Jack rolled his eyes. He should have known it. He glanced at Buffy and she seemed similarly unimpressed with the Tok'ra's statement.
"You couldn't just come out and say it? You had to give me some whole spiel about the bigger picture." Buffy glared at Anise who simply stared back impassively. She switched her patented pissed off look at Jacob Carter who had the grace to look a little embarrassed.
"You're saying that Ahmose is a vampire?" General Hammond took control of the discussion now and he and the two Tok'ra fell into a deep conversation about undercover teams and operatives.
Buffy remained silent, still seated at the table, until a friendly hand fell on her shoulder. The blonde haired Major was now standing at her side.
"They'll be here a while yet. Best to leave them to it."
Buffy nodded, still quietly angry at Anise's treatment, and followed the two SG1 members back down the corridor.
"Are they always like that?" she asked eventually and was surprised by the snort that came out of O'Neil's mouth.
"Hell yeah."
"You don't like them?"
"Jacob's OK. Anise has got us into trouble a couple of times. The Tok'ra tend to say one thing and do something else."
She caught O'Neill's bitter tone of voice and the look which he and Major Carter exchanged. They had been caught out by them, badly, judging by his attitude.
"Jacob is your Dad?" she asked Major Carter who smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, he was blended with Selmak some time ago. The symbiote can heal and my Dad had cancer. It was the only choice."
"Some choice," Buffy said quietly, thinking it over.
"Well Dad's alive. And he knows what I do. I see him more now than when he was here on Earth. It's a bit weird." Major Carter laughed at that thought.
They found themselves back at the Commissary and saw a load of the tables had been pushed together. Xander looked like he was in foodie heaven, two bowls of Jell-O in front of him, and another two which had obviously held Jell-O and were now empty. She couldn't help the grin that broke across her face. Dawn glanced up from her bowl of Jell-O and waved her spoon. Buffy waved back and they moved to join the crowded tables.
"What's the matter?" asked Spike, as she sank into a chair beside him.
"Nothing" she reassured him, but he knew her so well. "Have you eaten?"
"Yeah" he said. To his surprise, Sam Finn had shown her kindness and spoken to the Commissary workers. As all the others had grabbed trays full of food, he had been handed a mug of red liquid. He had looked at it in surprise and then back at the man who had handed him the mug. Not a trace of horror or disgust crossed his face. He sipped it cautiously. Pigs blood. But fresh. At least he wouldn't starve.
"Dr Jackson showed us all round the base" said Dawn cheerfully. "He's got the most amazing books in his office."
Buffy detected the embarrassment flushing along Dr Jackson's cheeks and stifled a giggle. She caught the eye of O'Neill who was obviously trying to hide his amusement as well.
"The two people who came through the Stargate have a proposition for us." Buffy announced at Giles' query as to where she had been.
"What kind of proposition?" asked Xander, pausing half way through a mouthful of Jell-O.
"They think that we shouldn't evacuate the people off the planet or kill the vampires."
"That's their proposition? It sucks."
"No. Their proposition is that we go after the system lord."
Daniel and Teal'c looked at O'Neill in surprise.
"They want us to take out Ahmose?" Daniel said in shock. "You're kidding."
"Nope." O'Neill grabbed one of the bowls of Jell-O off the table and began to eat as Buffy explained to her friends what the Tok'ra had suggested. She was immediately up front with them about the situation and there was a massive silence when she told them about Ahmose being a vampire.
"Is that possible?" Daniel asked, turning to Teal'c.
"I have heard stories of a Gou'ld who sacrificed humans and drained them of their blood. But I did believe they were no more than stories." Teal'c looked thoughtful. "It is possible. If the host was a vampire to begin with and then became a Gou'ld, it would be controlled by the symbiote but the symbiote would have to bow to the body's natural urges."
"If a vampire requires blood to survive then the symbiote would have to seek it out." Daniel finished off Teal'c thought.
"Sounds disgusting" Anya said. She was leaning back in her chair, a nail file produced from nowhere and was filing her nails neatly.
"Which bit? The symbiote bit or the blood sucking?" O'Neill asked and Anya shrugged.
"Both I guess."
"So what's going to happen?" Willow asked in her quiet voice.
"Well the good General is in with Anise and Jacob right now discussing what to do. Anise believes that we should go in guns blazing and blow him away. Jacob favours an altogether more … subtle approach." Buffy tapped her fingers on the table pensively. She turned to O'Neill and asked "What do you think?"
"I'm not keen on the guns blazing idea, that's for sure. But then again, I'm not keen on any plan that Anise comes up with."
There was than concealed anger again, Buffy thought. He had lied to her earlier but it was understandable. He had said there were no undercurrents but frankly SG1 seemed like a team ready for therapy as well.
A crewman came in, one of Hammond's aides, and informed them they were needed in the General's office. They all traipsed back to the office but Buffy had already made a decision in her mind. This was something that she wanted to do and she would need some help. But it certainly didn't require all of them. She sat down in her previous seat, Giles and Spike taking up flanking positions either side of her.
Jacob Carter sat opposite her and he gave her an assessing glance. Jack had given him the lowdown on Buffy Summers and the rest of her friends and they sounded like people who would be ideal in this plan. Riley Finn had mentioned another team in LA who might also have to be involved, to a certain extent, if this plan was going to work but it all depended on one thing. How willing the vampire was to help. His gaze fell on Spike who was lounged in the chair next to Buffy, his fingers fiddling with a silver Zippo lighter. He didn't look approachable but he was certainly protective of Buffy and her sister from what the General had told him. Dyed white hair, that would have to go, the whole attitude would have to change, his language, his stance. Spike, aware of eyes on him, looked up and fastened Jacob with a bright blue gaze. Jacob stared back and then dropped his eyes for Selmak to take over. The bright white light glowed in his eyes for a moment and Spike flinched at the sight of it.
"People, if I can have your attention please." General Hammond entered the room and the chatter quietened, interested faces turned in his direction.
The briefing was to the point and set out what the Tok'ra were suggesting. The Sunnydale gang listened in growing amazement as Hammond and Selmak laid out their idea.
"You've got to be kidding" Spike said. "I can't do that."
"With the proper back up, we think you could." Selmak looked at Buffy. "We would be grateful for all your help." He dropped his eyes and allowed Jacob Carter to speak again. "It's one of the first chances we've had to take out Ahmose."
"I don't understand" said Anya, her usual bluntness coming through. "Why can't Willow just, y'know, zap this Ahmose guy?"
"Zap?" Hammond questioned but Willow shook her head violently.
"I can't. I just can't."
Giles patted her hand reassuringly as he saw the panic set into her eyes. "It's alright Willow. No one expects you to do anything." He swept a quick look at Anya who didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed. She just shrugged and went back to playing with her nail file.
"So basically the plan is to send Spike in with Selmak as another vampire Gou'ld with lots of human slaves. We kick his ass, save the galaxy and then come home?" O'Neill laid it out in plain English.
"Yeah" Jacob Carter nodded.
"It sucks."
"You're telling me" Spike said. "You're not the one who has to have the thing in his head."
"It's the best plan we've come up with so far" Jacob said.
"It could use some work" Spike answered. He turned to Buffy who was watching him.
"It's up to you" she said. "You're the one who has to do it."
"There's always Angel" Giles said. "It might help to have him on board."
Spike bristled at that idea. "We don't need that souled ponce."
"Takes one to know one" Xander said under his breath and Spike shot him a glare.
"Angel?" Daniel asked. "Like an actual angel?"
"No, Angel as in Angelus the vampire."
"I read about him" Major Carter said. "His name came up in some of my research. Something about the Scourge of Europe."
"He has a soul now" Buffy said. "He's not evil anymore. Giles is right. It could be useful to have him on board."
"Oh bloody hell" Spike swore. "Why do we have to have him?"
"Is there a problem?" Hammond asked and Buffy shook her head, giving Spike a strong elbow in the ribs.
"No problem General. Just a little history."
"About 100 years worth" Xander muttered under his breath.
"What about the people in LA that Agent Finn mentioned?" Hammond asked.
"Angel is one of the people in LA. We could call them in, see if they'd be prepared to help but" Buffy shrugged, "I don't think everyone needs to be involved in this. Dawn, you should stay here with Willow. You'll be our support from this side of the gate."
"That's a wise idea Buffy." Giles said but was dumbfounded by her next words.
"Yep. They'll be looking after you."
"You couldn't just come out and say it? You had to give me some whole spiel about the bigger picture." Buffy glared at Anise who simply stared back impassively. She switched her patented pissed off look at Jacob Carter who had the grace to look a little embarrassed.
"You're saying that Ahmose is a vampire?" General Hammond took control of the discussion now and he and the two Tok'ra fell into a deep conversation about undercover teams and operatives.
Buffy remained silent, still seated at the table, until a friendly hand fell on her shoulder. The blonde haired Major was now standing at her side.
"They'll be here a while yet. Best to leave them to it."
Buffy nodded, still quietly angry at Anise's treatment, and followed the two SG1 members back down the corridor.
"Are they always like that?" she asked eventually and was surprised by the snort that came out of O'Neil's mouth.
"Hell yeah."
"You don't like them?"
"Jacob's OK. Anise has got us into trouble a couple of times. The Tok'ra tend to say one thing and do something else."
She caught O'Neill's bitter tone of voice and the look which he and Major Carter exchanged. They had been caught out by them, badly, judging by his attitude.
"Jacob is your Dad?" she asked Major Carter who smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, he was blended with Selmak some time ago. The symbiote can heal and my Dad had cancer. It was the only choice."
"Some choice," Buffy said quietly, thinking it over.
"Well Dad's alive. And he knows what I do. I see him more now than when he was here on Earth. It's a bit weird." Major Carter laughed at that thought.
They found themselves back at the Commissary and saw a load of the tables had been pushed together. Xander looked like he was in foodie heaven, two bowls of Jell-O in front of him, and another two which had obviously held Jell-O and were now empty. She couldn't help the grin that broke across her face. Dawn glanced up from her bowl of Jell-O and waved her spoon. Buffy waved back and they moved to join the crowded tables.
"What's the matter?" asked Spike, as she sank into a chair beside him.
"Nothing" she reassured him, but he knew her so well. "Have you eaten?"
"Yeah" he said. To his surprise, Sam Finn had shown her kindness and spoken to the Commissary workers. As all the others had grabbed trays full of food, he had been handed a mug of red liquid. He had looked at it in surprise and then back at the man who had handed him the mug. Not a trace of horror or disgust crossed his face. He sipped it cautiously. Pigs blood. But fresh. At least he wouldn't starve.
"Dr Jackson showed us all round the base" said Dawn cheerfully. "He's got the most amazing books in his office."
Buffy detected the embarrassment flushing along Dr Jackson's cheeks and stifled a giggle. She caught the eye of O'Neill who was obviously trying to hide his amusement as well.
"The two people who came through the Stargate have a proposition for us." Buffy announced at Giles' query as to where she had been.
"What kind of proposition?" asked Xander, pausing half way through a mouthful of Jell-O.
"They think that we shouldn't evacuate the people off the planet or kill the vampires."
"That's their proposition? It sucks."
"No. Their proposition is that we go after the system lord."
Daniel and Teal'c looked at O'Neill in surprise.
"They want us to take out Ahmose?" Daniel said in shock. "You're kidding."
"Nope." O'Neill grabbed one of the bowls of Jell-O off the table and began to eat as Buffy explained to her friends what the Tok'ra had suggested. She was immediately up front with them about the situation and there was a massive silence when she told them about Ahmose being a vampire.
"Is that possible?" Daniel asked, turning to Teal'c.
"I have heard stories of a Gou'ld who sacrificed humans and drained them of their blood. But I did believe they were no more than stories." Teal'c looked thoughtful. "It is possible. If the host was a vampire to begin with and then became a Gou'ld, it would be controlled by the symbiote but the symbiote would have to bow to the body's natural urges."
"If a vampire requires blood to survive then the symbiote would have to seek it out." Daniel finished off Teal'c thought.
"Sounds disgusting" Anya said. She was leaning back in her chair, a nail file produced from nowhere and was filing her nails neatly.
"Which bit? The symbiote bit or the blood sucking?" O'Neill asked and Anya shrugged.
"Both I guess."
"So what's going to happen?" Willow asked in her quiet voice.
"Well the good General is in with Anise and Jacob right now discussing what to do. Anise believes that we should go in guns blazing and blow him away. Jacob favours an altogether more … subtle approach." Buffy tapped her fingers on the table pensively. She turned to O'Neill and asked "What do you think?"
"I'm not keen on the guns blazing idea, that's for sure. But then again, I'm not keen on any plan that Anise comes up with."
There was than concealed anger again, Buffy thought. He had lied to her earlier but it was understandable. He had said there were no undercurrents but frankly SG1 seemed like a team ready for therapy as well.
A crewman came in, one of Hammond's aides, and informed them they were needed in the General's office. They all traipsed back to the office but Buffy had already made a decision in her mind. This was something that she wanted to do and she would need some help. But it certainly didn't require all of them. She sat down in her previous seat, Giles and Spike taking up flanking positions either side of her.
Jacob Carter sat opposite her and he gave her an assessing glance. Jack had given him the lowdown on Buffy Summers and the rest of her friends and they sounded like people who would be ideal in this plan. Riley Finn had mentioned another team in LA who might also have to be involved, to a certain extent, if this plan was going to work but it all depended on one thing. How willing the vampire was to help. His gaze fell on Spike who was lounged in the chair next to Buffy, his fingers fiddling with a silver Zippo lighter. He didn't look approachable but he was certainly protective of Buffy and her sister from what the General had told him. Dyed white hair, that would have to go, the whole attitude would have to change, his language, his stance. Spike, aware of eyes on him, looked up and fastened Jacob with a bright blue gaze. Jacob stared back and then dropped his eyes for Selmak to take over. The bright white light glowed in his eyes for a moment and Spike flinched at the sight of it.
"People, if I can have your attention please." General Hammond entered the room and the chatter quietened, interested faces turned in his direction.
The briefing was to the point and set out what the Tok'ra were suggesting. The Sunnydale gang listened in growing amazement as Hammond and Selmak laid out their idea.
"You've got to be kidding" Spike said. "I can't do that."
"With the proper back up, we think you could." Selmak looked at Buffy. "We would be grateful for all your help." He dropped his eyes and allowed Jacob Carter to speak again. "It's one of the first chances we've had to take out Ahmose."
"I don't understand" said Anya, her usual bluntness coming through. "Why can't Willow just, y'know, zap this Ahmose guy?"
"Zap?" Hammond questioned but Willow shook her head violently.
"I can't. I just can't."
Giles patted her hand reassuringly as he saw the panic set into her eyes. "It's alright Willow. No one expects you to do anything." He swept a quick look at Anya who didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed. She just shrugged and went back to playing with her nail file.
"So basically the plan is to send Spike in with Selmak as another vampire Gou'ld with lots of human slaves. We kick his ass, save the galaxy and then come home?" O'Neill laid it out in plain English.
"Yeah" Jacob Carter nodded.
"It sucks."
"You're telling me" Spike said. "You're not the one who has to have the thing in his head."
"It's the best plan we've come up with so far" Jacob said.
"It could use some work" Spike answered. He turned to Buffy who was watching him.
"It's up to you" she said. "You're the one who has to do it."
"There's always Angel" Giles said. "It might help to have him on board."
Spike bristled at that idea. "We don't need that souled ponce."
"Takes one to know one" Xander said under his breath and Spike shot him a glare.
"Angel?" Daniel asked. "Like an actual angel?"
"No, Angel as in Angelus the vampire."
"I read about him" Major Carter said. "His name came up in some of my research. Something about the Scourge of Europe."
"He has a soul now" Buffy said. "He's not evil anymore. Giles is right. It could be useful to have him on board."
"Oh bloody hell" Spike swore. "Why do we have to have him?"
"Is there a problem?" Hammond asked and Buffy shook her head, giving Spike a strong elbow in the ribs.
"No problem General. Just a little history."
"About 100 years worth" Xander muttered under his breath.
"What about the people in LA that Agent Finn mentioned?" Hammond asked.
"Angel is one of the people in LA. We could call them in, see if they'd be prepared to help but" Buffy shrugged, "I don't think everyone needs to be involved in this. Dawn, you should stay here with Willow. You'll be our support from this side of the gate."
"That's a wise idea Buffy." Giles said but was dumbfounded by her next words.
"Yep. They'll be looking after you."