When the last grain of sand was placed, I was caught up in a moment of satisfaction. I stared down in wonder, able to pan my focus back to see the entirety of the finished product, whereas before, all I could see was my area of focus, the emptiness that I was filling with sand, covering the dark, polished mirror of the floor color and depth. I had been so transfixed in my final placements, I had not even noticed that a crowd had gathered. Loxy was there, as was my entire Invisible Counselors, who were no longer ‘Invisible’ by any means of the word. They had moved way past the original context of the endeavor that led me to being Captain. Other crew members who had taken an interest in my endeavor were also present. I could list them by name, but, eh, whatever… I finished!
A sudden, unexpected vibration rumbled through the Hangar Deck floor, stirring the sands and turning the painting into a blurry version of what we had created, as if Monet had painted it instead of us. At 72 hours into my project, the Ship’s Stargate unfolded from the wall. When the Astria Porta’s inner wheel began to spin, the pitch of the vibration through floor completely wiped the sand painting, creating a geometric pattern that resembled a snowflake.
The wheel stopped when the first chevron clicked into place. When the wheel resumed spinning, in the opposite direction, the pitch of the vibration in the floor changed the geometric pattern of the sand painting.
I was more mesmerized by the dancing sands than mad that OMG, my painting just got wiped, and I think the crew was focused on my reaction, wondering if I was going to throw a fit. The fact that I was not reacting suggested I knew what was happening, and Loxy leaned down and said, ‘John?’ but I had no clue; this was the furthest from set point that I had traveled in time. Also, this was the first Stargate activation since we became a crew, and probably the first time the Stargate had ever been utilized, because this was the first time Midori had traveled far enough away from Crossover that it was functional. (If you don’t understand that, two Stargates in the same solar system don’t work. They have to be separated by a minimum distance greater than the length of the solar system.)
Chan realized what was going on before the second Chevron fell into place, and his knowledge of protocol kicked in. He tapped his comm. badge. “Unscheduled Stargate activation,” he announced. “Implement protocol one, security to the Hangar Deck. Loxy, secure the Captain.”
“Are you kidding? I am not leaving,” I said, standing. Loxy steadied me. 72 hours is a long time to be seated like that.
The monks hurriedly swept up the dancing sand. It was like trying to catch ants. “What’s coming?” Loxy asked.
“I have no clue. I am arriving here for the first time with you,” I said. “Oh. Is new good?” Loxy asked.
“I will tell you in a little bit,” I said.
Collins had arrived and immediately began clearing an area directly in front of the gate as if we were morons. When the Eisenstein-Rosen Bridge was established between the two gates, there was back wash of energy that would literally destroyed anything in its path. As was reported in an episode of SG1, it’s like watching a toilet flush sideways. There have been
versions of portals going back to the beginning of civilization, so Stargates are not unique to SG1, but the consistent, high quality of the writing gave SG1 a staying power greater than Trek. Trek had time, and I am fan, but the writing has often been lacking. As far has historical portals go, portals can come in a number of fashions, from a wardrobe full of winter coats and mothballs, to a ring one puts over a finger.
Loxy took my hand. “You okay?”
“Yeah. This better be good, though,” I said.
“Because they mess up the sand painting?” Loxy asked. “Because if it’s boring, I am going to fall asleep,” I said. “How could this ever be boring?” Loxy asked.
I squeezed her hand.
The last Chevron clicked into place, and the Stargate synchronized with the far gate and locked in the open position. Several officers ‘Anchored’ their tricorders to record the event.
What can I say, my people are clever. It’s almost like I am not needed. When the sideways, swimming pool of light settled, like a sparkling pool under moonlight, a small, toy size rover emerged and proceeded straight towards us. I approached it. Chan tried to block me but I gave him a look. Loxy came with me. A camera on the rover looked up at me.
“OMG, if you interrupted my almost perfect day to sell me Matel products, I am going to be rather sore,” I said.
“You’re human?” came a voice from a speaker on the Rover “Most of us. And you?” I asked.
“We’re human. Would you be okay if I sent a team over to speak with you in person?” the voice asked.
“I would prefer that to speaking to a Mars Rover want to be,” I said. “Um, okay, we’ll be right over,” a new voice said.
And we waited. “So, what would have made it the perfect day?” Loxy asked. “Going to bed with you,” I said.
“Then I am going to be very cross if this blocks that,” Loxy said.
Four people emerged from the Gate and proceeded down the ramp. They were somewhat familiar, in terms of dress, and general ‘Away Team’ configuration, but if you’re thinking this was SG1, well, it wasn’t… Exactly. They were wearing the correct fatigues and they were armed: three with military machine guns, pretty close to the P3 from the SG1 series, and the person who wasn’t Teal’c but resembled him in general shape and size and ‘grumpy’ demeanor was clearly modified human with a non-terrestrial weapon slash staff.
The man who held point took off his sunglasses and pocketed them. He lightly surveyed the group that had gathered. He was probably curious why no one had shoes or boots on. He gave a halfhearted smile and focused on me, due to proximity, and perhaps because I was the only one wearing a monk-ish outfit. My fellow monks had departed once they had disposed of the sand.
“Hello,” the lead said. “I am Colonel Jack O’Neill, this is Lt. Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson, and our sidekick, Teal’c.”
“No, you’re not,” I said, flatly.
O’Neill grimaced at that. “I am pretty sure we are.”
“I am very familiar with the names and you just don’t look anything like what remember you should look like,” I said.
“You have met us before?” Carter asked.
“Technically, not met, unless the holodeck counts, but even then, technically, no, but I know you, except not you,” I said. “Sorry, this is sounding crazy.”
“Yeah,” O’Neill said. “You always dress like a leaf, or are we interrupting a ceremony?”
“It isn’t easy being green,” I assured him.
“Maybe they’re from a reboot series,” Loxy said. “OMG, no. There is only one Jack O’Neill,” I said. “How do you explain the Kurt version?” Loxy asked. “I just pretend it was the Anderson version,” I said.
“But I love Kurt,” Loxy said. And I love Kurt, and I go way back with Kurt, all the way back to Gilligan’s Island, yes, he was there with me, and he was the computer that wore tennis shoes, and the strongest man, and I love that he and Goldie have lasted the test of time, because they strike me as a wonderful, loving couple, and I would sit down and share coffee with him, and try not to stare at Goldie, but I will still say this to his face, sorry, you’re just not O’Neill.
“And I still love you,” I said. “But this not them. I mean, look at Teal’c. He’s not black. Teal’c is supposed to be black, not a Tongan! No disrespect, Teal’c, you’re huge, and you could probably sell it, given that pouty face, but I can’t help thinking there is Texas High School football team that is missing it’s star linebacker.”
“Did we end up on the LSD side of the New Universe?” O’Neil asked.
“I am sorry, O’Neil. It’s just been a really long day,” I said. “Of course, I can ramble on a shorter day, too. So, I don’t know what I am saying at this point. Is it intelligible?”
“You look really tired,” Carter said.
Tesla looked at me. “How do you do that, Captain?”
“She’s just showing concern, Tesla,” I explained. She wasn’t Carter. I would so surrender to Carter. But this wasn’t her. Not to say I wouldn’t surrender to her charm, too, cause she’s cute, in a new, different way, and if I hadn’t been so tired, my brain might have been spinning tangents and scenarios that might increase the odds of a hook up. “It’s doesn’t mean what you think it does.”
“Yes, it does,” Loxy corrected me. “Anytime a girl shows concern or nurturing, it’s because it means what you think it means.”
“So, you’re saying, if she ignored me as if I was the High School nerd, on the unpopular side of the fence, with a cold shoulder indifference approach, I am the most popular cheerleader on campus how dare you even pretend to look at me, that would mean what I think it means?”
“No, even a cold shoulder isn’t an absolute no,” Loxy said.
“And females wonder why males live in perpetual state of confusion,” I lamented. “When a guy is interested, you know. There is no games or hiding that.”
“Men and women are different. Grow up and embrace the mystery,” Loxy said. “Would you like us to come back on a different day?” O’Neill asked.
“It won’t make any difference,” Loxy assured him. “She’s probably right,” I said.
“Probably?” Loxy asked.
“Oh, always right, sorry, I sometimes get that wrong,” I said. “So, O’Neil, who isn’t O’Neil, just skipped to the part that explains why you’re here.”
“We’re looking for a John and Loxy,” Carter said. “Oh, of course you are,” I said.
“Do you know them?” Carter asked.
“Depends, are you looking to kill them?” I asked.
“No!” Carter said. “Maybe,” Teal’c said. O’Neill frowned at Teal’c who retracted his statement.
Loxy and I raised our hands. O’Neill fished a coin out of his jacket pocket and tossed it to me. It turned out it wasn’t a coin, but a pet tag. “If found, please return to John and Loxy,” with a Stargate address that led direct to the Enterprise Gate. The flip side of the coin said “Isis.”
“Oh, you found my cat,” I said. “I am Captain John Harister of the Starship Enterprise.”
O’Neil tilted his head making another face. “Never heard of you,” he said, looking to his team for support. “I recall a Pike. A Kirk. A Picard…”
“There was Captain Garret,” Carter said.
“Oh, nice, from the Enterprise C,” O’Neill said. “But never heard of a Harister.”
“Maybe he is emulating the Galaxy Quest episode,” Teal’c said.
I gave him my best cross look. “You and I are not going to get along, Sir,” I said. “You think just because you’re a god you can name your ship Enterprise?” Teal’c said. “Whoa, I am not a god,” I said.
“Then explain your bitch, whore cat, and what she was doing on our world,” Teal’c said. “Teal’c, we were going to get to that,” O’Neill said.
“I see no purpose in engaging in this craziness further,” Teal’c said. “The whole Universe has gone insane and I am the only one left who has maintained any rationality.” I noticed Jackson finding other things to look at it.
“Um, yeah, so are you missing a cat?” O’Neill asked me. “You haven’t harmed her, have you?” I asked.
Jackson and Carter seemed suddenly uncomfortable. O’Neill hit his radio and asked SG1 to push the cat through. A four wheel dolly holding a pet kennel arrived, pushed by a tech. Inside the kennel, a very unhappy cat sound issued, and the Kennel rocked.
“OMG,” I said.
“How did you get her in there?” Loxy asked.
“It wasn’t easy,” O’Neill said. “But she was trying to access the gate, and well, she didn’t ask permission.”
“Would you let her out, please?” I asked. “I would prefer you didn’t,” Teal’c said.
“It might be best if you wait Teal’c leaves,” O’Neill said.
“Isis, you will behave and let me sort this,” I said. The kennel stopped rocking. The attendant opened the kennel with O’Neill’s permission. Isis ran straight to me and jumped in my arms. She purred. “I am happy to see you, too. Umm, she had a collar?”
“Umm, yeah, we took that from her,” O’Neill said. “My guys are still studying it.”
“May I have it back?” I asked.
“I could ask,” O’Neill said. “Can’t promise you anything, yet.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Look, this is really sucking in terms of a first meet.”
“Better than the first place we visited,” O’Neill said.
“Oh? Oh, well, yeah, maybe, if it is what I think it is,” I said. “If I may, did you make your own Stargate?” Jackson asked.
“Yeah, and so, that’s why I am really curious how you got a gate, because I thought we were making them and we are just getting to the distribution part of production,” I said. “And I really want to understand and track this better, but I am going to have to step out and let my crew visit with you, because I am really, really tired,” I said.
“Perhaps you and I can speak tomorrow?” O’Neill said.
“That would be lovely. If tomorrow ever comes, I will let you know,” I said. “What does that mean?” O’Neil said.
“Loxy, give them a tour, catch them up to speed, introduce them to Midori, as I bet she will want to send representatives to their planet. Also, Carter, Tesla, Tesla, Carter, you two might like talking,” I said.
Loxy seemed perturbed.
“Did I forget something?” I asked. “Oh! T-rex stakes are available.”
“No,” Loxy said.
“There are no stakes left? Really?” I asked.
“No, there is stakes left, it’s just not what I was saying no to,” Loxy said. “I was supposed to help you close out the most perfect day.”
“Oh, please, I am so tired,” I said.
“I know, and you invited me to celebrate the end of a perfect day, and that’s what I want,” Loxy said.
“I am probably not even going to make it to our quarters,” I said. “Take my bunk,” Collins said. “Right next door.”
Loxy looked to me to see if this was good. I gave in easy enough.
“Goodnight, SG1. O’Neill, you and I will talk some other time. Uhura? You got this?” and I handed it all to Uhura.
Loxy took my hand and led me to the quarters next door. I slid into the bunk, and pushed to the far side to make room for Loxy. I held her like an oversize teddy bear, my head on her bosom, my eyes closing.
“So, now that you finished the mandala, what do you think you will do tomorrow?” Loxy asked.
“Sleep,” I said.
“Really? “ Loxy asked. “You’re not going spend the day with Pristin?”
I opened my eyes, tracking that. I could see across the room and the table between the bunks where a card game had been interrupted, and I could smell the cigars that were left in the ash trays. “The all-girl South Korean musician dance group?” I asked.
“Yeah. What guy doesn’t want to be the center of an all Korean girl group, Hallyu?” Loxy asked.
“K-pop versus Thai pop, the oldest question in history,” I said. “I’m thinking of starting an all-girl Enterprise group. Maybe redo that Michael Jacskon song, I’m black, I’m white… Start my online Enterprise Crew magazine, with covers competing with Maxim and Sports Illustrated covers. Every issue will herald a day with the Captain.”
“That could be fun,” Loxy said. “I call first cover! Wait a minute. You already did the Korean group, didn’t you?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Right after I reenacted Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
“Oh?” Loxy said. “Which brother did you play?”
“All of them,” I said. “Simultaneously.”
“At the same time?” Loxy asked.
“Yeah. It was really challenging, but I figure if you’re going to try and steal one sister from a wagon full of sisters, you might as well take them all, because, what if one doesn’t work out, or it’s a really long winter,” I said.
“Yeah, not sure I need to understand the rational,” Loxy said, kissing me on the forehead. “I might want see the episode, though.”
“You could join me. Be one of the sisters?” I said.
“Are you kidding? I want to be the youngest brother,” Loxy said.
“You want to be my brother?” I asked.
“No, I just want to spend time with the youngest sister,” Loxy said. OMG, I am so not going to go right to sleep.
“Okay, but I am so going to have to watch that,” I said. “Oh, you don’t have to just watch,” Loxy said.
Oh, if I wasn’t so tired. I let my eyes drift.
“If we do a musical together, I would really want to do the Pirate Movie,” I said.
“Okay. But only if Johnny Dep does a cameo,” Loxy said.
“I will give you Johnny if you give me Kaya,” I said. “Done,” Loxy said.
“OMG, you’re not going to let me sleep, are you?” I asked.
“I am dying to know how you did the sand trick,” Loxy said.
I wasn’t sure what she was saying. I was that tired. “A lot of practice,” I said.
“I can’t even imagine,” Loxy said.
“Please, stop talking,” I whispered into her bosom.
“No, I can’t let you sleep till we end the perfect day,” Loxy said. “I can’t give you my full attention,” I complained.
“I know, but you’re going to have stay focused just a little longer, because the way I see it, it’s not the end of the perfect day until you’re inside me,” Loxy said.
OMG. “Really? I can’t even keep my eyes open!” I said. “I won’t be any good.”
“I will do all the work,” Loxy said.
“Okay, fine, just rape me then,” I said. “Like a Sobbin woman,” Loxy said. “I am just ‘one man,’” I said.
“I’m ‘glad you were born,’” Loxy said.
Unwrapping the green monk robe proved challenging in the confines of the lower bunk. I say that, but top bunk wouldn’t have been any better, because the space between bed and ceiling is the same as between bed and bed. Loxy took me like a woman whose man had been out at sea for a year. This felt like a planned event, as she didn’t bother taking off her clothes. She was wearing hose, but no undergarments, and, as promised, she did all the work. As she grinded me, leaning in close, her face hovering over mine, I lifted my hands and pushed my fingers through her hair, and whispered “Bliss.” She gasped and put her lips against mine, and I held her firm, even as I surrendered to her, allowing her to take me over the brink. I felt everything, the warm rush through my body, the fullness of me inside her, the tightness of her own spasms, her weight against me, her lips against me. It resulted in me having one of my full body spasms that rocked me from head to toe as if I were having an epileptic fit. Sometimes after one of these, I will cry. I don’t know why, but this kind of orgasm either makes me cry or launches me out of my body into an LSD like trip, or, and this was new, I laughed. I couldn’t help it, it was spontaneous, and I was relieved to see Loxy was amused, and not perturbed. Maybe because she knew about the laughing girl from my past, or maybe because she had seen firsthand how sex could transport me to other worlds and evoke strong emotions. It wasn’t an outrageous laugh. It was soft, and gentle, and loving, and I managed to whisper, “OMG, thank you,” and then I was asleep.
I aroused to a gentle conversation in the background, rolled away from it, and covered my head up. The conversation ended when I moved, and I drifted again. I heard a toilet flush and I sat up, hitting my head on the upper bunk, issued a complaint, and fell back to bed, grabbing my head.
Bucket and Collin came at me, concerned. “Oh, are you alright?” Collins pulled out her tricorder and gave a quick medical scan.
I tried to focus, but that really smarted. It dawned on me I was completely naked. “Um, where am I? And why am I…”
“You don’t remember last night?” Bucket asked.
Did we? Bucket and Collins seemed incredibly amused by my discomfort, and it was a level of play I hadn’t expected from them, because, from my perspective, we hadn’t established the playful banter rapport. I mean, I knew them well enough that I could get away with it, but I was surprised they were giving it back to me before I had given it to them, and I was really confused. And then Loxy was there, pulling me out of the bed and hugging me to her.
“I so wanted to be here when you awoke, but I really had to pee…” Loxy said. She became concerned by my lack of response. “Are you okay?”
“He hit his head really good,” Bucket said. “Do you want a Doctor?” Loxy asked.
“The tricorder said it’s not a concussion,” Collins said.
Okay, this is all new. Did I actually sleep? I was naked, three females present, and no one is alarmed or upset, or trying to cover me, and I am not even trying to cover me, and they seem really concerned for my wellbeing. Well, they are professionals and they are my crew and…
“John? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you speaking?” Loxy asked. I blinked.
“Are you cycling?” Loxy asked. “I don’t know what to say,” I said.
“So you’re here, you moved forwards into a new day?” Loxy asked. “This is good!”
“No!” I said.
“Why?” Loxy asked. “What’s going to happen?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know what’s going to happen. I am afraid,” I said.
Loxy embraced me again. “Shhh, it’s okay. It’s okay. We got you. I got you. Jung told us to expect some confusion when you finally emerged. This is normal,” she said. “Just hang on.”
“How is this normal?” I asked. “I am blind. I don’t know what to do. And if I do ‘do’ something, how will I know if it’s the right choice?”
“There are no wrong choices,” Loxy assured me. “Just live your life and know we got you.”
“That has so not been my experience,” I said. “There are caveats and conditions and things go wrong and there is this narrow path that seems ideal.”
“Fuck the path, John. Walk in whatever direction you want to walk,” Loxy said. “All paths are love.”
That sounded incredibly sane, but I was on the verge of panicking.
“Breathe,” Loxy said. “You just emerged from the long end of a day, like swimming the length of an Olympic pool underwater. Breathe. We got you.”
“Let’s start with the easy stuff. Let’s get you dressed,” Collins said.
“Or a shower. Showers are always a nice way to help set the tone for the day,” Bucket said.
“Or sex,” Loxy said.
“Sex and then a shower,” Bucket said. “You want a foursome?” Collins asked.
They were so serious! Had they been talking about sex all morning? How is this not a trap?
“I think I am going to start today with a cold shower,” I said.
“If you like,” Loxy said. “From our perspective, we celebrated your birthday three days
ago, but we’ve decided to have a do over and so we’re celebrating your birthday today. So, shower, I will get you a uniform, and then we’re going to have breakfast at Xanadu.”
This quarters was a shared space, and the bathroom was unisex. The toilet did have an alcove that afforded some privacy, but the shower and double lavatory was fairly public and not everyone could live in this arrangement, and the folks sharing this space had accepted this duty assignment, as it was close to the possibility of action, from random shuttle arrivals to unscheduled gate operations. As I showered, Loxy entered, drinking coffee. She used the mirror’s computer interface, and Siri instantly recognized her and completed her order for my clothes, beaming them onto the counter. She turned to me, leaning against the counter.
The shower alcove used a force field to keep the water contained in the shower space. I was aware that someone was watching me, even though I was staring into the water. I have had showers before, so this wasn’t new, but it felt new, maybe because of my anxiety about having arrived. I was also waiting for it to all dissolve and I hit reset. I wondered if I was hallucinating this. I wondered if it was a tease, a new form of torture. I had cycled for so long that not cycling was a fantasy. It occurred to me that I had cycled through that one day longer than I have been alive! I inhaled water and coughed. Loxy put her coffee down, turned off the water, and patted my back. I felt so old! Loxy wasn’t even half my age, and yet, because of cycling, the disparity in emotional and mental age was so huge I didn’t even know how to measure it. And yet, she comforted me as I coughed. She brought me a towel, fresh, and fluffy, and warm, and she attended me with love.
“Breathe,” Loxy said. “I got you.”
“You keep saying that,” I said.
“I want you to believe it,” Loxy said. “All of us got you.”
Loxy was about to help me dress, but I assured her I got it. She did not leave, but sipped on her coffee. When dressed, I stared at myself in the mirror. The turtleneck undershirt was thin, wool texture, and was very comfortable, and came with the command pips already in place. The outer pull over, was metallic gold. I had the minimum bar for all the other department colors, framing the area where my comm. badge would go. Loxy affixed my badge, adjusted the fold of my collar, and smiled at me. I picked up her coffee and drank some.
“Are you hungry?” Loxy asked.
I was famished. I hadn’t eaten since… I couldn’t remember. Once I engaged the sand painting, I worked at that until it was completed. My hands were shaking again. Loxy took my hand and led me into see the others. They had switched uniforms. Apparently, the metallic version of our uniforms was considered our ‘dress’ options. Otherwise, our uniforms were just the primary colors of our choice. They accompanied me to Xanadu, where tables had been placed together to accommodate the gathering. Xanadu was packed. There was a breakfast bar and again, I froze. There was so many people here, and so many options, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Loxy made it easy. She led me to where I was to sit. The people at the table stood.
“Please, don’t do that,” I said. “I mean, thank you. Please, sit, resume eating.”
From this point forward, no one asked me if I were okay. They knew I was adjusting. Can one have PTSD from cycling? Loxy had me sit and she went and got me a plate of food. Our guest, O’Neill and his team were at the table. I listened to their conversation that was already in progress before I arrived. I discovered that they were from an Earth that was twentieth century Earth, where SG1 was a real place, and they lived it without knowledge of the fictional SG1 that I, and most of my crew, were familiar with. In fact, one of the gifts that Midori had offered them was DVD’s of all the SG1 episodes, and all the spinoff shows, as well as informational DVD’s full of all the legitimate published books, and all the fan fiction. Midori would be sending a delegation team back with SG1 to trade for whatever Gate information they had for tech and people, and a new friend. Apparently, their world was on the other side of the Earth Cluster galaxy. And apparently, they had pretty extensive map of Stargates.
“If we are Creating Stargates from scratch, and seeding every solar system we visit, what happens if we assigned a gate address that is already in use?” Loxy asked.
Brilliant question. I imagine the seed ships that were dropping gates throughout the Universe had a system, but did they ever plan for the contingency that someone else might figure out how to build Stargates?
Jackson said something about all the Egyptian artwork where there were people with cat heads, which started a private conversation with Marwa who was sitting next to him about how they had always believed in aliens, and that many of the ‘non humans’ were really hybrids or species created from a human genome, and Sacagawea pointed out, there were cat people living in Avalon.
Prior to meeting this SG, we, my crew and I, assumed that everyone would be adjusting to suddenly being placed in a new Universe, but on meeting this SG1, we discovered that they, like my crew, have their own history and background stories. It was the same with the Egyptians I met, and the Druids. Basically, their explanation is that they were always there, even in the face of the evidence that that wasn’t true. Even on their side of the galaxy, new stars were becoming visible every day. Their solar system has three viable planets, but only SG1 knew that the planets were full of life. For whatever reason, their planet’s government were giving the public stock photos from NASA of Mars and Venus, and not sharing the fact that there was life beyond Earth. And surprisingly, except for the hard core conspiracy theorists, the public sti