Chapter 5
'Bulletproof…. I Wish I Was'
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AN: It's odd trying to come up with some comments regarding this chapter when you just spent weeks working on chapter 10. And by now you guys should know the drill, right?
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A day + 2
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"What? They even knew about Senzu beans?"
After the mighty Namek had gotten his senzu bean and been revitalized he seemed mighty displeased with the way events had unfolded. A feeling which, of course, went for most of the others as well.
"What does it mean?" Faith asked Piccolo, "If they knew about it, why didn't they kill us when they had the chance?"
"Are they saying we're not worth the effort to kill?" Tien said thinking aloud.
A loud laughter suddenly erupted and everybody turned around and saw the vampire Spike laugh. Spike had for some reason not benefited one bit from either a Senzu bean or Willow's healing spell, so he was still hurt. But even though the laughter caused him pain he didn't stop.
"Of course you're not worth the effort to kill," Spike said after he finally stopped laughing, "None of you is worth the effort to kill. And I should know. I'm evil. I killed for fun."
"Shut up, Spike," Willow said but Spike held up a hand to stop her.
"Not this time," he said undeterred, "Like I said, I'm evil. I know evil. I'm not saying that these droids are good, but I don't think they go to the club meeting. If they didn't kill us it wasn't because they want to sent us any secret decoder ring messages. They just don't care about us."
"Maybe the vampire's right?" Krillin suggested as he unconsciously toughed the cheek were #18 had kissed him, "Maybe they….."
The little fighter stopped talking and just looked down.
"Whatever their reasons, they're incredibly strong, too strong," Piccolo said, then he glared at Belmovekk, "Of course it doesn't help that some of us deserted us when we most needed them."
"I had my reasons," the Saiyan shrugged, "I wanted to make sure that they really were who we were told that they would be."
"Small comfort if you're getting your ass whooped," Tien snorted in response.
"I would have stepped in if things had gotten dire," Belmovekk responded calmly.
"We just got our ass kicked!" Faith exclaimed flabbergasted, "What were you waiting for, an open invitation?"
"Enough," Piccolo said as he dusted some dirt of his clothes, "This bickering helps us nowhere. It's obvious none of us here has got what it takes to defeat those things."
Meanwhile Vegeta had held himself aloof from the rest and just stared ahead blankly. With Trunks staring at him.
"I feel like I should do something," Trunks said to Mayan next to him, "Like I should….."
Before he could finish the earth began to tremble, then a blaze of chi erupted around Vegeta and the Saiyan prince took off like a rocket and disappeared into the sky.
"FATHER?" Trunks yelled and he was about to take off after him when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and it was Piccolo.
"Don't," the Namek said shaking his head, "Leave him alone for now."
"But I….," Trunks tried to say but Piccolo shook his head again.
"Ever since he came to Earth your father has lived in Goku's shadow," Piccolo said, "And it has eaten him up ever since. The moment he became a Super Saiyan his old pride and confidence returned. But now that he's been humbled by that android girl he's taken the biggest beating since Goku outclassed him. It didn't help that you seem to hero worship Goku either. Trust me, he does not want you or anyone else around right now."
"Listen to him, Trunks," Mayan said, "He knows your father more then you do."
"I know," Trunks said, then he sighed and sat down on a large rock, pulling out his damaged sword and examining the dented blade up closely, "I'm sorry that I was so useless today. Causing all this confusion, acting all like an idiot, I wasn't even able to put up a decent fight."
"Don't sweat it," Faith said as she broke out a smile, "Those guys knocked you out cold even when you were a Super Saiyan. No shame in being that outclassed. At least you did something. Unlike some."
Faith glared accusingly towards Belmovekk, who at least had the decency to look slightly uncomfortable.
"It's hard to imagine," Tien said, trying to wrap his mind around today's events, "You defeated Freeza like he was nothing, yet you couldn't do a thing against those androids. To tell you the truth, no matter how strong Goku has gotten, or how strong Belmovekk is, I don't think either of them is that much stronger then Vegeta. I don't thing any them can defeat those androids."
As the Z-fighters and looked at each other Trunks sheathed his sword on his back in one easy movement, then he looked Mayan in the eyes.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked her.
"That depends," she replied, "If you had a sense of humor I'd say you were thinking about that one thing. But knowing you I don't think so. It's the other thing, right?"
"Yes," Trunks nodded, then he stood up, "These androids are indeed different then the ones we fought in the future. They were strong, but I could fight them for a while, as could Gohan. Even Mayan managed to go toe to toe with #18 and got away with it."
"When Trunks fought them before coming here they defeated him through team work," Mayan added, "but never this easily."
"Are you saying that these are stronger?" Tien asked.
"That's what she said, you dunce," Spike snorted.
"Shut up, Spike!" Willow quickly said, but the vampire wasn't impressed.
"Our future's bleak then," Tien said sullen, "we're fucked. So what now?"
There was no immediate reply to that as Piccolo looked around.
"Fine," he said, "Then I suggest that you and the others go to Goku's and take him somewhere safe. If these androids want to fulfill their programming, then making sure they never find Goku buys us more time to come up with a plan. Plus we can use the manpower."
"Good call," Krillin said, then he looked up at Piccolo, "But what are you going to do?"
Piccolo didn't respond. Instead he looked up into the sky.
"I have an idea," he finally said.
"Why do you look like that?" Krillin asked suspiciously, "Do you have some kind of plan? Tell us, Piccolo, we're on your side."
"You're on my side?" Piccolo scoffed, "Don't piss me off, you noseless freak! Since when did I become your friend? You seem to forget that I'm still a demon. I'm just using you to help me conquer this world. Never forget that!"
Shocked at Piccolo's outburst the group fell silent. Except for Faith.
"Jolly Green? Why are you….." she tried to say.
"And don't you Jolly Green me!" Piccolo shouted angrily, "I'm fed up with you calling me stupid names. I'm the fucking Demon King, not your baby sitter. I was only doing that Saiyan backstabber a favor. Since he backstabbed us you're his problem again. Have fun!"
Then Piccolo turned towards Belmovekk.
"And you! In the three years that I've known you you've made my antennae turn grey! Goku may be a simpleton and Vegeta an idiot. But you're smart. And that makes you ten times more dangerous because when you fuck up, you REALLY fuck up. As usual you're letting your obsessions getting the better of you again!"
Having said what he wanted to say, like Vegeta previously, Piccolo then erupted in a blaze of chi and launched himself in the air..
"Something crawled up his butt, alright," Spike said as he watched Piccolo disappear into the distance, "I like it!"
"Yeah, he did!" Faith said as she pointed accusingly towards Belmovekk.
"What's this Demon King business?" Mayan asked stunned.
"Piccolo's the offspring of Piccolo Daimao," Tien explained to the girl from the future, "The Demon King. Created when Kami Sama purged himself of everything that was evil inside him. When Goku killed Piccolo Daimao, the demon spewed forth an egg that became Piccolo, his offspring, created to wreak revenge on Goku and conquer the Earth for him."
"Oh," Mayan said even more stunned as Tien looked up to the heavens.
"I have to admit that I've not thought of Piccolo like that in long time," he said thoughtful, "Him always fighting alongside us. I wonder if he still wants to rule the Earth."
"I must confess that Piccolo does not strike me as the kind of….," Belmovekk tried to say when Faith silenced him with an angry stare.
"He was lying," Krillin said as a smile grew on his face, "Whatever he used to be, he's like Goku and Vegeta now. He just wants to be the strongest."
"And that explains his strange behavior how?" Mayan asked the small fighter.
"He's going to take advantage of his secret weapon," Krillin smiled as he tapped where his nose should have been.
"Newsflash, shortstop," Spike said as he fumbled for some cigarettes, "You're not making a lot of sense here. Oh, bollocks, I'm out."
Spike threw an empty pack of cigarettes to the ground.
"What secret weapon are you talking about?" Trunks asked.
"He went that way," Krillin said pointing towards the east, "Do you know what's there?"
Trunks and Mayan looked at each other unable to come up with an answer.
"It might not exist in their time any more," Belmovekk said as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Kami lives there," Krillin said, "Kami-Sama, guardian spirit of the Earth."
"Kami?" Trunks said as he looked puzzled at Mayan again.
"God, sometimes I wonder how you even manage to tie your shoe laces in the morning," she said dejected, "Didn't you ever listen to Gohan or your mother? Kami! Guy from Namek, who supposedly ascended to some form of demi-God status? Died when Piccolo did? Creator of the Dragonballs?"
"Oh," Trunks said sheepishly.
"Girl, what do you see in him?" Faith asked Mayan curiously, "Is he a retard?"
"He's Vegeta's son alright," Mayan shrugged, "so I knew he wasn't going to win any science awards. He's gotta nice ass though."
"He sure does," Faith said admiringly as she checked out Trunks' ass, "Nice package. Fancy a threesome?"
"I still don't get it though," Tien asked Krillin, "What's so special at Kami's lookout?"
"When I was at Namek the Great Elder told me that if he hadn't split himself into Kami and Piccolo, good and evil, he could have easily been the strongest Namek in existence. That he could have defeated Freeza. Or a Saiyan for that matter."
"Are you saying that Piccolo is going to rejoin himself with Kami again?" Belmovekk asked, to which Krillin nodded.
"Good and evil are going to rejoin again to become the legendary warrior of the Nameks," Krillin said, "And since he's gotten a lot stronger since their original breakup he will become a Super Namek. Just like Goku and you became Super Saiyans."
Belmovekk's eyes grew big for a moment, as did those of the others. Then the Saiyan looked towards the east for a moment.
"Wait a second," Tien said, "If Kami-Sama joins with Piccolo he will be gone. And with him the Dragonballs. We would not be able to revive anyone after that."
"They would be gone anyway if Piccolo were to die," Krillin countered, "Besides, haven't we all used up that get free out of jail card by now?"
"Piccolo absolutely hates Kami," Faith said downcast, "He must be desperate by now."
Faith's chi flames sprang into life as well and for the third time somebody launched himself into the skies.
After Faith's sudden departure the discussion went on for a moment, but Belmovekk wasn't paying much attention, as he heard a voice laden with harmonic overtones.
"This latest development could derail our plans," Amūn said, appearing from behind the Saiyan, "If this Super Piccolo were to appear before your great enemy make his move who knows what could happen? Maybe he should be stopped."
"Be silent, worm," Belmovekk whispered softly, "I will do many things, but there are limits. Speak of it no more."
"Even if it means that Buffy could die?" the Goa'uld specter said.
"I said be silent!" the Saiyan hissed softly.
"As you wish," Amūn smiled amiably, then he made a subtle bow and vanished. No sooner had he disappeared when Spike suddenly stepped before him and snapped his fingers.
"Hey, Big Scary!" the vampire said impatiently, "Getting forgetful in your old age? They were asking you a question."
As the Saiyan looked around he noticed that everybody was staring at him.
"I am sorry," he said apologetic, "I was thinking, did I miss something?"
"Stick with the program," Spike said as he stepped aside, then he muttered something that sounded suspiciously much like old goat.
"How long did it take you to heal from that disease when you had it?" Krillin asked, "We need to know how long Goku will be out of the picture."
"The medicine usually takes ten days to work," Mayan said, "But Aun…., uh, Willow and Krillin say you took less time to get better."
"You were up and about in that wheelchair of yours in a day," Krillin said.
"Yeah but the disease obviously mutated," Willow countered, "It was only meant for him. It took more then a year for Goku to get sick. And Goku was way sicker then Belmo was. If it infects humans as well anything could be possible."
"Why not err on the side of caution and assume the full ten days?" Belmovekk suggested.
"I agree," Tien said, then he clapped his hands together and rubbed his hands, "So that means we have to find a way to hide Goku from those androids for ten days minimal."
"We should take him to Master Roshi's house," Krillin said, "It's secluded, off the beaten track, and….."
"And they probably know where it's too," Willow countered, "Look, I mean, they knew a lot about you guys, but next to nothing about us. Maybe hiding Goku with one of yours isn't the smart thing to do."
"My sister is right," Belmovekk concurred, "Why not take him to Sunnydale?"
"Are you insane?" Tien said aghast, "I still have nightmares about the last time I was there."
"But they are right," Krillin nodded, "They know too much about us. Gero has been spying on us for years. But he knows nothing about them. It would be a great place to hide Goku. Especially those caves underneath that town."
"Angel's old cave is still available," Willow suggested. The mentioning of Angel's name brought forth a snigger from Spike and something that sounded a lot like tosser. As everybody looked at each other Trunks spoke up.
"Can we come along?"
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"You're crazy, you know that, right?"
Unperturbed by #18's criticism #17 didn't even look over his shoulder. While the male android stood by a road, waiting for a car to pass, the female android had made herself comfortable underneath a tree. The large #16 stood close by, entertaining himself with a bird that was perched on his hand.
"All part of the game, #18," #17 said
"You're not a kid anymore, #17, #18 replied, "Although, you are a man. Boys will be boys, right?"
This time #17 did look over his shoulder.
"Maybe I'm acting childish because I never had a childhood," he said, "At least not one I can remember."
"Whatever," #18 shrugged, then she pointed to the road, "Not that I care but a car is coming."
"Finally," #17 said hopeful and held up his thumb.
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"This is never going to work."
"Sure it is," Xander replied as he deftly drove the car through the forested roads of Southern Kashmir.
It wasn't their own car. Well, it was in the sense that Xander had given some Indian guy $200 in cash to give them his car. And Buffy still wasn't sure the car, a Japanese minivan deathtrap so old it was probably old already when Moses had used it to cross the Sinai desert, wouldn't die on them any moment. Only two things seemed to be working for sure, the car horn and an old radio cassette player hooked up to the car's battery. The car's stereo apparently didn't work, but the car came with an excellent selection of tapes with highly annoying Indian Bollywood music.
After seeing that the androids were just basically sitting by a road trying to hitch a ride, Xander felt he had the most brilliant idea ever. Why not offer them a ride?
Naturally Buffy felt the idea was a little less then stellar.
But before she could talk him out of his idea he had already bought the shitbag Suzuki and now they were on their way to pick up the gruesome threesome.
"We're gonna drive this thing into a ravine before we get there," Buffy said moping as she browsed through the collection of tapes, "does this guy have anything else other then Apu and the Chipmunks?"
"We're in India, Buff," Xander said as he pretended to breathe in the air, "India! Land of Gurus, Fakirs, elephants, the Taj Mahal. Smell the curries, Buff, smell the curries!"
"Oh, I'm smelling something alright, Mr. Lonely Planet," Buffy said, hinting towards the odious smell that lingered in the car, then she threw the box with tapes in the back, "Well, you got the car, Mr. Hot Rod, what makes you think that those androids are still waiting for us?"
Xander glanced at Buffy and made a polite snigger.
"Did you see the size of that third one? Trust me, nobody's gonna pick up a hitchhiker who's nearly eight feet tall."
"If you say so," Buffy said, then she sighed, "I shouldn't have thrown away my old mix tapes."
"Where's your spirit of adventure, Buff?" Xander asked as he rounded a corner, "Ah, there they are. Told ya!"
"They're gonna recognize us," Buffy said as Xander pressed whatever the hell this car was still using for brakes.
"We kept a low profile," Xander said confidently, "We kept out of the fight, there's a good chance they won't recognize us."
"They're androids," Buffy countered, "As in computers on legs. Computers don't forget, Xander, they got hard drives."
"They also got egos. And the black haired one seems mighty pleased with himself," Xander smiled as the car came to a halt, then he rolled down the window, "Greetings, fellow travelers in strange lands, are you in need of a ride?"
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In the SGC ready room many had been glued to the television sets as report after report came in of what was happening. In horror they had watched as the Twin Towers in New York had come down, then more attacks in Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, Fort Hood, Los Angeles and even Europe. And of course Sydney.
By now it was clear that a wave of suicide bombers had targeted the United States and its European allies and that they were under attack. Even the SGC, which dealt with offworld dangers, was now in a heightened state of alert as all leaves had been cancelled.
Of course the SGC had a little more heads up as they had been mobilized for something else. Most of their chi trained SG teams were at the ready, both on Earth and in orbit in space, with their captured Ha'tak on full alert.
Of course, while they were all ready for something, they, and nobody else for that matter, had expected it to coincide with a suicide bomber offensive.
As the flagship team, SG-1 was gathered in the command and control room when General Hammond walked in.
"General, any more news?" Sam asked the general, who had just returned from a teleconference with the joint chiefs and the White House.
"Nothing good I'm afraid," the portly general said shaking his head, "the White House is out for blood."
"What about our report that Anubis has returned and might make a move against Abydos?" O'Neill asked, but again general Hammond shook his head.
"They don't care right now," Hammond sighed, "In fact Kinsey's pushing to have the Enterprise re-assigned to strike at the bases from which these terrorists have come from."
"That's madness!" Daniel said horrified, "What if these androids strike again? It's probably the only thing we have to attack these things."
"Maybe we should count our blessings instead," Hammond said sullen, "Let's go to my office."
SG-1 and the general retired to his office where the general sat down behind his desk.
"By direct order of the president all Special Training teams except for SG-13 and 21 have been re-assigned back to Joint Forces Command," he said.
"You've got to be kidding me!" O'Neill exclaimed out loud, "What are we to use against Anubis now? Harsh language?"
"I'm sorry, Jack," General Hammond said apologetic, "There's nothing I can do. This comes directly from the White House."
"Isn't this a direct violation of the agreement we had with that Saiyan?" Daniel said looking around.
"Satiya won't be pleased," Teal'c said stoically.
"Oh, like this wasn't coming," Jack said ranting, "Ever since that weasel Kinsey managed to worm himself into the new administration I'm surprised it's lasted this long. Mark my words, now that he has a foot in the door he'll continue to strip us of more assets until we have nothing left. And then he'll shut us down."
Nobody said anything after that for a while, then General Hammond spoke up.
"Any news from our 'friends'?" he asked, looking at Sam.
"There have been reports of strong seismic tremors coming in from Afghanistan and strange lights being seen. A UN aid agency in Kandahar has reported that at least two nuclear weapons, or something similar, were believed to be detonated somewhere east of Kandahar."
"That sounds like them alright," Hammond nodded, "Anything else?"
"A modified AWACS flying close to Pakistan has reported that several unidentified flying objects have been seen leaving Afghanistan on a wide dispersal pattern," Sam said as she read from a print out, "Some went to India, one went west to the Caucasus and two are coming this way. Other then that most went to India, it looks like they are going their separate ways."
"Mission accomplished then it would seem?" Hammond said hopeful.
"I hope not," O'Neill said sullen as he sat down in a chair, "Cause if they did manage to take out those androids then Kinsey will use it as encouragement to strip us of resources even faster. Mark my words."
"Come on, Jack," Hammond said, "we still have some friends up the Hill. It won't be tha….."
Beep!
The buzzer on Hammond's intercom went off.
"Yes?" Hammond said speaking into the intercom.
"Outside sentry ward three here, sir," a voice spoke.
"Yes son, what is it?" Hammond asked.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, sir," the voice of a young soldier said somewhat agitated, "But there's someone here to see you, sir."
Hammond looked surprised at Jack, who looked equally surprised back.
"You know what to do with official visitors, son," Hammond finally said.
"I know, sir," the soldier's voice said, then he halted for a moment, "But these aren't official visitors."
"You know what to do with un-official visitors, son," the general replied after exchanging some puzzled glances with the colonel.
"I know, sir," the soldier's voice said unsure, "But these kinda dropped in out of nowhere and….. hey!"
Out of nowhere Belmovekk the Saiyan materialized inside the general's office, two fingers at his forehead. And with him a man with bleach blond hair and a leather trench coat.
"Satiya!" Teal'c said excited as he recognized his mentor and gave a slight bow of respect. O'Neill on the other hand seemed less happy to see the Saiyan.
"Great! He's back again!" he snorted.
"God dammit, Belmovekk!" Hammond said annoyed as he stood up, "You can't just drop in here unannounced!"
"Did I not just gave fair warning of my arrival?" the Saiyan said deadpan.
"I…., uh," Hammond stammered, then he spoke into the intercom, "As you were, son."
"Teal'c, Commander O'Neill, Commander Carter," Belmovekk said as he greeted everybody in the room, then he halted at the sight of Daniel Jackson, "Master Jackson, I had heard of your return."
"If you can call it like that," Daniel replied.
"Master Giles told me that you once visited him while you were 'ascended', is there anything you can tell me about what it was like?"
"He did?" Daniel said surprised, then he looked oddly at his team mates, "First time I hear of this."
"This is news to you?" Belmovekk asked surprised.
"I'm sorry," Daniel said apologetic, "but I really don't remember anything of when I was ascended."
"A pity really," Belmovekk said slightly disappointed, "I would really like to…."
"You didn't come her to talk about Daniel's resurrection, didn't you?" O'Neill interjected, "You could have done that at any time. And who is that?"
"That?" Belmovekk said as he looked over his shoulder towards the bleached extra he had brought along, "Oh that? That is Spike. He is just along because he has been a bad boy who needs supervising."
"Sod off!" Spike said as he flipped Belmovekk off using the two fingered English salute.
Ignoring Spike the Saiyan gave a brief outline of what had happened in Sydney, Central-Australia and Afghanistan. The revelation that Gero's lab had been in Afghanistan caused quite a stir.
"This is good," O'Neill said, "not only can we use this, it explains certain things."
"What certain things?" the Saiyan asked puzzled.
"As you may know a wave of suicide bombers have struck the US," Hammond explained.
"We heard something as much while still in Sydney," Belmovekk said, "But what is the problem. Surely a suicide bomber, while horrific, is limited in the amount of explosives he can carry?"
"Those suicide bombers have brought down the Twin Towers in New York!" O'Neill countered, "That's hardly limited."
Belmovekk gave a quizzical look.
"Then either those buildings were of poor construction or security was non-existent," he said surprised, "How does one bring down a large multi-tier building with just some explosives?"
"They do if they are some super jacked up explosives," O'Neill said, "And if they are implanted."
As the Saiyan looked on stunned Sam joined in.
"Two suicide bombers tried to attack Fort Hood in Texas," she said, "One managed to reach the building that housed III Corps' headquarters and killed a lot of people. But the other one was stopped just in time. A guard shot him in the head. You want to know what the autopsy said?"
Sam gave the Saiyan a set of print outs. Which he quickly read through once he put on his reading glasses. Then he reached a certain passage and looked up in shock.
"Gero type implants?" he said flabbergasted.
"From what we can gather his explosive implants and circuitry bear a remarkable resemblance to some of the technology that was recovered on those two androids you captured," Daniel explained, "Or on some of the technology that was recovered from the Initiative facility in Cleveland."
"Do you think there is a connection between Gero and these suicide bombers?" Belmovekk asked.
"Do you think there isn't?" O'Neill said, "Gee, we have this big waste of a country full of terrorists who hate us and suddenly not only does his technology turn up inside terrorists, he has his actual lab in that country. Do I need to say more?"
"We should go there, right now," Sam said to Hammond, "Explore that lab, see what else we can find. Maybe a means to counter these new suicide bombers."
"That might be a tad difficult," Belmovekk said sheepishly as he scratched his hair.
"Oh god, I feel a huge but coming," O'Neill moaned.
"Belmovekk, what happened exactly after you guys found Gero's lab?" Hammond asked sternly.
"I, um," the Saiyan said unsure.
"What he's trying to say is that Droopy from the Future had a hissy fit and blew the place up," Spike spoke up.
"Why is he even here?" O'Neill remarked glancing at Spike.
"Because he does more damage when left to his own," the Saiyan replied.
"Doesn't the same apply to you as well?" O'Neill countered, much to Spike's amusement.
"Is it true though?" Hammond asked the Saiyan, "Has the lab been destroyed?"
"It might be possible," Belmovekk admitted, then he tried to explain using his hands, "Trunks did try to blow up the androids and he was aiming away from the main laboratory. But he did use an awful lot of chi. I guess it would depend on how strong the mountain is in which Gero had built his laboratory."
"Was it the first or the second explosion?" Sam asked as she started up her laptop.
"The first," the Saiyan said.
"Then I might be able to use seismic data and NASA telemetry to pinpoint the location of his laboratory," Sam said excited.
"You do that, major," Hammond said encouragingly, then he looked at the Saiyan again, "But since there was more then one explosion I take it the first wasn't successful in destroying those androids?"
"Uh, no," Belmovekk said again unsure, "There was a…., uh…"
"Oh for God sakes," Spike spoke up again, "just tell them that you chickened out and let them go."
"Shut up, Spike," Belmovekk hissed annoyed.
"Is it true?" Hammond asked shocked, "Are these androids still at large because of you?"
Belmovekk pretended to think.
"Not exactly," he finally said, "Yes, technically I might have stood by and let them go about their business."
"Business?" Spike exclaimed, "We got beaten into a pulp and you did nothing to help us!"
"Are you sure he's on our side?" O'Neill asked Hammond as he pointed towards the Saiyan.
"Explain yourself," Hammond said.
"I would rather not," Belmovekk said, then he told what happened after Trunks had blown up the lab and Vegeta had gone after the androids. And got his ass handed back to him.
"So you're saying that the androids are still at large after you stood by and did nothing?" Hammond said accusingly, "And not only that, there are now three androids at large?"
"You make it sound like it is all my fault," Belmovekk said aggrieved.
"Don't act all innocent," O'Neill said angry, "You stood by and did nothing."
"Well, excuse me for wanting to know what we are dealing with, commander," the Saiyan said snide, "Fact: What we were told off by Trunks was incorrect. Instead of Androids #17 and #18 destroying Sydney we instead met Androids #19 and #20. And Android #20 turned out to be Gero himself. Fact: The heart virus attacked Goku later then planned. Fact: Gero manages to activate androids #17 and #18 and they kill him to activate another android. Which, fact: we were never told off either. Fact: Instead of killing us all, the androids let us all live and go away. I can only conclude that we are dealing with different androids then the ones Trunks engaged in the future. Which leads me to believe that the future Trunks comes from is less and less our future and more and more an alternate reality of sorts."
"What a load of bull!" O'Neill snorted.
"He may have a point though," Sam interjected, "Events have changed since we received our first forewarning. When we went in the past our actions in that past influenced the present as we found out. If this Trunks has returned from the future, which should be changed by what has changed in the past three years, and he is unfamiliar with them then I can only conclude that he is not from the future but an alternate reality."
"I still think it's a load of bull," O'Neill said obstinately.
"In my defense I would like to state that the androids are being watched," Belmovekk said, "If any transgressions were to take place we would know."
"Small comfort to all of the people that will get killed," O'Neill said curt.
"It is as it is, commander," the Saiyan shrugged.
"Alright, it is as it is," Hammond said he put both hands on his desk, "Major Carter, did you locate the location of Dr. Gero's lab?"
"I think I have, sir," Sam replied.
"Good," Hammond said approvingly, "Then SG-1, take SG-21 with you and go there to see what you can learn."
"We'll do, general," O'Neill said as he stood up.
"I'm going back to the teleconferencing room to report to the joint chiefs," Hammond said as he stood up."
"Prudent instructions," Belmovekk said approvingly, "Now that you have been informed we will be on our way as well. Come Spike!"
"Oh no you don't!" Hammond said sternly before they could leave, "You're going with them!"
"For crying out loud!" O'Neill protested, "Him? You've got to be kidding?"
"But I am needed elsewhere," the Saiyan protested as well, "And I have been there already. What use could I be?"
"Other then showing the way, probably not much," Hammond said, "But like the good colonel said, you do more damage when left to your own."
Before Belmovekk could say anything Spike fell to the ground laughing his ass off.
x
x
By the time he had reached the Pacific Piccolo had noticed that he was being followed. And he had a pretty good idea by who.
It had been foolish to expect her to remain behind.
Piccolo came up with and rejected nearly a dozen scenarios how he should dissuade Faith from following him. But he just couldn't come up with anything decent. She was too headstrong for that.
Besides, it would only slow him down anyway. So instead he allowed her to tag along from a great distance. There was time to put her in her place once he had reached the Tenka bowl.
He hated, no, loathed what had to be done. He may not be a demon like his father, or pure evil like his father. But he still inherited his sire's revulsion of Kami and everything that he was.
But this was no time to give in to personal feelings and dislikes. The future of the planet was at stake and if that idiot Belmovekk wasn't going to step up to the plate and with Goku sick, someone had too. He wasn't going to let Trunks' nightmare come about.
As he crossed the American West-Coast Piccolo's steeled his resolve and pushed on, kicking in the afterburners and ignoring everything that was in his path. Which happened to include aircraft being scrambled from two bases that were close to his path. Luckily for him he traveled too fast for them to catch up.
On he pressed until he finally neared that large column that went up into the sky and which everybody felt compelled to ignore. Traveling upwards into the sky Piccolo passed the bulbous outgrowth where Carrin lived with that fool Yajirobe, the both of them looking on as he passed.
Finally he reached the Tenka bowl. And as he came down for the landing with a small flash Piccolo created a new cape and turban for himself.
After all, if one goes to meet a demi-god and ask him to lay down his life, one has to do so in a certain style.
Finally Piccolo touched down on the Tenka bowl and found Kami and Popo there waiting for him.
For a moment the three of them stared at each other in an uncomfortable silence.
"You know why I came," Piccolo finally said sternly.
"I know," Kami said as he gripped his staff a little tighter, "You, or should I say your parent and I used to be one person. And I know what you're going to tell me. To tell you the truth I never thought the day would come that we'd be rejoined."
"We're not going to rejoin," Piccolo said with thinly veiled revulsion, "You'll just be a tool I need to power up. The only reason I didn't do so already was because we needed the Dragonballs from time to time."
"But that's….," Popo said aghast but Kami cut him off.
"He's right," Kami said as he looked down for a moment, "The difference between our powers has grown immense without me noticing it. In the face of these new enemies I've become useless."
"Don't say that," Popo said desperately but Kami continued.
"They have defeated Trunks, who easily defeated both Freeza and his father. They even beat Vegeta who was stronger then Trunks. And when Goku overcomes his illness I'm sure he'll suffer a similar fate. As would Belmovekk if he had chosen to take the field against them."
Kami looked up at Piccolo and began to smile.
"At last the time for God and the Arch-Demon has come to become one again."
"You're right," Piccolo said as he clenched his fists, "The world doesn't need some guardian demi-god looking over it right now, it needs me to be strong so I can defeat this enemy."
"I agree," Kami nodded, "I will give you my body."
"Kami-Sama," Popo said horrified, "please, no?"
"Good," Piccolo said, "Let's get this over with then, shall we?"
"However," Kami said sternly, "I need to look things over a bit more."
"What?" Piccolo said in a mixture of surprise and annoyance, "Look things over?"
"Yes," Kami nodded, "I need to see that those three are really going to destroy the world."
"You have got to be kidding me, you old coot!" Piccolo said angry as he pointed over the edge, "In case you didn't notice, we got steamrollered down there! They almost killed…"
"You were the ones who started that fight," Kami said stone faced, "And even so they still didn't try to kill you."
"You've got a lot of nerve saying that," Piccolo said indignant, "You should have heard what Trunks said from the safety of this perch. Because of them the world will be destroyed."
"I also heard that he said that the androids from his future and these ones are different," Kami shrugged.
"So what?" Piccolo argued, "Are you now saying that these androids are cute and that we shouldn't be harming them?"
"No," Kami said as he calmly shook his head, "But if I'm going to make the last decision of my life I want to make sure it's a damn good one."
Before Piccolo could reply something came flying across the edge of the Lookout and landed not far from them. Without looking over his shoulder Piccolo spoke up.
"I told you not to follow me, Faith. Now, say one word and I'll personally kick you off this bowl," he said, then he spoke to Kami again, "Have it your way, coward. We'll play the waiting game until something bad happens. And then you'll have no choice but to agree."
x
x
In a town in northern Punjab a small crowd had gathered around a car.
"Do these people have nothing better to do?" Buffy asked nervously, still sitting inside the car Xander had bought and almost having to push people out of the car window, "It's like they never seen a westerner or something."
"Maybe it's a cultural thing," Xander said. Normally he took things pretty much in stride, but the crowd of curious onlookers was getting even on his nerves. Normally as a westerner you expect at least some local curiosity, but when these Indians stared at you it was like they knew no shame or something. Like you were an object that had to be studied up closely and intently.
"Then they should do their cultural thing somewhere else," Buffy said as she wished the window on her side could still be closed.
"I think I now understand why all those travellers say that you cannot travel through India," Xander said, "that you can only endure it."
"Then I wish those androids would hurry up so we can endure on," Buffy moaned as she closed her eyes for a while, "Are they still in that shop?"
"I saw nobody leave, do you, Buff?" Xander replied, "Why do all these guys have moustaches? It's like we're stranded on planet of the moustaches. Do you think I would look good having a moustache?"
Buffy looked over at Xander who looked so dead serious it almost made her laugh.
"You're so not a moustache person," Buffy said deadpan, then she began to smile, "why the interest in a 'stache? Feeling the need to look more masculine? Want to grow an evil goatee?"
"Can't a guy just feel the need to look good?" Xander said as he touched his upper lip.
Buffy raised her eyebrows and began to smile from ear to ear.
"And this sudden need to embellish yourself has nothing to do with a certain female android?" she grinned.
"That's absurd! I just want a new look and….," Xander protested, then he fell silent and laid down his head on the steering wheel, causing the car horn, the only really functional part of the car, to go off.
"Oh God," Xander moaned, "I really do need to get laid!"
"Cra…. Angela getting the better of you again?" Buffy asked as she reached out to pat Xander on the shoulder.
"It's not that I don't mind caring for her," Xander sighed as he kept his head on the steering wheel, "It's just that, well, seeing you guys all happy in your relationships and me not being made out of stone, well, you can guess that little Xander is, um…."
"I'm getting the picture," Buffy said as she tried to cheer her friend up. Lately Xander's mood swings had become the stuff of legends. And it all boiled down to one thing. Crazy porno chick. Caring for her sapped the very Xander out of her Xander shaped friend. If only he wouldn't feel so obligated to save himself for her and went out once in a while.
"You know what we should do once we get back?" Buffy said trying to sound cheerful, "Let's go out! You, me, Willow, no boyfriends, no girlfriends. Just the three of us. Like in the old days. And to make you feel good we're gonna go to that place in Oxnard, which has those naked ladies dancing. You remember naked ladies, right? Dancing on those poles with those platform shoes?"
Xander looked at her with one eye.
"Are you suggesting that we're going to a nudie bar, Buff?" he asked curiously.
Without her even knowing it she began to put on a pouting face.
"If you like I'll bring lots of one dollar bills," she said deadpan.
x
x
Outside of the minivan, on the town square Android #16 looked around as the minivan's car horn finally stopped honking. Which was good as it had scared the monkey away that had been playing in the trees in the town square. Now all he had to entertain himself was the small horde of children that were constantly begging him for money and attention.
But #16 didn't mind. In a way all these kids were like monkeys anyway.
x
x
Inside the town bazaar #18 was busy looking for clothes to replace the torn clothes that had been damaged in the fight with Vegeta. Various merchants tried to show her their goods and she looked at them all. In a way she was in heaven as she enjoyed herself immensely for the first time since her creation at the hands of that monster, Gero.
#17 on the other hand wasn't as entertained as he followed her with a bored look.
"You know," he finally said, "Gero must be the ultimately failure. He designs 20 different androids to kill Son Goku, 19 of them male, and the one time he does design a female android, she still has the shopping gene inside her."
"Nobody forced you to come along," she said unrepentant as she leaned over to inspect a shop owner's stall, "If you wanted too you could have kept #16 company outside."
#17 raised an eyebrow as he wrapped his arms around him.
"I would if I could," he said, "But as you may have noticed #16's conversational skills leave much to be desired about."
"Then why not stay with our new friends in the car?" she asked as she moved over to another stall, "Those so-called tourists?"
"They do carry a striking resemblance to some of the people we saw inside Gero's lab, don't they?" #17 said as he cupped his chin and pretended to think.
"Then why do we travel with them?" #18 said as she looked at #17, then she began to frown, "Oh, let me guess. It's all a game, right?"
"Of course it's a game," #17 smiled almost excited, "And we're going to play it. But just not by their rules."
"Gero is indeed the ultimate failure," #18 said as she returned her attention to the stalls in the bazaar, "He builds 19 male androids and he still manages to build boys instead of men."
x
x
Space around Earth may look empty at first glance, but on closer inspection it was far from it. Old junk from the days of the space race, a multitude of satellites ranging from commercial telecommunications to high tech surveillance satellites. It all conspired to make Earth orbit a very crowded space.
But now something else was moving through Earth orbit. Something big. Something that dwarfed man's biggest construction in space, the International Space Station.
It was the USAF Enterprise, former Pride of Amūn and now integral part of the defenses of Earth. A gift from the Saiyan Belmovekk to the SGC and probably the one reason why they still trusted him. A little trust goes a long way and a free battle cruiser buys a lot of trust.
As Belmovekk touched one of the ship's bulkheads he couldn't help as memories came flooding back to him. Of what had happened to him in this ship. But also other memories. Memories that weren't his. Alien memories. Goa'uld memories. So much so that he was surprised that a certain copy of himself in gold clad armor wasn't around to tell him everything about it.
Leaving the ship's bulkhead for what it was Belmovekk turned around and made for the ship's mess hall. The ship, while large on the outside, wasn't so big on the inside. Machinery, store rooms, fighter bays, that and the large number of additional troops on board made it currently very cramped.
Of course Belmovekk had no trouble traversing the cramped corridors, as the soldiers made way for him like he was Moses and they the Red Sea. Which wasn't so surprising as most of the soldiers had received chi training. They hadn't been trained by him personally, that had been a very limited group. But by now those men had trained a lot of others. And while his existence had been kept a secret, a national secret even, there was bound to be some talk. Rumors. Chatter in the Caf. Plus some of the SG-21 members embarked onboard the Prometheus had seen action in Cleveland.
Gossip and rumors were universal constants, no matter which planet, galaxy or universe. Which made it all the more impressive that these Earthers had managed to keep this spaceship a secret.
As Belmovekk made his way past soldiers who looked at him in a mixture of wonder, shock and awe, he entered the ship's mess hall.
Where he found Spike sitting on a chair as he watched Passions intently on the mess hall TV. One of those rare instances of Earth technology being installed on this alien build ship.
"You know, for the starship Enterprise in space they have surprisingly good reception," Spike said as he noticed Belmovekk's entry without looking.
"Do not get used to it, Spike," Belmovekk said as he sat down opposite the vampire, "Any moment Commander Ronson will be ready."
"Then until then I'll keep on watching," Spike shrugged.
Seeing the vampire's point Belmovekk nodded and leaned back into his chair. For a while neither said anything.
"So how are your wounds?" the Saiyan asked, causing Spike to stop watching TV and look at the Saiyan instead.
"You're asking me how I am?" Spike said bewildered, "What died and crawled up your arse?"
"I was just curious," Belmovekk said defensively. To which Spike returned his attention back to the TV. He had watched another ten seconds when he suddenly looked at the Saiyan again.
"Well, if you must know I really hurt all over," Spike said, then he proceeded to give a very extensive and detailed list of every part and muscle of his body that wasn't up to specs. When he was finished he leaned forward.
"But you know what really hurts?" he said dead serious, "The way you and your little family left me and the others to face the music alone. Nothing says trust better then when you're getting beaten to a pulp by two homicidal androids and there's no help coming."
"And your little stunt with Dr. Gero spells trust in what way as well?" Belmovekk countered.
Spike wanted to say something, then he smiled and sat back in his chair.
"Still would have appreciated a head's up," he said as he folded his arms across his chest, then he suddenly grinned from ear to ear, "Do you think I'm now the first vampire in space?"
"Not unless the Goa'uld took some of your ilk away in the past," Belmovekk said after some thinking, "Which could be possible. I have heard that Ra's troops did came into contact with something that could be construed as vampires. They might have captured one or two for examination."
"Too bad," Spike said.
"But you would be the first vampire in living memory to go into space," Belmovekk added, "That would count for something?"
"I suppose," Spike shrugged indifferently, then he resumed watching Passions. After a while Belmovekk turned his head around and watched some as well.
"Why do you watch this drivel?" he asked, "I have seen better theater being performed in the gutters of Tol Honeth."
"Because it helps me escape the boring mind numbing dullness of my existence?" Spike said sounding a tad annoyed, "It amuses me. What's with the Twenty Questions?"
Before Belmovekk could reply the captain of the Enterprise spoke over the intercom.
"Attention, attention, this is your captain speaking. We are now over the target area. All SG teams to the teleportation room."
"Took them long enough," Spike muttered as he got up and used the remote to switch the television off, "They can build a starship that can go warp 10 but it takes them forever to fly us back to Afghanistan?"
"The ship has no cloak," Belmovekk replied, "Moving faster this close to the planet would draw unwanted attention as there tend to be a lot of people who look at the night skies. If anything you should be familiar with that concept. Oh, I forgot, you do not do subtle."
"Ah," Spike sighed contently, "Now that's the Big Scary that I know and hate!"
x
x
Outside a small domed house amidst a large forest and a mountain backdrop the air began to shimmer. Next thing a vortex began to appear, swirling and swirling in ever greater speed until it went too fast for the human eye. Then a leg emerged from the vortex, followed by the rest of a human body.
"…. do anything foolish he said," Krillin said as he stepped through the portal, soon followed by Trunks, "You're right, no matter how strong Goku has become, he's still no match for them."
"I don't understand it either," Trunks said as he held out an arm that was soon taken as Mayan she came through the portal, "Even if this is an alternate reality or not, what caused it to deviate so much from our history? The androids were never that much stronger then me."
"You think too much," Mayan said as she used Trunk's arm to steady herself, feeling a little disorientated, "It just is. Deal with it."
"Don't you at least want to know?," Trunks said, not annoyed but at least somewhat exasperated. To which Mayan shook her head.
"Why?" she shrugged, "Is it going to change one iota in how we're going to destroy those things?"
Behind them the portal closed after Willow had come through.
"I bet it has something to do with your father," Trunks muttered aggrieved, "From what I hear he's been turning this reality upside down looking for Ge…."
"You leave my father out of it!" Mayan said annoyed, "Unlike yours at least he cares!"
Next thing Mayan stomped off, her tail standing almost upright, a sign of great anger.
"What did I do?" Trunks said flabbergasted to Krillin and Willow.
"Women?" Krillin said equally surprised, then he tried to smile weakly.
"Instead of chewing some more on your foot why don't you two go get Goku," Willow said as she went after Mayan.
"I love that girl dearly," Trunks said as he watched Willow go after Mayan, "But honest to god half of the time she doesn't make any sense. And the other half…. And godforbid if she ever gets her period. Then I'd rather face the androids by myself."
Lacking any real experience with the other sex Krillin wisely choose to keep his mouth shut on the subject.
"Lets get Goku," he finally said.
"Good idea," Trunks said and the two of them walked towards Goku's house. Just a few feet from the door Krillin stopped.
"Trunks?" he said hesitantly, "mind if I ask a question?"
"What?"
"Are the androids really that evil?" Krillin asked the youth from the future.
"They are incredibly evil," Trunks said coldly, "They have to be. They delight in killing us slowly but steadily. It's just a game to them. Why do you ask?"
"N…no reason," Krillin stuttered slightly, "Just thought it would be a great help if they weren't."
"I wouldn't count on it if I were you," Trunks said, his hand on Goku's door handle.
"You're right," Krillin said rapidly, "I shouldn't have thought like that."
But as Trunks stepped inside, Krillin's thoughts continued to go like that. Especially about a certain blonde android.
x
x
Willow found Mayan sitting by a small stream, looking away into infinity.
"You're just like her," Mayan said without looking back.
"Just like who?" Willow asked curiously.
"Auntie Willow," Mayan sighed wistfully, "my Willow, the Willow of my timeline. Or reality, take your pick."
"What happened to her?" Willow asked, now being really curious, "Is she still alive? Does she date? Is she with a….."
"She died," Mayan said as she looked over her shoulder with a look so sad it almost broke Willow's heart, "She was the last of the Scoobies, you know. Androids killed her."
Hearing that you're dead never helped anyone's mood to improve and Willow was no exception to that. She did recover quickly though.
"Do I want to know how I died?"
"Probably not," Mayan said shaking her head as Willow sat down next to her, "Some things nobody should ever know."
"It might help to, um, avoid a similar fate?" Willow asked. In response Mayan's face began to brighten up a little.
"I don't think it matters anymore," she said, "As you may already have noticed things are going a little different then from what Trunks and me are used too."
"Oh," Willow said. The girl from a possible future raised a good one, "So now I can look forward to a more different way to die gruesomely."
Mayan looked at her again.
"You seem to take it all in stride?" she asked curiously.
"Well, if you live on the Hellmouth you tend to take things as they come," Willow smiled, "You know, world ending apocalypse this evening, film at eleven."
"Yeah, I forgot," Mayan asked curiously, "You grew up on a Hellmouth. Aun…, my Willow, she told me many stories about how much fun they had growing up. But she never told me about the bad things. The demons, the vampires. I had to hear them from…."
"There were bad times," Willow said as she began to reminisce, "We got hurt, bad things happened, friends that are gone."
For a moment Willow halted as she remembered her lost friends. Like Jesse. Poor Jesse who had been one of her best friends. Or Kendra. The tragic young Slayer.
"But there were also a lot of good times," Willow quickly spoke again, "It was like the bad also helped to make the good seem more good. Make love taste more sweet. It made you ride the mellow more."
Mayan began to laugh.
"I had forgotten how funny you could talk," she laughed.
"Uh, thanks, I guess?" Willow said unsure to talk the remark either as a compliment or as a given.
"He drives me crazy," Mayan said suddenly as she stopped laughing.
"Uh, who?" Willow asked, surprised at the sudden mood swing.
"Trunks of course," Mayan said as she put her head on her knees, "Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly, but sometimes I think he doesn't get me at all. Then he goes and says such hurtful things like about my father."
"Oh," Willow said, then she understood that they were finally coming to the problem at heart, "yeah, men can be like that."
As she said it, Willow had to fight down the urge to say 'have you ever thought about women?'
"One moment he's all nice and caring," Mayan continued, "then the other moment he says something stupid that kills the moment."
"Yup, men are like that," Willow echoed.
"Sometimes I wish I could change him," Mayan prattled on, "Don't get me wrong, the sex is great, spectacular even. And when he does that thing that…."
"Sorry, weirdness timeout!" Willow said as she waved her hands between herself and Mayan, "This is were I have to draw the line. Only a few days ago I was holding you in my arms and you were this big. Or should I say that small? And now we're having the sex talk already? Too weird, too fast."
Mayan looked at Willow, then she began to chuckle.
"I keep forgetting you're not her," she said as she stopped laughing, "That you're not my auntie Willow. That you're different."
"I can be her," Willow said quickly, "Well, obviously not her as she was much older then me and I'm only a few years older then you are now, and I'm obviously not that much comfortable having the whole sex talk with you yet, but I'm a good listener, Buffy talks to me, ask her, and I think that if you give me time we can be friends as well and then we can have the whole sex talk if you want too, but just not now, cause I need time to get used to that and…."
"How do you even breathe?" Mayan interjected as she looked at Willow in a mixture of curiosity and for lack of a better word, sadness, "I've forgotten that you could do that."
"Practice?" Willow smiled nervously, "So, friends?"
"I'd like that," Mayan smiled back, then she leaned over and rested her head on Willow's shoulder.
"Okay," Willow said a little hesitant at the sudden show of affection, then she tentatively embraced the girl. Who almost let out a sigh as Willow did the embrace.
"I miss you, auntie Willow," she said softly as she closed her eyes, "I miss you so much."
Not sure what to say, Willow decided to say nothing and just sit there. Sure it was strange. But she was also holding a girl who by all standards of measure was probably deeply traumatized and suffering from heavy post-traumatic stress. If she could give her a moment of peace by playing the part of a lost loved one, then what was the harm in that?
For a while neither said anything, then Willow reached out to caress Mayan's hair with her free hand. As she did the girl almost began to purr with delight.
Oh the girl was traumatized alright.
But as she began to caress the girl thoughts and images began to filter through almost subconsciously and Willow was presented with glimpses of a possible future. And what she saw began to frighten her.
Oh boy, was Buffy going to be in a world of hurt with this one.
x
x
A Day + 3
x
"Impressive!"
Xander and Buffy stood behind androids #17 and #18 as they all gazed at the Taj Mahal in wonder.
For two days the unlikely fivesome had traveled through Northern India, having their share of small adventures as a certain shopping spree turned sour when it turned out that neither of the androids had any money. Things had almost gotten ugly with the authorities coming after them when Buffy managed to diffuse the situation by pulling out her credit card. The locals may not have spoken their language but they sure did understand the language that was American Express.
After that the next little adventure had been to leave town before every merchant realized that there was a Western tourist in town with a credit card!
As it turned out Buffy's credit card would see heavy action throughout their journey as Xander had exhausted his cash when buying their car and of course, neither of the androids had any money.
And so they had made their way to the city of Agra. As a former Moghul capital it had tons of historic landmarks and the blackhaired Android #17 wanted to see them all. #18 just tagged along, always looking bored while #16 seemed fairly indifferent to anything. But he was easy to please, just put him in a quiet spot where he could observe some small animals and he was a happy camper.
As they traveled with the three androids they began to prove an ever greater enigma to Buffy and Xander. #16 made Oz look chatty by comparison as he hardly ever spoke a word, but like was said previously, the immense android was easy to please and never caused any problems.
#18 also kept to herself, always looking like she was bored. From time to time she protested against yet another one of #17's ideas for a diversion but she always went along with them in the end. She never paid much attention to Xander but after learning that Buffy had a credit card with almost limitless credit at times she seemed at times awfully cuddly with the Slayer. The girl definitely loved to shop to excess!
In a sense #17 was the greatest mystery.
If #16 was the lone assassin with a single task and #18 the submissive lieutenant, #17 loved playing games. He had taken to sitting in the front with Xander and now drove their car most of the time. He and Xander talked a lot about everything and he seemed to delight in picking holes in their cover story. By all intents he seemed totally keyed in to the idea that they were here to keep an eye on them, but he just didn't seemed to care. Treating it all as just another game.
And just when Buffy had him pegged as one big jokester, he would do something completely out of the blue.
When they had come to the Taj Mahal #17 seemed absolutely delighted. He loved every part of it. But what he loved most was standing in the entrance of the garden looking at the mausoleum and the gardens and soak it in visually.
"Impressive," he said in awe, "the mathematical symmetry, it's breathtaking."
"Dude, do you want me to get a camera?" Xander asked, but #17 waved his hand dismissively.
"No thanks," the android replied without taking his eyes away from the Taj Mahal, "I have no need for cameras. I just…, would like to be left alone and be one with this place for a moment."
"Suit yourself," Xander shrugged, then he turned to #18 and Buffy, "Anyone want any drinks? I'm gonna score some sodas."
"No thanks," #18 said shaking her head as she sat down on a nearby bench.
"I'm coming with you," Buffy said, "I want a coke. A real one! If I get one more of those Hindi Cola's I'm going to kill somebody."
"Suit yourself," #18 said as her gaze went on infinity and she looked right past them. Leaving Xander and Buffy to walk to the nearest kiosk selling food and beverages.
"Do you think they're gonna talk about us?" Buffy asked as she looked back over her shoulder at the strange twosome.
"I think they've finished talking about us a long time ago," Xander said as he briefly glanced backwards as well, "I have to admit, for genocidal robots, these are the most fun to be with."
"It's not like the other three had raised the bar that highly," Buffy said, "In fact they haven't raised the bar at all."
"When you're down the only way to go is up," Xander chuckled, then he turned serious, "Buff, do you think your future brother-in-law could be wrong?"
"Future brother-in-law?" Buffy asked puzzled.
"You know," Xander said back, "Big guy from the future, sports a big sword on his back, has this almost identical version of you with black hair and a tail for a girlfriend?"
"Oh God!" Buffy moaned as she facepalmed herself, "Gee thanks for reminding me of that. I had just managed to completely block it from my memory that I have yet again another identical twin trampsing around."
"But this one's different," Xander said with a growing smile, "She's not your twin, she's Mayan's twin."
"Who just happens to look like me," Buffy said wistfully, "oh and Mayan's barely two. I'm sure she won't be scarred for life meeting another self."
"It's freakish though how much she turned out exactly like you," Xander grinned, "Except for the hair and the tail."
"God, I'm not having this conversation again," Buffy moaned, "Not again!"
"To bad Dawn didn't come from the future," Xander mused, "I'd love to see how she would turn out. I used to think the twins were identical, but lately little Dawnie seems to be growing more and more different."
"Which is just as well," Buffy sighed, "Knowing that Mayan will grow up to look just like me is hard enough, imagine them both looking like me."
"Mmmmmm," Xander groaned with a big smile on his face, "Buffylicious."
"You're weird," Buffy said as she gave Xander an odd look.
"I keep hearing that a lot," Xander shrugged as they finally neared a vending stall, "usually from Summers women."
There was one advantage of being one of the greatest tourist attractions of the world Buffy thought as they neared the vending stall, at least here there was a chance of the locals speaking English.
"Two colas," she said as she pointed towards a coca cola bottle in the window. Another advantage was that in a country where a good size of the people couldn't read you could get a long way by just pointing to the goods they put on display. Some money was exchanged and Buffy found herself with two ice cold bottles of coca cola, much to her glee.
"Want one?" she asked Xander before taking a swig. Oooooh, that felt good to taste the real stuff again after having had to live off cheap local knock offs.
"Mmmmm," Buffy moaned in delight, then she looked around and realized something, "It's funny, here we are at one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world and there don't seem to be any tourists. Is it the wrong season?"
"I think this has more to do with it," Xander said as he took the other cola bottle from her, then he pointed to the headlines of a newspaper printed in English.
MORE SUICIDE ATTACKS STRIKE THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. THE US PRESIDENT DEMANDS THAT AFGHANISTAN HANDS OVER BIN LADEN!
Buffy skimmed through the newspaper article, then she looked at Xander.
"That's bad, right? As in not good?"
x
x
"This is way too much stuff."
With a look of exasperation colonel Jack O'Neill looked through the large hall full of junk that they had accumulated from Dr. Gero's laboratory. By now it had all been taken back to the SGC although Teal'c, the Saiyan, his strange companion and SG-21 had remained on site to recover more if they could find.
To their surprise they found that most of the laboratory had survived intact. Some idiot had clearly blown away most of the mountain (and O'Neill had seen some old satellite photography to prove that there had been more of the mountain then there currently was), but the blast had been aimed away from the main laboratory. So while the damage had been extensive, a lot was still left intact.
And now it was here, all for Sam, Daniel and the other white hats at the base to analyze. Jay us!
Upon his return O'Neill learned more of the worsening situation as more suicide bombers had struck the United States and Europe. Panic and fear were growing rampant. In Europe mosques had been set ablaze and there were some in Congress who were already openly talking about interning certain high risks groups.
But O'Neill didn't need access to the TV to know that the shit was hitting the fan. As they were uncovering things from Gero's lab the Enterprise teleported more troops in. Regular special forces, not assigned to the SGC. Who took off and made for a supposedly secret terrorist base. And while the special forces were on a secret mission a name soon began to be on everybody's lips. The same name was also in the news media once he returned.
Osama Bin Laden was suddenly the buzzword, as was his organization, Al-Qa'ida. In the West people were getting scared shitless of that name, while in the Middle East some were jubilant.
Many things were going on right now, but one thing O'Neill knew for sure, whatever shit was hitting the fan, somehow that bastard Kinsey was trying to get the better of it. With all attention focused on Earth's homegrown terrorists he'd find a way to use it to his advantage and use it to act against the SGC. The fact that the Enterprise was now shuttling special forces hunting for terrorists was already telling it all.
It was really bad that things were unraveling on the home front when they had their hands full out there with Anubis chasing all sorts of nasty Ancient super weapons. Dumbass Ancients leaving all those super weapons lying about the Galaxy! You'd think that a race capable of building weapons nasty enough to destroy planets would clean up after itself once they ascended. Or at the very least not be so criminally negligent as to who was picking up their deadly toys after them.
"Tell me you're making sense of this, major," O'Neill said as he walked towards Sam, who was behind a computer, together with Daniel and some white hat, "Tell me you can fix this so we can go back to kicking Anubis' ass."
"Sorry, colonel," Sam said as she stared intently at her computer screen, but I've not even begun to make sense. I'm not even making sense of what I'm seeing right now."
"Crap!" O'Neill muttered softly.
"If we're seeing anything at all," the base white hat said downcast, "Whatever happened in that case, it fried the computers almost solid. There's nothing but garbage on these hard drives."
"I don't want to hear what you can't do," O'Neill said as he exploded at the white hat, "I wanna hear solutions! Fry 'm, cook 'm, boil 'm for all I care, but learn something from those damn computers!"
"Sir," Sam protested as she came to the technician's defense, but to his credit the white hat wasn't intimidated by the colonel's anger.
"Sir, if you give me shit, it's not my fault I can't do much else with it then flush it," the white hat said defiantly.
"I know, son," O'Neill said as he patted the white hat on the shoulder, "just see if you can find a way to find a nugget or two."
Leaving Sam and the white hat to wrestle with the fried computers Jack then turned to Daniel, who was sitting behind a table full of retrieved documents.
"Please tell me you can make something of these," O'Neill asked Daniel.
"Oh, there's plenty of stuff to make sense off," Daniel said as he looked up from his stack of paper, "Too bad most of it is not technical. Apparently he did most of his designing on the computer."
"If he did most of his designing on the computer, then why did this guy have so much paper?" O'Neill asked as he again noticed the huge stacks of paper on Daniel's desk.
"I don't think he threw out much of anything," Daniel said as he looked one stack of papers over the other, "There's manuals of things here that became outdated even before the VCR. It also appears that the doctor was an amateur poet who liked to dabble in writing bad poetry and haikus. A lot of it dealing with a certain Son Goku. I've only read a few of them and while I'm no psychologist I think it's safe to say that that guy had a serious Son Goku obsession."
"Damn," O'Neill said as he pounded the air in frustration, "We never get a break!"
Sam wasn't the only one who had a white hat helping her, as Daniel had a fellow linguist helping him make sense of the huge stacks of papers. As O'Neill vented his frustrated anger the linguist tugged Daniel and showed him a slip of paper.
"What? Did he found something?" O'Neill asked as Daniel examined the paper.
"He might have," Daniel said without taking his eyes of the slip of paper, "I think it's a letter from one of his androids, reporting back to him."
"Androids writing on paper, what's wrong with that mental picture," O'Neill said as Sam and her white hat joined Daniel as he made sense of what he was reading.
"I think this was written by Android #13," Daniel said as he finally looked up, "And not that long ago. Probably not long after he and the other two set out to find out who was after the doctor."
"Yeah, but what does it say?" O'Neill asked impatiently.
"He reports that installation F is still safe and secure and that project Ultimate is still on track," Daniel said.
"Good God!" Sam gasped as everybody looked at each other in shock, "Do you know what that means? There's another facility out there?"