Gwyn looks around and spots that only Livy and Vinny are missing and turns back to Hermiod, "Those not present have little interest in the science we've been discussing, but would probably like to see more of your planet when they emerge."

Livy's not a scientist, but she would have been interested to hear this stuff about their 'evolution'. which means she's been delayed by Vinny. Oh, for chrissake! Heh, at least they 'got a room' I guess.

Kyria got a thoughtful look on her face, then blushed deeply. "Um, that could be a little bit. I'm sure we can catch Livy up real quick when she gets here, and Vinny isn't really going to care."

The young telepath looked both amused and mortified.

Cam suppressed a chuckle. "Yeah, I think we can get started whenever you guys are ready. Let me just unlock the Ancient device and you can begin your investigations." He walked over to the stone device and placed a hand on it. None of the symbols glowed at first, but after a moment many symbols began to light up all around it's circumference. Cam concentrated and after a moment all of the symbols dimmed.

"It's done, and I've put it in a manual mode, so it won't just zap someone that touches it." He shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe one of the ancients left it in that automatic mode like that. I wish I knew their reasons."

Loki moved over to the device and touched it in several places, but nothing happened. "That is unfortunate. It seems it will only work for a being with the Ancient gene. We will have to make our own device using it's template. That will take much more time than we had anticipated. Perhaps weeks or even months."

Hermiod was quick to add, "Do not fear. We will return you to Earth before you are needed again." He gestured to a small raised circle next to the wall of the chamber a short distance away. "Please, let us begin by doing scans of each of you."

He led the way slowly to the scanner. Cam was the first to step forward into the circle. Light rose up from the circle surrounding him and bathing him in it's eerie greenish glow. After a couple minutes he began to become bored and opened his mind to the Asgard's device, to see if he could understand it. In it's way it was more complicated than the Ancient devices he'd been able to examine, but it was complication born of being less sophisticated than the Ancient tech. The Ancients had perfected and streamlined their tech millenia before the Asgard had evolved. Still, it was like swimming against a strong current, most of his effort was going into simply trying to get his bearings and understand how the tech operated on a basic level. It was without a doubt more 'alien' than what the Ancient's left behind, but then they had been humanities' ancestors.

Hermiod spoke, "Good, Colonel Mitchell. I was just about to ask you to actively use one of your abilities. This will help greatly."

Loki also looked at one the holographic display that was being generated by the scan. It consisted of a transparent view of the Col. with Asgard symbols dancing across it with pointers to various parts of his anatomy, but most focused on his brain. "You are one of those with enhanced brain function? Do you have enhanced memory?"

Cam found it a little hard to speak given the sheer amount of input he was experiencing. "Uh, yeah. I remember what I... experience since... since the... transformation."

Loki seemed pleased for the first time, "Excellent." There was just something about the way he said it that reminded the listener of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.

The scan finally ended and Mitchell stumbled a bit as he stepped down and shook his head as if to clear it. "Woah."

Loki ignore him, "We will scan one of the humans who do not have enhanced intellect and memory next." He was addressing the specialists without actually talking directly to them.

Hermiod added, "Would one of you please step into the scan that does not have enhanced memory."

Yseult focused her biological awareness on Cameron, comparing what she sensed with the Asgard's holographic rendering, intuitively interpreting the alien symbols. She nodded at what she read, a grin spreading on her lips as some of her conjectures were corroborated with the Asgard readings, other results enabling her to put together impeccably reasoned hypotheses with the disparate data and sights she had witnessed.

She studied the image of Cameron's brain, correlating it with a precise memory of a standard human brain and what she could pull up from the consoles on the Asgard cerebral structure. A finger tapped her lips speculatively.


"Ryan, if you would be so kind..." Yseult asked her team leader, a gracefully showcasing the Asgard scanner. Her intent, turquoise eyes seemed to glean every minute detail of his being

"Of cours Yesult."

Ryan nodded, taking his place in the circle. When all was ready, he smiled, and his hands lit up with golden light. Considering he had to maintain contact with the floor it was pretty much his only demonstrable ability.

The Asgard scan shimmered on in a column of light that surrounded the Major making his glowing hands fade to almost nothing. The same displays appeared over Loki's console, but with concentrations of brain activity somewhat different that Cam's had been. Different areas of the brain seemed to be lit up with activity. Other than that one aspect the scans seemed virtually identical. Both men seemed to have much more dense muscle tissue than would be expected in a normal human scan and to Yseult's trained eye their metabolism's were both more active and their immune systems seemed much advanced.

On Hermiod's console another display appeared this one comparing a number of strands of DNA divided into two halves of the screen one being Cam and the other Ryan. Here too there were subtle differences, but not so great that their DNA wouldn't be recognizable as that of a normal human. That is it wasn't obvious until Hermiod brought up a third set of DNA, then it was possible to tell that both Specialists had much more ordered strands, but also whole sections of strands that were not present in the normal baseline DNA. Hermiod's hands moved rapidly and pointers began appearing at different places on the display at what must be important places on the DNA. A fourth set of DNA appeared looking much less like the other three. Unlike the first three which contained many areas that seemed random or jumbled, the new set seemed perfectly ordered at first glance, almost as if it had been engineered, which it no doubt had. More pointers appeared as if making correlations between the four sets of DNA, many more on the first three and only a few on the fourth.

"Excellent. Thank you Major Hawke. That will suffice for now." Hermiod made another gesture with a tear drop shaped crystal and the glowing field of energy surrounding Ryan disappeared.

Loki was abrupt as he spoke, "Let us have another with enhanced memory next."

"Please." Hermiod added.

After a quick glance around the room to see if anyone else was going to volunteer Gwyn shrugs and steps forward into the scanner. Having done so he activates his Density Decrease, after all he doesn't know if the base of the scanner could take his increased mass. Of course there is little if any visible sign that he has done thise, so he waits to see what the two Asgard say about it while he looks at the holographic displays with interest to compare his own results with the previous ones.

The energy field came up as it had done twice before but it quickly became apparent when the displays reactivated that things weren't going so well. The image was of a cloudy human shape with no details.

Hermiod spoke, "Please change to the use of another skill if you would, what you are doing now seems to be effecting the scan."

Gwyn shifted to the other side of his dense state and added flight to avoid breaking the Asgard equipment. In real time those watching could see the information on the displays take on a great deal of detail filling in the cloudy form with color and sharpness. Gwyn's brain like the pair that had gone before was active in different regions and like Cam and Ryan, they DNA showed very similar changes.

Each scan seemed to take thirty minutes or so, but the time so far had seemed to fly. Even those not particularly scientifically inclined couldn't help but find it interesting to see how differently each person's brains worked and watch as more and more data points were lite up on the DNA comparisons.

When the energy field evaporated from around Gwyn, Hermiod glanced at the group. "I believe this would be a good time for a short break if you wish. We have synthesized a selection of Earth foods for you if you wish. There is a room for this in the corridor and to the left, at any time you may seek out refreshment there."

Gwyn stepped down from the scanner, still looking at the results and analysing the effect of the additional data. "You guys go ahead if you wish, I'm good to carry on here."

Yseult watched the scans with intense interest, her turquoise eyes almost glowing, as she compared what she saw with the data from the Asgard's scans. It was enthralling, almost arousing, being able to see this deeply into the minutia of life. If I can see the Ascension Device affecting someone for the first time, would I be able to copy the effect?

She wasn't inclined to taking a break, but her enhanced physiology depended fuel, so she quickly went to the room indicated and absently consumed a meal with unseemly haste as she pondered everything she had seen and learned. She was back to the lab in a mere five minutes ready to continue. She wanted to see the scans of Sgt. Perrault, Livy, and herself, to view the possible biological changes caused by Quantum Backlash Syndrome.

After setting a couple of records for posterity, Vinny and Olivia cleaned up and went exploring. They knew where the others were, but neither was particularly interested in Asgard genetics. The other specialists would let them know when they were needed. So they wandered around, looking at the Asgard city - Olivia checked out the art and people, while Vinny examined their architecture and engineering.

Gradually, an Asgard approached them. "Earth food has been made ready for you," it told them, gender unidentifiable. "I am to show you where."

"Sounds fuckin' good," Vinny replied, looking down at Olivia.

"Yeah, I could eat," she said. In truth, she was starving, but she really wanted to look around some more. Patience, she chided herself. All in good time.

They followed the small Asgardian to a cafeteria, where Yseult was just disappearing from. Grabbing some food, the couple sat down and dug in, still talking about what they'd seen that day - and what they might see yet.

Ryan entered shortly after Oliva and Vinny. He grabbed some food, ate before actually getting to a table and deposited the plate in the receptacle before returning to the lab. Though he didn't understand most of it, it was just too interesting to not be present for.

Kyria declined the offer of food as politely as possible. She was far too engrossed in the genetic puzzle of the Agard to have much care for liesure activities. While the others were out eating or sight-seeing, she tried looking over that data that had been collected. She was still learning the Asgard language, which both fascinated and confounded her with how different it was from the human languages she'd learned. She bit her lip as she prowled around the examination room.

"You would think, with their dependency on hosts and their narcisism, that the Goa'uld would have pursued genetic technology like this. It's an odd blind-spot for them," the comments were directed the room in general. She approached Loki, who was pouring over one of the consoles that was spinning through the data collected from the scans. "Do you mind if I share your understanding? I haven't learned the Asgard language yet, but my telepathy would allow me to understand the information as you do, without translation errors."

She hesitated, the constant paranoia of the SGC and IOA finally settling her into a higher appreciation of other's needs for privacy. "Although, if you would find that....uncomfortable, is there a way for one of the consoles to translate to English?"

Gwyn took a brief stroll into the cafeteria to grab a drink, and passed Ryan on his way back to the lab. Inside he spotted the briefly absent couple and wondered by, "Looks like they want to do a scan of each of us and you two are going to be up pretty soon. They've already done Cam, Ryan and myself." Grabbing a bottle of water seems to be water he turns and heads back towards the lab, "See you there."

Despite his mostly expressionless face there was something a little disdainful about the little alien's response. "I doubt that you could access my mind, but even if you could I would not allow it. If you must try, perhaps Hermiod would submit to your experiment."

Hermiod nodded in acknowledgment. "I would be willing to allow you to try. Please focus on this experiment in particular and do not wander in my mind. Among the Asgard our minds are the only privacy most know and it is a cultural bias that we do not seek to learn another's secrets."

After only minutes most had grabbed snacks or drinks and returned to continue the session.

Yseult was next into the scanner with very similar results to the others. Every time a new specialist was scanned new areas of the brain were lit up along with certain areas that seemed common to all. As each new scan was added to the volume of knowledge being gathered a better and better picture was emerging of what the differences between Specialist's and non-specialists were. It was hard not to start feeling a sense of optimism. With the massive amounts of data collected, how could the Asgard not solve their problem?

Olivia and Vinny wandered in; Vinny began to check out the room itself while Olivia wandered up to the console. "You guys should check out the outside of the building, too," she said, smiling. "It's really pretty." She nodded to Hermiod and Loki. "Your planet is beautiful."

Loki's expression wrinkled as if he couldn't think of anything belittling to say to that, while Hermiod merely said, "Thank you."

"So, what's all the colors mean?" Olivia asked, smiling at her peers.

Yseult gave Olivia a distracted smile, intently studying her results from the Asgard scan, comparing it with the readings she had taken of herself with her heightened biological awareness. She was particularly focused on any genetic damage or abnormalities caused by Quantum Backlash Syndrome. She was looking for analogous structures in the Asgard genome, trying to determine if QBS would be a factor for them as well. She was curious to see the results of Sgt. Perrault's and Olivia's scans.

"The colours, there are indicating where activity that is influenced by the genetic alterations cause by the Ascension Device are occurring. As you can see, the structure and effieciency of the brain has been..." Yseult smoothly and concisely detailed their findings for Olivia's benefit, translating the Asgard text with the negligent ease of one native language into another.

The more she saw of the Asgard genetics the less and less Yseult thought there would be any Backlash. Their DNA was just too orderly, likely if they engineered themselves into specialists, they would be both weaker than the human ones, but at the same time more focused. There just wouldn't be any random generation of odd abilities, they would know exactly what gifts the process would give them and in all likelihood would program them in from the beginning.

Over the next few days the Asgard repeatedly scanned all of the specialists using a as many gifts as was possible. In the end dozens of Asgard viewed the scans and worked with the data from the various consoles in the room. Finally, Hermiod asked to speak with the Specialists as a group. In the meantime Cam had worked with the Ascension device as much as he was able to unlock it's secrets and learn how to operate it manually. He was aided in the task by the knowledge the device had downloaded into his brain the first time as well as by an Asgard named Tinnion, who everyone had taken to calling Tinni.

"Thank you all for participating in the first stage of our research, from this we have determined a number of things. We do believe that we will be able to alter our own genetic code to reverse the clone degradation. In essence we will build ourselves new bodies from scratch using the information we've gathered from you." Loki stood by looking somehow disapproving. "Second, we've learned something about your own physiology. The human body can only contain a certain amount of 'advancement' beyond which damage begins to occur. It is likely that the Ancients ascended when they neared this threshold. We also believe that the differences in your DNA versus what we believe the Ancient's was like means that you lack the failsafes that would prevent unsafe advancement. We believe that what you call Quantum Backlash Syndrome is a part of this damage. In certain areas some of you seem to have already advanced beyond what is safe. However, from our studies we think that the damage is slow to build up and that if you proceed with caution you should be able avoid excessive levels."

Loki smirked. That was the only interpretation of the expression on his face as he spoke, "This is a consequence will well avoid in ourselves."

"We have that luxury, thanks to your assistance." Hermiod pursed his lips when he looked at Loki clearly not happy with his attitude.

Tinni spoke and there was a certain almost excitement to her words, "The next thing we need to do is see the Ascension device function." She gestured at Cam, "We believe that we understand the operation of the device to specifically determine it's effect on you in advance. We can create our own version of the device without this step, but it would add many months to the process. If we can witness it in action and get good scans we should be able to synthesize an Asgard version in a much shorter time." She paused as if hesitant and worried about the response, "We would like volunteers."

Ryan nods and Steps forward. "I volunteered last time, this time is no Different." He looked to Cam. "Sir , I formally volunteer to go through activation of the device again."

At last something he could do. If it went wrong, they wouldn't really be out much. Most of his abilities were duplicated amongst the other specialists anyway.

"Do we know that it's safe?" Olivia asked quickly. Her expression was concerned as she looked around the room. "I mean, I'm sure you guys think it's safe, but are we sure?" Olivia didn't want something terrible to happen to anyone, even Omar if he'd been the one to volunteer. "Remember what happened to some people - becoming so twisted and inhuman they were just monsters?"

"It wasn't safe the first time Olivia, but that doesn't change things, or my decision." He looked around. "If something does go wrong, then it does, and I'll live with it..." He left off the part that if it was too bad he expected the other military personnel to take appropriate action.

"Yes," Olivia replied to Ryan, irritation in her voice, "but the first time, not all of us had a choice about the device. I'm saying it's foolish to take an unnecessary risk like this when all we're doing is saving some time. I know the Asgard need this cure, but there's no point in making us into human guinea pigs, especially when we're not sure it's safe."

Cam thought about it then said, "First time around the machine was on automatic and the results were random. I've got it dialed in now and Tinni and I are pretty sure we know how to manually operate it to do exactly what we want it to do. I won't guarantee it, but I am confident we can use it without major risk. I'm not going to have the thing set to the kind of major effect we all went through the first time. I think I..., no, I'm sure I can keep the effect small enough not to cause damage."

"I don't think that's a good idea for me." Dec said quietly from where he was leaning back against a console. He had been the only Specialist not to step into the Asgard scanner, having made himself scarce when his time came. Now, he was hanging back with his arms folded and shoulders hunched, a vaguely haunted look in his eye. Livy's words were echoing inside his head: twisted and inhuman... just monsters....

"That thing has fucked me up enough." he went on in the same quiet, intense voice. "I don't need Doc Yseult's scan-o-vision to know that I'm probably the worst QBS case not in a cage somewhere. No way am I goin' near that damn thing again." He tensed reflexively, then relaxed with a conscious effort.

Kyria ran a hand down his side, trying to soothe him, and then stepped forward. "Why not try it out on me? Even if it does cause QBS, my body is designed to prevent the accumulation of taint. Not only could we test it safely, but they might be able to get some useful information on how to help the novas already suffering from taint to prevent further accumulation or even reverse what's already there."

"I don't know if it'll work on me," she shrugged. "But, hey, it's almost sort of a blank slate to use, since I've never been exposed to it before. And a slate that's less likely to get mangled or killed from it."

"What works for you Kyria may not work for the rest of us. It may affect you differently than it would any of us already affected by it."

He nods. "My previous offer stands."

Olivia frowned. "I can't tell you not to do it, guys," she said. "Just given this things track record... it seems really dumb to use it again, even if Cam does think he's got a grip on it."

Yseult held back from the discussion, her face carefully composed, keeping her thoughts to herself. She had no intention of using the device again. The Ascension Device had changed her life far more than she ever wanted. Added to the data showing that forced human advancement led to aberrations in their genetics, flaws that she already suffered from, if mildly, she thought it very prudent. It was up to the others to make their choices and suffer the consequences. She just hoped those consequences didn't end up being to the detriment of all.

She felt a niggling thread of apprehension wend its way up her spine. The Ascension Device was too much power for any one person to control, and maybe for any number to control. She watched and listened to those who wanted to use the device once more, her inhuman eyes narrowed with concern. They stated noble reasons for using the Device, but were those they only reasons they had, or did the thought of more power tempt them, even if they were unaware of it?

Ryan was a soldier, having a more powerful weapon was a tactical advantage that few would ever consider passing up. And Kyria, she said she had been... lessened stepping into this reality. Did she yearn for what she had lost, to reclaim her true heritage, to surpass it?

Yseult's lips tightened minutely as she stayed silent... and worried. It felt like a clock was inexorably ticking, ticking towards midnight. And when that clock struck twelve, the world would be irrevocably changed in a way no one could foresee.

The debate went back and forth for a time, but in the end Cam felt confident that it could be done with minimal risk and those interested in volunteering wouldn't be talked out of it.

It was Tinni that broke the tension by walking up and hugging Kyria in her wispy Asgard manner. "Thank you for doing this. It will save my people months which might mean the difference between winning and losing the war with the replicators. We are so few now compared to what we were before the war. I just hope that we are in time."

Ryan was the first test subject on the device, but before he could go the Asgard brought it out into the center of the room and surrounded it with clusters of sensors and other inscrutable devices. In the end only three people were allowed near it. Tinni since she wouldn't be effected, Cam because he was operating it and Ryan. Kyria had wanted to be first but since her physiology was different it was decided to go first with someone they knew it had already worked on.

Cam spent a few minutes discussing what changes Ryan would like to try and programming them into the device. In the end it was done and they were ready. Ryan stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone and light welled up through his hand and out to engulf the rest of his body. Unlike the previous uses of the device this seemed controlled and gentle. The light became brighter and brighter but never the blinding intensity that it had before. The biggest relief was that instead of the mind numbing pain that rendered the victim unconscious, there was merely a feeling of discomfort as though ants were crawling all over the person and under the skin. After a few minutes the light withdrew along with the itchy feeling and Ryan stood revealed looking exactly the same as he had before.

Cam looked cocky and definitely pleased. "See, told you it would work. Test out your changes Ryan and let us know how it feels."

Tinni interrupted, "Please, if we could first get Major Hawke to step into the scanner?" She ushered the soldier to the all too familiar round platform and waited for him to climb into it before activating the scan.

Ryan embraced the light as opposed to resisting it, allowing it to suffuse him with power again. He emerged from the machine looking the same as before, but he had a wry smile that belied something different. He could see in almost to perfect deail. He could hear the heartbeat of everyone in the room, and the light whine of the machinery. His pupils contracted and dialated as he looked around, as his eyes worked like a zoom lens on a camera. Qick expirimentation made him smile. He could see the entire electromagnetic spectrum, currently he was looking around in Infrared before switching to normal vision.

He looked to the scanner and in the blink of an eye he was standing in it, with no one having seen him cross the intervening space. "That's certainly new."

He looked over At Cam. "I'd say you proved correct with this one."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Declan was scared of the Device.

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

Gwyn had been examining the readings from Ryan's before and after scans during Cam and Dec's exchange. Finally he made up his mind and broke the pause that had followed Dec's last comment.
"Ok Cam, I trust you've got it under control now. I'll give it a go." He stepped over to the device and went into a huddle with Cam and Tinni as they discussed the changes he was thinking of and how they would go about it. Shortly Gwyn stepped back with a, "Ok, let's do it." and with a nod from Cam he reached out to the Device.

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

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

Gwyn winced at the headache induced by the flashing memories and stretched to help get rid of the fading tingly feeling. As he did so a huge grin spread across his face as understanding dawned upon him. He turned to Cam, "Well done, that seems to have worked out great."
%The scanner I presume?% he said to Tinni in Asgard as he turned and walked that way. Although the walk was short he could feel the headache fade away and one by one all the little muscle stresses and minor aches that everyone lives with day by day left his body as well. Stepping into the scanner he turned to watch the holo-display with new understanding or both the results and the Asgard labelling around it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calling up the medical data from the scans of the Specialists and the Device he starts looking into the approach to the problem that the Asgard have taken.
I hope they have considered the consequences of such a radical change in appearance. I wonder if the Gou'ald will acknowledge they are still the Asgard and honour their treaties together. Mind you they will still be too busy with the Replicators to bother the System Lords for a while.

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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