AN:1 Well, here we go again. As usual I've no idea where this is going to go so it's gonna be bun for all of us…at least I hope so.
AN:2 I've been thinking about it after I finished Sin City Seer and realized I dropped the ball somewhere big, and that's with Dawn. First of all, she's a magical Key. Which might seem trivial until we remember that she's performed not one but TWO powerful spells. One to raise her mom in season five, and another to "save her" from the First in Season Seven. The girl's got power and there's no way the others wouldn't see to it that she had training in using it…at least eventually. So Dawn's got some power and training that wasn't revealed in the first story. Don't worry I'm not going to go nuts with it, but I do think it's logical and hey, it might prove useful later on down the road.
Colonel Jack O'Neill, that's with emtwo/em l's thank you very much, was not a happy camper. The cause, or rather causes of his irritation were numerous today. That was saying something for a guy who's usual concerns, when he wasn't saving the world from self-important snakes with delusions of godhood was whether or not the cafeteria had blue jello.
His problems had started out when Carter had told him that someone was trying to hack into the SGC computers. From what little he'd listened to when Carter and the other eggheads were trying to explain it to him the SGC computers should be so well hidden behind fire walls and server…things as to be near on invisible to the general public. So for someone to have even found them was immediate cause for concern.
That concern had quickly multiplied when it was apparent that whoever was trying to get in was very good. If Carter's machine gun speed typing on the computer was any indication, the person was not just good but persistent and Carter was doing everything she could to both keep them out and try to track them down.
Then the coup de grace, was the one two punch of the person not only getting in to their computers and getting access to a ton of classified information, but said person then all but telling them that they'd be seeing them soon.
A bold statement that was apparently closer to the truth than anyone had suspected when the President called for the General not even five minutes later.
*****
If anyone was having a worse day than Jack it was General Hammond. The president had told him straight up that he was to expect visitors to the mountain. That yes, one of the visitors was the person that had invaded their computers and that said person could very well be bringing guests with them and that the entire party was to be given every courtesy and that every question about the Stargate, its operation, and personnel were to be answered, no questions asked.
General Hammond hated being in the dark and he knew that Jack hated it even more. That's why he had called a meeting together of SG-1 and some other key personnel to discuss the impending visit and how they would handle it. General Hammond wasn't considering disobeying his Commander in Chief, but you didn't reach the rank of General without knowing how to sometimes do some creative interpretation of orders.
General Hammond looked around the conference room and said, "That's the situation people. Anyone have anything to say?"
He asked the question to the room in general but was looking right at Jack as he asked it. Not one to disappoint Jack cleared his throat and said, "I'm not clear exactly on why were being ordered to basically open the base to a bunch of unknowns, who I'm going to assume are civilians without knowing anything about them."
"We're doing it, Colonel, because the president told us to," Hammond explained clearly but not unkindly.
Jack met his Commanding Officer's eyes and said, "I understand that General, but I'm going to ask the question no one else wants to and that is, are we sure the President hasn't been compromised in some way?"
"Are you suggesting blackmail of some sort colonel," Hammond asked.
Jack shrugged and said, "It's something we should consider, isn't it? I mean the President knows how serious security is to an operation like this and suddenly he's asking us to do this. It just doesn't seem in character with the man, sir."
General Hammond considered that for a second and said, "I've known the President for a long time, and I don't think he'd do something like this without a damn good reason. The President understands how important security and secrecy are to a command like this and if he wants to share with these people I have to believe it's for a damn good reason, Colonel."
The implications of that statement were obvious to everyone; the President was a man that could do the things others couldn't if that's what it took.
"Ok," Jack asked, "so then why is he doing this?"
No one could come up with a ready answer until Daniel said, "Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe the President is letting these people come here because they can help us?"
Everyone looked at Daniel and he cleared his throat and said, "Well, what I mean is the general's right, the President does know how important secrecy is for the SGC, and yet he obviously wants us to be real cooperative with these people. Maybe he's trying to get them to help us. Maybe even join us?"
"Oh come on Daniel what help could they be to us," Jack asked irritably.
"He may have a point sir," Carter said, looking to the general who nodded for her to continue.
"The person that hacked into the computers was absolutely amazing. Considering they were probably using standard earth based technology what they did should have been impossible. There's no telling how much a person like that could help with our computer technology if they got access to some of the computer equipment we have here."
"Right," Jack said, "No telling. What if they decide to try and blow us all up?"
"I do not believe that GeneralHammond would allow such a thing to occur O'Neill," Teal'c said nodding his head slightly to the man he was speaking to.
Jack just looked at him and said, "I wasn't being literal T, I'm just saying. I don't like the unknown."
Teal'c turned his head to the side slightly and said, "Is it not our mission to travel through the Stargate for the express purpose of discovering the unknown?"
Jack opened his mouth to retort but suddenly found himself without anything to say. He hated it when Teal'c was so damn insightful, and logical.
"The issue is settled in any case," Hammond said, effectively ending the debate, "the President wants us to cooperate and that's what we're going to do. However if these people try to ask questions that go too far into a personal nature then I'll inform the President that we're not comfortable exposing ourselves to potential threats without some level of trust."
Jack seemed at least somewhat mollified by that, but said, "Do you think he'll go for that sir? Technically he can order us to do whatever he wants and we have to cooperate."
Hammond considered that for a moment then said, "I have to believe that the President is still the same man that he was when I knew him, and that he's fair, Colonel."
Jack nodded, reluctantly.
Hammond nodded and stood, "Dr. Frasier will handle the medical examination when our guests arrive. After that we'll see where we stand. That's all people. You'll be informed of any further developments, dismissed."
Everyone but Jack and his team moved quickly out of the conference room to return back to their duties. Hammond had no doubt that the rumor mill would be churning full steam as the time for their visitor's arrival got closer, but there wasn't much he could do about that. Even General's were helpless in the face of a good rumor.
After everyone was gone Hammond said, "Colonel I'm going to want you and SG-1 to handle liaison duties for our guests. I'm not sure how many will be arriving so I'll want you all on duty."
Jack nodded, "Yes sir."
Hammond's features softened slightly and he said, "And Colonel, try not to ostracize them right off the bat."
"I make no promises, sir," Jack smirked slightly.
Hammond just shook his head and went into his office.
Jack looked around his team and said, "I don't know what's going on but until I want you guys to watch these people like a hawk. I don't care who they are, or what the President thinks they can and can't offer us. I don't like being bullied by anyone."
SG-1 all nodded their agreement and they went their separate ways to prepare for whatever was about to occur.
*****
"Tell me again, why I'm going," Dawn said as Xander and Willow finished packing their carryon bags.
One of the advantages of hopping around the globe putting out apocalyptic fires, even if they were usually proverbial ones, was that you learned to pack light. Both Xander and Willow had learned to go days with nothing but what could be carried onto a plane as carryon luggage. Of course in those situations they didn't usually fly commercial, or even private, preferring to travel as Andrew called it Wiccan Air.
Of course Xander had told the annoying man that if he made that stupid joke one more time he was going to have his insides on his outsides.
The point was that they both had learned the fine art of packing only the essentials.
In this case the essentials didn't include a whole lot of weaponry so it made packing just a little easier. Not that they wouldn't be prepared in the eventuality that they needed weapons. Already arranging for whatever they might need to be placed in a circle that Willow could easily find and access, bringing weapons to them if need be.
The decision to go without weapons in the beginning had be Xander's. He had explained that it wasn't likely they'd have permission to carry weapons anyway, regardless of the President giving them the clearance to enter what was one of the most secured military installations in the world.
Instead they were keeping it simple. Xander was going to be the only one armed in the conventional sense, carrying one of his .45's.
Dawn and Willow would go unarmed, since this was a meet and greet, not an offensive.
Willow looked at Dawn and said, "Because other than me you're the only one that's got the science background to understand what we're going to find."
"And I'd still like to know what the big secret is that you don't want to tell us," Dawn said, a slight glint in her eye.
"I know, and I'm not trying to be all cloak and dagger, it's just that this stuff makes the President nervous and I hate when we do that. He's been incredibly cooperative with the Council and the last thing we want is to take advantage of his cooperation," Willow explained.
She watched as Xander carried the luggage out to the waiting limo, still sometimes amazed at just how good financially they all finally had it. All it cost them was a lifetime of life threatening situations.
"Willow," Dawn said, as if she were talking to a small child, "you do remember that you are the science expert, not me. I can barely remember any of the science stuff you insisted I learn early on in my training, and I'm nowhere near as science oriented as you. My gift is languages, not test tubes."
"The point is," Willow said, "that you did take it. I told you then that science and magic aren't as separate as people like to believe and if you wanted to have a solid understanding of magic and your own power you needed to have a grasp on science. I know you're smart enough for me to bounce suggestions and ideas off of; besides, the only person better than Xander at sniffing out trouble is you."
Dawn smiled at the compliment, and said, "That's usually because I fall right into it."
Willow's face darkened slightly at that. It was the truth however that Dawn seemed as much a magnet for trouble as Xander was. The difference was that unlike Xander, and even with Buffy and Faith training her, Dawn still was a somewhat easy target against the things that wanted to harm Buffy and the rest of them through a weakness, no matter what that weakness was.
It was because of that fact, and after much debate, and arguing, and more than a little screaming it had finally been decided that Dawn would need to learn how to defend herself in a more unconventional sense.
Willow had begun her magical training the very next day. Dawn had taken to the training in a way that reminded Willow of herself when she'd been young. As it turned out Dawn had an incredible well of power that could someday rival the most powerful magic users on Earth. emIf/em she learned to use it and control it.
Not really surprising considering her the very nature of her existence. Still it had been somewhat worrisome to the redheaded witch that as powerful as Dawn might be, she was still at her core still a very young woman.
Willow had been determined to not let Dawn fall into the same traps that she had and had kept a tight rein on Dawn's training and complimenting her other studies whenever possible.
That was a year after Sunnydale fell and now two years into her training Dawn had power on reserve that would scare Willow if she didn't know for a fact that the young brunette had the training, will, and control such power demanded.
Willow also knew that Dawn's memories of Willow's descent into addiction were just one more way of ensuring that the young woman never abused her powers. Dawn considered them a gift, just as she considered every day she was alive a gift and not something she was going to squander.
In fact so tight was her control that after the confrontation with Jack at the Hyperion Xander had asked Dawn why she hadn't tried to use magic during the attack and she had said that she knew there wasn't any point since if Willow couldn't hurt him using it there was no point in her trying. Willow and Xander had both been very proud of her simple and pragmatic answer.
Willow shook the thoughts away and tried to cover as in response to Dawn's comment she said, "Well that's true, trouble does seem to follow you but that's not why we wanted you along. The truth is we haven't seen you in a while and our last vacation got messed up. And if it hadn't been you the only other option would have been to invite Andrew and I didn't think Xander would agree with that idea." The last part was said in a conspiratorial whisper and grin that was far too loud to really be secretive.
"Don't even emjoke/em about that," Xander said as he came back into the room. Meaning the comment had had its desired effect and both women broke out into laughter.
Willow's laugher settled into a giggle at the disgusted look on Xander's face. Truth was that Andrew had come a long way from the geek that had lived most of his life in a fantasy world. He'd grown up and matured under the weight of responsibility that went hand in hand with being a Watcher.
Like everyone else he'd stumbled more than a few times along the way, but he was truly a responsible man now that more than pulled his own weight. Of course he was still a sci-fi junky and that would never change.
Strangely enough Willow didn't think any of them would have wanted that to change.
"Ok," Xander said, "We're ready. The jet's waiting for us and we should be in Colorado in a few hours. Are you ready, now to tell us what's really going on?"
Willow looked shocked and said, "I don't know what you mean."
She really tried to look as honest and innocent as she could but even she could tell that she was failing on that score miserably.
Xander just smiled at her and patter her arm, "You know you really suck at lying to me Wills."
Willow blushed and looked away.
"You've been different since L.A. Not bad, different, in fact good different, and I'm happy for you really, but I'm still cautious. You and Giles and the rest were so ready to be there for me if my integration would have turned against me. I want to be here for you now if this…whatever it is, turns against you. But I can't be there for you if I don't know what it is."
Willow considered his words and her heart swelled with love. Then a thought hit her, "If you're all so worried about this then why aren't Buffy or Giles here with you?"
"I'm not worried," Dawn said, "I told them there was nothing to worry about."
Xander shrugged, "Yes she did, so we had a talk and decided it wouldn't be fair to gang up on you, especially if you're happy. I'm sure the other two are sitting by the phone ready to have the Coven port them over if we need them but I convinced them that this wasn't something that required a full on Scooby intervention."
Willow nodded as her thoughts turned over in her head. Finally she nodded and pulled out a file and handed it to Xander.
"What's this," he asked as he took the thick file.
"This is what I've been researching. It's what the big secret was. It's all about the military project that we're being let into and what they've been doing," she explained.
Xander sighed as he took the file, "Why do I get the feeling that we're going to be pulling someone's fat out of the fire, again."
"No," Willow interrupted, "it's not like that. These people save the world Xan, just like we do. They've done it a lot."
Xander raised his eyebrow at that and then nodded, "I'll read it on the plane."
He looked over at Dawn and said, "You ready short stuff?"
Dawn just scowled at him and said, "You know that was cute when I was like fifteen, but it's not so cute anymore, now it's just annoying."
Xander just grinned at her and Dawn groaned as she realized that she'd just doomed herself to the nickname for a good long while.
As she watched the two head out of the house Willow stopped to admire how wonderful it was to have family, and then began to worry about how they would react to what really happened under Cheyenne Mountain.
*****
Senator Robert Kinsey was pissed. Nothing had been going right for him lately.
First he'd fallen out of favor with the people of the Trust. That alone was enough to make a man nervous, as the Trust didn't take failure to well.
They'd given him a chance to make amends and set him up for a run as the vice president but that had been screwed up thanks to Col. O'Neill at the SGC. The only reason the Trust hadn't punched his ticket yet was that he was able to get himself on the Senate Intelligence Sub-Committee. They believed he could still be useful there, but even that effort was stymied.
He'd done as they asked and attempted to wrestle control of the freaks known as "Slayers" from this so called Council and bring them under the control of the United States government where they belonged but was gummed up when the Senators that supported him suddenly changed their minds, overnight. Kinsey had no doubt that it was result of the individual that had broken into his house and told the senator in no uncertain terms that if anyone touched the Slayers they wouldn't find all the pieces of said person.
Kinsey had of course reacted in what he considered an appropriate manner; reporting the incident to the F.B.I. and to the President who'd basically told him to take the hint.
He couldn't believe that the President was basically condoning what was essentially a terrorist attack against Senators of the United States but apparently the President was more interested in good relations with these freaks than he was with the security of the nation.
That was a concept Robert Kinsey simply could not fathom.
As far as he was concerned the existence of the supernatural and these Slayers was proof that God existed. Therefore what possible reason could the Slayers exist but to serve the greatest nation on earth? One blessed by God himself?
These women and girls were simply too dangerous to be left without control and no nation held the moral authority to control them better than the United States.
Kinsey had no doubt that other nations, the enemies of the United States would use them to hurt the U.S. so therefore the U.S. emneeded/em to have them for defense.
Not to mention how useful they could be against the Goa'uld.
Instead of understanding and supporting this logical course of action the President issued an Executive Order basically forbidding any interference with the Slayers.
Kinsey had been fuming ever since.
His internal musings were interrupted by the beep of his phone, "Senator, there's a Mr. Smith here to see you."
Kinsey paled slightly but steadied himself and said, "Thank you Abigail, send him in."
Kinsey stood as the man entered wanting to appear relaxed. The man's shark like smile showed that he'd only accomplished acknowledging his fear of this man and what he represented.
"Sit down Robert," Mr. Smith said, arrogantly.
Kinsey sat and waited for the shoe to drop.
"We were wondering why you've yet to act on the information we gave you regarding the women known as 'Slayers', Robert," Mr. Smith said without preamble.
"I took steps to do so," Kinsey explained, somewhat hurriedly, "but someone invaded my home and threatened my life if I continued, and then the President issued an Executive Order banning any interference with them."
"Ah yes," Mr. Smith said, "young Mr. Harris. He is a thorn I will give him that."
"You know who this man is," Kinsey asked shocked.
"Of course, Robert," Mr. Smith said patronizingly, "we know who all the players are, big and small."
"If he's such a thorn," Kinsey asked, "then why is he still alive?"
"Because, Robert, even thorns have their uses," Mr. Smith explained, as if Kinsey was a child. The attitude grated on Kinsey's nerves to no end, but he swallowed the scathing remark on his tongue knowing full well to voice it could result in his tongue being cut out.
Mr. Smith smiled as if reading Kinsey's mind and said, "The point is Robert that we expected some interference that's why you were given the information personally, so you could use some of our more 'shady' elements to do what needs to be done. The Trust's sole purpose is to protect humanity, Robert. It is our entire mission. Sometimes that mission requires us to do things that are hard, things that other, weaker individuals like the president, cannot do. These Slayers offer us an unparalleled opportunity to protect both this planet and the people of this country. We cannot allow shortsightedness to interfere with that. The Trust has emalways/em had this goal in mind because America is the shining beacon that allows others to find their way in the dark."
Mr. Smith stared at Kinsey and said, "Who was this country created for, Robert?"
"God fearing Americans," Kinsey answered without question.
"That's right," Mr. Smith said, "we may desire profit, but our ultimate desire has always been to protect America, that's why we came to you, because we knew you shared the same desire."
Kinsey nodded, his convictions of the greatness of America being cultivated by this man.
"The point is Robert that these 'Slayers' are abominations. You know about the Supernatural as you were part of the Initiative. You know that evil, true evil exists. The Slayers were created by the abomination of witchcraft. We must put it under proper control lest it turn on us. These Slayers and this Council are a danger to America and the God fearing Americans of this country. You have to act Robert, especially if the President won't. Once you've gotten the Slayers under the proper control the President will understand the wisdom of this action."
Kinsey nodded, understanding. It's always easier to ask for forgiveness, than to beg for permission. Once they had Slayers serving America the President would be powerless to close Pandora's Box, and Kinsey would have the power he was due.
"Besides," Mr. Smith said, interrupting Kinsey's thoughts again, "The President's Order was that Slayers were not to be interfered with, but it said nothing about those that interfere with the security of the United States and with Mr. Harris and Ms. Rosenberg heading to the SGC, I'd say that's a clear threat to American security."
"What," Kinsey practically shouted.
"Yes," Mr. Smith said, "They're going to the SGC, apparently intent on letting them in on the supernatural and to get their hands into the Stargate Program. I cannot tell you how nervous that makes us. Can you imagine the damage someone like Rosenberg could do with the Stargate?"
Kinsey actually shuddered at that and said, "We can't let that happen," he said with conviction.
"Then take action, Robert. The Trust must protect this nation when no one else will."
Kinsey smiled at Mr. Smith and said, "You're right, I'll get on this immediately."
Mr. Smith stood as did Kinsey, "I want you to understand Robert, we know we haven't been fair to you recently. In our quest we have to be as ruthless as our enemies and sometimes good people get caught in the crossfire. We need you to understand however that the past is the past as far as we are concerned and we know how valuable you are to us and will be in the future. That fact is we need you Robert, and you'll never doubt that again. The Trust will reward you Robert, as we always have those that serve us well."
Mr. Smith shook Kinsey's hand and said, "Don't fail us, Robert, this is too important."
Kinsey nodded and walked Mr. Smith to the door. After the man left Kinsey went to his phone and made a phone call, he had work to do.
*****
Mr. Smith left the capitol building and climbed into the waiting limo at the curb. As he settled into the seat and the limo pulled away from the curb Mr. Smith's eyes flashed as he turned to the other occupant that seemed literally cloaked in darkness and said, "The fool is going to move on the Slayers, and the Red Witch." His voice echoed and pitched low as he spoke.
"Well it's about time," the other passenger said, "Things have gotten out of hand. No one in the underworld was expecting the Powers That Be, fools that they are, to be replaced. Nor did anyone expect the insignificant mortal, Harris to be tagged as a future champion. The Darkness has taken severe blows and we need to take action if our conquest of this realm is to continue."
"Do not worry," Smith said, "Kinsey's patriotism is his weakness, as is his hatred for those that control the SGC, all we need to do is point him in their direction and let things take care of themselves. With any luck N.I.D.'s rogue elements will capture both Harris and Rosenberg, or at the very least terminate them. With those two gone the other members of the Council will want vengeance. They'll not believe a word the members of the SGC say and we'll certainly seek retribution. Eventually they'll realize the error but by then several of our enemies will have been eliminated. If we're very lucky it will alienate the Slayers from the United States government."
The figure turned to Smith, the black eyes causing the Goa'uld to shudder at the evil in front of it that was even greater than it was, "We are taking a great risk. Such direct action could very well attract the attention of the Seraphim, and the Trumpeter will soon follow. If that happens I will emnot/em be pleased."
Smith's face took on a slightly worried appearance but he quashed it quickly, "I assure you my Lord that will not happen. Our involvement here is minimal at best, this confrontation was inevitable, and we're just speeding it along and adding a few more players to the mix. No one will be able to track it to us regardless of the outcome."
"You had better be right, for your sake," the black eyed figure said darkly before the shadows seemed to engulf him and he disappeared.
Smith shuddered as his master departed and picked up the phone to call the other members of the Trust. They were all taking a great risk, departing from the plans of the System Lords and now serving the true Dark Gods, but the promise of power had been too great to pass up. Why would they settle for accepting the few scraps that the System Lords would allow them when they were promised the power of true gods if they served well?
Xander Harris and Willow Rosenberg were as good as dead, and he could already taste the reward for their deaths in his mouth.