Chapter Text
Sunlight streamed through the linen curtains, casting soft golden hues across the wooden floors. The distant sound of birds chirping mixed with the rhythmic clatter of Riitta preparing breakfast downstairs. The familiar scent of fresh bread and brewed tea filled the house, a comforting start to yet another Swedish summer morning.
Madeline groaned, stretching lazily beneath the thin sheets. The air was already warm, and she knew today would be another scorcher. Pulling on her pajama pants and slipping on her glasses, she padded downstairs barefoot.
“God morgon.”
Riitta glanced up from buttering a slice of toast, smiling as she set a steaming cup of tea on the table.
“God morgon, Maddie.”
Maddie inhaled the warm, floral aroma before taking a sip. “Mm. You always make it just right.”
“Sleep well?”
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “For the most part. But I had those weird dreams again.”
Riitta frowned. “Again?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I wonder what they mean.”
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t know. Mom says it’s just my overactive imagination, but considering I’m turning twenty-eight in two weeks, I feel like I can’t use that excuse anymore.”
Riitta chuckled, shaking her head. “Probably not.”
Before Maddie could respond, a sharp knock at the front door interrupted their conversation. Maddie frowned. Visitors were rare, especially this early. Riitta wiped her hands on a dishtowel and moved toward the entrance.
Maddie, meanwhile, remained at the table, absentmindedly doodling in the newspaper’s margins. Her pen traced the same symbol she had seen in her dreams—an upside-down ‘V’ with a small circle hovering above it. It always appeared in her mind’s eye, but she had no idea why.
“Madeline,” Riitta called, her voice laced with surprise. “There are two men here to see you. One is wearing a military uniform.”
Maddie’s heart skipped. What?
Setting her tea down, she quickly stood, smoothing her tank top. As she entered the foyer, her breath hitched. Two men stood just inside the doorway, their presence almost surreal.
One wore a dark green button-up, jeans, and a brown leather jacket. His neatly combed brown hair and wire-rimmed glasses gave him an intellectual air. The other man, however, radiated authority. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and clad in an unmistakable U.S. Air Force uniform.
The uniformed man stepped forward. “Madeline North?”
She hesitated before nodding. “Yes?”
“I’m General Jack O’Neill. This is Dr. Daniel Jackson. We need to speak with you for a moment.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes, everything is fine,” O’Neill assured her. “Can we come in?”
Maddie glanced at Riitta, who gave a subtle nod before stepping aside. “Oh—yes! Sorry, please come in. I, uh… I wasn’t expecting company.”
“It’s alright, ma’am,” O’Neill said as they followed her into the dining room.
“Would you like some coffee?” she offered, trying to suppress the unease curling in her stomach.
“Coffee would be wonderful,” O’Neill replied with an easy smile.
Daniel declined politely, but his gaze remained sharp, assessing.
In the kitchen, Riitta grabbed Maddie’s arm. “What do they want?”
“I don’t know yet,” she whispered. “I offered them coffee so I could calm my nerves a bit.”
Riitta handed her the general’s cup. “Take your tea, too.”
Maddie reentered the dining room, handing O’Neill his mug. The two men had remained standing, a sign that this was no casual visit.
“Here you are, General.”
O’Neill took a sip, then raised an eyebrow. “That’s damn good coffee.”
Maddie smirked. “You’re in the Air Force, right?”
He paused mid-sip. “How did you—?”
“My grandfather and two uncles were in the Air Force. My stepmother’s younger brother is a fighter pilot. I know Air Force when I see it. And they all drink their coffee black—stronger and darker, the better.”
Daniel chuckled, while O’Neill grinned. “Smart. And yeah, you’re right.”
“Flattered as I am,” Maddie said, setting her tea down, “I know you didn’t fly all the way to Sweden just to compliment my coffee. So… why are you here?”
O’Neill’s expression turned serious. “We want to offer you a job.”
Maddie blinked. “A… job? You flew across the Atlantic to offer me a job?”
“It’s not just any job.”
She folded her arms. “I don’t follow.”
Daniel leaned forward slightly. “We have a base in Antarctica. We’ve recently excavated something… unexpected.”
“Are you an archaeologist?”
“One of the best,” O’Neill quipped.
Daniel sighed. “Most of my research is classified, which is probably why you haven’t heard of me.”
Maddie gave him a skeptical look. “Uh-huh… And what do you need me for?”
“You’re a linguist. You can read and write ancient Egyptian, correct?”
“Yes. My doctorate thesis was on it. But I don’t see how that’s relevant unless you’re telling me there are hieroglyphs in Antarctica.”
Neither man said a word.
Maddie scoffed. “You cannot be serious.”
“We are,” Daniel said calmly.
She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her messy hair. “Listen, gentlemen, I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to decline. You’re trying to tell me that the ancient Egyptians—what?—worshiped aliens? This is too weird. I feel like I’m on Scare Tactics or something. So, thank you, but no thank you.”
O’Neill sighed. “Alright. Didn’t want to do this, but…” He pulled out a radio. “Daedalus, go ahead.”
“Go ahead with wh—?”
Before Maddie could finish, a brilliant flash of light engulfed her. A split second later, the dining room vanished.
When her vision cleared, she gasped.
She was no longer in Sweden.
A massive observation window loomed before her, revealing the breathtaking curvature of Earth below. The vibrant blues and whites of the planet stretched endlessly, impossibly beautiful.
Her breath hitched. “Oh my god…”
“Yeah,” O’Neill said from behind her. “People usually don’t believe us until they see that view.”
Maddie turned slowly, heart hammering. “What the hell just happened?”
“You got beamed aboard Daedalus,” O’Neill said matter-of-factly.
Maddie swallowed. “And… you really are the Air Force? Or are you Aliens?”
“Yes to Air Force and No I was born in Chicago.”
“And Daniel?”
“Human,” he said, then added with a smirk, “Though some people debate that.”
Maddie exhaled, her pulse still racing. “Why me?”
O’Neill folded his arms. “Because not only are you one of the brightest archaeologists in the world—don’t tell Daniel I said that—but we checked your medical records. We believe you have a special gene that allows you to access alien technology.”
Her mouth went dry. “What?”
“We’ll explain later,” O’Neill said. “Right now, we need you to pack your things. If you’re coming, we need you first thing in the morning.”
Maddie turned back to the window, staring at Earth in stunned silence.
She had a choice to make.
And she already knew what it would be.