Stargate Operations, Atlantis, four hours into journey to the Milky Way.
Daniel and Giles were standing on the main balcony looking out into the hyperspace tunnel; the older man telling the boy about the project that he and the Giles in his timeline were preparing to undertake; a history of Earth using what they knew so far from the arrival of the Alterra, to the evolution of man on Earth, to the kidnapping of the early humans by Ra, and then so on and so forth. In the meantime, Tara, Dawn and Bay were in the control room while Oz, Xander, and Spike were exploring the city for the past few hours while some of the Asgard were working through the research that was gathered in Atlantis' labs. It wasn't too long before Spike, Oz, Kelden, and Xander returned.. the toddler excited to see his mother again as Bay ran to her husband, and was handed the child.
"The city's huge," said Oz as Spike looked at Dawn who nodded her head; the vampire still couldn't get what Dawn had whispered out of his head. He suspected what she meant in that Willow was Athena just because of what she said, but he wanted to confirm that theory without anyone there, and he needed to know how it could be true. He approached the brunette when there was a sudden jolt that had everyone hold onto a console for their safety; so that they don't fall over.
It was then that Daniel and Giles rushed into the Control room from the balcony saying that they had exited hyperspace. There was a flash of light on Dawn's left side as Thor appeared in his command chair saying that the city-ship had suddenly gone out of hyperspace, and asking if the Asgard could be of any help.
"We've got no idea why we're out of hyperspace in the first place," said Dawn as she pressed some buttons on the console while asking Daniel and Tara to run diagnostics. While the others were working, Xander noticed a red dot blinking on the screen, and he called out for Dawn who turned around and looked at where he was pointing on the screen.
"No way," said Dawn as Tara and Daniel told her that all systems seemed to be all right, that there wasn't any reason that they should have exited Hyperspace. Dawn looked at Daniel and nodded her head before she motioned towards the screen. Daniel and Tara then rushed to the screen and looked in surprise at the red dot while Dawn continued to talk while pointing at the symbols near the red dot, "it's a ship… a Lantean warship that's… hold on… that's not right."
"What?" asked Bay while she looked at Dawn, "are you certain?"
"I thought all Lanteans returned to Earth?" asked Giles and Daniel together.
"From Atlantis? yes," said Dawn as she looked at Giles and then at Daniel, before looking at the screen again, "but it's possible that there were ships that could have headed to Earth on their own after the order to evacuate was given."
"But that ship's not in hyperspace," said Tara as she read some of the Lantean symbols on the screen "they're running at just below the speed of light."
"Perhaps their hyperdrive was damaged in the war," said Thor as he looked at the screen, "in either case, travelling to Earth at that speed would take millions of years."
"They'd be dead," said Xander.
"Relativity," said Tara, "I've listened to Sam and Willow enough times to know that the crew will think that only a few years have passed for them since they left Atlantis."
"Indeed," said Thor before he looked at Hera, "you should know Hera, that the ship will pass Atlantis in one hour."
"We can't spare the time," said Dawn shaking her head, "we…"
"It would be better to have more ships with us, Dawn," said Giles, "like I said, we're all worried about Buffy and the others… and Thor has told us that they're already fighting back against the replicators and that would take time; and then they would have to gather the resources to help protect the Earth.. so that would take a bit more time. For now, we need ships, you know this."
"He is correct, Hera," said Thor as Dawn looked at him, and then at Daniel and Tara who were looking at the screen.
"Dr. Jackson?" asked Dawn.
"We need allies," said Daniel, "if this ship really is Lantean, and they're heading to Earth, then their goals and ours match up."
"We have Thor's ship, Atlantis, and this Lantean ship," said Tara, "once we've gotten the ZPM's and the drones replenished from Edina, then we should have enough combined with the outposts on Earth which we could remotely control to beat back the Wraith fleet. We need them Dawnie, and they're your people. As a Lantean, as an Ancient, you're not alone anymore."
"Indeed, Hera," said Thor.
"You've got us," said Bay as Dawn turned to look at the woman, "and now you've also found out that more of your own people exist. I say we pick them up, and then we go."
Dawn nodded her head before she turned and pressed a few buttons, and then turned to the screen again.
And took a deep breath before she spoke.
"This is High Councillor Hera Ren of the Lantean city-ship Atlantis, calling the unidentified Lantean vessel," said Dawn as she looked at the screen, "please respond."
It was a few seconds later that the screen changed to show an image of a surprised blonde haired woman, with several people behind her manning consoles.
"This… this is Captain Helia of the Lantean warship, Tria," she replied as Dawn smiled, "High Councillor Hera… how? I… I heard you died in the war."
"I ascended," said Dawn, "and then I descended to this plain of existence several years ago, Captain. it's a long story… but I am Hera, my father is Moros… Melina was my mother, and Athena my sister. Right now, the city is occupied by myself… and a few friends from Earth."
"You have returned to Atlantis from Earth?" asked Helia as she shook her head, confusion etched on her face before she looked to her left and gave the order to head to Atlantis.
"Somehow the Wraith have come to Earth orbit," said Dawn as Helia's eyes went wide in shock, as did many of her crew, "there's twenty-one Potentia powered ships."
"How is that possible?" asked Helia stunned.
"I'm not sure," said Dawn, "I received my memories back after an… incident, and I called on the Asgard to help."
"The Asgard," said Helia as Dawn nodded her head while she stepped to one side as Thor in his command chair came into the picture, "this is Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard fleet. He asked for our help in searching for a cure to a disease, and a weapon to battle replicators in his own galaxy."
"There are replicators?" asked Helia.
"They are being defeated as we speak, Captain," said Thor as Helia showed visible relief, but they could still see that she was worried about news on the Wraith.
"Captain," said Dawn, "we're headed to a planet to replenish our weapons, and Potentia. We could use your help."
"Of course, High Councillor," said Helia.
"Land when you are ready on the southern pier," said Dawn as Helia nodded, "we'll talk more when you're here."
"Understood," said Helia as the screen turned off, and Dawn turned around and released the breath she was holding.
"Amazing," said Giles, "but why did we stop here and now? Dr. Jackson and Tara said that that there is nothing wrong with the engines and…"
Dawn suddenly smelled the scent of strawberries in the air, and then felt a small gust of wind around her cheeks; it felt as if fingers tenderly brushed against her cheeks, followed by a pair of lips kissing her on her left cheek. It was a feeling that gave Dawn a small smile.
"Mother," said Dawn as she looked around.
"Melina was here?" asked Daniel as Dawn looked at him. The man told her that they had met Melina before, and then asked if she was the one who stopped the City.
"I think so," said Dawn before he looked at Xander who asked how it was possible if the higher beings couldn't interfere.
"I did my own small interferences here and there," said Daniel while Tara smiled knowingly as everyone, including Dawn, looked at Daniel in stunned silence, "some stuff here… some stuff there. Not enough to change the evolution of the lower beings or anything but.. I was pulled away when I tried to use my powers to destroy Anubis."
"You… you were ascended?" asked Dawn who then looked in surprise as Tara nodded her head, "how's that possible?"
"He was poisoned by radiation," said Tara as Dawn and the others looked between the two people from another timeline, "he was dying and… and Oma offered him ascension. I was there the day he ascended, so was Willow and Buffy."
"My word," said Giles as he looked at Daniel, "so why did you come back?"
Daniel told him that Anubis had collected a set of keys to power a very powerful weapon, and the last key he needed was called the Eye of Ra on Abydos. He said that he promised Anubis the Eye of Ra in exchange for letting SG-1 go back home… and sparing Abydos. He looked away in embarrassment when he said that he convinced Colonel O'Neill to give up the Eye but Anubis betrayed their deal. He said that after Anubis had destroyed the twenty Goa'uld shops that gathered to destroy him… he then turned the weapon to Abydos.
"I gathered my power to destroy him," said Daniel, "but Oma pulled me away, and then sealed my ascended knowledge in a part of my mind, and sent me down to Vis Uban; the last City of the Ancients."
"And Abydos?" asked Oz.
"I was there in the Gateroom when Jack and the others came through," said Tara, "a massive energy surge hit the Iris and… and a few hours later we went back. The planet was destroyed…. The pyramid was gone, the village was gone. But Oma ascended the Abydonians to spare them from dying."
"So I know that ascended beings can make small changes here and there," said Daniel as he looked at Dawn, "so I'm guessing that it was either Oma, or Melina. And since you're grinning… it's probably Melina."
"Yea," said Dawn nodding her head.
It would be an hour later that the Tria would land on the pier that was assigned to her before Atlantis went back into hyperspace.
Edina, four hours later, 1800 hours.
A hyperspace tear opened over the planet of Edina, and Atlantis shot out as she headed towards the planet below. It was agreed a few hours before the city was due to exit the hyperspace tunnel, that the Belisknir and the Tria would release their clamps from the docks and fly through Edina's atmosphere on their own power. The ships would then dock once again when the city has landed and begun the process of activating the underground, and heavily shielded, facilities so that the ZPM's could be tested for viability, and if the devices had run out of power… then new ones could be created. And then they had to beam the drones into the bays in Atlantis, and on the Tria where the Asgard were helping repair the hyperdrive and the shield generators on the Lantean vessel…. All of which had been finished by the time the city had shot out over Edina.
"You think she's here?" whispered Tara to Daniel as the two members of SG-1 stood at the main balcony.
"Maybe," said Daniel as he looked at the planet below.
"Dr. Jackson," said Giles as he motioned at the archaeologist and Tara to come into Stargate Operations where all the controls were now manned by the Lanteans while Dawn was standing with Helia looking at the screen while the other Scoobies, except for Xander and Oz who were helping some of the Lanteans check how many arms remained in the armoury.
Helia had already been briefed about everything she needed to know about Earth an hour after the Tria had docked on the Southern Pier. She found out who Giles was since the woman was wondering why a child was attending the briefing in the first place, and it was something that fascinated Helia; that a grown man was now made into a twelve year old boy with all his memories and experiences of when he was older retained. She was surprised to find out about who and what Spike was, something she said was sure to surprise and amaze her medical staff on the Tria; and she was stunned to find out about Tara and Daniel being from an alternate timeline. The two of them then briefed her on the Stargate Program and everything they had done against the Goa'uld, and their hopes of restarting such a program on Earth.
After two hours of briefings, in which Helia insisted to Dawn that the more advanced technology be kept out of the hands of the people of Earth; something that Thor, and even Daniel and Tara had agreed with. It was the position of the time-displaced SG-1 team-members that surprised Spike, Xander, and the others before they asked if it won't be better for the Earth to have access to some of the more powerful technology. Daniel was the one who explained that while the Earth in his time-line had begun to advance technologically in terms of planetary defence, it was done over a period of time… with several mistakes that the SGC had to fix themselves. Mistakes, that Daniel claimed, helped them to appreciate and properly use the new technology.
He told them about how the SGC themselves had to stop organizations like the NID from misusing the technology that they had collected; he gave the example of the weather device that the NID had stolen from Medrona, a device that the NID was testing which caused Earth's weather to behave erratically while they were experimenting with it… a device that would have wiped out the people of Medrona because their weather wasn't being controlled; something that could have destroyed the entire planet because the NID was so eager to steal technology that they didn't understand.. HE told them that SG-1 was sent to retrieved the device from the NID, and then bring it back to Medrona. .
"If you just hand over advanced technology," said Daniel as he looked at Dawn, and then at Spike, Giles, and the others, "without an organization like the SCG to oversee that technology, then any organization out there can gain access to the tech.. and misuse it. Even within the SGC, we've had problems… but we had to take them out on our own too."
"I'd suggest we begin with power generation," said Tara, "take it slow. Build alliances first, and then trade in technology."
"It we just hand over ZPM's to a world that's not ready yet?" said Daniel as he looked at Dawn, "you're looking at a possible extinction level event if they try doing something they're not sure of. They could detonate the ZPM and take out one whole chunk of the planet, or wipe out nearly the entire solar system."
"You're right," said Dawn as she rubbed her head, "maybe we could talk about technology later on… right now we concentrate more on beating the Wraith."
"There's one more thing you need to consider, Dawn," said Tara, "the city itself. Even after we destroy the Wraith fleet, you know that every country on Earth will be coming after the city."
"No one will want one city to have such advanced tech," said Xander as Spike nodded his head.
"Are the politics on Earth that bad?" asked Helia.
"It could be much worse," said Giles, "I'm sure there are nations that'll respect Atlantis' sovereignty as long as technology is shared, but other nations will want to carve out the city for themselves."
"What are you saying?" asked Dawn.
"The city cannot stay on Earth, High Councillor," said Helia, "perhaps on a planet where the civilization is already on a level similar to our own."
"Like the Tollan, if they exist in this time line," said Daniel before he explained about the Tollan, and their refusal to give technology… even medical technology, to so-called primitive people. Tara then told them about how that arrogance destroyed the planet after the Goa'uld attacked using weapons that were designed by Anubis using some Ancient knowledge.
"Daniel and I could help with starting a new SGC after all of this is done," said Tara, "but for right now, maybe medical technology and power generation technology is what should be shared… especially since there will be a lot of injured people, and power will be out in various places because of the Wraith attack."
"I agree," said Thor, "the Asgard will provide medical assistance as well, and I will speak to the High Council in regards to other ways that we could help Earth."
Back in the present time, Dawn nodded at Daniel and grinned at Tara, still being unable to believe that the blonde witch was standing in front of her. Dawn then shook her head and called Daniels attention to the screen in front of them, all the while as Tara walked towards Dawn and put her arm around her shoulders. Dawn looked back at Tara and gave the widest grin possible before she pointed at the screen which showed a scan of the planet below, "the facilities are located in the mountains to the north, and in the flat grasslands to the East. There are a lot of villages, five close by the Stargate. I was thinking that we land on the ocean."
"So as not to frighten the local populace," said Helia.
"Oh, they're gonna be frightened either way," said Daniel as he looked at the screen.
"They're all human, right?" asked Bay.
"Yes," said Helia as she pointed at a few symbols on the top left corner of the scan.
"Can I step out into the sun on this ball?" asked Spike as Dawn checked the reading from the sun, and compared the readings to the Lantean sun, and frowned. She looked at the platinum blonde man, and said that he could survive for a little while before he had to get out of the sun.
"It's not as intense as Earth, so I give you maybe eight hours out in the sun before you start to smoke," said Spike as Helia chuckled.
"Hey," said Spike as Helia shook her head and waved her hands, "not funny… see how you feel getting barbecued,"
"Barbecue?" asked Helia.
"Believe me, Captain," said Dawn, "there's a lot of things you'll be experiencing… and meat cooked over a naked flame is only the first."
Helia just nodded her head at Dawn before looking at the screen again.
"I recommend we take three Gateships to the facility in the North, and two to the one on the East," said Helia.
"Dawn," said Daniel as he looked at the screen, and then at Tara who nodded her head before looking at Dawn, "Tara and I would like to take a Jumper…. one of the Gateships to the villages and… well, introduce ourselves."
"Would that be wise?" asked Helia.
"There's going to be a lot of frightened people down there," said Daniel, "and making first contact with new civilizations and cultures is kind of the SGC mandate."
"And just because it doesn't exist here," said Tara, "doesn't mean we don't stop, plus this is their home now… it's better to introduce ourselves to the neighbours. Even if it is for a short visit."
"Then I'd like to go with you," said Giles as the others looked at him, "this is a once in a lifetime chance to meet humans who were transplanted from Earth to another world. Like Dr. Jackson said, this is a whole new culture that evolved independently from Earth."
"Oh you'd be amazed at how some civilizations reflect the civilization that they came from," said Daniel excitedly, "there's a planet called Argos where…"
"Daniel," said Tara, "there's gonna be a lot of time for you to talk about the Argosians… we have this for right now."
"Sorry," said Daniel as he looked at Giles, "but there's a lot I'd like to talk to you about."
"Of course," said Giles excitedly.
"I'll go too," said Dawn as Helia nodded her head, "and I'm pretty sure that Spike, Xander and the others would like to meet them and.."
"Dawn," said Tara as she looked at the brunette, "let me and Daniel go by ourselves. We'll tell them who we are, and why we're here. And then we'll tell them that you and some of the others would like to meet them. These are a good, and kind people in my timeline… but it's better to just make it a small group. Once we're given the okay from the villagers, Daniel and I will contact you and then the others can meet us."
"That is a good point as well," said Giles as he shook his head, slightly disappointed that he would have to wait before meeting a race of humans on another planet.
"All right," said Dawn nodding her head, "the two of you'll be the introductory group."
"That's what SG-1 does," said Daniel as he shrugged his shoulders, "we do the meet and greet, and we're the one who gets shot at."
"Yeah," said Tara with a frown, "that just sucks."
"Captain," said Dawn as she looked at Helia, "I launched the city, which was easy. But I'm not sure about the landing. Do you have anyone who could take over?"
"Of course," said Helia, "and may I recommend that we launch the Tria and the Belisknir off the piers, we can re-dock once the city has landed."
"Do it," said Dawn, "inform Supreme Commander Thor, and please have the teams that are going out to the underground facilities report to the Gateship bays. I'd like for them to leave once the city has landed."
"Very Well," said Helia nodding her head before she went to a console and made and announcement while Dawn turned to Tara and Daniel.
"We'll contact you once we've made contact with the natives, Dawnie," said Tara as Dawn nodded her head before Tara and Daniel left the control room, leaving Dawn wondering why it was that the two of them were so eager to land on this world instead of the others.
Surface of Edina, a few minutes later.
It was just a journey by horses of thirty minutes from the two neighbouring villages to a vast clearing, past the acres of farmland so that there could be a double celebration; one for the successful harvest, and the commencement of a wedding where the entirety of two villages, nearly one hundred and fourteen people, were invited to witness the wedding of one of their respective village's son and daughter. There were various tents set up, two of which had edges that were covered all around; they were for the bride and the groom. The smell of food being cooked wafted through the air, as lights were hung all around the area; the entire surrounding area had a celebratory tone as adults mingled and children played with each other while others played musical instruments in the background.
It was at the groom's tent that a blonde, curly haired woman in her late thirties walked in carrying a two year old boy who was smiling widely at seeing the nervous young man who was just sitting down, and then pacing about, and then repeating the process for the past few minutes before the woman walked into the tent.
"Soren," said the woman as the young man turned around and smiled, first at the toddler who was jumping in the woman's arms, and then at the woman herself, "you look handsome. Karina is lucky to be getting married to you."
"Thank you, Aunt Joyce," said Soren as he bowed his head slightly before Joyce handed the young man the toddler just as another man with short brown hair walked into the tent and smiled at Soren.
"Uncle Jayden," said Soren as he nodded his head while the toddler, who was in Soren's arms now, was jumping and reaching for Jayden. Jayden then smiled at Joyce, and gave the woman a peck on the lips… an action that made Jay cover his eyes while Soren chuckled.
"Joyce and I just came from congratulating Karina," said Jayden while he carried Jay in his arms, "she looks very beautiful."
"She does indeed," said another man, followed by a dark haired woman behind him, who walked into the tent and hugged the young man, "congratulations, my son."
"And I wonder who Jay will wed when he's come of age," said the woman, Soren's mother, with a chuckle as Joyce laughed while Jay shook his said and said 'no' in a squeaky voice.
"That's years from now," said Joyce who chuckled again when Jay said 'no' once again.
Suddenly, they heard a buzz, and a sound of thunder, from outside followed by screams. Joyce and the others looked at each other before they ran out onto the clearing where they saw their guests pointing up to the sky. It was Soren who gasped when he saw Karina in her simple white dress as she stepped out of her tent with her own parents; the both of them were looking at each other just before Soren's father, who was looking up in shock, tapped on his shoulder and told him to look up.
Now everyone, including Joyce, looked up at the sky as they saw a fireball streak down... a fire ball which then made another sound of thunder, a fireball that had two objects on either side. A few seconds later, Joyce saw that the fire was gone as the three objects streaked overhead; the objects were far up in the sky, but she could make out blue light from underneath the large object in the middle, as well as grey coloured towers. She then made out the long ship that was flying along it's left side, and the ship that looked as if it had a hammerhead flying along its right side. She saw them fly overhead and out into the distance over the farmlands and the clearing, and the trees until they were just pinpricks in the sky, and then the vanished over the horizon.
Joyce and Jayden then looked at each other, silently wondering between them if this was the day that the former might have to leave. As if reading their minds, Joyce held Jayden's hand tight and told him that they weren't sure what was going on.
"And you're my husband," said Joyce looking at Jayden with love in her eyes, "Jay's our son, I'm happy here with you and…."
"What if you have a chance to go back home?" whispered Jayden as Soren, and his parents, stood next to them. Out of the entire village that Joyce belonged to, only Jayden and his brother, their nephews, and new sister-in-law knew the truth about where Joyce really came from; a distant planet called Earth. And as they stood together, they wondered what would happen now; what would happen if these were Joyce's people come to take her home.
"Ma-ma," said Jay as he reached for Joyce, who took him in her arms as they looked out into the distance, and wondered if they should continue, or seek shelter just in case these were bad people. The question going through Jayden's mind was what would they do if these really were bad people, the Edinians were simple farmers and had no experience in war… and from the ships that flew over them, Jaydon guessed that they were dealing with people with an extremely high level of technology.
There was only thing he could do, as one of the village elders.
"Get back to our villages," said Jayden before he looked at his brother, "Aren, send a message through to our guests… I want all women and children to…"
"Da-da," said Jay as he pointed to the distance while some of the other guests gasped.
Jay and Joyce, as well as many others standing next to them saw three cylindrical objects fly right over them and then head towards the mountains in the distance, while another two headed towards the villages, they saw the ships fly over, and past them to the distant trees. The group then turned around again when they heard another buzzing sound.
"This could be a problem?" said Joyce as she then looked at another ship heading towards them.
The ship, a cylindrical green coloured ship, flew over them before it came about and then circled over them. The ship then hovered as it started to lower itself while its short wings retracted back into its body, its front window facing the crowd in front of it. It was then that Joyce's eyes went wide open when she looked at the short haired blonde woman who was looking back at her.
Joyce's eyes started to water while her mouth remained open in shock.
She didn't move, but her arms and legs trembled while the woman, and then the man next to her got off their seats while a door at the rear of the ship opened.
"Ma-ma?" asked Jay as Joyce looked down at the little boy in her arms with tears streaming down her face, and then at Jayden who gave her a small smile. Joyce then turned to the man and the woman who were walking towards them, both of them with smiles on their faces. As the woman got closer, Joyce could see tears streaming down her face as well, tears that she was constantly wiping away.
The crowd was mumbling among them as Soren and Karina stood together while the two strangers stopped in front of Jayden, and Soren's father.
"Elder Jayden," said the man as Jayden looked on in surprise, as did Joyce.
"Who are you?" asked Jayden, "and how do you know my name?"
"There's a lot of things that need to be explained," said the man before he looked at Joyce, "Mrs. Summers, my name is Dr. Daniel Jackson, and this is…"
"Tara," said Joyce with a broken voice as she held Jay close to her while reaching out with one hand; she reached behind Tara as the blonde witch took the last few steps forward and hugged Joyce tightly. Joyce had her eyes closed tight while she sobbed; and at the same time Jay placed his hand on Tara's cheeks while the blonde held on tight to Joyce.
"Hi, sweetie," said Tara gently, both to Joyce, and to Jay. She then looked at Jayden, and noticed that he had the same aura as the Jayden in her timeline when they found Joyce on Edina after Loki had cloned her, and then had the original Joyce replaced. However, it was the clone who died, and was then later buried. Because of that, Loki couldn't return Joyce back to Sunnydale since the cloned body was already dead… and he didn't want the Asgard Science Council to catch onto him. So he deposited Joyce on Edina, and then went on his way.
Tara felt Joyce pull back and then the both of them wiped their tears while Daniel looked around him, and then noticed the lights and the smell of food in the air, and the formal dresses that everyone seemed to be wearing; especially a couple who looked to be more formal than the others, with the young woman wearing a white gown.
"Oh boy," said Daniel as he looked at Joyce, "we came at a bad time, didn't we?"
"No," said Soren as his wife-to-be shook her head.
"How did you.. you find me?" asked Joyce as numerous other questions flew about.
"Were you people from these things that fell out of the sky?"
"Are you here to enslave us?"
Those were some of the questions being asked, so it was Jayden who asked everyone to remain silent and let the two strangers answer.
"My name's Dr. Daniel Jackson, and my friend here is Dr. Tara Maclay-Rosenberg," said Daniel.
"Maclay-Rosenberg?" asked Joyce excitedly, "Tara, you married Willow?"
"It's a long story, Mrs. Summers," said Tara as sadness took over just for a second before she shook her head; it was something that Joyce didn't miss, but wanted to let Daniel finish what he wanted to say first.
"It's kind of complicated where we're form," said Daniel as he raised his voice and spoke to everyone around them, "all we can say is that we're explorers from a planet called Earth. And we've come here in a city-ship, and two other vessels so that we could replenish supplies before heading back to our home-world."
"Earth is under attack by a very powerful enemy," said Tara as she glanced at the looked of shock on Joyce, "and we need to spend two hours here, at least, so that we could run checks and replenish weapons. Your people have nothing to fear from us, or from the Lanteans, or from… from the Asgard."
"The Asgard?" asked Joyce as she stepped back with her eyes wide open in surprise.
"Tara," said Daniel as he looked at the blonde witch, "Mrs Summers needs to know the truth, I'll contact…. You know who."
"Please tell Thor about Loki?" asked Tara as he looked at Daniel, while Joyce looked at the both of them stunned. Daniel nodded his head, he then walked back to the jumper where his first call was to Dawn, and then the second call was to Thor on a secured channel where he went on to explain what Loki did in his timeline. In the meantime, Tara told Joyce the truth about who she and Daniel were, and that she had already met Jayden and Jay in an alternate timeline; that Joyce was found on Edina only a few years ago from her perspective. However, Tara left out the details about how she was found sicne she intended to share that once Dawn arrived.
"If what you say is true," said Jayden as the others mumbled among themselves at hearing a fantastic story, "then did Joyce go home?"
"She visited Earth," said Tara with a smile, "but her home was with her husband, her son Jay, and her daughter on Edina."
"I have a daughter?" asked Joyce as Tara shook her head.
"You were due a month after we were set for the mission to the past," said Tara softly, "she was never born… but you said that you wanted to name her either Elizabeth, or Rose."
"Have you met my brother? And his family?" asked Jayden as he introduced Aren and his wife, and then their son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
"No," said Daniel as he walked up to Tara's side, "when we changed the past, the ripple effect must have changed a lot of things. The Jayden we knew didn't have a brother."
"Oh," said Aren.
"So you are not here to enslave us?" shouted a voice from the back as Joyce frowned while Tara chuckled.
"No, we are not," said Daniel shaking his head.
"But they will be joining the festivities," said Soren as he looked at the others behind him, and then at Daniel and Tara, "that is if you wish."
"Well," said Daniel and Tara together.
"You all right with a few more guests?" asked Tara as another ship flew over the large group before it came around and landed next to Daniel's ship. Daniel and Tara stepped aside so that Joyce could get a clear view into the ship through the front window, and the older blonde immediately brought her hand to her mouth and gasped. Jayden, and the others in front, looked at Joyce, and then at the young woman in the ship, and the people next to her who were now standing in shock. He saw the brunette scream before she rushed out of the vessel, followed by the others. Jayden heard Joyce sobbing as he picked up Jay from her arms as she brought her other hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face before she ran past Daniel and Tara; all to hug her daughter.
"Mommy," said Dawn as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, while she tightened her grip around the older woman's shoulders; it was the same thing that Joyce was doing as the both of them went down onto their knees together. Dawn was sobbing on Joyce's shoulder as she opened her eyes slightly while she held on to the back of Joyce's head and looked at Daniel and Tara.
She saw their knowing smiles before closing her eyes again.
'They knew,' thought Dawn to herself as she pulled back and wiped her tears while Joyce held on to both of the brunette's cheeks, 'they knew about mom… which means… the other timeline. The same thing or.. or something similar happened… mommy.'
"You're so beautiful, honey," said Joyce in a broken voice as she scanned Dawn's face, "you've grown up so much."
"How.. how is this…?" asked Dawn before Giles interrupted her.
"Joyce?"
"Mrs. Summers?" asked both Xander and Oz together, while Bay with Kelden in her arms just looked on surprised.
"Joyce?" asked Spike as the older woman stood up with Dawn who wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Spike," said Joyce as she hugged the surprised vampire, who then wrapped his arms around her back, "it's good to see you."
"You're not a vampire, are you?" asked Spike after Joyce had stepped back giggling while shaking her head.
"No," said Joyce before she kissed his cheek, and then she hugged Xander.
"Xander," said Joyce as she hugged him, "what happened to your eye?"
"Long story," said Xander while he held her tight, "how are you alive?"
"Long story," said Joyce smiling at Xander before she hugged Oz.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," said Oz before he introduced Bay to the surprised Joyce as his wife, and then introduced her to his son, Kelden.
"He's so adorable," said Joyce pinching the young boy's cheeks before Xander pointed at the twelve year old boy who was wiping his eyes before fixing his glasses back on his face.
"Hello, Joyce,"
"Oh dear lord," said Joyce surprised, she recognized the voice, it was squeaky but it still had the familiar sound of the person she knew was Buffy's Watcher, "Rupert? What happened to you?"
"Long story," said Giles as Joyce knelt down and hugged the former watcher.
It was a few seconds later that Joyce pulled back and got on her feet before grabbing Dawn's arm and pulling her to Jayden while motioning at the others, telling them that there was someone they had to meet.
Tara put her hand on Dawn's shoulder as she passed the blonde witch, and Dawn then gave her a tight hug, while whispering thank you in her ear. Dawn then hugged Daniel before she pulled back as Joyce walked back towards her with a little toddler in her arms, and a man next to her who was giving her a small smile.
"Dawnie," said Joyce as she held on to Jay in her arms while she motioned towards the man next to her, "I want you to meet Jayden, my husband."
Jayden nodded his head at Dawn whose look of surprise turned to a smile as she looked at Jayden, and then at Joyce and the toddler in her arms, and then back to Jayden once again.
"And this," said as she held on to Jay's arm and waved it at Dawn, "is Jay. Your brother."
"Oh wow," said Dawn as she walked towards Jay with trembling feet.
"Jay," said Joyce as she pointed at Dawn who was now holding onto Jay's hand, "this is your older sister, Dawn."
"Daw," said Jay as he reached out for Dawn, who took him in her arms and laughed as he wrapped his hands around her neck and rested his head on her shoulder, "Daw."
"I'm Daw," said Dawn as she closed her eyes and hugged her brother, "I'm Daw. I have a brother."
"I suppose we have another thing to celebrate now," said Soren as he approached the newcomers, "please… join us. This is an auspicious day; the celebration of our harvest, a wedding, and the reunion of a family."
"We have plenty of food," said Aren as Xander perked up.
"I am kinda hungry," said Xander.
"Dawnie," said Tara, "we have two hours before we're done, you should enjoy yourself… but before that… I think I should talk to you and Mrs Summers in private about what happened; who we are, how we got here, and she needs to know about Buffy and what's happening on Earth."
"OK," said Dawn nodding her head.
"Please," said Jayden as he turned around, "let us returned to our festivities… my nephew is correct, this is indeed an auspicious day. Let us feast!"
"Go on, guys," said Daniel as he nodded towards the Scoobies, "welcome to a whole new world."
"This is amazing," said Giles softly as he walked into the crowd of excited people, as did Bay, Oz and Kelden. Spike was unusually flustered when two women grabbed his hands and pulled him into the crowd while Daniel, Tara, Dawn, and Joyce walked back to the Puddle Jumper. Once inside, Joyce and Dawn hugged again… the older woman wanting to make sure that she wasn't imagining things and that her daughter was real.
Dawn then sat down with Joyce while Tara and Daniel were sitting close by as they began to tell Joyce everything. Daniel and Tara started by telling her details about the timeline they came from. They then went on a quick history of the Ancients, and the Stargate Program and details on how they found their Joyce Summers; they told Joyce about who Willow really was while leaving out information about Hera on purpose. Daniel and Tara then told Joyce about the travel to Earth's past, and went into quick detail about the uprising on Earth. Joyce's eyes went wide in shock when she heard about the deaths of an alternate version of her oldest daughter, and Willow… as well as their friends.
"Buffy is alive in this timeline," said Dawn as Joyce looked at her, "she's fighting the Wraith.. the aliens that these guys told you about."
"So Willow's this Ancient from Atlantis; as in the lost city of Atlantis?" asked Joyce as she looked at the three of them who nodded their heads, "I mean the old Willow… the alternate Willow knows who she really is? Wow… and you said she has a sister? I heard you mention a Hera? Did she ever find her? And… I mean, why wasn't she ascended then when you guys came here and she died and…"
"We don't know," said Tara, "maybe because there was already an Athena here in the ascended plains?"
"Oh," said Joyce.
"There's something else you should know," said Dawn as Joyce looked at her, "I'm Hera… I'm Athena's sister."
"What?" asked Joyce as she looked at her daughter.
"I know it's a lot to take in, mom," said Dawn, "and no matter what I tell you… you're my mother, and Buffy;s my oldest sister."
Dawn then quickly told Joyce the reason why she descended; and after Joyce knew the whole story, all the older woman could do was caress Dawn's cheeks before hugging her again. Joyce wouldn't have believed Dawn if she hadn't already been abducted by a race of aliens who just wanted to find a cure to their disease based on what Tara had told her… but being on an alien planet changed her outlook on the universe, and she had wondered how many worlds' there were with life teeming on them.
Joyce held Dawn tight as she tried to understand the sacrifice it took Dawn to descend to the lower plains, 'you gave up everything to contain the Key; your real mother, your family, your immortality, your knowledge… I'm torn. I'm sad that you had to give up so much, but I'm so glad you did because if you didn't, then you would be in our lives.'
"I love you," said Joyce into Dawn's ear.
"I love you too, mommy," said Dawn just as there was a knock on the door. Everyone then looked at Jayden, while Joyce and dawn wiped their eyes, who himself was looking at the inside of the ship with his eyes wide open.
"Umm…" said Jayden before he lay his eyes on Dawn and Joyce, before giving them a smile, "we're ready to begin."
"Come on," said Joyce as she helped Dawn stand up before nodding at Tara and Daniel who stood up as well. Joyce and Dawn walked out of the Jumper with Jayden, with Daniel and Tara following them down the ramp before the latter pressed the button on the side to raise the ramp. The SG-1 members then walked closely behind Dawn and the others while whispering to each other.
"Maybe we should contact the Tok'ra?" asked Tara.
"I don't think they can help us," whispered Daniel, "remember, they work in the dark. And I don't think they have any ships that could help us. These are ZPM powered hive ships and cruisers, they're no match for Goa'uld shields which the Tok'ra will be using. Our best chance is to get Atlantis to Earth, and fire the drone weapons."
"Think we can take all of them out?" asked Tara as she looked at Daniel.
"No idea," said Daniel, "but enough I suppose until the Asgard get to Earth and help us."
"Hopefully," said Tara as Daniel nodded his head.
"Then we contact the Tok'ra," said Daniel, "we can help set-up a new SGC, and help with gathering allies. After the Wraith, we have the Goa'uld."
"Abydos, first?" asked Tara as she looked at Daniel who gave a small smile, "you think Sha're is alive?"
"I hope so," replied Daniel as he and Tara followed Dawn to the wedding ceremony that was about to begin.
Presidential Bunker, Washington, D.C, an hour later.
With the Wraith mostly using their darts to gather humans, and shoot down the demons that were coming out of the woodwork; the Slayers and other humans, mostly military personnel, were forced to take cover. It was believed that the Wraith were slowing down their ground operations based on what the Slayers, witches, and demons were seeing… all of whom were sending information to Willow who was in the Presidential bunker with Buffy, Kennedy, Angel, Faith, and a few other Slayers.. as well as Vin and Sophie who were slightly injured during their battles.
"They're beaming humans up to their ships," said Willow as she rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes once, "more darts are in the sky instead of the Wraith ground troops. I think they're trying to mow down the demons that come up for air.. and in.. wait…"
"Will?" asked Kennedy as she walked up to the redhead and put her bruised hands on the witch's shoulders, and started to give her a massage to get her to relax, "what is it?"
"Barcelona.. Madrid… Paris… Marseille… Portland… dear God… so many cities," said Willow as she shook her head, "Slayers and witches reporting that the vast majority of demons are being killed by the plasma strikes… targeted strikes."
"How's that possible?" asked Angel.
"They must have taken demons up to their ships," said Willow as she opened her eyes as she suddenly grabbed her head and screamed before going on her knees.
"Willow," said Kennedy as she crouched beside her with one arm around her shoulders and comforted the panting redhead while Buffy and Faith ran to Willow as well, while the others could only look on concerned.
"Willow," said Sophie, "release your connection with the others…"
"But…" said Willow as she looked through eyes that were tearing up.
"You're being a focal point for their communications," said Vi, "release it, now… or else you will go mad."
"Done" said Willow as she released all connections to the outside world, but not before telling the Slayers and witches to contact her in an emergency.
"What happened?" asked President Hayes.
"Demons," said Willow panting as Kennedy helped her up, "thousands screaming at once… I.. I was just overwhelmed. I was connected to everyone… Slayers, Witches, demons and…. And they're dead. Every demon that was on our side… just became silent after screams."
"Eldre Koh?" asked Buffy, and Willow shook her head before saying that she couldn't feel him anywhere.
"But, how?" asked Sophie.
"Oh dear God," said Willow s she closed her eyes again when she received a magical distress call which immediately vanished, "they took out Wolfram and Hart in L.A, Madrid, Hong Kong, name it… demon nests have been destroyed… they're taking out the demons first. Dear God, some cities already have the Wraith soldiers back on the ground taking humans and… and…."
"Willow," said a familiar voice as everyone in that room looked to their left and saw Amy Madison standing weakly to one side of the room. Buffy was about to approach her when Willow asked her to stop, saying that Amy wasn't there.. that it was a projection, "help me… please… I… the witches I was with are dead and.. and they're coming after me."
"Good," said Kennedy, "after everything you did… do you really think that we'll help you?"
"You think I want to ask for her help?" hissed an outraged Amy pointing at Willow, "you think I want to beg her? Why the fuck do you think I've been hiding myself from her… the so-called greatest witch on the planet… a witch who probably started this whole problem with these… these things that not only killed the witches in my D.C coven and…"
"Then they didn't finish the job," said Buffy.
"Screw you, Slayer," said Amy as she looked at Buffy, and then at Willow, "but I'm putting my pride to one side… I know it's too late, but maybe I can help fix your mistake, Willow. What did you do? Think you have so much power, and so you decide to test it out? In addition to murdering my boyfriend, you open a window into another dimension and let these things in?! What the hell did you do?!"
"Nothing," said Willow, "they.. they're from another galaxy. Damn it, Amy… these are honest to goodness aliens here. If you wanna help, tell me where you are and I'll…"
"You can't be serious?" asked Kennedy.
"Yeah, Will," said Buffy, "she's dangerous… you know this."
"But she's in the same boat as us," said Willow, "we need her to come up with a defence… I mean we've got Sophie and Vi here, but we need more so that we could mount a defence. And I've already told the other covens around the world to work on something to protect the humans… but it's gonna take time. And Amy's a powerful witch, second to only Tara."
"Gee, thanks," said Amy, "comparing me to your dead girlfriend is so… oh Goddess."
"Amy?" asked Willow as she looked at the frightened woman in front of her who looked over her shoulder before whispering.
"I hear… oh God, the Wraith… they're here," said Amy.
"I'm coming," said Willow as she closed her eyes and prepared a teleportation spell as the image of Amy vanished.
"I'm going with you," said Buffy as she tightened her grip on the Scythe.
"But…." said Willow as Buffy interrupted her by saying that Amy had screwed with them too many times to count. The blonde Slayer wanted Angel to go along with them, in case they encountered Wraith.
"And just in case Amy tries to use this attack to do something you, Will," said Buffy as Willow nodded her head. Buffy then looked at Kennedy and Faith, telling her two lieutenants that she'll be back soon. Buffy saw that Faith was about to say something, however the blonde interrupted her by saying that she didn't want to risk the lives of the other Slayers in the bunker, "and if anything happens to me."
"B," said Faith as she stepped forward, interrupting Buffy while shaking her head, "you're gonna come back and…"
"If anything happens to me," repeated Buffy as she looked at the Scythe in her hand, and then back up to Faith, "lead them, Faith. They've always looked up to you, lead them if I don't make it."
"B…" said Faith as she grabbed the Scythe after Buffy threw it at her. The blonde Slayer then nodded at Satsu who threw one of her two Katanas to Buffy, and then thanked the Asian slayer.
"Lead them if I don't make it," said Buffy as she looked at the sheathed sword, and then back at Faith, "if I do, then I'll take the Scythe back… if it makes you feel better."
Faith couldn't help but smirk at Buffy before nodding her head.
"Come back in one piece, B," said Faith.
Willow then teleported herself, Buffy, and Angel to an area of D.C that was just rubble and human bodies laid out in many places; most of them dried husks.
"The Wraith were here," said Buffy when the three of them turned suddenly to look at some rubble to their left. They were hearing muffled sounds of a woman saying 'help me'. Buffy and the others ran as fast as they could, the Slayer throwing away the sheath onto the ground while they were running. Angel ran alongside Willow who readied her magic, and Buffy who readied the katana as they ran around the large piece of a fallen building when they saw a Wraith on top of Amy, who was screaming. The Wraith pushed its palm onto her chest and was about to feed when Willow fired a magical bolt at the creature to throw it off the blonde witch. Willow then kneeled next to Amy to check on her, while Angel stood protectively behind the redhead and kept an eye out for other Wraith while Buffy swung her Katana and cut the head off the Wraith that tried to feed on Amy.
"Amy?" said Willow as she tapped on the witch's cheeks for a few seconds until she opened her eyes, "you okay?"
"No," said Amy as Willow helped her sit up while Buffy walked back towards her, Willow and Angel, "but looks like the cavalry's here."
"Yeah," said Buffy as she glared at Amy who slowly got up thanks to Willow who helped the blonde stand up.
"I always thought that you'd be coming here, Buffy," said Amy as she smiled at the blonde, before looking at Willow, "you glad that I've come begging you for help?"
"You're the one who went into darkness," said Willow, "you helped me push myself me in, I nearly destroyed the world, and I dug myself out with the help of my friends. And no, that does not mean that I'm glad you begged. If you asked, I'd have still helped you."
"You know what's funny?" said Amy as she put her hand on Willow's shoulder, "you have all this power that you never earned in the first place."
"Not this again, Amy," said Willow, "we don't…"
"Then I find out that you're named after a goddess," said Amy as Willow looked at her confused, as did Buffy and Angel while Amy's right hand remained by her side, "I don't know how you're who you are right now, but I was told that you were once known as Athena."
"You… what?" asked Willow confused, "Amy…"
"Not only have you gained power without even trying," said Amy as she glared at Willow, "you were named after one of the greatest goddesses ever! You have everything… power, the name… everything that every witch could never accomplish in their lifetime and… and no more."
"What did you do?" asked Willow when she felt something hit her in her abdomen just as Buffy and Angel were pushed back by an unseen force. Willow opened her mouth wide when she felt another jolt that caused energy to crackle all over her body. She looked down at a handheld weapon that de-cloaked in Amy's hand aimed at her abdomen, and then she looked back up at a smiling Amy. Willow couldn't concentrate as her muscles went limp, and she felt herself falling onto the ground before darkness took her.
Angel was the first to get up, and he saw Amy fire multiple blue energy bolts at Buffy who was being forced down by magic every time she started to get up. Angel vamped out while Amy continued to fire at Buffy as she laughing, and then he lunged at Amy. Just before reaching the witch, Angel felt himself being pushed back hard against some rumble. Amy was crackling with laughter as she continued to shoot Buffy until the blonde Slayer collapsed on the ground. Angel tried to move, but he found that he couldn't move his arms and legs as Amy put her weapon down, and then reached into her other pocket and took out a device that she pressed down on.
"What did you do!" growled Angel as he tried to move when he looked up and heard buzzing sounds in the sky.
"The Slayer's alive," said Amy as she looked at the unconscious Willow, "I told the Queen about the Slayers, and when the Wraith found it suddenly hard to kill them… I told them that I'll get the Queen of the Slayers. And Athena too… she will feed on Willow just as she always wanted to and… oh no you don't."
Amy used her magic to smash Angel's head multiple times into the debris before speaking again.
"You're trying to contact the witches at the bunker," said Amy as she looked at Angel, "you're gonna call them after I leave with these two. You're gonna tell them that the world as it was, is no more. The Wraith will experiment on Buffy… but I know they won't find anything since her powers are mystical. She'll die… and then we'll hang her body to show all the Slayers that the Queen is dead… and then… then the Wraith Queen will feed on Willow once Dawn comes back from whatever place she's gone to. She'll feed on them both… and I'll hang Willow's body. The greatest witch will be dead.. and I'll take her place. The Wraith Queen will destroy the demons, and humans will live in peace… of course there will be the occasional culling here and there… but we'll be able to carry on with our lives."
"You'll be a pariah," said Angel as his wounds started to heal, "I'll lead the vampires and.."
"The Wraith Queen knows that you have no life force," said Amy, "once Willow, and Buffy are dead. Once the Slayers lose their focus and start getting killed on the battle field, I'll approach vampires and tell them the Wraith Queen's offer… something I negotiated myself actually; a million humans, a million living blood packs to call their own. All the Humans remain under my 'protection', they will breed, and be food for the Wraith. An I'll rule them all… of course there'll be cullings… but we can negotiate; maybe a few centuries so that we replace the livestock. Of course there will be some who, like me, will worship them."
"You're crazy," said Angel.
"You don't know, vampire," said Amy, "you have no life, so you don't know… when they feed on you… it's the greatest high, and then when they return the life-force… oh boy, think of it like having a multitude of orgasms all at once. It's so.. so good."
"Again," hissed Angel, "you are nuts."
"Goodbye, vampire," said Amy as Angel closed his eyes after finding his mind was clear, and called Sophie and Vi to send back-up as two darts were almost on them. Angel watched the alien ships teleport Willow, Buffy, and Amy away before flying into the sky just as Sophie, Faith, and Satsu teleported in.
"What happened?" asked Faith as Angel collapse onto the ground, "Angel?"
"Amy played us," said Angel as he fell onto the ground, "we're screwed."
TBC.