Seaworld
The first thing Harry's mind registered was a fruity smell, and as he shrugged off the fog of sleep, he became aware that his nose was nuzzled in the mane of his wife's long hair, and his arms were clutched around her soft yet firm form and she was very warm. In annoyance he tried to identify what had awakened him. His senses automatically reached over to the small cots where his infant children were…and they were still asleep. He also felt the rhythmic collection of energies that was the Nannybot, hovering protectively over Jason and his twin sister, but nothing had come from that direction.
It was when he felt the brief pulse of subspace in the room that he gritted his teeth in irritation and resisted the urge to curse in every language he knew. There was only one device in the stilted hut hovering over the lagoon that could do that. He glanced at the bedside table and saw that it was two o' clock in the morning on Seaworld.
"Ignore it," came the whisper from his wife. It seemed that she too had felt the subspace pulse from the communicator; he marveled for a moment in pride at Apollonia's increased abilities, she had begun, like he, to allow the Universe and legacy of their race to unspool from within. She was becoming a remarkably proficient 'Builder'; a title the Alterans had given to those among them who were skilled in assembling the most complicated of the technologies and devices they had developed. The PR8 AW being a case in point since the further development of PR7 was all due to her, (it was nothing compared against some of the devices a fully skilled Builder could construct but it was a promising sign for the future).
"You know, I'm really considering that," he said seriously, but his voice turned wry, "but knowing SG1 and the situations that the SGC get themselves into…"
She sighed in a manner of acceptance and grudging understanding and she gestured towards the heavy sling bag Harry had come home with. Immediately the blinking beeping subspace communicator seemingly floated itself out of the bag and the laptop sized instrument sailed through the air and landed on the bed.
Harry sat up with a yawn and picked the device up and after rubbing the residual sleep out of his eyes opened the message with a few taps on the touch sensitive screen. He abruptly let out a noise of astonishment, as he was halfway through reading.
"What is it?" said Apollonia, also sitting up but glancing automatically at the crib holding their children.
"SG1 has seemingly solved the mystery of the Replicator's origins," said Harry with an intrigued raise of an eyebrow. "They've found an android on an desolated world and…" he paused to read, "ah, and of course they just had to take it back and activate it…"
"And?" she asked expectantly.
"Well it seems this android has to ability to create Replicators from scratch using a method Sam thinks is related to a highly sophisticated form of nanotechnology. The android itself is artificially intelligent, and goes by name of Reese, of all things."
"Oh bother," she sighed, "I have learned much from my Legacy but I find the idea of creating a sentient being out of the virtual ether of computers to be highly dubious, and I have no idea why we ever would want a machine to do our thinking for us."
Harry only grunted in agreement and continued reading.
"They also make mention that this android could be the key to a quicker and more decisive way of helping the Asgard eliminate the Replicators in the Ida Galaxy," he summarized after reading the next section.
"That sounds promising," she said with a grin.
"And…" he was interrupted though when the communicator beeped in a shrill pattern that indicated the message it was receiving was of direst emergency. This was of course, enough to wake the children who began to whimper and moan at the ugly sound permeating what were once their safe little dream worlds. Apollonia immediately jumped out of bed to calm them down as Harry cursed and shut down the klaxon of alarm coming from the device.
He read the message, blinked, and flung himself out of bed. "We better get the children into Kvasir's care. The SGC is under attack by the Replicators's the android made…"
"…and you wish me to go as well?" she asked in surprise.
"Of course, I know I've been a bit leery, shall we say about you going into these sort of situations now that we have the little ones," he said with a smile, though he was also feasting his eyes on her form as she cradled his daughter whom was calming swiftly down thanks to her mother's mental efforts…the sight never failed to fill him with love and emotion. "But you also have a right to defend this Galaxy, almost as surely as I have. I would be remiss if I ignored the contribution you could bring."
She placed her daughter back in the crib and swiftly seized his mouth in a passionate kiss.
"Though I don't object," he said with a grin, "what was that for?"
"Proving once again why I decided to spend the rest of my life with you…"
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Harry and Apollonia stood several meters in front of the Seaworld Stargate, the moonlight shone eerily on them as it reflected the mercury-like chromesuits both husband and wife were clad in. He had cheekily told her that they should confront more implacable foes together. She would distract the enemy with her utter beauty (the chromesuit conformed to her every curve as his did) while he would send the said distracted enemy into oblivion. He was still nursing his shoulder from her equally cheeky reply.
"Are you sure these are necessary?" she asked him, gesturing with her free left hand towards the palm of her right, where an Asgard Jewel Device was glowing.
"Technically, no," said Harry, "they are merely a cover I am using to explain away the use of my powers to the SGC. As a whole, they are not ready for the knowledge of the power we possess as descendants of the Alterans. There are some on Earth who know, but it is only at the very highest levels of leadership." She nodded in understanding.
"You mind if I open the 'Gate?" she asked next.
"Ladies first," he grinned and bowed with a flourish. She sent him a withering mock glare for a moment but grinned, unable to quell her amusement. She took a deep breath…closed her eyes and after a few moments of concentration opened them again only to raise her arms…drawing a huge circle with her hands in the air…abruptly the subspace path sprang to life with a whoosh of unstable plasma and finally settled into the waterlike event horizon.
"Nicely done," he said approvingly. And raised the GDO and typed in his code and transmitted it through the Gate. There was no response. Nothing.
"Perhaps the Replicators are subverting the computer systems already," said Apollonia.
"A sound assumption," commented Harry and walked forward. He placed a bare hand on the naquadah alloy of the Stargate itself and closed his eyes. His body glowed suddenly, tendrils of white power blossoming into the visual spectrum; they seemed to dip into the glowing event horizon for a few moments and then withdrew and faded from view entirely. "It seems we opened the Gate just in time. The android has not managed to establish an outgoing path from Earth yet; she is still attempting to gain access to the Dialing computer."
"And our established path to Earth prevents any escape attempt," his wife stated.
"Yes, the android has also barricaded herself in the Gate room, there are Replicators everywhere, she has also shut the iris, though I can easily override it to allow us access," said Harry.
"Then let us save Earth yet again, shall we?" she grinned.
He nodded and sent forth his power and will through the subspace path across thousands of lightyears and grabbed a hold of the Iris protecting the Earth Stargate. Helped by the Stargate itself, acceding to his mental command the Iris slid open.
"We're clear, the instant you materialize on the ramp send a Disruption wave, there are Replicators on the ramp itself," he instructed.
She nodded and visibly steeled herself her mind running through the mental preparations for sending forth her 'spells' though she knew they were just exotic energy harnessed to achieve a specific purpose, she couldn't stop thinking of them in the old way.
Apollonia went through the event horizon with a determined step…she was flying down the twisting tunnel in the ether of the Universe…the next her vision cleared and she was staring at the concrete environment of the SGC. She immediately raised her right hand and a wave of energy shot out that twisted the light spectrum visibly and caused the fifteen odd spider like Replicators to instantly dissolve into their component blocks and clutter to the steel ramp uselessly.
It seemed though, that her sudden assault had interrupted a wide-eyed Daniel Jackson, who was seemingly unarmed and seemed to be speaking to the petite dark skinned girl android. Daniel was cradling his wrist and kneeling near the android. Reese herself also looked astonished at the destruction of her Replicators by this tall, beautiful woman, whom one could almost mistake for an android with the chromesuit she was wearing.
Harry appeared next to his wife a moment later, his hand also out, ready to send a Disruption wave. He gave a mental command to the Stargate to remain active for the full 38 minutes it was capable of in non-relativistic conditions with a standard power supply.
"Who are you?" shrilled Reese at them both, whirling around to face them from her position at the bottom of the ramp. The android was looking frantic and its eyes glinted with desperation.
"That does not matter," said Apollonia with a shake of her head. And sent another blast of energy that caused another group of Replicators to falls into parts.
"STOP!" shrilled Reese and rushed up the ramp, seeming trying to attack Apollonia physically to stop her. Apollonia stared unflinchingly as Reese threw a punch that would probably take any normal persons head off. The android's fist simply bounced just as powerfully off an electric green shield than dampened the inertia as well, but that kinetic energy had to go somewhere and it went smack back into Reese, who was abruptly flung off balance and landed on her robotic rear end.
Harry saw Reese narrowing her eyes at them and then suddenly stare at the remaining Replicators who abruptly started to retreat away from the Gate room.
"I don't think so," said Harry with a frown and with a grunt of effort a Disruption wave shot out from him like he was epicenter of bomb. The wave made an odd worbling sound and disabled Replicator blocks began to rain everywhere.
"NOO!" shrilled Reese, her eyes frantic as she stared at the dead blocks in horror.
Apollonia had seemingly had enough of the android and her shrill screams and promptly flung a Temporal Restraining Matrix to freeze the distraught girl in Time.
"Are you all right, Daniel?" asked Harry in concern, helping the man up.
"Fine," said the archeologist with a frown, looking at the prone form of Reese as Apollonia examined the android. "She just sprained the wrist, I think."
"Were you attempting to negotiate with her to stop?" asked Harry with an arched brow.
"Something like that," said Daniel shaking his head, "she was so emotionally immature, she couldn't face the fact that her 'toys' had destroyed her own civilization and killed her 'father' when she lost control of them."
"Speaking of the 'toys' I think I should join the sweep of the base," said Harry, and turned to his wife, "can you deactivate her?"
"I believe I can," said Apollonia, her eyes closed and a slight rapturous expression blossomed on her face, which faded and then she felt around the android's ear…and a mechanism opened out of its neck where a glowing power crystal was located, she pulled it out and stood casually lobbing the thing to her husband. Harry looked at the rounded thick crystal for a moment, and then propped it into Daniel's hand. "Look after that, Earth can learn a lot from it."
Apollonia nodded at Daniel as she joined her husband and walked out of the gate room, the blast doors opening to reveal a surprised Jack O'Neill, who by the looks of it was about to start using an acetylene torch to cut open the door.
"Ambassador," said Jack with a confused blink, after which he promptly dropped the torch and hefted his USAS and scanned the Gate room for any Replicators. He turned back and only now he comprehended Apollonia's presence, which left him rather…at a loss for words, until Harry coughed pointedly.
"Shall we kick some Replicator butt, Colonel?" asked Harry astutely.
"Sure…right…be right behind ya," said Jack, hefting his automatic shotgun. Harry sighed and shook his head and the three headed down the corridor.
The full sweep of the Base took another five hours, during which both Harry and Apollonia only had to fire their Disruption waves several times to take out massed Replicators who were attempting to overwhelm the SFs guarding key locations in the Base. The most nerve-wracking of which was when they had to keep the room, which housed the self-destruct mechanism out of Replicators hands. General Hammond and Sam had been on the verge of being overwhelmed, but thankfully they arrived in time. It gave Harry the opportunity to see Hammond for the first time wearing a tac vast and brandishing a shotgun; it felt distinctly strange to see the man involved in action.
It was later during the debrief decided that the deactivated Reese would be shipped to Seaworld and handed over to the Asgard there, from where Thor would pick it up for transportation back to the Asgard homeworld in Ida.
Four days later…
The Earth Stargate burst to life with a roar of energy. Signals were exchanged and the iris was opened. Only the people that popped out of the event horizon were in an unaccustomed hurry. Normally, when a team returns, they stroll calmly down, as this was friendly territory. This was the farthest thing from the minds of SG1 and Ambassador Harry as they appeared.
Daniel was strangely in the lead of the group, a wooden, blank expression on his face, he was keeping his arms bent, and a crude bandage was wrapped around one hand. He didn't even pause to acknowledge General Hammond, who was waiting near the edge of the embarkation ramp. Hammond was surprised at this and his frown turned to Sam, clearly he wanted an explanation.
"We have to get to the infirmary," she said, a distressed look on her face, "Daniel's been exposed to radiation."
Hammond's eyes widened and he didn't hesitate.
"Have a medical team meet us on the way!" he barked at the control room.
Harry followed the group into the twisting corridors with blazing eyes. His hands clenching with suppressed anger.
"Colonel, what happened?" asked Hammond.
"The details are sketchy, sir," said Jack, his body language clearly showing his own anger.
"We were not present at the time of the incident," said Teal'C stoically.
A couple of medical nurses arrived and were about to touch Daniel, but his wooden expression cracked and he snapped at both nurses, "Don't touch me!" Both women warily backed off and raised their hands in surprise; they obviously couldn't imagine the kind Daniel acting to them in this manner.
"He may still be radioactive," explained Sam to both nurses, as they joined the troupe headed towards the Infirmary.
Doctor Frasier emerged from the Infirmary door they were approaching and immediately started to snap orders at the techs and nurses inside, "let's get him scrubbed down!" as Daniel and the two nurses passed her into the medical domain of the SGC. She turned to face SG1 and Harry.
"Do we know what kind and how much?" she asked urgently.
"It was a device housing an unstable radioactive variation of naquadah. We think his right hand was exposed to the equivalent of over eight to nine grays of neutron radiation resulting from direct contact. Full body exposure of seven," explained Sam, and as if the explanation had suddenly made it all real, tears started to flow from her eyes.
"Oh, my…" said Janet, closing her eyes and she looked as if she was visibly trying to prevent herself from loosing control of her own emotions.
"Doctor?" asked Hammond intently for clarification.
"It's a lethal dose, sir," said Sam, her eyes glistening.
Harry sat next to Sam, Jack and Teal'C in the Briefing Room, they had been ordered here mainly to prevent from getting underfoot in the Infirmary, but also to eventually brief Hammond on what had happened. Harry was not worried about the past or what had happened, he was trying and failing to come up with something that would prevent Daniel's imminent death.
It was at this point that Hammond entered and he automatically waived down Sam and Jack to remain in their seats.
"As you were," he said, "Doctor Frasier tells me there is nothing more we can do for Dr Jackson at the moment. In the meantime, tell me what happened."
"Well sir," said Sam after taking a deep fortifying breath, "as you know from our initial reports, Kelowna is one of three major countries on 4C3. What we've learned since our initial contact is that they appear to be at a similar stage of development to that of the United States in the 1940's. Geopolitically, there is obvious mounting tension between the nations."
"Sort of like a cold war, sir," said Jack helpfully.
"The Kelownans discovered their Stargate approximately fifteen years ago, unearthing it along with a number of Goa'uld artifacts in what appears to be an ancient temple," she went on.
"Their knowledge of the Gate is still limited," contributed Teal'C.
"But their interest is strong," said Sam, "when we told them what we could offer, they were eager to share any technologies they were developing that could potentially be offered in exchange."
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Harry walked through the relatively clunky looking iron door that controlled access to the Kelownan Stargate and into a corridor with similar brick and ironwork adjoining the walls and supports. There were a few mullioned windows that filtered the area with yellow light and large fans twirled to provide air circulation. It seemed like it was a hot summers day on this planet. SG1 followed a step behind him and the door was closed from behind.
It was at this point that a relatively young looking man, wearing some form of short formal robes over a pair of equally formal pants and shiny leather shoes, met them. He had the same distinctive air of academia that Daniel carried everywhere with him and looked just as excited when he engaged in First Contact. He eagerly shook Harry's hand.
"This is incredible," said the young man, his trim face shining, "I'm Jonas Quinn, I'm a special advisor to our High Minister." It was at this point that he noticed the strange 'characteristics' of the visiting group; namely Harry's chromesuit and Teal'C First Prime tattoo on his forehead.
"Greetings, Jonas Quinn," said Harry with a bow of his head not bothering to enlighten Quinn about either, "I'm Ambassador Harry Potter, behind me is Doctor Daniel Jackson, our team's archeologist, Colonel Jack O'Neill our military leader, Scientist and Second in Command, Major Carter and Teal'C, our Tactical Officer." Teal'C blinked at that description of his role in SG1 but let it slide.
"Teal'C," said Quinn, trying the pronunciation out, "well, your arrival on our planet is an extraordinary event. It's my honor to show you around this research facility. Please, follow me."
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"He's an advisor to the High Minister," said Harry.
"Their equivalent of our President," added Jack, tapping his pen against a notepad absently.
"As we understand it, Jonas Quinn was responsible for overseeing the research from an ethical perspective," explained Sam.
"Yeah, whatever," scoffed Jack, clearly of the opinion that, that was BS.
"He has numerous degrees from their most honored education institution. Social studies, ancient Kelownan history…" said Harry but was interrupted by Jack.
"He was a nerd, sir," said the Colonel, bottom-lining it. "He and Daniel got along great."
Jonas Quinn took the lead and guided them through the research complex, which seemed to be housed in a building above ground with multiple levels. They passed various laboratories where scientists milled about large desks with chemicals, test tubes, and all a manner of equipment, yet it was clear that they were working with Terran equivalent 1940s science and technology. Daniel was walking next to Jonas and they already chatting and it seemed as if a great rapport was already developing between them.
"If we could get access to where the Stargate was discovered and see the artifacts," explained Daniel, "we have this process called Carbon Dating. Then I could figure out the age of the temple and maybe even discover how it was destroyed."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," said Jonas with a pleased expression, "our archeologists believe they have only begun to uncover the full extent of what may be buried. There were extensive alien writings."
"Teal'C, the Ambassador and I could help with the translation," offered Daniel generously.
"Daniel?" interjected Jack pointedly, hoping to curb Daniel's enthusiasm, as the translations could become integral to the negotiations for any technology exchanges. Jonas proved himself quite perceptive as he instantly grasped the subtext of Jack's tone.
"I understand from our leaders that your knowledge and expertise will come at a price, Colonel," said Jonas, losing his perpetual happy-face and adopting a disapproving expression. Clearly, Jonas thought that knowledge should be 'open source' and was not something to be jealously hoarded. "That is why you're here, right?"
"Well, don't get me wrong," said Jack, "we want to help out as much as we can, it's just we've been burned a little in the past." That was an understatement, thought Harry. The biggest burn the SGC had had in the past was when a madwoman, and scientist who had the nickname 'Destroyer of Worlds' had taken advantage of their generosity, and SG1 had unwittingly freed her from her prison.
"We're not questioning so much what you have to offer in return," said Daniel, hurrying to explain their position.
"We just want to get to know you better first," said Sam with a bright smile.
"Still," said Jonas adopting his happy-face again, "hopefully, we'll have much to offer in exchange. This way."
Jonas led the way into an observation room that was overlooking what looked like the main lab in the building, judging from its size, and from the thickness of the glass, the lead reinforced walls, and the bulky black protection suits the scientists inside were wearing, that the lab dealt with something quite radioactive. Harry reached into his chromesuit's storage pocket and produced a slim handheld scanner.
"What's that?" asked Jonas curiously.
"I'm just measuring the radiation in our current location," said Harry, staring at the results. He tapped the screen a few times and sighed, and put it back into the pocket on his left side, which immediately sealed itself and blended with the rest of the suit so that one could not even tell that there was a pocket. "It's safe enough," declared Harry, "though I recommend that you add at least another inch to the protection in the walls and interlace the glass with a lead mesh."
"I'll be sure to mention that to the engineers," said Jonas with a pleased nod. The scientists inside the lab sealed up the device that Harry couldn't yet make out and abruptly the lights above the lab went from red to blue. "We can go in now."
They entered the room as the scientists were taking off their helmets and it allowed them to view the device for the first time. It was actually quite small; a glass sphere thirty centimeters in diameter, which contained within a dark black metal sphere with a hole drilled in the top. Numerous wires and clunky sensors were attached to glass sphere and the whole apparatus was mounted on a sturdy frame bolted into the floor. Hovering directly over the hole in the black metal was what looked like a gold colored control rod. Clearly they were experimenting with some form of nuclear reaction here. Harry stared with wide eyes at Sam, who met his gaze with a similar expression.
It looked like the dinosaur of nuclear reactors, and was about just as safe. Jonas gestured to the scientist who had been working the control rod; a chubby man with a neutral expression on his face as he observed his visitors.
"This is Tomis Leed," said Jonas, "he is chief physicist overseeing the development of our most critical project. Tomis, these are our visitors from the planet Earth."
"My pleasure," said Tomis, a smile forming on his face.
"What is this?" asked Sam, though she had a good idea already.
"The core of this device was uncovered in an ancient temple of a race of people we believe were called the Guld," explained Tomis.
"Goa'uld," corrected Teal'C stoically.
"Really?" said Jonas with an interested expression on his face.
"It's a mineral substance found to have highly unstable radioactive properties," said Tomis, "this experiment seems to indicate the potential for great bursts of energy."
"Our translations of the writings in the temple indicate that the alien element is called Naquadria," indicated Jonas.
"Naquadah," corrected Daniel, staring at the device with a frown.
"No," disagreed Jonas thoughtfully, throwing a glance to Tomis, "we also translated that word in the same text. This is definitely Naquadria."
"It's seems then that this Naquadria might just be an isotope of Naquadah," said Harry with a frown, "perhaps it has a higher electron count?" he asked Sam, who shrugged a maybe. "Is this a power generation device?"
"Not exactly," said Jonas, his smile definitely didn't reach his eyes.
"They were making a bomb, sir," said Jack pointedly to the General.
"It was pretty crude," said Sam with a frown, "but even that crude bomb they're developing could easily be the equal to one of our naquadah-enhanced nuclear warheads thanks to the Naquadria."
"The Kelownans claimed they were under threat of oppression from their neighboring nations," said Teal'C, looking solemn, "and the weapon would only be used to ensure their freedom."
"Sounds like a situation we would have to be very careful about getting involved in," said Hammond wearily.
"We will not have to worry about the situation at all, General," said Harry evenly, a clear current of suppressed anger lacing his tone.
"How so?" asked Hammond.
"We were touring the city," reported Harry, his expression stony. "Daniel insisted on staying behind at the research facility with Jonas. As you can imagine General, he was passionate about trying to convince the Kelownan people that building a Naquadria bomb wasn't going to be the answer to their problems." He took a deep breath and expelled it quickly. "The next thing we know we are being called back to the facility and that Daniel was lethally irradiated and the main lab was in pieces. The Kelownans claimed that he tried to sabotage their research." His expression turned ugly to show what he thought of that claim.
"They're lying, General," said Jack flatly.
"I also do not believe this to be true," said Teal'C his eyes flashing.
"The fact is, they don't want us around there anymore," said Jack, he turned his head away and was seen gritting his teeth in the direction of the Gate.
"But they are demanding that Daniel be returned to face the charges if he survives," said Sam.
"Ambassador," said Hammond, closing his eyes for a moment, "is there anything that you can do for Daniel?" The General's tone was not lost on Harry, nor the fact that he used Daniel's given name…this was a personal plea.
"The sheer amount of radiation that Daniel was exposed to and the time he has left due to that, leaves very little options," said Harry gravely. "If an Asgard was exposed to a similar level of radiation, they would download their consciousness into a new cloned body, and leave the old one to die. Even their medical technology would not be able to cure Daniel. I have access to some Ancient medical technology that would do the job…if he was an Ancient or at least a descendant, like I am, but as far as I know, he isn't."
"What would happen if you used that on him anyway?" asked Sam, brushing away a tear from her eyes.
"It would make things worse, Daniel would die sooner and his dead tissue would be artificially reanimated, and I don't think you want a zombie Daniel walking around the base," he said grimly. "The Goa'uld Healing Hand device would save his life if a skilled user was applying it, but it's capabilities are more limited when dealing with radiation exposure, Daniel would be left with permanent disfigurement and disability, and his lifespan would be halved."
"He'd never want to live like that," said Sam softly, sniffing.
"What about a Goa'uld sarcophagus?" said Jack intently. "SG3 brought back intelligence on the location of one two months ago."
"What about it's negative effects?" pointed out Harry in frustration. "Daniel's been in one too many times. He's used it twice to prevent imminent death and numerous times after that for no reason when he was in the thrall of that Princess a few years ago. You lose a part of yourself every time you go in that thing."
"SG3's report also indicated that the sarcophagus is heavily guarded and sitting the middle of Goa'uld stronghold," said Hammond. "Retrieving it, would likely result in only more casualties, which is what we're trying to prevent in the first place. Now…what I would like to know is what Dr Jackson says happened."
Daniel was sitting on a bed in the Infirmary, he was dressed in white hospital pajamas and Harry could already see some of the radiation exposure effects; there was some blistering on his face and his skin looked like it had the world's most extreme suntan. His general disposition was fluctuating up and down like a rollercoaster; one moment he'd be smiling the next he'd be in a cynical depressive state. Harry had just finished explaining that the only hope for his survival at this point would be a sarcophagus. Daniel, as expected, didn't want it nor did he want anyone to risk his or her lives by assaulting a Goa'uld stronghold, just for him. The entire situation made Harry wish that he had taken the bloody time to study and learn the Alteran skill of Touch Healing to the extent that he could reverse Daniel's condition…but it was a fool's hope, only an Alteran Healer with a few decades of experience in it could maybe have saved Daniel.
"The nausea will be followed be tremors, convulsions and something called ataxia," said Daniel with a wince. "Surface tissue, brain tissue and internal organs will inflame and degrade, I believe that's called necrosis. Now based on the dose of radiation I got, all that will happen in the next ten to fifteen hours, and if I don't drown in my own fluids first, I will bleed to death, and there is no medical treatment to prevent that."
That was Daniel's answer to Jack's innocent question of how the archeologist was feeling.
Harry in an effort to change the subject into any positive areas asked what happened in the main lab.
"It doesn't matter," said Daniel with a hopeless sigh.
"Yes, it does," objected Jack strongly, "you didn't try to sabotage anything!"
"There was an accident," said Daniel with a non-caring shrug, "I guess the scientists figured that the government would hold them responsible. I guess they figured it was easier to blame me."
"And you're ok with this?" asked Jack shrewdly.
"No," admitted Daniel, "but there's not much I can do about that."
"Yes, there is."
"If they really want to blame me," said Daniel pointedly, "denying it isn't going to change anything. Ten thousand years ago, a Goa'uld tried the same experiments that they're trying and he nearly blew the entire planet to bits. I tried telling them that, they wouldn't listen. They're going to build that bomb and nothing we say is going to stop them."
Harry stared at the large plasma screen mounted in Sam's lab with no small amount of awe. It was showing a curving power output projection graph and all its attendant calculations in small windows in the margins.
"Are you sure of these figures?" he asked the astrophysicist faintly.
"Not a hundred percent," allowed Sam, moving from her workstation to stand next to him in staring at the plasma, "since these are based on the levels of radiation the Kelownans say Daniel was exposed to and I have no data on the inaccuracy margin in their equipment. But even using my least optimistic projections, I've estimated the amount of energy that would have generated by the experiment. You can see the results for yourself." The power curve was unreal, over a thousand percent stronger that what weapons grade Naquadah would deliver. "This could be the key to making the anti-Ha'tak missiles regain their effectiveness, not to mention increasing the energy output of our reactors and shields, and our potentially triple our top Hyperspace speed."
"Speaking of the anti-Ha'tak missiles," said Harry with an air of remembrance, "I've received word from our Tollan friends in hiding. I handed them our problem with the missiles a few months ago to see what they could make of it."
"And?" said Sam, a hint of scientific eagerness returning.
"Instead of using Potassium in the warhead they've substituted it for a more highly reactive isotope of Francium, they've allowed me to give you the method of doing that and sustaining its half-life near indefinitely," explained Harry. "That improvement alone should triple the energy yield of the missile. They also recommended that we shape the warhead to give a directed delivery of offensive energy; in the shape of a narrowing cone. And they've removed the DeltaV solid rocket propellant, exchanged it for a miniaturized high-speed sublight engine with a self-guided range of two hundred and fifty thousand kilometers, beyond that it goes ballistic until a million kilometers and then self-destructs."
"That's amazing," said Sam, a smile gracing her face but died just as quickly. "So, if we now add to all that a pebble of Naquadria instead of weapons grade Naquadah, our missiles will become true Ha'takbusters."
"That's the long and short of it," nodded Harry.
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Once again they were gathered in the briefing room, Jack explained Daniel's unsatisfying and brief version of events to the General, while Harry and Sam delivered their findings on Naquadria and the impending Tollan upgrades.
"But by now their government believes Dr Jackson was trying to sabotage their research," said General Hammond, who looked rather sour with himself, though it wasn't obvious to everyone else except Harry.
"It's a lie," said Jack strongly, "they're using Daniel as a scapegoat."
"Still," said Hammond, "you said he was vocal in his disapproval of their project before the accident. None of this bodes well for diplomatic relations."
"Why are you talking about diplomatic relations?" said Jack in exasperation, "this is Daniel's life."
"Sir, I know how you feel," said Sam, looking unhappy, "because I feel the same way and so does everyone else. But I cannot stress enough how valuable this element could be. If we can learn to refine it ourselves even…" she trailed off not needing to finish.
"I will draft a letter to the Kelownan leader…" said Hammond with a nod of understanding.
"General, you cannot capitulate to these people. They are lying bastards," insisted Jack strongly.
"Their government doesn't know the truth," pointed out the General.
"So, we tell them."
"They will have little reason to believe us over their own people," said Hammond, his voice rising in volume slightly so that it almost was in command mode, "especially when what we're forcing them to admit would be a major embarrassment. It will put them at too great a disadvantage in further negotiations."
"Sir, you cannot admit Daniel is guilty," said Jack incredulously.
"Give us some credit, Jack," said Hammond, his tone growing soft, "I will tell them that we did not order any such action and do not condone its obvious intentions, both of which are true. Hopefully, we can lay the groundwork for further diplomatic negotiations which will eventually result in an amicable trade for the naquadria. Ambassador?"
"Yes, General?"
"I want you to deliver the letter," said Hammond, "if you can also convey our…disgust to the Kelownan scientists, off the record, I would appreciate it."
"Consider it done, General," said Harry with a grim smile.
4C3, Republic of Kelowna, Research Facility
He walked through the thick iron door of the room that housed the Kelownan Stargate and clutched in his hand was the letter. For the occasion, he had decided to don his Alteran robes over his chromesuit. He was of course met or rather, intercepted, by Jonas Quinn after not even taking two steps out of the Gate room.
"Greetings, Jonas Quinn," said Harry neutrally, not moving a muscle to bow or shake hands.
"Ambassador Potter," said Jonas, with a similar neutral expression. "I'm surprised to see you."
"I have brought a letter from the Terran government to your leaders," explained Harry, gritting his jaw slightly.
"Ah, it's an apology?" asked Jonas pointedly.
"No, it's not," said Harry with a dangerous glint in his eye, "you see we know that you and the other scientists are lying through your teeth." This seemed to crack Jonas' exterior and his eyes had a sudden haunted look about them.
"How is Dr Jackson?" he asked with surprisingly genuine concern.
"There is nothing that can be done, not even with our medical science, he will die in less than half a day," said Harry grimly.
"I'm…sorry to hear that," said Jonas, his voice slightly shaking with repressed emotion, "two of the scientists in the room are dead already, the other two will be shortly. Their deaths were horrific."
"My commander believes that denying the allegations of sabotage are a waste of time," said Harry stoically.
"Then he is a wise man," said Jonas with a frown. "What I don't understand is why your government is even trying to maintain a relationship with us."
"Because…despite events, the Terran government still wants access to Naquadria, and is willing to negotiate on your terms for it."
"The Naquadria is very rare and extremely valuable to us," said Jonas shaking his head, "I doubt that my government would even meet with you across a negotiating table."
"We know," said Harry, his eyes blazing. "But we still want you to take the letter anyway to your High Minister, he has the final say…after all." He handed the letter over. "However, that is not the only reason why I'm here."
"And that is?"
"To talk to you, off the record," said Harry intently, "you see, SG1 and I; we wont let you tarnish Daniel's name just to save face. In Colonel O'Neill's words 'the Terran government will admit Daniel is guilty over his dead body.' And I know Daniel has given you some idea of the Goa'uld and what they're capable of. And you see the Goa'uld, their thirst for power, insatiable…if word about Naquadria gets out…well, I suppose you'll put up a valiant fight, but you don't stand a chance."
Jonas showed his intelligence when he instantly understood the threat. "Are you telling me…you'll leak our location to the Goa'uld?"
"Now why would we do such a thing?" said Harry with visible faux innocence. "Oh, maybe because we came here in good faith, friendship and the hopes for good trade relations, and instead we get a bunch of lying cowards trying to cover up their incompetence when they 'accidentally' irradiate one of our own."
"What do you want from me?" said Jonas with a harsh whisper.
"Tell the effing truth!" said Harry hotly.
"I can't," said Jonas, who now looked frantic, "even if I wanted to, without the support of the other scientists…"
"Look," interrupted Harry harshly, "we've only arrived at this point because you and your scientist buddies are bloody cowards."
"Ambassador, we desperately need the weapon we're developing. Without it, the Kelownan people could easily fall to our rival nations who are developing their own powerful weapons as we speak. Now, we're willing to do whatever's necessary to ensure our freedom and a lasting peace on this planet."
"Let me impart some hard earned Terran wisdom about weapons of mass destruction," said Harry, now really incensed. "And this is the point that Daniel was trying to make, a weapon of mass destruction can only be used for one thing. Now, you might think it will ensure peace and freedom, but I guarantee you it'll never have the effect you're hoping for until you use it, at least once. For the record, the reason we want Naquadria is because we believe it's the missing link to effectively fighting the Goa'uld. We want it to give our ships greater defense shields, speed and so forth, so that we at least will have a fighting chance. But you go ahead, use the bloody bomb, see what it gets you."
With that Harry turned on his heel and headed back to the Gate room.
By the time he returned to Earth, Daniel's condition had, as expected, only gotten worse. His body was almost completely covered in bandages at a futile attempt to stop the hemorrhaging from his skin, and he was in a perpetual state of pain. The only thing Janet could do was keep giving him sedatives and painkillers to help manage it until…it wasn't an issue. She even mentioned the half-hearted thought to offer Daniel the option of euthanasia…even if it was against her medical ethics. Harry's own private thought was that if medical science could not offer a solution, then it's ethics did not apply. His mind flitted back to the many battles he had helped various planets resist Goa'uld domination…how the mortally wounded that were screaming themselves hoarse in pain on the battlefield would be given a mercy killing by their own compatriots.
He watched from the observation room as Jack was speaking to Daniel in hushed tones about Naquadria, its importance and the appeal to Jonas for the truth to come out.
"How'd he take it?" asked Harry, as Jack entered the observation room after having his talk.
"Ah, you know Daniel," said Jack, "always putting himself in the other guys' shoes. However, he was slipping in and out of consciousness and kept mumbling a name…Omo…Um…"
"Oma?" said Harry in astonishment standing up.
"Yeah. Hey where are you going?"
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"Daniel? Daniel?" said Harry, sitting next to the dying man's bed. His face was now completely covered with bandages, except for holes cut for his eyes and mouth. Daniel turned his head slightly and he was blinking with the effort to remain conscious. Harry stood and spoke softly so only Daniel would hear.
"I wish you to know something, my brother in arms. And yes, I do count you as one, you may not have the training, but the training is nothing. What makes a warrior, is not a weapon or a skill, it's the heart, the will to act, when no one else will. The will to go, where no one else will. You, my friend, are a warrior of the heart. Your words and actions have the same effects as entire armies."
"Know that when you leave us, I believe that we will have lost one of the greatest warriors in the fight against the Goa'uld. I also know that you are speaking with Oma…you can trust her to guide you on the Great Path. Once you have reached it…listen to her, do that thing you do so well, put yourself in her shoes, and then make your own decisions."
Daniel managed to nod through his tremors of pain.
"Good, and God be with you on your Journey, we will meet again…my friend…"
Harry returned to the observation room with the first smile on his face since the incident, but it was bittersweet. Now Teal'C to his turn to pay his last respects, it was at this point that General Hammond entered with of all people…Jonas Quinn.
"What are you doing here?" said Jack with a frown.
"You commander was kind enough to grant me passage," said Jonas with a weary sigh, he looked almost 'soulsick'. "I brought this," he raised a square lead container, "naquadria, took as much as I could." Harry blinked in surprise, he didn't think Jonas would have a change of heart, let alone have one so quickly. It just went to show that the Universe was still capable of surprising him.
"Why?" asked Jack, looking astonished.
"The data recorded during that accident demonstrated the potential power of the weapon unlike anything collected previously. I really don't know what was worse, seeing my colleagues die in the manner they did, or seeing the looks of utter glee on our leaders' faces when they were told the potential power of this weapon. They wanted to know when it could be demonstrated. I told them the truth about what happened."
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Daniel and Jonas were walking down a corridor in the Research Facility, both talking animatedly about their respective cultures and certain similar turning points in their respective planet's histories.
"I read that book you gave me," said Jonas nonchalantly.
"Already?" said Daniel in astonishment; "I just gave it to you last night."
"I'm a quick study," said Jonas, "it's how I got my position at my age. It should prove useful in the translations."
"I thought you'd be a little more excited."
lt's nations will seem insignificant when you find out what's going on…out there."
"Till you can give us more details, there's not much else I can do," said Jonas with a shrug.
"Well, whether you realize it or not, you've probably seen the evidence right here on your own planet. The temple where you found the Gate was obviously occupied by a powerful technologically-advanced race. Now, as far as I can tell from the pictures you've shown me, their civilization was destroyed by a catastrophic explosion."
"Our scientists have theorised that an asteroid impacted our continent ten thousand years ago. Now, the fallout from that could have easily buried the civilization at that time," explained Jonas.
"Or the race that occupied the Gate were experimenting with the very technology you are today and it resulted in disaster."
"If what you say is true about the potential enemies out there in our galaxy, we may need these advanced weapons more than ever" Jonas pointed out.
"I can't deny that, but some very wise people have shown me first hand how a sudden leap in weapons technology by a civilization that's not ready for it can lead to its destruction."
The two men walked into the observation room where Tomis was busy observing four other scientists working on the Naquadria device inside the sealed lab.
"Given the chance then," said Jonas shrewdly, "you would deny us this technology?"
"I can't predict what will happen to your people or your planet with or without the weapon," said Daniel with a shrug, "just wish there was another way."
One of the radiation-suited scientists in the lab turned to the observation room at that point and reported, "The energy readings are increasing by a power of ten."
"Incredible," mumbled Tomis.
He had no sooner said that when a visible energy wave radiated outward from the device, distorting the light spectrum as it was emitted and crashing against the lead lined walls like an ocean wave on a beach.
"Did you see that?" said another scientist in amazement.
One of the instruments in the lab suddenly went crazy as its needles spun up and down and drew energy graphs on the revolving paper to such an extent that it was in effect completely coloring in the paper with ink. The red lights in the lab all burst as another less visible surge shot outward. The control rod of the device was suddenly attracted into the core of Naquadria…and before the scientist managing the control rod could even comprehend what was happening…another energy wave radiated outwards…this time distorting light into the blue end of the spectrum…the scientists all collapsed instantly as their electro-chemical processes was disrupted by the sheer magnitude of the radiation surge. Alarms automatically begin wailing throughout the complex.
"Get down!" shouted Tomis, forcing Daniel and Jonas to the floor below the line of the glass looking into the lab, "stay away from the glass. The radiation will penetrate the window!"
"What's happening?" asked Jonas insistently.
"The device could explode," winced Tomis. In the lab the instruments begin sparking as the gamma and neutron particles collide with the matter in room, forcing electrons to come into contact with positively charged protons.
"We have to remove the core!" shouted one of the scientists in the lab, who had amazingly returned to consciousness, but he was extremely weak. Even as he reached up from the floor to the device in an attempt to remove the control rod he collapsed from the effort. Jonas, fully comprehending the danger could only back up against the wall of the observation room as his fear overwhelmed him. Tomis, however, decided to cut his losses and run out of the room.
"Tomis!" shouted Jonas in anger.
Daniel had not been idle during all this. He rushed to the other door to the main lab and tried to get in, but an automated lock seemed to have been triggered by the radiation release.
"Dr Jackson!" shouted Jonas.
Daniel paid the Kelownan no heed and in frustration backed up against the observation room wall, and swiftly pulled out his Colt Automatic sidearm and took aim at the reinforced window.
"No! Dr Jackson!" shouted Jonas in fear.
Daniel visibly grits his teeth and simply begins to pull the trigger. The automatic spits supersonic bullets multiple times. The thick glass is cracked and weakened critically. Without pause Daniel dives through it, getting cut multiple times as it shatters. He lands with a heavy thump on the hard floor of the lab. With no consideration for getting air back in his winded lungs he strains to stand up and reaches the Naquadria device.
He takes a deep breath and places his hand on the screwwheel that controls the reaction rod. Only to pull it away with a groan of pain…the rod was extremely hot. He pulls forward his green SGC jumper's sleeve and tries again and pulls…the reaction rod came out painfully slow…finally it was free, but Daniel continues pulling bringing out the entire thing out of its glass sphere…it clanks to floor from his covered hand and he stares around him…breathing harshly…a stunned look on his face.
Jonas can only look on from above.
"I am ashamed," said Jonas heavily, "that they would not bring themselves to recognize Dr Jackson's heroism. He saved millions of lives."
"That he did," said Harry solemnly, "what will you do now, Jonas Quinn?"
"Obviously, my government does not know I'm here," explained the young man, "I was lucky enough to be able to access our Stargate. If I am caught returning to my planet I will be considered a traitor."
"What do you want then?" asked Jack.
"I don't believe my people will ever truly support a war that leads to any kind of mass destruction," said Jonas, "our leaders just don't see any viable alternative right now. Promise me you will share any defensive technologies with us that will restore the balance of power on my planet."
"Of course," nodded Hammond.
Over the next few hours calls to Jacob Carter/Selmak and Thor were sent out, asking if they could hurry to Earth right away to pay their own last respects to Daniel. Jacob arrived first and spent most of the time consoling his daughter. Thor arrived an hour later with a flash of white light and the musical whine of an Asgard transporter to beam directly into Daniel's sickroom; Thor had blasted his ship all the way from the Ida Galaxy to attend.
"It won't be long now," said Janet, poking her head into the observation room. Harry nodded and followed her out and down into the room. Everyone now stood around Daniel's bed and watched his labored breathing and listened to the low tone of the EKG machine.
"There is but one last thing I could try," said Harry suddenly.
"What?" said Janet incredulously. "Why do you only mention this now?"
"Because it won't save his life, not technically," explained Harry and took a deep breath. He stepped forward and placed his left hand across Daniel's bandaged forehead and his right on his chest. He closed his eyes…there was only darkness behind his eyelids…and then in his mind's eye the world suddenly whirled with violet color and he was standing in what seemed to be a representation of the SGC Gateroom and the Stargate was active.
Standing in front of it was Oma Desala, and at the edge of the ramp Daniel stood, hesitantly.
"Harry?" said Daniel in confusion. "What are you doing here? You're not dead too are you?"
"Umm, no," said Harry, "just checking up on you rather. Just seeing if you need any help getting a boot up to the higher planes."
"Oh, no, I'm going, don't worry I know how, thanks anyway," said Daniel with a grin.
"Oma…" began Harry.
"I know what you are going to say," she said, raising her hand to forestall him, "I will look after him."
"Good," said Harry with a frown, "because I'd hate to have to ascend to only kick your ethereal butt for not doing so."
"Rest assured," said Oma.
"I'm going to miss you guys," said Daniel, his eyes tearing up.
"We will miss you, Daniel," said Harry sadly, "now, don't keep the others in suspense for long about what I tried to do…off with you." Oma abruptly lost her human appearance and went through the Stargate as a being of white energy. Daniel ascended the ramp towards the Stargate but paused at the event horizon and turned back.
"Do you have any idea where I'm going?" asked Daniel.
"Some," said Harry enigmatically, "but I won't ruin the surprise."
Daniel shook his head with a laugh and walked through.
Harry abruptly came back to the real world and jerked his hands off of Daniel as his EKG flatlined and last breath released from the dying man's lungs. But the next moment, Daniel's body glowed a powerful ethereal white and a rushing sound of wind filled the room. Then, the ascended being that was Daniel rose from the bed, and the bandages and linens collapsed as there was no longer a body in them.
The being of energy stopped briefly overhead, everyone looked up with amazement, except for Thor and Harry. The white tendrils of the being seemed to caress the room and its inhabitants as a last goodbye and swiftly rose up and vanished through the ceiling.
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