* Old City*
The hum of the Asgard transport beam faded, leaving SG1 and the Sanctuary team in Helen's office. The immediate change in atmosphere was palpable: from the cold, metallic walls of the Asgard ship to the warm, wood-paneled office filled with the scent of old books and polished surfaces.
The room was a seamless blend of Victorian elegance and cutting-edge technology, exuding a sense of timelessness, a place where history and science met with elegance and mystique. The office was an ample, richly decorated space with high ceilings and dark, polished wooden walls. A grand desk sat at the center, surrounded by towering bookshelves filled with ancient texts, scientific journals, and artifacts from around the world. There was an air of quiet sophistication, as though every object in the room had a story, some stretching back centuries. The soft glow of warm lams highlighted the details, creating a cozy but deeply intellectual atmosphere.
It didn't take long for the members of SG1 to realize that Helen's office was not just a workplace; it was a living testament to her centuries of experience and tireless pursuit of knowledge and protection. Each artifact, book, and piece of strange technology told a story. SG1 truly began to understand who Helen Magnus was for the first time. She was not just the head of the Sanctuary but a person with a history and mission as long and complex as their own.
"Hey, Doc, I'm going to check the systems and ensure Vlad didn't mess with things while I was away," Henry told her. He knew his presence was unnecessary for the tour and wanted to give SG1 space. He started to walk out of the room when he had a change of heart. He quickly crossed the room and enveloped Helen in a hug that was over before she could react. "I'm happy you're okay."
"Thanks, Henry." She said as he hurried from the room, clearly uncomfortable with his display of affection.
"Vlad?" Jack enquired as he continued to look around the room, not addressing anyone specific.
"Ya, our resident vampire, one half of the dynamic duo," Will responded to his query.
"He was referring to Nikola Tesla, who is, in fact, a vampire and a member of the Five." Helen clarified with an indulgent glare in Wills's direction. "Speaking of which, can you please go and find out what they have been up to all day."
"If I must." He pouted.
"You must," she replied with a smile.
"But first," Will walked in her general direction towards the desk. For a second, she thought he would get in a hit-and-run hug like Henry, but instead, he reached past her and grabbed the Sanctuary Charter. "I am going to return this to the library where it belongs, gladly and officially handing you back control of the Sanctuary…not that I had control to begin with." He said with a self-deprecating grin before following Henry's example and leaving the room.
Helen glanced over at the members of SG1; they stood off to the side, trying to make themselves invisible. She realized they weren't used to being in the background, but somehow, they knew this moment wasn't for them. In the center of the room stood Ashley. They faced each other in the quiet space that almost felt too intimate, too raw, for anyone else to witness. Helen, usually the picture of composed grace, had a moment of vulnerability that she had trouble dealing with. Ashley stood just a few feet away, her arms crossed, though it was less out of defiance and more a protective gesture. Her expression was tight, her strong facade cracking slightly as her mother's unexpected emotions reached her.
Ashley's soft but steady voice finally broke the quiet as she said, "I almost lost you." Her words were simple yet carried a weight of disbelief and vulnerability. "It's not something that I was prepared for." After a pause and in a rare and unguarded moment, Helen pulled Ashley into her arms in a tight, almost desperate embrace as if she was afraid to let go. And with that, the air in the room shifted. The raw emotion between them settled into something quieter, something understood without needing more words.
As Helen and Ashley finally pulled back from their embrace, their eyes met with a shared understanding built from years of unspoken love, protection, and fear.
SG1, having witnessed this deeply personal exchange, remained respectfully silent, knowing they had been on the edge of something profound. They had seen a glimpse into a bond that no mission, no enemy could break: the bond of family.
Jack finally broke the tension with a quiet cough. "Right. So…about that tour?"
Helen turned to them, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she composed herself once more. "Of course, Colonel. The Sanctuary awaits."
Helen Magnus, ever the poised and knowledgeable guide, walked gracefully at the head of the group as she led SG-1 through the sprawling Gothic-inspired halls of the Sanctuary. The atmosphere was thick with the weight of history, the stone walls filled with the echoes of a past far older than most could comprehend.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary," Helen began, her voice calm but rich with the authority of someone who had seen and known far more than she let on. "This facility has been operational for over a century, and its roots extend far deeper into history. Here, we house and study abnormal beings with extraordinary abilities or physiology outside the conventional understanding of science."
As they entered the grand entry hall, with its sweeping staircase and intricate woodwork, Daniel was the first to react. His eyes were wide, and he was already fascinated by the architecture and the subtle details carved into the stone walls.
"This place is…Incredible," Daniel murmured, his fingers trailing along the edge of a nearby column as though touching it would somehow connect him to the past. "It feels like a museum, but alive. So much history…"
Helen smiled warmly at his appreciation. "Indeed, Daniel. Every corner of the Sanctuary holds a piece of the past. We've done our best to preserve the history of the building itself and those who have come through here. Many of the Abnormals housed here have stories that span centuries."
Already fascinated by the technological underpinnings she had spotted, Sam smiled at Daniel's enthusiasm but kept her focus on Helen. "I have to say, Helen, how you've seamlessly combined ancient architecture with what looks like modern and even advanced technology is…impressive. It must've taken decades."
Helen glanced at Sam with a knowing smile. "It did. Balancing tradition and progress is never easy, even with Nikola Tesla helping to keep us ahead of the times. Still, it is necessary to keep the Sanctuary functioning as it should. We have technology that even the outside world isn't aware of."
That caught Jack's attention. "How advanced are we talking here?"
Helen gestured to a doorway on their left. "Come, I'll show you."
She led them through a set of heavy oak doors into the research lab, where a mix of Victorian aesthetics and cutting-edge science created an almost surreal atmosphere. Old-fashioned brass microscopes were next to sleek, glowing screens and devices that looked more like they belonged in an advanced space station than a centuries-old building.
Daniel, looking like a kid in a candy store, leaned closer to an ancient-looking artifact on one of the lab benches. "This is incredible. It's like a mix of archaeology and xenobiology. You've brought together so many different fields of study under one roof; it's…incredible."
"Is that the best you can do, Daniel? With your proficiency in over twenty languages, I expected more from you," Jack teased.
"Okay, Jack, how about transcendent, unfathomable, exemplary, ineffable, stupendous, unparalleled…" Daniel started.
"Well, that's slightly better." Jack laughed.
Helen continued the tour, leading SG1 deeper into the heart of the Sanctuary, down to the lower levels where the holding cells were located. The atmosphere here was different-darker, quieter, with a faint hum of energy running through the walls. The holding cells were designed to contain Abnormals that were too dangerous or unstable to interact with the outside world, yet each was treated with respect and care.
"We house some of the more volatile Abnormals here," Helen explained, her voice lowering slightly. "Creatures that can't control their abilities or pose a threat to others. But we never treat them as prisoners or lab rats-they're here for their safety and ours."
"Jack glanced around, his usual humor tempered by the seriousness of the situation. "I'm guessing it's not all puppies and kittens down here."
Helen's smile was faint but understanding. "No, colonel. It's not. Some of the Abnormals here have caused great harm in the past, but we believe there's always the possibility of rehabilitation."
Sam, always the scientist, was already analyzing the containment systems. "The energy field you're using-it looks like a dampening field for electromagnetic radiation, but it's modified; it's impressive."
Helen nodded. "That's the work of Henry and Nikola, but it's necessary to control the more dangerous abilities some Abnormals possess. Strength alone isn't enough to hold them-some require more…creative solutions."
The tour ended in the library, the air thick with the heady scent of ancient leather-bound books and the soft glow of amber lamps casting long shadows. The members of SG-1, still processing the events of the day and the mind-boggling tour of the Sanctuary's residents, stood together near the central table. Each was in their own space—Daniel busy scanning the spines of rare texts, Jack observing everything with mild amusement, and Sam exchanging quiet words with Teal'c, whose impassive face belied his curiosity.
The creak of the heavy wooden door interrupted their thoughts as it swung open. Bigfoot entered, towering as his name suggested, with trays of food balanced in his massive hands. Even though SG-1 had encountered countless strange beings—Jaffa warriors, Unas, and body-snatching Goa'uld—the sight of the lumbering creature moving with surprising grace caused them to pause for a heartbeat longer than usual. Bigfoot set down the trays, revealing a rich assortment of roast meats, steaming vegetables, and hearty soups.
Jack eyed him with casual interest, breaking the brief silence. "Never thought I'd say this, but Bigfoot's got nothing on an Unas."
Teal'c gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "Indeed," he rumbled.
Bigfoot, catching the remark, glanced at them with a knowing expression, emitting a low grunt that was half-amusement, half-acknowledgment, before moving on with his duties. SG-1 relaxed a little; while they'd seen stranger creatures, there was an air of respect in the room. Some beings, after all, demanded that.
Hearing voices echo down the hall, Helen Magnus turned expectantly toward the entrance, anticipating John and Nikola's arrival. Instead, her eyes widened slightly in surprise when James Watson strolled in, looking every bit the Victorian gentleman, complete with waistcoat and immaculate posture. He entered alongside John and Nikola, his sharp eyes scanning the room, immediately taking stock of its inhabitants. Helen blinked, then narrowed her eyes in mild confusion.
"James?" she said, her voice laced with surprise and a faint irritation. "I wasn't expecting you. When did you arrive?"
She crossed the room swiftly, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor, and greeted James with a quick hug and a kiss on each cheek. Her affection was warm but businesslike, as always. Nikola wasted no time interjecting with his trademark smirk.
"After you left, dear Helen, John here decided we needed James's impeccable skills to coax Adam into giving us something useful. So, naturally, John 'popped over' to the New York Sanctuary, interrupted whatever quaint little mystery James was solving, and dragged him back—no pleasantries included."
James looked sharply at John, who lounged against a bookshelf with his usual air of casual menace. "There was no 'popping over,' Nikola," James retorted, adjusting his vest as if the mere mention of it ruffled his dignity. "I was quite literally in the middle of a meeting when John here yanked me out—no warning, no explanation. In true John fashion, of course."
John shrugged, unapologetic. "Time was of the essence."
James rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to Helen. "Helen, I can't believe you didn't involve me sooner. Adam Worth—of all people?" His voice carried the weight of history, old wounds barely masked by his outward calm.
Before Helen could answer, James's keen eyes flicked toward the unfamiliar figures near the library's main table. His face hardened slightly, suspicion creeping into his expression.
"And... who, may I ask, are these new friends?" His voice sharpened as he studied the members of SG-1, his natural wariness flaring at the sight of strangers in the Sanctuary.
John, arms crossed, was already scowling. "Yes, Helen," he drawled, his tone laced with distrust. "Strangers in the Sanctuary at a time like this? Have you officially lost your mind?"
Helen sighed but remained calm. Before she could reply, James stepped closer to her, his voice softening as his gaze locked onto hers. "And more importantly, how are you, Helen?" Concern deepened the lines on his face. "You look... better than I expected, considering everything I've heard." He hesitated as though bracing himself for bad news. "Why wasn't I informed about the severity of your condition?"
Helen raised a hand in a small, placating gesture. "I'm fine, James. We had things under control, and I didn't want to burden everyone unnecessarily."
James frowned, his skepticism clear. "The other heads of House, maybe that could be forgiven… but not burden me? Helen, this is your health we're talking about. I heard the effects of the radiation forced you to pass control to Will."
"I was... worse off than I even realized," Helen admitted, her voice tinged with a quiet vulnerability as a shadow flickered across her face. "But I'm fine now. Truly. I wanted to wait until everyone was here before explaining."
James's gaze hardened, his concern deepening. "Helen, there's no cure for radiation poisoning. Even with your unique physiology and the vampire blood—this isn't something you recover from. It's not that simple."
His words hung heavily in the air, a sharp reminder of the impossible situation she had faced. Helen's lips pressed into a thin line, the weight of unspoken truths burdening her. For a moment, it seemed as though the library itself held its breath, waiting for her response.
"I know," she replied softly, her eyes meeting his with a calm resolve. "But, against all logic, against all expectations, I have recovered. There's more to it than just the blood. And I'll explain everything... once we're all together."
As if on cue, Will, Henry, Ashley, and Kate entered the library. Will spoke first, his usual casual tone in place. "The big guy said he's setting up food here for everyone. He'll be back with more in a minute." He looked around, taking in the tense atmosphere. "So, how far into the story are we?"
"I have a feeling that the story of our adventure will take far longer than what's been going on here, so let's start there, and then we will get into what SG1 is doing here," Helen stated decisively. Now firmly in control of the room, Helen nodded toward the table.
Both groups followed her lead, and Nikola, lounging at the far end, interjected with a sigh. "Since I won't be partaking in the food, I suppose I'll do the honors." He stretched lazily in his chair. "We had a bit of an incident—some invisible albino creatures attempted to spring dear Adam and liberate the map. Let's say Adam Worth's tricks have only gotten more dangerous since he's been locked up here."
"At least they didn't bring any of that brain-sucking tech with them this time," Kate added, her arms crossed. "No advanced gadgets on them that we could find."
Helen's expression darkened at the mention of the breach. She opened her mouth to question them further, but ever dramatic, Nikola continued. "But no need to worry—your Bigfoot here had the foresight to have Heinrick's smell-o-vision device ready. We rounded up Adam's little minions, which're safely sedated in isolation."
With a dramatic pause, Nikola leaned back in his chair. "Once Adam realized his friends weren't getting him out, James here managed to coax him into revealing how to unlock the map. We took him to the interface, and Adam gave us a location—but it's written in Cuneiform. Thought you'd like to take a crack at it when you got back." He said to Helen, handing her a slip of paper.
Daniel's eyes brightened at the mention of Cuneiform. "Cuneiform? May I translate it for you?" he said, practically buzzing with excitement.
John spoke up before Helen could hand the sheet of paper to Daniel. "Helen, is that wise? If he gets even one character wrong, it could literally mean your death."
Helen gestured toward him. "Dr. Jackson is a linguist, among other things, " she told John. Turning to Daniel, "I'm assuming that by you asking, you will have no issues with this?"
"None whatsoever. It should just take a few minutes." He told her as he pushed his food away from him, grabbing a pen from the center of the table.
John's eyes lingered on Daniel with a skeptical gleam. "You do realize that this is a dead language. You're going to what? Translate from memory?"
"Translate it, speak it," he said with a shrug. "When you are kidnapped by an alien and held hostage because he is looking for information about his mate from Babylon, you learn quickly."
"Come again?" Nikola asked.
"Later," Helen said
As Daniel set to work, Jack sidled up to Will. "So... brain-sucking devices, huh?" he asked with a half-smile, referencing what Kate had said earlier, trying to break the tension.
Will chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. You get used to it around here. How about you? What's the weirdest thing you've run into?"
Jack grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "Oh, we've got stories. An entire alien database was downloaded into my brain. Almost killed me. That was a fun one." He said, "But probably not the weirdest thing we have encountered."
James interjected, "I would like to circle back something you said earlier, Helen. You said you felt better and would explain when we were here. Well, there is no time like the present."
"I'm not just feeling better. I have been healed completely."
"That's not possible," James said
"It is, and I'll explain, I promise." She turned to Will. "Can you and Ashley set SG1 up in the East tower?" She glanced at SG1. "That is where you will be staying while you are here. It has six rooms, three bathrooms, and a private living space. Feel free to explore the grounds while you're here, but I do ask that you avoid any locked rooms—for your safety, of course."
"Of course…" Jack said, "Daniel, are you about done?"
"Sorry, it took me a minute to figure out that it's not words," Daniel said, "just a list of numbers." He turned and smiled as he handed the transcribed Cuneiform over to Helen.
"It looks like GPS coordinates." She walked to the computer in the corner of the library and input the numbers in her Map app Henry had designed years ago. "It's showing Northern Mongolia, Khövsgöl Province. Good work, Daniel!"
"John and I will go get the keystone; you can set up your company for the night, " Nikola said, moving toward John.
"No," Helen said quietly. "We won't."
"Helen?" John practically growled at her. He was just as prepared as Nikola to make the trip.
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear to Adam: we have no intention of retrieving the one thing he needs to return to Hollow Earth. We still don't fully understand his endgame or why he's desperate to return there. But he took a huge risk orchestrating this entire scheme, fully aware of who we are and what we're capable of. That alone tells me there's something much bigger at play, and until we figure it out, we're keeping him right where he is."
"You realize you're effectively killing him by holding him here and not helping him get back, right?" James pointed out.
Helen's expression turned cold, her eyes unwavering. "No," she replied, her voice steely. "He did that to himself without any help from me. But I know one thing with absolute certainty—if I let him go, he won't stop. He'll keep pushing until he gets exactly what he wants, no matter the cost. And I won't be responsible for that."
*Later that Night*
Helen sat on the couch in her office, her eyes fixed on the flames dancing in the fireplace. The warmth of the fire felt distant, unable to thaw the cold that had settled deep inside her. She was trying, with limited success, to adjust to her new reality—because that's what this was. A new reality. One she hadn't asked for and wasn't sure she could carry.
This morning, she had entertained the thought that perhaps dying might not have been the worst outcome. After everything that had unfolded in Carentan, after the heartbreaking loss of Gregory, the weariness in her bones had settled in for good, a weight that never lifted, even with rest. It wasn't just grief—it was exhaustion, a soul-deep fatigue that came from losing too much for too long. She was tired of fighting, enduring, and living in a world that demanded so much from her and gave so little in return. Although, being healed by an alien race was a big return in the grand scheme.
And now, the revelation of a daughter. It couldn't have come at a worse time.
The shock of it still reverberated through her, like a bell that had been struck too hard, the sound of it lingering, unresolved—a daughter. A piece of herself she didn't know existed until now was brought into her life just as everything else was falling apart. It should have filled her with hope, with a renewed sense of purpose. But all she could feel was the weight of it, the responsibility it carried, pressing down on a heart already bruised and battered from loss.
She had barely processed Gregory's death, barely started to grasp the finality of it, the unbearable silence left in his wake. And now, amid that grief, in her struggle to keep going, she had to face this new truth: that she was a mother again.
How could she do this? How could she embrace this new life and role when she still hadn't figured out how to survive her old one?
The flames flickered, casting long shadows across the room, and she felt the crushing weight of everything she had lost, everything she had to carry.
The door creaked open behind her, but she didn't turn. She knew who it was. Nikola's presence was something she had always felt before seeing him—a tether that had kept her grounded more times than she could count.
"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep," Nikola began, his voice carrying a softness she hadn't heard in what felt like forever. He stepped into the room, his movements careful, as if he knew that at any moment, everything might fall apart.
"But I have promises to keep," he continued as he made his way to her side, his voice heavy with layers of meaning.
Helen blinked, her throat tightening. "And miles to go before I sleep," she whispered, her voice barely audible, finishing the poem's final line. "And miles to go before I sleep."
The weight of the words settled between them, but neither spoke for a moment. The fire crackled softly, the only sound in the room. It wasn't just about poetry anymore—it reflected the journey ahead, the unspoken burdens they both carried, and the grief still lingering like a shadow.
"You shouldn't have made it through that," Nikola said quietly, his voice breaking the silence. His words had no edge, just a deep, unyielding concern.
"I know," Helen replied, her voice soft, almost distant. She finally tore her gaze from the flames and looked at him. "But I did." The admission had no joy, only a quiet acceptance of the impossible truth.
Nikola stood stiffly, his body a picture of controlled composure, though Helen could see the pain etched into every line of his face. She wasn't supposed to survive. They both knew it. The radiation poisoning had been a death sentence, one neither of them could escape. But somehow, miraculously, she was still here, alive—but far from whole.
"I'm not sick anymore," she added, as if saying it aloud would make it easier to believe. "But I don't feel… whole."
Nikola's breath hitched, the tension in his frame faltering. He had been holding on to his control for so long, refusing to let himself feel the enormity of their shared pain. The loss they had suffered still lingered in the shadows of their grief, but now, it felt secondary to the fact that Helen had come back from the brink of death.
The weight of everything was too much, and slowly, Nikola dropped to his knees in front of her. His hand reached out, trembling as he took hers in his, a lifeline that tethered him to the woman he couldn't bear to lose.
The world around them blurred. Helen leaned forward, her fingers brushing the line of his jaw with an intimacy that was as much a plea for reassurance as a need to connect. "Nikola, look at me."
Her voice was soft, but it carried the weight of years—years of love, of battles fought side by side, of dreams they had built together and then lost in a single, devastating moment. Slowly, Nikola raised his gaze to meet hers, his face a mask of disbelief and heartache.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion he could no longer hold back. "I thought I was going to lose you too."
Helen's chest tightened as she reached for him, her hand trembling slightly as she rested it against his cheek. "I'm still here," she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Nikola murmured, his hand coming up to cover hers where it rested against his cheek. His fingers tightened around hers as though holding her physically would keep the memories of what they had lost from slipping away.
"I know," Helen whispered. Her voice cracked as her grief surfaced. "We lost… so much." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "But we didn't lose everything; we didn't lose each other."
Nikola leaned in, his forehead resting gently against hers. They sat like that momentarily, their grief shared but unspoken, their breaths mingling in the space between them. They had survived—but at a cost, neither of them was sure they could bear.
"I don't know how to move forward from this," Helen admitted, her voice breaking as tears finally spilled down her cheeks. "Surviving should feel like a gift, but it feels like a punishment."
Nikola's hand trembled as he brushed a tear from her cheek. "You survived because you're stronger than anyone I've ever known," he whispered, his voice filled with awe and heartache. And I'll be with you as long as you're here, no matter how broken we feel."
Helen looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "But how do we live with the loss? How do we grieve without telling anyone what happened? Ashley lost a brother that she never even knew existed. And now there's Sam."
Nikola's hand cupped her face, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. "We move forward together. We grieve together. And somehow, we rebuild together. One step at a time."
Helen nodded, though the grief still weighed heavily on her heart. It wasn't an answer, but it was something. Nikola had always been her anchor, and now, even in the face of unspeakable loss, he was still there, holding her up when she didn't think she could stand.
She reached for him again, this time pulling him into a soft, fragile kiss filled with the weight of everything they had lost and still had left. The kiss was a promise to face the miles ahead together, no matter how dark the path might be.
When they finally pulled apart, Nikola's forehead rested against hers, his eyes closed as he whispered, "We'll get through this. Together."
Helen closed her eyes, her hands still tangled in his, and whispered back, "Together."
They sat in the fire's dim light, their grief shared, their love unbroken. It wasn't the life they had imagined, but it was still a life, and for now, that had to be enough.
The flickering light from the fire cast shifting patterns on the walls, which failed to reveal the furious eyes that glared at them through the darkness. The figure stood still, a storm of silent rage barely held in check, watching with calculated fury. Each breath was controlled and measured, but the anger simmered beneath the surface. The soft crackle of the fire masked the faint creak of the floorboards as the presence inched closer, hidden in the dim hallway, watching... with intent. Cold, deliberate, and waiting for the moment when everything would unravel.
*The Next Day*
The Sanctuary's grand library was a vast, shadowed space, its towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and artifacts. The soft glow of scattered lamps on the tables provided a warm, ambient light that bathed the room in a comforting atmosphere, though no natural light reached it. There were no windows, only the quiet hum of electrical lighting casting gentle shadows across the stone floors.
At the large central table, SG-1 sat with steaming mugs of coffee in hand, their expressions curious yet relaxed after a restful night in the east tower suite. Across from them, Helen Magnus held a delicate cup of tea, her posture poised as she smiled, exuding a calm yet focused energy.
The tension of the previous evening had dissipated, replaced by a sense of renewed purpose as Helen addressed the group. "I trust you all slept well?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea, her eyes glimmering with quiet amusement.
O'Neill leaned back in his chair, cradling his coffee. "Like a log," he replied, his usual dry tone softening as he glanced around the room. "Not bad for a place with no windows."
Sam Carter, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "It's a beautiful space. The lighting really makes the library feel... timeless."
Helen smiled, setting her tea down gently. "That's exactly what I've always loved about it. This library has seen more than its share of mysteries."
"Well," O'Neill said, leaning forward slightly, "I'm guessing we're about to add another one to that list?"
"My father believed Michelangelo had discovered something profound in his designs," Helen explained. "He thought an advanced mathematical formula was buried within the artwork—one that could unlock ancient knowledge."
Helen placed the clear crystal orb delicately on the table. Beneath it lay an ancient tome, a first edition of Michelangelo's architectural designs, its pages worn and yellowed with age. Four hollow golden points surrounded the orb, and at its core, faint air bubbles formed the number '3.'
As the crystal rested on the book, a low hum filled the room. The orb began to glow softly, and in an instant, the library was transformed. The table and surrounding furniture faded away, replaced by the holographic image of a massive city, now projected at ground level. The team was surrounded by towering buildings, gleaming glass, and steel structures that soared into the sky. Trains sped along elevated tracks, crossing arched bridges, while sleek zeppelins drifted overhead.
The city was fully interactive, its streets alive with movement, as though they had been transported into the heart of a thriving metropolis.
"Well, that's new," O'Neill muttered, taking a cautious step forward. He looked down at the holographic cobblestone streets beneath his feet, though he felt nothing but the library floor. "Usually, our holograms don't come with scenic tours."
Daniel crouched down, his hand passing through a holographic street. "This is... incredible. It's like a living model. The detail is astounding."
Sam moved toward one of the massive towers. "It's not just a projection. Everything is moving. Look at the trains, the airships... it feels like is all happening in real time."
Helen smiled. "My father believed that this city—if it exists—might be hidden deep beneath the Earth. He dedicated his life to finding it, convinced it held forgotten mysteries far beyond anything we know."
James, who had been observing quietly, nodded. "If this city is real, it could be one of the greatest discoveries in history."
Jack O'Neill's attention drifted elsewhere as the others marveled at the holographic cityscape. While his team and the Sanctuary group marveled at the intricate projections of buildings, zeppelins, and speeding trains, Jack was drawn to the crystal device. Something about it called to him, though he couldn't quite explain why.
Almost instinctively, Jack reached out. His left hand traced the smooth edge of the orb where the clear crystal met the golden setting. His fingertips brushed a small ridge, barely noticeable, and without fully realizing what he was doing, he placed his right hand on the opposite side of the orb.
He pressed down lightly, and a quiet click sounded from within the device.
Suddenly, the entire holographic city flickered once and then vanished. The library returned to normal, leaving everyone standing around in stunned silence.
"What just happened?" Daniel asked, looking between Jack and the device.
Jack said nothing, his eyes still fixed on the orb. He carefully lifted it from the book, turning it one hundred and eighty degrees, hearing another soft click as something shifted inside the crystal.
Ignoring the barrage of questions from his team and the others, Jack silently set the orb back onto the open pages of the ancient book. For a moment, nothing stirred. The room held its breath, the device appearing inert. Then, almost imperceptibly, the crystal began to pulse—a faint, wavering green light flickering to life within its depths.
With a deliberate motion, Jack rotated the orb fifteen degrees to the right. The glow intensified from a soft, pulsating green to a vivid, steady emerald. Without hesitation, his hand hovered briefly over the orb before pressing down with quiet resolve.
The room remained silent, but instead of the city map returning, a new projection materialized—this time without any images of buildings or streets. Floating in the center of the room were large, glowing symbols, twisting and shifting in mid-air. They hovered over the space where the city once was, casting soft light across the walls.
The intricate writing pulsed with quiet, electric energy, the symbols alien and indecipherable to most in the room.
"Sir, what did you do?" Sam asked, moving toward Jack.
Jack looked at her for the first time since the map had disappeared. "I don't know," he replied honestly, his expression distant.
Nikola, visibly irritated, stepped forward. "And how, exactly, did you know to do that?" His voice was sharp, clearly frustrated at being outmaneuvered by Jack.
"I don't know," Jack said, remaining at the table while the others moved toward the writing hovering in the air.
Before anyone else could ask further questions, Daniel moved closer, his face lighting up in excitement as he stared at the symbols. "I knew it!"
Helen, intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "Knew what, Dr. Jackson?"
"That the Ancients created this device," Sam answered for him, quiet but confident, answering in Daniel's place.
Nikola narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "And you know this how?"
Daniel gestured toward the floating symbols, his voice filled with awe. "Because this is the language of the Ancients. And Jack... he was able to activate it."
The room fell into silence as the glowing symbols continued to shift and hover in the center, casting an eerie light over the now-still library.