Chapter 9: How It Works
*****Earth*****
Vala joined Daniel, Dawn, Willow, and Samantha in a conference room with General Landry.
"General, Willow has suggested that we test Dawn's blood to see how it might work to open the portal," Sam was saying as she slipped into the room.
"You're okay with that?" he asked Dawn, glancing at Daniel.
"Well, I think it's kind of messed up, but we can't ignore my keyness forever," Dawn said. "My blood is mystical or was when Glory used it. I don't see why that would change. It'd be nice to be able to use it on my own, especially if it means we can get to Buffy."
"Having someone with the ability to travel to the Pegasus galaxy would be a tremendous asset," General Landry said. "However, I do not want to have the ability if it risks your health in anyway. "
"As long as the amount of blood taken is not excessive," Daniel said, "I think it'll be okay. From what the girls say, only a drop will be needed."
"That's what opened the portal in Sunnydale," Dawn added.
"What about the Ori?" Vala asked. "What are we doing about them? They are taking over more planets."
Sam spoke. "Dr. Lee and I have been working on plans to create a machine that will emit a type of field that would cancel out the Ori's power," she said.
"I think that I could help with that," Willow said. "I know some spells that might magnify something like that."
The general looked bemused. "I never thought I'd see a day when science and magic could work together," he said. Then he glanced at Dawn. "Nor when a young woman's blood could open portals. It is a wonderous day we live in, isn't it?"
"I think so," Daniel said. His world view had opened so much since he found out that he was a father.
"Well, keep me posted on both projects," he said as he stood. "You're dismissed."
They leave and headed to medical where Dr. Lam was waiting for them. They had spoken to her about their plan, and she was okay with it as long as Landry signed off on it.
"Are you sure about this, sweetheart?" Daniel asked as they go to the medical wing.
"Yes," Dawn said. "I have this weird thing inside of me. Glory used it to kill Buffy, but now we have a chance to use it to bring Buffy home."
Daniel nodded. "Okay," he said.
Samantha and Willow spoke with Dr. Lam, who nodded. She looked at Dawn. "Dawn, if you'll come sit here, we'll get started."
Dawn moved to the chair, feeling nervous but excited. Somehow, she just knew this was going to work. She would see Buffy today.
"I'm going to withdraw a vial of blood," Dr. Lam said, getting the needle ready. "If you're afraid of needles, don't look."
Dawn had never had her blood withdrawn, so she couldn't help but look. "That's so gross!" she exclaimed. "Why's it so dark? Is my blood like freaky blood or something? Freaky mutant blood?"
Dr. Lam smiled at her. "No, your blood is perfectly normal. Blood looks darker when it's contained like this," she said. "The fake blood you see on television is usually not the exact shade as real blood."
"What's the plan?" Willow asked.
"First, I want to analyze it under the microscope to see if it appears the same as normal blood," Dr. Lam said. She took the blood sample to a table where her microscope was. Then put a drop on a slide.
They waited as she looked at it. Finally, she said, "Sam, take a look at this."
Samantha went to the microscope and looked. "The cells are too active. There is definitely something different about the blood," she said.
"I wanna see," Dawn said.
"Sure," Sam replied.
"Here. Look at this slide," Dr. Lam said. "This is what normal blood looks like."
Dawn looked, fascinated. When Dr. Lam changed out the slides, she was blown away. "Wow! My blood is like supercharged! That's so cool!"
"I want to see," Willow said. Dawn moved so that she could look at it. "That is very cool."
"So how do you want to do this?" Dr. Lam asked.
"I think first we should see if the blood does anything for us," Samantha said. She grabbed a dropper and let a drop of blood drop to the ground. Nothing happened.
"Well, that answers that," Dr. Lam said.
"I think Dawnie has to do it," Willow said. She looked at Dawn. "You were able to astral project to Buffy because you desired to see her. I think if you want to control your blood's ability to open portals, you have to really think it. You have to want to go where she is."
"I think we should start smaller," Daniel said. "I'm going to go to the cafeteria. I want you to try to open a portal there to where I am."
"That's a good idea," Dr. Lam said.
Willow walked with Daniel. "You know, Tara and I have been working on a spell to teleport," she said. "I managed to teleport Glory, but we think eventually we should be able to do it with ourselves. It takes a lot of magical energy, however."
"It would be quite a gift to develop," Daniel said. "The ability to instantly transport is a sign of advanced societies. Thor won't give us that technology, but we have scientist working on developing it. To do it with your magical abilities will be quite an accomplishment."
Willow smiled, warmed by his praise. "I don't know, though, that we could ever teleport to another galaxy," she said. "There is a spell for portal making, though. We'll work on that once we master teleporting."
"Don't do anything that could hurt yourself," he said.
"Tara won't let me," Willow admitted. "I get so impatient, but she says that we can't risk going too fast because that way leads to badness."
"Tara is a wise woman," Daniel said as they walked into the mess hall. "You should listen to her."
Willow grinned and looked around. "So where do you think we should stand exactly?" she wondered.
"I think we should stand over there where there's that open space away from the tables and trashcans," Daniel said, pointing.
They walked over there and waited a few minutes. Willow jumped back, startled when a portal opened up in front of them. The soldiers in the room all stood, alarmed. "It's okay!" Daniel assured them. "We're just working on a new technology." They sat back down. Most went back to eating, but a few watched as Daniel talked to his daughter.
It was like a small window. "You did it!" Willow said excitedly.
Dawn grinned. "It wasn't hard at all. I just thought, 'I wanna see Dad,' and I took a drop of my blood and let it go right in front of me," she explained. "And there you are!"
"Now, you need to make the portal bigger," Willow said.
Dawn frowned. "I don't know how to do that," she said.
"Just think, wider. Think, I need to get to where dad is," Willow advised.
Dawn concentrated, thinking hard. Her eyes widened as the portal began to get bigger. "I did it!" she said proudly.
"Yes, you did," Daniel said, smiling at her. "I'm very proud."
"I think we should try something inanimate first," Sam said on the other side of the portal. She looked for something and saw an apple. "Can I borrow your snack?"
"Sure," Dr. Lam said.
Carter picked it up and tossed it to Daniel, who caught it without any damage. "It seems to be an open space," she said.
"I can walk through it," Dawn suggested.
"How about you let me?" Sam said. "I get paid to take risks."
"Yes, let Sam do it first," he said. "We don't know if it closes automatically or what."
Sam stepped through. "Well, it was easier than going through the stargate," she said after she did. "I didn't feel anything. It's like she just opened up a doorway."
"Okay, come through," Daniel said to Dawn.
Eagerly, Dawn stepped through the portal. It closed behind her.
"Well, that answers that," Daniel said.
"Not necessarily," Willow said. "I think this ability is connected to her mentally. She has to consciously think that she wants to keep it open."
"Let's go back and try again," Daniel said. "Willow, you stay here this time."
"I could just do it here. Get me a knife," Dawn suggested.
"No. You're not going to be cutting yourself," he said firmly.
"Fine," she said. "Let's go."
They worked an hour, opening the portal throughout the base. It was exactly as Willow suggested. Dawn's mind controlled the portal as the blood gave her the ability. Eventually, she could open a portal anywhere on base. She terrified Vala and startled Cameron when she opened one where they were. It worked when she thought of a specific place and when she didn't know where they were exactly.
"So she can just think of a person and get to them?" Cameron asked after she appeared in his office.
Daniel nodded. "Yes. If she had a clear picture of the person in her mind," he said.
"We need to try for Buffy now," Dawn said.
"We can't do that without Xander," Willow said. "I'll call Tara and have them come."
"Fine," Dawn said, reluctant to wait.
"You should take a break," Sam suggested.
"Or, I should open a portal to where Tara is at and bring them here that way!" Dawn suggested.
"We can't allow just anyone to know what we're doing," Daniel said.
"Yes, we need to know where they are," Sam said. She looked at Willow, who was on her phone. "Willow, have them call when they are both at your house together. We'll open a portal to them."
Willow nodded and began explaining to Tara.
"We should try greater distances on Earth before we try anywhere else," Sam said.
Xander wasn't free for over an hour, so Sam and Willow went to work with Dr. Lee while Daniel went back to his office.
Eventually, though, Tara and Xander both were ready and called to tell them so. Willow and Samantha went and got Daniel and Dawn, returning to Dr. Lam's office.
"Okay, now Dawn, I don't want you to do anything impulsive," Sam cautioned.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
"What she means, honey, is that if this works, we don't want you to jump through the portal to your sister," Daniel said. "It's going to be a long time before I allow you to go to another galaxy."
Dawn looked disappointed but nodded. "All right," she agreed.
Dr. Lam gave her a dropper with her blood. Dawn thought about her home and seeing Xander and Tara before she dropped the blood. Xander's grinning face was soon on the other side of a portal.
"Hey, Dawnie! Look at you with your new portal opening powers!" Xander said, grinning.
"We want you and Tara to go ahead and step through the portal," Daniel explained. "It's perfectly safe as we've been working on it and tested it out several times."
Tara nodded and was going to step through, but Xander protested. "I should go first in case something goes wrong," he said.
"My hero," Tara said with a fond smile.
Xander stepped through without preamble and hugged Dawn. "You're so amazing!" he told her, making her blush.
"Come on, Tara," Willow encouraged, motioning for her.
Tara stepped through, and the portal closed. "That's incredible, Dawn," she said, hugging her.
"Thanks," Dawn said. "Dad says we can try Buffy now, but he doesn't want me to go across."
"Are you ready?" Daniel asked her.
"You can wait and do it another day," Sam cautioned. "You've done a lot already today." She was worried that Dawn would get discouraged if it didn't work today for whatever reason.
"No, I'm ready," Dawn said. "I want to try." She gave her father a beseeching glance.
"Okay, if you're sure," he said, nodding to Dr. Lam.
Dr. Lam handed Dawn the dropper again, and she took a deep breath and thought hard Buffy and how much she wanted to see her. Then she dropped the blood.
The portal began to open. There she was. Her sister.
"Buffy?" she called out and Buffy turned, holding the giant guy she'd introduced as Ronon.
"Dawn?" she said, dropping Ronon.
Buffy looked down at Ronon. "Oh, sorry," she said, helping him up.
Daniel felt his eyes water as he gazed at his oldest. "Is that really you, Buffy?" he asked, stepping close to the portal.
"It's me, Dad," she said, feeling emotional at the sight of her friends and family. "Hi, guys!"
They waved at her, excited to see her whole and alive. "I knew you were faking with the being dead thing!" Xander called.
"Buffy, we tested this portal, so it's safe for you to come through," Daniel called out.
"I can?" Buffy asked. She looked up at Ronon, who was expressionless.
"Rodney, go get Elizabeth and bring her here," John said quietly. "Be subtle. No need alarming anyone."
"Just step through," Dawn said. "Xander and Tara portaled to SG-1 without any problem."
Buffy looked at Ronon, unsure. Then she looked back at her family. "Can I come back?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
"I mean if I go home can I come back here?" she asked. "They've got these space vampires that I'm supposed to kill. I think that's why Mom sent me here."
"Mom? You saw Mom?" Dawn asked.
"Yea, I think I did. After I dropped in the portal," Buffy said. "I don't remember it clearly. She brought me to Ronon." She reached out and grabbed his hand. "This is Ronon. Ronon, you remember Dawn."
"Hello," he said.
"That's my dad, Dr. Daniel Jackson," she introduced.
"Buffy, I'm coming to you then," Daniel said, impatient to hug her and know that she was okay.
"I wanna go, too," Xander said.
"Yea, me, too," Willow said.
"It's a secured base," Daniel said. "I'm the only one with clearance as I was supposed to be on Atlantis once upon a time."
"That's totally not fair," Xander said.
"Can Dawn open the portal to a place that doesn't have someone she loves?" Tara wondered.
"We don't know that yet," Daniel said. "She got to Atlantis because Buffy's there. If none of us there, she might have difficulty."
"I bet I could," Dawn said.
"It's so good to see you all," Buffy said, peering into the window. "Willow, your hair is longer. I like it. Hi, Tara. Where's Anya, Xander?"
"She's back in Sunnydale," Xander said. "She didn't want to leave the hellmouth or her money. She's coming up in a few weeks for a visit."
"Okay," Buffy said.
"Daniel, you need to talk to General Landry before you step in a portal to another galaxy," Sam cautioned. "I'll go get him."
John stepped forward. "Daniel, do you remember me? John Sheppard. We met briefly before we left Earth," he said.
"Good to see you, John. Is it Lieutenant Colonel?" Daniel asked.
"It's Major now," John said.
"The General and Mitchell will be here soon," Samantha said.
Rodney stepped closer to the portal. "Elizabeth is on her way," he said. He noticed Samantha Carter in the group on the other side and smiled. "Hello, Dr. Carter," he said.
"Rodney," she said. "How are you?"
"Okay," he said.
"Hey, there's an entire room here, Dad, that has weapons made just for me!" Buffy said happily. "We're in the room right now." She turned to Ronon. "Go grab my lightsaber on the table, so I can show them. Xander's going to die."
Ronon smiled indulgently at her and gave her the cylinder. Buffy grinned and turned back to the portal. "Check this out, Xan," she said as she activated the laser sword that she called lightsaber.
Xander's mouth fell open. "Oh my God!" he exclaimed. "Where did you get that? I want one! I'll give you my first born!"
Buffy laughed. "Yes, it's pretty cool. I can't wait to use it on some Wraith!" she said.
"Is that what you call the space vamps?" Willow asked.
"Yes, they're really ugly and suck the life force out of people with their hands," Buffy shared.
The Scoobies were horrified. "That's awful!" Dawn exclaimed.
General Landry and Colonel Mitchell appeared. "It worked," Cameron said. "Kudos."
Dawn grinned. "I told you I could get to another galaxy," she said.
Landry moved forward and saw Sheppard. "Major. How is everything there on Atlantis?" he asked, smiling.
"Pretty great for the most part," John said, smiling. "How about this?"
"It's quite a surprise," Landry said, giving Dawn a look of approval.
"Sir, I want to go through the portal," Daniel said.
"You believe it is safe?" Landry asked.
"Yes," Daniel said. "As you know, we've went through it several times. Xander and Tara came through from our house."
"But this is another galaxy, Dr. Jackson," Landry said. "You are too important to risk."
"That's ludicrous!" Daniel said.
"Let me go through," Xander suggested. "I'm not important."
"You are to us," Willow said, frowning.
Landry considered it and looked at Mitchell who shrugged. "Fine, Xander. You may step through the portal," he said.
"I need to widen the portal," Dawn said. She hadn't kept a portal open this long before and was starting to feel the strain. However, the portal widened.
An excited Xander stepped through and launched himself at Buffy, who hugged him too tightly.
"Ribs breaking," Xander gasped.
"Sorry," Buffy said. She pulled back. "I can't believe you're here."
"I can't believe you're really alive," Xander said. "We thought we'd lost you."
"Okay, Xander, come on back," Daniel called.
"But I just got here, Daniel. I'm in a freakin' new galaxy!" Xander said, excited.
"This place is way cool, Xan. Wait 'til you see the view from the deck," she said. "Ronon, this is Xander. Xander, this is Ronon."
Xander grinned up at the large man. "Wow, you're tall!" he exclaimed. "Nice to meet you."
Ronon held out his hand. "So you're the guy that saved her life when she was sixteen?" Ronon said, shaking Xander's hand.
"I guess," he said, feeling embarrassed.
"Thanks for that," Ronon said.
"Hello, Xander," John said. "I'm John."
Xander turned and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, John."
"Dad, I can't hold the portal any longer," Dawn said, feeling a wave of lethargy hit her. "It's too much."
"Come on, Xander," Daniel called out. "Dawn needs to close the portal. The distance is too much to sustain for long."
Xander turned back toward the portal, feeling wary. "What if it blinks out when I'm walking through it?" he asked.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, finally arriving into the room.
"Buffy's sister somehow made a portal," Rodney said. "Xander just came through it. Daniel wants to come through after he returns."
Elizabeth stood in front of the portal and saw several people. Some she knew, and others she didn't. "General Landry," she said. "This is surprise."
"It is that," he said, smiling. "This is Dawn Summers, Daniel Jackson's youngest. I believe you know her sister."
"I'm sorry," Dawn said. "I can't hold it open anymore."
The portal closed.
Xander stared at the disappearing portal. Then he looked at Buffy. "Oops," he said. "I guess I missed my ride."
*****To Be Continued******
I hope you enjoyed the update even if nothing particularly new happened. Thanks for reading. Please take a minute to review.
