Colonel Samantha Carter (samanthacarter) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2023-03-19 20:41:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !closed, !log, [plot] replicators, six (littlesix), ~2023 march, ~jack o'neill (jack_youbetcha), ~~~ samantha carter (samanthacarter) |
Who: RepliCarter, Six, & Jack O'Neill
What: more creepy robot things
Where: Carter/O'Neill home
When: After this
Warnings: creepy robot things
Status: complete gdoc
After her encounter with Daniel Jackson, Carter was more determined than ever to understand the woman in whose image she had been made. Finding the home that Samantha shared with O’Neill and their daughter was no challenge for the replicator, nor did she need a key to enter their domicile. She looked around the living room, studying the pictures of people and events that the humans wished to remember. Some faces were familiar, others were not, but the positive emotions radiating from the photographs did spark something inside of her.
She was so entranced by what she found that she did not immediately hear the younger human enter the room.
*
School today had been pretty uneventful for Six. It was one of those boring days that not even recess or lunch made it any more interesting. She was definitely glad when the day was over so she could go home and play with Poptart and Pichu. Or watch a movie with them and maybe Sam and Jack.
But first, she stopped by the bakery and grabbed some cookies. She was eating one as she entered the house, setting her backpack down and taking off her jacket before she went into the living room to watch some tv. There, she spotted Sam who seemed to be looking at some pictures.
"Hey, Sam," Six greeted her guardian. "What are you doing?"
*
Carter turned and studied the small human with curiosity. Her human counterpart had very fond feelings for the girl. Fifth thought that it meant something that Samantha had a child called Six.
“Why don’t you call her mother?” she asked. Though she did not experience the feelings, she knew that Samantha considered them maternal. They were much like the ones she recalled the woman having for the girl Cassandra.
*
Six was about to approach Sam to get a closer look and see what she was looking at. But then she spoke and the way Sam referred to herself in third person made Six stop in her tracks. That was weird. She never heard Sam talk like that before.
She stayed where she was, not taking her eyes off her guardian. Or who she thought was her guardian anyway. "I don't know," she said quietly.
*
“She would like it if you did,” Carter said, though she did not understand the difference in designations. Machines simply existed and the need to name everything around them was one of the many things she did not understand about humans.
Though she was well aware of how fragile humans were, Carter found herself surprised when she realized that this small one was far more delicate than the others she had encountered. “It seems you require much more care than those I have previously met.”
*
Six was aware of that. And someday, she would call Sam and Jack Mom and Dad. But not at the moment and she had no idea when she would. She certainly was starting to have those feelings towards them. Luckily, both were understanding and patient and never asked why she hadn't yet.
Before she could respond, Poptart came bounding down the stairs. The dog was happy to see Six but when she saw Sam, she started growling at her. Six had already been suspicious by the way her guardian was talking, but Poptart growling solidified it for her. The dog never growled at Sam before.
"Who are you?" Six asked. There was also a silent question of 'what are you?' in there as well.
*
Jack hadn’t been scheduled to return home until later, but Daniel’s message to him had Jack dropping everything and making a beeline for home. He wasn’t exactly a religious guy, but he did find himself thanking the universe when he wasn’t pulled over for driving above the speed limit to get to home quicker.
He opened the door as quietly as he could and had to control himself when he heard the growling. Barging in like a madman would get him nowhere, though he was thankful he kept a gun locked away at work.
Jack slowly entered the kitchen, gun in his hand, but not pointing anywhere just yet. He looked at Carter, then to Six and Poptart briefly before his eyes moved back to Sam. “Everyone okay?” He asked slowly, mostly to Six.
–
The appearance of the loud creature confounded Carter and she was staring at it in confusion when the girl asked who she was. Before she could answer, O’Neill made his presence known. Of course he did. “O’Neill,” she said by way of greeting. “We are having a conversation.”
She noticed the gun in his hand and moved her own hand to the weapon at her hip.
*
Poptart managed to get in front of Six, guarding her from Not-Sam. The young girl backed away slowly, almost to the door and she briefly thought about running out the door. But she didn't get the chance as Jack suddenly showed up. He didn't seem to be acting weird like Sam and Six was relieved that it was really him.
She quickly got behind Jack. "I don't think that's Sam," she told him, peering at Not-Sam from behind Jack.
*
“Don’t.” He warned about her weapon. While he’d be happy enough to shoot her at the moment, he had Six to think about. Right now he just wanted to make sure Six was safe.
“It’s not. You’re right.” But since this Carter knew his name, Daniel’s suspicions were true. This had to be the human replicator. “When did you get here?”
–
Carter smiled, a creepy expression since there was no warmth in it and it didn’t meet her eyes. It was merely a turning up of the corners of her mouth. “I have been here quite some time,” she said. “And I am not alone.” She wasn’t going to mention Fifth by name though.
“You care for the small human like Samantha does,” she observed.
*
Six had seen plenty of creepy things back home, so she wasn't bothered by the strange smile. Still, she didn't like looking at Not-Sam and instead turned her attention to Jack, tugging on his sleeve.
"So who is she then?" she asked him, ignoring Not-Sam. Again, there was also a question of 'what is she?' because in her experience with living in Madison Valley for as long as she has, she knew Not-Sam could not be human at all but some other creature.
*
“I do.” Jack decided to answer RepliCarter’s question and not ask about who or what. He had to assume there were more Replicator bugs out there. He really hoped this was the only human-looking one.
Without taking his eyes off of RepliCarter, Jack reached down with his free hand and placed it over Six’s hand briefly. “She’s an enemy from home. One that we already killed.” His eyes narrowed a little, wanting to make a point.
“Where’s Sam?” This was directed back at Carter replica.
–
“I am unaware of her current whereabouts,” Carter said. “Though I am certain she is not being harmed.” For a given definition of ‘harm’. Fifth wasn’t likely to torment the other woman physically, but from an emotional and mental standpoint, anything was possible.
She was still fascinated by the interaction between O’Neill and the child. As much as she wished to understand it, she knew that her presence was not going to be tolerated much longer. “If I see her, I will let her know you asked.”
That said, she headed towards the door, though she kept her eyes on Jack so he couldn’t shoot her in the back as she walked out.
*
Six was definitely wanting Not-Sam to go away already. She either hoped Jack would shoot her (he did say they'd killed her before) or that she'd just leave. Both would be fine with her and she simply stood silently, wondering what Jack would decide to do.
*
The problem was Jack knew his sidearm wasn’t going to do much against a human replicator which was entirely frustrating because he would have killed the fake Carter right then and there, even if he’d be worried afterwards about Six seeing that. Right now, though, Jack’s paternal instincts took over and he simple moved while the replicator moved in order to keep himself between RepliCarter and Six.
Once she left, he went to the door and locked it, even if he also logically knew had she wanted to break down the door, she could. Once it was locked, he let out a breath briefly before turning and walking back to Six, crouching. “Are you okay?” Also he’d have to give the dog some treats too.
–
Six was glad Not Sam decided to leave instead of staying. Hopefully she'd stay away from now on as well. Six wasn't in any hurry to see her again.
It was only after Poptart stopped growling that she nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied as she petted the dog. Knowing both Jack and Poptart were here comforted her a little.
*