he and mom went travelling."

Tim frowned slightly, "Don't you want to go through?"

"Of course I do," Ari exclaimed, "My dad was actually on the first team that went through it along with Jack, the General who sent me here and makes sure I don't go through," she paused for a moment before adding, "It's actually how my mom and dad met."

"She was on the team as well?"

"She was on the planet they visited," Ari explained with a mischievous grin, "My mom isn't from Earth."

Tim stared at her stunned, "She's an alien?"

"No," Ari laughed, "She's human but many many years ago the Goa'uld took her ancestors from Egypt through the Stargate before the humans on Earth rebelled. When my dad and Uncle Jack went through the gate the first time they met the people of Abydos. My grandfather is the Chief Elder and mom was originally charged with giving the visitors water. Their stories differ slightly at this point. Dad says she looked up at him and smiled while Mom insists she would never have done anything so inappropriate."

Tim laughed softly, "What happened? How did they get together?"

Ari gave him a wicked smile, "Mom was given to Dad as a gift."

Tim stared at her frowning when she laughed at him, "Seriously, how?"

"I am telling the truth," Ari chuckled, "Though it is a little more involved than that."

"Then tell me the full story," Tim rolled his eyes.

Ari smiled giving a soft shrug when she was called to the bridge, "A story for another time. Are you coming?"

x

"What can I do for you, Captain?" Ari asked walking onto the bridge with Tim.

Bridger motioned her over to the station with Ortiz, "We found something we need your expertise on."

Holding back the cheeky comment that came to mind Ari joined them and leaned over Ortiz's shoulder.

"It's a Jumper," she said.

"A Jumper?" Ford asked.

"A Puddle Jumper, to give it its full title," Ari told him, "The drives retract and it slides through the Stargate."

"Wouldn't Gateship be more accurate a description?" Tim asked.

Ari held up her hand, "Do not go there. That is an argument that has been going on for many years."

Bridger chuckled softly, "So this is the technology from Atlantis."

Ari nodded biting her lip in thought, "If I'm right then this Jumper came down with Rodney McKay in it. He was, at the time, the head scientist on the project. The spare parts could be helpful if we find the village on the mainland. We may need them to put together a transmitter or something."

"Good point," Bridger mused motioning the teenager over, "Lucas, do you think you can work with the technology?"

Lucas shrugged, "I don't know until I get a look."

"You should be fine with it," Ari assured him, "A lot of modern technology is based on Lantean tech. They've been moving it in slowly over the years."

"Then let's get it inside," Bridger ordered.

Wendy frowned as she went over her readings. She couldn't understand what had happened to the scientists and had no way to help them. Then there was the corpse of the poor man that creature had fed from, her whole body was still chilled after her encounter with the creature.

Finally there was the mysterious Dr Jackson. Wendy was convinced there was more to the young woman than she'd told them, especially since she hadn't been able to sense her when they were trapped in the lab. She could now, it was like someone had flipped a switch and there she was.

"Doctor Smith?"

She turned finding Tony standing in her doorway, "Yes?"

"Are they okay?" he nodded towards the team.

"I don't know," Wendy shook her head, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Tony shook his head, "The Captain just wanted me to check how you were doing."

"I'm fine, Tony," she assured him, "I'll be up to give him a full report once I've completed all my tests."

When he hesitated she looked at him thoughtfully, "Is there something else, Tony?"

He sighed, "I'm just not feeling too hot. It's nothing."

"Sit," Wendy ordered.

With a sigh Tony dropped to sit on the bed.

x

"How is he?" Nathan asked when Wendy made her report.

"Tony has a bad headache," she replied, "But other than that there is nothing wrong. However we have had several other crew members complaining of the same thing."

Nathan frowned, "That's not good. What about Dr Jackson?"

Wendy looked at him confused.

"You couldn't sense her before," Nathan reminded her, "What about now?"

Wendy nodded, "I can sense her now. I can't explain it."

"Hopefully she can," Nathan sighed, he gave her a quick nod, "Alright doctor, keep me apprised."

Leaving the infirmary Nathan saw three more crewmembers heading in, all with pained expressions revealing the headache they had. Heading back up to the bridge he saw their guest standing with Ford watching as the team manoeuvred the small vessel into the Seaquest. Looking around he could see a few of the crew were all showing signs of a headache. He was beginning to feel it too.

"Sir?" Ford asked when he reached them.

"We seem to be having a headache epidemic," Nathan told them, "Any ideas, Dr?"

Jackson frowned in thought, "I remember hearing something once…" she trailed off chewing her lip for a moment, "Something about whales causing mass headaches."

They both looked at her in disbelief.

"Hey, I can only tell you what I've been told," she defended herself, "Though I will admit Sheppard does have a tendency to exaggerate when telling stories but McKay did confirm it was true and he wasn't lying."

Ford snorted, "And you're sure about that?"

Jackson gave him a smirk, "I can tell."

"So," Nathan pulled their attention back to him, "The whales?"

"It can't be though," she told them, "That was a completely different situation. Life or death kind of thing. I haven't even seen one of them come near us."

"Ortiz?" Nathan asked.

The sensor chief turned and shook his head, "Not a thing, Captain. I was beginning to think there was no large aquatic life."

"Could it be the box?" O'Neill spoke up making them all turn to him.

Nathan frowned in thought, "What makes you think that, Lt?"

The younger man shrugged, "It seems to be at the centre of everything else."

x

Ari was beginning to wish she'd listened more carefully to Sheppard and McKay's stories about the early days of the Atlantis mission. Instead she relied on the mission reports which she knew were sanitised.

She liked the crew of the Seaquest but did not want to be trapped here with them for the rest of her life.

"Dr Jackson?"

At Bridger's voice she turned, "Yes?"

"Are you alright?" he asked, "Do you have a headache?"

Ari shook her head, "No, my headache is gone completely. Why? Do you?"

He nodded, "We all seem to. You're the exception."

"What about Dr Smith?" Ari asked.

Bridger looked confused before he hit the comm. button, "Dr Smith?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Do you have a headache?"

There was a moment of hesitation before she replied, "No."

"Okay," Ari mused, "She's telepathic and I'm…different so maybe it's not affecting us because our brains aren't the same as the rest of the crew. Is there anyone else who isn't feeling the effects?"

"Let's find out," Bridger said decisively.

It was about another half an hour Bridger appeared beside her again, "Okay, here is the full list of those without a headache."

"Four of us?" Ari stared at the list, "Me. Smith. Dagwood, he's a GELF right?"

"That's right," Bridger replied.

"Okay, then his brain chemistry is completely different to the rest of the crew," Ari mused, "Which leaves us with one more person. O'Neill?" she turned to look at the man sitting at his station working, oblivious to the fact he'd become the topic of conversation, "I honestly didn't see that coming."

Bridger frowned at her, reminding her of the way her dad would when Jack was teasing him.

"Okay," she moved on quickly, "We need to find land and see if that helps. Can O'Neill fly this thing alone if need be?"

"Fly?"

"I grew up with the Air Force," Ari replied at his amused question.

Bridger chuckled softly before nodding, "It's possible."

"Good. How long till we have the Jumper inside?" Ari asked.

"Donaldson reported it was almost there about five minutes ago," Bridger replied, "You think we can get the co-ordinates from the ship?"

Ari nodded, "McKay was heading back from the mainland to the city when he crashed. I'm hoping they should still be in there somewhere. And I think I have an over-ride code."

Bridger motioned her towards the exit, "Then let's go."