Disclaimer: I own nothing, just playing in the sandbox for my own amusement
Chapter One: Awakening
Location: Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain Complex
Time: Shortly after the events of "The Tok'ra, Part 1"
James blinked awake, feeling the disorienting effects of a new reality settling in. He tried to take stock of his surroundings, but the bright fluorescent lights overhead and the dull gray walls left him momentarily dazed. He pushed himself up, only to be met with an overwhelming sensation of wrongness. It wasn't just the location—it was the feeling that something deep within him had changed.
As he looked around, the room was filled with various high-tech devices, and a massive circular structure loomed ominously against the far wall. The Stargate.
Wait… James thought, memories flooding back to him: he was in the Stargate SG-1 universe. "No way…" he muttered to himself, realizing he was actually living in a world he had only seen on television.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. The door opened, and a man in military fatigues stepped in, flanked by a woman with short, dark hair and another man with a deep tan and an air of authority. James recognized them immediately. Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter, and Teal'c—the members of SG-1.
"Hey! You're awake!" Jack said, his expression shifting from concern to relief. "How do you feel?"
"Uh, like I just woke up from a really weird dream," James replied, rubbing his temples. "What happened? Where am I?"
Samantha stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "You were found unconscious just outside the gate room. Do you remember anything?"
James furrowed his brow, a mix of confusion and realization washing over him. He remembered the fight he had been in moments before waking up—an alien encounter gone wrong. It was as if the game he had been playing on his computer, a role-playing game that involved leveling up and acquiring abilities, had suddenly become his reality.
"Not much, just… this doesn't feel like Earth," James admitted, his voice shaking slightly. "I mean, it is Earth, but it's… different."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Well, it is the SGC. You've probably been taken here after your encounter with that alien creature. Any injuries?"
James shifted in his seat, surprised by his own body. He felt lighter, faster, almost… powerful. "No injuries, but I feel different. Like, I'm… alive in a way I've never been before."
Teal'c regarded him with his usual stoic demeanor. "You possess a strength uncommon in most humans."
James shot him a wry grin. "You have no idea."
Jack leaned in, studying James closely. "You're not a Goa'uld spy, are you? Because if you are, I'm going to have to ask you some tough questions."
"Like how many times I've watched the show?" James joked, trying to ease the tension.
Samantha laughed lightly. "Well, if you were a spy, you wouldn't be saying that."
Just then, a notification flashed in James's mind, a shimmering text that read:
[You have awakened as 'The Gamer']
[Ability unlocked: Status Menu]
[Access your status through your mind: Level, Skills, Quests, Inventory.]
"What the…" he murmured, trying to process this new information. The others looked at him, concerned.
"Hey, you okay?" Jack asked, waving a hand in front of James's face.
"Yeah, sorry. Just—thinking," James said, forcing a smile. "How do I explain this?"
"Start with your name," Jack prompted.
"James," he replied. "And I think I have a special ability or something. I can… level up?"
Samantha's eyes widened with interest. "Level up? Like a game? Can you explain what you mean?"
James took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. "So, imagine a video game where you can gain experience points by completing tasks and challenges. You earn skills and can become stronger. I think… I think I might be able to do that here."
Jack folded his arms, skeptical yet intrigued. "So, you're saying you're like a video game character?"
"Pretty much," James replied, excitement bubbling up despite his initial trepidation. "And I'm here in this universe now, so I need to figure out how to survive. Any chance you guys need a new team member?"
Samantha looked at Jack, then back at James. "If what you say is true, having someone with unique skills could be beneficial. We could test your abilities on our next mission."
Jack smirked, clearly intrigued. "Well, it's either that or we send you back to the infirmary. I choose adventure!"
James couldn't help but grin, adrenaline rushing through him. "Adventure it is, then."