Chapter 11

- We have to find its use., Sam sighed, putting her tools on the worktable., We've been at this for three days. General Hammond won't let us study it as long as we want.

- I know. I really thought that, with Daniel's knowledge and your abilities, we would have found out by now., Jacob admitted.

He took the little orb made of a golden-colored alloy with silver carvings. It was beautiful but apparently useless.

- I guess I just made you lose your time, Sammy… and you too Lieutenant., he apologized, putting the orb down.

The thing rolled a little away but Sam stopped it.

- Well, Daniel still has to finish the translation…, Charlie began, going past her shyness around the man.

- Did he find the language?, Carter asked her, stunned.

- Not yet… but he's the best, isn't he? So, it's just a matter of time. I have to go to the lab, my analyses should be done by now., the lieutenant told her.

- Go… I don't think we'll make a big discovery in the next minutes., her superior answered.

- She seems like a good kid, maybe a little wary., Jacob said, looking at her daughter., Impressed by her mentor maybe?, he suggested with a kind smile directed at her.

- I hope not. We have a situation here., she told him in a low voice., someone is stealing artifacts… and she was on the short list of suspects.

- Still is?, he inquired her.

- No, no longer. So what about getting back at this?

Her dad sighed, not knowing what to do next. He had the feeling it could be an important discovery, they just had to find how to activate it.

- Yeah… Just one last question: you sure she's not Jack's daughter?, he questioned, mischievously.

- If she is, she lacks the colonel's sense of humor…, she answered with a grin.

- Lacks… it depends on whose point of view you are talking from…, he quipped and they laughed together a moment., Maybe you should let her take a good look at it. She hadn't had a chance as we spent our time analyzing it and giving her analyses to do.

- We did?, Sam said, surprised.

- Yes, we did, Sam. I think we just got too focused on it and the kid is too military-trained to protest.

- The kid… Dad, she's twenty-four., she lectured him with a crooked smile., but you're right, we'll give it to her and she'll be able to analyze it by herself., she approved, making the orb roll slightly.

She concentrated on its move while doing so and Jacob observed her daughter attentively. Her gaze was fixed on the artifact and suddenly she frowned.

- What? You found something?, he asked her eagerly.

- No… I thought that maybe the movement wouldn't be circular because of a mechanism inside that would interfere but it doesn't look like it., she sighed.

- Careful!, they heard and turned their head towards the door.

Charlie arrived, her hands so full of files and samples that they threatened to spill all over the place. She managed to make it to the worktable where a sample of soil fell.

- You know, you can make two trips if need be. No one here will call you lazy., Jacob teased her, making her blush.

- Well, I got these on my way back and the people who gave them to me didn't give me much of a choice., she pestered, holding files to Sam.

- Thanks… and this is for you., she told her, giving her the orb.

Charlie rose up after picking the sample up from the floor and took it without thinking. Suddenly, they heard a slight humming coming from the piece of technology.

- What did you do?, Jacob asked, astonished.

- Errr… nothing., Charlie said, putting it down on the worktable, a little wary., I just touched it.

- You… You managed to make it work…, Sam wondered, looking at her as amazed as her father was.

- No! It can't be. This… this is alien technology, there's no way it should work because of me., the lieutenant denied., Look, it still works and I'm not touching it., she pointed out to prove her sayings.

They all looked at the thing that still hummed and frowned, wondering what could be the thing that caused it to work. Willing to give them some room, Charlie took the files and samples she put there earlier away but the humming lessened.

- Wait! Come back!, Jacob told her, gesturing with his fingers and she did it., There's something in those that makes the orb react., he noted as the humming came stronger.

- Well, it's not paper., Sam said.

- And it shouldn't be the samples we took from it., Charlie added, putting them on a cupboard without no reaction from the orb.

- What is it?, he asked, showing the samples she still had in her hands.

- Soil and water samples from a planet. I added these analyses to the ones we needed to do to gain some time., she answered shyly, shooting a glance to Sam.

- Give them to me, please., he gestured for them.

They watched intently as he approached the samples to the orb and how the humming grew even stronger.

- Is there something special on this planet?, he asked Sam, knowing the young lieutenant didn't go off-world.

- Not that I know of., Sam said., Do you suspect something? You asked for more samples, saying you needed to confirm an hypothesis, something about a metal present in the soil.

- Well, the soil of the planet contains a metal that doesn't exist here on Earth., Charlie began, nervously.

- It often happens…, Jacob quipped, making her blush brighter.

- Dad… Go ahead., Sam invited her.

- I was about to ask you to confirm my theory and the figures. This metal produces energy and I calculated the amount of energy produced by one gram of it is worth a hundred grams of naquadah. You may add to this that it seems more stable than it. If so, it could be really useful and safer if we can apply it to our technology., the younger lady explained.

- Do the people of the planet use it?, he asked them.

- No, they don't. They are not an advanced culture. They already have a hard time to produce enough food., the major answered.

- Well, I guess it would make an alliance really worth it., he quipped., But it doesn't explain why the orb is reacting.

They looked back at the thing, Sam taking the samples a little away before getting them next to it once more with the same result, the humming lessened before growing stronger once more.

- Maybe it reacts to energy…, she assumed.

- This room is full of energy-fueled things. It should have reacted before., Jacob pointed.

- Yes, you're right., Carter said, thinking., Maybe it's not the energy in itself but the material that contains it.

- It wouldn't react to electricity but other materials capable of generating energy., Charlie linked up, looking at her.

- I need naquadah., Sam whispered, taking her keys and going away from her lab.

- Does Colonel O'Neill often come by?, Jacob asked out of curiosity.

- Sometimes but not very often, I'd say., Charlie answered.

- I would have said so…, he quipped amused.

Too many brain activities for him maybe, he thought to himself, while Selmac made him know O'Neill was playing dumb a lot but was far from being so.

- I know., he muttered to his symbiot.

- What Sir?, Charlie asked him, dumbfounded.

- What?, the Tok'ra answered, dumbfounded too.

- You said I know, Sir… but what do you know?, she explained., Maybe am I crossing a line here.

- Oh no… I was just having a little talk with Selmak., he said, waving his hand to dismiss the subject.

- Oh… OK, sorry if I… interrupted something., she whispered, ill-at-ease.

Jacob was the first blended person she had met. Teal'c had a symbiot but he carried him in a pouch. It was pretty disgusting to see but he still had the upper hand on his life. Blended people had to share a body, a mind… Well, the Tok'ra did share but the Goa'uld didn't, she remembered. They took the control leaving the host to witness what was done through them. She had plainly understood what they meant by sharing during the briefing upon Jacob's arrival. He had talked and Selmak had too and she had almost freaked out when it happened the first day. Now she was slowly getting used to it…

- Are you OK, kid?, he asked her, seeing her busying herself with papers, going through them again and again relentlessly.

- Yes, sir., she answered promptly, making him smile.

- Drop the sir. I'm no longer military. You still have to get used to us, don't you?, he suggested, making her stop before she looked at him, blushing a little.

- Yes, s… Mister Carter., she admitted.

- Jacob…, he offered her.

- Jacob., she repeated with a smile of excuse., I didn't think I would meet people from other planets when I arrived here. I hoped so but I didn't think it would happen. This is pretty intimidating as it is to work with…, she went on before shutting up.

She couldn't tell him she was intimidated by his daughter. She would look like a fool.

- With Sam?, he added nonetheless.

- Oh no! It's not…, she tried to deny but failed miserably., Yes, with her. Well, don't get me wrong: she's good with me, she doesn't look down on me and tries to make me feel at ease and valuable but she's so… and I… Well, I'm not her and haven't done even a quarter of what she's done., she sighed.

He looked at her with kindness and she was surprised to realize he didn't despise her for her admission.

- I'm proud of my daughter, you know. So much more proud than I'll ever be able to tell her., he said.

- And you have every right to be, Sir… Jacob., she corrected herself.

- I know. But I have to tell you this: Sam, one day, she was in your shoes. She began to work among people who knew much more than she did. She just decided to do her best. This is what you do too, isn't it?, he asked her., Charlotte…, he whispered, taken aback.

During a few seconds, just two maybe three, he saw her eyes glisten with unshed tears and a look that betrayed all her uncertainties. And she felt that way in so strong a way that she had difficulty to hide it right away. She would have loved to have a father able to give her that little pep talk, to give her confidence through this particular look of pride and trust. Her mother had always told her she was strong and brilliant, as strong and brilliant as a man could be and that last part had killed the rest because she couldn't know if that was a mantra she had to follow or what her mother really felt for her, thought of her.

- Just dust, Jacob., she stammered, pressing her eyelids briefly before turning her back on him in a pretense to put her files away.

- I have it. Charlie, can you take the samples away from the orb?, Sam asked coming in all of a sudden.

- Seems like someone is in a hurry, here…, they all heard coming from the doorway.

And sure enough, here was Colonel O'Neill, looking at the three of them, hands in his pockets. Sam looked quite surprised for a second before letting out a breath.

- You called out to me, Sir?, she asked.

- Not really but I was just behind you for a minute or so. I could have assaulted you and you wouldn't have seen it coming, Carter., he told her with a little smirk.

- Well, I guess she would have beaten the crap out of you, Jack., Jacob sneered.

- Really? Did you give her special treatment as a young lady?, O'Neill asked, raising an eyebrow.

- I don't think so but my young lady is an USAF officer, pretty fine what's more., the older man topped proudly.

- I will probably have to test that assumption., the younger one tried to outsmart him.

- Dad, sir… can we come back to the real subject, please?, Sam called out to them, slightly blushing., Sir, is there something you need me for?

- No. I just came by to see how things were going. Find anything interesting, kids?, he asked her.

At the way her eyes shone brightly, he knew she was up to something that pleased her and it warmed him up inside.

- You arrived right on time, Sir. We were about to do an experiment., she explained to him, showing him the sample she had in her hands.

- Isn't that…, he began warily.

- Yes, it's naquadah, Sir. Just a small piece of it and we won't destroy it, promise., she announced to him cheerfully.

- Really? You're not going to blow it? You're sure it's your experiment?, he teased her.

She rolled her eyes before moving to the worktable.

- I don't blow everything I found, Sir., she chided him., But please join us.

Jack hesitated, not really fond of science and experiments, mostly when it didn't imply explosions notwithstanding what he previously said, but the cheerfulness of his 2IC convinced him to stay a while longer and he took the vacant space between the two women in the lab.

- Let's do it., Sam said, taking the vial containing the sample of naquadah and putting it next to the orb.

As it came nearer, the humming that had disappeared when Charlie had put the other sample away grew louder and they knew they were on the right track. Jacob, Charlie and Sam smiled at each other really proud of their discovery but Jack just went on staring at the orb, nonplussed.

- That's it?, he asked after a while as Jacob played with the sample, making it come and go around the artifact.

- Yes, that's it, sir. That's great!, Sam said, looking at him and understanding his attitude.

She calmed down and took the orb in her hand, lifting it for him to see it better.

- This little thing is a metal detector but not a basic one. He won't detect metal like iron or copper but it can detect naquadah or other metals that produce energy., she explained to him.

- So?, he let out, crossing his arms in that stubborn way of his when he didn't catch something.

- So? Sir, can you imagine that, when you arrive on a new planet, you have this thing and it tells you right away that there is something that can interest you, naquadah or another metal with the same properties…

- Or better…, Charlie quipped.

- Better? There is something better than the naquadah?, O'Neill asked, surprised.

- We still have to analyze it but it could be., Carter answered to him cautiously.

- So it means we wouldn't have to take soil samples anymore?, he questioned her, seeing finally a good point in this discovery.

- Well, no, we still should have to do some but we would know right away if there is something interesting for us., Sam nuanced.

O'Neill stared at her for a moment before nodding.

- Good. Good job… Now you just have to make it work with our technology, multiply it for every SG teams and improve it to do some other tasks or have the result be clearer., he told them, clapping his hands with a mischievous glance.

- What do you mean by "clearer", sir?, she asked.

- Let me have a guess…, Jacob intervened with a crooked smile…, maybe a big honking signboard saying "it's there"?

- That's an idea!, Jack exclaimed emphatically., With bright colors and some music.

- It hums, Sir., Carter reminded him.

- I hum too, Carter. I wouldn't want to hum louder than it does., he said and he could have slapped himself for such a lame reply.

- Well, I guess our enemies would love to have that big honking signboard to signal our position too, Sir., she replied, trying to keep sarcasm out of her voice.

- Make it an enemy detector, Carter. That would be even more useful., he told her back.

He was so pleased to have succeeded to make her go out of her reserve but, when he crossed Jacob's glance, he knew her old man had probably seen right through him.

- Well, first of all, we will have to understand what makes it react., Jacob said, putting the thing right on track., Care to join us for a little brainstorming, Jack?

- Err… I have… reports… yeah reports to finish and sign. Lots of reports. And Teal'c asked me to show him some of our fighting techniques., he told them, taking a few steps backwards.

- Oh… you mean he's gonna beat the crap out of you?, the older man clarified, making the women snort slightly.

- Will not! Stop saying nonsense, Jake. Can't wait to read your report on the… thingie., he saluted them before going away.

- OK. I think we should write a first report on what we found out about the orb and the soil samples. We already have a lot to do and it will be up to the General to decide what will come first. We still have a ship to design after all. This new metal could be interesting if it could power the engines and the orb could be interesting to detect new metals that produce energy or even sources of naquadah for the time being. So here is what I suggest and I want your feedback on it., she said, taking her notepad and drawing a timetable of the work that had to be done.

By the end of the day, the three of them plus the rest of the team sat in the briefing room next to Hammond's office and had explained everything they had discovered and the possible outcomes they expected.

- Doctor Jackson, do you have any idea of the language written on the orb?, the general asked to him.

- It's a mix between ancient and another language I still have to identify., Daniel told him, visibly frustrated.

- You will have to work on it in between two missions, Doctor Jackson. As for you, the priority is still set on the new ship but, Lieutenant, I would like you to confirm your theory on this new metal, and, for you to do so, you will have to work on it when Major Carter is not here, your time together shall be used to work on your foremost project. Report to her or me as soon as you know exactly what we deal with., he ordered, closing the file in front of him.

- Yes sir., Charlie said, out of habit, acknowledging her duty.

- Jacob, will you stay with us for a few days now that we have an answer?, he asked him then.

- I guess I'll spend the evening here and head back tomorrow first thing in the morning., his friend answered, looking at his daughter who smiled at him.

- A little father-daughter time. Seems nice, Dad., Jack teased.

- Well, you should try with your own, Jack., Jacob told him back, looking deadly serious.

The colonel's head shot back briskly, wide-eyed.

- I told you we…, he began, a little tensed before noticing the smile spreading on the older man's face., You…, he growled…, you're kidding.

- Well, there's still some hope for you., Jacob sneered., So what about going to eat something, Sammy?, he asked her as George raised and dismissed them.

- That would be nice to catch up, Dad., she admitted.

- We did that a lot last night. Maybe…, he said, glancing to his right and waiting for her to take his lead, which she did, nodding slightly.

- Charlotte, would you like to come with us? It would be nice for an old man to pretend he's dating to young girls., he joked.

She stopped, surprised by the offer, and smiled to him brightly, thankful.

- It's really nice, Jacob, but I can't. Take your time with your daughter. I know these are really precious moments., she answered with a knowing smile.

- I hope you have these too., he just told her.

Daniel saw her smile even more and felt a pang, knowing she was father-less. She probably thought about her own daughter… but he was the only one to know as General Hammond wasn't there.

- I have, Sir… I have them., she affirmed, letting them climb in the cart before her.

He climbed just next to her and stayed there side by side to show her she wasn't alone. He couldn't tell if she felt sad because she missed Ellie or her father but he could be the one to give her some strength if she needed it. He wanted to be a friend of hers.

They left the elevators at their respective levels and went their separate ways.

- You can go, Charlie., Sam told her when they climbed down at their level., I will close the lab while talking with my dad. You did a good job., she congratulated her.

- Thanks, Major. So… see you tomorrow morning., Charlie saluted them both before going to the locker room.

Half and hour later, changed in their civvies, Jacob and Sam passed the check-out point at the entrance of Cheyenne mountain and went to her car.

- Isn't that…, he asked her, surprised to see Charlie still there, closing the back door of her car.

- Yes… that's one of the reasons she was on the short list., Sam sighed, still bearing some doubts as she witnessed her subordinate going out of the parking lot.

- Why did you erase her name if you still are suspicious?, he inquired, frowning.

- Daniel said the thing she has a secret but that it is not relevant in our case., she explained.

- So he knows.

- He does… and I guess we can trust him… so her., she admitted.

- Well, I can't say she gave Selmak or me any reason to doubt her allegiance to the SGC., he informed her.

- I've known her for longer than you have, Dad., she opposed to him.

- And I have known humans for much longer than you have, Major Carter…, she heard Selmak tell her.

She observed her father and saw no trace of reproach in his eyes nor that she heard one in Selmak's voice either… So she passed her hand in the crook of his arm and leaded him to her car.

- You're right. Maybe one day, she'll feel more at ease to speak to us and everything that makes me doubt her will come clear., she accepted lightly.

- She's a good kid… even if she's 24. She reminds me of someone I know., he quipped before kissing her on her forehead.

- It's good to have you here, Dad., she whispered wholeheartedly.

- Same here, kiddo. I will have to find more artifacts to make up new excuses to come see you., he teased her.

- That you do and I'll do my best not to figure them too quickly., she retorted, smiling.

- This one, you didn't fake. It gave you a hard time., he made her notice.

- Hey! You want to stay here or come have dinner with me? I am the one who has the keys!, she told him, pretending to be hurt.

- You'll take pity on your old man. You're a sweet heart., he answered.

She just smiled back at him and unlocked the car before climbing in.