SGi- chapter 4
The next day, Mia was released from the isolation room. General Hammond having decided that she did not pose a threat to the base and the doctor confirming she was healing well enough not to be under constant monitoring.
Dr. Frasier was adamant about the necessity of a wheelchair for the VIP suite allocated to Mia. With a mix of reluctance and mortification, Mia found herself being wheeled around the base by Dr. Frasier through the gray corridors, their journey coming to an end at an unremarkable door set within the monotonous expanse of the hallway that looked like every other hallway they'd passed. The difference this time, was that two airmen were posted astride the door. They watched Mia and the doctor approaching and gave a small nod before opening the door for them.
Mia's discovery that their location was beneath a mountain, with a staggering 24 sub-levels anchoring the base, had caught her off guard. Curiosity bubbled within her, a myriad of questions itching at the tip of her tongue. But, she held back, not wishing to come across as overly inquisitive, and chose to keep her questions to herself for the time being.
Now in the room, impatient to leave the confines of the chair, Mia leapt to her feet quickly, only to grimace as a sharp pang shot through her side. Observing this, the doctor quirked an eyebrow in her direction, prompting a nonchalant apology from Mia.
"So this is where I have to stay while I'm here?" The room contained a TV and stereo with a dresser, night table and desk. It was blandly decorated in neutral tones with a dimmable light shining its artificial glow wall to wall.
The doctor sighed, knowingly. She understood it could be daunting to be stuck indoors all the time, but at the moment, they weren't sure how long she'd be there or how long it would be before cascade failure set it.
"We don't know how long you'll be here right now, but the door locks from the inside. No one will force you to leave, speak or otherwise interact if you don't want to. It's a little bland in here, but we can bring you some hobby items, simple decorations and clothes if you'd like to make a list. There should be some paper and pens and pencils in the desk drawer. You can give the list to one of the Airmen outside and they'll make sure it's taken care of."
"Are the Airmen there to make sure I don't leave?"
"The Airmen are posted for your protection, and you're more than welcome to walk around the base under their supervision. They can guide you around the base and will let you know if you can't go somewhere."
Mia wanted to see the sky, feel the warmth of the sun on her skin, smell the fresh air but knew it wouldn't be possible right now so instead she nodded curtly and thanked the doctor for showing her to the room.
"Please pass my thanks along to General Hammond too. I know this isn't ideal, having me here and I appreciate what's been provided."
"Of course, I'm sure he'll be glad to hear it. Now don't forget to visit me tomorrow morning to have your wound checked. If you've healed enough, I'd like you to try some stretching and strength building exercises to make sure everything heals up alright. If you need to get a hold of me or someone else on base, there's a phone you can use on the desk, or you can ask one of the Airmen.
*0*0*0*
After the doctor's departure, Mia conducted a sweep of the room, being thorough as she could be when she didn't really know what she was looking for. Her search extending from the cupboards to the closet, and from the drawers to the ensuite bathroom, in quest of any hidden surveillance devices. Her guess was that she'd see some kind of wire or small device that contained a hole for a camera or microphone.
Her search yielded no obvious signs of eavesdropping equipment, but she couldn't shake off the suspicion that if such devices were present, they would likely be integrated into the very fabric of the room. Resigned to this possibility, and considering the unexpectedly decent treatment she had received, she decided not to dwell on it.
Returning to the front door, she slid the deadbolt into place. With nothing pressing to do, Mia gave in to the temptation of the bed's comfort. It looked quite firm and basic, but exhaustion had been her constant companion since her arrival in this strange universe, and now, finally, she succumbed to slumber's embrace, falling asleep almost instantly.
*0*0*0*
Stationed outside the VIP suite, the airmen found themselves in a quandary over their latest orders. Details about the woman sequestered behind the door were scarce, yet the command from General Hammond was unequivocal—afford every conceivable courtesy.
Their good friend and colleague Airman Simon Wells had apparently escaped certain death thanks to the woman, but the details had been vague. They'd visited Simon at his house with gifts for the new baby and were relieved and surprised to see their friend in perfect condition, a big smile on his face while holding his baby daughter. They had heard the radio chatter and knew he'd taken a direct hit from a staff blast. No one could have come out of that unscathed.
Simon couldn't tell them much since they were off base, but he did tell them that Mia had come out of nowhere, tackled the doc to the ground, taking a hit that would have killed Doc Frasier. All Simon remembered after that was a jumble of sensations and he'd been fixed up better than before. Even his old injuries no longer bothered him. He was later told that the woman, Mia had taken on his injuries onto her own body. He'd told his buddies how grateful he was for the save and they all agreed.
Amidst the whispers and secrecy that shrouded the base, the identity of the woman remained a mystery to most. Yet, one fact had pierced through the veil of uncertainty: she had been instrumental in saving the lives of two individuals on the base. Her heroism was all the more remarkable given that she was not a member of the team and was discovered on P3X-666.
The directive to the base personnel was crystal clear: treat her with the utmost courtesy, respect, and politeness. She was not just any visitor; she was a guest under the auspices of General Hammond and favored by Dr. Frasier.
The unspoken rule hung heavy in the air—crossing the doctor was a folly none wished to commit. Despite her diminutive stature, she commanded a presence that brooked no nonsense, irrespective of one's rank or status. Her reputation for being uncompromisingly stern but fair had earned her a distinct place in the annals of the base's lore.
*0*0*0*
The following day, Janet was looking at her watch with a frown. Mia was late for her appointment, and Janet hated tardiness. Maybe it was the Air Force training or something else, but Dr. Frasier ran a tight ship and didn't like it when her schedule fell behind.
She picked up a bag of basic medical supplies and made her way to the area of the base housing the VIP rooms.
Two new airman were stationed at the door which led to Mia's room and Janet greeted them politely as she had the previous sentries, before knocking firmly on the door.
Sounds emanated from within the room, yet the door remained closed for several minutes more. When it finally did open, it was only a sliver, revealing a disheveled woman wearing the same attire she had arrived in. Mostly concealed behind the door as though hiding, she stood there while Janet managed to suppress her irritation over the disrupted schedule.
Janet's expression was a carefully balanced mix of professionalism and restrained exasperation. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, may have briefly betrayed her impatience, but her features quickly settled into a composed mask of neutrality, a testament to her ability to maintain decorum in the face of unexpected situations.
"Doc? What's wrong?" Mia seemed oblivious, but it seemed she'd been sleeping.
"You missed your appointment this morning, so I came to find you. Everything alright in there?" Janet tried to see around the woman and into the room.
Mia stepped back and opened the door for the doctor in surprise. "I didn't realize it was morning already, sorry! There's no sunlight and I don't have anything that shows the time."
Janet's eyes widened at the oversight as she let herself in. "So I take it this means you didn't have dinner yesterday either?"
Mia shrugged nonchalant "I guess not. I sat on the bed a moment to gather my thoughts and must have fallen asleep."
The doctor shook her head in mock annoyance at the other woman and quickly checked the wound on her side. "You're healing well. Now, let's find you a good meal, and perhaps a watch or clock to keep track of time—wouldn't want you to miss our next appointment."
*0*0*0*
In the commissary, Mia indulged in a little of everything on offer. Janet, selecting a piece of fruit, guided her to a table. The sparse crowd was a relief to Mia as she settled down to dine.
The room buzzed with a subdued energy, the soft clatter of utensils and muted conversations creating a backdrop of ambient sound. Fluorescent lights cast a bright, even glow over the neat rows of tables and chairs, each set with military precision.
Despite the commissary's capacity to accommodate a large crowd, it was relatively empty at the moment, allowing for an atmosphere of tranquility. The few occupants were scattered across the room, some in uniform sharing a meal, others in civilian attire hunched over laptops or paperwork.
Janet's voice carried a tinge of regret. "I wish I could stay, but there are still a number of injured people from the last mission who need my attention. Teal'c will be in the gym for a while and he's willing to assist you with some physiotherapy and meditation when you're ready.
Why not explore a bit after you're finished eating? The Airmen can give you a tour or help you as needed." Janet's gaze shifted to the Airmen who had accompanied them, and Mia offered a feeble nod in acknowledgment before the doctor departed, leaving her to her meal.
Once Mia had finished eating, she promptly found the clean-up station and returned the tray that had carried her selection of food.
*0*0*0*
Finally at her destination, Mia checked her newly acquired watch to see that she'd wandered the halls for about 30 minutes. Turned out, there was a space right next to the commissary which sold some basic items like toiletries, grooming supplies, basic underwear, snacks and little items one might need in a pinch. She'd walked in and found a watch with an alarm and taken it to the front desk. It was then she realized that she had no way to pay for the item. One of the airmen, having noticed her plight walked up next to her, said something to the person sitting behind the desk and the matter of payment had been settled.
Mia thanked the airman shyly and tried to walk around and explore a bit. It didn't take long for her to start feeling lost as each area seemed to look almost the same as the other with its gray walls.
After coming to the realization that she wasn't going to get anywhere wandering aimlessly, she'd reluctantly approached the Airmen who'd been following her and properly introduced herself to them.
They'd been nothing but polite toward her. She'd learned that although they weren't aware of all that had transpired to land Mia at the base, they were indeed there to assist her more than keep her on base. Although they did confirm she wasn't authorized to leave. She hadn't asked what would happen if she tried.
After brief introductions, she'd asked to be shown to the gym and she entered the space she was shown to as they held the door for her.
She now looked around the space and as expected was met with more gray walls and neutral colours. One half of the room is an arsenal of workout machines, each a sentinel of strength. Treadmills stand in a row like silent sentinels, awaiting the pounding of feet, while the weight stations, with their bars and plates, beckon to those who seek to use them.
The other half of the room is dominated by a sparring mat, It lies open and inviting, a stretch of padded ground. A sturdy looking man was sitting cross legged in the middle of the sparring mat. He was wearing a tank top and camo pants. Eyes closed and breathing deeply, he seemed to be in a deep state of meditation. She was surprised when he slowly opened his eyes and turned to her with a small smile. "Welcome Mia Solomon, I have been expecting you."
His voice was deep and smooth, the words were formally spoken, as though English was not his first language.
Mia felt small as he rose, towering over her with his imposing height, yet, she stood resolute, and unwavering. He advanced toward her, each step measured, halting a respectful distance from her—a silent acknowledgment of her unspoken boundary.
They didn't have time for anything more beyond the basic greeting as red lights started flashing around the room and a loud claxon rang.
The man in front of Mia, who she assumed was Teal'c sprang into action as he moved to leave the gym. "Wait! Where are you going, what's going on?"
"This is an alert for an off world activation. Although nothing should come of it, as part of SG-1 I should go to the command center immediately. The airmen will take you back to your room, follow them and stay there until you are summoned."
The airmen approached to help Mia return to the VIP quarters, but she refused and instead asked to follow Tea'c.
Teal'c considered her request a moment, and then nodded his head. "Very well."
It turned out that base alerts locked down the elevators, so the small group of Teal'c, Mia and the two airmen had to take the stairs to the embarkation room.
Fueled by adrenalin, Mia was now standing behind a thick glass pane in the observation area overlooking the embarkation room. She recognized General Hammond, Samantha Carter, Jack O'Neill with two LLs and a younger looking man with glasses who's name she didn't catch.
In the room she could see below, was a large ring with some sort of a portal glowing blue. A command was given by General Hammond and a metal covering closed over the shining blue portal. Before Mia could ask or figure out what was going on, there was a loud thump as something hit the metal cover and slash marks appeared in a large X shape in the middle.
Organized chaos reigned in the space around her, a cacophony of urgent voices but a single command for her removal caught her ears. Defiant, she stood her ground. Amidst the turmoil, Mia recognized the claw marks that had appeared on the metal covering. The moment a hand settled upon her shoulder, she cast it aside with a swift motion and darted towards the staircase she saw leading down in the corner, her instincts guiding her towards the embarkation room.
As Mia reached the foot of the stairs, the atmosphere was electric with tension. Soldiers stood in a rigid line, their weapons a forest of steel aimed at the mutilated metal. The air vibrated with the staccato of barked orders and the metallic scent of fear. Each new slash that appeared on the surface was accompanied by a collective, sharp intake of breath, the sound slicing through the thick anticipation.
Mia took a step forward, but felt a hand on her shoulder, trying to stop her. The grip was firm, yet her escape was fluid—a practiced twist and turn that spoke of hours honed in training. The air around her seemed to crackle as she broke free, her resolve cutting through the palpable dread like a knife. The very space seemed to hold its breath, waiting for whatever was coming.
With a loud and sharp, piercing noise of metal being stressed. The metal shield, marked by violent slashes, surrendered to the force behind it as a formidable figure emerged. He inhaled deeply, the very embodiment of readiness, his hands brandishing three elongated claws each. As he stepped forward, the portal behind him flickered into oblivion, and a heavy silence fell over the room.
Alarms blared their discordant tune, and guns were trained on the newcomer, but Mia's eyes cut through the pandemonium. She recognized the iconic yellow and blue of the Kevlar suit and surged forward, only to be restrained with unyielding firmness.
The Wolverine, attuned to her presence, pivoted towards her. His movement was halted by the stark report of gunfire; he faltered but recovered swiftly, his resilience a testament to his nature. As he advanced once more, a volley of gunfire erupted, and Mia's plea tore through the air, a desperate bid for mercy as crimson blossomed across the yellow fabric.
Mia's heart pounded with a ferocity that echoed the chaos around her. A sense of desperation clung to her like a second skin, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps as she struggled against the iron hold. Then, an odd feeling came over her arms and she was released. When freedom came, it was a rush of adrenaline. She propelled herself across the room, driven by an urgency that drowned out all other sounds, her focus singular and absolute on the familiar figure that represented safety amidst the storm.
The Wolverine turned to her and despite the gunshot wounds still healing on his body, managed to reach her in a few quick strides and quickly retracted his claws so he wouldn't hurt her.
Mia was quickly enclosed in his arms as he shielded her from the guns being pointed at him. He freed an arm and took out the claws, indicating he was ready for a fight.
The situation was tense, but a clear voice rang out from the direction Mia had approached from demanding that everyone stand down.
The guns pointing at the newcomer lowered, but the soldiers didn't let down their guard as General Hammond stepped out and stood a few feet away from Mia and the mysterious figure, out of the line of fire.
"My name is General George Hammond, and you have come to my base unannounced and uninvited. Lower your weapons and explain yourself if you wish to leave unharmed."
There was silence for a moment, then a gasp from the crowd as the claws slowly retracted into the man's hands and her uncurled himself from Mia.
"The name's Logan, I came to bring Mia home, I'm not looking for a fight with you." Guard up, voice loud and rough, Logan was heard loud and clear to all who were gathered.
The general seemed contemplative for a moment before ordering the alert be stopped and guns lowered.
It was obvious he didn't trust the man who claimed he'd come for their guest, but he was willing to give him the benefit of doubt.
SG-1 came up behind their General, studying the newest arrival to the base. Jack instantly recognised the eyes of a killer and Logan recognized the same in the older looking man.
Teal'c's gaze lingered on Mia, heavy with unspoken remorse, as Dr. Frasier arrived, intent on closing the distance between them. Logan held her back protectively and the doctor sighed. The doctor exhaled a weary sigh, the weight of her words carrying both concern and a hint of frustration. "Her shoulder requires attention—a dislocation that demands my care. I can't offer the necessary treatment unless you allow me to assess her condition."
It was only then, Mia realized how sore her shoulder was, pressed up against Logan's chest. Her face contorted subtly, a fleeting grimace that spoke volumes of the sharp jolt of pain that lanced through her shoulder. It was a silent testament to her discomfort, a quick but telling contraction of her features that she couldn't quite mask. The wince was gone as quickly as it appeared, a momentary crack in her composed facade.
"I apologize Mia Solomon, I did not expect you to react as you did or to show such strength in your attempt to escape my hold." Teal'c apologized to Mia sincerely and she accepted graciously.
"It's okay Teal'c, I'm sorry too that I didn't behave more calmly. It's been a tense few days and I reacted without thinking. I'm sorry to you too General, you've been nothing but courteous to me and I've caused trouble for the base."
The General studied Mia and the figure standing closely with her and nodded curtly. "Very well, I accept your apology Miss Solomon. Now, how about we get everyone treated and we can discuss what the Sam Hill just happened and you can introduce us to your friend."
*0*0*0*
Thirty minutes later, General Hammond, SG-1, Mia, and Doctor Frasier were seated in the conference room with several guards posted at all points of entry. Logan had declined to sit and instead was leaning up against a wall.
The room's collective gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to take a seat and join everyone at the table.
Logan surveyed the assembly with a dismissive snort, then cautiously lowered himself into the chair beside Mia. She was seated next to the doctor responsible for tending to her dislocated shoulder and fitting the sling she now sported. He himself had refused medical attention and was still wearing his yellow combat suit stained with his blood. The chair groaned under his weight, emitting a sound of protest, and he resettled with a grimace of discomfort.
The General stood, and those who were Air Force around the table stood with him, while everyone else stayed seated.
"Welcome everyone, I'm glad to report there were no major casualties and that the Iris is already being replaced. Whatever was used to cut it open is the only substance we've ever seen to do so." He turned to Logan who grunted, but after a slight jab from Mia he sighed and spoke up while everyone sat back down.
"The name's Logan, or Wolverine and the weapon I used was this." He held up his hands and slowly brought out the claws from between his knuckles.
The room erupted with a chorus of gasps and sharp cries of astonishment. Soldiers, poised and tense, instinctively reached for their weapons, fingers grazing the handles, ready to unsheathe them at a moment's notice. Logan swiftly sheathed his claws, folding his hands into a semblance of peace. His smirk, however, was anything but peaceful—a menacing curve of the lip that sent a shiver down the spine of a youthful guard.
Mia shared a stern look with Logan and continued on his behalf.
"As I mentioned previously, mutants are experimented on by various parties, including our governments around the world as they try to build the perfect weapon. Logan was one such experiment when he was plucked from the Canadian Army for his mutation and forcefully had molten metal pumped into his body to coat his entire skeleton.
Faces turned various shades of ashen and green at Mia's words and Logan sent a glare that promised pain to anyone who dared look at him in pity.
"Although I'm sure we have many questions, I think it's important we stay on task. It was stated after the discovery of the Quantum Mirror that we would not be using resources from other realities to suit our needs and that holds true today. Let's keep things relevant only to our current situation and save speculation for our personal logs."
Samantha Carter looked like she had a million questions and Mia almost felt sorry for the other woman, but she agreed with what the General had said and let the base leader take the lead for the meeting.
"Now, as for our newest arrival, Logan. Is it safe to assume you've arrived to take Miss Solomon back to her home reality?"
"That's right, but first I've got a doohicky to check that she's from my reality. Stark said his math was right, but Reed insisted we check. I just need a drop of blood and if the light turns green, we go home when they re-open the portal."
"Reed? As in Richard Reed from the Fantistic 4? I thought they retired?" Logan shrugged and Mia gave Logan her hand without hesitation and didn't even react when a sharp pin pierced her finger. The light turned green and the room relaxed with news that the situation would soon be resolved.
Samantha Carter finally spoke up and was given the floor to lead the next portion of the meeting. "Do you have a stargate in your reality?" She pointed to the large ring that could be seen on the far side of the room through the thick viewing glass and Logan shook his head.
"No, nothing like that. Turns out that Stark had made calculations to theorize the existence of the multiverse when he was in college, but didn't have some parts of the equation. He'd tucked it all away until we figured out what had happened to Mia.
"How did you figure out where I'd gone?" She looked at Logan curious.
"Gateway. He's a mutant the X-Men were associated with back when we were in Australia. We think he's a native from new Zealand and he'd open portals for the girls to go shopping back in the day. We hadn't heard from him in years, but he's the one who sent ya away according to our security feed.
We were still recovering from our rescue when Ironman showed up demanding answers. He worked with McCoy and then got his multiverse portal making device going."
The room was hanging on every word, but it was Mia who asked the questions for now. Logan took a look at her and already knew what she wanted to know. "Stark figured out you were in another reality but didn't know how to pinpoint which one. He had to make nice with SHEILD to hack their database and ended up joining some superhero team. Apparently there are aliens coming and they're supposed to stop them. I didn't ask for details."
Mia's eyes were wide as she took that all in. She knew that SHEILD was interested in Ironman and felt badly that Tony had to give up some of his independence for her.
"Your reality has aliens, even without a Stargate?"
Logan shrugged nonchalant. "Sure. The X-Men worked with the Shi'ar and there was that crazy battle arena alien we fought with a while back. Now a days, Thor apparently got kicked out of Asguard and his brother Loki's causing some sort of a rukus. There's video of it online and fan girls are already swooning over Thor, but he's apparently taken up with a scientist lady on Earth."
The room's occupants sat up straight in their seats at the mention of Thor and Loki. "People are swooning over some little gray aliens?" Jack was the one who asked first and the room waiting for the response.
"I'm not sure bub, but from what I've seen online they ain't gray little aliens. They look like humans to me."
"So Tony's joined SHEILD and is getting ready to fight aliens?"
"Yup, that sounds about right. He would have come for you if he could but had to leave this up to me and Reeds." Logan, done with his explanation to Mia about Tony's absence, turned to the room.
" We didn't know how long it would take me to find Mia, so he said he'd open the portal back for me in 48 hours."
Mia looked to Samantha who was already calculating for the time difference in her notes. "That's roughly 8 hours from now sirs, since time moves faster in their reality from our own."
Logan was surprised to hear that and looked at Mia in surprise. "That means it's only been a few days for ya?"
Mia nodded and the man leaned back with a sigh. "I'm glad darlin', we've been worried sick since you disappeared."
Mia could see the worry he'd been holding on to and put a hand on his face. "Don't worry Logan, they took good care of me and I knew it was only a matter of time. I'm glad you came for me."
Logan's features, usually set in a stern, unyielding line, melted into a rare display of vulnerability. His eyes, often hard as flint, now held a warmth that softened the rugged contours of his face. The corners of his mouth, which so frequently curled into a snarl, now relaxed into the faintest hint of a grateful smile. It was a transformation that spoke of the trust and relief he found in Mia's presence, a momentary glimpse into the depths of his usually guarded heart.
"Of course darlin' if not me, any of the X-Men would have come looking, but Stark's device only has room for 2. Besides, Jubilee insisted it be me."
Mia smiled, hearing the younger woman was recovering. "I'm glad she did. You're sturdy as they come and I'm not sure what would have happened if you hadn't broken open that Iris, shield thing."
Logan grunted and glared at the occupants of the room for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and relaxing a bit. "Doesn't matter, I'm here now and we'll be heading home soon enough." With that he stood and moved aside the chair he'd been seated on. The plastic platform that supported the metal column on the chair had all cracked and the chair itself was heavily crumpled.
"Sorry, I think you'll need a new chair." There were astounded looks around the room.
"Those chairs can support over 300lbs!" The quiet Dr. Jackson spoke up finally and the room turned to him in shock.
Logan spoke with a smirk. "I'm heavier than I look."
Samantha snapped her fingers, the first to understand what had happened. "Holy Hannah, that metal in your body must weigh a considerable amount!"
Logan grunted in reply, uneasy about the details of what was done to him and Samantha Carter, being bright as she is spoke no further of his condition.