O'Neill watched as the Enterprise exited the wormhole over Hebridan. Where once there had been advanced cities with skyscrapers there was now wastelands. The Ori had not been kind and the people of Hebridan had fought tooth and nail for their freedom. However, in the end, they were not able to resist the Ori. Earth had sent aid to the planet once the Ori were defeated. Rebuilding was underway, and the Enterprise settled into orbit over their capital city, which had the most construction in place.
"Sir we receiving a signal from the planet," spoke Marks.
"Put in on the screen," ordered O'Neill. An unfamiliar face came on the view screen.
"Please identify yourself, any further actions will be met with force!" spoke the individual.
"Sir, a group of what appears to be two dozen fighters are approaching from the surface," spoke Riley.
"This is the Earth ship Enterprise from the SGC. We come on friendly terms," spoke O'Neill, "I am Supreme Commander of Atlantis Command now. You may have heard of me as Colonel O'Neill part of SG1 under the SGC."
"Commander O'Neill, yes your name is known to us. And I see our facial recognition system has identified you now. Please understand with the Ori invasion we have had to push security to the strictest. I am Dal'Moran. Head of the Tech Con Group, and essentially the leader of Hebridan now," replied Dal'Moran.
"We have come to see what additional aid we can offer to you, and to invite you into the Atlantis Alliance," spoke O'Neill.
"The fighters are returning to the surface sir," replied Riley.
"What is this Atlantis Alliance?" asked Dal'Moran.
"That will take some time, may I suggest at your convenience we beam you aboard our ship here to discuss?" asked O'Neill.
"I have back to back meetings all day today. I can pencil you in tomorrow afternoon," replied Dal'Moran.
"That will be lovely," replied O'Neill, "Contact us on this channel, when you are ready."
"Very well," replied Dal'Moran, communication was cut.
"I love doing the diplomatic thing," replied O'Neill.
"You did it wonderfully," replied Gardner.
"Sarah, I want you to study as much of the communication as you can going on down there, to get a feel for the politics. Odai, see where they are at from a defensive stance. Riley ask Ginn, and Eli, to start going over their infrastructure. I want to know where they stand when we get to the table tomorrow. I'll speak to Hlin on a task for her," ordered O'Neill.
"Yes sir!" replied Riley.
"Yes, Commander!" replied Odai.
"On it Jack," replied Gardner.
Lam was heading to Carter's quarters to check up on her like she had been doing every day. While Carter and the babies were healthy, given all of the circumstances bed rest and careful monitoring were being applied. Not only had Carter received a number of wounds over the years, but all of the alien technology they have exposed to. She would be the first and most exposed of all the women from the SGC or Altera to have a child. Then add in the complications that were O'Neil, a genetically created body, additional changes in the genetics by O'Neill and Primus. She was leaving nothing to chance.
A knock on Carter's door and no answer, then she hears, "Help!" coming from Carter.
"Avidan override lock on this door," ordered Lam. Carter's door opened immediately. Lam walked into to a sight she was not expecting.
"Carolyn help me!" shouted Carter, who was floating in the air over the couch.
"How?" asked Lam.
"I don't know how this is happening," shouted Carter.
Lam ran over and took Carter by the hand and tried to pull her down, instead, she found Carter floating upward toward the ceiling, and taking her with her.
"Avidan I need Dr. Frasier here now!" ordered Lam.
A few seconds later Frasier appeared next to Lam, "What's so urgent? Oh my!"
"Any ideas?" asked Lam.
"Oh dear, I see what is happening. Let me see what I can do," replied Fraiser. She disappeared and a light could be seen around Carter.
"Janet do something! I'm floating!" shouted Carter.
Slowly Carter started floating down and finally settled on the couch. Carter was then able to sit up.
"What was that?" asked Carter.
"I don't know," replied Lam.
Fraiser reappearing in her normal form.
"Janet, what just happened? What did you do?" asked Carter.
"One or more of your babies did that," replied Janet.
"Excuse me?" asked Carter.
"I sang them a lullaby to put them to sleep slowly. They are more than humans," replied Janet.
"Janet what are you saying?" asked Carter.
"Your babies are advanced, and I mean really advanced," replied Janet.
"How advanced?" asked Lam,
"Well, they have telekinetic powers. Their minds are extremely advanced, which we expected between you and Jack, but this is more than we expected," replied Fraiser.
"What do you mean? Janet spill the beans" ordered Carter.
"Some of the ascended always knew if you and Jack had kids they had the potential to be far smarter than the average human, even to surpass you. However, we didn't expect them to be this much advanced. For lack of a better way to put this, your children are the next step in human evolution," replied Fraiser.
"Next step in human evolution?" asked Carter.
"Well, maybe the final step in evolution. I'm pretty positive they could ascend if they wanted to," replied Fraiser.
"What am I supposed to do?" asked Carter, as she began floating again.
Fraiser enveloped her again and slowly lowered her back down to the floor.
"This is out of my realm of expertise," replied Lam.
"I'm trying to explain flying is not a good thing," spoke Fraiser.
"How am I going to raise three kids who can make be float when they want to?" asked Carter.
"Sam I will be here with you every step of the way. I think it's best if I stay with you. I'm going to have to try to explain some rules to them," explained Fraiser.
"They are half Jack's, do you think rules are going to mean much?" complained Carter.
"When it comes to you? Yes," replied Fraiser.
"What else can they do?" asked Carter.
"We don't really know," replied Fraiser.
"Jack is just going to love this. You can't tell him. He has enough on his mind with the Hebridan meeting," replied Carter.
"This isn't something you can keep from him," replied Lam.
"Just for the next week or two," replied Carter.
"We can keep this under wraps for that long," replied Fraiser.
"I'll have a talk with Walter," replied Lam.
"How does he get his information?" asked Fraiser.
"I have no idea, but he probably already knows everything here," replied Carter.
Lam hunted down Harriman and learned he was already aware of the cone of silence. He would make sure nobody shared that information out. Pressure from Lam wouldn't get him to give up his source. Fraiser stayed by Carter's side. Lam and Keller visited Carter several times a day to check on her. Carter was floating about two to three times an hour. Fraiser tried to keep them asleep, but with three babies that was nearly impossible.
The first meeting with Mal'Doran was thirty minutes. O'Neill was trying to give a tour of the Enterprise while discussing aid they could provide, when Mal'Doran cited another meeting he had to make.
"Well that was short," replied Gardner.
"Short we barely got through introductions," replied O'Neill.
Ginn replied, "It's his tactic, he knows you have the upper hand, and is trying to push you around, so he has it."
"He's a businessman. I don't like businessmen," replied Odai.
O'Neill nodding, "I agree with you on that. We need a business negotiator."
Beckett came to visit and took a sample of blood from Carter. Two days later he returned.
Beckett looking at Fraiser and Carter, "I think I understand what happened."
"Explain," replied Fraiser.
"It's the ATA gene. Carter took the treatment a few years ago. It really didn't stick for her. It appears additional genes were flipped on in the process. Then when you became pregnant your DNA with the additional activated genes, and Commander O'Neill's ATA gene that was naturally strong sent these kids into overdrive," replied Beckett.
"So if all my genes are on why can't I levitate things?" asked Carter.
"Your ATA level is extremely low. I believe if yours was higher you probably could," replied Beckett.
"My DNA and Jack's DNA, created an ancient?" asked Carter.
"More or less. Look I am so sorry. I never imagined this would happen," replied Beckett.
"Carson, it is ok. This isn't your fault. Nobody could have predicted this," replied Carter.
"Actually who is to say this is a bad thing at all?" replied Fraiser.
"Bad no, these babies are good. I'm only worried about reigning them in if they get out of control," replied Carter.
"Well let's hope they take after you, instead of Jack," replied Fraiser.
"Yeah, that may not be a good thing either. I was a bit troublemaker as a kid as well," replied Carter.
"How bad? Not possibly worse than Jack," asked Fraiser.
"Let's just say my father banned me from his computer. That wasn't a good thing," replied Carter.
Fraiser helped Carter with her video calls to Jack. Doing everything she could to keep her on the couch, and not floating off. When the triplets wouldn't go to sleep. They had a few recorded video's they would send O'Neill over email. Hebridan was proving to be a bit difficult but had great potential to benefit the entire alliance greatly. Landry and Caldwell had both went to assist, taking along Colson as well.
Colson sat down with Gardner, O'Neill, Caldwell, and Landry to discuss the tactics used by Mal'Doran.
"He's using the classic move to make you think everything else but you are more important to him," regarded Colson.
O'Neill grinning, "How do we deal with it?"
"Me," replied Colson.
"What do you mean?" asked Caldwell.
"Easy, you assign a subordinate to deal with him, while you go off and have important meetings of your own with the other commanders," replied Colson.
"So he thinks, he just dropped significantly in importance to us?" asked Landry.
Colson nodding, "Your catching on!"
"I hate diplomacy," explained Caldwell.
"Indeed!" said O'Neill and Landry in unison.
Carter could see her belly was expanding faster than she expected. Fraiser confirmed the babies were growing at an accelerated rate.
"I don't think she is going to make it to nine months," spoke Lam.
"Nine months? I'm hoping she can make six months," replied Keller.
"That's less than a month away," exclaimed Beckett.
"Wait you're saying I'm about to give birth?" asked Carter.
"Samantha the babies are mature, they could easily survive birth now," replied Fraiser.
"Yes but I don't want to hurry this up any, if we don't have to," replied Beckett.
"Agreed!" came the reply from the four ladies.
"I've brought in a couple of other ascended to help keep them quiet. They have been giving me a workout the past three days," spoke Fraiser.
"No new powers have shown up? Right?" asked Beckett, pulling out a needle to take another blood sample.
"None that we have detected," replied Keller, watching Beckett, try to push the needle into Carter's arm to get a sample, but the needle would not penetrate the skin.
"Easy Carson, that has to be hurting her," replied Lam.
"Hurting her, I can't even get the needle against her skin. I'm pushing as hard as I can," replied Beckett.
"He's right, I don't feel anything," replied Carter. About that time the needle flipped up into the air and shot for Beckett.
Fraiser reached out with her mind and snatched the needle at the last second. The two other attendants were trying to soothe the babies into a nap.
"I would not do that again," replied Fraiser, "The babies don't want you to hurt their mother."
"I won't, and thank you!" replied Beckett.
"They are protecting me?" asked Carter.
"It appears they are very protective," replied Keller.
"I hope we don't need to do a c-section," replied Lam.
"I would have to do it," replied Fraiser.
The next meeting with Dal'Moran, he found himself alone in a small conference room with Colson.
"Welcome Dal'Moran, I am Alec Colson. I am here to meet with you about Hebridan's inclusion into the alliance," spoke Colson.
"Where is Commander O'Neill?" asked Dal'Moran.
"Oh you probably won't be seeing much more of him, he is busy meeting with his top subordinates," explained Colson.
"His top subordinates? What does that make you?" asked Dal'Moran.
"Well I'm in charge of disbursements," replied Colson.
"Disbursements? I demand to see Commander O'Neill. A man in my position only negotiates with the boss," replied Dal'Moran.
"Well, Commander O'Neill is a man of action. Once he saw that your immediate needs were sufficient he brought me in to complete things. You probably won't get a chance to see him again," replied Colson.
"Well this is not acceptable!" exclaimed Dal'Moran, "I demand to be beamed back to my office!"
"Very well, if you wish to resume discussions I believe I can keep the ship for leaving till tomorrow," replied Colson.
"Tomorrow?" asked Dal'Moran.
"Right this way, I will take you where you can be teleported down to the service," explained Colson.
"Can't you beam me from here?" asked Dal'Moran.
"That is only something Commander O'Neill can order," replied Colson, "Right this way."
Stepping out of the small quarters that had been converted into a conference room, Colson lead Dal'Moran to the bridge on the long route. As they neared the bridge, as planned O'Neill, Landry, and Caldwell were walking out of the large conference room heading to engineering, discussing defense plans.
"Commander O'Neill!" exclaimed Dal'Moran.
Landry, Caldwell, and O'Neill stopped, with O'Neill turning to Dal'Moran.
"Commander O'Neill let me present Dal'Moran from Hebridan, you had met with him previously," replied Colson.
"Oh yeah, Dal'Moran. Good to see you again. Alec here will take care of you," replied O'Neill, turning and walking away with Landry and Caldwell.
"I thought we were important to him?" asked Dal'Moran.
"Oh you are, but he is a man of action. Once he knew your people were safe, not starving, and had no medical crisis going on, he had far more important duties to tend to," replied Colson.
Colson finished leading Dal'Moran to the bridge, "Here we are. Please beam Dal'Moran here back to his office. If you decide you want to talk any further please let me know. I will be happy to explain the process to you."
Before he could say a word he was beamed away.
O'Neill stuck his head into the bridge, "Is he gone?"
"Yes it's safe to come in now. Well played everyone. I suspect he'll stew for an hour or so and then contact us," replied Colson.
"At this point, I don't care if they join any more or not," replied Landry.
"They have significant technology, and we can help them," replied O'Neill.
Over the next week, things progressed quickly. It had only taken thirty minutes before Dal'Moran had contacted Colson wanting to talk. Colson beamed him back onto the Enterprise and they sat down and began a meaningful conversation. Colson and Dal'Moran had much to discuss on technology exchange, and commerce, in the end, O'Neill joined them to set down the final agreements in place. Hebridan would join the alliance and open up their technology in exchange for access to the technology of the alliance, and defense. DN-1103's were dispatched and placed in orbit to provide defense. Agreements to acquire ships from the Jaffa, and in turn, open up those markets was a major point. Hebridan had lost most of its ability to construct ships. However, they would be able to provide engineers that would work with the Jaffa on building the hyperdrive engines. Wormhole Drive was being limited to military vessels only.
Carter looked every bit of nine months pregnant, even though she was just into her fifth month. Fraiser stayed by her side, and with additional ascended kept Carter from floating most of the time, but it was a challenge. Beckett was checking on every person who had received the ATA Gene Therapy and discovered three others were pregnant as well. Fraiser confirmed two of those three, had an advanced baby like Carter, just not as far along.
Fraiser had to run Quinn off, on several occasions. Quinn had not seen Carter since that first night. Fraiser reassured him she was fine, just really needed her bed rest. Quinn finally reached out to O'Neill.
"What do you mean you haven't been able to see Carter?" asked O'Neill.
"Dr. Fraiser sends me away any time I try to visit. Says she needs her bed rest. What is going on?" asked Quinn.
"Nothing as far as I am told, but I'm going to get to the bottom of this," replied O'Neill.
O'Neill used the stargate to immediately return to Altera. Exiting the gate he headed directly to his quarters. Harriman had already sent a communique to Fraiser.
"Commander O'Neill come in," replied Fraiser.
"What's going on? Is something wrong with Carter? The babies?" asked O'Neill.
"Honey everything is fine!" explained Carter, as she began floating up into the air. None of the attendants could keep her down.
"Care to explain that?" asked O'Neill.
"The babies are advanced. They are happy your home, and they seem to like to use telekinesis to float mom around," replied Fraiser.
"Advanced? Telekinesis?" asked O'Neill noticing a grimace on Carter.
"Janet, I think they want out, and I mean right now!" shouted Carter.
"Sorry Jack, but I've got my hands full!" replied Fraiser who became an orb of light around Carter, followed by the two other attendants.
"What's going on?" asked O'Neill.
Lam came from around the corner, "I believe Dr. Fraiser is delivering your babies."
"Here in our room? It's too soon!" exclaimed O'Neill.
"Commander let me explain. The ATA Gene Therapy that Carter received activated all of her genes. Dormant ones that push the human body toward being an Ancient. Your latent ATA Gene strength sent these babies into overdrive. They are as mature as a full-term baby. Also, they have exhibited telekinesis," explained Lam.
"So our babies are Ancients?" asked O'Neill, watching Carter float about in white light.
"No, they are the most advanced humans they can be," replied Lam.
"What do we do?" asked O'Neill.
Carter let out a strong scream then went limp.
"Sam!" shouted O'Neill.
Suddenly Carter was floating back down to the couch. Two ascended beings appeared in front of O'Neill, one holding two babies, and the second attendant holding one. Fraiser appeared then.
"Sorry but I had to put Sam to sleep she'll come around in a minute," replied Fraiser.
"These are our babies? Strangest delivery ever!" replied O'Neill, taking his son. Carter waking up and taking the two girls one in each arm.