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 A Face I've Seen Before

Chapter 7

The sun was low on the horizon, Jack hurried the group along the path, anxious to be out of the forest before the light disappeared completely. Without the benefit of night vision goggles, the trek would become dangerous. Scope lights could only illuminate a small area, and there were enough vines and roots that it would be easy for someone to fall. Twisted ankles or broken legs they did not need!

The villagers gathered quickly when the two teams and the scientists entered the village, holding torches aloft in the gathering dusk.

Mvemba elbowed his way through the curious onlookers, stopping in front of the group of Tau’ri. He stared silently at Pedram for a long moment. The difference in his clothing was enough to alert him to the fact that he was not one of those who had come through the Great Circle. "Where did this man come from?"

Casey stepped forward. "We…found him. He was…lost."

The tribal chief’s eyes narrowed. "We are not aware of others near our lands."

The young seer put a hand on the older man’s arm. "He comes from very far away. He will return to our home with us."

"Um," Daniel said, having to take a few seconds to remember the man’s name, "Mvemba, we were able to destroy the Ancient device. We kept pieces of it to study, but it, and the cavern it was in, are gone. That is what is important."

Hearts pounded, everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Mvemba’s response. He patted the slender fingers still on his arm. "Will there be more…strangers…who will arrive in our village?"

"I won’t say that absolutely there won’t," Casey said carefully. "But I will say that it’s highly unlikely that anyone else will arrive here, other than through the Chappa’ai."

Mvemba nodded. He gave a broad smile, and spread his arms. "If you wish to rest, we will prepare a feast-"

"We are honored that you would do so," Daniel said, intentionally cutting off what would probably a speech of some sort. He offered his brightest smile, hoping that the village leader wouldn’t be overly offended. "We do not wish to insult your generosity, nor that of your people, but Pedram…" he paused, trying to think of an excuse that would see SG-1 and the others on their way, and yet maintain good relations with this group of people.

"We worry that Pedram might be ill, and wish to get him to our doctors right away," Casey said.

"There is no danger to your people at all," Daniel added quickly, when several of the villagers backed away.

"Then someday you will return, and we will feast in honor of your accomplishments," Mvemba said slowly.

Daniel smiled and nodded. "We’d like that very much."

Mvemba looked at Pedram again. "Tell me the truth, are their others like you…out there?" He waved an arm toward the jungle.

Pedram knew just enough Goa’uld to understand if he was going to be taken prisoner or shot at. He glanced at Daniel, who translated for him. "No, there are no others. I am…I am all that remains of my…group."

Daniel translated the answer, which did more to satisfy the leader of the village more than anything he or Casey had said.

The leader frowned suddenly, and turned back to Pedram. "You are alone?"

Pedram nodded as soon as Daniel translated. The warrior-leader continued to study the Apophis look-alike. The rest of the Tau’ri held their breath, afraid that something had just happened, some unintentional slight, that would make getting to the Stargate a matter of life and death…and a battle none of them wanted to fight.

"If this man is alone, and has no family, no people to call his own, if he wishes to remain with us, we will welcome him as a brother," Mvemba said, pulling himself up to his full height.

Daniel smiled. "That is a very generous offer-"

"Thank you," Pedram said. He hadn’t understood everything the mahogany-colored man had said, but he’d gotten the gist of it, especially the tone of voice. Warmth touched his heart. He nodded toward Daniel and Casey. "I go…I go with them."

Mvemba nodded his understanding. "You are welcome to return," he said. He looked out at the group of Tau’ri. "You are all welcome to return."

"Thank you, Mvemba," Daniel said. When the leader reached out, he clasped the man’s arms, and received a nod of approval.

"Blessings on you," Mvemba said quietly.

"Thank you. Blessings on you and your people," Daniel replied.

The people surrounding them moved from the path, clearing their way to the Stargate. Chanted blessings followed them.

"Nice to know we didn’t screw things up with this group," Jack said quietly.

"True," Daniel replied.

The Kid had hurried ahead; the ‘gate was open by the time both teams, Coombs, Lee, and Pedram joined him. "Already sent word it’s us comin’ home," the young man announced.

"You’re a good kid," Ferretti sighed.

The kid’s sepia-colored cheeks widened with a smile. "Only ‘cause you’re not gonna miss your poker game."

"You’re also a smart ass," the major said.

"Yep, you’ve told me that before."

"Does every CO in the SGC complain about their team being smartasses?" Casey asked, following Coombs up the steps to the event horizon.

"Pretty much," Jack replied as soon as his boots hit the ramp in the ‘gate room of the SGC.

"Figures," the seer muttered.

General Hammond was waiting at the end of the ramp. "Welcome home SG-1. I take it that-" He broke off when his gaze stopped on Pedram. "General?"

Jack looked at Casey. "Give ‘em the lowdown, Radar."

Casey nodded and took a deep breath. "Well, we found the device and Sam and Daniel were examining it and Daniel had us meaning Jack and me describing the symbols on the pillars and they touched something and zapped Jack and me to a different reality." Deep breath. "So the general decides he wants to look around even though I though it was a bad idea but really it was a good thing because we were supposed to be there to help Pedram and his unit and their friends and he looks just like Apophis." Another deep breath. "He and his friends killed their Apophis so he got to take the name just to piss of the Goa’uld there and we’re hoping he can work with the Tok’ra here to just raise hell and totally piss off Ba’al."

There was a moment of absolute silence. General Hammond’s cheek twitched noticeably. "I’ll expect a written report by the end of the week."

Casey snapped off a perfect salute. "Yes, sir!"

Ferretti and his team gave in and began to roar with laughter. "Sir, I’d like to report that SG-3 did nothing of note, that Doctor Lee and Doctor Coombs behaved themselves, and SG-1 brought themselves home."

"Noted, Major."

"And we helped Pedram’s people beat a few Jaffa, hopefully pissed of the Goa’uld giving the orders, and his people got away," Jack said cheekily.

"We were going by his appearance," Sam said, "believing he could come here and not suffer entropic cascade failure."

"I don’t understand, Colonel," Hammond said, frowning slightly. "The Apophis of this reality is dead."

"Yes, sir. But his host was thousands of years old. We don’t know if there’s another ‘look-alike’ out there or not," Sam explained.

"I see."

"Sir, I know the hum of his reality. They, meaning the rebels, have a quantum mirror. I can see if I can find his friends, and we can send him home," Casey said.

Hammond nodded. "See to it right away. Doctor Jackson, I want you and Teal’c to remain in the room with her as she searches."

"Yes, sir," Daniel said, relieved that he’d been ordered to do exactly what he’d intended to do.

"We’ll debrief in," Hammond checked his watch, "two hours. That should give you time to clean up, General."

Jack, who like Pedram, was still covered with dirt from being buried, grinned broadly. "Yes, sir. And time to grab a bite to eat." He looked over at Daniel. "We’ll bring trays in for you, Radar, and Rocco."

"Much obliged," Daniel replied.

Casey handed her pack to the supply sergeant on duty. "Careful, these are all stuffed to the seams with doodads and thingamajigs and whatchamacallits from that device."

"Yes, ma’am," the sergeant responded.

"Make sure everything gets to my lab as soon as possible," Sam added.

"You got it, Colonel."

Pedram stopped when they entered the hallway. He took in the hieroglyphs and the calligraphy. "These are the Goa’uld you have killed?"

Jack nodded proudly. "Yep. And as many of the minor ones that we could remember. Some of them, we never even got a chance to find out what their names were. That’s why we have the list of ‘unknown’."

"Very impressive."

"We’d like to think so."

"You say the citizens of Earth don’t know about the Chappa’ai, or the Goa’uld?" Pedram asked. He followed Jack to the elevator.

"Not right now, no," Jack replied. "We know the SGC program won’t remain a secret forever. But right now, John Q. Public just isn’t ready for the reality of aliens and travel through wormholes."

"They might be more able to accept the news than you think," Pedram said quietly.

"Maybe. But for the moment, just trying to keep the politicians who know from doing something stupid is almost as full time a job as working here."

"Maybe the people could help control the politicians," Pedram offered.

"Maybe you should speak to the president," Daniel said quietly.

Pedram nodded in response.

"First, let me see if I can find your reality," Casey said.

"Thank you," Pedram smiled.

"Don’t thank me yet. I might not find it right away," the seer warned.

"We’ll keep you in the infirmary until we know for certain whether or not you’ll experience entropic cascade failure," Sam added. "I’ll make sure you have computer access to learn about our Earth."

The doors to the elevator opened on level twenty-one. Casey was the first off, bouncing down the corridor. "Oh, Janet! We’re home! Put your nasty needles away!" she sing-songed as she entered the infirmary.

Everyone could hear Janet’s laughter.

"We weren’t gone over twenty-four hours," Sam explained to Pedram, who was looking around with wide, almost fear-filled eyes. "There are more tests required if we’re gone more than twenty-four hours."

"Yeah, our Napoleonic little doctor loves poking us with needles," Jack grumbled. He led Pedram through the door, followed by Sam and the men from SG-3.

Teal’c had been right behind Casey, and was at that moment in the middle of an embrace with the petite doctor.

Casey glanced over her shoulder. "Teal’c and Janet are together, isn’t that cool?"

Pedram couldn’t help but chuckle at the delight in the seer’s voice.

"Okay, Doc, tell us we’re all okay so we can go home," Jack said.

Janet took one look at Jack and shook her head. "Don’t you dare touch one of those beds. Go shower. Then I’ll examine you."

"C’mon, Pedram," Jack grinned. "Let’s get cleaned up."

"Wait a minute!"

"Ah, ah, ah…if I have to clean up, so does our guest," Jack quipped. He practically ran out of the infirmary, his hand around Pedram’s arm. Who was forced to follow or be dragged.

Janet looked around. "Was that who I think it was?"

Casey shook her head, watching one of the medics wrap the blood pressure cuff around her upper arm. "Nope. Not the Goa’uld."

"He looks enough like Apophis to be his clone," Daniel admitted.

"They even call him Apophis," Sam added. "Because he and his unit of rebels killed the Apophis of their reality."

"Their reality?" Janet frowned.

"I didn’t realize that we’d screwed up until we’d already brought him back with us," Sam said, flinching slightly as the nurse drew a bit of blood.

"We couldn’t have left him behind," Casey said quietly. "He’d have starved to death, or gone mad from being alone. That’s if the Goa’uld didn’t show back up and kill him or take him as a slave or host."

"True," Daniel said. "There’s no way the rebels can return to that planet now, not for a several months, anyway. We had to trash the quantum mirror in the temple to prevent the Goa’uld from finding it and using it. And the Goa’uld who attacked took out the DHD for the ‘gate that was there."

"Your reports should be interesting," Janet mused.

"Yeah, that’s one word for it," Casey sighed. "If I hadn’t realized we were supposed to be there, I would’ve smacked the crap out of Jack for wanting to wander off like that."

"I still might do that," Daniel grumped.

Casey laid a comforting hand on her husband’s arm. "There was a reason, Stud Muffin."

"Let’s get you cleared," Janet said, grabbing a stethoscope and heading toward Casey, "so you can find…um-"

"Pedram," Casey offered.

"Thanks…Pedram. The sooner you can find his reality, the better," Janet said.

"Well, hopefully we can find a mirror that’s in his reality and in a relatively safe place," Casey responded.

"Here’s hoping." Janet took the seer’s blood pressure. "Couple of points high," she said softly.

"Guess I’m feeling a bit pressured…it’s up to me to find the right reality, or Pedram could die here. We brought him here to try to keep him alive," Casey sighed.

"Well, there’s always the chance that he’ll be able to remain here," Janet pointed out.

"I hope so," Casey sighed. "He’d drive Ba’al nuts."

Janet chuckled. "No doubt."

"Ooo…we could ride along with Pedram, pretend that he’s the real Apophis, and that he managed to catch the infamous SG-1…wouldn’t that just drive Ba’al right over the edge," Casey giggled.

"Especially if Ba’al thinks Apophis has succeeded in making you his willing consort," Janet replied.

"Oh, that would just be the icing on the cake," Casey chortled.

Daniel and Teal’c, who had been examined by two of the medics present, waited near the door. "Anything wrong?" Daniel asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Other than your wife plotting to drive Ba’al insane?" Janet teased.

The archaeologist grinned. "Yeah, she’ll be making plans from now until we take Ba’al out. Especially if Pedram can stay here and help us."

"Hey, I have to take my laughs where I can find them," Casey said, pulling her BDU shirt back over her black tee-shirt. "Let’s go, guys. I have a specific reality to find, not a lot of time to find it, and about a billion realities to surf through."

"Good luck," Sam called. Janet was just starting her exam.

"Thanks," Casey responded. She held up one hand, her index and middle fingers crossed.

The two men were silent as the three rode the elevator to level eighteen, where the quantum mirror was stored, complete with laser security.

"Okay, out with it," Casey said, watching the numbers change as they moved up.

"Out with what?" Daniel asked innocently.

"You two are absolutely reeking with ‘mother hen mode’ vibes," Casey answered.

"I have no idea what you are speaking of," Teal’c said immediately, his eyes also locked on the level indicator.

"Uh huh." Case reached over and slapped the emergency stop button. Crossed her arms over her chest. "Out with it."

Teal’c and Daniel exchanged a glance. "Okay, we have a few rules for this little job of yours," Daniel started.

"You what?" Casey squeaked.

Daniel held up his hand. "No matter what you might see, you do not, I repeat, you do not step foot into a different reality."

"You must remain at least two full steps away from the mirror," Teal’c added.

"I don’t know if I can pick up the hum from that far away," the seer argued.

"You’ll just have to try," Daniel told his wife.

"What the hell has you two so uptight?" Casey demanded.

"You and that mirror. You don’t have the best record for staying away from the damned thing, and you’re too quick to go through if you think it’s necessary," her husband replied.

"Oh, puhleeze! Once! I went through once! And I’d been hanging around the damned thing because of the hook Mibi had left in me," Casey contended.

"You’ve also chatted with Annika twice, the Casey I met once, and another Casey at least once," Daniel said pointedly.

"Yes, chatted. I never stepped through," Casey insisted.

"Did I not barely stop you from stepping through the mirror to prevent you from meeting one of the Casey’s children?" Daniel queried.

She couldn’t help but smile. While her intent had been to try to find Annika, and have an impromptu chat, complete with Oreos and coffee, both of which she’d carried into the storage room, Casey had located one of her alternate selves. That particular Casey had been shocked to see her counterpart at first, and then the two women had laughed about fact that there seemed to be so many Daniel and Casey Jacksons in so many realities. That Casey had indicated that she’d only dashed into the office for notes she’d left there, and had planned on working from home. In fact, she’d left her children…her and her Daniel’s children…in his office just down the hall. She’d invited Casey to ‘pop over’ just long enough to meet her family. Sensing absolutely no danger or warnings, no poking at all, Casey had been about to disarm the alarm and do just that when Daniel had poked his head into the room. His reaction to her intentions had made the other Casey laugh hysterically. He’d ranted for at least five minutes about her penchant for giving him heart failure on a regular basis. Then he’d begged her to see reason. Her counterpart had, instead, left the room long enough to find her husband and children, and herd them into the room. As she recalled, Daniel’s counterpart had been as upset by his wife’s use of the mirror as her Daniel had been. The children however…a little girl who looked just like her mother, two little boys, one who looked like a true clone of his daddy, the youngest a chubby toddler so adorable her arms had actually ached from wanting to hold him.

"Casey?" Daniel asked softly.

"Someday, Stud Muffin, we’re going to have a family. Maybe we’ll even have a little girl and two little boys," she sighed.

Daniel wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Someday."

Casey leaned up and kissed his chin. "So, I’ll only stand close enough to be able to hear the hum…I promise." She slapped the button to restart the elevator, and chose to ignore how both men relaxed visibly at her declaration.

Jack was towel drying his hair when Pedram joined him in the locker room. "Man, I’d forgotten how much dirt gets everywhere when you dig in like that."

"I don’t understand how I could have gotten dirt inside my trousers," Pedram complained.

The general chuckled. "Yeah, it gets everywhere."

Pedram finished drying, then gratefully accepted the pile of clean clothes. He sorted through them, then began dressing.

"Look, we sorta pushed you into coming here," Jack started.

"No, you made an offer," Pedram replied. "To be honest, thinking I’d be alone on that planet…I was panicked. I knew that my people wouldn’t be able to return. Not before I starved to death. And if by some miracle I was able to find food-" he broke off, his dark eyes taking on a troubled look. "My uncle fought against the Russians when they invaded Afghanistan. He had friends there, and felt obliged to help them in their struggles against aggressors."

Jack settled onto the bench, realizing that Pedram needed to talk…needed to come to terms with everything that had happened in less than ten hours’ time.

Pedram seated himself on the bench across from the man who had saved his life. "They would hide in the mountains. Attack supply convoys, pick off any patrol that might be sent out. They lived in caves, almost like animals. He’d been gone for almost two years, when one day, my grandmother opened the door to let in the early morning sun, and there he stood. There was another man with him. Afghani. He asked for my grandfather." Pedram took a deep breath. "I’d just started my classes at secondary school…I believe Americans refer to it as high school."

Jack nodded his understanding.

"I was considered old enough to join my grandfather, father, uncles, and older brothers. We sat in the parlor. Grandmother and mother served tea, then quietly went back to their own tasks. The Afghani told us he’d found my uncle wandering the mountains. Managed to learn his name, and where he was from." Pedram frowned. "It took two days for him to learn that much."

"Your uncle couldn’t talk?" Jack asked.

"Not really. After making certain that we were indeed his family, the Afghani left. Before he did, he told my grandfather that the mountains where he’d found my uncle had been used by local snipers…but those men were…" Pedram waved his hand in a circle, searching for the correct word.

"Crazy?" Jack offered.

Pedram frowned for a moment, then nodded. "The men worked in teams of two. If one of them was killed, the other carried on alone. The teams were in radio contact…once every three to four weeks."

Jack nodded again, letting Pedram know that he was following the story.

"So, it was assumed that my uncle had been left alone when his partner had been killed."

"Logical assumption," Jack said.

"My uncle had been home for months before he actually began speaking again. He spent his days on the roof of the house, huddled in a corner, watching everything, hiding if someone he didn’t know approached. We had to keep all of our weapons locked away from him, or he’d shoot at anyone within range."

Jack frowned slightly. He’d known men who had come home from war…their bodies had come home…but their minds – their minds were still lost in combat somewhere within the war zone. He’d lost a good friend to the Gulf War. Not killed…but not really alive. Chris…Chris Gustafson. Great guy. Hockey fan. Not much of a drinker. Boy, could Chris tell jokes! Chris had been on the same flight home as he was. But his mind…no, Chris’s mind was still back in Iraq. Fighting only God knew what demons.

"-so, one day my father climbed up to the roof," Pedram continued. "My uncle would get very angry if anyone tried to approach him while he was on the roof. On this day, for some reason, my uncle allowed my father to sit with him. My father said they’d been sitting together for nearly three hours, not a word between them, when suddenly, his brother turned to him and said, 'I shot him.' The Russians had captured his partner. They’d tied him naked to the hood of a jeep and left him there in the sun. Then they began to torture him. They were asking him questions, but he refused to answer. So they pulled his teeth, one at a time."

Jack winced. He’d heard stories of inhumane torture that the Russians had used against the Afghanis. He’d always held out the hope that the stories were just that.

"When the Russians had finished pulling his teeth, they forced a length of hose down his throat. They kept pushing, until it would not move."

"Shoved it into his stomach," Jack said, his voice low, his own stomach beginning to churn. He’d seen the same thing done to prisoners in Iraq. How he’d managed to avoid that particular hell, he didn’t know. He mentally shook his head, forced his own demons back into their box.

"The Russians took a can marked gasoline, and a funnel. They connected the funnel to the hose and then-" Pedram broke off, turned his head to the side, closed his eyes. After a moment he took a deep breath. "One of the Russians put a lit cigarette to this man’s lips. And then they all stepped back. The man tried to spit the cigarette away…"

"They set him on fire," Jack rasped.

"From the inside," Pedram confirmed. "That is when my uncle shot him. Right between the eyes, he said."

"That was a bit of mercy," Jack said.

"My uncle began crying, and said that he should have killed the man before the Russians tortured him. That as soon as they had left him tied up on the jeep, he should have taken the shot."

"Hindsight is always twenty-twenty."

"The Russians began to search for my uncle. He hid from them, alone, for almost a year. He was terrified of being captured, he didn’t want to be tortured to death. He was too afraid of being caught to try to make it home," Pedram said, finishing his story with a sad shake of his head.

"Jesus," Jack whispered.

"I have seen many things, I have seen what the Goa’uld do to their captives," Pedram said. "I did not want to be left alone, because I didn’t want to be captured by the Goa’uld. Because of my uncle, I know what time alone can do to a man when he is afraid, and when he has seen into hell. The madness that comes…" He shook his head. "I am a coward for not staying."

"No, that’s not true!" Jack said firmly. "A coward would have tried to have made it to that transport before it took off. A coward would have allowed that transport to be destroyed to try to save himself."

Pedram studied the floor beneath his feet.

"You did what any strong soldier, or warrior, would do. You weighed the odds, and found a way to keep fighting the bad guys. It might not be the way you had planned, but you’ll still be fighting them. And I promise, my team and I will be there for you, whenever you need help."

The slight lifting of the corners of his mouth couldn’t be considered a smile. But Pedram knew from Jack’s answering smile that it was enough.

"Let’s go let Napoleon do her thing, and then we’ll grab a bite to eat," Jack said. He stood to his feet, put a hand on the still seated Pedram’s shoulder. "You’re welcome here. We’ll do our best to take care of you."

"Thank you."

"I think it would be prudent for you to read all of the mission files we have that pertain to our Apophis. Oy, what a pain-in-the-ass he was!" Jack declared. He paused, and then started to chuckle. "By now Radar probably has a dozen different plans involving you, SG-1, and driving Ba’al crazy."

Pedram chuckled as well. "That could be most entertaining."

"You have no idea. That little blonde seer can be mean as hell when she’s ticked off," Jack retorted. He subconsciously rubbed the back of his neck. It was no longer purple, and the scent had faded days ago. But he had no doubt that Casey would still kick his ass if given the chance.

Casey waited for Daniel to activate the mirror. Picked up the controller, and moved it gently. "Here we go," she said softly.

Daniel stood behind his Wife. He watched as she waited for the mirror to ‘focus’. She tipped her head to one side.

"Not even close," she said. Again she bumped the controller. She glanced over her shoulder. "This is gonna take awhile."

"I shall bring chairs," Teal’c said.

"There are folding chairs in the commons," Daniel said.

Teal’c nodded, then eased his bulk out the door, closing it quietly behind him.

"Nope. Nope. Hmm…interesting hum…nope…nope…"

Both Jacksons started when the mirror stopped on a familiar looking storage room. More because the room was occupied than recognizing the room itself.

"Hi!" Casey smiled. Once again she tipped her head. "Could you do me a favor?"

The young man in the other room nodded nervously.

"Tell Annika that Casey said hello. Tell her the Casey from the reality that Sha’re, Kasuf, and Skaara came from."

The young man relaxed visibly. "Yes, ma’am. I’ll pass along the message."

"Thanks!" With a wiggle of her fingers, Casey bumped the controller. "See, wasn’t even tempted to go through."

"Uh huh."

The next reality had them stepping back from the mirror. Sha’re…or rather, ‘a’ Sha’re, dressed as she had been when she was host to Amaunet, was standing near the mirror. On his knees beside her, wearing nothing but a short kilt and a gold slave collar, was that reality’s Daniel Jackson. That man’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the blonde woman and a man who looked exactly like himself.

"I’m so sorry," Casey whispered, tears filling her eyes. She bumped the controller just as Sha’re turned toward the mirror.

Daniel cleared his throat.

"Okay, if I’d have had a P90, I probably would have shot the bitch dead, and grabbed him and brought him here. We could just as easily find a place for him," Casey admitted.

He couldn’t help but grin. "No doubt."

Teal’c returned, and the three friends and teammates settled in. Not more than thirty minutes later Sam and Jack arrived, carrying trays loaded with the commissary’s daily special.

"How’s it going?" Jack asked.

"I think I’m getting close," Casey said. "The hums are starting to sound a bit more familiar."

Sam frowned. "Can you describe this ‘hum’ that you hear?"

Casey frowned in return. "Wow. I don’t know. Give me a few minutes to think about it?"

"Take your time," Sam smiled.

"And what difference does it make?" Jack asked.

"We might be able to program a receiver to pick up the ‘hum’ of a reality, if we know what bandwidths to look for. If Casey can give me an idea of what it sounds like, I can set up some experiments, and see if I can replicate what she hears. If I can, then I can determine how to detect those same sound waves."

"Okay. Why?"

Sam shrugged. "If we can identify ‘friendly’ realities without Casey, it might come in handy."

"Yeah, especially if she’s taken off into one of them," Daniel grumped.

"Uh…guys? I kinda need quiet for this," Casey interjected.

"Sorry," Sam whispered.

"Janet had an idea," Jack whispered to Daniel. "She got Pedram’s family name, names of relatives, et cetra. General Hammond is going to make a request that the family be located, and all living members be listed. He thinks he can do that within a few hours."

"Good idea," Daniel whispered in return.

The mirror was suddenly filled with the images of a raging battle. Casey sighed heavily. "I hope the general can find out for sure…because this is Pedram’s reality, and there’s no way in hell he can go through."

"That’s a Goa’uld ship!" Daniel exclaimed.

He’d no more than made the observation when none other than Ba’al raced into the room. Brown eyes went wide to see the mirror activated, and a group of Tau’ri sitting calmly in the room he could see. An explosion behind him spurred him into action. For a moment, the observers sat…stunned to see the face of the Goa’uld they loathed. Ba’al raced across the room, and leapt toward the mirror.

"Oh, hell no!" Casey muttered, bumping the controller and moving to the next reality.

"So, Balls is alive in Pedram’s reality," Jack mused.

"So it seems. If the Goa’uld did manage to make it through the mirror to another reality, no doubt that Ba’al will find the change no better than the battle he escaped," Teal’c said.

Sam was still staring at the mirror. "Okay, I have a question."

"Let’s hear it," Jack said. Sam was usually the one with the answers. If she had a question, it was worth listening to.

"We know that if we enter the wormhole and the Stargate on the other side is blocked suddenly, by a iris or something similar, the traveler is killed."

"Yep," Jack nodded.

"What happens if a person is diving through the mirror into a reality, and that reality is suddenly changed…I mean it takes about point zero fifteen seconds from the time you move the controller to the time it takes for one to become ‘focused’. If that Ba’al had jumped through just as Casey moved the controller, breaking the connection between our realities…did he just go into another reality, or did he…" She shrugged.

"Interesting question," Daniel said. "To be honest, the thought of any Ba’al being tossed into oblivion makes me happy."

"Hear, hear," Casey nodded. "I was not going to let that bastard come here. We have enough to deal with."

"Well, it would have been entertaining watching him go through that tropical cascading thing," Jack grinned.

Casey couldn’t help but chuckle. "Good point." She looked around at her teammates, from one face to the next. "Do you want me to see if I can find another mirror in Pedram’s reality?"

Jack put his hands behind his head and leaned back. "To be perfectly honest, the chances of us finding more trouble like that," he nodded toward the mirror, "are probably pretty high. Let’s see what General Hammond comes up with. If nothing else, we can find a reality where Pedram will be safe."

Casey snapped her fingers. "I know just the place."

"The Casey that gave me the letter to give you?" Daniel asked.

"Yep. They killed Apophis there."

"But, if Pedram’s counterpart is alive-" Sam started.

The young seer shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "Seems the Russia of that reality damned near destroyed Iran, Iraq, and Syria in that reality. Very few survivors from those countries. Given what we know about Pedram and his family, chances are pretty slim that he or any of his family are alive."

"Damn," Sam whispered.

Sniffing and wiping the tears from her eyes, Casey managed a smile. "On the up side, that SG-1 killed Ba’al."

"Lucky," Jack groused. He slapped his knees, then stood up. "Okay, sounds like we have a safe place for Pedram to escape to if he can’t stay here."

Daniel rolled his head, listened to his neck pop back into place. "It’s been a very long day."

"Yes, it has been," Sam said, unable to stop a yawn.

"Let’s go home, campers. Pedram is in good hands. General Hammond will have word about any possible family by morning," Jack said.

The group took the elevator to level twenty-one. They explained to Pedram what they had found, and the fact they knew of another reality where he could go, at least long enough to learn if he existed there.

Janet joined them as they made their way topside. They were tired; they were all more than a little concerned about Pedram. And they were not just a little proud of the fact that they had helped a group of rebels cause at least one Goa’uld to have an especially bad day.

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