Chapter 34: Regroup
Two Weeks Later
SGC
"Unscheduled off world Activation!"
The members of SG-1 raced to the control room to see who was trying to get in. "Have we received a signal?" General Hammond asked of Sergeant Davis.
"No, sir. We're not receiving any signal."
"Keep the iris closed Sergeant."
They stared at the Stargate waiting for an IDC to come through, unfortunately it never came. Instead they were shocked to see a holographic projection of Anubis standing in front of the sealed Stargate, "Your precious planet will fall before the day is over. I will rule over Earth and make it mine!" The transmission ended as abruptly as it had started. Within five seconds the iris started to glow and the monitors in the room started to indicate the changes that were going on.
Sam rushed to one of the workstations to monitor what was occurring. "What's going on Major?"
"General, he's attacking us using several different methods. He's using a particle weapon to penetrate the iris. He's also using a radiation device again, the levels are higher than last time, he must have made some modifications!"
Hammond switched on the intercom connected to the embarkation room, "Clear the room! And seal the blast doors!" He then turned to Sam, "How much time do we have?" General Hammond asked his brightest scientist.
Sam looked at the monitor again and watched the rising numbers, "Not long sir. I'd say less than three hours…"
"Do you have any suggestions Major?"
"Sir, it would take too long to move the Stargate…"
Jack then turned to Duncan, "Hey you can turn one of those things on, any chance you can turn one of those off?"
Duncan stared at the Stargate as he considered Jack's suggestion, "Yes. In fact I can do something better…" he told them as he headed down to the embarkation room.
SG-1 followed him down to learn of his plan, "Mac, what are you going to do?" Jack asked.
"I can shut off the Stargate from this end. That won't be enough though, I need to destroy that weapon and disable the Stargate fro
"Well, yeah I'd love to do that as well, except there's a little problem in that we can't get there!"
"You can't… I can. I can transport myself there in a different plane, I can go there and disable the weapons he's using. I can get the address for his planet, once I return we'll dial that planet and I can transmit a disable code to that Stargate. He won't be able to use that Stargate again."
"You can do all that?"
"Yes… Relax, remember what the prophecy said, it said that I would harbor great powers, well this is another one of them…"
Daniel asked the next question, "Why do you have to go in there though? Why can't you do it from the control room?"
"This is my first time trying this, I don't know how far I can project myself… When this is over we're going to have to do some explaining to the rest of the people here…" They arrived at the door leading to the embarkation room, "I'll see you in a bit," he told them as he swiped his card and entered the room.
The rest of SG-1 rushed back to the control room to monitor Duncan's progress on the security monitors. "Do you think this'll work Carter?" Jack leaned over to his 21C.
"I don't know, sir. I hope so, this may be our only shot."
"Yeah… I hate not having options…" he mumbled to himself as he watched the monitors.
On the security monitors they watched Duncan walk up the ramp and place both his hands on the iris. They watched as he started to glow and develop a white aura around him, "Why's he gotta go do that whole Ascended thing?" Jack grimaced.
"I believe Duncan said that he had to transport himself on another plane of existence. It would be only natural for him to Ascend," Teal'c told him stoically.
"Thanks T," Jack turned and smiled.
Methos then cleared his throat to catch the General's attention and looked around at everyone else in the room, they were staring wide-eyed at the monitors as they watched Duncan glow. The General picked up on Methos' concerns and addressed everyone present, "No one is to repeat or speak about what's going on here. I will explain everything once this is over. Is that understood?" he asked. He only received informal uh-huhs and head nods as they were all transfixed watching the monitors.
Duncan stood with his hands on the iris for ten minutes before the aura that had enveloped him disappeared and he then removed his hands. Just before he removed his hands the iris stopped glowing from the bombardment of particles and the sensors in the room indicated that the radiation levels were steady and then slowly starting to go down. Duncan then turned to the cameras, walked down the ramp and smiled as the wormhole disengaged.
"The wormhole's been terminated, sir… Shall I dial out?" Sergeant Davis asked.
Colonel O'Neill answered, "Nah, watch this…" he told them as he pointed at the monitors again where Duncan was turning to face the Stargate again. Suddenly the Stargate was activated and started to dial out, faster than the computer could.
"Sir, the Stargate's dialing and we're not controlling it! Chevron Three encoded!"
"Yeah it's okay, Duncan's got it under control…"
"Sir, I don't understand…"
"All in due time Sergeant, just watch! Oh, and open the iris" Jack told a shocked control room.
After a few seconds the seventh chevron was locked, "Wormhole established!"
Duncan then walked up to the wall of shimmering water and held his hands up to the wall of water. He closed his eyes and transmitted a signal to the receiving Stargate. As he pulled his hands away, the wall of water disappeared severing the connection with the other Stargate. He then turned around and nodded at the security cameras. "It's over. Anubis won't be using those weapons or that Stargate again," he said as he started to walk out of the embarkation room.
Several hours later the base had been informed of Duncan's current status of having the entire repertoire of the Ancients knowledge in his mind. They explained his control of it due to a genetic anomaly he carried. Once the base had been notified General Hammond sat down with SG-1 in the conference room.
Duncan was the first to speak, "General we have to start putting our plan into action."
"What exactly is our plan?" Jack asked.
"We need to start collecting our allies and prepare them for the battle against the Goa'uld. Anubis won't wait much longer. He must suspect something after what just happened. This is probably only a small setback for him, he'll keep trying though. We need to bring our allies into the loop."
"Mr. MacLeod, who exactly do you think we should bring into the loop?" General Hammond inquired.
"First and foremost, the Asgard. Also the Tok'ra, Hebridians, the Kelownans, the Cimmerians, the rebel Jaffa, the Nox, the Unas…" Duncan listed many more of the planets that had encountered the Goa'uld and were ready to get rid of them. "We need to attack the System Lords directly as well as the worlds where they have power. With what the Tok'ra have learned about the Sarcophagus on PY7-42X, they should be able to take care of several of the System Lords directly. The main threat will actually be the Jaffa, we need to liberate the worlds that they are occupying. We need to show the Jaffa the truth and give them an option. We have to launch a galaxy wide assault in a small window of time. The problem is Anubis, he's going to be the most difficult to kill. We can't use the Sarcophagus on him."
"How much time do you think we have?"
"Six weeks, eight at most."
"That's a lot of ground to cover…" Daniel said quietly.
"Yes, as I said we need to act fast. I also think we should split SG-1 to cover some more ground."
"Whoa, there! I was really starting to like that plan up until that last part. SG-1 doesn't split up, we go out together," Jack said as he showed his disapproval with the plan.
"Colonel, I don't like the idea either, however given all the preparations that need to be done, I may need to temporarily split up SG-1. Don't worry Colonel, it'll only be on an as-needed basis," General Hammond told him, ending the discussion. "Where do you suggest we start Mr. MacLeod?"
"With the Asgard, we need to end the problem with the Replicators."
"They've got it under control. They have hundreds of years to figure that problem out," Sam told him.
"Yes, but it is something that needs to be dealt with nonetheless."
"Mac, the Replicators are in that time slowing bubble thingy, they ain't going anywhere!" he exclaimed as a white light enveloped him and dematerialized him.
"Uh, what the hell just happened?" Adam asked surprised to see that the only other people surprised in the room were Duncan and Amanda.
Daniel answered the question, "The Asgard. Talk about impeccable timing!"
Thor's Ship
"Thor, ol' buddy! We were just talking about you!"
"It has come to our attention O'Neill that you have defeated one of the minor Goa'uld System Lords, is this true?"
Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to think of what Thor was talking about, "What?… Do you mean Jarus?"
"Yes."
"You're just now finding out about that? Thor, buddy, you're a little out of the loop. That was like three-four months ago."
"O'Neill, in doing so you have endangered the Protected Planets Treaty. You have violated one of the rules, we will not be able to help you."
"Yeah about that, we got a better idea than that treaty of yours. We were actually just now talking of going to contact you to let you know of our plan."
"Your plan?"
"Yeah, it's a great plan! Involves a large portion of the galaxy destroying the Goa'uld. There's some people down there who can explain it… You're invited by the way!"
"At this time the Asgard cannot undertake a battle with the Goa'uld."
"Yeah, the Replicators… I know. Look why don't you beam up some friends of mine and we'll explain the whole thing to you?"
A few seconds later the rest of SG-1 was beamed up to the ship to discuss the plan with the Asgard. "Major Carter. Dr. Jackson. Teal'c. It is good to see you all again. I was unaware that SG-1 had expanded in numbers," he said as he looked at the Immortals.
"Yeah, happened a while ago. This is Adam Pierson, Amanda Darieux and Duncan MacLeod."
Adam and Amanda nodded their heads at Thor before starting to look around. Duncan stared at Thor momentarily before he began to speak in an unknown language with Thor, who responded in the same language.
"Uh, Daniel… you catching any of this?" Jack asked as he leaned over.
A dumbfounded Daniel responded, "Not a clue…"
"Great…" Jack exclaimed as he waited for a lull in the conversation between Thor and Duncan. His impatience set in first, "Thor, Mac! What're you guys talking about?"
"O'Neill why did you not inform us earlier of the Immortal race on your planet or the prophecy?"
"Ahh… they asked us not to…?" he replied.
Duncan explained in English, "I did not want anyone to know of us or myself before I knew what I was capable of. As you are aware, I have the knowledge of the Ancients in my mind and at my disposal. I required time to adjust and learn. The Goa'uld will soon no longer be a threat to anyone. As one of the original Four Great Races, I call on you to assist me in destroying the Goa'uld. I come to you to seek your help and to offer my assistance with the Replicators."
"We are currently handling the Replicators, we have hundreds of years to deal with that problem."
"Yes, you may. However according to Major Carter, since the time dilation device was activated they have experienced over four minutes. A lot can happen in four minutes. Besides I believe that we can use the assistance of the Replicators in our upcoming battle."
"How do you plan to do that?" Thor asked.
"Come again!?!?" Jack exclaimed.
"By reprogramming them. Thor, we have much to discuss, I suggest we head to your home galaxy."
Several Hours later
Asgard Home Galaxy
"You want to do what?!?!" Jack yelled, "Are you crazy! He's a Replicator!"
"Fifth is the key to reprogramming the other Replicators. He's the most human with his emotions, I need him as a model."
"I don't know if he'll cooperate with us, he'll think we abandoned him… which we did," Carter added.
"He'll understand… Trust me Jack," Duncan explained.
Jack looked around the room at everyone present, he hated having to make decisions like this. "Fine… How do we do this?"
"I'll need Sam's help, she's the one who formed a bond with Fifth. The-"
"Whoa! I'm not going to endanger Carter's life by putting her in the same room as one of those!"
"Sir, it's alright. Fifth won't hurt me," she told him.
"How do you know?"
"I just have a feeling sir."
Jack threw his hands in the air and rolled his eyes, "You guys and your feelings!" he exclaimed before agreeing with Duncan's plan.
Ten minutes later Five was beamed aboard the Asgard vessel. "-aid she'd take me!" Five exclaimed as he finished a thought out loud before realizing he was not in the central chamber. He then turned to Sam and confronted her, "You promised to take me with you! You lied!"
"I know, I'm sorry," Carter sadly told him.
"Why?" he demanded of her.
"Because that was the only way that I would be able to help you and your brothers," Duncan told him.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who can help you and the rest of the Replicators, who can turn your flawed brothers into more like you."
"I am the flawed one," a confused Five stated.
"The others are wrong. You have a gift, you are like your creator! You are created in her image, it is an honor for you to be the first like her."
Five considered what Duncan was saying, "You are right… it is an honor. You say that you can help my brothers?"
"I can, with your permission."
"How will you do that?"
"As you delved into the mind of Major Carter, I must delve into your mind and programming so that I may know how to program your brothers. Those who share the same form as you will become like you. The others will be reprogrammed to stop replicating. However you and your brothers will be able to manipulate their formation and structure. The Replicators used to be considered a virus, no more though. You will be cured and be considered guardians as you help us get rid of another plague," Duncan told him. "Your assistance and cooperation is greatly needed for the battle we are about to undertake."
"Very well, I want you to cure my brothers and I. I wish to explore the galaxy as Samantha Carter has."
"I am glad to hear that. Reese would be proud of you. If you'll excuse me for a minute, I need to prepare myself for what I'm going to do," Duncan told him as he closed his eyes and contacted Sam.
Are you sure you can do this?
Yes. In ascending we learned how to change our essence, I can do that for the Replicators. The only question is which safe guards should I install?
You can do that?
I can.
Amazing… I think we should consult with the others, she told him as she started to come up with some safeguards on her own. Will you give them complete autonomous control?
Yes, but I plan to put in a kill switch controlled by myself and the Asgard, he told her.
Why not with the SGC? she asked him.
Because it will require some technology of the Ancients and the Asgard.
Several hours later the transformations were complete and the time dilation bubble destroyed. Duncan had suggested to them that they split up. He told them that he had to stay with the Asgard to work on building their new fleet of ships. He suggested that Adam and Amanda go speak with the Tok'ra and notify them of the coming battle while they trained them in Goa'uld technology and strategy. SG-1 would return to Earth and go about notifying their allies that their assistance was needed. Duncan would rejoin them in one week.
TBC