Location: Stargate Command, Quarters
Time: Two days after the mission to P3R-272
James lay on his bunk, staring at the ceiling, feeling a growing sense of unease. The download of Ancient knowledge had been overwhelming, and it was starting to take a toll. His mind felt like it was being stretched, as if it couldn't contain all the information surging inside him.
The flickers of pain he had experienced in the infirmary were now more frequent. Each time he tried to access more of the knowledge, it felt like his brain was overheating. He could still hear Dr. Fraiser's voice warning him to slow down, but how could he? The Goa'uld would come for him soon, especially once they realized how powerful he had become.
[Mental Overload Detected]
[Warning: Continued strain will result in permanent damage.]
James winced as another sharp pain shot through his head. He needed to find a way to manage this, to control the flood of knowledge without breaking his mind in the process. But more urgently, he needed to hide his growing power from the Goa'uld.
As if in response to his thoughts, a new notification flashed before his eyes:
[New Skill Created: Power Suppression]
Allows the user to suppress their power levels and Ancient knowledge signature for a limited time, preventing detection by enemies who can sense power.
Duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.
James sat up, heart pounding. "Power suppression?" he muttered to himself. It was exactly what he needed. But five minutes? That wasn't nearly enough time to stay under the radar for long periods. Still, it was better than nothing.
He activated the skill experimentally, concentrating on suppressing the torrent of energy that constantly buzzed within him.
[Activating Power Suppression…]
Instantly, the tension in his mind eased. The overwhelming sensation of Ancient knowledge flowing through him dimmed to a manageable level, and the constant hum of power in his body dulled. He felt… normal. Almost too normal.
For five minutes, he was just James again—no excess knowledge threatening to overload his brain, no energy ready to burst out of his body. But as soon as the five minutes passed, the weight of it all came rushing back, the Ancient knowledge knocking at the walls of his mind again.
"Okay, this is going to take some work," James muttered, rubbing his temples. "I'll need to time it perfectly when it matters."
Location: Stargate Command, Briefing Room
Time: The following day
General Hammond's expression was serious as he addressed SG-1. "We've intercepted communications between several Goa'uld system lords. It seems that they've become aware of some… anomaly in the Stargate network. Something powerful."
Jack frowned, leaning back in his chair. "I don't like the sound of that."
Samantha glanced at James. "You don't think they're sensing—"
"Me? Yeah, I think that's exactly what's happening," James interjected, tension tightening his voice. "The Goa'uld can sense powerful energy signatures. With all the Ancient knowledge I've got in my head, I must be like a beacon to them."
"That's not good," Jack said, stating the obvious. "We don't want every Goa'uld out there putting a target on your back."
"We need a solution," Samantha added. "Something to cloak your presence."
"I… I've got something," James said hesitantly, his hand instinctively rubbing his forehead. "It's a skill I can use to hide my power for a few minutes. But it's not a permanent fix. Five minutes of suppression, and then it's gone for a day."
Jack shot him a skeptical look. "Five minutes? That's not exactly going to get us out of a sticky situation."
"I know," James said, frustration creeping into his voice. "But it's all I've got for now. I'm working on ways to control this better."
"We'll take whatever advantage we can get," Hammond said, turning to the team. "For now, we need to stay vigilant. The Goa'uld are likely probing to find the source of this power. James, I suggest you use that skill when absolutely necessary. We don't want to give them any clues."
James nodded, though the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. He was powerful, yes, but that power came with a price—and the enemy was closing in fast.