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. 6:30 AM. Stargate Expeditionary Mission.
Daniel Jackson slipped quickly behind a large gold pillar, just before an entire platoon of Jaffa marched around the corner. If he had been a little slower, they would have caught him. And the mission would have been over.
He smirked as he realized how accustomed to all this he was becoming, if only his parents could see him now. No longer the push-over book worm. Almost two years of fighting had obviously affected him.
He shook his head and brought his focus back to the now, he had a job to do.
Pulling the hand scanner from inside his jacket, he checked the schematics Columbia had transmitted almost thirty minutes before. It was rough, and not all the corridors matched, but it was something and at least gave them a good idea of where to go for the two primary targets they needed to sabotage.
But something wasn't adding up. He wasn't sure exactly, but every instinct in his body was screaming at him to pull back.
He couldn't though. Earth was counting on him…on them.
He looked up and popped his head out into the corridor, making brief eye contact with Sam a little ways forward of where he was hiding. He motioned for her to continue down the corridor and take the second right.
She nodded and carefully made her way on point. Daniel turned to make eye contact with Teal'c. Not that he really needed to, but seeing the large and dangerous Jaffa guarding his six always gave him a little bit of courage.
A short ways behind the large warrior he knew SG-4 waited. Staying out of sight but ready to provide support if they ran into any unwanted company.
A short time later they silently entered what appeared to be some kind of power distribution room. Circular in design with a large pulsating crystal tube reaching from floor to ceiling. A circular computer console surrounded it.
Daniel wasted no time, stepping up he examined the writing and tried to quickly determine the function of the room based on what he could read.
"I think we missed the Hyper Drive generator" he began to say as he read.
"Hernandez did say the schematics were rough" Sam replied, taking position near the door, along with Teal'c.
Daniel nodded before a smile stretched across his face "This is even better though" he quickly amended.
"How so Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c inquired stoically.
He turned slightly "If I'm reading this right, we just found one of ten life support control stations".
Sam caught his smile and knew exactly what he was thinking "Of all the luck" she whispered, then grabbed her radio "SG-12, come in".
SG-12, go ahead.
"Daniel's going to send updated coordinates on the hand scanner. SG-5 and 10 need to be updated. We found a life support control station, we can take control from here if we coordinate. At worst we can still at least shut down life support, and force the crew to abandon ship. I'm marking this secondary target alpha" she explained.
Copy that SG-1..Wait one…We got company…
The radio went dead a moment later, leaving all three of them with nothing but their fears. Daniel shook his head and turned to the console, he should at least make sure he knew what he was doing just in case.
Almost five minutes passed before a single click echoed from Sam's radio, she clicked back twice and sighed in relief as a single click responded.
"SG-1, go ahead" she said.
Captain, bad news. A Goa'uld named Eris just used the Gate. A full platoon of Jaffa as escort. She used some kind of floating ball to contact Apophis through the wormhole. A communications device I think. She caught SG-5 and 10. Both teams have been moved to Hera's ship, And is now coordinating a full search of all ships. I strongly recommend you find some place to lay low.
Sam winced, they had just run out of time "Wait one SG-12" she said.
"Daniel, can you make it work?" she asked quickly.
Daniel didn't look up, he just kept scanning the Goa'uld glyphs that covered the console "I'm pretty sure I can. Jaffa aren't trained to operate systems of any complexity, the systems would need to be generally simple to interpret".
"So that's a yes?" she pushed.
He nodded "Yes, But I'll have to do it myself. Columbia's MACO's have no experience with the Goa'uld language".
"This is risky as it is Daniel" Sam added.
Daniel took a deep breath "I can do this, if Columbia can transport me right inside the other control rooms, I can set them to shut down at the same time. A back up timer if everything else fails. We're here to save the earth right?".
Sam frowned "How long would you need?".
He stared back at the control panel for a moment "Five minutes at most per ship. At most twenty minutes".
Sam nodded after a moment, then reached for the Communicator "Columbia, come in".
Columbia here, go ahead.
"Doctor Jackson has a secondary target, I've authorized it. Can you lock onto him and beam him to the same coordinates on the other two ships?" she asked.
Checking now SG-1.….That's an affirmative. We can detect three life signs within a circular room. Confirm over.
"Confirmed Columbia. We're moving into the hallway. Lock onto the remaining life sign and transport when ready" she replied.
"Okay, I'm done here. The system is set to shut down and lock out the command interface in exactly three hours. Good luck guys" Daniel smiled.
"You too Daniel" Sam nodded.
Teal'c simply bowed.
A few seconds later he vanished in a swirl of white lights.
Sam looked to Teal'c, "What do you think?".
"Daniel Jackson's plan is acceptable" he nodded, then turned his attention back to the narrow hallway leading back to the corridor.
Wednesday March 4th. Wolf 359.
Jack O'niell felt the slight difference in gravity the moment the transporter affect faded. It was a feeling he doubted he'd ever get use to.
Captain Archer and Doctor Phlox flanked him on either side. The rather boisterous Denobulan physician had in only two hours, manage to gain his complete trust. It was something he wasn't prepared for, as Jack knew he didn't trust easily.
Jon stepped forward "Life signs are one hundred meters to the north".
Jack nodded and grabbed his radio, knowing Ferretti was geared for field ops meant he should still have his. Or in the very least one of his team mates would.
"SG-2, this is O'niell. Come back" he said quietly.
Nothing returned for a moment. Increasing Jack's anxiety, but it quickly faded to nothing as Louis's voice echoed back over the radio.
O'niell. Ferretti here, damn I'm glad to hear your voice.
"You too. I'm one hundred mikes to your sierra. Coming in with two friendlies, don't freak out" he smiled.
Don't freak out?. Not exactly correct communications sir. Ferretti replied, the amusement in his voice was clear however.
Jack took the lead and made sure both Phlox and Captain Archer were keeping pace as he moved quickly through the tree's, it was a slight decline so he was moving pretty quickly.
"Yeah, well it's been one of those days" he replied "I want a sit-rep when I arrive".
Understood, see you in a few.
Jack quickly made his way through the thin forest, Archer and Phlox kept up easily, and in no time at all they entered a small clearing, no one panicked as they approached, though he could see the signs of stress and exhaustion on everyone's faces.
More importantly, was the signs of a nasty fight. Four obvious injured, two teenaged girls, a young woman of Asian descent and Captain Carl Warren were laying out close to the fire, obvious gunshot wounds had been treated with the limited field trauma kits every SG Team was issued.
What drew his eyes however were the nine bodies laying out at the edge of the clearing. He recognized Lieutenant Gavin Casey.
Louis Ferretti moved to greet them as they entered the clearing, Phlox slipped passed, quickly making his way to the injured.
Archer met two young women and they moved off slightly. Cole and Money he guessed.
"What the hell happened Lou?" he asked quietly, seeing how jumpy everyone around the camp was.
Before he could respond a tall blonde woman had moved and wrapped her arms around Doctor Phlox "Please save them Phlox!" she pleaded.
He smiled "I promise to do everything I can Joyce".
Jack shook his head at the interaction, then remembered the briefing Archer had given him during their cruise to get here.
Lou sighed and looked back to him "One of the hostiles got the drop on Warren. Easily twisted his rifle in and shot him in the chest, he's not doing so good. The other three rushed three Airmen standing guard with him. They're alive over there" he pointed.
"They went after the Civilians?" Jack pushed.
"Erickson, no idea on rank or branch. He apparently took a strong dislike to Buffy Summers" he started to explain.
"Why?".
Lou looked back at the fire, and the four injured people "She saved us Jack. Held back a horde of these…".
"Vampires" Jack finished "Relax Lou, I was there. Energy weapon fire support, ring any bells?".
Lou sighed "Should have know that was you. But yeah. Vampires".
"So she saved you, gotta say, I saw some of the action. No one should be able to move like she did" Jack supplied.
"No one should, but she's not nobody. She's a Slayer" Lou explained.
Jack smiled "Got that part from Archer as well".
Lou nodded "Makes this a lot easier then. Anyway. Erickson shot the red head, Willow Rosenberg when she tried to stop him from grabbing Buffy's little sister. Then Lieutenant Hoshi when she tried to defuse the situation" he turned to keep an eye on the Alien Doctor as he worked on the injured.
"Sorry, Casey pushed me into the bushes, saved my life. But the bastard cut him down" he rubbed his face "After that it was apparently all in Ericksons hands, until one of them turned on Erickson. Graham Miller. Army Ranger. He didn't like the thought of killing kids apparently".
"That him over there?. Damn, he looks shell-shocked" Jack exclaimed.
"He killed his best friend, Riley Finn. He's pretty much the only reason Erickson didn't kill everyone" Lou explained.
Jack sighed "Damn".
Phlox called out at that moment "Captain, I need these people beamed up to Enterprise immediately. We can't wait for a shuttle".
Archer pulled his communicator "Enterprise. Lock onto Phlox's signal and beam him and one other up. Notify me when the platform is cleared".
A moment later both the Denobulan and the unconscious woman with several gunshot wounds vanished in a swirl of lights.
Ferretti's face, s well as a few other peoples were slack jawed in awe at the sight.
Jack smiled and rested a hand on his old friends shoulder "Nice to have friends ain't it?".
Lou nodded "That's…just damn".
"Colonel O'niell, can you beam up with Miss Rosenberg?" Archer asked quickly.
Jack nodded and moved up, kneeling next to the teenaged red head. He could see her pale and clammy face, it didn't take a doctor to see she was in bad shape.
He pulled the communicator he'd been given back on the ship "Enterprise, I'm next. Two to beam up".
Less than five seconds later he was solid again, and kneeling on the transporter platform. He stood up and made room for the Medics to step in and carefully move the girl onto a gurney. They then cleared it quickly and raced down the corridor. All done in less than fifteen seconds.
Jack handed his communicator to Commander Tucker "I'll be down in Sickbay, see if I can help Phlox".
"How bad is it down there?" Trip asked.
Jack shook his head "It's not good".
Trip nodded and turned back to his console as Archers voice echoed over the speakers. Jack tuned it out and high tailed it after the medics. Slipping into the room just as two crewmen with the first gurney were leaving.
"Phlox, put me to use" he called out.
The Denobulan looked up from the young woman he had brought up "Medic?".
"Yes" was all he said, and headed towards Willow without being told.
"I need to stabilize this woman before I can examine Miss Rosenberg. If you want to help, you can grab that cart in the corner and move it over her stomach. It's a portable bio-scanner. Generally simple to operate" he replied.
Jack quickly wheeled the bulky device over and adjusted it quickly over the young woman's stomach "Alright, what do I push?".
"Bottom row of six buttons, the furthest left" he instructed without looking up from the woman "It'll bring the scanner online and perform a stage one scan, when you see a small green light, hit the second button from the left. It'll bring the scan up on the main screen near me. I can assess from here".
Jack did as instructed, and soon enough an internal scan of the young woman was up on the screen. Surprisingly clear and easy to read. Of course it was almost a hundred and fifty nine years more advanced than anything on earth. So it shouldn't be all that surprising.
Phlox looked up for only a few seconds, but it was apparently all he needed "I'll have to operate, the bullet is dangerously close to her spine. Evidence of minor splintering of the projectile as well. Looks as if it punctured her spleen and definite signs of internal bleeding. It's a wonder she lived at all".
"Anything I can do?" Jack called out.
Phlox shook his head "Miss Summers and Lieutenant Sato should be arriving soon. If you'd be kind enough to perform scans on them as well, it would make this a lot easier. Until my medical staff returns that is".
On cue the doors parted, allowing two crewmen to enter. A small blonde on the gurney was brought up and moved next to the red head. Jack wasted no time. He quickly moved the scanner, adjusting it slightly to cover the shoulder wound and followed the same directions as before.
Phlox again took only a brief glance "No serious damage, one of the Medics can easily treat her while I handle these two".
Jack nodded and moved to Scanner, in preparation for Lieutenant Sato when a vice-like grip anchored around his wrist.
"Wha.." the girl asked, quietly yet unmistakably scared.
Jack relaxed his wrist and pushed the scanner away with his foot, gently brushed the bloody and tangle mess of blonde hair from her face and smiled "It's going to be okay, your on the Enterprise. Phlox is going to fix you up brand new".
Buffy's eyes opened slightly wider "Enterprise?….What…how?".
Jack kept the smile firmly anchored "It's a space ship kiddo, how else would we get to another planet".
Buffy blinked a few times, her eyes darting to his chest, and focused on his dog-tags "Your not Starfleet".
"Air Force. Colonel Jack O'niell, I'm a friend of Lou Ferretti" he replied.
"Lou…figures. He looks like a Lou" she said, her grip on his wrist relaxing.
"Naw, I always thought he looked like a Wallaby" he winked.
Buffy smiled and closed her eyes, only for a choked sob to escape her lips, it was quiet. Barely even audible. Jack doubted anyone but he had heard it.
"The pain too much?" he asked.
Buffy's eyes snapped open, blood shot and moist. Not pain he realised.
"What's wrong kiddo?" he asked quietly.
She closed her eyes again, tightly, opening them a moment later "I think I killed him" she whispered "I keep seeing him when I close my eyes. His head…no ones head can twist like that".
She shook lightly as he moved to hold her hand "Hey, look at me" he said even quieter, drawing her eyes after only a moments hesitation.
"You did what you had to do. You saved a lot of people, just think about your family. There alive because of you" he said.
She nodded "I know….but…I've killed a lot of things before. Things, not people".
"Vampires" he answered, drawing her eyes again. Wide and slightly surprised.
"Captain Archer briefed me. Your secret is safe with me, scouts honour" he winked.
She sighed "I, just don't want to see it".
At that moment the medics entered, wheeling in Lieutenant Sato. Jack nodded at the medics, and was relieved to see they had everything in hand.
"Go" Buffy said quietly "I'll be okay".
Jack looked down "You sure?".
Her head bobbed up and down "Look after my family for me?".
He smirked "Sure thing kiddo".
She let go of his hand and closed her eyes, just as a medic stepped up to start looking after her. Jack stepped clear and carefully made his way to the doors. He took one more look at the scene before him and then turned and left.
Back tracking to the transporter platform was easy. He had always been good with learning how to navigate ships and underground military complexes.
He arrived just as three women stepped off the transporter. The two MACO's Sasha Money and Amanda Cole, with a tall teenaged brunette sandwiched between them. Dressed in a rather expensive outfit, if he was any judge. And Trip Tucker standing right where he was before.
He stepped up "Anyone left on the surface?".
Both Money and Cole regarded him warily. They didn't know him so he understood.
"Just the clean up crew. Collecting the bodies" the taller of the two soldiers replied.
"Captain Archer said he was going to have everyone showed to quarters to clean up and get some rest" the shorter one added.
Jack nodded "Okay then. Guess I'll head for the mess hall. If anyone needs me for anything".
Trip Tucker smirked as he slipped the Transporters to standby "Your just going after more Jello".
"And the coffee" Jack added straight faced.
The tall brunette nudged the shorter soldier next to her "After I clean up, I could do with a coffee".
"Then let's get you cleaned up, you can use my quarters. Then I'll show you where to go" she replied and wrapped an arm around the teen.
Jack slipped away "Guess I'll see everyone there" he nodded, patting Trip on the shoulder as he left.
Wednesday March 4th. 1998. Sunnydale California
Angelus watched quietly as the military personnel swarmed over the airstrip. Bagging the few bodies his minions hadn't taken before sunrise. In total they had killed eleven soldiers. Five had been taken alive. And were now safely tucked away back at the warehouse. He really didn't care if they lived or died.
The Slayer was dead, and it was all he could do from bursting forth from the sewers and tore them limb from limb. Oddly he figured he could get at least ten all by himself before the sun claimed him. It was tempting.
The explosion ripped through his twisted mind, the memory replaying over and over. How dare she go and get her self killed. She was suppose to be his, to live, to die, to be toyed with at his leisure
It would be so easy he realized. But that was the problem. No other woman, Slayer or otherwise had ever affected him so much before, not since being turned. Was it left over from Angel?. His absolute rage at the Soul finding love?. Was it transferring to him somehow?.
He had no answers, except this driving need to either kill her, or die trying. A state of mind he knew was not right.
Something twitched at the edge of his hearing. Two soldiers talking about what happened, he focused everything he had to be able to hear clearly.
…Believe Ferretti used the gate. And took a bunch of civilians with him.
No kidding. At least there all alive. Hammond said Enterprise should be there by now. With any luck Ferretti and the other's will be back in a few hours.
You just don't want to miss your boys Soccer game.
I've already missed three of them, anymore and he'll hate me for life.
"She's alive" Angelus whispered. But frowned at the feeling that gripped his dead heart. A low growl escaped his lips as he focused on the immediate area, the hangar interior offered a limited amount of protection from the sun, as well as cover from the roving soldiers from the multitude of vehicles and crates stacked around.
His eyes focused on the back of a canvas covered military truck, the contents being just what he needed. "Don't worry lover, I'll be seeing you soon".