Tython and Sam Carter

Chapter 4: Who is Sam Carter?

Sam's best friend was with her, and she was not from Earth. Even though they found her on the planet Hanka — which Stargate Command designated it as P8X-987, no one knew what planet she originated from. When Major Sam Carter found her, Cassandra was 12 years old by Earth standards.

"When are you going to talk to me?"

Sam gave a fake smile and asked, "What do you want me to say?"

"What is bothering you? I saw something eating inside you the moment I looked at you."

She sighed, "Nothing is upsetting me. It is just I don't know who I am anymore."

She looked disappointed at her, "You know, knucklehead."

"Who am I, then?"

She huffed, "You are Sam Carter. The person who saved my life. Whom you will become — whatever — is what is scaring you — I think."

"I have already changed in ways you could never know."

She smiled, "I bet you can morph into many creatures for one."

With a humongous shock on her face, "How did you know?"

"Jack told me for one, but if he didn't, I would have figured it out on my own." She paused, "I saw you wanting to be a chipmunk."

Sam's smile stretched wide, revealing a flash of pointed incisors that seemed to come from nowhere. Her body convulsed slightly, and a ripple of fur flowed down her arms, replacing her smooth skin. Her fingers shrank and transformed into tiny, clawed paws. The change raced up her torso, shrinking her chest and rippling her clothes until they resembled a loose chipmunk-sized jacket. Her legs thinned and shortened, fur erupting along them. Finally, the transformation reached her head. Her nose pushed forward, turning into a tiny black button, and her ears elongated on top of her head. A bushy brown tail flicked into existence behind her. In a blink, the laughing human girl was replaced by a wide-eyed, twitchy-nosed chipmunk perched on the armrest. Cassandra, barely fazed by the transformation, gently scooped up the chipmunk-Sam and placed her on her shoulders. Then, with a contented sigh, Cassandra settled down on the bench.

Moments later, Sam asked, "How did you know I wanted to be a chipmunk?"

"I knew you. At first, I didn't know, but here you are around my neck."

Sam got upset, "Unless you want me to transform into a boa constrictor, and wring your neck, you better tell me!"

With no expression on her face, Cassandra said, "I'm not worried about you hurting me."

It took a moment, but Sam replied, "I won't hurt you, but I need to know how you knew I can morph without Jack telling you."

"Okay... okay. It wasn't easy, but after examining you, there was something not right. It was when the wind was blowing, your clothes weren't moving as they should."

As she was walking on the back of Cassandra's shoulders, she said, "You will have to do better than that — sweetie. I made sure my clothes were the same."

She smiled and admitted the truth, "It was Jack all along, but I wasn't one bit surprised. That was why it terrified me to be with you the first time we met. I thought Nirrti learned to morph. That was her interest in genetic manipulation to so many — including me."

"You admitted it."

"Bloody hell! You knew what I was thinking all along?"

"Yes, I did. I made sure Jack told you everything about what I can do and all — that I know about, but I made sure he didn't tell you I can read minds." She paused, "I knew something troubled you still... from... the witch that took you."