Aberrant: Stargate Universe - A Given Value of Sane

[The Red Man]

"So what do you think, Doc?" The question was as much rhetorical as it was real as both men watched the solitary figure beyond the foot-thick polycarbon window. "We could really use him back out there. Seems a damn shame to keep his skills out of the field."

General O'Neill tried not to lean any harder on the white-coated man beside him. While he was the CO of SGC, O'Neill was well aware that ultimate authority in this matter, and by extension the fate of one of his men, was in the hands of the soft-spoken doctor sitting next to him making a few notes on his PDA. The doctor, an ex-soldier himself and with twenty-three years experience in treating and evaluating military personnel, adjusted his spectacles and looked up at the CO.

"He's been a model patient. Or should I say, they've been model patients." The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "It's a baffling case, General. Ordinarily, I'd say Declan is schizophrenic, with multiple personas and a fantasy that the violent side of him is this 'Red' character. In fact, that was my first prognosis. And then we ran him through the brain scanners when he 'changed'." The General looked sharply at him. "Oh, no. It wasn't involuntary on his part. Like I said, he's been very cooperative. Both of them have been."

"So what did the scans pick up?"

"A dual-consciousness. Two distinct brainwave patterns linked and switching into the driving seat right before our eyes." The doctor smiled, shaking his head again. "And he can control the switch to a degree, too, though we've been hesitant to test how extreme the situation would need to be for an involuntary one."

"So...?" The doctor sighed.

"So... He's healthy as any ten horses you might name. His mental acuity and perceptivity are off the scale. In tactical and shoot-house scenarios he hasn't made a single wrong move. We even had him sparring with some of the Marines here..."

"What?!"

"Relax, the condition was that he play down his ability and be able to pass for human. We even laid a condition on him once to throw a fight, to let the 'lesser man' win without letting it seem like he had. He did it, no problem. A megalomaniac or sociopathic personality would have chafed at that, resented the restrictions." The doctor shook his head again. "He's... I mean, they are not 'normal', that's for certain. But I'm signing off on his fitness to be back in the teams." The doctor smiled as the General nodded.

"Right then. I'll let SG21 know that their prodigal is returning." He looked at the sitting figure beyond the glass, pausing as he turned to go. "What the hell is he doing, anyway?"

"Meditating." The doctor replied, making another note. "Incarceration and confinement are particularly hard on Sergeant Perault. He escapes into meditation and exercise. Even so, it is taking a toll on him. In effect, locking him up for these few weeks is actually the nastiest thing we could have done to him." The doctor sounded vaguely regretful. The General blinked.

"Come again, with the Cliff notes?"

"He's visibly more drawn and weary than he was when we first took him in for evaluation, General. Strain, I would imagine, caused by keeping his Red persona under control and not just trying to break free. For which I'm profoundly grateful, because he likely could." The doctor stood and stretched. "And in so doing, would have probably killed some people. We shouldn't keep him penned up, General. In my expert opinion, that is a bigger threat to his sanity AND innocent lives than anything the artifact did to him."

"Alright." O'Neill nodded. "Cut him loose. I'll notify his new squad leader."

* * * * * * * * * *

He plonked his duffel down on his old bunk and stared around the room. He'd only been away from it for a few weeks, but Declan felt as though he'd been through the Stargate for perhaps half a year. He wandered through to the bathroom and stared at himself, noting the grey in his hair and the deeper lines in his face. *Shit, I look like Rip Van Winkle*

*Rip Van Wrinkle, ya mean! Fuck, man. Ya coulda let me-*

*Shut up, dickhead. It worked, didn't it? We're back in '21 and now we don't have to pussyfoot around. The brass know about us.* His alter-ego grumbled.

Yeah, but now EVERYONE will know. Goodbye, any chance of gettin' tail. Some chicks are freaky enough to like it with two guys, but two guys in one body?

*Is that all you think about?*

*Wasn't ME thinkin' it, it was you. I just voiced it... in a manner of speakin'*

*Hey, there's lots of nice women around that might understand...* He was cut off by laughter, and decided not to continue. *Okay, okay. Shut up already and lets go eat*

*Most sensible thing you've said yet, buddy.*

Dec ran his fingers through his shaggy hair, scowled at himself absently in the mirror, then turned and headed out of his room, turning left down the corridor and heading towards the cafeteria. He was sure that people would come looking for him when word of his return was passed around, and felt that a wide-open space like the SGC eating hall was best for any such meetings.

[Rorx]

Gwyn was walking towards his quarters to get changed after the morning sparring session with Damien when he noticed the light on in Sgt Perault's room. Knocking and entering the open room he found Dec's kit was back. Exiting and closing the door with a smile he quickly went to his own quarters and changed, then called the range and left a message for the rest of SG-21 - simply that Dec was back.

Having left the message Gwyn left his quarters, Two obvious places he could have gone, the cafeteria or the gym, and I've only just left the gym so he must have gone to the canteen.

Reaching the canteen Gwyn entered trying to show none of his anticipation, heading to the counter he picks up his normal coffee and couple of doughnuts, while spotting Dec at the teams usual table. Paying he heads to the table and sits down opposite Dec and says simply, "Morning Dec."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia received the message from Gwyn as she was leaving Vinny's room, headed for breakfast. He had a meeting with some of the scientists about something he'd found; Vinny hadn't been real forthcoming, and they'd been busy with other things anyway.

Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out, glancing at the message. A grin lit up her face and she broke into a fast walk. Halfway to the cafeteria, she was almost running, her feet shuffling on the ground in an attempt to run without looking like she was running.

She came into the room with her dark eyes already scanning the area; they lit up with glee when she saw him. Ignoring food and even courtesy in her rush, she went straight to him. Distracted with Gwyn, Declan was caught in a sudden rush as familiar arms looped around his shoulders. A happy voice squealed in his ear, "You're back! I missed you! You missed some fun stuff, my friends." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she murmured in his ear, "Oh, and wait until you see what I can do now!"

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult saw Olivia running in the halls and followed at a more sedate pace to the cafeteria. When she got there, she saw Olivia's arms wrapped around a large, muscular man wearing a pair of dark shades. She recognized him from his medical records - this was Sgt. Declan Perault, finally released from his psyche eval.

Yseult got herself a plate of food, rather larger than she would have prefered, but her specialist constitution demanded an exorbitant amount of fuel. She made her way back and stood next to the table, giving Gwyn and Olivia a nod and smile in greeting before turning her eyes on Declan, her bright, oversized irises of vivid turquoise contrasting sharply with the honey-gold hue of her skin and hair.

"Sgt. Perault, it is a pleasure to finally meet you, I'm Dr, Yseult. I am glad that you are finally done with your psychological evaluation, and hope you do not blame the doctors too much. I too, know what isolation is like and can sympathize."

[The Red Man]

It was almost too much for a man who'd been seeing only white coats for nearly a month. Gwyn's arrival and greeting was guy-casual, and Dec had just smiled and returned the laconic "Mornin'" when Livy's arms went around his shoulders in an entirely more exuberant greeting. For a split second, he juggled a forkful of bacon in one hand while his other arm went around Livy in a welcome hug. Always practical, he stuffed the bacon into his mouth, chewed and swallowed at speed before dropping the fork and giving his friend a proper hello.

"How ya doin', Livy?" He hugged her again, smiling from behind his shades. Both his friends were easily able to notice that Dec seemed to have aged ten years in his three weeks of isolation. Sure, his body was the same, right down to the shoulders filling out the cotton t-shirt, but his face was haggard as though he'd spent three weeks being waterboarded or undergoing electro-shock therapy, and his shaggy dark brown hair was flecked with silver. Livy slid into the seat next to him, exchanging a glance with Gwyn. Still, he seemed healthy enough, relaxed and happy to see both of them.

Dec looked up then as the golden vision with the strange eyes and the cute accent introduced herself. He blinked once behind his shades, then nodded a greeting to her.

"Hiya, Doc. Uhh... You're a new Specialist?" He grabbed one of the four cartons of milk on his tray and took a gulp to cover his utter lack of small talk with new people. He was also incredibly glad for the shades, and not for the first time, as he examined her exotic beauty from behind the safety of the strengthened plastic. "So... You've heard of me?" He looked at Gwyn and Livy with mock severity, ruined with a ghost of a smile. "Okay, kids. Who's been carryin' tales?"

[Rorx]

Gwyn shakes his head, "Not me Sarge. Yseult's a doc and a scientist, so she's been going through all our medical files etc for their usual arcane purposes. She has also been assigned to Ryan's SG-23."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria had been headed to the pool, but a stream of tense Airmen coming from the cafeteria peaked her curiosity enough for her to 'listen in' on a few of them to find out what was going on. A smile lit up her face and she quickly rerouted herself: first back to her room where she nabbed one of the platters of chocolates and petit-fours she still had left over from the trip to Rico's, and then towards the cafeteria where the others were already gathering.

She fairly skipped into the room and deposited the platter on the table where Olivia and Gwyn and Yse and.....Declan? Kyria frowned. He didn't look right. Something was wrong. Her mind ticked through some thought process that was nearly arcane to herself and then something clicked in her mind and started to whir in the world. Declan began to look different: the lines around his face receded into faint traces, the grey hairs turned darker and deeper in color until they faded into the dark brown of the rest of his hair, and although barely noticeable to even the enhanced specialists, even the taught lines of muscles under his clothes became just a little bit more defined and shaped.

Kyria smiled, now recognizing the man in front of her and chalking the initial confusion up to some odd momentary vision. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Welcome back! I brought chocolate."

Click to reveal.. (Kyria shaping the world to her whims. )

1d10=7, 1d10=9, 1d10=9, 1d10=2, 1d10=3

3 success

Declan had just turned 30 in the game (October 2004), he's now physically 24 again.

[Yseult Sierra]

Originally Posted By: Declan

"Hiya, Doc. Uhh... You're a new Specialist?"

Yseult's pleasant smile stayed in place, though it was now tinged with a faint sadness. "No more new then the most of the other Specialists, Sgt. Perault... My circumstances, they were unique, and there was some issue with determmining my true identity, so I was kept in isolation for more than a month."

Yseult shook her head and waved the thought away with a slender hand. "I will tell you the whole story at a latter time, if you wish. As to how I know you, it is as Gwyn has said, I have been studying the unique physiologies of the Specialists, learning to better treat them... us."

Before Yseult could continue, her attention was drawn to Kyria, something even more unearthly in her demeanor. She smiled fondly, watching Kyria embrace Declan, then her eyes narrowed, noticing the subtle changes in Declan's appearance.

"Sgt. Perault, have you developed any other... enhancements during you time in evaluation, perhaps a minor ability to alter your appearance? Or did someone else develop new capabilities?" Yseult's inhuman eyes narrowed in suspicion, directing her gaze at Olivia and Kyria.

[The Red Man]

Declan blinked as Kyria hugged him, feeling better than he had in days. Okay, being a Specialist meant pretty much being superman, but the toll of holding himself in check had come close to breaking him in many ways. He felt... reborn somehow, as Kyria's arms went around him.

*Whoa...*

*You said it. Now that was one fuckuva 'hello'. We oughta go to the looney bin more often.*

Dec ignored the other voice and hugged Kyria back, grabbing a chocolate and tossing it into his mouth. "Appreciated. They don't have much in the way of high-livin' in there." He chewed the chocolate as he absorbed Yseult's words.

"Me? Nah, I'm pretty much the same as when I went in fer evaluation. Accordin' to what I've been told, we get stronger by challengin' ourselves, pushin' limits. Intensive psych eval ain't the time or place fer that." He paused. "Why, do I look different?"

[z028 Riley]

Kyria blinked in confusion, first at Yse then at Declan. "Uh, no? Maybe? Did I miss something?"

She slid down into a seat next to Declan, looking back and forth between him and Yse. "You grow stronger just over time too, though. Pushing yourself just makes it go faster and makes it more likely that you accrue taint from quantum backlash."

[Yseult Sierra]

Originally Posted By: Kyria

"Uh, no? Maybe? Did I miss something?

Yseult nodded hesitantly. "Yes, I think you did, Kyria. Declan, just now, there were some minor physical changes in your appearance." Yseult frowned, glancing again at Olivia and Kyria before returning her attention back to Declan. "You seem... renewed, just now. The traces of grey have faded from your hair, and some of the lines of your face have eased, smoothed out. I would hesitate to say you look younger, but I do not know another way of describing the effect."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria bit her lip and looked somewhere between thoughtful and guilty. Quietly she asked, "So...so he really looked...I mean, uh, um...."

She trailed off and looked flustered, "He-he looked different? Before I came in?"

[Yseult Sierra]

The suspicious look that Yseult had been splitting between Olivia and Kyria focused on one. "Yes. He did, Kyria. Have your... visions been affecting your perceptions?" Have your perceptions been affecting what we perceive, or reality itself?

[The Red Man]

"Wait a minute." Dec picked up a spoon and looked into it, trying to make out his reflection. He couldn't see much, but there was a definite difference. "My grey hair... I had some definite salt in my pepper." He looked at Kyria, then at Livy, then at Yseult.

"What the fuck just happened?"

[z028 Riley]

She shook her head, "I haven't had any visions since the Prometheus, but...well, I've noticed some other little things. Like I always know what time it is. Not just a good guess. I know exactly what time it is. All the time. Or how long something takes, or how long it's been since something happened. I've always had a good memory, but not like this." She hesitated, "And Dr. Jackson asked me if I'd made copies of his books, or somehow found younger copies of the ones he had."

Great. Declan finally gets to come home and now you go and do something to him the moment you see him. Way to go.

She gave Declan a concerned look, "Are you okay? Do you feel different? Okay?"

I wonder when I started thinking of the SGC as home?

[Rorx]

Gwyn looks from one to the other, "Yeah Kyrie, he did. He looked like he had aged a good ten years I guess compared with when he left. Grey at the temples, more lines and wrinkles on his face, all that sort of stuff."

He looks back at Dec, "And obviously none of that is visible now. I'd guess you've had an unknown update Kyria. More tests for you I guess."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult focused even more intently on Kyria. "I too have developed an innate sense of distance and spatial dimension, which has resulted in a precise sense of time, as well. But I believe that developed from needing to accurately use my telekinetic ability, needing to be able to target it without seeing any visible effect."

Yseult cocked her head, finger tapping her lips. "There is no way that I could affect someone else with what is essentially, a sixth sense. Perhaps, there is more to your... premonitions then I was first thinking, that I was willing to believe." The blonde doctor nodded at Gwyn. "Yes, more tests, for you, Kyria, and you, Sgt. Perault."

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods to Yseult and turns to Dec with a grin, "No worries though, Yseult's lab is just down by medical here, so I'll come chaperone you."

He takes a sip of his coffee, "By the way, been working on my unarmed while you were away. I might be a bit closer to a decent workout for you now. Though I've no doubt you'll still win hands down."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria gave Declan an absolutely pathetic apology look and mumbled a "Sorry, Dec." She looked miserable and confused. In her entire life she'd never had this issue; her quantum powers had been hers since she was too little to really remember and so had always been instinctual and intuitive in their use and control.

[The Red Man]

His concern over the sudden physical changes and being poked and prodded yet more by a doctor was somewhat eclipsed by Kyria's expression. He forced a wry smile and gave the girl a one-armed hug.

"Don't sweat it, Kyria. Hell, who wouldn't want the grey outta their hair?" he grinned. "As long as I ain't glowin' or turnin' green I'm happy with the change. I was lookin' at myself earlier thinking I looked like shit. Ya did me a favor, ok?"

His grin widened a little, a teasing note entering his voice. "Nice to know that ya see me as a young man, though." His Raybans were on, so they couldn't see his wink, but it was there nonetheless.

[z028 Riley]

Kyria turned bright pink at the teasing but leaned into the Sergeant, grateful that he wasn't angry at her. She glanced up at him.

*How are you doing? I mean I know they let you come back, but how are you really doing?*

Being poked at by doctors and scientists was pretty much part of her job description at this point, so Kyria didn't give that much thought on her own account.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult gave Kyria a look of commiseration and placed a hand over hers in support. "I'm sorry, Kyria, this must be hard on you. But now, maybe you are beginning to understand that the rules from your reality may not be exactly the same here, yes? What you believe to be fact may not be so, here."

Yseult looked at Kyria intently, hoping she would pick up her thoughts. *This doesn't seem to have been a dangerous thing that you have done, but without knowing the extent of your abilities, you must keep a rein on them, rather than using them instinctively. I know, for you, it must be like breathing, but you are going to have to learn to count your breaths if you can affect others without truly meaning too. If you have truly reduced Sgt. Perault's physical age, what would have done if you had reduced him to adolescence or even younger?*

Yseult smiled faintly at Declan's bantering tone. "Yes, well, I am still going to have to insist on a few tests, just to see the full extent of your changes, if you don't mind, Sgt. Perault. It does not have to be now, but soon - just to make sure this is not a precursor to glowing or turning green, yes?"

Suddenly, Yseult's eyes went wide. Oh, merde! If Kyria really can reduce someone's physical age, we will most likely have to conceal this from the IOA, maybe even the SGC - who knows how they will react to the idea of possible eternal youth? At least as long as the fountain that is Kyria does not dry up.

[The Red Man]

*I'm doin' okay. It was kinda hellish sometimes, though.*

*Heya kiddo. We missed ya.* Red's mental voice was the same as always: sardonic, predatory, with a kind of malicious glee underscoring it, as though he liked the discomfort he caused. *And when I say 'missed', I mean REAL-* Kyria could feel Dec's consciousness struggle for a second, then Red's voice disappeared.

*Heh... Don't worry about him We've been getting along a bit better, but he's still, well, the other side of me.* Dec thought to her, a little sheepishly.

[z028 Riley]

Kyria was too focused on Declan to pick up on Yse's sending, and her expression was fairly easy to read on that. Usually she'd give Yse some sort of acknowledgement that she'd picked up on the thoughts.

*Well, it's good that the two of you are figuring out how to work together.* He could feel her concern for him, but also her great relief that he seemed so much more together and in control of both sides of himself. She'd hated that he'd been taken away from them, and a little frightened after what they'd learned from Cam, but it seemed like the therapy had helped at least a little.

A small smile tugged at the side of her lips as she quipped back, *I'll keep that in mind then, too.*

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult sighed, Kyria not hearing her thought, obviously caught up in renewing her acquaintance with Sgt. Perault. She didn't want to ruin the reunion, so for now, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself. She would let Kyria know her concerns, later, in private.

Casually, Yseult looked around the cafeteria, trying to see if anyone else had noticed Sgt. Perault's rejuvenation. Hopefully, when they had a chance to talk, it would not be too late.

[Rorx]

Gwyn notices Yseult looking around the room and leans over to her, "You probably don't need to worry about the other notincing the change in Dec. He wasn't particularly popular before he left, indeed you may have seen a minor evacuation not long after he came in, so I doubt many people would have paid close enough attention to him to realise the change."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia had been silent through this exchange; now she took Declan's chin and gently turned his head toward her. "It suits you," she said after a moment of serious contemplation, giving him a smile.

So little time, but so much had changed. She wondered if they'd still be as close as before, or if too much had changed.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult gave Gwyn a nod that she understood. "That is probably for the best. His change, Gwyn, it may portend to something that results in a great many ramifications."

Yseult smiled sadly as she watched Olivia study her friend before turning her pensive gaze back on Kyria. Was she the only one who was concerned with what Kyria may have done, what it could mean? Please, let the effect be purely cosmetic, it would be so much... simpler.

She wanted to like this superhuman woman, but every time she began to come to terms with what she was, what she could do, Kyria exhibited another facet that could result in a paradigm shift in her world as she knew it. It was very trying.

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods grimly at Yseult's assessment, "Yeah, I'm with you on that one. It doesn't matter if she healed him in some way or really turned back his time, either could have massive effects. Perhaps it is time to start keeping the Specialist data off the network, and preferably on separate media?"

He glances around to see if anyone is paying them any attention before continuing in Goa'uld <G>Given the visions that she had outside the Prometheus it would seem the balance of probabilitiy is that she has developed some kind of temporal powers. One would be randomly seeing through possible times, the other actual manipulation of time. Especially with what she has said about knowing exactly the passage of time.<G>

[z028 Riley]

Kyria came back to the rest of the conversation, catching the tense mood and the last few statements that were made in English. She tilted her head to the side, not looking at anything in particular, mentally cataloged what had happened so far. Her willingness to believe that she had done something, as opposed to something else was that she could recognize the expenditure of her own quantum now that she looked back on it. That meant either she'd somehow acquired the capability to alter someone else's appearance or to alter their age. Neither would be a common power, but the latter she had a blood connection to.

Well, most of life is trying.

She reached down on the table and picked up the napkin on Yse's plate and laid it out where she could see it. The base had switched to cloth napkins a few years ago in an effort to be more 'green'; frowning in concentration she focused on the cloth and on the thought of age.

Click to reveal..

1d10=10, 1d10=5, 1d10=8, 1d10=1, 1d10=3 (First die is mega, as always).

Heh, 4 success. Dec could have been barely legal to drink..... The cloth takes

The cloth seemed to stretch and contort itself, yellowing first at the edges but then racing inward as the edges themselves frayed into nothingness. That too chased inward until only the most delicate scrap of fiber was left, surrounded by dust on the table. Kyria blinked at the remnants of the nearly new napkin and glanced back up at the others that the table.

"Huh. Well. That's temporal manipulation. It's what Max - the Maxwell Mercer of my world - could do. That might also explain the visions. Maybe tracking him down on this Earth triggered something in me. I've never shown any inclination to his powers before, but I'm still very young by nova standards." She blinked slowly again. "It...it might be a good idea to keep me away from people for a while. I....I've never dealt with a power that wasn't...inherent...before. I don't want to hurt someone on accident. Or put them in diapers or something."

[Rorx]

Gwyn quickly puts his plate over the dust on the table, looking up at the young Nova, "No more playing in public, Ok? Let's save it for where we have more chance to control the rumour mill."

[Yseult Sierra]

With an effort, Yseult tried to keep the grimness from her face, though the perceptive would notice the tightness at the corners of her eyes and mouth. She leaned in closer to Gwyn, and keep her voice soft, her accent adding an exotic touch to the exotic language.

<G>I have been considering doing so, but it would be too obvious - there is already documented evidence that our capabilities keep expanding. We may be able to hold some things back, but if the IOA, or even the SGC, learn of it, it will lend credence to their fears.<G>

Yseult pondered Kyria again, then gave Gwyn a nod of agreement. <G>I have to agree with your assessment, Gwyn, some sort of temporal control seems most likely, especially when you take into account where Kyria has come from. What are alternate dimensions but the same world continuing on from an certain point in time, where something else happened, rather than the way we know it, yes? She may not know it, but perhaps, she is trying to find a way home, or at least, to have that option on hand.<G>

Yseult's eyes went wide at the sight of the napkin decaying in Kyria's grasp. "Mon Dieu!" Listening to Kyria's explanation, she was forced to concede that her own theory was just as valid.

Yseult kept her voice low. "We will have to be circumspect about this, Kyria. There is another major ramification of your... ability you may have not considered yet." She waited for the answer to dawn in Kyria's eyes, then continued, "You can turn back the hands of time, Kyria, so it seems. Can you imagine what the IOA, what anyone, would do to have that at their disposal?"

[z028 Riley]

It took a minute (well 38.45098 seconds rounded and the running calculation in her head was getting a little annoying) for Kyria to think it through, not because she didn't understand what it was that she could but because she had to remember that this place didn't have a hundred or four hundred years of nova science behind it, not to mention Andrew. Here what she could do would be grounds for, what did it used to be called? Sainting. Miracles. Something like that. Something valuable to everyone that on world like this they'd probably see as magic. Well, the superstitious ones, anyway.

"On this world I'd be seen as a panacea. A cure all for pretty much anything related to aging; I'd be....useful to the powerful and the old." She looked Yse in the eyes, completing that mental acrobatic trick from off-kilter teen to could-be-ruler-of-the-world that could disconcert even the most hardened Airmen or Specialists on the base. "I understand, Yse. Think of this, though, too: if you want to protect this Earth, you want to offer the alien allies that the SGC has treaties with something powerful and at least for now unique? I could be that, too. From the Tok'ra that can only die slowly from attrition to the Asgard that are dying from a species-wide Xerox effect. And think what would happen if Goa'uld gained hold over me or if I defected. I understand very well." She sat back in her chair, sighing heavily. "I just hope you all understand that in time, you'll be in the same position."

She looked back up at them, trying to smile, "But hey, at least you won't be the guinea pig for policy."

[Yseult Sierra]

"You understand. Really? Perhaps, you do." Yseult's smile was melancholy. Maybe it was where Kyria came from, what her world was like, but Yseult didn't think she understood quite how others would treat her. She was a doctor, she had seen what people were willing to do to stave off old age. Kyria wouldn't be 'useful', she would be a tool, eternal youth kept under lock and key.

"I do not wish to take away your sense of importance, Kyria, but this ability is of limited usefulness to our alien allies. The Tok'ra have access to sarcophagi, as well as their inherent longevity. It is not age which is a problem for them, but a lack of hosts. The cloning technology that the goa'uld from Library of Ra use would be of much greater benefit to them."

"As for the Asgard, they need a solution to the cloning problem, not a stopgap measure. I doubt you can help their entire race, and even if you could, I do not think they would leave the entire fate of their race in the hands of one woman - if nothing else, their own pride would not allow it."

"Your ability is of far more use to us humans, unfortunately. I am certain that is the way the IOA will see it." Yseult looked down at the table, noting some of the remnants of the napkin that wasn't covered. When she looked back at Kyria, her eyes were serious, her voice very soft.

"If you wish, I will help you suppress knowledge of this ability from the official files. That way, you may avoid... entanglements that may arise. At least for a little while. This goes for anyone else who shows... suspect abilities. We will have to still show increases in our capabilities, they have evidence that we are still growing in our powers, but perhaps, not everything has to be noted, yes?"

By Yseult's expression, it was obvious that this was not a solution she was happy with, but that she could see little else to do at the moment. Their individual contentment should not be at the cost of the 'greater good', if there was such a thing.

[Mr Fox]

Cam had caught the last few exchanges as he walked up tray in hand. Sounded like another problem but hopefully cleaning out the bad apples from the IOA would go a long way to fixing matters. That was something that they were making progress on at least. He had met with General's Landry and O'Neill this morning at O6:00 and they had agreed with his assessment and authorized a mission.

"Morning everyone. Sgt. Perault, good to meet you. I'm Colonel Camermon Mitchell your temporary CO till Major Caine gets done in Washington. You can call me Cam by the way and keep the saluting to a minimum if you don't mind," he said as he saw the Sgt start to get to his feet. "You're off duty at the moment so no need for formalities, we can save the saluting for later."

He smiled and stuck a bit of biscuits and gravy into his mouth. When he was done chewing he spoke for everyone at the table. "I caught a little of what you were talking about when I walked up. Let me suggest a middle ground. I don't think it is wise to share everything just now given the current business, but your team and your direct CO need to know to properly plan missions and to make the most out of our abilities. It could also be a safety issue out in the field so make sure your direct CO knows when you pick up a new trick. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate knowing also since I could call any of you up at any time to serve in SG1 for special missions."

Looking over to the Sgt., "Since I'm your CO for the moment we'll need to talk later, but for now, welcome back to duty, I'm glad you made it through the eval and I look forward to working with you."

[The Red Man]

Originally Posted By: Olivia Jenings-Izumi

Olivia had been silent through this exchange; now she took Declan's chin and gently turned his head toward her. "It suits you," she said after a moment of serious contemplation, giving him a smile.

His lips quirked in a familiar shy smile as he returned her gaze. "Yeah, well just so's nobody gets any ideas about pullin' seniority on me cuz I look younger." he joked. He held her gaze for a moment, his smile lingering, before glancing back at the table in time to see:

Originally Posted By: Kyria Thea

The cloth seemed to stretch and contort itself, yellowing first at the edges but then racing inward as the edges themselves frayed into nothingness. That too chased inward until only the most delicate scrap of fiber was left, surrounded by dust on the table. Kyria blinked at the remnants of the nearly new napkin and glanced back up at the others that the table.

"Jesus fuckin' Kehrist!" he managed to keep his voice to a mutter, but the astonishment on his youthened features was louder than words. He looked a little askance at Kyria, and was about to ask if she'd really done what it looked like when she confirmed it. 'Temporal Manipulation', she called it. Dec was only a little behind Yseult in realising the ramifications, hardwired as he was to look for threats.

"Gotta agree with the doc, kiddo. Here in this world, lots of rich corrupt and above all old motherfuckers make the rules. We shouldn't let word of that little trick get around." He leaned towards her, face grave. "Don't think there's anyone around this here table that would screw you over fer a percentage, but be careful even with some of the other Specialists. Just warnin' ya."

He sat back up, noticing another new face coming over, and murmured "Officer on deck" to the others before Cameron arrived in earshot and introduced himself. On being put 'at ease', the former Ranger picked up his fork in one hand and continued eating his mountainous breakfast, evaluating the new CO from behind his shades as he chewed.

"Beggin' yer pardon, Colonel, but where's Major Caine? They didn't tell me much in iso." *And what are you like as a CO, sir...? Call me Cam, hmm? Well, he ain't a stuffed shirt at least.* he silently thought to himself.

[Mr Fox]

Cam didn't think this was the best place to go into details so he said, "That's a bit of a long tale Sgt, but the basic gist of it is that Major Caine is in Washington right now knocking on doors trying to locate and get the other Specialist's out of the deep freeze. Don't know if you noticed before you got put in Eval, but several of the specialists have been 'reassigned', only no one knows what has happened to them and they haven't been heard from since, even General O'Neill isn't privy to where they've been moved and he's the man that is supposed to be in charge of us specialists. That's really about all I wanna say here, some of the details are delicate."

He looked around the table before looking back at Dec, "What say we all step through the gate after breakfast and stretch our legs a bit at the Beta Site? I'm sure the Sgt could use a break after the month of Eval he's been put through. I believe General Landry, and General O'Neill wanted to inspect the progress the Army Corp of Engineers is making on the new base, they asked me to arrange a team to escort them anyway."

He looked carefully at Dec, would the Sgt pick up on the unsaid message and the fact that there was something else deeper going on? His money was on yes.

"What do you say Sgt, you in?"

[Aradia McConnell]

Aradia grabbed her tray from the line impatiently, heading towards the table that she had seen several of the specialists gathered at. Even though the "special people" usually stuck together at lunch - since most of the regular soldiers didn't act like they wanted to associate with them - they didn't usually group up this large unless something interesting was going down. And Aradia hated to miss out on interesting.

"Hey guys, what's - oh, hey! Dec, right? We met once, when I first got outta observation. Nice ta' see you again."

She sat her tray down, tucking a streak of light brown behind her ear and into the darker brown of the rest of her hair. She'd taken to keeping it that color while on duty - not cause she gave a shit about the weird looks people gave the crazier colors, but because it matched the camo color of the Air Force fatigues she had to wear while on duty. And Aradia did like to match. Then she held out a hand to the Seargent with a smile.

[The Red Man]

Dec was distracted by Cam's question for a second, but there was no mistaking the girl who'd just joined them. "Hey, yeah. Livy's friend... Aradia, right?" He smiled faintly and nodded as he took her hand in a warm shake. "Nice to see yer still around."

As she sat down, he looked at the Colonel. "Sure I'm up for escortin' some brass, Col- uh, Cam. Anyone care to gimme the rundown on this Beta Site while I chow? How hot a zone is it? Any alien contact... or other problems?"

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods to Cam and Ari as they arrive, then turns to answer Dec, "Nah, the Beta site is one of ours, a backup to the Alpha site. So as far as we know there is no-oone else there, and no-one else knows about it. It was chosen because it is not on the list that Daniel originally got from Abydos. Us Specialists went in a while ago and cleared some land and did some basics for a base there and since then the real Engineers have been in to put an actual secondary base in place. The good news is becasue it is off the beaten track we don't generally have to hide are abilities there, we actually get to practise properly for a change."