Chapter Text
"Unscheduled gate activation!" the controller on duty shouted above the blaring klaxons as the wormhole formed.
Immediately, a squad of marines took up position around the gateroom.
"It's Thor, sir," the controller stated unnecessarily as the small alien stepped through the wormhole and the still closed Iris.
"General Hammond," Thor greeted.
"Thor, it's been awhile, what can we do for you?"
"Yes General, it has. But this time, I am not here seeking assistance. The Asgard have made a discovery that concerns your planet."
Colonel Jack O'Neill chose that moment to arrive in the control room. "Thor, old buddy," he called out.
"O'Neill. General Hammond. If we could speak in a less public place. Perhaps my ship. I must show you something."
Before the General had finished nodding, Thor, O'Neill and Hammond were transported to a large cargo bay.
"This way," Thor motioned as he headed deep into the cargo bay.
"What is this?" Jack asked.
"This is difficult to explain. The Asgard authorities have apprehended a criminal. A collector."
"A Collector?" Hammond asked.
"A rogue Asgard."
"You have those?" Jack asked.
"Yes, few, but they cause grave damage."
The three walked down the cargo bay, between what could only be called exhibits. Each was encased in a glowing forcefield and held all manner of beings neither Jack nor Hammond recognized.
"Each one of these exhibits is a stasis chamber and within each are beings kidnapped from around the galaxy. Over 2000 were confiscated."
"2000?" Jack asked.
"Please don't tell me there is an exhibit of humans here."
"I'm sorry general, but there is. It's just a little further. It was one of the collector's favorite pieces."
"Pieces?"
"Yes O'Neill. He referred to them as his art."
"Sick."
"What do you propose to do with them, Thor?"
"We are returning most of the beings to their home planets."
"I sense a but coming on," Jack said.
"The collector has been collecting for centuries."
"How old is his human exhibit?" General Hammond asked.
"You may see for yourself in a moment. Thor stopped in front of a dark exhibit and pressed a few buttons on his console. "They are here."
Jack was the first to react, letting out a low whistle as he examined the men within the force field.
"Are they alive?" Hammond asked.
"Yes. They are in stasis. If they were removed from stasis, it would be, to them, as if no time passed."
"What do you propose to do with them?" Hammond asked.
"That was my question for you. They can be painlessly terminated, once the stasis field is removed."
"Kill them, you mean?" Jack wanted to know.
"Yes, O'Neill."
"Would they regain consciousness?" Hammond asked.
"They are conscious now, only frozen in time." Thor explained.
"Can they see us?"
"No, O'Neill. Time stopped for them the nanosecond the field was erected."
"What are you doing with the other exhibits?"
"They are being handled on an individual basis. Due to our relationship, I wanted to deliver this one to you and let you make the decision."
"We can't kill them, sir."
"But what are we going to do with them?"
"I guess bring them to the base. It's secure against... cowboys?"
"I have the coordinates and dates they were abducted from, if you would like them?"
"We'll take all of the information you have. You said there are over 2000 of these exhibits?"
"Yes general. You have four hours to ready yourselves to accept them. I cannot leave the stasis field in your possession and I must continue my mission."
"Understood, Thor."
"I hope this does not damage relations between us, O'Neill."
"You could have terminated them without us ever knowing about them."
"But they are sentient beings kidnapped by an Asgard. The choice was yours, not ours."
"But did we make the right one?" General Hammond asked softly.