The Anunnaki Unification, Book 3: A Stargate SG-1 Fan Fiction Story

by Michele Briere

  Jack could probably do all of it himself if it weren’t for his expanded brain making him understand why people had to experience life themselves in order to grow. He kept telling himself to delegate the authority. It was very strange, his head. The chatty fish seemed eager, if not outright excited, to have someone to tell all its secrets to. No subject seemed to be completed before another was jumped into. Whenever Jack’s thoughts wandered to a subject, the fish began with a subject closely related. He tried countering the stale dialogue with memories of love with his partners. The fish agreed that sharing love was a thing of an expanded mind and went on to tell Jack about races who also loved openly and who happened to advance rapidly. Although some races petered out just as quickly after deciding that love was all they needed and so their technology didn’t advance. Jack took it as a warning and decided to keep a small notebook in his pocket for anything interesting that Sam or Daniel might be able to use.

  “Jack.” He turned to see Landry coming down the hall.

  “Hank. I was just on my way to see you.” Jack waited for him. Landry looked at him for a moment and then jerked his head.

  “Can we talk?”

  “Sure.” Jack followed him into a meeting room. “I’m sorry the Mountain is overrun with snakes today.”

  Landry waved a hand and shut the door behind them. “Oh, believe me, this is the most excitement we’ve had since NORAD moved out over the summer. Most of our people here are post-Invasion and they’ve been a little bitter over not being subjected to the alien of the week crisis. Jack….. I understand if you can’t say anything, but if you can…. well, if something’s going on and I can possibly help you, I’d like to help.”

  Jack picked up the coffee pot and suddenly remembered, putting it down and sighing over the glass of water.

  “Thanks, Hank, I appreciate it. Alright, something is going on. There isn’t anything you can help with, but I’ll tell you anyway. And it needs to stay here. Not even the Joint Chiefs have been told and certainly not the HomeSec council.” Landry promised and sat back, giving Jack his attention.

  “I went to Kalam to get help in triggering my downloaded memories. Files. Whatever. My DNA is now more Ancient than human.”

  Landry’s face was blank for a moment. “Are you telling me you’re no longer human?”

  “Kinda,” Jack acknowledged. “It would take a full genetic workup to spot the differences, but yes, according to our Furling buddies I am, for all intent and purposes, an Ancient. Hank, I look at the Stargate and the schematics come into my head. I know how all the technology is made. I know their history, I know our history. I know what killed them, I know how and why we live. And because humans need to grow up, I can’t tell anyone what I know. Was a time I would have argued about it, but I now understand. And I agree with the secrecy.”

  “My God, Jack……”

  “Hank, humans have the potential to be the greatest of all the races. Surpassing the Ancients. If keeping my mouth shut will make it happen, that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Landry stood and looked out to the gate room as his mind raced. “Does Carolyn know?”

  “No,” Jack said giving his head a shake. “And she doesn’t need to know. Not at this time. I won’t have the regular medical needs, so if anything comes up, the Furlings will deal with it.”

  “You’re going to need to explain that to the Joint Chiefs,” Landry warned him. “Yearly physical is mandatory.”

  Jack shrugged. “A physical is fine,” he said. “The doctors won’t find anything. My immune system has become incredibly strong, so I won’t be getting ill. Other than morning sickness.” He dug for another pill. Landry chuckled, relaxing.

  “How’s Col. Carter?”

  “She’s happily eating everything in sight without one twinge of nausea,” Jack informed him with disgust.

  “Carolyn’s mother had only a few weeks of morning sickness, but she had food cravings at the damnedest hours. Mint ice cream with creamed spinach.”

  Jack looked horrified. “If I start to get weird cravings, I’ll kill myself.”

  “I doubt it,” Landry said, humored. “Do you have names picked out?”

  “Jacob or Claire. Carter.”

  Landry looked closely at him. “And you really are okay with that?”

  Jack’s mouth twitched and he sat, stretching his legs out. “I’m actually fine with it,” he said. “From what the files tell me, the Ancients were matrilineal. The kid belonged to the mother and had her name. And I can tell you that the conception itself was a little weird, so we really have no idea who the father is. Not without a genetic test.”

  “There was a news story about a man who wants laws changed so that a husband can take the wife’s name as easily as a wife takes her husband’s name,” Landry commented. “There is no need to go to court for a newly married woman to change her name, but if a man wants to change his, it still goes through court. The world isn’t the one we grew up in.”

  Jack snorted. “Tell me.” He made his way to the gate room, and arched home. As soon as he stepped through the front door arch, Fang ran by, something stuck in his mouth. Behind him came a naked baby, toddling swiftly and screeching at the running dog.

  “Whoa, nelly!” Jack declared, intersecting the baby and lifting her high. Jerrie was moments away, bringing a handful of clothing and exasperation.

  “Sorry, Jack,” she said, taking Olivia from him and wrapping her in a towel. Olivia snuffled unhappily into Jerrie’s shoulder. “Fang. Bad boy,” Jerrie scolded. She reached down and plucked the thing from his mouth.

  “What is it?” Jack asked, not having seen the little yellow thing clearly.

  “Livie's binky,” Jerrie said, waving the pacifier. “He took it right from her mouth. He’s been a little rambunctious today; he knocked her into a mud puddle. He’s just playing, but he doesn’t understand that she isn’t ready to play that rough.”

  “If you see Stacey before I do, have her take him for a long walk and tire him out,” Jack told her. He wasn’t surprised that it was taking the entire family to deal with Fang; what child in the history of children and dogs actually took their vows seriously?

  He brought Sam up on the computer while he changed clothes and freshened up in preparation to dinner at Cassie’s house.

  “What have you got for me?” he asked when she came on screen.

  “The cells seem to have been genetically engineered. The queen was engineered and so were the offspring. The cells from the one at the SGC show the nucleus of the cells were changed out. Since the queen was empty, so to speak, I’m thinking that Linea took DNA from a known Goa’uld, more than likely dead Goa’uld, and spliced it into the empty nucleus.”

  Jack thought hard for a moment. The talking trout was going on about something scientific, using words and concepts that Jack was still getting used to. “She cloned them?”

  “Yes,” Sam nodded.

  “Who?”

  “We don’t know,” she shrugged. “I’m thinking no one very important, since none of them are declaring themselves Apophis or Baal. Yet.”

  “How’s the zapper coming for the ships?” he asked.

  “I think we can do it,” Sam said, brightening. “We’re going to try hooking it up to the ship’s shields. If we can reverse the shields so that they expand outward instead of around the ships, I think we can get the pukku to work on a wide-scale.”

  Jack frowned. “What about protecting the ships?”

  “It’s a temporary stop measure just for this mission,” she admitted. “Maybe two ships zap the group and two other ships protect. Once we have this problem under control, we’ll have more time to make a proper adjustment.”

  “Alright,” Jack said. Even the fish in his head had been silenced into thoughtful contemplation. It certainly wasn’t what the Ancients had planned for their little toy. “Take Daedalus to experiment on. Hermiod should be able to help get it set up. And don’t forget we’re going to Cassie’s tonight.�
�

  There was a knock at the door and Jerrie stuck her head in.

  “Sir? Lord Atis standing in the living room.”

  “Tell him I’ll be right there,” Jack told Jerrie. “Don’t know why. I’ll see you later,” he told Sam.

  Any Mulakma could come in and say they were so-and-so, it was a little tricky telling one adult male Mulakma from another, but this one had a more superior glint in his eyes than most of the others. Not that the newly clad Olivia was at all cowed as she attempted to tug on one titanium claw that was about as long as her arm.

  “Atis, how’s the family?” Jack greeted him. Jerrie squeezed by and placed a glass bowl on the floor in front of the winged alien. He thanked her and dipped his large, powerful beak into the iced tea.

  “The little ones are a handful. Their fledgling feathers are being replaced with their colors.” Atis wiggled a bright blue chin feather at Olivia. She grinned and made a snatch at it. “It makes them cranky.”

  “I hear ya, bro,” Jack said with a sigh. “Olivia’s still cutting teeth. She steals the dog’s bone, the dog steals her binky…. it isn’t a pretty picture.”

  Atis considered Jack’s words and decided that it would take too much time to translate. “I apologize for coming so unannounced,” he said instead. “May we speak?”

  “Sure,” Jack said and waved Atis into his office. He turned back to the living room and picked up Atis’ tea. Talons were not conducive to picking up human made bowls or cups.

  While Atis arranged himself in a sunny spot under the window, Jack relaxed in his chair, leaning back and setting his feet on the desk.

  “From the suddenness of the visit, I’m thinking something’s come up,” he commented.

  “It has,” Atis said. “I tried discussing it with the council, and they brushed me off. To be honest, I’m not sure who I can trust. I believe there is something very wrong on Taklede, but others doubt my word due, mainly I think, from our long history of aggression.”

  “You think something’s going on with Karoly?” Jack asked, watching the multifaceted emerald eyes.

  “I do,” Atis said with a nod. Blue and green breast feathers ruffled in irritation. “He has been most…. agreeable.”

  Jack’s eyebrows went up. “You’re suspicious because he’s been agreeable? Atis, what am I supposed to do with that?”

  “You don’t understand,” Atis told him. He stood and paced, taking up a great deal of what little space there was. “Karoly has never agreed with anything a Mulakma has said. If I said our star was red, which it is, he’d disagree with me just to argue which hue. And since our planets have different atmospheres which alters the hue depending on which planet you are viewing the star from, well, you can see how pointless the argument is.”

  Jack stared at him. “Okay, you’re going to have to give me something else to go on,” he said. “Atis, I argue with Daniel all the time over dumb crap. What else have you got for me?”

  “He has been asking us for DNA specimens and information on our genetics and population.”

  Karoly of Taklede was a pissy little man with no interest in anything other than propriety and a decent wine. Jack took his comm out of his drawer to give it a tap. “Hey, who’s online?”

  A moment later, he heard, “This is Gibil.”

  “I need Inanna. Could you phone home and ask her to check in?” Much to Jack’s annoyance, the fish in his head began to tell him how to build an interstellar communications unit. Jack put it on pause.

  “Jack, she’s with the Tok’ra in the Aschen sector,” he heard Ninurta say. “Can I help you?”

  “Are you nearby?”

  “There are a few answers to that question; I’m in Cairo giving a lecture, so I am on Earth. I can be available in about an hour and beam over to you then, if that will work.”

  “It works. See you then.” He tossed the comm back into his desk drawer. “Let me check into it,” he told Atis. “There is something going on out there, but I’ll be surprised if it’s gotten this far.”

  Atis arched back to the SGC and gated home while Jack waited for Ninurta.

  Ninurta showed up soon after Jack went through reports while Olivia played quietly on the rug in his office. The warrior had shed his leathers and was dressed in Arab robes. Olivia grinned at him and held out an alphabet block to share.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, picking the baby up for a cuddle. She pulled on his beard, pleased with herself.

  “Atis told the council about certain concerns and no one paid attention?” Jack questioned.

  “Yes,” Ninurta nodded. “And we didn’t not pay attention, we simply felt that he was….”

  “He had a valid issue,” Jack informed him. “Linea somehow got rid of the naquadah zing while she was messing with cells. We got Goa’uld running around and the Tok'ra can’t sense them. When would Karoly ever want to know about DNA and population numbers?”

  To give him credit, Ninurta did pale, rocked by the information. He put Olivia on the rug before he dropped her.

  “Jack, we….”

  “I want someone to take a scanner and see if Karoly is holding a passenger. If he is, put him in seclusion until he can be questioned. I want every single member of the council tested. The only snakes I want to see are in the Tok’ra and our own Jaffa. And put Taklede under quarantine. Yesterday, garradum.” Startled at the Ancient ‘warrior', Ninurta acknowledged and beamed to his own ship.

  Before he left for Cassie’s house, he had the ships locked down and begin a scan of all bodies on board. He called HomeSec with the orders to scan everyone, just in case. Paul called soon after and requested permission to arch to the house. After agreeing, Jack found himself looking at Paul standing in front of him and SF holding a zat on him.

  “What’s going on?” Jack asked, carefully watching the SF.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but you’ve been in contact with off-worlders,” Paul said, daring to stop him. “I’d just like to scan you.”

  Jack gave a nod. “I understand, Colonel. Perfectly reasonable.”

  Once assured that Jack was snake-free, as well as Jerrie and Olivia, Paul dismissed the SF.

  “No need, Colonel,” Jack said, holding up a hand to stop another apology. “You were right to do that.”

  “Thank you, sir. If you don’t mind, I’ll go with you and scan the others myself. Oh, and Cassie called. She said if you stall her wedding because of an invasion, she will personally levitate you to the top of the Himalayas. Daniel’s threats were of a more personal nature.”

  Jack smirked. “Well, so far she hasn’t been able to lift anything heavier than she could by hand which leaves me out, and as for Daniel –if he thinks he can carry out his threats, I’ll let him.”

  Just before they walked out the door, the arch lit up to announce incoming traffic. Sam walked through a moment later.

  “Hi, honey,” she said and pecked his mouth. “Paul…. what are you doing?” Paul was looking at her through the scanner and came closer.

  “Uh, sir?” Jack went to him and looked over his shoulder. He squinted, frowned, and took the scanner from Paul, kneeling in front of Sam and her stomach.

  “What?” she asked, suddenly worried. She put her hands to her belly.

  “I think I need a chair,” Jack said hoarsely, pale and about to hyperventilate. Paul put a chair under him and handed the scanner to Sam.

  “Maybe you’d like to find a mirror and take a look,” he suggested. She took the scanner and went quickly into the bathroom. A moment later there was a squeak and she came rushing out, throwing her arms around Jack’s neck.

  “Two!” she yelled. “We have two!”

  Paul put the scanner on her again.

  “That’s pretty cool,” he had to admit, looking at the two incredibly tiny skeletons nestled together in her lower abdomen.

  “Let’s go find Daniel,” she begged Jack. He agreed as he reached into his pocket for a pill.

  Jack drove extra carefully all
the way to Cassie’s house, much to Sam’s annoyance, and Paul followed with a couple of SF. Maggie greeted them when they got out in front of the house. She was tossing a ball with David.

  “Hi, Mom,” Jack pecked her cheek. “Where’s Daniel?”

  “Inside keeping Cassandra calm,” she told him. “How are we?”

  “We’re fine,” he assured her. He took her hand and called to the kids as they went inside. Daniel was doing something with grilled cheese sandwiches. Adding tomatoes and ham, it looked like. Cassie’s comfort food.

  “Since you’re here, things must be better,” Daniel said, seeing them enter. He leaned over the grill and accepted the peck to his mouth.

  “Oh, you have no idea,” Jack said. He handed a scanner to Daniel. “Take a look,” he said, gesturing toward Sam. Daniel wiped his hands and then took the scanner, wondering what Jack was up to. He swept the scanner over Sam. He paused, looked up at them, and then back to the scanner. Maggie was looking over his shoulder and drew a sudden, sharp breath. Daniel tossed the scanner and swept Sam up into his arms with a loud yip. He almost dropped her in his anxiety.

  “Did I hurt you? Are you alright? Sit! Do you need anything? Should we call the doctor?!”

  “Daniel!” Sam took his face and kissed him, laughing at him. “I’m fine. Relax.”

  Jack caught the scanner and held it for the kids. Katie and Stacey quickly rushed in to peck Sam on the cheek while Jack carefully explained to Davy what they were looking at.

  “There’s two babies inside Aunt Sam?” Davy asked, looking from the scanner to Sam’s stomach.

  “Yup,” Jack said with a nod. “Two babies are called twins.”

  “Oh. Are they girls or boys?” Davy asked.

  “We don’t know yet,” Jack said. The trout began to show him diagrams again. “This can only show us their bones. Maybe in a couple more weeks the doctor can tell us if they’re girls or boys. Maybe one of each.”

  “That would be nice,” Davy considered out loud. He went to Sam and put his face next to her stomach, giving the Bump a pat. “I love you, babies!” he said loudly into her belly button. He put two airy kisses on the Bump.