5 A Terrifying Universe

"See you later, boss," the driver, Henry, said with a smile as I got out of the car, holding a plastic bag.

"Later, Henry," I forced a smile and said as I closed the door with a thud. "Have a good day."

"Yeah, you too." He waved and then drove off, leaving me alone in front of the tall red and pink neon motel sign.

I watched the car as it drove away along the busy road filled with cars, and when it disappeared from my view, I turned and walked toward the one-story motel.

Opening the door, I walked into the small, barely furnished brown-painted lobby and stepped to the small wooden counter on the left side of it.

Behind the counter was a nice-looking young woman with long brown hair, small amber-colored eyes framed by short dark eyebrows, a round fair face, and thin pink lips.

She was wearing a black top, tight denim jeans that failed to hide her curves, and a black choker wrapped around her white neck. She had all the right curves in the right places and a sizable bust emphasized by her top.

She was sucking on a lollipop while reading a fashion magazine, and as I paused before the counter, she didn't take her eyes off it as she asked with a bored and dry tone, "How can I help you?"

"I want a room," I was miffed by her tone, but I ignored it and said calmly, "How much for one night?"

"Twenty-five dollars," she answered succinctly, flipping a page.

"I'll be here for two," I nodded and withdrew a fifty dollar bill from the pocket of my black jeans and placed it on the counter.

"Sure," she remarked, her eyes still on the magazine, and took the money, slipping it into a cabinet. "Can I see some ID please?"

I almost winced at the question. I was hoping this was the kind of motel that didn't care about that sort of thing. Now, it was time to see if my people skills were the way I still remembered them.

"Yeah, about that," I scratched the back of my head and put on an innocent smile. "I was kinda hoping you'd do me a favor."

At my words, she finally withdrew her eyes from the magazine and looked at me, an eyebrow raising as she placed the magazine down.

"You see, I was camping and somehow, I forgot about it and carelessly left it in the woods," I said, scratching the back of my head to hide my embarrassment with a shy smile on my face. "I'd really appreciate it if you could look the other way, just this once. I promise I'll make it up to you," I pleaded with a cheesy smile, making sure to sound humble and desperate.

She didn't say anything and just sat there silently, staring at my face, with hers impassive.

This continued for a while, my smile almost breaking as I had a compulsion to just brainwash her, but I bit down that feeling and kept the shy smile on my face, staring back at the girl.

Just as I was about to get creeped out, she smirked, stood up from her seat to take a key from the key holder attached to the wall behind her, and then placed it on the counter, the smirk still playing on her face.

"I can help you out and look the other way but...," she said and paused for a few seconds, her voice soft and edgy. "I'd need something in return," she continued sneakily with her smirk.

I nodded seriously and smiled, "Of course, name your price." I expected this and I was ready to tip her any amount she wanted, as long as I could afford it of course.

"You'll have to take me out for dinner when I get off," her smirk turned into a coy smile and an eyebrow rose in surprise.

"For real?" I asked unsurely, my voice laced with surprise as I gave her a weird look. "You're sure that's what you want?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," she chuckled, gave me a once-over, and then nodded with a sly smile, one hand on her hips. "You interested in the deal or not?"

"I'm interested," I answered quickly with a smile before she became offended and had a change of heart. "When do you get off?"

"Eight," she informed with a satisfied smile and stretched out the key to me. "Don't be late," she reminded with a playful smile, but I could pick the thinly veiled threat in her tone.

"I won't," I took the key and nodded, my lips forming a grateful smile. "Thank you."

"Don't worry about it," she waved it off nonchalantly and sat down, grabbing her magazine with her left hand. "See you later, handsome," she flashed me a wave.

Nodding at her with a smile on my face, I glanced at the room number etched on the key and walked toward the end of the corridor.

I reached it in no time and inserting the key into the doorknob, I twisted it, pushed it open, and stepped into the room. A small dim cream-painted room met me as I entered.

It was moderately furnished with two chairs, a small table, a television, and a small, well-laid bed on the left side of the room in front of the west wall.

There was a door on my right, on the east wall, which could only lead to the bathroom, and there were open-curtained blinders on the wall near the bed that allowed the rays of the sun to filter into the room.

All in all, it was a nice and surprisingly clean room, something I didn't really expect from a cheap motel such as this. Until I got more cash, this room would have to do for now.

I locked the door, moved to the bed, and placed the plastic bag on it, then rummaged through it to take out a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a towel, and a bathing sponge.

They were things I bought using some of the money I 'borrowed' from Henry after we stopped at a gas station in Red Lodge to refuel his truck before we came to Livingston, where this motel was.

It was there I had the opportunity to clean myself a bit using the restroom and throw away my clothes, changing into the red and black flannel shirt, black jeans, and black loafers I was wearing, borrowing them from Henry's luggage.

One day, after settling down, I'd have to remind myself to look for him and pay back all the things I'd borrowed. It was just the right thing to do.

Slipping out of my clothes, I removed the Harakesh from my left hand and hid it under the bed, then taking the items, I immediately stepped into the bathroom.

It took a little over thirty minutes before I was comfortable enough with the state of my body to step out of the shower after brushing my teeth.

With my body and hair wet, a white towel wrapped around my waist, I stood in front of the mirror attached to the wall above the sink and examined my body through my reflection.

I had a tall, lean, and slightly buff athletic body toned pretty much everywhere. I had a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones, almond-shaped grey eyes framed by thin dark sharp eyebrows, an aquiline nose, a pale complexion, thin pink lips, and a bright blond straight hair that fell gently on my wet shoulders.

I was handsome, and not to sound narcissistic, but I was charming, devastatingly so. It was almost unreal. But I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Orion made absolutely sure it looked this way.

The Goa'uld were like that. They loved 'perfect' host bodies. They would take a handsome or beautiful person as a host, and then further improve or perfect it by the use of a Sarcophagus, cosmetics, and their own innate healing ability.

The result of these enhancements was right before me. A healthy, strong, flawless, and unblemished body that would make most females blush with just a look.

And I was benefiting from it. I'd make sure to thank Orion and his Ancestors some other time when I'd decided not to curse their names and awful their guts.

Frowning as some thoughts flashed in my mind, I turned around and walked out of the bathroom. Closing the blinders, I wiped myself clean and wore my clothes.

I removed the Harakesh from under the bed, slipped it into my left hand, and now feeling comfortable and safe, I plopped down on the bed, elbows on my thighs as I relaxed under the ceiling fan and delved into my thoughts.

It was time to think. Time to plan my next steps and decide my course of action. First, I'd list down what I knew or had uncovered.

The most important fact I knew was that I was in the Stargate universe, on Earth. The date was April 3, 1984, twelve to thirteen years before the plot began.

I was in the body or host of Orion, an Ashrak, with all his memories and the genetic memory of the Goa'uld.

And lastly, I was screwed. Why? Because I was in Stargate. A universe filled with parasitic and egomaniac galactic overlords who destroy civilizations for fun, space vampires who see humans as cattle, powerful insect-like machines who only wanted to devour and replicate, mysterious planet builders, and God-like cosmic entities who basically wanted everyone to worship them.

When it was just a TV show, I absolutely loved it, but now that it was reality, I couldn't even laugh. This universe, no, this galaxy alone was wild and terrifying.

Worst of all, I could be in any of the infinite alternate realities or dimensions that made up the Stargate multiverse, and that alone was enough to freak me out.

After all, I could be in a universe where the Goa'uld were just months away from bombarding Earth from orbit and conquering it to enslave the planet again.

A universe where the Asgard had been defeated by the Replicators, giving them free passage into the Milky Way.

A universe where the Ori already knew of the Milky Way and were already on their way to launch their crusade, or alternately, a universe where the Wraith knew the location of Earth.

Or... a universe where Senator Kinsey was already president of the United States. It was a thought that made me shudder, a shiver running down my cold spine.

The possibilities were endless, and the more I thought about it, the more somber and serious I became. This universe, regardless of which one I was in, was dangerous, frightening to be exact.

I had no plot armor to save me like O'Neil and the rest of the main characters had in the plot. If I wanted to live and survive till the end, there was only one thing I could do.

I had to gain power, become strong and powerful enough that whoever came my way, whether human, Asgardian, Wraith, The Tokra, the Ori, and even the bastards that called themselves the Goa'uld wouldn't stand a chance.

Power was the only currency in this Galaxy and universe, and if I wanted to do something with my new life, I had to get enough of it. Else, it wouldn't be long before I found myself in the grave, and I wasn't counting on a third chance.

The good news was, I had something to help me, an advantage to tip the scales in my favor. I knew the future.

I had an idea of what was going to happen, and I had enough knowledge to jump-start my own interstellar civilization if I wanted to. And I was going to abuse the hell out of it to ensure my safety.

Suddenly, my stomach grumbled loudly, breaking me out of my thoughts. Releasing a sigh as images of large fries, huge burgers, and crispy chicken wings started popping up in my mind, I stood up and walked to the door.

But before all that could be accomplished, I had to eat something because Boy, was I starving...