Chapter 1
AU
Three figures made their way across the snow covered field. Each sporting hunter's camouflage and carrying rifles and backpacks. The smallest figure took the lead. Soon, they arrived at an old abandoned estate. The house was make of brick in a Victorian style. The grounds were overgrown and the large red barn seemed to have fallen in disrepair. They made their way into the old house through a back door.
Upon stepping inside the trio found themselves in the kitchen. The leader removed her hat and scarf. She was older than the other two. Doctor Janet Frasier scanned the area looking for supplies. "See what you two can find." she ordered.
The other two also removed the scarf and hats. A brother and sister pair who Janet had taken under her protective wings. The girl was older, about eighteen years old. She had light brown hair and brown eyes and taller than Janet. Her brother was gaining in height as he neared his sister. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes and was fifteen years old.
The girl stated. "I'll look for some food. Maybe there is some canned stuff left."
The boy wondered. "Who owned this place?"
"No idea." Janet stated. "I'm going to find the bathroom and look for any medications that might be left. Charlie, help your sister look for more food." she ordered.
"Alright, mom." he agreed.
Janet was not their actual mother, she adopted the pair after the invasion. Over the years the two simply called her 'mom' and that was alright with Janet.
The sister, Jackie removed her flashlight. She opened each cupboard. "Let's see what we have here. Look, Mom. More bugs." she found lots of insects searching abandoned houses.
She rolled her eyes. "Ah-ha. Just look for some food, Jackie. We don't need to be collecting critters to play with."
"There is some canned fruit." she discovered.
Charlie found a stack of old mail on the counter. "Hmm…Professor Catherine Langford." he shrugged.
Janet left the kitchen to search for any medical supplies.
"Wonder what she was a professor of?" he asked.
Jackie shrugged. "Don't know. Don't care. Give me a hand with this, Charlie."
He jokingly clapped.
"Funny." she smirked. She then tossed a can of fruit. "Fill up your pack."
Soon, they gathered what cans of food they could find.
"Let's see what else is here?" Charlie suggested they go explore.
"Sure." his sister agreed.
They left the kitchen for the main living room. The tall walls were painted red and golden drapes hung over the windows. The furniture was covered with white sheets and a thick cover of dust was present. The floor was made of hardwood. They made their way up the elegant staircase to the upper floor.
Janet emerged from the bathroom. "I found some pain killers and fist aid supplies." she reported.
Charlie continued down to hallway looking into bedrooms. He found a set of stairs behind a door. "This goes up to the attic?" he wondered.
"Probably." Janet agreed. She and Jackie then followed Charlie up to the attic.
The attic was rather dusty as well. Large oval window let in some natural light. A large wooden oak desk sat in the middle of the room. Janet went to the desk. "Must be some kind of private study." she figured.
Charlie went to the window. "You can see the whole yard from up here."
Jackie found a mirror under a draped sheet. She pulled the covering off. "Check out this creepy mirror." she chuckled.
Janet and Charlie soon gathered near the mirror.
"That is creepy." Charlie had to agree.
"Weird." Janet nodded. "This house might work for a hide out for a while."
"Kind of creepy here." Jacket stated.
Charlie reached up to examine the strange mirror. "Weird frame."
Upon touching the mirror the trio found they were no longer in the attic. Instead, they were in some kind of gray painted storage room with crates.
"What the hell?" Janet asked.
"Um?" Charlie stood shocked as well. He noticed the mirror before them looked slightly different but still rather creepy.
"What happened?" Jackie asked.
"Don't touch anything." Janet warned.
The door of the room opened and in walked a Dr. Jay Felger. He came to a halt upon seeing the three. "Um…" he recognized Janet. "Dr. Frasier!"
"Do I know you?" she asked him.
Jay asked. "How did you…" he tailed off upon seeing the mirror. "Did you come through that mirror?"
"I don't know." she cocked her head. "We were looking at a creepy mirror in an attic of an old abandoned house and now we are here. Where are we and who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Dr. Jay Felger. We're friends. Step away from mirror." he instructed.
Jackie and Charlie stepped away.
Jay noticed the civilian rifles. "I see you are all armed?"
Janet stated. "With Ra's troops you have to be."
"This way." he led Janet and the two teens out the door. "Um…" he wondered who to contact first. He need not wonder long.
Sam walked down the hall after her break. She was on her way back to her lab. She noticed Jay standing with three figures ahead. As she got closer she spied Janet. She gasped slightly.
"Jay." Sam stated as she approached.
"Colonel Carter." he greeted. "I walked into the storage room and found…um…" he pointed.
Sam's blue eyes softened as she looked at Janet. "Janet."
"Do I know you?" she asked.
"I guess not." she swallowed hard. "You found a strange mirror I take it?"
"Yes." she nodded.
She explained. "We call it the quantum mirror. You have slipped from one reality to another. Where is the mirror in your reality?"
"My reality?" she asked.
"Where did you find your mirror?" Sam asked.
"In old an old attic in an abandoned house." she told her. She looked to Charlie. "What the name on the old mail you found, Charlie?"
"Catherine Langford." he reported. He smiled at Sam for he found her rather pretty.
Jackie asked. "What? Reality?"
"Yes, alternate universes exist. I need to know who you two are. There is a danger called cascade failure. The same matter cannot occupy the same space. I need to find your alternates." She told Janet. "You are safe from that affect. I already know you will not suffer from it."
Janet stated. "These are my kids. Charlie and Jackie. I adopted them when their parents died."
"Who were their parents?" Sam wondered.
"I knew their mom. I never met their dad. He died in the invasion. Their mother was Sara O'Neill. Her husband was a fighter pilot."
Sam looked at the pair. "O'Neill?"
Jackie held up her fingers. "With two L's."
"Who was your father?" Sam pressed.
"My father was U.S. Air Force Colonel Jonathan O'Neill." she told her. "I see you are a Lieutenant Colonel." she noted.
"Did your dad go by a nickname?" Sam pressed. "What did his friends call him? Jon?"
"Jack." she recalled. "Why?"
"I think your father is alive here." she told her.
Jackie looked at Charlie. "Dad maybe be alive?"
Sam was about to suggest the three go to a secure room when Jack rounded the corner in the hallway. He came to a dead stop for a moment. He noticed Janet right away. He made his way closer. "Frasier?" he asked.
"Sir." Sam winced.
Charlie gasped. "Dad!"
Jackie took a deep breath to steady herself.
Jack looked at the young man. "Charlie?"
"It is you." he cried and then wrapped his arms around him. He held him tight and fought back the tears.
Jack held the young man and looked at Sam.
"Mirror." she stated.
"The mirror." he understood. After a few minutes he released the teen. He then looked upon Janet. A slight smirk graced his face. "Frasier."
"You know me too?" Janet asked.
Jack looked at Sam.
"She doesn't know us." she explained. "I guess your alternate died in some invasion."
"Ra invaded." Janet told her. "Completely took over. Governments fell."
Jackie stood wondering why her father didn't seem to see her. "Um…Dad?"
Jack looked at her. "Who are you?"
She gasped in surprise.
"That's Jackie, Dad." Charlie sounded shocked.
"Jackie?" he asked.
Sam explained. "You were never born here. You are safe from cascade failure. So, that's good news in an odd way."
"And my brother?" she asked.
"He died as a child. You are all safe." Sam declared.
Jackie asked. "Did Ra invade this reality too?"
Jack shook his head. "I kicked his ass."
"Good to know." she replied.
Jack asked Sam. "They can stay, right?"
"For now." she agreed.
"Stay?" Janet asked. "In this military bunker?"
Sam explained. "Here on earth. Your alternate died two years ago. You used to work here. You were our base chief medical officer."
Charlie whispered to Jackie. "Look at dad's rank. He's a General."
"I see." she nodded unsure what the new reality will bring.