Aberrant: Stargate Universe - Nice Genes

[Mr Fox]

Cam nodded and looked up with a big shite eating grin on his face. "I'd say that proves it alright." He looked to the others, "So who is next? Dec, you want me to see if I can get rid of those silver eyes? I think I might be able to reverse some of the previous changes the machine made to you if you want. Don't think I could do anything about Red though." He put up his hands placatingly, "Not that I would want to of course big guy." His big smile became a grin.

"Same goes for anyone else. Now that I've used it once I think I might be able to reverse some of the Quantum Backlash stuff as Kyria calls it."

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult stared intently at Ryan as he placed his hand on the Ascension Device, squinting against the bright glow. She watched the cascade of genetic changes taking place, one after another in an escalating sequence that grew so quick even her hyper-efficient mind couldn't catalog all the modifications. Her lips thinned in annoyance, but she hadn't really expected to being able to rewrite someone's genetic code to such an extent, at least not in a way that would produce results such as this.

Her eyes widened, head cocked to the side as she saw Ryan telenavigate to the scanner. She glanced at Cameron considering, a finger tapping her lips. Hmmm, the genetics modifications required for specific abilities, they must be encoded within the device - it would be unfeasible for Cameron to write the required code on the moment, considering that I could not follow the changes myself.

"I would prefer to observe myself, Cameron." Though the capabilities of the Ascension Device filled her with foreboding, the possibility of viewing the mending of aberrant damage from channeling their powers was of great interest to her. In theory, it would be of great help to her in finding a way of countering it, developing an immunity to the effects such as Kyria possessed.

[The Red Man]

Dec shook his head, a smile he didn't feel on his lips. He wasn't fooling anyone: Sgt Declan Perault, U.S. Ranger, may have had some fine personal qualities and one or two outstanding ones, but everyone that knew him even casually was well aware that dissembling was not one of them. And anyone with the least amount of empathy could tell how he felt.

Declan was scared of the Device.

"Uh, like I said Cam, I'll give that a miss. Its not that I don't trust you, sir. It's just that I'm not comfortable with that thing." He shifted slightly in place. "Me and Red, well, we've got a good arrangement goin' right now. Even if the gizmo works right and gives us a boost, it might throw the balance out between me and him." He essayed a faint smile. "Besides, the silver eyes ain't so bad. I've got that on good authority from at least two sources."

[Rorx]

Gwyn had been examining the readings from Ryan's before and after scans during Cam and Dec's exchange. Finally he made up his mind and broke the pause that had followed Dec's last comment.

"Ok Cam, I trust you've got it under control now. I'll give it a go." He stepped over to the device and went into a huddle with Cam and Tinni as they discussed the changes he was thinking of and how they would go about it. Shortly Gwyn stepped back with a, "Ok, let's do it." and with a nod from Cam he reached out to the Device.

Once again light sprang out from the Device, building in intensity to the level seen when Ryan had undegone his recent changes. To Gwyn there was a feeling of building pressure all over his body which suddenly released as it seemed to infuse his body. As a tingly-achey feeling encompassed his body his mind was bombarded by a stunning sequence of memories replaying at tremendous speed.

To the observers who could see him through the light emanating from the device he suddenly went rigid, followed by a long period of his muscles all over his body twitching in a seemingly random pattern. This went on for much longer than Ryan's 'treatment' and the others were just starting to become concerned when it stopped.

Gwyn winced at the headache induced by the flashing memories and stretched to help get rid of the fading tingly feeling. As he did so a huge grin spread across his face as understanding dawned upon him. He turned to Cam, "Well done, that seems to have worked out great."

%The scanner I presume?% he said to Tinni in Asgard as he turned and walked that way. Although the walk was short he could feel the headache fade away and one by one all the little muscle stresses and minor aches that everyone lives with day by day left his body as well. Stepping into the scanner he turned to watch the holo-display with new understanding or both the results and the Asgard labelling around it.

The display shows minor, subtle and pervasive changes to Gwyn's entire brain including to areas that had not been touched in most of the other Specialists. In response to Hermiod's request for him to activate a power Gwyn gave a brief grin and closed his eyes. When he opened them a second or two later a shimmering in the air coated his body. Unfortunately, it degraded the signal of the scanner and he had to quickly drop the force field again.

%Sorry, I forgot.% He said to Hermiod and instead started to hover an inch or two above the scanner's floor.

After the standard half an hour or so the scanner had finished and he floated out, moving quickly over to one of the Asgard terminals and started to work on the combined data on a system bette able to cope with it than his own laptop.

[Mr Fox]

"Don't worry about it Dec. I just figured I had to offer, no one has to use the device if they don't want to, it's strictly volunteer."

Loki seemed to frown a little at Mitchell's words, but Cam ignored him, "Anyone else want to volunteer? 'The Lord helps those that help themselves' as my Grandma used to say, and you don't get much more helping yourself than this."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria regarded the device and addressed Tinni, "Would it help you to see how it affects me? I have no real need to use it and no desire for it to change my genetic code, but I will if you think it could give you more insights."

She squeezed Declan's hand, trying to reassure him without being too obvious to the others. If it could cure or undo taint....that could be a first step towards that if it's not an end in and of itself. Something to consider, or maybe if the Asgard could come up with the same sort of serum that Andrew did.

[Mr Fox]

Tinni nodded in her fragile way, "Yes, I believe it would help greatly. Each of the other specialists have very similar genetics, yours are unique and in some ways similar to our own."

Loki snorted then said, "Much less developed than ours."

Cam had about had enough of the snarky little twerp, "Isn't that the reason we're here? Because your genetics are too developed?"

Loki refused to take the bait and wandered over to his console.

Cam smiled at Kyria, a smile that said, score one for the team! "Anytime you are ready Kyria. Step over here and we'll program the device to do what you want."

With a final squeeze of Dec's hand for reassurance and a quick kiss that promised more when this was over, the young nova stepped over to consult with Cam and Tinni. They talked for a few minutes while the technical pair programmed the device. This time around it seemed to take a bit longer than for those who had already gone.

The same beam of light spilled out of the device and enveloped the nova, but unlike the pair before the light became more intense to the point of being almost too strong to look at. Worse, for Kyria there was considerably more discomfort than the others had seemed to feel. It climbed beyond the point of discomfort to mild pain, then higher until the Kyria was crying out.

Dec surged forward but, restrained himself at the last moment, unsure if interfering would do more damage than leaving her in the beam.

Just before Red was about to take control and thrash the device in order to stop what was happening the light began to fade. When it was finally gone Kyria stumbled into Dec's arms hardly able to hold herself upright. Cam was worried, but the readings were showing that everything had gone according to plan, it had just been more intense than expected.

He stepped closer, but then pulled up short at a look from Dec/Red. "Kyria are you ok?"

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult frowned deeper with each specialist that used the Ascension Device for the second time (or first time in the case of Kyria). She could perceive the changes from before and after their exposure, but the infinitude of genetic manipulations was beyond even her to follow, there were simply too many, too intricately bound. As well, it certainly didn't help her understanding, not knowing what each specialist asked for, she was seeing the changes without the context for those changes.

Originally Posted By: Cameron

'The Lord helps those that help themselves' as my Grandma used to say, and you don't get much more helping yourself than this."

Yseult scowled at the comment. This wasn't about them helping themselves, this was a man and his machine playing God, giving a select few even more power than they needed. Didn't they have enough already? And who even said they were any more worthy of these 'gifts' than hundreds, thousands, millions of others, unless it just happened to be the luck of proximity?

When the device put the extra strain on Kyria and came staggering out of the beam of white light, Yseult had enough. She stepped forward, despite Loki's protests about integrity to the tests, placing a comforting hand Declan's shoulder. At his nod, she proceeded to do a brisk examination of Kyria, straining her biological awareness to the fullest. After several minutes, she pronounced Kyria to be fit, if suffering from strain.

"You are well, Kyrie. I conjecture, since your genetics have already been... aligned to a great degree, the device, it was needing to reach a certain energetic plateau before it capable of producing further genetic changes. Thus, the device needing more output and putting a strain on you. I believe, with your abilities, you should recover quickly."

Yseult looked at Cameron, fingers pointing to a side of the room, indicating she wanted a private word with him. She pulled him aside, her turquoise eyes blazing, her voice low with the effort of control.

"As I am understanding it, the device, it granted you great medical knowledge, Cameron, yes? It, perhaps, did not impart on you the responsibility such knowledge entails, hmm?" She turned her head curtly, pointing at the others with her delicately pointed chin. "When you are done offering these few lucky men and women a chance for even more unearned power, when we are done helping another race to augment their entire people, will you go back to Earth and use the device on others? The device, can it reproduce the structured genetic changes in Kyrie? If so, shouldn't we all, everyone go through it? Then we would no longer ever have to worry about the Quantum Backlash Syndrome. Perhaps, we should beginning sending the entire human race through it, I'm sure there are many others who would like the opportunity for superpowers, without the risk of madness or mutation - I believe I can replicate the ATA gene therapy simply enough. Or is the IOA correct, and we are simply a group of Elitists who believe we know better than everyone else?"

Yseult shook her head, exhaled sharply, then returned her gaze back to Cameron, the burning light replaced by something that almost looked like pleading. "Do you not believe I no nothing of the temptation of this device? I lay awake at nights, dreaming of helping my daughter with, ridding her of her mild case of autism. She is highly functional, it is not necessary, but it would make her... better. Then I think of what else I could change to help her even more. How about my husband? He is a good man, he would not abuse gifts like ours. If I ever get the chance to be with him again, should we not be equals?" Yseult's full lips tightened into a thin line. "It is a very slippery slope, yes? One with no end."

"If this device was the source of the Ancients means of ascension, I would think they would have the wisdom not to leave it behind for less advanced species to play with. And if it was not, then there must have been some flaw or other drawback to utilizing it freely. I do not believe a minuscule group of individuals should have the sole responsibility for its use. Either destroy it, or have a greater consensus in control of the device, with very strict check and balances - though I do not think anything feasible would work for our geopolitical situation."

[Mr Fox]

Elitist? Cam certainly didn't view himself that way, but Yseult had a point, or rather she had several and all of them good. Who were they to deny these benefits to the rest of humanity, but at the same time, what would the rest of humanity be like with these powers? In just the few who had used the device already, changes had been made that had required some of them be locked away. At least that had been the consensus of the IOA and the current Administration in the White House.

"You're right. We need to decide what to do with the device, but we're here now, and we've committed to helping the Asgard so lets continue with this right now, then when we're done we'll figure out what to do next." Despite the fact that Yseult felt that Cam really did understand her concerns there was a certain light in his eyes that said maybe he just might open it up to all of humanity. "I want you to think about something while we finish up what we're doing here. Using the device, I am sure I could cure your daughters autism. It could just as easily be used to cure cancer or any number of other maladys. Before when it was just random and we never knew what would happen, it was far too dangerous to use or allow to be used. But now? Thanks to Tinni, Hermiod and Loki I know how to actually operate it and direct what happens. There won't be any more people suffering from Quantum Backlash, hell, I can even reverse some of that in the ones that have it. If they want it that is. You asked if we have the right to make these decisions? We don't, but we are the ones here and now with the ability to make that choice so 'right' or no right, we have the responsibility." He sighed, "When we get home though, the decision won't be ours. I can set this device to automatically cure all genetic malady's for anyone that touches it and not give super powers, but even that use of the device will be governed by what the President and the IOA decide. Making such a use would mean revealing the Stargate program to the people. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing that happen. It will happen eventually, and this device is a hell of a good reason to make it sooner than later."

He finished with, "Before we leave here we'll discuss this with everyone so that we all have a chance to have a say."

[Rorx]

Gwyn shakes his head, "I wouldn't count on that happening. Look how much good we could with cheap energy from the naquadah generators, or the impact we could have on electric vehicles with some of the high energy capacitors we have encountered on some worlds. Even with the technology we have already found we could do so much good in the world, but they keep it all hidden away."

He straightens and turns back to the Asgard console he is working at, "Anyway, we are here to help the Asgard, so let's get to it. I think we have all the data we should need, what do you think Doc?"

[Yseult Sierra]

Originally Posted By: Cameron

"Before we leave here we'll discuss this with everyone so that we all have a chance to have a say."

Yseult listened to Cameron's response with intense consideration. She wanted nothing more than to use the device to help her daughter - or at least see it in use, she believed she could copy a less intricate effect - but there were further considerations as well. She nodded agreement with Cameron, mollified for the moment.

"That is all, mais, some, of what I am asking. Merci, Cameron."

Originally Posted By: Gwyn

I think we have all the data we should need, what do you think Doc?"

Yseuit quickly reviewed the data that was still visible upon the various monitors and from her own crystal clear recollections, then gave the Welshman a nod. "What we have seen, it should be more than sufficient for their needs. I am thinking, at this point, the only thing that would be of greater aid to the Asgard, is to be having a scan of an unaugmented human using the device, though that does not seem tenable at the moment."

[Mr Fox]

Tinni spoke up, "I believe that in seeing Kyria enhanced by the device we have the equivalent. Her own genetics are superior to normal humans just as our own are. I believe what we saw the machine do with her, is much the same as what we will experience when we have created our own version."

Loki spoke up. "We need more data points for comparison. There is no reason to stop now."

"I believe Loki is correct. Having more data would be most useful, however, I do not believe all of you need to be subject to the device. Only those who would volunteer should be sufficient." Hermiod seemed reluctant to agree with Loki, but finished with, "What has been done already is most likely sufficient to construct a device of our own, but with every use we gather enough information to shave off days or even weeks off the construction.

Cam looked to the others, "If anyone wants to go, step forward otherwise I'll program it to do met. I'd like go last just in case, since I won't be actively controlling it. If anything should go wrong I don't want it to be on any of you."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"How kind of you," Olivia said drily, but her smile made it clear that she was teasing him.

Next to her, Vinny scowled and shook his head. There was no way in fuck he was lettin' a fuckin' pilot use that goddamned device on him. It was probably givin' them all brain cancer or something.

"But I'm with Vinny on this," Olivia added more seriously. "I don't trust that thing, not even with someone at the controls." Her glance at Cam was apologetic; it wasn't him she distrusted.

[Yseult Sierra]

Yseult's lips were pressed together firmly as she glanced at the Device, then back at Cameron, arms folded, a tight, but grateful curve to her lips. "The offer, it is well given, but I do not think it is necessary, but I am thanking you Cameron. Besides, my current abilities, I am still learning their limits, yes? More, I don't not need at the moment."

Her eyes quickly scanned the data they had already discovered, even though it was indelibly imprinted in her mind. "As to repairing the genetic aberrations, with what I am seeing here, I believe I can tailor specific treatments for it. I would prefer to cure it myself, when I can determine the exact method of the damage and how to deal with it, rather than simply waving a wand and 'poof'." Her faint smile had a concerned edge to it as she looked at Cameron again. "I am meaning no offense."

[Mr Fox]

Cam shrugged. "Suit yourselves. First time around I had no choice and was already unconscious when it happened. I'm going to run the final test on myself then. Give me a bit to program and then we'll be done with this phase." He turned back to the machine and focused his granted abilities on programing the very device that had bestowed them in the first place. There was perhaps some irony there, but it was lost on Cam.

In fairly short order he had finished the detailed business of telling the device what was desired under the watchful eye of Tinni. When he was satisfied he stepped back and gave everyone a smile then put his hand out to touch the activation symbol. The usual fan of light played out from the machine enveloping him and causing much the same sensations of itching and ants under the skin as the others had felt. From his perspective inside the process it seemed much longer to him than it had when he was on the other side of the controls. Thanks to his link to the device he was able to monitor everything the device was doing to him.

As the light finally faded he turned and smiled. "Success. I'm feeling pretty good about it, let's see what the Asgard scanner says."

Another nearly 45 minutes of scanning followed with the usual results.

When it was done Hermiod shut down his terminal and turned to the Specialists. "The Asgard owe you a great debt. It will take us some time to correlate all of the data we gathered and use it to build our own system. We will need for you to return to the ship now and we will speak with you again when all is prepared."

Cam opened his mouth to protest that they would rather stay, but Tinni interrupted, "Please. Our High Council appreciates your efforts, however, our mandate to not share our technology still stands for the moment. When we are successful that must surely change, but for now we must ask you to depart."

There was little else that could be said. It was a polite dismissal, certainly more so than it would have been had Loki been the speaker, but it was a dismissal nonetheless.

The specialists had barely made it aboard the ship and begun to get settled into their shipboard quarters again before each received a hologram asking them to return to the Science Facility.

The changes in the facility were dramatic. There were at least two dozen cloning tanks around the walls of the main chamber, each with a clone. The odd thing was that the clones in the tanks looked human, if a bit large for an average human. Apparently the Asgard were going for the Viking look they had portrayed via hologram for so many centuries among their human protectorates, or perhaps that was their original form.

In the center of the floor stood a large sleek-lined metal device all arches and curves. Within could be seen a cloning tank with a body literally coming together from constituent atoms.

A tall powerfully built male, nearly the size of Omar moved forward a sneer on his face, "What are these doing back here? We no longer need them." Despite the change the attitude belonged to Loki.

Two strong attractive females moved to intercept Loki, "They are our guests Loki and you owe your continued existence and your new form to them. Without them our entire race would have died after the current iteration.

Loki growled, "You think I should thank them for being forced to take this form? It is not our original, and pleased I am not!"

A displeased frown passed across one of the females, Hermiod perhaps, although there wasn't really any way to be sure. "You could have gone into oblivion, and not been mourned I assure you."

Loki grunted dismissal and turned to oversee the cloning process of the newest body.

"I am Hermiod, and this is Tinni, the slightly taller Valkyrie said. "The Asgard people will thank you properly shortly. You are to meet with the high council before your departure." She smiled, "I see from your confusion that an explanation is in order. We used our time dilation technology to greatly speed time on the planet. Several months have passed on the planet in the two hours of outside time since you were beamed aboard the ship. In fact, you were within the time dilation during the two weeks of time you've been here. When you return to Earth you will find that only two days have passed."

[z028 Riley]

Time dilation? Huh... Kyria was still recovering from her time with the Ascension Device; Declan had decided Livy and Vinny shouldn't be the only ones having "fun" on the Asgard world, so during their brief reprieve on the ship she hadn't had a chance to absorb everything that the machine had changed in her. She drifted around the room, dimly listening to what Hermiod was saying but mostly watching the clone vats with keen interest. They have a device that can change the flow of time. Like Lorien's jumping ability. Maybe. Maybe different. Why not use it on the individual vats.....? It shouldn't be hard.

She stopped in front of one of the vats, contemplating the technology in front of her reaching out to the time around it, like was series of blankets wrapped around each object in the room. Just a touch... The atoms in the tank began to move, linking together and forming proteins, organelles, cells, flesh while Kyria watched. Inside the tank nothing changed from what it had been doing, but outside small lights and sound began to blink. The tank was ahead of schedule and rapidly becoming more so, the cells and tissues forming far faster than it should with no signal to the system that a time dilation device had been activated in the room or on the vat.

And Kyria watched, her fingertips resting lightly on the clear glass-like material that the vat was made from, and understanding far more than she would have only a day ago...or a few months...maybe only an hour. It would depend on who you asked. She smiled as the new Asgard body formed in it's personal pocket of accelerated time, pleased that the novas of this Earth had been able to help the former race of 'little grey men'. We've saved a whole race. I think that's something both my fathers would be proud of.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia watched the Asgard with a pleasant expression, but inside she was troubled. She hadn't known that this would be the outcome; she'd thought that they'd be saving a people, not transforming them into something else entirely. The little gray people were gone, lost forever, because of them. Yes, the people of that race had been saved, but what would the cost be?

There was also the concern about the Time Dilation device. That worked so well last time, she thought sourly, though it seemed to have done the job this time. "I'm glad we could help," Olivia said, her voice soft. If they were lucky, it would be the truth that only a couple of days had passed, and she wouldn't find that they'd been Rip Van Wrinkled into the far-flung future.

[Rorx]

Gwyn went straight to a console on arriving in the lab, but still noted the ungrateful superior attitude of the arsehole Loki, Given the chance that guy is going to get himself some appendages ripped off if he doesn't learn to keep his mouth shut.

Calling up the medical data from the scans of the Specialists and the Device he starts looking into the approach to the problem that the Asgard have taken.

I hope they have considered the consequences of such a radical change in appearance. I wonder if the Gou'ald will acknowledge they are still the Asgard and honour their treaties together. Mind you they will still be too busy with the Replicators to bother the System Lords for a while.

A soft beeping drew his attention, and turning he spotted Kyria beside one of the cloning tanks. Oh shit! This could be trouble...

Leaving the console Gwyn made his way calmly and hopefully unobstrusively to Kyria and the tank, "What you do Kyria?" he whispered as he looked into the tank.

[Yseult Sierra]

At the sight of the new Asgard, Yseult kept her face neutrally impressed with an effort. She was impressed with their new forms, and disconcerted as well, not having expected having to look up to meet the eyes of the previously slight Asgard. The changes they had enacted were far more extensive than she had anticipated, and than what they were led to believe.

She was not longer sure if they had saved the Asgard or replaced them with another species entirely. Not only would the Asgard have to adapt to having definite genders once more, and the various accompanying hormones and psychological effects thereof, but their architecture and personal items would have to be remanufactured for their considerable enhanced statures and food production would have to be greatly increased to support a population that have increased their mass by a factor of four. Their advanced technology would go a long way to compensate, but it was still another problem to consider.

Will the Device completely change Humanity as well, so far that we will no longer recognize it?

Yseult approached a console, quickly searching for any information on exactly what changes the Asgard had implemented in the design of their new forms. With part of her mind focused on that, she expanded her sight once more, biological awareness spreading to see Hermiod, Tinni, and Loki in infinitely deeper detail.

Click to reveal..

Acvtivating Biological Awareness

Activating Medical Prodigy

Medical Prodigy, First 2 Mega: 7d10.hits(7) = 2 Successes)= +2 Dice on Medical Rolls

Medicine Roll to see what the Hell they did to themselves (Xenology 2 to offset penalties for Alien Genetics)

Medicine Roll, First 2 Mega: 15d10.hits(7) = 11 Successes

Discerning Quality: 2d10.hits(7)= 0 Successes

The revelation about the Time Dilation Device was a source of major annoyance, especially considering the Asgard's insistence on more tests to reduce their research time by days or weeks. She concealed a growing frown behind a faint smile as she looked up at Hermiod, giving her a nod.

"The changes, and their extent, I did not anticipate how quickly and far they would come. We are being glad to help and I am hoping that your people, they will acclimatize smoothly to the drastic transformation in your race."

[Mr Fox]

"We are having some issues, but over all the change has been quite interesting. We do not anticipate having any difficulty in moving forward. With this change it might even be possible to pursue ascension once again." Tinni smiled in a friendly way.

Loki raised an eyebrow, "Speak for yourself, I intend to finish the fight with the replicators now that we have a future."

Tinni frowned and pursed her lips, "I am speaking for myself, you may do as you wish now."

Hermiod in turn gave a bit of a shrug to the specialists, "I apologize, we are having some difficulties with the less regulated biological changes that effect mood. I think a good many of us will elect to pursue ascension. It was one of the objectives of our race before we became trapped in the downward cloning spiral. What we did to ourselves in an attempt to perfect our form actually blocked us from the ability reach ascension."

[z028 Riley]

Kyria blinked back from her reverie at Gwyn's question. "Hmmmn? Oh...I uh...sorry, I was just thinking." She shook her head and blinked several times again; smiling a little confusedly, "I think perhaps the Device, um, gave me some knowledge...or..."

She put a hand to her temple, obviously disoriented. She glanced back at the tank, frowning at the beeps and lights, and touched one of them. The system beeped once again, but the lights settled back to a solid blue color, apparently satisfied with her decision. Inside, the Asgard continued to grow, although not at the accelerated rate it had been under her scrutiny. She blinked again and asked Gwyn in a friendly but still mildly confused tone, "Did you need something?"

[The Red Man]

"Y'know, there was a guy on Earth you'd have gotten along with, Loki. He claimed gratitude was a disease of dogs." Dec's tone was mild, but his smile was all sharp edges as he looked Loki straight in the eye. "Dude's name was Iosef Stalin, and he was a son of a bitch too. Newsflash: we don't like you either, numbnuts. So now that we've established that you're an ungrateful dick, and we think you're an asshole, perhaps we can get on with speakin' to the adults among your people?"

Dec moved to stand by Kyria, his eyes on the aggressively bristling Loki. The Ranger hadn't liked the arrogant son of a bitch before he'd made himself over into Mr Universe. Now he was starting to have doubts about the Asgard's value as allies with supremacist assholes like Loki in their ranks. To hell with diplomacy. The Specialists better get used to speaking their minds: there was the upcoming fight over the Ascension device with their own superiors back home to deal with yet.

*Fucker actually gets some balls and decides he's the big man now? C'mon, punk. Say somethin'. Better yet, DO somethin'* Red's gleeful anticipation was echoed a little in the faint smile at the corner of Dec's mouth as he removed his shades and tucked them into a pocket, still regarding Loki with a mixture of contempt and amusement. Apparently having had enough of looking at the Asgard, he turned to Kyria, his voice and expression softening as he looked at her. "You okay? You zoned out a little there."

[Mr Fox]

Loki simply ignored the comments, but Cam wasn't pleased, "Stand down Sergeant. That's not why we are here." Privately he agreed with Dec, Loki could use a size 11 steel reinforced enema, but that wouldn't do relations much good.

Dec looked like he wanted to say more but Cam kept talking, turning back to the Asgard, "So when will your High Council be able to meet with us? We are eager to get back to Earth." That was addressed to Hermiod.

"They will meet with you shortly. They are finishing their discussions about what to do next."

((Next post will be the meeting with the council, but I'm too tired to write it now. More to come, but feel free to post if you wish.))

[z028 Riley]

She smiled and laid her head against Dec's shoulder, "Yeah, I'm fine. I think the device did some whammy on my head, that's all. And don't let Loki bait you. Now that survival isn't so much a critical issue, he's gonna have enough problems with the High Council. Remember Heimdall said he was only here and not in trouble because of how important this was? Well, the crisis is over now." She shrugged and glanced back to Gwyn, still waiting to see if the other nova needed her for something.

Mentally, though, she'd caught the drift of some of the less violent thoughts running through Declan's mind.

Click to reveal.. (Conspiracy, read if you want, but you've been warned. )

*This is pretty much coming to a head, love. If we let that device get taken back to Earth, we're either putting Cam in a most dangerous position or handing the device over to the SGC and the IOA. I dislike Cam being in danger and I loathe the idea of the IOA or even the SGC deciding what to do with that machine. They are in a war, and given that fact that the novas so far have been given the options of 'playing ball' as the frontlines of their war or disappearing, I have little illusions about what will happen. Eventually they will augment the wrong person or groups of people and precipitate a race war on Earth. One that will end either in the extermination of the novas after a great deal of destruction and loss of life or will result in a nova dictatorship over Earth. Such a dictatorship will not end with only Earth, I think, either. We should stall here for as long as we can; at least long enough to speak with the novas here and decide on a course of action. We need to gather somewhere we can talk freely.*

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan wasn't really alarmed at the new and improved Asgard. The Time Dilation effect moderately pissed him off, but he kept it in check.

He watched the others and considered all the changes the device had already wrought. We need to take it back and hide it, or destroy it. It's simply too much power, and humanity isn't ready.

He was greatful for his enhancements, but knew that things could have just as easily gone bad. If some whacko managed to get in and use it, or someone who tampered with it, things would go badly fast.

[The Red Man]

Dec slipped an arm around Kyria's waist, his eyes flicking over to Cam as he nodded once in acknowledgement of the higher-ranking officer's order. Privately, both sides of Sgt Perault were bristling at being told to stand down in front of the arrogant alien buttwipe. Ruthlessly, Dec quashed some of Red's more bloody first-response impulses, then rested his cheek against the top of Kyria's head and closed his eyes. In truth, he was turning his mental attention to Kyria's words.

Click to reveal..

*Yeah, I hear you baby. If it was just the SGC, I'd be tempted to let them keep the thing. They know enough to listen to us and we might be able to steer them away from fucking up. But the IOA are some serious assholes. They'd be happy to smoke all of us for some political leverage, especially if they thought they had the goose ready to lay more golden eggs. It ain't happenin' on my watch.*

*Thing is, we can count on at least 3 of the guys being against sabotaging the Device to stop the Earth governments getting it. Wright, Cam and Hawke. They're all faithful soldiers, and they'd try to make sure that the SGC remains in control of the Device, but we know that won't work, and when it comes down to it, orders are orders for those guys. Hell, I might have been the same once. And to tell the truth, I ain't sure that the government deserves the Device. They're like kids playing with a nuclear reactor. They've got all this wonderful tech already, and what have they done with it? Sweet fuck all. They just hoard it like pack rats. I say take it away from them, one way or the other.*

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods to Dec as he joins them then says quietly to Kyria,"I was asking what you were doing to that cloning tube. You were touching it and some of the alert lights came on. Can you remember what it was? Or was it part of the mind funk the device put you through?"

[Mr Fox]

The time had come and the SG members were escorted into the grand hall where the High Council met. By human standards it was austere in the extreme, containing only the benches behind which each of the councilors sat in their tall dark metal chairs. The real oddity was the contrast between the setting an the tall powerful beings sitting in those chairs. Somehow the architecture seemed appropriate to the diminutive aliens in their old clone forms, but seemed at odds with their robust vigorous new bodies.

Near the center group a powerful Asgard spoke with a booming bass voice, "Welcome among us friends. You knew me as Thor, and we have asked you here to express our undying thanks for all that you and the others of the SGC have done for us. When your people first stumbled out into the galaxy and we encountered O'Neill for the first time we were in a desperate fight for our existence against the replicators of this galaxy. Our traditional role opposing the Goa'uld and protecting the humans had nearly unraveled through our inattention. It was much to our regret that we were unable to shelter and guide the people of Earth, but also much to our amazement that SG1 and the other teams not only survived but prevailed in conflict after conflict."

Another Asgard took the lead in speaking, this one even larger and more muscled than Thor. "When we first encountered O'Neill we believed that perhaps one day Earth would join us as the Fifth race, but little did we expect that it would happen in less than thousands of years. Today we salute you and acknowledge you as the equals that you have become. Still young and in need of guidance from time to time perhaps, but equals none the less. It is to be known that henceforth Earth is the a protected planet, but rather an equal ally. There shall be peace and friendship between our races. I am Odin, and the council has spoken!"

A very beautiful if exotic woman spoke next, "By decree of the council you will be allowed access to our basic technology and we declare that you shall be given one of our ships, the latest of Asgard design. We will not give you specifications on weapons technology, but with what we do give you, your scientists will be able to develop weapons, perhaps not equal to our own, but at least as powerful as that of the Goa'uld. I am Freya, may this gift grow into a garden of new and beautiful things for your people."

An unwelcome voice spoke from the shadows, "The humans have been given gifts beyond their wisdom, may they learn quickly and not destroy themselves playing with Thor's lightning. Now what of my gift? I was promised a return to my station for solving our 'great problem'." The speaker had slowly walked into the light and stood separate of the SG members as he spoke. Those among the group observant saw a variety of expressions pass across the faces of the High Councilors as he moved into the light. Most disapproving but not all, there were some who seemed to welcome Loki's appearance.

Loki spoke again, "My voice should be heard on this council and should have before the declarations you've just made."

The members of the council who seemed to welcome Loki all looked to the center seat where Odin sat. The big man leaned froward looking intently at newcomer. "Very well. Your crimes are pardoned as promised and you may retake your place among us, but the decisions regarding the Humans have been made and will not be unmade. No matter your personal grievances you must abide our decision or forever forfeit your place on the council."

Loki bowed his head respectfully to the head councilor. "So be it. There will be peace between the Asgard and the Humans and they will be treated as the Fifth race, so I abide the decision of the council now and forever." To the humans standing to his left who could see his face which was concealed by his long hair from Odin, it was apparent that he was not pleased by the concession.

His face was triumphant as he strode to a seat at the center bench only a couple places from where Odin sat. The man there whose name had not been given stood and bowed his head to Loki and moved down to a place at the far bench furthest away from the center. It was a show of respect that the humans wouldn't have expected in normal human politics, but it spoke of the regard that some Asgard must have for Loki.

Loki was the next to speak, "Are we finished with the humans now? We have much to discuss about our plans to finish this insufferable war with the Replicators."

Thor frowned, "We are not finished with our guests yet, this session was called to honor them not discuss our future plans. Now that we are given these new bodies we have a future whether it be to ascend or pursue a war with our ancient enemies should be discussed at the appropriate time."

Loki bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Very well, proceed."

Another Asgard stood and walked around the bench and up to the humans. Like Thor, Odin and the other male Asgard he was strong and powerfully built, but unlike the others he wore something that must be a pistol at his side and a sword strapped to his back. "I am Tiu, and as we get used to our new bodies and no longer being so frail, I would thank you in a manner traditional to your kind." He held out his hand to Declan. In an odd way it was hard to tell who might be more deadly, Dec was a grizzled veteran, compared to the shiny new soldier before him, but that 'new' soldier had seen more centuries than Dec was likely to live, it was an odd juxtaposition. After a pause Dec did extend his hand to shake and the two men clasped forearms and a gesture as old as civilization. "Thank you," the god of war said. When the gesture ended, he moved to the next human and repeated until each person had received his personal thanks.

When he had returned to his seat each Councilor in turn thanked the humans except Loki. Odin was the last and when he was done he did not return to his seat but stood before the group, "A gift for you each as we promised awaits you aboard the ship. We wish you well in your journeys."