Chapter 3

Still in the briefing, Sam observed as Nikki removed a small device from her pocket. She leaned closer and got a better look. It was size of a small pad of paper, black in color with a glass screen. She squinted in thought.

Nikki used her radio to phone her father. She swiped the screen and it lit up.

Sam leaned in closer. "That's a computer."

"It's a transceiver." she informed. "Like the cell phone but…better." she pressed tile on the screen and waiting for just a moment.

"Nikki." her father answered. "Is everything okay?"

"Not really. Remember that kid who got into your bag and went for a trip to the north pole?" she asked.

"Walter." he recalled.

"He works with me and he remembers all of it." she told him.

"I figured he would remember." he stated. "He had quite a trip for a little boy."

"Well, I just got transferred to Cheyenne Mountain." she told him.

He asked. "What are they hiding in there? The elves are picking up some serious energy signatures."

"Nothing." she quipped fearing her father would want to go off world.

"Nikki." he warned. "I can tell you are avoiding something."

General Hammond spoke up. "Saint Nicolas Klaus."

"Yes." Nick replied.

"This is General George Hammond." he introduced himself.

"George Hammond from Texas." he recognized the name and voice.

"That's correct." he told him.

Nick recalled. "I gave you a cowboy hat with matching vest and spurs the last year I visited you."

"That's correct." he confirmed. He began to feel much like a child again as he began to realize that maybe Santa Clause was real after all. "I would like to invite you to the base."

Nikki sat wide-eyed shaking her head no.

"I would be glad to come visit. Are there children in need?" he asked concerned.

Jack stated. "Just some Jaffa kids."

Nikki placed her head in her hands. "No." she cried.

"I'll be right there." he promised unsure what a Jaffa even was.

Nikki asked. "How are you coming?"

"I'm going to take my plane." he stated. He then mentioned. "I don't want to stress the reindeer so close to delivery."

"I will give you location and clearance to land at our local air base." Hammond stated.

"I will be leaving shortly." he assured.

Hammond asked. "What is your plane identification number, Mr. Klaus?"

"Call sign SANTA and number One." he advised.

Jack cocked an eyebrow and looked at Sam rather amused. "Santa One!"

Nikki confessed. "He got it from Air Force One."

Few Hours Later

Saint Nick's red and white painted plane landed at the nearby airfield where he was welcomed by driver and government car. He was soon driven to Cheyenne Mountain for his meeting with General Hammond.

Nick stood in the elevator wearing an all red tailored suit with black shoes and a white shirt with a red tie. He was bald and clean shaven and was about the same height and weight as General Hammond. He carried a red briefcase that appeared empty to the guards.

Upon reaching the 28th floor the door slid open. Nick stepped out to find his daughter, Nikki waiting with her friend Sam. He recalled the doll he gave to Sam so long ago. He beamed with joy. "Sammy! Nikki!"

"Hi Nick." Sam greeted him with a hug. She then realized just how much like George Hammond he looked. "I like the suit. Looks sharp."

"I can only wear this suit during the holidays." he assured. He looked to Nikki. "Is there something amidst? You sounded stressed on the call."

"Promise me you will stick to just earth." she sounded.

"Just earth?" he asked most confused.

"This way, Nick." Sam motioned. She walked down the hallway next to Santa himself. She could not help but ask. "So, you are the real Santa Clause."

"I go by many names." he informed. "And I have many, many helpers. And a few imposters." he miffed.

Sam wondered. "Imposters?"

"Fakes." he nodded. "I don't mean the seasonal Santas. Those men are helpers. I mean those who would undermine the spirit and create havoc."

"Ah." she nodded not entirely sure if he spoke of humanity in general or a few bad apples. She led him to the Gate Room. "Well, this is why we brought you here." she motioned.

Nick took one look at the Gate and knew what it was. He asked. "Isn't that supposed to be buried in Egypt?"

"It was discovered in 1928." she told him most surprised.

"Oh' for the love of…" he miffed.

Nikki stood rather perplexed. "You know about the Stargate, Dad?"

"Of course I know about it." he stated. "It's part of our family history."

"It is?" she asked shocked. "How come you never mentioned it before?"

He sighed. "I was waiting for you to be a little older. Nikki! How do you think we accomplish so much? Most humans cannot do what we can do."

"Magic." she shrugged.

"Magic is based in science." he informed. "Our ancestors came to Earth thought that eye. Or 'gate' as you called it."

She squinted. "Who were our ancestors, Dad?"

He explained. "According to family lore, there were once four great races that rules the entire galaxy. They were called: The Ancients, the Asgard, The Nox and The Furlings. Our ancestors were the Furlings. The elves ancestors were the Asgard. Those ancestors came here and made Earth their home during the time of the great beast. There was a great fall of the Ancients. Those ancestors stayed here and eventually we combined into what we are today. The Klaus family and the elves."

Sam squinted. "You mean the elves are actually Asgard…who were never cloned."

Nick asked. "Cloned?" He had no idea what she was talking about. "The elves were once called Asgardians. They resided in the north. Under Odin who left to go back with the other rulers. To the nine realms. The elves can tell you more about their history."

Sam stated. "I think we need to meet these elves."

"They are busy." Nick countered.

Nikki stated. "The Asgard are dying. The elves could help save them."

"Oh!" he came to understand. "It's urgent."

"Kind of." Sam agreed. "This way, Nick." She led him and Nikki through th Gate Room and up the stairs into the control room where Walter was tending his duties.

Walter greeted. "I knew you were real, Santa."

"Walter." He then gave him a hug. "How are you, my boy? Staying out of trouble? No more sneaking onto sleighs."

He laughed. "I'm staying out of trouble."

"Good man." he patted his shoulder. "You joined the club I see." he patted his own bald head referring to the hair loss.

"Lots of guys do." Walter agreed. He found old Saint Nick still just as jolly. He then noticed. "Boy you could pass as General Hammond."

"I could? Perhaps I should the grow the beard again?" he pondered.

Sam motioned. "This way, Nick." She led him into the briefing room where SG-1 sat with General Hammond and Dr. Janet Frasier all waiting to greet the legend. "Just have a seat, Nick." she told him.

Nick looked over the familiar faces. "Ah! George, Jack, Daniel, Janet and you are not familiar." he told Teal'c.

"I am Teal'c of the Jaffa." he introduced himself.

"I'm jolly old Saint Nick." he offered a handshake.

As Teal'c shook his hand Daniel made an observation.

"You could pass as General Hammond." he stated.

"So, I've been told." he looked at George. "Must be us gingers all have the same genetics." he laughed for he too once had red hair.

Janet found the laugh boisterous. For some reason she believed he was in fact Santa deep down inside but her mind told her to be more skeptical.

Sam informed. "I was just informed that Santa's elves are decedents of the Asgard."

Jack came to attention and sat up straight in his seat. "You serious?"

"I am." she confirmed.

Daniel stated. "The original Asgard were more human looking and much taller."

Nick took a seat. "The elves are over six feet tall, all have blonde hair, blue eyes and are very, very clever." He then wondered, "What do your elves look like?"

Daniel's eyebrows lifted as Nick referred to the Asgard as elves.

Jack replied. "Ours are a lot small. About three feet tall. Gray skin. Big heads and great big brains." he held his hands wide.

Nick suggested. "Perhaps, I should have you meet Erik. He is the leader of the elves."

"Erik?" Jack asked.

Sam squinted. "Erik. Didn't he escort you to the ball, Nikki?" Sam asked as the name was familiar.

She nodded. "He's my bodyguard."

Jack asked. "Bodyguard? What do you need a bodyguard for?"

Nick stated. "She is my daughter. The Klaus family is considered royalty by the elves. She is a princess technically."

Nikki sank in her seat not looking very enthused. "I hate it." she confessed.

Nick stated. "Hate it or not. We are the last surviving royal family of the Furling ancestors."

Sam asked. "Do you know what happened to the rest of the Furlings? We found some ruins but not much else."

"I would have to look at the records. The ancestors records are house in the North Pole base." he informed.

Daniel stated. "You know. Nick could be the key to finding the Furlings and if there are any more survivors. Maybe off world, we could find a few colonies or families. Maybe Nick could meet up with the Nox and the Asgard since he is a Furling."

Janet injected. "I want to run some DNA test on both Nick and Nikki."

Nick smiled to Janet. "As I recall, I gave you a toy doctor's kit that one Christmas where you lost your grandmother."

"I did get a toy doctor's kit." she confessed. "Kind of sparked my interest in medicine."

"The interest was already there." he assured her. "Nikki and I will submit to your test." He then looked at George. "Nikki can escort Sam and your friends to the North Pole and gather Erik. Might I request that I stay here and observe what you do?"

George agreed. "Of course, Nick. I would be honored."