4th DEBRIEF ; O EIGHT HUNDRED HOURS. NINTH CHEVRON Nth DIMENSION. CODE SEVENTEEN

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In the Briefing Room Colonel Carter looked tired but excited. Teal'c was wondering when the General would arrive and Daniel was anxious and slightly impatient, standing next to the observatory watching the activity in the Gate Room below.

"Hes definitely on Base isn't he? He wouldn't have left without telling us would he? I know hes extremely busy all the time now."

"Daniel Jackson there are no circumstances under which O'Neill would leave his people behind."

Daniel looked at Teal'c. He was completely taken aback. Colonel Carter was laughing.

"Teal'c he doesn't mean it like that. He just.. ..we just, we've got a heck of a lot of information. We've really made progress. I think Daniel's just anxious to speak to the General."

"Yeah thanks Sam. I'm sorry about that Teal'c. I'm just.. ..its just with Nick you know. And Jack, hes head of the Base now, you never know where he is from one moment to the next."

"O'Neill will be here quite soon Daniel Jackson. Of this I am certain."

"Thanks Teal'c."

Just then they all heard the sound of the running feet of General O'Neill heading toward the Briefing Room with Doctor Carmichael in tow.

"Sorry about that kids. I've just been up checking on Nick. Lets get under way shall we. Okay Carmichael full Report if you will."

Daniel walked over to his chair and sat down. He admired the General greatly. Over the years there had been occasions when they'd squabbled and disagreed but a deep bond had been cast on them. Just then, upon hearing Jack's words, a truck load of thankfulness flowed through his veins, absorbing his anxiety. He sat back in his chair and paid attention.

"Em yes General, my Report. Well as you've just seen for yourself the patient, Nicolas Ballard, remains in a grave condition. Physically, outwardly, cuts and bruises to the radial arms and the phalanges, also hairline facture to the femur. Extensive injury, cuts, to both hands, em actually looks as though hes crawled out of something or dug his way out of something.

Forensically, em, samples of the material found underneath his finger nails have been sent for analysis, we should be getting the those back, the results, later on this morning. His bruising, general bruising around the torso and lower legs, the shape and size and positioning of the bruising, together with the injuries to his knees and hands are consistent with someone who has endured a climb of soft to medium hard ground at an upward angle.

There is extensive injury to his right ocular cavity. The eye itself is still functioning and will not need to be removed but there is serious damage to the ligaments and tissues all around the eye and there are lacerations on the cornea.

There is also a good deal of trauma and inflammation to the auditory nerve towards the medulla junction.

The most troubling aspect of Mr Ballard's condition is the chemical imbalance. Theres toxic levels of both potassium and sodium and a manageable amount of naquadah poisoning. As we are already faced with potential renal failure we're having a great deal of difficulty in neutralising and filtering out the toxic excesses, which is entirely compounding his critical condition.

We've discovered a worrying count on elongated corpuscles and as yet have found no indication as to whats caused the elongation.

An oxygen tent has been erected around Mr Ballard's bed. This may help to temper his circulatory and respiratory difficulties.

Neurologically there is no evidence of trauma. There are abrasions to the back of the cranium which we attribute to his climb. Apart from the swelling there is no further damage in this area. As far as his brain is concerned we have given the all clear.

We can elicit no verbal response and he has fallen in to a semi catatonic state."

"How about his white cell count?"

"That's normal Colonel, however, worryingly, his lymphatic system seems to be barely functioning.

Effectively hes drowning internally in a potassium-sodium wash. He is being kept comfortable. Hes on a plasma drip and we're strictly controlling his intake.

Doctor Jackson I'd just like to assure you that we're doing everything we can for your grandfather. Although things may sound negative providing we manage to re-establish his chemical levels theres no reason why eventually he can't make a full recovery. Its just that currently with his renal state.. ..we're doing our best Doctor."

"Right, em, thanks Doctor Carmichael, thanks, very kind of you."

"And SG-14?"

"General, regarding SG-14, we've run all the tests Colonel Carter requested. We've made all the comparisons with the readings we have on record for each member of the Team, up to this point I can state categorically that those men in the infirmary are SG-14."

"So they have no sign of injury or abnormality whatsoever?"

"Well not quite Colonel, they do all each have slight inflammation around the eyes."

"What like black eyes?"

"Actually Colonel just one eye, the right in all cases."

"What they've all got swelling to just one eye, the same eye in each case, wouldn't you say that was significant?"

"No Colonel I would not. They reported that they had all used the same microscope and I'm assuming that one of them passed on a mild conjunctivitis."

"Assuming? Which one of them passed it on?"

"I did verify that they each have it, but I didn't think it was relevant to determine the source as its quite a common symptom which clears up in only a matter of days. Its hardly what I would call an abnormality Colonel."

"I'm not so sure about that Doctor Carmichael. Doesn't it strike you as an unusual coincidence that both SG-14 and Nicolas Ballard have been in the Pyramid on P7X 377 and now all of them have an unexplained injury to the right ocular cavity?"

"Colonel Carter, in the case of SG-14 the injury is explained. I've just told you it was a mild case of conjunctivitis."

"Yes, well even so Doctor Carmichael, perhaps you could run further tests to see if they also have any inflammation to the auditory nerve."

"Colonel Carter, just how many tests do you insist we run? All the readings match. The bios, all the fluids, all the samples we've taken. The hair, the cells, the DNA, the retinal scans. All conducted at your request, and it all matches, perfectly. I don't know what you're looking for Colonel, but I can only say I haven't found it. They are definitely SG-14, the members of SG-14 that we have on file anyway."

"Right then Carmichael, good work, thanks for that. That'll be all. Report as soon as you've run those extra tests, on that eye nerve. Dismissed."

The General gave him an altogether appreciative smile.

Without objection of not being allowed to attend the remainder of the Debriefing Doctor Carmichael picked up his folders and left the area.

"Daniel are you okay, that couldn't have been easy?"

"Thanks Jack. He thinks theres a chance. Have to wait and see. Nicks very stubborn. I think hes going to pull through."

"That's what we're counting on Daniel. Okay. Right, where we up to?"

"O'Neill, we are able to traverse a Seven and Eight Chevron wormhole but not a Nine Chevron wormhole."

"Sir SG-14 currently comprise the same composition in our fourth dimension as they did in the Ninth Chevron Nth dimension sub-space wormhole they occupied to get here, back to The SGC. Therefore whoever, whatever they are, they are now beings that can exist outside of our own time-space created sub-space."

"That makes sense Carter."

"Really Sir?"

"Phased Carter."

"Yes Sir."

"What you've never had a problem travelling Jack?"

"Not in this dimension Daniel."

"Touché."

"Daniel Jackson, I believe O'Neill is meaning that members of SG-14 are phased. According to Colonel Carter, at the atomic platform."

"Its bad isn't it?"

"I think so Daniel. Sir is this what you meant by a storm coming our way?"

"These are just the clouds Colonel."

"That bad Sir?"

General O'Neill pressed his head into his open palm. His elbow was leaning on the conference table.

"Colonel do me a favour."

"Of course Sir."

"Put them on a lie detector."

"Sir that's brilliant."

"It happens."

"I've been trying to detect physical anomalies, I've been looking in the wrong place."

"Lets see shall we."

"Sam, Jack, why the lie detector?"

"Okay, I've not been able to determine any physical alterations, and listening to Doctor Carmichael's Report, all members of SG-14 are complete and in tact, there is no change."

"Oh, you're saying they haven't been altered?"

"No Daniel, I'm saying the opposite. I'm suggesting that they have been altered but that I can't find any evidence of that alteration."

"Please continue Colonel."

"Thank you Sir."

"Yes do."

Colonel Carter smiled at Daniel.

"Sir, I maintain that the fact that there is no evidence, in this instance, proves not that there is no change, but that there is no known method for me to detect the change."

"So this is all purely speculation?"

"No Sir. Based upon my perception of the dynamics of wormhole physics and subspace travel I insist that SG-14 can not possibly be the same SG-14 that left The SGC for P7X 377. I am absolutely certain about that General."

"Yeah you mentioned that earlier Carter."

"Sir I'm even more convinced now."

"And the lie detector Sam?"

"That's the brilliant thing about it all Daniel. As General O'Neill recommended, conducting a lie detector test would serve to ascertain the possibility of change."

"How so Colonel Carter?"

"Well Teal'c, if they have been possessed by some force that has caused this alteration we will detect it in their neurological monitor output readings."

"Indeed. But have we not previously witnessed that bodily possessions, for instance by a Goa'uld, leave the host no longer possessing the ability to respond, having been completely subdued by the presence of the symbiote."

"Yeah Teal'c that's true but it was demonstrated by the Tollan device used on Skaa'ra, even when possession occurs something of the host survives. In the case of SG-14, they most certainly have been changed anatomically, even though we've not as yet been able to pick it up. They must have been in order for them to have transited a Nine Chevron wormhole. I'm hoping something of them, the host, their psychological self, has survived. We can detect that with this machine."

"But Sam, what if the possessing entity lies, apart from which, people have been known to beat the lie detector before."

"Daniel we only need to weight the probability towards my theory. If there is something of the host in there we will find it."

"You are referring to the device lodged at Area 51 are you not Colonel Carter?"

"Yes I am Teal'c."

"Ah juicy. That thing, that should do the trick Carter."

"Yes Sir."

"Do I know about this?"

"You do Daniel but you may have forgotten. I mentioned it to you about a year and a half ago."

"Yeah vaguely, its coming back to me now."

"Well they've been working on a way to encompass our latest, more sophisticated lie detector model with the technology of the Zatag detector. Mixed in with that are those principles we could glean from the Tollan's emotions monitor."

"And what if nothing of the host has survived Colonel, and as Daniel said the possessor lies?"

"Sir in using the Area 51 creation we should be able to detect even that via the emotional responses."

"Emotional responses. You can't mimic those can you Carter?"

"No General. I don't believe you can."

She didn't look at him.

"Quite."

"Indeed."

"Well I for one love the truth. No amount of deceit or disguise can alter it. Its so honest and simple. Resistant to all efforts of subdefuge and lie. It can not be hidden. Its an entity reliant only upon its own existence and if you know how to greet it it will always, always, be plain to see."

"Indeed."

"Quite."

Colonel Carter stared at the General, speechless. She was frowning. He'd sounded exactly like the Canopic g_d Cauac. How strange, she thought.

"Carry on Colonel. Expedience is priority in this instance. These men have got families and I would like to offer them explanations or solutions, preferably both, as soon as possible."

"Yes Sir, thank you. Sir that was very profound, passionate."

"What?"

"Sam can I assist you?"

"I'm glad you asked Daniel."

"Colonel Carter, perhaps I too can be of some assistance?"

"Oh definitely Teal'c, thanks."

"T, I want SG-14 sectioned, discretely. And have the guard doubled down there. No contact. Carter I don't want any of them leaving quarters so testing will need to be conducted in lock up. Armed guards present."

"Sir."

"Debrief, ten thirty hundred."

"Yes Sir, full Report."

"What are you going to be doing now Jack?"

"My rounds."

"I thought you did those earlier."

"I did, these are different rounds."

"What? Just how much work have you got to get through? You've been up since who knows."

"A lot Daniel, a real lot. I never knew George had such a good poker face. Bingo. See yous later."

"General."

"Jack."

"O'Neill."

The General left the Briefing Room and walked through a flock of waiting administrators. They all took off after the General. Suddenly General O'Neill turned and rushed back into the Briefing Room catching SG-1 before they left.

"Jack if you're that allergic to paper pushers you can always apply to join SG-1, we've got an opening you know."

The General smiled at Daniel.

"On second thoughts.."

O'Neill indicated for everyone to sit back down.

"Theorise Carter! I believe we've got ourselves a very serious situation unfolding here. I think we may well be under attack. We simply don't have available time to throw on tests with untried instruments. And I also don't want you exposed to SG-14."

He looked directly at Colonel Carter.

"Well Sir in view of Doctors Brigham and Carmichael's lack of findings, the closest explanation I can put forth is that each member of SG-14's physical anatomical structure has been mimicked and then the true anatomical changes that would need to be in place in order for the men, SG-14, to now exist in our time-space continuum have been mapped over."

"Sort of like using ship cloaking technology inside the body."

"Precisely General, exactly so Sir. Their original molecular code is being used to cloak, mask, the culprit, the possessing entity. Shielding its presence."

"Yeah but Sam it doesn't make sense, I mean we know the Goa'uld are parasitical but they have an advantage from their blending. These things in SG-14 apart from the fact that we now know they're there, they seem to be completely dormant. Seems a bit pointless."

"Daniel I think they possess the body for travel purposes."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"Sir, whilst we know engaging the Eighth Chevron introduces an additional stellar vector capability, I hold that deploying the Ninth Chevron on top of the normal Seven Chevron sequence has the effect of creating a subspace corridor within the Seven Chevroned subspace."

"A sub-sub-space Colonel Carter?"

"Yes Teal'c, definitely. Chevron Eight guarantees that this Ninth Chevron wormhole has the extended parameter of distances beyond our galaxy."

"You said all this already. Trans-galactic Sam sure but I'm still not seeing how."

"Okay, if we can for a moment, imagine opening up a suitcase and placing an apple pie inside, flying to Texas, opening the suitcase again and taking out the pie. Providing the rides not been to bumpy the pie's gonna be just fine."

"Sam are you saying SG-14 are like the apple pie."

"No Daniel shes saying they're the suitcase."

Colonel Carter was facing the room and nodding and looking extremely discomposed."

The Briefing Room was filling up with tension. And an uncomfortable feeling of impending danger. A storm.

"Carter your theory indicates something has possessed each member of SG-14 in order to travel through the StarGate."

"Unfortunately yes Sir."

The General took a very deep breath and slowly quietly exhaled. He was drumming two of his fingers on his teeth. He had his eyes closed. The room was silent apart from the drumming noise the General was making. He stopped drumming and slowly swept his forehead. It was obvious to SG-1 the General had just made a series of decisions. He would let them know accordingly.

"Okay Carter give me more, lets have it. Nutshell please."

They were all now deadly serious and gravitating towards battle mode.

"Why not just use the normal Seven Chevron lock?"

"At this stage General I can only guess it has something to do with the uncontrollable phasing possibility provision the Ancients incorporated into the Ninth Chevron parameters. Sir as with our suitcase analogy, the apple pie would survive a plane journey, Ninth Chevron, but not a train journey, Seven Chevroned and altogether to bumpy a ride to retain integrity."

"Gotcha. So then Carter based on this theorem of yours.. ..hypotheorem even, the possessor, Nebulium or whatever, should be due to disembark, get out of the suitcase, when it reaches its destination, the other side of the wormhole."

"O'Neill, the destination you refer to, the other side of the wormhole is indeed, here, The SGC!!"

The General practically knocked his chair over jumping up to sound high alert. He shouted at Teal'c.

"Get those men separated!! Iso Unit Level thirty-one A."

"Yes."

Teal'c quickly picked up the telephone and spoke to a security officer on Level thirty.

"Level thirty-one A, Jack we don't have a Level.."

"Let it go Daniel."

The General nodded to Daniel. He was still doling out orders to Teal'c who was still on the phone to lower Base security.

"T, two armed guards per man! No contact! Cut the surface off! Seal off Sixteen and above."

"Sir the lie detector?"

"Forget that Carter, you've more than proved your point. Colonel, elevate to Code Seventeen."

"Jack, Nick?"

"I know Daniel, hes going to have to be taken out of the infirmary, down to Level thirty-one A with SG-14. Don't worry Daniel he'll be well taken care of."

"Jack I don't think hes.."

"Daniel please."

"I'm sorry Jack."

"Teal'c with me. Carter you know what to do, and Colonel, enforce a standby to move up to Code Nine. Daniel contact General Hammond, Brief him. Set up a conference."

"On it Sir."

"Done."

The General and Teal'c began to run through the level twenty-seven corridors. He shouted back to the aide trying to keep up.

"You wait there."

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