Author Notes: Characters and pairings and seasons are all the same for the forthcoming chapters. Violence, swearing, suggestive themes. Catagories will be the same with later chapters as well. Have same story up on fanfiction.net under same author name.

THE 8TH CHEVRON

Legal stuff: STARGATE and several other characters and crossovers I use in this story are owned by whatever company and not by me. This story is for fun only. The Ford character is copyrighted to me. This story takes place sometime after Daniel's return from being ascended.

Authors Note: Later in the chapters, Nirriti is back. In that episode Metamorphosis, after her body was being taken away, the symbiont hadn't died, took over the host carrying the body away. Then her new host took the body to a hidden room with a sarcophagus, brought her former host back then took it over again and left. My outtake due to forgetfulness of the fact she is suppose to be dead. Didn't want to rewrite story, anyway on with it now.

CHAPTER 1

SG-1 was off world at the moment on a mission and was suppose to be returning soon. Hammond noticed this when he looked at the clock. He had a lot of paperwork and files to go through that day and was hoping they came back without any trouble. He was looking over a report when the alarms went off.

"Off world activation!"

He set down his pen and got up hoping for good news. He went down to the control room to see who or what was coming.

"It's SG-1 sir."

"Open the Iris." Hammond said as he watched out the window in front of him.

The Iris opened and as hoped SG-1 walked through just fine. They were coming back from a routine mission of survey checking for the scientific groups that checked for planets being able to be used for escape sites or exploration or resources, that sort of thing. Hammond came down to greet them as they walked off the ramp.

"Hello sir. We're back safe and sound." O'Neill said. Then muttered, "For once."

"How did it go?" Hammond asked.

"Rather well, no Goa'uld, no predators, no ancient temples, nobody around to greet us." O'Neill said ticking off his fingers.

"It's a lush and fertile planet sir. It doesn't look like anyone has ever set foot on it ever. There's no sign of anyone ever being there." Carter said.

"Except for the Stargate." Daniel put in.

"Yeah. Except for that." O'Neill said taking his hat off. "Permission to go sir."

"Since I have a few things I'm trying to get finished, I want a report sometime today or tomorrow. We can skip the debriefing today." Hammond said. "Can we skip the infirmary as well?" O'Neill asked. He sounded almost like he was pleading. Hammond let it slide as usual. "You know the rules Colonel. Fraiser first then you can go." "Yes sir." O'Neill said sounding disappointed. "Dismissed."

After the usual visit to the doctor, they went their separate ways. O'Neill was headed to his office to write up the report so he could get it out of the way. Teal'C left to do the same. Carter went to her office to mess around with her scientific items and Daniel left to finish something he was doing before they left. A couple of hours went by when the sound of the gate activating made Jack jump slightly. He headed up to the gate room right away. Luckily he finished the report already. Daniel heard the sound but decided that if they needed him they'd call. Teal'C got up and headed for the gate room. Carter was so into her work that she didn't even notice the alarm.

Somewhere in Colorado...........

In an alternate universe.........or somewhere close to being one.....

Ford was driving home from a long day of work. Luckily there were only a few lawbreakers that day. Hold up at a bank for an hour, some idiot robbers at a liquor store, a attempted kidnapping, which ended up bad for the kidnapper since he tried to take a cop's child, and a chase through town after a gang shoot out. Other than that, he was happy to not have fired a shot that day. His ammo was expensive enough. As he pulled into the driveway he could see dark clouds approaching on the horizon. Several news bulletins, over the radio, stated that power outages were state wide at the moment due to the electrical storm overhead.

"Glad I have a backup generator." he said pocketing his keys as he got out of his car.

Pulling his keys back out, while smacking himself in the forehead, he unlocked the front door and went in. Thunder rumbled in the distance as he closed the door. Looking through the mail at his feet he headed toward the bathroom. Coming back several minutes later he grabbed a bagel, beef sausage slices, cheese, crackers, and a half gallon of chocolate milk. Pulling his modified 45 magnum from the holster behind his back he placed in on the table in front of him and dropped his special coat onto the couch next to him. Looking through a few more pieces of mail in his hand he tossed them aside and picked up his remote. Pushing a few buttons the digital recorder came on along with the TV. A menu popped up telling him what was recorded and waited for his instructions.

SGC COMMAND................

A lieutenant was manning the computer as General Hammond stood behind him.

"It's SG-5 sir."

"Open the Iris." Hammond commanded.

As the lieutenant opened the Iris on the gate, Hammond could almost swear he heard the large thunder storm outside. As SG-5 was coming through the gate, Hammond went down to welcome them home. O'Neill came down from above to see what was happening.

"It's just SG-5 returning sir." the lieutenant said to him as he approached.

"Guess they didn't find any Goa'uld this time." O'Neill said with his hands in his pockets, as usual.

"I wouldn't know sir. They came back on time and don`t seem to be in any trouble."

"Alright Lieutenant. I'll be in the mess hall if I'm needed."

"Yes sir."

Sam was walking out of her office and heading over to talk to Daniel about a recent mission. She was having trouble identifying a symbol that was slightly damaged by time, on a small metal slab in her hand. The metal slab had a strange energy reading to it, so she was the one having to check it out. She nodded to an officer as she walked by when she realized that the gate alarm was going off. Daniel's office was just around a couple of corners so she figured she'd meet up with him seeing as he might be headed to the gate room anyway when she heard something off to her left down the hall. Turning around she looked down the hall. There was nothing there though. Shrugging, she started to walk off again when there was a flash of light inside the hallway and the noise again. This time she saw it. Another flash happened and then something came out followed by more flashes.

In the other universe...............

Ford was watching a Stargate episode he missed awhile back when he got pulled into stakeout duty for a week. A episode in the sixth season. He was really enjoying it when the power went out.

"Ah for crying out loud!"

The table fell over as he walked into it. After a few mumbling curses he headed outside and flipped his generator on. Coming back in he went to turn the TV system back on when a power surge went through it. It reminded Ford of those sci-fi movies were an electrical current runs across some object. He was about to pick his remote up when his show came back on. It showed Major Carter looking down a hallway. Ford could almost swear she was looking at him. As Ford picked up his gun from the floor along with the table, his TV started glowing brightly. He started to back away, thinking it was going to explode when there was a flash followed by what felt like lightening hitting him.

Carter watched as an unknown man fell from the light and hit the floor, hard, head first. He was around six feet tall, hair so black that it had a blue tint, a handsome looking face and blue eyes that almost sparkled. She found out later he actually was six foot three. She noticed a badge on his belt along with other things showing her he was some sort of officer. Something skittered past her feet causing her to jump. At first she thought it might be an explosive but it was a very large gun. She grabbed it quickly off the floor and was surprised at its weight.

"What the hell......oh man......I wonder if this is what being hit with a zat gun feels like." Ford said as he sat up slowly holding his head with one hand.

"FREEZE!"

Ford turned to the voice and instantly thought he was dreaming. But he felt so dizzy that it couldn't be a dream. His head was seriously hurting but he couldn't stay awake despite wanting to.

"Ca....Carter?" he asked as his voice slurred.

She saw his eyes rolled up as he fell back passing out. She lowered the gun and went over to him slowly. She tried yelling at him to see if he was faking it. After kicking his foot lightly, she knelt down and checked his pulse. She quickly realized he was unconscious. Without getting up she called out for anyone as she checked on the unknown man. A guard came running up with several others including Daniel and Teal'c.

"Who is he Major Carter?" Teal'c asked as he also knelt down..

"I don't know. He just appeared out of nowhere. Said my name like he knew me and passed out."

A medical team came along a few moments later as she was looking through his wallet. His belt buckle really caught her attention. It was a Starfleet buckle. Looked like he had being wearing it for a few years or more.

Must be a Star Trek fan. She thought as she stood up.

The unknown man was placed on the stretcher and taken away. His weapon and other belongings were taken off him before hand by Teal'c and Carter though.

SG-1 and Hammond were talking outside the infirmary about the unknown man as Janet continued to look him over medically. She was worried about how he was doing since his heartbeat was erratic. From her assessment, the guy had taken a blow to the head, which Sam said was probably due to the fact when he showed up in mid air he landed head first and had also looked to come out of some unknown energy field. That explained the readings she got that said he did receive quite a jolt. His heartbeat wasn't getting any better and she called a nurse over to bring the crash cart.

Ford was hearing a lot of talking going on. The last few moments of what had seemed to have happened kept going through his mind. Did the TV shock him? Did he go to another universe, as impossible as it seems? Did he actually see Samantha Carter? This was all going through his head then stopped as he heard the word crash cart. That got his attention. He opened his eyes quickly seeing two paddles about to come down on his bare chest.

"Wait! I`m fine! I`m fine!" he yelled border lining hysterics as he grabbed her hands and tried to sit up.

Janet stopped just as she touched his chest with the paddles. She looked back over seeing his heartbeat was back to normal, a little elevated though seeing as he was scared probably. He let go of her hands as she took the paddles away.

"Janet?" he asked slowly looking at her strange and confused and amazed.

"Yes I am, but it's Doctor Fraiser to you." she said looking in his eyes with a light.

"Sorry." he said blinking after she stopped. "I'm used to...I'll explain in a minute. Can I get up and get dressed?"

"Not at the moment. I need some answers first."

Ford looked over from Janet seeing Hammond at the end of his bed. The rest of SG-1 was standing there as well. A couple guards were standing near the entrance watching him carefully.

"Wow. This is interesting."

Janet helped him to a seated position. He was only wearing hospital issue pants. What is it with doctors and removing all clothing?!

"Please tell me I am NOT dreaming." he said with a smile of hope.

Jack looked at him confused then at his team.

"Isn't the saying suppose to be tell me I'm dreaming?"

"Yes, it usually is sir." Carter said. Boy, this guy must really work out!

He had the appearance of someone who worked out a lot, but not looking like anything near Arnold from the Terminator movie's. Just slightly buff.

"Then I'm actually here, at the Stargate Command?"

They all looked startled, somewhat.

"Wow. And I thought that jolt was the end. I'm actually here." he said excited.

"How did you get here?" Hammond asked.

"Really, I don't know. The TV shocked me and then I was..." he said looking around. He didn't see any camera's. "Ah, this is all real right, I mean that you are fighting the Goa'uld, those metal critters called Replicators, friends with the Asguard Thor....that sort of thing?" he said waving his left hand as a gesture at them.

"How did you know that?" Daniel asked not thinking first. This got him several glares.

"Good!....that didn't come out right. Okay, I was watching TV as I said, got shocked and then saw Major Carter and passed out. I don't know how I got from one universe to another."

"A parallel universe?" Carter asked.

"Fortunately no Major. As stupid as this is going to sound, I'm from a universe where.....um....your all TV show characters."

This got him some really strange looks like he was nuts.

"I'm not crazy. I'm telling the truth. Your father or I could say Selmak could come and bring that strange eye scanning, lying detector device." he said looking at her feeling insulted.

"Let's say that your story is true, can you prove it?" Hammond said.

"Possibly not. All I have is what I know about you all and this place."

"Such as?" Jack said slowly. Sounded like a loaded question.

"You had a ship named after you by Thor that Carter here destroyed because the Asguard could not seem to figure out how to get rid of the Replicators. They needed someone with a stupid idea. You commented saying she might not be stupid enough. Daniel, you tried to attack Anubis when you were ascended and was cast down by....Oma, right? Teal'c, I can't think of anything at the moment. Carter....." he said looking at her sadly.

"What about me?" she said crossing her arms. She didn't seem to like his tone.

"Ah.....before your father became a Tok'ra he was dying of cancer and tried to use his influence and favor's I guess to get you into the space program before he had to quit completely. You turned him down and he walked away angry. You saved him by having him blend with Selmak later as, how shall we say, part of a deal to allow trade and alliance with them seeing as they needed a host. Sorry if that brings back bad memories. As it stands I think you and your father are still having trouble with your brother."

"I think I've heard enough. Doctor, have him taken to the briefing room as soon as he can leave. We'll talk more there."

"He can leave now if you need him to sir. I've done what test I can and still waiting on others, but otherwise he's not injured as far as I can tell."

"I'll be right up General." he said. To them it sounded like he was part of the military once. "Where are my clothes?"

An hour later Ford was sitting in the briefing room with SG-1, Doctor Fraiser, and General Hammond. Ford was really tired and it showed despite his best efforts. Even the strong black coffee wasn't helping much. Janet said he had a small concussion and unless he got hit there again he would be fine. He figured the security guard was standing outside the door incase he tried to get at his stuff on the table. Luckily his belt buckle wasn't among them.

"Major, what did you and Dr. Jackson find out?"

"Nothing sir. There is no one anywhere with that name or profile. I ran his social security number, checked his address, phone number, fingerprints, nothing came up. His DNA is being run through, but I seriously doubt we'd get anything there either. He has to be telling the truth since nothing shows he exist. His gun isn't even registered. No serial numbers."

"That's because it was made by me personally." Ford said interrupting. "Can I have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil please?"

"Give us some more information on what you really know about this facility and its personal." Hammond said.

Ford spent the next hour telling them about different episodes he watched. He called them missions instead of episodes though. Daniel handed him a piece from the file folder in front of him along with a pencil after he finished talking. Hammond approved letting him have it afterward.

"Thanks." Ford said. He continued to have a confused look on his face as he wrote.

"What type of gun is it?" O'Neill asked as he looked it over. "Man this is heavy."

"It weighs at almost thirty pounds sir. From what I can tell, it is totally made from an experimental metal that the government is looking into, but has failed to create. The bullets aren't even made of lead, but are still considered .45 magnum rounds. All of the ammo he has is capable of more than piercing Jaffa body armor, hell it`s anti-tank, and just as loud. The barrel is five inches longer than any other .45 magnum I've ever came across. It even has a place for a scope and laser pointer. I can't even guess the range. Some of the bullets are made of the same metal as the gun. All the jackets are made from the metal as well. It`s a custom job sir, all the way through. I couldn`t even damage it with a laser drill. I believe it's indestructible."

"The range is around three miles Major Carter. And the metal it's made from is called Adamantium. " Ford said looking at the paper he wrote on. "I have a long black trench coat with a high collar that has the same material built into it. Covers my feet practically too. Weighs a lot. Unfortunately it`s back home. And yes, the metal is indestructible." he said saying back home like it was a bad thing.

"That's impossible! No hand gun like that has that much range." Carter said looking at him bewildered.

"It is when the propellant is a form of nitroglycerin. Took me a couple of months to perfect the amount I'd need to fire the rounds and not take my hands off with the kick. Has quite a kick to it anyway. Here Daniel." he said giving him the paper. "Look. I'm not sure why I'm here, but I'd like to help any way I can seeing as I doubt I can get home anyway, not that I want to. My other life wasn't as fun as it could be now. I want to join the SGC."

"Join? Us?" O'Neill said with a skeptic look.

"Yes Jack. Join. Go through the gate. Explore new worlds. Kick Goa'uld ass. You know the same stuff you do. I don't see the problem with it really since I have nothing here. My wallet has a couple hundred in it. I have a couple of cards that might give me access to more money on the internet. That`s a long shot though." he said rolling his eyes.

"I have question about that?" Carter said.

"Okay." he said drawing out the word.

"I did check out some of those cards. They show you having access to almost forty million dollars!"

"Whoa!" O'Neill said with a jump, as did Janet and Hammond who were also surprised. He incidentally dropped the gun which dented the table badly. Thank god it wasn't loaded. "How did you get that much money being a cop?! Win the lottery or something?"

"Actually yes. Won around 152 million dollars. A lot of it I gave to charities, helpless folks and homeless families. Well, anyway I was still a cop when I won and stayed a cop even after. I didn't even get paid anymore since I told them not to pay me. Now I know I could just leave here and live off what I have set aside, but I'd be constantly monitored so I wouldn't talk about the Stargate and other things I know, but having me here would be easier. Besides I would like to know where these gate coordinates go." Ford said pointing at the paper Daniel was scrutinizing.

"So would I. I've never seen these sort of gate symbols being put together but there is a problem." Daniel said.

"Let me see." Carter said. Daniel handed it to her and went back to looking in deep thought. "This gate address can't be dialed."

"Why not?" Ford asked. Bet that sounded stupid considering I watch the show, or did.

"I thought you said you watched us. There are eight symbols here. We can only dial seven. How did you get these anyway?"

"I forgot this gate can't dial eight without more power. Anyway the chevrons keep popping up in my head. I had a dream about seeing them back home, but ignored it. The dream kept coming back recently and then they appeared more clearly when I hit my head. Which still hurts." he said rubbing it. Those aspirin still hadn't kicked in. "Anyway, once I figured out the order they went in I wrote it down. And I know that O'Neill managed to do it once when he had some Ancient information downloaded into him. Took him to a Asguard world."

"Yes, but he was able to somehow boost the power using Teal'cs staff weapon." Carter said.

"True but we could at least try. Even if we don't, I want to help. I want to stay."

"Forty million.....and you kept working?" O'Neill asked.

"Hey. I liked my job. Don't you like yours. Here, how about this. If I gave you a few million or even the full forty would you quit?"

"A.....no. I guess not."

"I have read before upon what job you do. I understand why you wish to join us." Teal'c said.

O'Neill shook his head like he was lost and said, "Sure, why not. I don`t have a problem if you don`t General. He would make a great addition to the SGC and wouldn`t have to go through training. He looks like he`d be a great help."

Carter looked like she was okay with the idea when she agreed with O'Neill.

Daniel looked lost but said he was fine with it after Hammond asked him his opinion.

Teal'c apparently had made up his mind at the beginning from what Hammond could tell.

"Alright Mr. Primus. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt in the meantime. If you really want to join, then SG-1 will train you. You've got two weeks to prove yourself. Dismissed."

CHAPTER 2 Two weeks later.............

Ford was almost the first one into the briefing room, except Hammond was there already waiting. He had on SGC issue BDU's now.

"General. Reporting as ordered." Ford said standing at attention, not like a first year cadet, but more like someone who knew how to show proper respect but without trying to impress someone. He didn't salute since he wasn't in the service.

"Be seated Mr. Primus."

As he sat down at the far end, "Permission to speak sir?" With a nod from the General, he continued. "First I'd like to thank you for giving me this chance, even if I might have failed..."

"What makes you think you have failed already son?"

"Nothing yet sir. I was thanking you for the opportunity even if I succeeded or not." When the General nodding in understanding Ford continued. "If I may sir, I would prefer to be called just Ford. I'm not looking for special treatment or anything like SG-1 where you sometimes are on first name bases, I just don't like hearing my last name much."

"Can I ask why?"

"My father was a hero per say and when I joined the force, well everyone kept trying to compare me to him. So I transferred over to another branch and worked my way up by myself. I was able to keep who I really was a secret for quite a few years till by a strange coincidence my department and his met up together and then everyone knew who I really was, but those few years of working without them knowing the truth showed I wasn't in my father's shadow. Me and my parents got along fine, it was the departments that didn't like him and I tried to stay as far away from working near or with him as possible."

"When you say was?"

"He was killed by dirty CIA agents, but I got them a few months later." When the General looked like he didn't like the sound of that, Ford said, "That sounded wrong, but I did everything by the book. I had the chance to shoot them, but I waited for backup and they were given the death penalty a few months later. That was eight years ago."

The General's posture relaxed after Ford was finished. "Sounds like you're a team player son."

"I may carry a powerful gun sir, but rushing in is not my style unless I`m told to. Seen to many people cut down that way. In the four years I've been at this, not once had I been hit. Close calls, but no hits."

"Impressive story, but I have to say that I have no proof that it is even true, except for the close calls maybe. Doctor Fraiser said that your medical review showed no signs of ever being shot."

"Well, I have been hit before, in a sense. Being so rich, I had a special coat made that was capable of stopping bullets that were even armor piercing. Weighs like eighty pounds. I got hit, but the coat always took the impact. Besides that I always went in with a bullet proof vest on anyway or armored clothes. Unfortunately, I wasn't wearing it when I ended up here sir." he said sounding regretful.

"Do you miss your family any?"

"If you mean it like if I could go back would I? No. My mom passed on a year after my dad in a classified incident that never really figured out. I have no one to go back to."

"No girlfriends or fianc or..."

"None of the above. I never had anyone I was going out with anyway. No grandparents either or other relatives."

Hammond was looking ready to say more when SG-1 showed up. They all went to their usual seats. He nodded to them as they sat down. Turning to the Colonel first he asked him to report on the training.

"Ford's weapon skills are quite incredible General. He knows how to use a variety of hand weapons and explosives. He didn't do to well with the PC-90. But with heavy weapons he hit the targets more than anything else. We tested his gun and it is capable of hitting something at three miles, now whether it hit's its target or not, is another story. As for its capability on impacting through an object, well you saw that report."

"Yes I did. That Hummer incident is not going to be easy to explain and is not cheap Colonel."

"I know sir."

"I said I'd pay for it." Ford said interrupting. "Sir." he said after a moment.

"I missed something apparently. What happened?" Daniel said.

"With what?" O'Neill asked.

"With the Hummer incident. I heard about something happening to one but not the details."

"If I may General?" O'Neill asked. With a nod, O'Neill explained. "We went to a secure deserted site to test out Ford's personal cannon as I call it. Well the Gunny we had testing it fired off one round toward the target two miles away, which he missed, and the second round went through one side of the Hummer behind him and out the other. It completely ruined the engine."

"I told you guys you should have waited." Ford said slowly.

"Yes you did." Jack muttered sarcastically.

"Why did he shoot one of our vehicles?" Daniel said getting back on subject.

"You didn't let me finish Daniel."

"Sorry."

"As I was saying, when he fired the first shot, the recoil dislocated his shoulder and threw him back several feet. When the gun hit the ground it went off and that's how the Hummer was hit. Luckily no one got killed."

"Why didn't you just have Ford fire it for you?" Daniel asked.

"One, he was with Carter, and two, we didn't know what it was truly capable of." O'Neill explained.

"Then who hit the target everyone is talking about."

"Ford did...." when Daniel tried to say something, O'Neill kept going before he could talk. "After we had him brought down. He was the only one that looked capable of firing it. I don't know how, but he hit that target General, dead on. I'm just glad he's on our side."

"How can you stand the recoil from that weapon?" Carter asked still surprised at his strength.

"Years and years of practice. The amount of ammo I used in an elephant gun could have paid for the gas in a rig to travel around the world. It's only been the last decade that I've been able to fire it and not get hurt. I`m also trained in several martial arts that tone the body and bring out inner strength."

"Alright, let's move on. Major Carter." Hammond said.

"Well sir, he's got the intelligence to be an astrophysicist or possibly a couple of other fields, but prefers to do what he has been doing. I gave him some of our reports from other missions and he was able to tell me a lot of the things we did without looking at the reports. His computer skills are impressive, if not amazing. Ford is nearly on par with my skills and actually understands what I`m talking about. He would be very valuable to the SGC sir."

"He wasn't humoring you was he...."

"No Colonel I wouldn`t do that. And no offense but unlike you I understand what she is saying. Always have." Ford said smiling inwardly. Jack must have noticed and gave him a small glare.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute....if you're actually that smart, as Carter here, then why are you not dressed in a white lab coat with geeky glasses and all that stuff?"

"I've wondered that myself, okay not like the Colonel put it, but how is it that you aren't..." Carter said trying to say something to him in a way that wouldn't be offensive.

"Like Jack?" he said a little to quickly and not thinking first. Carter let a small grin show to his statement and Jack had stiffened up visibly.

"How shall I put this.....no offense to anyone, especially you Carter, I'm more action orientated though I know how to do other things. I actually kept most of my intellectual capabilities to myself seeing as I didn't want the people back home that I worked for, knowing I had the capacity to build a nuclear bomb with ease or other scientific stuff. If they knew what I was really capable of, I'd still be there in some think tank with no freedom. Here I can express that side of me and not get pulled away seeing as I would be more important here. And it can be put to better use."

"I can agree with that." she said.

"Understood Major. Doctor Jackson." Hammond said seeing the Colonel looking ready to maybe say something....vulgar possibly or at least a sarcastic remark to Ford`s statement.

When Daniel kept looking at the table, Hammond called out for him again. Ford leaned over and tapped him on the shoulder when Hammond was about to yell louder.

"Yes." he said looking around. "What is it?"

"General's talking to you Daniel." Ford said.

"Huh. Oh, sorry." Daniel said looking more alert, or at least in the room.

"Is something bothering you Doctor?"

"Something about that address that Ford gave us. I recognize the symbols or address I should say, but I can't figure out why." Daniel explained looking more lost than ever.

"Must be something you knew when you were ascended." Ford said.

He got a strange look from Daniel and the other`s. "Possibly. Anyway what did you, oh....Ford showed some remarkable skills in different languages but recognizing different artifacts better than I almost. Probably from his law enforcement training. He knows fluent Japanese and Chinese. What you could call rusty Russian and some Goa`uld. That might be from what he learned from us though."

"Anything else to add?" Jack asked.

"Not that I can think of."

"Thank you Doctor Jackson. Alright, Teal'c. How did he fair with you?"

"Considerable better than O'Neill and his boxing technique's." Teal'c stated.

"Hey!" O'Neill said looking at Teal'c sharply.

Ford had to cough a few times to keep from laughing. Even Carter thought it sounded funny and had to bite her lip and look away. She heard some talk around the base that Teal'c had been knocked down several times by Mr. Primus.

"I cannot lie about how things turned out Colonel O'Neill. He has considerable more amount of training in fighting hand to hand than even I."

"He beat you?!" O'Neill said with surprise written all over his face.

"Several times." Teal'c stated. No emotion was on his face at all, as usual.

"How badly?" O'Neill asked looking at Ford.

"When I knocked him down, I either helped him up or asked if he wanted to quit."

"What did you train in anyway?" O'Neill asked Ford.

"Many styles. I`ll give you a demonstration some time."

"Alright then. Ford, you have proven yourself capable of joining the SGC. For now, you'll be teamed with SG-1 until Colonel O'Neill wants to transfer you to another team."

"Thank you sir." Ford said not able to contain his smile.

"You seem a little to happy for joining what could be a suicide mission any time we step through that thing." O'Neill said seeing his smile.

"Being accepted into the SGC is just part of why I'm happy. Being put under your command made it better. I was hoping it would work out this way. Besides that your team has the most fun. Why, if I may ask, did you put me under Colonel O'Neill's charge sir?"

"If your story about your universe is true son, then keeping you with SG-1 would probably seem more familiar with everything you told us that you shouldn't know about SG-1's missions. Besides that you have more respect for them."

"Understandable sir. Thank you again."

"If there's nothing else." Hammond said looking around the table.

"Yeah, umm....are we going to try those gate coordinates that Ford gave us?" Daniel asked.

"That was the next thing I was about to have Major Carter go try after we leave Doctor Jackson. Have you remembered anything about them yet?"

"No. I'm not sure why it seems important either."

"Can you tell me if this address we are dialing is hostile or not Daniel?" Jack asked.

"Nope." Daniel said dropping his hands on the table like he was lost.

"Okay. Let's go see if that address can be dialed or not Major."

"Yes sir."

"Dismissed."

As everyone got up, Hammond asked Ford if he was serious about paying for the damaged vehicle.

"I only really need probably twenty five million sir. The rest I'll let you take for whatever you feel necessary. I just hope you don't feel like retiring."

"Retire?! With the things I've seen and heard here. That's a long ways off son. Besides, I suggest you keep the money, you may need it later considering that gun of yours and the fact you`ll need a home off base soon along with the essentials."

"Good point General."

Down in the gate control room, Sam was starting the process.

"Chevron one locked."

The rest of SG-1 was also there waiting to see if the address would work or not. Hammond was just coming down the stairs as she announced the second Chevron.

"Chevron two locked."

The MALP was parked at the bottom of the gate ramp waiting to be sent through.

"Chevron three locked."

Ford was watching with awe as the large ring continued to circle around. O'Neill was standing next to him and Daniel was on his left chewing on a fingernail.

"If you've seen us in action before as you say, why the sudden surprise with the gate?" O'Neill asked.

"Seeing on television is one thing, really seeing it is another Colonel. Besides, everyone I`ve seen that has seen it for the first time seems to do the same thing. It`s just impressive!" he said opening his arms at it.

O'Neill nodded getting what Ford was saying. A lot of people that learned about the gate were impressed with seeing it the first time.

"Chevron four locked."

O'Neill and Ford turned to look at Daniel as he seemed to be mumbling to himself.

"Chevron five locked."

"Daniel?" they said in unison.

"Sorry Colonel." Ford said forgetting where he was for a moment.

"Yeah." Daniel said turning to them.

"Chevron six locked."

"Everything okay?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, just fine."

"Chevron seven locked."

"Here it comes." Ford mumbled.

"What comes?" Jack asked.

"Chevron eight locked."

All the power systems in the base flickered for a moment and then the familiar whoosh sound made by the gate was heard as it came on.

"It did it." Carter said sounding shocked.

"Was the power failure from the gate Major?" Hammond asked.

"I think the other gate we dialed to was the cause. It must be close enough that we did make establish a wormhole to get there like any other time. It's probably just so far away that the gate needed to pull a little more power than usual sir."

"Wow." was all Ford could say as he watched the ripple effect. He kept staring at it as things went on around him.

"Lieutenant. Send the M.A.L.P. through."

"Yes sir."

Ford was pulled from his gaze as he watched the wheeled vehicle go through. A few minutes later, the mount telemetry came through on the screen.

"I have the visual mount uplink sir." the Lieutenant said.

On the screen showed trees everywhere. Most looked a lot like pine. A couple of trees were on the ground showing signs that the gates ripple effect knocked them over. As the mount panned back and forth they saw only more trees.

"It looks like nothing has been in this section of the forest for years sir. Those trees that got hit by the gate wave look to be at least forty years old or more. From the looks of things this forest stretches for miles. I can't give you much more until we send a team sir." Walter said.

"Have the M.A.L.P. take a quick look around in case there is anything out there Major. SG-1 will go in two hours."

"Yes sir." they all said, but not all at the same time.

"Unless I'm needed at the moment sir, I'd like to go to the armory." Ford said.

Hammond nodded and went back to watching the screen the Major was moving the mount on. O'Neill followed shortly after Ford left.

"Why are you going to the armory so soon?" O'Neil asked him as they continued to walk.

"I wanted to see if you had the necessary parts to make more ammo for my gun. Beside that I always carry it with me and with the things I've seen that's happened here before I'd prefer to keep it with me at all times or at least where I can get at it."

"You do know you can't carry it with you at all times, right?"

"Yes sir. I'm going to put it in my room on the base here so I'd rather it be there in case of an invasion or intruder."

"Makes sense. See you in two hours then." O'Neill said stopping and going another direction.

When Ford got to the armory, he talked with the officer's there and explained what he need for his type of ammo. They said they'd need the General's approval but would check it out. Ford said he'd wait for there answer and was able to get his gun, the rounds, and the extra parts that it came with that he had brought with him.

Two hours later....................

SG-1 and its newest member, Ford, were standing at the bottom of the ramp as the gate control room was dialing.

"Chevron six locked."

Ford was carrying all his ammo with him, in clips on his belt and a few extra that were just normal ammo, with his gun behind him as usual, along with all the normal gear that each SG team is set up with. He was also carrying the same rifle each team came with. He wanted a 30 millimeter machine gun, but O'Neill thought he had enough firepower in his handgun to begin with.

"I think a former Goa'uld we dealt with before once was on this planet." Daniel said as the last Chevron went into place.

Major Carter was able to find out how much power the gate needed to activate the new address so when the gate was opened again, power didn't fluctuate the next time. Ford's jaw dropped as the wave burst out as usual.

"Incredible." Ford exclaimed.

"Anyway, what do you mean Daniel?" O'Neill asked.

"Just something I slightly remembered."

"Is there a problem SG-1?" Hammond asked from the control room.

"No sir. Just checking something. Let's go where no man's gone before." O'Neill said with his usual joking stance as he walked through. Ford went next and then the others went all at once.

Ford figured it would be just like in the TV series and it was, too much in fact as he exited the gate. O'Neill was standing at the bottom near the M.A.L.P. and turned around to watch the rest of them come through. Ford was still standing there as the walked down.

"Ford?" O'Neill asked with concern.

"Damn that's cold! Brrrrr. I wasn't ready for it." he said in a low voice. Shaking himself he walked down rubbing his arms. O'Neill just laughed a bit.

"You'll get use to it. Carter, Teal'c. Scout around. See if there is any trails or roads, or anything not normally found in a forest."

Carter looked like she was going to say something else, but said "Yes sir."

"What do you want me to do Colonel?" Ford asked.

"Stay with me. If there is anything hostile, I don't need you getting shot or injured with whatever they or it might use. Daniel."

"Yeah." Daniel said coming over from looking at the DHD.

"Notice anything familiar?"

Daniel gave him that look like, oh yeah, right like I would know. "No Jack. I just remembered that there was once a Goa'uld here that we have already encountered, but I don't know which one." he said sarcastically.

"Wish I had something I could tell you Colonel. I don't know why I had the vision of seeing a gate address." Ford said.

Daniel's face changed to what looked like he remembered something but it escaped him just as quickly.

"Sir, we found what's looks to be a trail about 6 meters off to the north." Carter said running up. Teal'c was just behind her.

"Really." O'Neill said, surprised they found something.

"Indeed O'Neill. From the trails look, it has been used recently." Teal'c said.

"Did you see where it went?"

"The path leads off to the east, possibly deeper into the forest. The other direction leads north into what might be a clearing sir." Carter said. "I also found a boot print, but what I found doesn't seem....right."

"Alright. Let's go check it out."

She brought them over to a boot print. A cowboy boot print.

"Right foot, size ten, male, well worn, around six feet tall, maybe 200 pounds. But why would a cowboy boot be here?" Ford said after he knelt down next to it. "It's not very old either."

"How...wait, the cop training." Jack said.

"Yeah." Ford said standing up.

"Interesting. Maybe whoever has this boot will be friendly. Hopefully we can understand them and they won't have that accent." Jack said telling them to move along.

As they walked through the trees and past other old fallen logs, Ford realized something was, different.

"Doctor Jackson..."

"Daniel."

"No problem. Daniel, did you take a sinus tablet or something before we left?"

"No I didn't. Why?"

"Your allergies aren't acting up."

"Your right." Daniel said stopping and taking a deep breath. "Strange."

"I actually think most allergies are from not only the natural air, but a combo between that and man's idiotic pollution problems. But that's my opinion. Hey Colonel." Ford said through his CB unit on his vest.

O'Neill went to grab for his CB unit when he turned around. "I'm right here Ford."

"Sorry. I'm trying to get out of the habit of considering everything a hostile situation until investigated. Calling in reports and orders through this same device became very common. Anyway I found something."

"What is it?" he said as they all walked up.

"I've noticed that there is no moss, no spider webs, and no other forms of anything that would be considered in an Earth forest along those lines."

"So? What did you find?" O'Neill said slightly annoyed.

"This bit of what I think is fox hair." Ford said pointing at a small patch that was hung up on a branch.

"Okay. And this is important why?" O'Neill asked placing his arms across the butt of his PC90.

"I see what you mean Ford. I've noticed no signs of decay like an Earth type forest either. No hair from animals or feathers either. We should have at least seen something like that." Carter said.

"I'm pretty sure it's fox hair. If not, I'd guarantee that I know it's canine hair." Ford said.

"And how, pray tell, would you know it's dog hair?" Jack asked.

"On my vacation weeks, I'd go animal watching. It's a lot like hunting, but no shooting involved. I loved to watch wolves and foxes, occasional bear, wasn't into bird or deer. I don't think hunting is a good sport unless you really need the food. Fishing on the other hand I do like."

Jack seemed to smile brightly at Ford's last statement.

"The only thing that's got me curious is how the hair got this high?"

"Could have been the wind." Daniel suggested.

"I thought that too until I noticed the hair was pulled from the animal. This branch brushed against it. See it Major?"

She looked closer and noticed Ford was right.

"Maybe it's nothing Colonel. Just the only thing I noticed out of place."

"Well I'm glad to see you were paying attention even if it ended up being nothing. Let's go."

Ford looked at it a moment longer before following.

The air smelled like pine trees and wildflowers, which was strange since no flowers were in sight. It seemed there was more ferns everywhere that any other plant. Ford stopped to look at the ground more closely for a few seconds. "Strange." he said before catching up.

"What is it that seems strange Ford Primus?" Teal'c asked.

Ford almost chuckled at Teal'c saying his name like he does Daniel. "No insects anywhere. Sure I'm glad to see no wasp and hornets for one, especially spiders, but there should be something crawling around."

"Fine with me. I hate insects anyway." O'Neill said. "Especially mosquitoes."

After several more minutes they path ahead looked to go into a clearing as Major Carter said earlier. As they exited the forest, they could see structures out in the distance. O'Neill pulled out his binoculars and whistled as he looked through them.

"Whatever or whoever is out there, is a good forty...no forty six miles away." O'Neill said. "We might make it at first light it we start now...."

Ford interrupted the Colonel when he pulled his handgun, cocked it and pointed it behind them in a quick motion. "We are not alone."

CHAPTER 3

Colonel O'Neill dropped his binoculars and had his weapon up along with everyone else seconds after Ford. At first he didn't see anything and was going to chew Ford out when something he didn't expect stepped out from behind a tree. A wolfman. Carter looked surprised but had her mind on the job. Teal'c, well Teal'c was Teal'c. Daniel seemed as surprised as Ford.

"Weapon up Ford." he commanded.

"Sorry Colonel. That explains the boot print." Ford said pointing back at the wolfman.

Ford was so shocked he had lowered it without thinking. The wolfman was wearing what looked like clothes you've find on Earth in it's cowboy age. He was wearing a gray suit that matched his fur and had a staff weapon just like Teal'c.

"You've got to be kidding." Ford said looking him over. "I must be dreaming."

"Interesting. Only one of you is Goa'uld." the wolfman said with his staff was pointed at the sky.

"You know the Goa'uld?" Daniel asked. What really surprised them was the fact that the canine spoke their language.

Ford turned quickly to find three more visitors a couple dozen feet away from them as Daniel asked the question. Ford aimed for the nearest one and nearly dropped his gun seeing it was a female but instead pointed it at another. Three were male and another was female. Carter spun around as one of them spoke.

"Unfortunately and fortunately quite well." one of the males that was a darker shade of gray spoke.

While the rest of SG-1 kept there weapons on them, Daniel tried mediating.

"What do you mean by fortunately?" Daniel asked.

"Because of the Goa'uld Path'ar, we are as you see us."

"Path'ar? That sounds familiar." Daniel said thinking.

Ford asked a question he believed would answer everything. "You all on this planet, didn't start here did you?"

"If you mean, were we brought here from another planet, yes." a black wolf said.

"Oh my God." Ford said in shock. "My dream makes sense."

O'Neill was about to yell at Ford for completely dropping his weapon down when Daniel spoke.

"PATH'AR! Wait! Does the name Nirriti sound familiar to you?" Daniel said looking at them all.

"That bitch is the reason many of our kind were killed brutally. Many animals were killed while she tried her genetic experiments on us."

"Wait, wait, wait. Nirriti tried to make animals into host, failed, and this Path'ar must have succeeded slightly, but you and others either killed him or her, or they fled away." Ford said quickly in a posture of trying to make sense of things.

The female, a white fox, ironically in a white suit and white hat that had her ears coming through a couple of holes drew closer to him as he talk like she was studying him. She had a long coat that matched and it was drawn back slightly behind the holster showing the zat gun. She seemed less hostile and not scared of them.

"You have it almost right except Nirriti tried to combined several animals at once, which failed. She was angry and left her underling who was Path'ar. He instead made us like you. Not driven by instinct anymore we eventually raised up against him and his army and defeated them." the female fox said now standing three feet from Ford.

"That was over a two hundred years ago." the light gray wolf said as he moved from the tree line to his companions. "What is your reason for being here?"

"We're explorers from Earth." Daniel said. When he said Earth they all went wide eyed.

"We have no wish to fight you but will if you lie to us. You do not seem to be working for the Goa'uld, but I must ask why you have a Jaffa warrior with you?"

"I was first prime of Apophis. When I realized he was a false god, I fought against him to free other's like me." Teal'c said.

"Is this true?" the black wolf asked.

"Yeah. We've been fighting them for years now since they've been trying to invade Earth again." O'Neill said not lowering his weapon.

"Impressive. I believe you. Any enemy of the Goa'uld is a friend of ours. Welcome to Gia'as." he said holding a hand out.

Once O'Neill dropped his weapon down the others followed. As Ford put his away the canine people relaxed. Jack shook his hand as Daniel introduced them.

"I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c and Ford Primus." Daniel said pointing them out.

The four canine's whispered the name Primus almost in unison. Ford just shrugged not understanding as the rest of them looked at him.

"No offense, but ummm, I'm guessing this Path'ar was wearing clothes a lot like the one's your wearing now." Ford asked.

They nodded causing Ford to chuckle slightly. "That explains a lot."

No of them seemed to understand what Ford meant and didn't ask as the canine's introduced themselves.

The black wolf introduced himself as Shock. The light gray wolf said his name was Malek. The dark gray wolf said he was Bob. And the female fox said she was called Melissa.

Ford coughed and cleared his throat to keep from laughing when the one said his name was Bob.

"Bob? That's a strange name to hear." Daniel said.

"Is no one on Earth called Bob?" Bob asked.

"Huh. No there's actually quite a few Bob's." Daniel said all the while keeping a straight face, barely. Ford had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. Even O'Neill seemed to think the name was amusing and was also trying to keep from laughing.

"Please follow us. We can show you around and you can meet our city leader, Draco." Shock said. O'Neill didn't object so SG-1 followed.

"Ford." O'Neill said coming up to him as they walked.

"Yes Colonel." He knew what was coming.

"Being your first mission, I'm going to let you off with a warning, but if you ever lower your weapon without my authorization again, so help me I'll kick you back home. Understand?"

"Completely sir. I know there's no excuse for what I did and I'll try make a better effort in the future."

"Good. And next time use your PC-90. Hand guns are secondary. Yours is more of a cannon anyway." O'Neill said with a nod and then continued walking.

They had been walking with only Daniel asking questions to which Carter occasional jumped in. O'Neill shook his head occasionally causing Ford to almost laugh again. Ford was glancing around when Melissa came up to him, almost startling him. He was far enough from everyone else to have been humming and not get noticed but close enough that they'd all notice if he stopped.

"Did I...no do I have something or remind you of someone?"

"No."

"You seem to be watching me a lot."

"Can I ask you something?"

"I don't see why not. What can I help you with?"

"You act like your new to a team."

"Your eye sight is better than I thought. Was it the way O'Neill kept watching me with an angry look?"

"That mostly and I heard him talk to you about your weapon."

"I'm guessing from the what I saw, you and probably everyone else only have Goa'uld weapons."

"Well, yeah....ah pretty much. It's only been the last hundred years that we've been really understanding the technology better. We have one Goa'uld mothership that is hidden from sensors behind a special metal screen and another that we basically scrapped as we call it."

"Scrapped?"

"Really the ship was dismantled over a long period of time so we could study it better. Unfortunately we can barely read the language and that's why progress is slow."

"Daniel Jackson can help with that. Well, him and Teal'c can. I can partially read it but not well. They can help you better with that."

"You know you just repeated yourself."

"Yeah. I just realized that. Probably just excited about being here." he said quite nervously.

"Well if they can help our scientists, what might ah, let's see, there name's are?"

"O'N......"

"Wait....I'll remember....Carter and O'Neill, right."

"Got it first time. Impressive."

"Thank you. Now O'Neill seems more like a pack leader, tough, smart, but more warrior like."

Ford gave a small laugh that was heard but his team mates just looked back at him for a moment and continued on.

"That's about right Mel. He also has a great sense of humor. His wise cracks always make me laugh." Seeing her slow down he stopped. "I'm sorry. It was the name wasn't it?"

"My father used to call me that." she said looking at the ground.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to say anything wrong."

"It's not your fault. You didn't know." she said looking back up and distant.

"I shouldn't ask, but do you want to talk about it?"

"He went missing several months ago in an abandoned temple. He was helping a Roo that was like Daniel. One day reports quit coming in and a team was sent to investigate. After two months, they quit looking. I tried looking around myself but I never found anything either."

"Hey, if O'Neill lets me, and the place is not far off, we could go look together if you want."

"I'd like that. Maybe a different perspective will come up with something."

As they crested a hill, SG-1 saw what looked to be modified death gliders.

"They are death gliders O'Neill. But not like any configuration I'm familiar with." Teal'c said.

"They look like they've been modified for ground travel." Ford said.

"I can see that Ford." O'Neill said sarcastically. Ford would have been offended, but he knew that Jack was normally this way. He would have said the same thing if anyone else on the team had said it, mostly Carter.

"We only have a few that actually travel to the stars. All the rest have been modified as you see these three here." Bob said.

"How many gliders do you have?" Teal'c asked.

"Somewhere over a hundred last I heard. Once we figured out how they ran and were built, we started reconfiguring them to our own use and made a few more." Malek said.

"I see it has been widen quite a bit in the cockpit." O'Neill said looking inside.

SG-1 gave them a quick glance over, except for O'Neill who kept commenting on them. It looked like your average death glider on a Goa'uld mother ship with the exception of having the capacity of holding five people. Two in front, three in back. The cover was replaced with a large windshield. The wings were angled more upward to allow travel above ground without hitting anything.

"We made the engine into a hover unit when we decided space travel was a bad idea. It will stay five feet above the ground as we fly where ever we plan to go."

"Why doesn't anyone on this planet try to explore space?" Daniel asked.

The canines all looked at each other before speaking. Shock ended up being the one to talk.

"We have two reasons, one of which is an embarrassment we'd prefer not to tell."

"Okay, then what can you say?" O'Neill asked skeptically.

"It was decided that space travel would be only if we needed to, because we didn't want to attract the attention of the Goa'uld again." Shock said.

What would keep them on the ground that would be embarrassing? Ford thought. As if reading his mind, Melissa whispered something into Ford's ear that made him do a Spock look at her with strange written on his face as well.

"Seriously?" Ford asked her in a whisper. She whispered, in different words though, but simply put, they had space dementia.

Slowly nodding her head, Ford told he wouldn't say anything.

"Something to share Mr. Primus?" O'Neill asked using Ford's last name on purpose. This caused the canine's to slightly flinch. Even Ford flinched. O'Neill gave them a strange look like what-was-that, but they didn't say anything.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yes Colonel."

"Okay." Turning back to Malek and the others. "So, when do we go?"

"If you are ready, we can go now." Bob said.

O'Neill and Carter got into the one with Bob. Teal'c and Daniel got in the other one with Shock and Malek. Ford instantly noticed that he was left with Melissa. Part of him was happy and another part made him extremely nervous. O'Neill noticed this right away and was about to get out when Bob said something to him that made sit down and wave at Ford instead as they left. Ford realized that it must have been intentional but not why.

O'Neill and Carter were surprised when the former glider jumped forward quickly pulling them back into the seat.

"Whoa! Been awhile since I felt that." Jack said.

"Same here." Carter said sitting back up.

"Sorry about that. I got so used to it that I didn't think first." Bob said.

"No problem. Hey, is there any great fishing spots on this planet?" O'Neill asked.

Bob mentioned a few, and then asked Carter what it was she specialized in.

When she mention her credentials, Bob started telling her about things O'Neill couldn't even grasp, so he settled back and watched the scenery. Carter and Bob continued talking all the way to the city.

Teal'c barely moved as the former glider shot forward. From Daniel's point of view, it looked like Teal'c was expecting the sudden burst of speed and was ready for it. Daniel wasn't ready, Teal'c noticed and was forcefully thrown against the back of his seat. Luckily there was a lot of padding and his head hit that instead of the metal above.

"That was fast. Felt like I got hit with a truck." Daniel said pulling himself out of the seat.

"What was that?" Shock asked.

"Daniel Jackson said the ride is fast." Teal'c said.

"Oh. I can go faster if you like." Shock said as Malek gave a short chuckle.

"No, no, no. This is fine." Daniel said quickly. "Since the Goa'uld were once here, did they leave any temple's or other structures that they had built for themselves around."

"Unfortunately yes. Why?" Malek asked.

"Well, if your government or leader doesn't mind, we'd like to look at them. They might have left something that we could use against them if the need arises here."

"You can read their language?" Malek said turning to him.

"Yes. It's what I do." Daniel said looking slightly pleased with himself.

"You may get to see these temple's then. We've been trying for years and we still can't understand the language much less some of the technology, other than these. The weapons we have were the most easiest to learn." Malek said.

"Indeed. To use a zat gun or staff weapon doesn't take as much skill as flying a Goa'uld mother ship or death glider." Teal'c said.

"Exactly. The staff weapons took us less time than the zat guns since we saw how the staff weapons were used. Not us now, but our ancestors that told us how."

"Interesting. How far back does the story of your culture go?" Daniel asked.

"Before Nirriti, we knew only instinct. When she gave us true life we first didn't know what to do except obey. After some time, we started to learn that we could do more, but were never allowed. That was when the revolt's started. It took some years before we finally were able to claim freedom. That was recorded two hundred and fifty eight years ago."

"Hmmm."

The rest of the way to the city Daniel talked up a storm.

"Okay, I missed something there. O'Neill isn't the type to leave a man, or woman, behind even if the natives are friendly." When Ford said man, Melissa actually rolled her eyes, which Ford saw and quickly said woman before continuing on.

"What did your friend say anyway?" he asked as they got in. Ford dropped his pack into the back with his PC-90.

"First thing I'll say is he's not a friend, more of someone I work with."

"Okay, never mind I asked." he said as they took off.

The modified glider was cruising at about fifty miles an hour in less than three seconds. Ford had watched the other two take off and figured that there would be a big amount of force working against him, so he braced himself.

"Talk about acceleration. What's the top speed?"

"A couple hundred. We try not to go very fast except in races. And you didn't hit a touchy spot with that question. He's just what I call the typical male."

"Enlighten me."

"Say what?" she said looking at him not understanding.

"What do you mean by typical male?"

"Oh. Let's see." she said as she looked to be counting in her head. "He only cares about my looks, flirts constantly, with every female, thinks he superior, smarter, braver,...."

"I think I got it. I've heard it before from many women."

She gave him that look all women give men when they prove their point. Ford went on the defensive quickly.

"I'm nothing like that. I was a slightly high ranking officer that heard it go on between the officer's under my command. Some day's it was quite funny. I stayed well out of it though."

She brighten up quickly after that. "I'm glad to hear that. There are very few males who agree with me."

"Personally, I think that female's are superior in almost everyway."

"Almost you say." she said smiling with surprise.

"With the exception of strength, yeah. Genetically, in all species we've came across, on Earth and other planets, males are stronger naturally. That doesn't mean women can't become strong like men or even stronger, it's just men by nature are stronger."

"I can agree with that. You must have had many girlfriends back home."

"Not a one. I came from a slightly rich family. My father was not completely liked because he was a good cop per say that would never take a bribe or do anything illegal. I later won the lottery and when I got lots of money, women flocked to me, but only for my money so I just quit looking and quit dating. Not that I did that much either."

"Lottery? Money?"

"It's a system we use back home to get things we want. Everything from food to clothing, to just about anything anymore. We give each other monetary notes made from wood and coins made from metal that have different values on them." he said pulling out his wallet and showing her what money looked like.

"So what happens when someone doesn't have this....money?"

"Unfortunately, due to this money system, those who have much don't like to share and so many people lose everything or never have anything because others who wanted it or more of it, take it by legal or illegal means. When that happens, the unfortunate victims either try to get on with life the best they can or die. Earth has became a sick place to live. Now me, I use a lot of my money to help those in need. I'd explain the details but I still don't think you'd get the idea. No offense."

"I already don't get the idea. Here on this planet, we share everything. If someone needs something, we help any way we can. No one goes hungry, no one is without a home."

"Now that's how Earth should be. I should move here."

"Seriously?"

"Well almost. I probably could, but I'd be called onto a mission a lot so much it wouldn't float to long."

"Float?"

"Work out."

"Got it." she said as they started there final approach to the city.

Melissa followed her co-workers into a underground building were many other modified death gliders were parked. Pulling up next to theirs she stopped turning off the machine.

"Here we are. Guard central station." Bob said.

"Guard central?" O'Neill asked.

"I think it's a version of what we would call a police station." Daniel said. O'Neill apparently must have thought he only said it in his mind, when he turned to Daniel with surprise. "I knew that." he said as he usually did Ford noticed.

Memories of earlier episodes came to mind when the Colonel said the same thing, but usually to Carter. O'Neill noticed Ford chuckling, unfortunately.

"You want to fill me in on what's been so funny lately?" O'Neill asked.

"Just memories of the past that keep coming up."

O'Neill gave him his cockeyed look as Ford bit his tongue to keep from laughing again. Melissa noticed Ford's shoulder's moving slightly as though he was laughing, but trying to contain it. Before she could ask him why he was laughing, he spoke.

"Colonel. Someone needs to contact General Hammond and report our situation." Ford said trying to keep his composure.

O'Neill snapped his fingers. "I knew I forgot something."

"I'll go back sir." Carter said.

"I'll go if you want. Melissa wanted to show me something so I was going to ask to leave anyway." Ford said.

"Where did you plan on going?"

"I wanted to show him one of the temple's. He said he knew how to read the Goa'uld language, but he also said Daniel was a better choice. I wanted to bring them both." Melissa said. Daniel brightened up at the mention of his name. O'Neill noticed right away.

"Let's first see if were allowed to go sight seeing, okay people." O'Neill said in more of command tone than question. When SG-1 all nodded, he told one of the boys to lead the way.

"I will take them to see Draco. You may take your leave." Melissa said.

Shock and the other two nodded to her and after saying goodbye to SG-1, they left.

"There's something your hiding." O'Neill said to Melissa. "They almost seemed reluctant to leave, but were afraid to challenge your decision."

"Draco's my uncle on my mom's side." she said acting like she cared less. "Come along."

SG-1 picked up their things and followed her to a flight of stairs leading to the top level. As they came out they could see the opening on their left were all the former gliders went to park.

"We never did find out what you call those things?" O'Neill said to Melissa.

"We never came up with anything really either except gliders."

"Just `glider's'." O'Neill said.

"That's it."

O'Neill looked ready to say something else but closed his mouth. Daniel was muttering something about the 1800's as Ford nearly bumped into him.

"Something wrong Daniel?" Ford asked walking around him. Ford could almost swear he heard Jack say, that's my line.

"This town looks like it's right out of those old cowboy movies, except more modernized. That looks like a saloon, a hotel, sheriff's office, a bank maybe,..." Daniel was saying as they all looked around. He was right. It did look sort of like one of the old towns of the west, but with a modernized look.

"What is that building used for Melissa?" Ford asked, pointing at the bank.

"That was used to store and refine naquada. It's now just a storage building. We have quite a few of them now with the parts and other objects we've been finding in the temple's."

Carter's head jumped slightly as she heard the name naquada. She looked ready to comment, but O'Neill shook his head signaling it wasn't the right time. As they went around a hotel looking building, they saw their destination. It was a three story house. Their were two large door's about ten feet across and ten feet high. The whole house was white. Their was three window's on the top floor, six on the second, and four on the first. As they approached the doors, a hound dog came out in a butler suit.

"Miss Melissa. I see you have brought the newcomers. Draco is waiting for you in his office room." he said standing aside. He held the door open as they walked in.

To the left, a door led into another room which was closed along with the door leading to the right. In the middle of the room was a large stair case leading up to the second floor which had more stairs beyond that that led to the third. Their were two more doors on the first floor. One on the left side and the other on the right side of the stairs. They were also closed. Melissa headed up the stairs and made a right. The second floor had only one door on the right which is were Melissa was heading. On the left there were three doors. Each also closed. Ford noticed that a door was headed out the back from behind the stairs leading to the third floor. It seemed to head to another room or hallway, he wasn't sure. Melissa knocked on the door and waited a moment before entering. As they entered Melissa walked over and stood off to the left side of a very large desk. It must have been ten feet by three feet. There was several controls and button on the right side while the left held trinkets and other things. Book shelves and some paintings lined the walls. Surprisingly, some of the books were from Earth. What really caught there attention was the very large silver-gray wolf sitting behind the desk. He was wearing a large blue suit with those things on the shoulders and gold frills hanging from them. On his left in another chair was a female fox dressed in a red dress that matched her fur. She looked like a normal fox that you'd see on Earth, just humanoid. She seemed to be in a happy mood along with the large wolf.

"Uncle Draco. These are the owners of the unknown machine that was sent through the Stargate as they call it. They are enemies of the Goa'uld just as we are."

"Hello there strangers. I am Draco. Leader of Ma'shling town. This is my mate, Zhanell. I can see that you must be enemies of the Goa'uld or else you would have already tried to attack me. What can we help you with?" he said standing up.

SG-1 seemed stunned at the sudden hospitality and trust Draco seemed to be displaying so they didn't speak for a moment. Draco's eyebrow went up after a few seconds when they didn't speak. Even Melissa raised her eyebrow. Ford glanced at his teammates and decided to speak.

"I'm sorry sir. It isn't often that we get treated with respect when encountering other races. Often we get shot at or other unpleasant things happen." Ford said shaking the guys extended hand.

"Yes. That does happen a lot. I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, Teal'c and Ford Primus."

Draco's eyes widened at the sound of Ford's name. His wife did the same thing except she breathed in catching everyone's attention.

"I'm beginning to think I've done something wrong and your not telling me. Was I here before or something?" Ford asked quite frustrated.

"It's nothing." Draco said with a wave. Ford thought about asking more, but the look in Draco's eye's made him shut up.

"They wanted to know if they could look at some of the temple's. They have experience with reading and understand the things the Goa'uld have left behind." Melissa said.

"Really now. This is great news, that is if your willing to help us." Draco said looking at them.

"Sure." O'Neill said. "We need to report back to our commanding officer back on Earth first."

"Good. Melissa can help you with anything you might need. She can take you back to the water ring if you like."

"Thank you sir." Daniel said as they left. Melissa told them to wait down stairs when Draco asked her to stay a moment.

Melissa closed the door as Draco stood up. Walking over he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to personally watch this Ford. Have Melbrook at the historian library come see me please. Try to make it discreet and don't mention's Ford's name too much."

"No problem Uncle."

As SG-1 walked down the stairs, O'Neill started up as Ford thought he would.

"Something is not right. I can feel it. This all too easy."

Right on cue. Ford thought snapping his fingers. They didn't notice.

"It does seem a little too easy to believe sir, but maybe their telling the truth. Maybe they want help and wouldn't be hostile.' Carter said.

"I still don't like. This is going to come back and knock us on our ass."

"Nirriti and Path'ar made them civilized like us Jack. They have a culture and everything. Since they look like they had to live in what we call the western era, maybe they have access to information from that era as well. They apparently know something if they seem trust us with helping them."

"Daniel, they still live in the old west era. Look at those buildings. I almost feel like the Lone Ranger is going to ride out from around the corner. And this trust thing is way too easy like I said."

Ford leaned against the banister rail and watched Jack and Daniel go at it. If it weren't for the fact that he was right there he would have been laughing his butt off. It was just like TV. He paying so much attention to them talking that he didn't see Melissa come up behind him. Melissa thought of tapping Ford out of his thoughts but pulled her hand back and walked past him, which brought him out of it.

"Where did you want to start Colonel O'Neill?" she asked.

"Well first we need to report back and see what the boss says."

"Sure. We can take a couple of gliders to the Stargate."

"Do you think I can drive one?" O'Neill asked thinking she would say no.

"You're not serious are you sir?" Carter asked.

"Indeed he is Major Carter." Teal'c said.

Melissa looked at him a moment, glanced at Ford and said, "Sure, why not."

As they headed out Carter moved over to Ford.

"Do you have any idea why they look at you like they know you?" Carter asked.

"Not a clue Major. I've been giving it a lot of thought, but I'm completely lost. I felt like pushing the subject with Draco but something told me to shut up. I almost think she is hitting on me but I`m not interested." he said quietly.

"Hmm. I heard about that speech you gave General Hammond about your father. I know I'm reaching here, but did he do, or anything happen to him that might have happened here?"

Ford thought for a moment as they walked toward the glider parking place.

"No...well, maybe but I seriously doubt it. He was CIA, but he was able to always stay stateside. We saw him every weekend. I know that my family has had a lot of misfortune in it. Most from deaths not natural, or so they told me which is why I have no relatives. The others, friends of the family, are going to think I fell to the curse now that I'm gone."

"Do you miss home?"

"Some, but I'd rather be here. More fun and most of them were gone anyway."

As Melissa opened the door to go underground Carter asked another question.

"I know your holding back something. O'Neill has asked several times now but you keep saying it's nothing. What do you keep laughing at?"

Ford whispered as they approached the gliders. "Remember when I said I came from a universe where I watched this all happen on TV."

"Yeah."

"Watching Jack and Daniel go at it with words was constantly funny and the same thing when you go scientific and Jack looks lost." Ford said chuckling occasionally. "I'm trying not to insult any of you but for me it's quite funny."

"Sometimes I do it to just to drive him crazy. I think Daniel does too." Carter whispered back before walking away.

Ford watched her walk away with his mouth open in surprise. He closed it before anyone noticed. Ford climbed into the one that Melissa used before as Melissa finished telling O'Neill how to drive. Teal'c was the only one brave enough to go with him. Carter and Daniel got into the back seat while Ford sat up front with Melissa. Ford offered Carter the front seat but she declined. As Melissa drove her glider out of Guard Central, O'Neill followed close behind. Melissa slowly pushed the vehicles speed up until they were out of the city. Once out she brought it up to hundred miles an hour by Earth standards. O'Neill went ahead of them but not to far. Carter shook her head while Daniel mumbled something about Jack and his hotdog antic's.

"Do you think your leader would allow me to come visit your planet for a moment?" Melissa asked Major Carter.

"We can ask him when we get back to the Stargate. The M.A.L.P. allows us to communicate with him on Earth without having to go through the gate."

"M.A.L.P.?"

"That large wheeled machine outside the gate." Ford explained.

"Actually I have no idea what you talking about. I heard about some machine coming through the gate from a scouting party that was out this way. I'll see it when we get there. It shouldn't take too long."

Several minutes later they stopped the gliders next to the forest and all got out. O'Neill was the first to speak, or thought he was.

"I bet he's going to say he wishes he had one of these." Ford said loud enough that only the one's in the glider with him could hear.

"I wish I had one of these! I could get places so much faster. I could even sleep in later at home."

"I was right." Ford said getting out shaking a finger in the air.

"Indeed." Teal'c said looking at Ford.

Ford looked up quickly when he noticed Teal'c had heard him.

"Do not worry Ford Primus. I will not tell him."

"Thanks Teal'c."

With a nod, Teal'c turned around and grabbed his stuff. As he walked toward the path, O'Neill walked over to Ford. Jack thought that something seemed strange about something Teal'c did with that smile and nod.

"What did he say to you?" Jack asked. Since it was relatively quite, everyone heard him.

"That your driving sucks." he said just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"What?!" O'Neill said looking angry and surprised.

Carter's eyes went so wide Ford thought they might fall out as she broke up. Daniel dropped his pack and started laughing as he dropped to his knees. Melissa turned around wondering what the commotion was about along with Teal'c.

"I'm kidding Colonel. Sorry, I couldn't help it. He asked me how I was holding up." Ford lied hoping Teal'c could hear him as he leaned against the glider laughing.

"Teal'c?!"

"Yes O'Neill."

"What did you ask Ford?"

"How he was doing O'Neill. I was wondering how he has been doing since this is his first mission."

"Oh." O'Neill said looking satisfied with the answer. Ford was picking his bag out of the front seat as O'Neill walked off muttering to himself.

"I'm surprised that you did that Ford." Carter said.

"I was thinking out loud. For a moment I thought he was going to yell at me, but somehow I knew he wouldn't."

"I thought it was funny though. The look on his face was priceless." Carter said before heading off.

"Hey Carter, can you tell Teal'c what I told you about my laughing problem?"

"Sure. Who knows, he might actually laugh as well."

There was little to no conversation as they made there way back to the Stargate. As Daniel dialed home, Carter explained to Melissa what was happening. O'Neill shook his head as usual. As the gate opened with the signature whooshing sound, O'Neill activated his GDO. After a few moments, Hammonds voice came through the M.A.L.P.

"SG-1? Is everything all right? We wasn`t expecting you to call back for another hour."

"Everything is just peachy sir. The natives are way to friendly for my taste. The air is great, no pollution. Daniel is looking for to exploring old Goa'uld temples as is the Major. Teal'c's just fine. Oh, there were Goa'uld here once and a revolt lead to their demise. Other than that, the day has turned out well so far. How about your General?"

"Things are fine here Colonel. Glad to hear a happy report for once. What about Ford?"

"Him sir. He's got a laughing problem I haven't figured out but otherwise he's okay." Ford couldn't help it any more and laughed. He had to lean against a tree to keep standing.

"See sir. I have no idea what's wrong." O'Neill pointing at him. The camera on the M.A.L.P. turned to see Ford who was trying to catch his breath.

"Colonel your going to kill me if keep this up." Ford muttered shaking his head.

"Is it only affecting him?"

"I'm okay General. If you don't mind I can explain it better in person. One of the natives as O'Neill put it wanted to come and see you." Ford said.

"Colonel. Do you think this person would be a threat?"

"It's a her sir and no she's not a threat that I can tell." he said. Everyone else heard him mutter `yet`. The M.A.L.P. didn't pick it up. She didn't look to take it personally.

"Alright then. Bring her through. I assume Doctor Jackson and Major Carter will want to gather supplies for the temple excertion so I'll have another SG team on standby for assistance."

"See in a few then." O'Neill said as the camera turned off. Teal'c and Ford turned the M.A.L.P. around and pushed it through the event horizon first. Carter continued on in with the M.A.L.P. Daniel and Teal'c went next. Seeing a slight apprehension to entering the gate, Ford tried to comforter her.

"Ever jumped into really cold water?"

"Yeah. I feel into the lake when it was froze over once."

"The feeling of coldness is almost the same but passes quickly." he said gesturing for her to go first. She muttered something unintelligible and walked through. Ford went to go next when O'Neill stopped him.

"What is so funny lately?"

"Truthfully Colonel. It's you." Ford said walking through quickly.

O'Neill didn't know what to think as Ford walked through the gate. He followed shortly after still wondering how to take it.

CHAPTER 4 Author's note: As much as I hate to admit this, I don't know SG-4 and 5's team names so I'm giving them names. If they ever named or didn't name them on the show I didn't notice.

Several guards were standing with their weapons pointed at the team as they came through the gate. As the General came in, he had them stand down. Carter was waiting next to the M.A.L.P. as O'Neill walked past everyone to get to the bottom of the ramp.

"General."

"Colonel."

"This sir is Melissa. She's......a fox." O'Neill said looking at a loss for words, as he raised his hands gesturing.

Melissa walked down and shook hands with Hammond. "I think your Colonel is a little tongue tied General. Him and the rest of them were quite surprised at seeing a walking and talking animal. We know some history of Earth, not a lot but enough to know I must be a surprise to see."

"I see what you mean." Hammond said apparently also slightly lost.

"I can tell you are surprised along with everyone else here. I expected this." she said putting her hands into her coat.

Clearing his throat, Hammond ordered SG-1 and company to the briefing room in one hour. Ford he wanted to see right away after being checked out by Janet. As they filed out of the room Hammond told Melissa that it was standard procedure to be checked medically after returning from any mission. She agreed it was a good policy and followed.

Janet was setting up her equipment for check any team that came back when she heard SG-1 had came back. She heard from the Lieutenant that they had a visitor from the planet that was a fox. Janet didn't take it literally, thinking the young man was saying the female coming down was hot looker, that was until Melissa walked in the door behind SG-1. She nearly dropped her blood pressure kit.

"Ah, Doctor. Meet Melissa. She's here to talk and look around." O'Neill said before sitting on one of the beds. He seemed to looked like he had planned on a better introduction but blew it when he tried to tell Janet.

"No offense, but what's with the cowboy look?" Janet asked as she checked out O'Neill.

"Everyone on their planet wears that sort of outfit. Their planet is somewhat like our old west era." Ford said. Daniel jumped in after that.

"From what I learned, a Goa'uld that served under Nirriti took on the look of what our old west era was like. The buildings and people all look like they came from that time, except it's been more modernized. All the buildings are made of stone and metal instead of wood." he said pushing his glasses up. "Their culture is quite interesting."

"From what I saw, they adapted parts and other things from a Goa'uld mother ship to make their accommodations and livelihood better. The roofs all looked to have solar panels. They had heat and cooling machines on voice command. Almost everything was automated but strictly regulated." Carter said. "They have large air purifiers built in the center of town that work in a several mile radius."

"Where did you learn that Major?" O'Neill asked as Janet walked over to Sam.

"You're fine Colonel." Janet said. "Unless something comes up in the blood work."

"Bob told me, sir. Didn`t you hear us on the way to town?" she asked knowing he wasn't paying attention then.

"Not really."

Ford was sitting on the bed nearest to the door with Melissa sitting in the bed across from him. Teal'c was up from that and Daniel across from Teal'c. Major Carter was sitting in the bed beside Teal'c`s. When Carter said Bob, Ford had to bite his hand to keep a straight face. Luckily no one noticed. O'Neill said see ya later and walked out. No one said anything else as she checked up on them all. She left Ford and Melissa last on purpose after getting a phone call from General Hammond telling her to check them out last. She checked out Ford first.

"You feeling okay Ford?" Janet asked checking his blood pressure.

"Just fine. Why?"

"General Hammond informed me that you seem to have trouble not laughing. I don't understand what he meant though."

"Remember that thing I explain in the briefing room before about not being from this universe?"

"Yeah. I still am having trouble believing it, but what about it. I can't conceive anything that would cause a increase of endorphins."

"Well, as I said, I used to watch this as a television show. Seeing Carter and the others all arguing or talking in ways O'Neill doesn't understand always made me laugh. Stupid sounding, but I can't really help it. I swear O'Neill puts himself in those positions. The way O'Neill turns everything bad situation into a joke sometimes has always been funny."

"I can understand that. He has made some smart remarks at the table before that almost made me crack up. Alright you seem just fine. You can go."

"Can he stay?" Melissa asked.

Janet looked at Ford for a moment as he spoke. "I'll stay silent and completely out of the way. Besides she's going to need an escort to the briefing room."

"Well as long as you do stay out of the way, then I don't mind. Melissa I need you to remove your coat."

Melissa removed the long coat and handed the gun belt she had on to Ford.

Janet blinked a moment and then looked at Ford.

"Yeah I knew she had it but forgot to say anything. Everyone on the planet either had a zat gun or staff weapon with them. I'll give it to General Hammond once we get to the briefing room."

Melissa shrugged and said it was probably out of power anyway as she laid her coat on the bed next to her. She was wearing a short sleeve button up shirt with white jeans that were loose in the legs. The cowboy boots were brown and looked like any pair you'd pick up at a ranch store. As she removed her hat, Ford almost gasped. She had hair, actually hair that was hidden under the hat. It flopped down and came close to rolling into eyes. The rest fell slightly to the side and came down the back to her neck. It seemed to only grow between her ears.

She's even better looking without the hat.

He could swear she heard him as it looked like she was blushing as she glanced at him a moment then looked away.

Janet explained what she was going to and Melissa nodded but grimaced at the needing to draw blood. Since SG-1 had to get it done she said she'd corporate. As Janet checked her blood pressure, which was some problem for Janet, she figured it would be seeing as this person, even though looked humanoid, was in fact animal biologically and she was no vet. Her blood pressure seemed close to a normal human's but might be normal for her species. If she were human she would have performed a few test. Being a fox, she didn't question it much. She figured she'd send the blood sample to a the vet and see what they said. Though leave out the detail about what it actually came from for the moment. As she checked her heart beat, she asked her a question.

"I'm just wondering really, but what color's were your parents fur?"

"My dad and mom are both the natural color our, breed or is it species you would say?"

"Both context can be the same meaning." Janet said.

"They were the natural color. Orange, red, black, and white. Why?"

"The hat is to keep the sun from hitting your skin isn't it?"

"Yeah. It burns if I have the sun on me too long. We never found out why. Just seems to hit families at random. Many have had to move to the cave cities. I just decided to wear more clothes even if it got to hot."

"You're what we call on this planet, an albino. It is a random occurrences that happens in families. It's nothing truly serious. You just need to keep sunlight expose limited otherwise you can hurt yourself."

"It's not life threatening?"

"Not unless you stand in the sun all day, otherwise it's nothing to worry over."

"Thank you so much. We all thought it was something that the Goa'uld did to us. Others like me our always being watched to see when their going to die. I feel so much better." Melissa said holding a hand to her chest. Ford and Janet noticed it looked like a heavy load was lifted from her.

"I was glad to help. Now I need you to hold out your arm for me like they all did. It's going to hurt a bit." Janet said getting a blood drawn kit ready. Melissa held out her left arm as the others did and talked to Ford to distract herself.

"What was that thing you were talking about with Janet. The laughing thing?"

"I'll try to explain the best I can, certain things won't make much sense, but here goes. I don't belong, wait....I came from another universe. I'll skip the how. Anyway, where I came from, this.." he said gesturing to everything around him. "..was all wrote up by people with very active imaginations. This is all make believe were I'm from. When I ended up here, I decided to stay and become one of the team. I got here through some sort of electrical shock and that's when I got the gate address for your planet. As for the laughing part, I used to watch all these people here on a special machine. The other reason they don't think I'm crazy is because some of them have been to another universe. O'Neill says some of the weirdest things at the most inopportune time that I have always found funny. That's why I've been laughing. I'm not trying to laugh at him, it's just he says all the wrong things at the wrong time, but it works."

Janet had finished some time ago and was listening to him talk. O'Neill had came into the story at about the point where Ford said special machine and stayed just outside the room. He was coming to ask Ford and guest if they wanted to get something to eat. After Ford finished he walked in. Melissa said to Ford that that was the strangest thing she ever heard, but believed him. She was more surprised with knowing Janet was already done.

"That was quick. I didn't feel anything."

"That's my job." she said putting the three vials into a tray. "As far as I can tell, your in perfect health, but then I have to admit I don't know much about your particular physiology, so unless you don't feel normal, then you can go."

"A little excited to be the first back on what really is our home planet, but otherwise I feel normal like any other day." Janet nodded and then pushed her tray into another room as Melissa picked up her coat. She didn't put it back on though.

"I just came by to see if you two wanted to get something to eat before we get back to work." Jack said standing quite calmly with his hands in his pockets.

"Sure Jack, I'm mean sir. Sorry, got to remember that."

"Don't worry about it. You're not in the Air Force anyway. I heard what you where saying. You could have just told me I was the reason for your laughing problem. I don't understand it all, but I'd at least know you weren't coming down with something. You're also the only one to laugh at my antics."

"I didn't know how you'd take it, so I kept my mouth shut, or tried anyway. I'll try harder to keep my little problem in check in the future."

"That's good. Now are you coming?"

"You hungry?" Ford asked Melissa.

"Very." she said with a smile.

As they left, Ford handed Melissa's zat gun to him and gave her back her belt. As she put it on, Ford told O'Neill that she said it was probably out of power. O'Neill activated the zat gun and tried firing it at a chair. It made a small noise but nothing happened.

"I've never came across a empty zat gun before. Much less one so beat up looking. I'm going to keep this with me."

"We have plenty more, so go ahead. I can get another one later."

Carter, Teal'c, and Daniel had already gotten what they wanted and were sitting down when the other three came in. Melissa was telling Ford and Jack what she liked and disliked as they walked in. As they got up to the food, O'Neill spent more time trying to get her to try new things than get anything for himself. Ford ended up having Mac and Cheese with an apple and A&W root beer. Jack had orange juice, an apple, oatmeal, which Ford thought was strange but didn't comment, and big heaping of blue Jello, which Ford wasn't surprised at. No one was. Melissa ended up with one piece of toast, a small bowl of oatmeal, orange juice, Mac and Cheese, and Jello. There was little to anyone in the mess hall with them, so the place was pretty much theirs. Ford ended up sitting next to Carter with Melissa across from him. Teal'c was sitting next to Carter while Jack and Daniel were across from Teal'c. Melissa commented on the food quite a lot. Jack asked about the Jello twice. Ford had to put his mind else where to keep from laughing. He tried to remember how much ammo he had left by counting it slowly in his head. Teal'c never said a word. Ford was nursing his last bit of root beer when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Major?"

"It's time to go. Where have you been all this time?" Carter asked. She was standing along with everyone else.

"Just thinking." he said getting up.

As they entered the briefing room, Ford had eaten every bit of the apple accept the stem. Seeing no trash can he pocketed it. General Hammond arrived shortly after they all had sat down.

"Ford, since you have no real background that we can find, your status will be considered as civilian aide. A lot like Doctor Jackson is, for paper work purposes. You won't have a rank but you do have to follow orders. Understood?"

"Completely General."

"Good. Now, before we get to planning the excursion, I want to hear all that happened."

O'Neill went first, telling all that happened after arriving on the planet, then Carter followed by Teal'c, Daniel, then Ford. They told everything that had happened up to where they came back to the M.A.L.P. and went through the gate.

"Very interesting SG-1. For once you came back without a fight."

"Thank you sir. We try." O'Neill said with that tone of playing around. "It's not always easy though."

This is going to take some getting used to. Ford thought while biting his tongue.

"Melissa is it?"

"Yes."

"Do your people want our help? Major Carter informed me that your people might be struggling with some supply shortages."

"Definitely. My uncle wanted me to come and see if I could get help from you. We are actually doing worst than better."

"Wait. We saw your city, granted not all of it, but everything looked fine." Daniel said.

"That's true, but we have been having to ration off food for a couple of years now. We had drought problems for those two years and that's why I was asked to come. I'm representing not only my city, but the other cities that are around ours. We will gladly give you whatever we can for your help. I think Ford explained it better as payment."

All eyes turned to him with angry glances, except Melissa's.

Uh oh! Think fast.........

"We were talking about something and money came into the subject somehow. I told her what money was long before we even reached the city and for the record I had no idea they were having trouble with anything. I was telling her something about money and she didn't understand since they have no money system on there planet. Everything there is sharing and bartering." Ford said trying not to stumble over words.

"I did not mean to get him in trouble. He explained what money was and then we thought that you might not help unless we gave something of value in exchange. We originally were going to ask anyway if you could help us." Melissa said quickly.

"If you have no money system I can see where our system would catch you off guard." Daniel said.

"We have people who can come and help you with your food shortages. It would be our pleasure to help you. We would like to explore those Goa'uld temples though, if your government doesn't mind." Hammond said.

"Not at all. We'd like to know what they say. It has had our historians stumped for many years."

"Do you think we could look at the Goa'uld mother ship that wasn't taken apart?" Carter asked.

"The naquada that powered the vessel is completely gone but you can explore it if you like. Hell, if you could get it off the ground and into space, all the better. It's like a big target for other Goa'uld to come enslave us."

"Why didn't you take it apart like the first one?" Daniel asked.

"The first mother ship was badly messed up when we got hold of it. We figure that if we tried to take it apart, a signal would have been sent to other Goa'uld and we didn't want that. The first one was damaged enough that it couldn't send a help signal."

"How did you get the second one so intact?" O'Neill asked this time.

"It was just there. Only a few guards were protecting it. It was rushed and took over quickly."

"How did the naquada reactor get out of the ship?" Carter asked.

"With persuasion and some skills that we were taught and luck we managed to dissembled it and used it for other things. We guess that it was Path'ar's ship because of the massive amount of books and belongings that we have in our culture. What is considered your old west era as Daniel puts it, whatever that means."

"Well Major, since they don't mind us looking around, put together a team to examine the ship. Doctor Jackson, you and Ford will look over the temple with a team put together by you Doctor. Colonel, I want you and Teal'c to get a team to get supplies to these people. You should know already what we can and can't give."

"Of course sir."

"Have everything read by 0600 tomorrow morning. Get to it people. Dismissed."

"Do I stay here or go back home?" Melissa asked as everyone got up. She seemed to be asking Ford more than anyone else. Why, Ford wasn't sure.

"That's up to you miss. We can give you accommodations for the night if you want to stay, or SG-1 can meet you tomorrow back on your planet." Hammond said.

"Sure, I'll stay then. It isn't everyday you get to go to another planet." she said standing up.

SG-1 glanced at each other as they chuckled.

"What?" Melissa said putting her coat back on. She then realized what she said. "Right. This normal for you."

"Indeed." Teal'c said.

"They spend more time off on other planets than here on Earth." Ford said.

"What about you?"

"This is my first day."

The next several hours were spend planning for the next day. With certain phone calls in high places, mostly from Hammond, several large packages of food and supplies would be arriving during the night for them. A few groups of scientists were gathered together to help with the deciphering and engineering parts of the mission. Daniel had his equipment to be brought ready to go along with the scientific equipment him and Sam would need. Ford spent a few hours in the armory before going to bed. The primary members of SG-1 went home for the night while Ford stayed on the base. He told Hammond he'd find a house later. Melissa stayed in a room just across from his in case anything happened or she got scared and she seemed to be more comfortable around him. Ford had everything he needed setting on a table in his room when he went to bed.

Ford was up and ready an hour before they really all needed to be. Getting dressed he packed up his stuff, strapped on his extra clips of ammo, which were quite a few, and walked over to Melissa's door. There was still half an hour left till SG-1 arrived. He knocked on Melissa's door before peering in. Seeing her still asleep he started to walk in when he noticed all her clothes were in a chair next to the bed. She looked to be sleeping on her stomach. Walking out he left the door slightly opened and yelled out to her.

"Melissa. Melissa!"

"Hmmm. What is it dad?" she mumbled.

"Melissa. You're not at home, remember?"

Her eyes popped open quickly when she realized where she was.

"Don't come in!" she said covering herself more with the covers.

"I'm not going to. I'm just letting you know it's time to get up. You've got half an hour."

"How much time is that?" she asked while getting out of bed slowly.

"You don't have time devices on your world?"

"We went by where the sun rose and set."

"Okay...umm, I'll knock again when it's time to get going. It's enough time to freshen up though and eat if we hurry."

"Alright. Just wait."

"I'll be right out here if you need anything."

Ford was double checking his equipment when she walked out about fifteen minutes later. Her hair was quite ruffled.

"Sleep well?"

"It was more comfortable than back home." she said with a stretch. "That shower last night felt great. With the rationing we've been having to do, water is slightly scarce." Ford looked away before his mind went elsewhere and picked up his stuff. Grabbing one of his extra combs he handed it to her.

"This might help. If you have any worries, I haven't used it. I have extra's cause I tend to lose them or break them. Keep it."

"Thanks." she said testing it first. Seeing it would work for herself she walked back into her room and fixed her hair.

"No offense but does everyone have hair like yours? Your uncle's wife didn't have any."

"It seems a select few have hair. Mom did and her sister didn't."

"Who is your mom's sister?"

"Zhanell." Seeing the confusion or shock she explained better. "Draco isn't really my uncle, I just called him it when I was little and I kept calling him it even until now."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty." she said as they walked to the mess hall. "How old are you?"

"Thirty three."

She looked him up and down as they neared the mess hall.

"What?"

"You don't look that old." "Neither do you."

After they had breakfast, they headed to the gate room. SG-4 and the other groups coming with them on the trip were checking things over. Ford noticed the large case he brought in last night was still there. Setting his bag on the ground he checked his watch. Two minutes till.

"Daniel will be the last one in the room."

"Why is that?"

"He's always late." he said setting his PC-90 on the M.A.L.P.

Melissa cracked her neck as O'Neill came through the door. Carter was next. Teal'c behind her and no Daniel.

"I should have made a bet last night with you O'Neill."

"On what?"

"Daniel showing up late."

"I'd never take that bet. He's always late. Now if I made the bet with you." he said as Daniel walked in.

"Sorry. Traffic was blocked by a fender bender."

"Fender bender?"

"What we call a traffic accident. An example would be if two glider's crashed into each other in the middle of a gliding area, streets as we call them. Not a big crash but enough to slow the flow of people walking or driving." Ford tried to explain.

"That's never happened before for us." Melissa said.

"SG-1. Are you ready to go?" Hammond said from the control room upstairs.

"Yes sir."

"Dial it up Lieutenant."

As the dialing process went through they tried to explain the crash accident better.

"I was trying to use an example that might have happened on your planet. You don't even know what a car is so this will be difficult." Ford said scratching his head. "Help me out here people."

"Chevron one locked."

"Let's say one of the gliders was coming around a corner and another was also." Ford starting saying when they all looked lost.

"Chevron two locked."

"The onboard sensors would tell of an incoming glider though."

With a short laugh, "Melissa, Melissa, Melissa...." he let out a sigh before continuing. "You're making this difficult to explain. I'll just have to show you later."

"Chevron three locked."

"I think so. How many people and cars are there that could cause a problem?" she asked.

"Several billion. That's for both people and cars, trucks, SUV`s..." O'Neill said with a flash of his hands.

"Chevron four locked."

Melissa had been looking at Ford the entire conversation and turned to look at O'Neill slowly.

"How high is that number? I haven't heard it before." she said almost not wanting to hear the answer.

"Chevron five locked."

"How many people live our on your planet?" Carter asked.

"Around two hundred thousand by your number system I believe."

"Chevron six locked."

"Well take that number and times it by five thousand." Jack said.

"Numbers were never my strongest thing."

"Carter help me out here." Jack said turning to her.

"That number you mention before about the two hundred thousand. Add that number five thousand times."

"Chevron seven locked."

"I see why this place is kept secret." she said wide eyed.

"Chevron eight locked."

Everyone turned to watch as the gate opened and whooshed out. As the M.A.L.P. and other equipment went through first which was going to take sometime seeing as quite a lot of supplies and food was going through SG-1 waited.

"I'm guessing there's a reason why we weren't standing closer when that wave came through."

"That wave is part of the event horizon that makes the wormhole from this planet to any other planet possible. The wave eliminates anything it touches until it becomes as you see it now." Carter explained.

"Don't be in front when it's activating. Got it."

O'Neill now noticed that Ford was carrying quite a bit more than usual.

"Ford?"

"Almost three minutes Colonel. I figured you would have asked right as you walked through the door."

"What am I going to ask?" he said with his hands on the butt of his weapon.

"What is with the massive amount of clips?"

"You're right I was going to ask. Now the answer is." he said with a wave of his right hand.

"As much as the PC-90 is a great weapon, I've never had much use for them unless they were heavy weapons. I prefer my weapon. And with your history with the Goa'uld, I'm not taking any chances. Besides that I hardly notice them there at all. I've carried heavier. Much heavier."

"Where is your gun?" he said pointing at his PC-90.

"On the M.A.L.P. I was going to pick it back up, but we got into a conversation."

"At least you didn't leave it on the planet. How many clips are you holding?"

"Thirty two. Three if you count the one in the gun."

"Alright. The only reason I'm letting you keep all of this is because you are better with that overloaded cannon. I still can't believe you had trouble hitting those targets with the PC-90."

"Sir, what are you taking about?" Carter asked.

"When I was testing Ford out on the weapons range, he couldn't hit much except the wall with these things." he said pointing at the PC-90. "But he hit every target dead on with his pistol."

"Hopefully we can all come home and I can put this all back, but..." Ford said not saying anymore.

"Indeed. I have watched Ford on the target range and he has hit moving objects better than most I've seen." Teal'c said.

"Thank you Teal'c."

"Okay, enough. It's our turn so let's go boys and girls. We have temples to raid and ships to plunder." he said putting his sun glasses on.

"They were serious about your shooting weren't they?" Melissa said.

"Completely." Ford said placing his sunglasses on as they stepped through.

As they came through on the other side they saw several wolfmen, a few foxmen, and a bearman. They were off to one side looking angry, but relief flooded their face as they saw Melissa.

"Miss Melissa. We thought they had taken you away from us." the bearman said.

"No. I went to visit Earth and stayed overnight. Did something happen while I was gone?"

"When you didn't return, your uncle sent us out to scout around. We stayed the night here to see if the one's who you went with returned with you." the bear said. Even though he was a smoke colored bear, for some reason, in a sheriff like outfit, and a hat like Smokey the bear's, his voice almost sounded like Yogi the bear's, Ford thought.

"I went with them at my own request. They are friends, I can assure you that, Smokey." Melissa said. "They have, " she turned to look as Ford walked off to the right away from them. She thought he said something, but didn't hear it. "Anyway, they have agreed to help us with our food shortage. They even have brought in an animal doctor to help us. The best news I found out is that I'm not going to die."

"I don't understand." a brown wolf said.

"My furs color is something that also happens to these people as well. It's not a curse as we thought. It's a strange genetic thing. As long as I don't let the sun hit me, I'll be just fine."

"Do you believe them?" A foxmen asked.

"I felt no reason to see that they were lying."

As Melissa talked to her friends, O'Neill watched Ford walk off away from them. As O'Neill got closer he saw Ford crying.

"What happened?" he said with concern and in a low voice.

"I'm not crying sir." he said with a short giggle. "I'm having...hehehe, I'm laughing quietly."

"I didn't say anything so what is it this time?"

"That bear, hehehe."

"What about him?"

"Does he look, hehehe, hahaha, slightly familiar?" Ford said still using one hand to hold himself up against the tree.

"Yeah he does, wait a minute, he almost looks like Smokey the bear."

Ford felt like he was going to explode as O'Neill said Smokey the bear.

"What about it?"

"That is his name." he said losing it.

O'Neill couldn't help but laugh at this news and this caused them both to break down. Ford was able to continue standing while O'Neill fell next to the tree. Carter walked over thinking something was wrong.

"Is everything alright sir?"

After what must have been a few minutes they were able to get their breaths back.

"Sir?"

"I'm fine Major. Just remembered a joke and told Ford about it. I forgot how funny it was." he said slowly getting up. "I'll tell you later."

As Carter walked off giving them a strange look, O'Neill helped Ford to his feet. "Thanks for covering that."

"It is really true?"

"That's what Melissa called him."

"Oh man, this could bad. First Bob, then Smokey, who's next I wonder." O'Neill said shaking his head. "Winnie the Pooh and Tiger too perhaps."

"I know. I'm trying not to think about it."

"Let's get back to work. We have much to see and lots to do." O'Neill said wiping his eyes.

Over the next couple of hours, O'Neill went to the city with Teal'c to help identify and teach the people there to understand the stuff they were giving them. The veterinarian along with several other people from Earth were also helping the Colonel and Teal'c. Almost twenty gliders were shipping the supplies and food to the city. Carter, Daniel, Ford, SG-4, Melissa, the two foxmen, and several other scientist from Earth had stayed behind to help load the gliders. SG-4 was to stand guard, help load equipment as it came through the gate, and stay near the gate in case something was needed from back home. Ford placed the case he brought inside an old hollowed tree near the edge of the forest. Luckily a larger path was made from the Stargate to the clearing that lead to the city. It was large enough that moving things was easier, but not enough to get a glider up to the gate. Since the other gliders were being used for transport, two of the gliders were given to Melissa to take the equipment and people that were going to the temple area, the ship Carter and her team were going to look at was only a few miles from the temple. Melissa, Carter, Daniel, and six scientists, three for Carter and three helping Daniel stayed at the mouth of the temple as the two foxmen went back for the equipment they couldn't bring. As Daniel looked over the pyramid, he made comments into a tape recorded as they waited. There was four large statues the size of the sphinx's back on Earth on each side of the pyramid. One was of a jackal, the other a fox, a wolf, and one they couldn't identify because the head was missing. All the bodies were the same, heads each different. As they all speculated and theorized, with the exception of Ford, Carter, and Melissa, the two foxmen showed up.

"Twenty minutes. Not bad." Ford said looking at his watch.

"You were timing us?" one of the foxmen said.

"Just to see how long it was for the trip to there and back. Those gliders are impressive." Ford said. When they still looked offended, "I was complementing your driving."

"Well, in that case thanks."

They helped unload what they brought and then waited for Melissa. As she talked to them with Carter helping out, Daniel and Ford were looking at the door.

"I think you just push it in." Ford said with his arms across his chest.

"It can't be that easy. There has to be a hidden switch." Daniel said tapping the recorder against his chin.

"Why is there, never mind. Here, I'll push on the door and if it opens, we go in. If not, then we look around more."

"And if it has a trap?" Ford pushed and as he thought it opened showing a dark hallway. "Melissa told me her father was lost in here and they never found him so I guessed the door was already devoid of traps." he said walking in slowly.

"And you were going to tell us this when?" Daniel said following.

The ceiling was ten feet from the floor and the walls six feet from each other. The hallway continued down several yards before turning left and right. From the look of the dust disturbance, most of the traveling went to the left. Ford and Daniel noticed something very strange right away.

"Does everything look a little to bright for the inside of this place to you Ford?"

"Yeah now that you mention it I did notice. I see no torches or light coming from above."

"I think its phosphorescent in the walls. Turn your flashlight on."

When Ford turned it on things got darker. Turning it off, it got bright again.

"Fascinating." Ford said with no emotion.

"Nice imitation of Spock."

"Thanks. We should have Carter see this."

"Give her a call. I'm going to keep going." Daniel said calling the team he brought in.

"Carter, you might want to come look at this." he said into the CB.

"What is it?"

"The walls inside here emit their own form of light. It's phosphorescent."

"I'll be right there."

Ford was standing at the junction looking over hieroglyphics when Carter and Melissa showed up.

"This is common on Earth Ford. Phosphorescent rocks are found in caves all over Asia."

"True, but I've never noticed one that seemed to be bright enough to be around a sixty watt bulb."

"It`s not that bright Ford." Carter said.

Ford turned around to her seeing her flashlight on the gun was on. "Turn the light off Carter. It makes it darker."

Once she turned her light off things brighten up considerably. Looking back near the door it was darker since the sun was coming in. "Wow." she said.

"If we managed to put this in the SGC, the next time power goes out we could see where the flashlights and buttons for emergency lighting were. Heck, with enough this we could save money on electricity by removing the lights." Ford said turning back to the wall.

Carter seemed to think it over some before speaking. "That's not a bad idea. For the emergency part anyway."

"Hey Melissa, where was your father last at?"

"He was much deeper inside. We found some of his belongings on the ground near a circle of dust."

"Circle of dust?" Carter and Ford said in unison. "Transporter rings."

"He must have triggered them by accident and was put somewhere deeper inside or somewhere far away on the planet." Carter said.

"Melissa can you show us were he last was?"

"Yes." she said walking down the right corridor.

A route went up and another to the left which led into a large open room where columns stood. Ford noticed the dust hadn't been touched in years on the path leading up, a couple hundred in fact. There was a enormous table at one end where food had gone bad and hardened. A path led off to one direction in the far back and another kept going one the opposite side of it. Melissa headed for that doorway. As they followed they came by Daniel who was looking over a column. The team he assembled were using different devises as he instructed them.

"Where are you all headed?" he asked.

"We're checking out something Daniel. We'll call you if we need anything." Carter said. Daniel turned back to reading as they kept going.

Melissa walked through the doorway, passing the table and turned with the walkway. It continued straight for a few yards before coming to another turning point. One way went right, the other down. She looked a moment before heading down. It spiraled three times on itself before they came to a door. With help from Ford the door opened. It made a creaking noise as he pushed it open as it gave him some resistance. The room was huge.

"This must take up the entire base section of the pyramid. I can't even see the other wall over there." Ford said pointing across the way.

"He was over here." she said walking a way's to a column that larger than the rest in the room.

Once they got there it was hard to tell who was and wasn't there. Dust was disturbed everywhere. There wasn't anything that looked to be a transit ring place. Carter looked over the ground but found nothing that showed a ring.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

"Yes." Melissa said looking frustrated.

Ford was looking around from where he was standing. He saw a lot of chains hanging from many of the smaller columns. Some bones in different area's at the bases were still present. He suddenly realized what they were for when he looked closer.

"Oh God." he said sadly.

"What it is?" she