Disclaimer: Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Gate SG-1 (Atlantis by extension). Belong to their respective owners. I am not making any proceeds from this story, or the use of characters or concepts. I'm simply borrowing them for a bit.
Please don't sue me.
*************************************************************************************
Wednesday March 4th, 1998. 5:00 AM. Wolf 359 Star System
Buffy again regained consciousness far too slowly. Hazy voices echoed at the edge of her hearing. Several voices from the sounds of it. And if she could guess, they were arguing.
"She's no different than those things Major Ferretti!" a familiar voice growled out. Gruff voice number one "Put her down before she kills us all!".
"You will shut the hell up!" was the response. Ferretti she guessed "You are in no position to demand or recommend anything Captain Erickson. And if you persist in annoying me, I'll simply shoot you and leave you for what ever predators populate this planet".
Odd, did he say planet?.
"Besides, if it wasn't for her, none of us would have gotten out of there. She saved our asses Captain, show some respect".
Buffy tried to open her eyes, and moaned as the pain flared in her head "Ugghh…that's not nice".
Movement to her right drew her eyes, the same young woman from before kneeled next to her "Easy now, you took some serious blunt force trauma. You shouldn't even be awake" she said quietly.
"Buffy!" crowed a familiar high pitched voice.
Dawn was in her arms only a moment later. Buffy fought back the pain the impact caused and wrapped her arms around her little sister "Sshh. I'm alright Dawny. Are you okay?".
The eleven year old girl pulled her head up and nodded. Her face streaked with tears "I thought you were dead".
Buffy ruffled her hair "I'm alright squirt, I promise".
She nodded to the Air-woman still kneeling next to her "Buffy Summers" she nodded, and held out her hand.
"Staff Sergeant Victoria Nellis" she smiled, and took the offered hand.
Buffy looked to her sister "Dawn, can you tell Staff Sergeant Nellis about your science project at school while I check on everyone else?. I'll be right over there" she pointed, indicating the area where Major Ferretti and his people stood over the four men who had kidnapped them.
Dawn nodded after only a moment and slid from her lap. Sitting cross legged on the ground next to the young Sergeant.
Buffy pushed herself up and quickly examined the area. Quickly checking to make sure her entire family were present. A small fire had been set, illuminating a small clearing within a thin forest. The ground had been cleared only where the unconscious were laying and a place for the fire.
Everyone was there. Unconscious from the look of it. Shed jackets from anyone who could spare them were currently rolled up to provide them with some kind of pillow. She quickly moved to check on first her mother, then Willow , Giles and Cordelia.
A slightly older male, dressed like Sergeant Nellis smiled as she moved towards Hoshi Sato "there all okay. What ever they used to sedate them is pretty strong. I don't know how much longer they'll be out".
Buffy nodded and then looked towards Major Ferretti. He watched her warily, but his weapon was trained in the opposite direction. Not hers.
She caught his eye and nodded to the side. He glanced back to the four unarmed kidnappers and then looked back. He nodded and backed off before turning fully to move towards the edge of the slight clearing.
Another one of the jumpsuit clad soldiers moved without direction to take his place.
Buffy kept her hands in view the entire time, not wanting to startle the man. She could only imagine what was going through his head at the moment.
"Buffy Summers" she introduced herself.
"Major Ferretti, United States Air Force" he nodded.
She looked over at her sister, currently whispering quietly with Sergeant Nellis "So answer time huh?".
Ferretti smirked slightly "That would be nice".
She looked into his eyes, tilting her head to look up "What do you think they were".
He sighed and adjusted his stance, looking away briefly. Obviously going over everything he saw in his head "What I think they were shouldn't be possible. But…I've seen a lot of stuff over the last two years. So I'm willing to keep an open mind".
"So?" she pressed.
He locked eyes with her, and didn't break that contact for a long time "Vampires" he said quietly.
Buffy nodded "And you get a gold star".
"What about you?" he asked, his voice getting even quieter.
Buffy sighed and pushed her hair back, noting how matted it felt. "Long story short. I'm a seventeen year old High school student, who just happens to be cursed with the mystical responsibility of fighting the forces of darkness. Student by day, Slayer by night".
Ferretti blinked "Say again?".
Buffy took a deep breath "Basically, two years ago I woke up faster and stronger. Shortly after I found out I was something called a Slayer, one girl in all the world, Gifted with the strength and skill to fight Vampires, and other things that hunt us lowly humans. There's only one at any given time. When one dies, another is called. Not the best gig, but it has it's perks".
Ferretti's face was a mask of mixed confusion and disbelief. It passed quickly however "Only one question, are you a threat to us?".
Buffy shook her head "Only to Evil things…and those four over there".
Ferretti held her gaze for a few moments, then finally nodded "Good enough for me".
"My turn now" Buffy said, gently resting a hand on his arm "Where are we?".
Ferretti sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose "Look up".
Her eyes trailed up, and she nearly stumbled as she saw a silver glittering band stretch across the night sky. Like a silver hued rainbow.
"What?" she gasped "Is that…".
"Planetary debris ring, likely made up of rock and ice" Ferretti said "We're on another planet".
"How?" she pushed.
"I can't fully explain Buffy. I know you levelled with me, but I can't divulge this fully. Not without permission from my CO. But when we get back, I'll push to get you the answers okay?. Can you trust me?" he asked.
Buffy glanced around the area. At the people standing about, and then looked at Ferretti again "For now. But I want answers, even if I have to annoy your CO with endless hours of Henry the Eighth".
He smiled "That would be a sight".
Silence descended as they stood there, broken as Buffy realised something was off "Were one short..".
Ferretti nodded "Staff Sergeant Patrick Penhall. He didn't make it".
Buffy could see the anger and pain in his eyes, his voice covered it though. She squeezed his arm lightly "I'm sorry".
He nodded "Thanks".
"So, are we on our own here?" she asked.
Ferretti nodded slowly "Casey tried getting us to a planet we had been to before. He messed up the process. The problem is the device that brought us here is missing a key component. We're stuck for the moment. But don't worry, we work with some real smart people. They'll find us".
"On another planet?" she asked, hardly able to grasp the concept "How?".
He smiled "Just trust me okay?".
She nodded slowly "Alright, for now" she agreed.
"It's a start" he smiled.
Wednesday March 4th, 1998. Colorado Springs.
General Hammond entered the gate room and slowed upon seeing the assembled personnel. Right up front was SG-1 Minus Colonel O'niell. In his place Captain Samantha Carter would lead the team.
Behind them all eight members of SG teams 4 and 5. Lead by Major's Patrick Coburn and David Dixon. The only truly experienced SG Officers he had. The rest of their teams having only served for a few months now.
Lining the far wall, waiting orders were the newly dubbed SG teams 10, 11 and 12. Marines normally attached to base security. Team lead filled by Major's Albert Reynolds, Robert Makepeace and William Spence.
In total, twenty three men and women were ready to walk through the Stargate. Officially dubbed a Reconnaissance mission, but he knew it could quickly change. If Apophis was amassing a fleet to invade or god forbid, bombard earth from orbit back into the stone age. The faces before him would be the ones to fight and possibly die to prevent it.
He was proud at that moment. Seeing the resolve in each and every face.
He glanced to the active wormhole, and took a deep breath. "God speed" was all he could say.
Sam Carter. The acting mission CO nodded "Keep the lights on sir".
He nodded and watched her lead the way up the ramp, and into the event horizon. Followed by Doctor Jackson and Teal'c. The other five teams slowly filtered in after them.
He stood their for a long time. Just staring at the Stargate, even after the wormhole was cut off. He couldn't help but wonder how many letters he would be writing to grieving families. The part of this job he truly hated.
"God speed" he whispered finally, and left the room.
Wednesday March 4th, 6:00 AM. Wolf 359
The first indication Buffy had of trouble was the sound of a grunt, and before she could react the single echo of a gunshot.
Her head whipped up just in time to see one of the four men who had kidnapped them, Erickson. Pull Warren's submachine gun from his web vest and swing it towards Casey and Ferretti.
At the same moment, the three soldiers next to him each rushed one of the three Air Force officers who were previously assigned to pilot the Transport. They were subdued in seconds.
Warren stumbled back, and collapsed. Landing right next to Buffy's mother, who managed to catch the dieing or possibly dead Air Force Officer.
Casey reacted instinctively. And pushed Ferretti hard, sending him sprawling into the bushes. Out of sight just as Erickson opened up.
The man jerked several times, torn apart from his chest up. His body fell, like a puppet with no strings. Just a bloody mess.
Sergeant Nellis spun, her confiscated assault rifle in hand only to catch a burst from Malone. She flew back, landing on Giles.
The other four Air Force Officers rushed into the clearing, weapons ready only to be cut down by the remaining bullets Erickson had left. He dropped the rifle and pulled the pistol from Warren's vest. Then turned slightly, making eye contact with her.
The sheer terror she felt at that moment was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her limbs were like ice, frozen. And all she could see was the look of pure hatred in the man's eyes.
"Finn, Miller. Secure these civilians" he continued, then paused, his eyes drifted to her mother and sister "Wait".
He quickly crossed the distance, and reached down for Dawn.
Buffy felt the ice fade, and she moved to stop him. Only to hear another gunshot. Startling her. She stopped, her eyes wide as she spotted Willow slumping back to the hard packed ground. Blood slowly forming on her stomach.
Erickson now had the pistol aimed at her, his hand steady "Tell me Buffy, are they really your family. Or are you controlling them somehow, making them believe you're a normal human being?".
The tone in his voice was cold. Like nothing she had heard in even Angelus's voice. She knew he was going to kill her, and quite likely everyone else.
Slow movement drew both of their attentions. Hoshi Sato, her hands raised began to slowly stand "Let's just calm down. There's no need to shoot anyone else" she began to say. Only for Erickson to roll his eyes.
The red mist spraying into Buffy's face registered a moment before the gunshot. Hoshi collapsed backwards into her arms. Buffy felt the weight return to her limbs. Her arms instinctively moving to wrap around the young woman's shoulders.
Blood started to flow from her right shoulder. The young Starfleet Officer already shaking in her arms.
"Why?" she asked quietly. Looking up into the eyes of the man who wanted her dead "Why?".
Erickson, the pistol still steadily aimed at her head smiled "Your not human. That's why".
"I saved us!" Buffy pleaded.
"Saved yourself no doubt. Doesn't matter anyways. Were likely all dead. What ever that thing was we stepped through, I heard Ferretti talking, there's no way home. We'll all die here. So I figured I'd start with you".
He sighed heavily "Malone, find Ferretti. Make sure he's not a problem".
The slightly younger officer smiled slightly "With pleasure sir".
The second soldier barely took a step before the young soldier, Miller. Turned his weapon on Malone "No more sir!" he barked "This has gone too far!".
"Graham!" hissed Finn "What are you doing!".
Malone didn't move, he kept his hands slightly up from the rifle slung over his shoulder "Listen to the man Miller. Think about this now".
Erickson never once hesitated in his aim, still locked on Buffy.
Finn was torn, his own rifle still trained on everyone, weaving back and forth as he tried to decide if he would back his friend or his Commanding Officer.
Erickson's eyes closed slightly, exasperation or annoyance. She would never know. But it was all that was needed for Hoshi to burst from Buffy's arms. She flew at Erickson, clumsily wrapping herself around the man's arm and pushing it up into the air.
Buffy didn't waste her chance. Anger filled her chest, melting the ice in her limbs in a second, and she flew at Erickson in a flash. His head snapped back three times before the gun went off in his hand. Firing wildly into the air. All three spun slightly as she pivoted under his other arm to restrain him.
Hoshi disappeared, tossed away from the two of them somehow. And Buffy barely managed to jump onto the man's back, wrapping her arm around his neck to bring him down in a choke hold.
The loud click right next to her ear was more than enough to make her pause. He still had the gun, and it was now aimed right at her head.
She blinked. Her eyes focused on everyone in the camp.
Finn had his rifle aimed at her. Miller was aimed at Finn. Malone was laying on his side, unmoving. And she was at the mercy of a man who wanted her dead.
There was no flash of light, no super speed flashing of her entire life through her mind. Just this one moment. One moment to stare at and remember for the rest of her life.
"I don't want to die".
Gunshots filled the clearing. And Buffy fell back, fire burning in her shoulder and spreading. She stared up at the sliver rainbow in the night sky above and felt the cold ground beneath her. All things considering, there were worse ways to die she realized.
A shadowed face appeared above her. Long hair draped down into her face. It focused just enough to reveal the face of her mother. "Hold on Buffy!" she called out "Hold on Baby!".
Her head tilted slightly, to see her sister, and Willow. But she also saw Miller, kneeling with a rifle next to him. Staring in shock at the now dead and lifeless body of his friend Finn.
And Erickson. The man who would have killed them all. His neck twisted in a way no human neck should be able to go. His lifeless eyes staring right back at her.
And Ferretti, standing at the edge of the clearing, weapon held loosely in his hand. Blood dripping from his nearly useless arm. The uniform torn and bloody.
Sasha and Money already armed moving to check on everyone, in slow motion. Like everything she was seeing was progressing at the slow pace of her slowing heartbeat.
But I didn't want to die.
Wednesday March 4th, 1998. P3R-233.
Samantha Carter checked her watch and nodded to Teal'c. Then turned to the assembled teams, sprawled out around the area "Alright. We're a go. Columbia should have reached the system by now. Everyone knows they're part. After we send the MALP, SG-1 and 4 will secure the other side. Teams 5 through 12 will proceed through as directed. Once the subspace transmitter has been activated and contact with Columbia is established we'll go from there".
Daniel caught her glance and turned to the DHD. "Dialling address" he said and quickly tapped the seven symbols.
The wormhole burst forth a few moments later, illuminating the room with a soft blue glow. She was already waiting with the MALP remote. And a few moments later it vanished through the open wormhole.
A Laptop tied into the MALP's video flashed to life a moment later, the other side was dark, and apparently filled with crates.
"A storage facility of some kind" Teal'c said "We should move quickly, the Stargate will not be left unguarded for very long".
Sam nodded and slid the laptop into her sack, then adjusted it after slipping it on "Alright, here we go".
Quietly and efficiently the two teams moved through the gate, quickly established a perimeter on the other side and cleared the way for everyone else.
Once everyone was through and the Stargate disengaged, Teal'c moved to one side of the room and brought up the interior lighting. Sure enough the room was filled with crates of an unusual style.
SG-12 quickly moved to a space behind a few crates, directly behind the Stargate and began setting up the Subspace transmitter. It didn't take long since Columbia's crew had drilled them for a good ten minutes on the system before they left.
Pulling the hand held communicator from her vest she opened it and adjusted the frequency as Erika had shown her "SG-1 to Columbia".
Loud and clear SG-1. We've got you on our sensors. They're not very clear but we do have a good idea of your location. Responded Captain Hernandez.
"Good to know Columbia, any sign of our targets?" she asked.
Affirmative SG-1, we're parked out of the way. Slipped in during what we think is a sensor recalibration. All three ships are sitting in geosynchronous orbit of the fourth planet.
"Any sign of something we can use to reach them?" she asked quietly.
No need SG-1. The Stargate is on the lead mothership. Your in good position to do the job.
Everyone heard the response, a few were smiling but the majority of the assembled soldiers seemed to almost shift there awareness into first gear.
"Understood Columbia. I'm giving the go, if you can identify key locations for charges we can get this job done before they know were here" Sam said, reaching deep for that resolve she needed right now.
Sensors are a bit touchy, but I think we can give you a good idea of where both shields and hyper drives are located. Give us a minute to confirm and we'll transmit to the hand scanners we provided you.
Sam looked around again, catching sight of everyone. Looking at her or looking at the two doors Teal'c had pointed out a few moments before. He was no passing out strange snake like devices, pilfered from a nearby crate.
He moved to rejoin her and passed out one for her and one for Daniel "Zat'nik'i'tel. Stun weapons. One shot stuns, two shots kill".
Daniel smiled "Jack would think of some cool name for these. Or something stupid".
"Zat gun" Major Dixon supplied from nearby "Makes sense" he shrugged at a few wry looks.
SG-1, we've got a rough map for you. Transmitting now.
Members of every team nodded as the hand scanners registered a successful upload she smiled as she checked her own "We got it Columbia, thanks. We are splitting up and proceeding to our targets".
Copy that SG-1. MACO's are deploying to the second and third ships as we speak. Columbia is now Over-watch.
Sam put the communicator away and stood up "Alright, SG-12 will secure the gate. SG-1 and SG4 will proceed to the Hyper Drive Generator. SG-5 and 10 head for the shield control grid, SG-11 is on support. If anyone runs into trouble, we'll be counting on you".
Everyone nodded silently as the three lead teams lined up. Teal'c opened the main entrance and checked before making his way out into the corridor.
Sam took a deep breath and moved to follow.