Chapter 26 – Starting Point

"Cynthia, are you saying you'll let my favourite alien allies go extinct if we don't let you go on a field trip? Jack asked cleverly.

"Uh…" She hadn't thought of it that way. "That does sound a bit over the top," she admitted. "Alright, I'll let Thor… what is it you need to do?"

"I shall simply place this scanner on your arm," Thor replied.

"I'll let Thor scan me, but we'll talk about Atlantis later," Cynthia conceded. It was an important issue for her, but it could wait until attempting to save an advanced alien race.

"I and all the Asgard thank you." Thor took out a rounded triangular device and held it to the teen's arm, resulting in humming and beeps. After a count of ten, he switched it off and checked his computer. "The scan is complete. It will take some time before we know if it is what we need, and even then, it will only be a starting point for a final solution."

"What about the disruptor modulation?" Sam wondered.

"It is not yet ready. I recommend I return you to your planet as there is no reason for you to wait."

"Alright, but I expect a nice movie of those bugs falling to bits," Jack told the grey alien.

"Very well. I understand that you would find such an event entertaining," said the Asgard knowingly.

"Yup, entertaining is exactly what it is," Jack pleasantly agreed.

"Thor?" Sam asked. "I was wondering if you might grand a small request."

"Speak, Samantha."

"Could I keep a small portion of the active human-form replicator cells for experimentation? The SGC science team may be able to use them to develop technology to fight the Goa'uld."

"That would be most unwise. Replicators are extremely dangerous. I would not want to see Earth come to any harm."

Jack raised his hand. "Hey Thor, remember which race found a way to freeze those things? Does 'human' ring any bells?"

Thor blinked. "You make a good point. As you wish, I will allow you to take a small sample, but I recommend you do not take them to Earth, and exercise extreme caution at all times."

"You can count on our caution," Sam told him.

"I am counting on it. However, I will first erase the coding that makes up the synthetic consciousness of your replicator duplicate. This will prevent her from accidentally resurfacing. It will also remove her knowledge of Asgard technology that was absorbed by the replicators when they assimilated our ships. The same will be done to the replicator elements that remain on the planet below us."

"Thanks. I think. Sam had been hoping such a precaution was not necessary. With RepliCarter erased, she was left with little more than programmable nanites.

Thor activated the correct control stones and a small amount of the replicator mass vanished. "I have returned a sample to the place you had been storing the cells. We can now return to Earth."

Later that day, at the SGC…

"You're sure you want to be on the Pegasus mission?"

Cynthia rolled her eyes. "Do you think I've changed my mind, Dad?"

Jack tried to look disapproving. "No eye-rolling, young lady!"

"Yes, Sir."

"Do you really think I'd let my only daughter on a dangerous mission to another galaxy?"

"Is staying on Earth really any safer?"

"I suppose not, but I can look after you here."

"I can look after myself just fine, thank-you. Remember how we only met a few days ago?" Cynthia reminded him.

"That's not the point. It's my responsibility now."

The teen tried another tactic. "Would you go, if you were allowed, Mom?"

Sam couldn't help but nod. "Definitely, but I can't, because I'm needed here."

"Well perhaps I'm needed in Pegasus."

"A certain Doctor McKay would like to think otherwise," Sam mentioned.

"Who's he?"

"Just a scientist with a big ego."

"I sense a challenge! That's all the more reason to…"

"You don't want to be making a nuisance of yourself," Jack told her.

"I won't. Unless you make me stay here."

Jack shook his head. "Threats will only get you grounded."

"Okay, I won't be a nuisance on purpose, but I'm sure I'll be miserable because of the missed opportunity."

"You'll get over it," Jack replied.

"No, I'll try to build my own way of travelling there."

"If it keeps you out of trouble…" Sam began.

"No, it will probably explode," she stated, very matter-of-fact. "I'd be much safer on Prometheus. And besides, if I'm not here, you'll have lots of time to yourselves to… adjust."

"If you're grounded you can't blow anything up, or get in the way," Jack reminded her.

"That's a fine way to treat me after I defeated the replicators. I wouldn't want to ever work here if you did that. I think… I think you're just afraid of losing me so soon."

"Of course we are!" Sam answered.

"And perhaps you should remember that I only recently lost my parents. Maybe I need a bit of room to adjust?"

"There won't be much room on Prometheus."

"Dad, you know what I mean. Look, I'm moving to a new city with new parents and new friends. And I'll need to start a new research project too. So while I'm moving between things, it's a perfect time to do a bit of travel. I'd really enjoy to see another galaxy and help out if possible, and if I have to spend weeks cramped in a cabin with my laptop, that's okay with me."

Jack and Sam looked at each other. "I think she can handle it," Sam put forth.

"It's up to Hammond and the president. And the IOA, I suppose," Jack finally answered. "We'll see what happens."

Cynthia gave a slight smile and nodded. "I'll be in my room."

"Janet says Daniel is recovering quickly, so if you're going, it will be two days from now. We'd better put that shopping trip down for tomorrow."

"Sounds good." Cynthia realised how grateful she was that her parents were considering letter her go, so she reached out for a three-cornered hug.

In a high-rise office...

Charlotte Mayfield, VP of Farrow-Marshall aeronautics, sat at her shiny black desk with a smile. She had received some most excellent news, which pleased both the woman and the Goa'uld Athena within her. She'd already learned that Ba'al's invasion had failed – through no fault of her own. While she had helped facilitate this plan, she'd carefully distanced herself, to ensure her cover remained. Now she was delighted to hear that the old schemer was dead. As a result, his territory was ripe for the taking, and who better to take it than his former brief ally? With the power of Ba'al's fleet and the resources of Earth, the galaxy - no, the universe - was hers for the taking.

Athena saw the chance to rise far about the System Lords. They had seen her as insignificant, but that would chance soon. Earth would be the brightest of jewels in her crown of achievement. Many before her had attempted to subjugate or destroy Earth. This was foolish, she realised. A far better path was to guide Earth, to build and nurture it into a powerful force. The Tau'ri had no room for tyrannical gods. Heroes and saviours appealed to them, so that was what she would become.

Far more could be achieved by craftily using the Tau'ri, rather than fighting them. Destroying such a planet would be a pitiful waste. With careful manoeuvring, the very people who had tried to destroy the System Lords would be her willing servants. If not, the rest of Earth's population would deal with them as they would look upon her as their benefactor. With the strategic position of Charlotte Mayfield, the leadership of Athena, and careful nudging by her children, Earth would achieve it's full potential and dominate the universe.

The woman – and the parasite – rubbed her hands together in anticipation of the power she would soon hold. It would be glorious.

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AN: Well, that's it for Aperture Science Applied.� Thanks for reading!� I rather enjoyed writing this, particularly when things went differently to what I had planned.
This tale might be over, but obviously the story is not.� Which is why it is is continued in...
Applications of Replication.� Coming very soon to a fanfictiondotnet near you.