Lorne woke in a completely dark room, unable to move his arms and legs. He felt like he was wrapped tightly in some substance. He struggled for a bit trying to get free, whatever the substance was he could not free even a single fingertip. His mouth and nose at least were not covered.
Lorne calls out, "Anyone here?"
Waiting, but no response, "We come in peace, we mean no harm!"
Lorne struggled to make out anything in his surroundings, however, everything was pitch dark, no trace of any light source.
Suddenly he heard, "Who are you? Why do you come?"
"We come in peace, we are explorers," replied Lorne not knowing who he was speaking too.
"Peace? We know no peace. There has been no peace in many millennia," replied the voice.
"My people are part of a great alliance from a distant galaxy. We came in peace to explore, find new friends, and help those we can," replied Lorne.
"More lies. You come from the water. Your technology is too advanced for any other means," replied the voice.
"Our planet is seventy percent water, but we live on the land. We have had help from some great races from our galaxy," replied Lorne.
"Lies, we can tell you are scavengers," replied the voice.
"Yes, we look for new technologies that we find and try to learn from them. We also have powerful friends who have shared their knowledge, and now we have formed a great alliance to defend our galaxies together," replied Lorne.
Lorne expecting a reply found none. Silence weighed heavily on him. Where his crew was, what had happened to the ship, he was trying to be convincing to his captors without giving away too many details. He was lost in the darkness.
Carter had arranged to meet O'Neill in their quarters after lunch. She could barely contain herself. She was nervous not knowing how O'Neill would respond. She tried to sit calmly waiting for his arrival.
O'Neill kept looking at his watch he knew Carter was waiting on him, this meeting on how Colson was planning to spread acquired technologies around Earth. He had saved the immediate crisis of replacing air travel. Now he was working on overhauling the entire computer and software businesses. O'Neill was about to lose it listening to this mess.
Armstrong spoke up, "Gentlemen you will need to excuse Commander O'Neill, he has another meeting at this time, I will continue to take notes to brief him later on all of your details."
"Yes, a very important meeting. Ms. Armstrong will brief me on everything here later. Thank you, gentlemen," replied O'Neill heading for the door. He mouthed "Thank you" to Armstrong as he went who just winked at him.
"Avidan beam me to my quarters," ordered O'Neill, who teleported immediately to his quarters surprising Carter.
"Oh you startled me," replied Carter.
"I needed to get away as fast as I could," replied O'Neill, "So what is up?"
"Well you should sit down," replied Carter. O'Neill lifting an eyebrow sat down in the nearest seat.
"You know how we celebrated my return from the galaxy hop and solving the foothold situation on Pacifica?" asked Carter.
O'Neill grinning, "How could I forget. It's what I do!"
"Well, it seems we have a little something extra from that night," replied Carter grinning.
"A little something extra? Sam, I've just had nearly three hours of Colson talking about computers and software, I can barely think," replied O'Neill.
"Well, I went to see Jennifer this morning to confirm my suspicion. I'm six weeks pregnant," replied Carter.
O'Neill sat quietly trying to process what he just heard. He determined he must have misunderstood what she said, "Could you say that again?"
"I'm six weeks pregnant," replied Carter.
O'Neill smacked the side of his head, then asking, "Did you say pregnant?"
Carter nodding, "Yes."
O'Neill's mouth was moving but no sounds were coming out. Carter started to get concerned he was having a stroke, instead, a grin started to appear on his face, and slowly it spread from cheek to cheek.
O'Neill shouting, "We're having a baby?!"
Carter grinning and laughing, "Yes."
O'Neill sat bank and lost the smile, "Charlie,"
"I know this is a little tough on you with the memory of Charlie. Things are different now. We will both be there for this child," replied Carter prepared for this reaction.
O'Neill looking at Carter in his most solemn face, "I'll get it right this time."
Caldwell sat alone on Pacifica eating dinner, wondering if he would ever see Jenny again. It had been ten weeks since the Hades went missing. Jenny Simpson had been on board, having just completed repairs on Destiny. Rush and she had returned to the Hades to assist in the investigation of the Furlings homeworld. He knew better than to count them out, Stargate personnel had been in many situations and had come back many times. However, he just felt something was different this time.
They had planned a vacation together, he had planned to propose to her. He knew a good thing and she was an amazing woman, he would be a fool to pass up. He thought of the ring he had in his quarters to give her. He had worked with Dr. Miller and Novak to create a ring sized Neutrino-ion-generator on a micro-scale to power a glow on her ring.
Rush awoke, to find himself in a completely white room, there didn't appear to be any source for the light. He could see he was in some sort of gelatinous cocoon up to his neck. He couldn't tell if he was on the floor or suspended in the air. There was no lines or anything to give the place dimensions.
"Who is there?" shouted Rush.
Rush waited for an answer but none came.
"I just want to talk!" shouted Rush.
Again no answer came. Outside of his own breathing, there was no noise. He wondered how long he had been here.
Suddenly breaking the silence, "You come from water."
Rush looking about for a source could see none, "Yes, I am a human, we are made up of ninety percent water,"
"Your chemical composition is no concern to us. You came from water," replied the voice.
"Our species evolved from many lower forms of life, that originated in water," replied Rush, unsure if this is what they meant.
"You seek to destroy us?" came the voice.
"No, we wish to destroy no one. We are explorers," replied Rush.
O'Neill was called to the gateroom later that night. Upon entering, Harriman spoke up, "Congratulations to you and Col. Carter, sir!"
O'Neill shocked, "How could you possibly know?"
"I have my sources," replied Harriman.
"Should I put you in charge of intelligence?" asked O'Neill.
"I thought I already was sir," smirked Harriman.
"Walter do not ever change!" replied O'Neill, "So why am I here?"
"Dr. Brody and Freya of the Tok'ra returned and requested an immediate meeting with you," replied Harriman, "They were heading to your office."
"So why not tell me to meet them there?" asked O'Neill.
"Then I couldn't be the first to congratulate you," replied Harriman.
O'Neill walked up to his office, upon entering, "Good evening. To what do I owe this meeting?"
Brody excited jumped up, "I want to become a Tok'ra!"
"Calm down. I take it this is your next step in your relationship?" asked O'Neill.
"Sorry, it's just been a long time and I've been scared to speak to you on it," replied Brody.
"What Dr. Brody is saying. He wants to commit to me as a life partner, and we have a Tok'ra symbiote that Anise is attracted to as well," replied Freya.
"You understand you will not always be in control of your body correct?" asked O'Neill.
"Yes, sir. Freya and I have had many discussions about what it would mean," replied Brody.
"What if something changes your mind?" asked O'Neill.
"Sir, I love Freya, and she loves me. She has shown me many times over that is the case," replied Brody.
"So what will you do?" asked O'Neill.
"Well I hoped to continue to work here, just maybe a little smarter," replied Brody.
"I want you to meet with Dr. Keller to have a full evaluation. I want to make sure you are in good health and no outside influences. Also then meet with our psychiatrist whoever the heck that is. If they both give you a green light then you have my blessing," replied O'Neill.
Brody over the next week underwent a full exam and psychiatric workup. He was cleared to become a Tok'ra. The following week, he received his Tok'ra and Freya, Anise, Brody, and Far'ui were wed on the Tok'ra homeworld.
Mitchell was running his normal route around Destiny. They had been in F.T.L. for two months of their six-month journey. His crew was ready for anything. The biggest emergency so far had been a dropped jar of mayonnaise. Tomin had security trained they could reach any point of the ship in under five minutes. Jackson finally had Vala calmed down, however, she would not speak to what she saw. He was thinking of the Hades and her crew on what could have happened to them. Lorne was a good man and capable of handling any situation, what could have happened to them. This is what he was thinking as he rounded the corner and ran straight into Nicole Keller, knocking her down.
"Oh Dr. Keller I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Mitchell.
"Watch what your doing would you!" replied Keller.
Mitchell helping Dr. Keller up, "Look I'm sorry. Are you all right?"
"I think my tush may have a bruise bigger than the one my ego has right now," replied Keller.
"Let me help you back to the medical bay," replied Mitchell. He gave her his arm to lean up and they started walking back toward medical bay.
"Think the doctor can patch you up?" asked Mitchell.
"I hear the Doc, is a real pain," replied Keller.
"Yup that's what I heard," replied Mitchell.
Smacking Mitchell, Keller replied, "Hey I can say that about myself, but you don't get to. You better be singing praises to me for running me over!"
"Nicole, I am extremely sorry over that," replied Mitchell.
"I'm guessing you are going stir crazy?" asked Keller.
"That would be putting it mildly," replied Mitchell.
Mitchell escorted Keller to the infirmary, a quick scan showed nothing worse than a bruise and a slightly sprained wrist. Mitchell gave Keller his attention over the next few days. Dr. Keller knew she could fix her sprain in five minutes, however, she was enjoying the attention she got from Mitchell. She missed Rodney, but she had to admit it wasn't her Rodney.
Mitchell was enjoying Keller's company, as it was a change in pace. It at least broke the routine they had been operating on.
Vala made a comment to Keller, "You and Mitchell seem to be spending some time together?"
Keller just grinned.
Author's Note: Just a new reminder this story is not being abandoned, just work, and life are not leaving me much free time right now.