Rating:R
Chapter 18 - Slayer
January 2005, three light years away from Tauri
A gray-haired man woke up on a gold metal bed in the control room of a mothership. In the beginning he was completely perplexed about what happened to him but he slowly started to remember the events of the previous hours and instinctively reached to his chest to assure himself he was really healed. The man noticed he was still wearing the same clothes he put on ten minutes before the moment that he expected to be the last of his existence in this world. He stood up and went without a hint of hesitation or fear to the dark figure waiting for him.
Anubis stopped studying the informations about the System Lords and turned to his ally."You are probably asking yourself why I bothered to save your pathetic existence and wasted the energy of a sarcophagus to bring you back to this world."
Kinsey was used to this kind of attitude and it didn't affect his own arrogant behavior. "Actually I know the answer. You need the blood from both parts of the Key or the set of artifacts you are assembling will be only a nice dining room decoration and I happen to have it. "
"The both Earths want to create an alliance. That's unacceptable. You were supposed to prevent their cooperation and you failed."
Kinsey didn't seem to be bothered by this information and just smirked. "My father always told me to be prepared for anything and it's interesting how this unexpected turn of events actually makes my plan easier. I take for granted your scientists managed to modify the device I gave you. "
"The device is ready." Anubis nodded and a Jaffa standing nearby gave Kinsey a small package. "Don't forget it needs to be recharged after twelve hours. If you fail this time I'll make sure no one will bring you back again."
Kinsey fought down his temperament and bowed. Twelve hours were much more than he hoped for. Now the power he wanted since he had become a politician was within his grasp. He didn't care about Anubis's threats. The only thing that occupied his mind at the moment was the small alien equipment he was holding in his hand. The instrument of his revenge.
Meanwhile, Earth
Willow returned from the conference with SG-1 and general Hammond and headed to the infirmary to check up Dawn's condition. She saw John sitting on a chair next to Dawn's bed, holding her hand and carefully waiting for any indication she'd wake up. Willow muttered a transparency charm and the left sleeve of John's shirt disappeared. John immediately tried to hide the exposed wound but it was useless. Willow approached him,examined his arm and nodded. "That's a good start."
"You know about the transmitter?"
"It seems your friends mean to be honest this time. They told us why you came here." Willow waited for John's reaction but it seemed he expected SG-1 to reveal their plan so she continued. "You're free to stay, but don't think the others will accept you as easy as I did."
"I thought you'll get rid of me as soon as you find out." John fetched a sight of relief. Are they really going to let him stay? Perhaps he underestimated Willow and her friends after all. He didn't care much about the opinion of slayers. The only person he wanted to persuade about his intentions and about the fact he came to this Earth to help the both sides was lying next to him. Dawn's bravery and determination to find her sister made a huge impression on him and even though he would never admit it, she was the reason why he agreed to help SGC in the first place. Wasn't he falling for her? John mentally slapped himself. She's too young! His own looks didn't exactly match the age of his mind and it still felt weird to date a teenager. That's why he didn't have a girlfriend back in Denver. Or was it because the only thing the girls he dated thought about were clothes and shoes? Maybe it was time to forget the old life and really start anew but his situation was complicated enough even without a relationship.
"If we kicked out everyone who has ever made a mistake, this house would be emptier then a synagogue in the middle of China town." A sad expression suddenly filled Willow's face as she remembered her own actions in the past and her voice softened. "In fact I wouldn't be here to explain this."
Willow gave John a reassuring smile and turned her attention to Dawn. "I hoped she'd be awake by now. I showed a picture of Buffy to SG-1 and it looks like they know where her sister is. Faith is going with SG-1 and Bra'tac to pick her up."
John hesitated if he should join SG-1's search for Dawn's sister. It would be nice to go to a mission with his former team once more, but he decided against it. He'd better keep a save distance between him and Faith and he didn't want to miss the moment when Dawn wakes up. This mission will be probably boring anyway.
Later, Jaffa's camp
As soon as the gate deactivated behind SG-1, Bra'tac and Faith they all noticed something was wrong. It was clear the camp had been under attack only few hours ago. There were bodies of dead Jaffa lying everywhere and Bra'tac immediately recognized those who belonged to his group. Jack however was disturbed by something else. If there had been a battle, where was the winner? A Jaffa would at least take the weapons of their opponents but the corpses still carried all their equipment. Jack backed a few steps and was still looking for a potential threat when he felt drops of a liquid fall at his shoulder. Because the sky was clear without a single cloud Jack made a mental note to kill the insolent bird responsible for ruining his uniform and took out a handkerchief to clean it."Everybody take cover!" Jack yelled at the others as soon as he saw what was the liquid on his shoulder. Blood. He turned around and saw two legs tied upside-down to the gate. Jack realized why the blood was still dripping from the wounds. Someone had to tie the whole body to the gate and when it activated the whirl swallowed most of it, leaving only the bottom half of the legs. Jack fought down the urge to vomit and looked around once more, this time focusing on the dead soldiers. Those who were close to the gate died from staff blasts but most of them were killed a much different way. He saw three Jaffa impaled on their own staff weapons. Another soldier had his arm cut off together with most of his shoulder. One had a wooden stake stick in his neck and another's head was practically ripped off his body. Whoever killed them had to posses incredible strength. Jack noticed the others from his group were as shocked as he was except Faith who kneeled next to one of the corpses and looked like she was watching something familiar.
"I say we ask Hammond for reinforcement." Jack suggested and his team agreed. None of them was eager to face the origin of the massacre.
"Whoever sent those Jaffa will soon realize his plan failed and this place will promptly be swarming with his warriors." Faith objected and threw away all her equipment besides her knife and a zat gun. "I'll try to get Buffy. You'll stay here and if I don't come back in twenty minutes I suggest you nip off."
Jack opened his mouth to protest but this time was Teal'c faster. "I think the chance to succeed is higher if we all search for Joan. Also I don't see why you believe she survived."
"Take a look around big guy. All these snake juniors thought they will succeed and they got their ass kicked. I'm going alone."
Teal'c and Daniel wanted to object but Jack stopped them."For all I care she can get herself killed. I'm not going to venture the lives of my team because of a pig-headed slayer."
"Nice to see how much we trust each other." Faith muttered absently and walked into a greenwood near the gate. She saw six other Jaffa tied with bush-ropes and hanged upside-down on various trees. She realized going alone after Buffy maybe wasn't such a swell idea after all. Faith knew she won't fight Buffy or Joan but the slayer half of Buffy's character and it scared her as hell. To survive she will have to let her own instincts take over and that was something Faith promised to herself she'll never do again. The problem was, even in the times she killed for the mayor, she still hadn't been what a pure slayer was supposed to be. She killed because she enjoyed it. The slayer half of her and Buffy had no emotions, no doubts or fears. It knew only one desire and had only one purpose - to kill it's enemies and Faith understood her strength won't be enough to win especially when she wanted to get Buffy alive and unharmed if possible.
Faith was sure seeking Buffy wasn't necessary. The slayer is like a beast that protects it's territory from trespassers and Faith expected to be found within the next seconds. Remembering the exercises she did with Buffy months ago she closed her eyes and concentrated. 'Your slayer half is the sword, your mind is the hand that wields it.' Faith slowed down her breathing and began to feel the nature surrounding her. Every leaf or a drop of dew falling to the ground, every blow of the wind that moved the twigs made a specific sound and caused a different sensation. All she had to do was wait for something to disturb this harmony.
----
Buffy made sure the others from the enemy's group didn't follow Faith and began to track her. She noticed this opponent was different from those she had defeated earlier. This woman moved the same way as she did and something deep in her mind evoke her to stop the attack. She chased away the doubts and once more focused on the woman who was now standing between two trees and not moving. Buffy wasn't used to this kind of situation. Most of her prey tried to fight or to escape but this human just stood quietly with closed eyes and she neither made an attempt to run nor gave any sign she would be prepared to defend herself. 'Her stupidity definitely won't save her.' Buffy thought and prepared to attack.
Faith heard a twig break behind her and turned around to block the knife rapidly approaching her neck. She caught Buffy's arm and twisted the wrist to make her drop the weapon but Buffy ignored the pain and continued to press the blade against Faith's shoulder. To say Buffy's appearance frightened Faith would be an underestimate. Half of her face was covered with dried blood, though Faith was sure it wasn't Buffy's and she got even more scared when she looked into her eyes. There was nothing inside. No recognition, mercy or at least lust to kill. The tip of the knife began to cut into Faith's arm and she realized this wasn't the best time for fair play. She used her bigger weight to move both of them closer to a tree and then pressed Buffy's arm against a broken branch. The branch stick in Buffy's hand and she dropped the knife. Buffy growled and kicked Faith into her stomach so hard she fell to the ground. Faith reached for her zat gun and wanted to fire but the other slayer did a roundhouse kick and the zat flew away from Faith's hand. Faith threw a few rapid jabs aimed at Buffy's stomach but she easily deflected them. The two warriors began to circle each other, searching for a weakness in their defences. Faith tried to attack with a high kick but Buffy stepped aside and she missed her head by an inch. She lost her balance and Buffy used it to trip up her legs. Faith didn't fall but rolled backward and reached for her zat lying nearby. She stood up with a triumphant expression but when she looked back where Buffy was two seconds ago, her opponent was gone.
Faith checked her shoulder and calmed down a little when she found out the cut wasn't very deep. She looked around to determine where Buffy had gone but she couldn't see any signs. Faith didn't like the idea to play 'Cat and mouse' especially with her being the mouse. She walked a few steps ahead and observed with curiosity a bush-rope covered by leaves that ended right here she was standing. "Shit!" was all Faith could say before she realized what she was looking at and the trap activated. The bight tightened around her legs and she was turned upside-down and lifted one meter above ground, dropping her weapon in the process. She wanted to cut the rope with her knife, but it fell to the ground out of the holster. Faith stretched her arms as much as possible but it wasn't enough to reach her knife or the zat gun. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Buffy running towards her with a knife drawn. 'Now or never.' Faith thought and used her slayer strength to tear the bush-rope around her legs. She fell to the ground, picked up her zat gun and fired at Buffy before she could reach her. Buffy made a few more steps, the effect of the shot progressing slower then usual, but then she finally lost consciousness.
Earth, one hour later
Buffy slowly opened her eyes and sat up. Before she had a chance to look around and find out where the hell she was, a red-haired woman sitting next to her bed threw away a book she was reading and made a surprised shriek that could raise the dead. Buffy rolled off the bed into a defensive stance and waited if the woman will try to attack her, but it seemed she only called for some people named Giles, Faith and Xander. The names were familiar, as was the redhead and the room Buffy was in and she suddenly realized why: she saw them in the dream she had in Colorado. But how did she get here? The last thing Buffy remembered was an attack in the Jaffa camp.
Willow studied Buffy's expression unsure how to proceed. Did Buffy remember who she was or was the slayer half still controlling her behavior? The others entered the infirmary and Willow decided to take the chance and hug her friend and the others joined her, except Faith who stayed a few steps behind.
"I'm so glad you're back Buffy! Are you ok?"
"We thought we've lost you forever!"
"What have you done the three months?"
"Alone in a camp with thirty Jaffa Buff?"
"Welcome home Buffy."
"Yeah, to coach this pack of lazybones alone is beyond even my stamina B."
"How did you get to Tauri?"
"Do you know which Goa'uld kidnapped you?"
"Maybe we should give Buffy some time to relax."
"Why do you keep calling me Buffy? My name is Joan."
Everybody immediately stopped their questions. She still didn't remember? Willow was the first to get out of the shock. "Buffy Joan is just a name you made up during your previous memory loss."
Buffy could see the disappointment in her friend's eyes and how all these people cared about her. She felt almost sorry for not remembering them. "I know you from a dream I had a month ago, but that's it."
"So you have no idea you're a slayer?"
Buffy's confused expression faded away was replaced by an emotionless mask. She grabbed Willow's arm and before the witch had a chance to react she threw her against a cabinet, almost knocking her out. Giles and Xander each tried to grab one of her arms but a single blow was enough to send them both to the ground. Faith was the only one who didn't seem to be surprised by Buffy's behavior. She just shrugged, took out her zat and shot Buffy as soon as the others got out of her line of fire. Then she went to check if Willow was ok and helped her to stand up.
"Is this how she behaved at the camp?" Xander wondered.
"Yeah." Faith nodded. "Something between the Predator and Uma Thurman chopping up the Crazy 88. At least now we know what her trigger is."
Giles picked Buffy up and laid her carefully on the bed where she was resting before she woke up. "We'll have to tell everyone they mustn't say the word 'slayer' in front of her until she remembers who she is."
The others agreed and went to make sure everyone would know about Buffy's trigger before she wakes up again, while Giles made sure she won't leave the infirmary until everything was ready.
Earth, several hours later
Buffy was sitting on a chair next to a sleeping brown-haired girl who was still resting after her successful attempt to heal John. Buffy remembered this girl more then the others. Her name was Dawn, she was her sister and also the Key. After Buffy had woken up the second time Giles and Willow explained her the basics about SWC and her own life. They had found out the trigger activates only if someone else says the word slayer so instead of saying it they simply wrote down what Buffy wanted to know. They all assured her, she'll definitely soon remember everything and that it's just a matter of time. The problem was Buffy didn't know if she wants to remember her previous life. Considering what she had learned so far that life was full of pain, suffering and loss. Why should she want it back? She enjoyed being Joan. Joan was a self-confident, brave woman who knew where she belonged, had good friends in SGC and most importantly wasn't some kind of chosen freak whose life purpose was killing everything in her path. A slayer. There were hundreds of them in SWC. Why would they need her? There was no reason for her to stay. Tomorrow she will return to Tauri and help Bra'tac with finding more rebellious Jaffa.
Buffy set eyes on her sister again. She looked so peaceful while she slept. 'You should enjoy it as long as she sleeps. You know how annoying she can be when she's awake.' suddenly echoed in her mind. Whoa, where did that come from? 'And trying to persuade her to clean her room is like talking to a wall. Though a wall would probably accept your suggestions much sooner.' Buffy smiled at the memory of her giving Dawn a lesson about housecleaning. 'And living with her is a twenty-four/seven nightmare. Do you remember when she took your sweatshirt and exchanged it for tickets to a concert? Or how she tried to use a wig and your ID to get to a club and the guy controlling them said it was fake and cut it into pieces? ' More and more memories started to fill Buffy's mind. Dawn's first attempt to say her name which sounded more like bogy then Buffy, how she cried when their father left them, her reaction when Buffy told her and Joyce she's a slayer...
Here we go again. This word. Six letters that set the course of her life. Perhaps she could persuade Dawn to go with her? Forget all this supernatural madness and start anew? Buffy realized she wouldn't be able to leave without Dawn. Her train of thought was disturbed by Faith who entered the room and sat next to her.
"You came to give me a 'deep thoughts' lecture about my soul?" Buffy sighed. "Others have already tried you know."
"The others are not like us. They suppose to understand you, but they have no idea what they're talking about. You know I've never been into this 'deep thoughts' crap." Faith admitted. "So this will be my first run. Actually I'm just going to repeat a speech I got from the Oracle."
"The Oracle?"
"A woman I knew in the big house. We called her the Oracle because she had minor empathic abilities and gave a cool speech to anyone who wanted to trade cigarettes with her." Faith informed Buffy. "She explained something to me so now I'm going to repeat what she told me. In the dream you had in Colorado the first and the last thing you saw was the moment you accepted who you are. You are trying to change your nature. You can't. Get over it."
"Thanks! That's very helpful." Buffy snapped. "See you at dinner."
"That wasn't everything." Faith continued. "Do you know the tale about a fox and a scorpion? The scorpion wanted to get to the other side of a river. The fox agreed to carry him on her back. Once they reached the middle of the river he stab her. The fox asked him why he did it and he answered: Because it's my nature."
"Your point being?"
"You know it's not like the scorpion didn't try. With all his might and willpower he tried to hold back and control himself but it was useless. He couldn't change what he was and the prize was his and the fox's lives. You want to cross the river. You want to be an ordinary human, but once you'll reach the deep water you'll become what you were born to be and it will cost you your life and probably someone you love will die as well. The more you fight your nature, the more dangerous it gets."
"Great. So you're telling me if I hold back it'll only get worse and if I don't, I'll die." Buffy sighed. "And what about a solution?"
"It's simple." Faith smiled. "Stop trying to cross the river. You expect to find something better on the other side and the only reason you think that is because it's impossible to reach. The river is too wide for you to see the same trees are growing on both banks and when the wind blows leafs are falling to the ground no matter on which side you happen to be."
Buffy didn't respond for a while and then nodded. "Thirty seconds."
"You've lost me somewhere B."
"After the battle with The First I thought everything will change." Buffy frowned. "For thirty seconds. I felt like I've left a cage and was finally free. I guess you know the feeling. Then I realized I still have a lot of work to do but it was ok because I knew one day there will be enough of us and I can retire to have a life, a breathing non-military boyfriend, five dogs and a perfect lawn in front of my house all neighbors would envy. And then we've found the gate and I realized the cage I left was just part of a bigger one. The fight against the Goa'uld will probably last centuries and there won't be a safe place on our planet. Not for me, not for Dawn or anyone else. I don't expect you to understand me."
"Oh no, I get it.You're pissed off because that bitch called life keeps striking back. Look B we've both experienced some serious shit during our calling, but we're still here so I guess it worked out."
"I'm not so sure about that." Buffy sighed again." It was nice to be Joan. Do you know how it feels to get the chance to live completely different, the way you dreamt about?"
"More than you'd expect." Faith admitted. " You see...my other side of the river... was you. When I came to Sunnydale I was scared and insecure. I had lost my watcher a week before and had no idea how to get rid of Kakistos. I met you and to me it seemed like your life was perfect without any real problems. You had a loving mother, friends and a watcher who cared about you. It's easy to be jealous. You had your own issues but I was too wrapped up in my own little world to see them. I didn't want to see your problems. And later, thinking you had a perfect life made hating you much easier. Everybody expected me to be like you and after I had woken up from the coma I began to want it myself. We switched our bodies and I got the chance, but the more I tried to follow suit, the more I realized it will never work."
"Wow." Buffy remarked. "I should have given you a list of things I messed up. You'd undoubtedly reconsider swapping our bodies."
"Yeah." Faith agreed. "I look cooler anyway."
"At least I didn't get knocked up because of you."
"With soldier boy? Big overture. Little show."
"Tell me about it." Buffy giggled. "It should be part of ID or something."
"I still haven't boinked an undead." Faith complained.
"You were always a little slow." Buffy sighed. "I'm not sure I can do it anymore."
"Boinking vamps?"
"Slaying."
"Then I guess we should do something about it." Faith stood up, took Buffy's hand and dragged her away to the nearest ring transport. The rings descended around the couple and they reappeared in a musty abandoned crypt.
"I heard they raised the price of bus tickets, but isn't building a transport to every heap of rotten bones an overkill?" Buffy remarked looking around the small room.
Faith walked to the crypt's steel door and unlocked it. "This is the only graveyard in London, where you can have some fun nowadays. With over two hundred SITs around, most of the demons escaped from the heavily populated areas."
After they got out Buffy noticed there were at least twenty crypts similar to the one they just left in the graveyard. She had to admit the transport was well hidden and someone without the knowledge about Goa'uld technology had no chance to find it. As they walked along the various graves and tombs Buffy got more and more nervous. She was holding her stake so tight she almost crushed it. When was the last time she faced a vampire? Half year ago? Right now she'd prefer a hundred Jaffa to one demon. 'Like in the camp? Do you remember how you killed those soldiers?' Buffy thought. No, this wasn't her anymore. She had to get out of the graveyard, she didn't belong there. Buffy watched Faith sit on one of the tombstones and leisurely play with her own stake. Faith looked bored and annoyed like someone who was watching a lame film and just ran out of popcorn. Buffy began to walk back to the transport, but stopped when she noticed a shadow of a large figure move behind one of the crypts. The vampire didn't waste time and ran towards the first source of fresh blood he saw in his path - Faith, who obviously didn't pay attention and had no idea what's coming.
"Faith behind you!" Buffy shouted but it was too late for a warning. The vampire punched down her friend and they both began struggle on the ground. Buffy expected Faith to get rid of him quickly, but it seemed the attack surprised her so much the odds were on the demon's side. He was holding her both hands with his own and slowly lowering his fangs to her neck.
"B help me!" Faith yelled sounding desperate.
Buffy wanted to run to Faith, but something stopped her - a thought hidden deep in her mind telling her if she'll help Faith now, she'll lose control again and that she can't allow that to happen. Buffy tried to fight her desire to run away, but she felt it's beyond her free will and suddenly realized the reason. The fact she remembered her life was irrelevant, the drug still had an effect on her and the only way to get rid of it seemed to be slaying a vampire without activating the trigger, which was beyond her capability. Unable to act differently she turned around and trotted back to the transport. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts she didn't notice the entrance to the crypt, where the transport rings were situated, wasn't so abandoned as it should be. She almost bumped into the three vampires waiting there.
"What do we have here?" one of the vamps grabbed Buffy's shoulder.
"It's probably one of those sluts-in-training."
"You shouldn't walk alone in the dark little girl. Might be dangerous."
"Isn't this the part where she's supposed to start screaming for help?" one of the vampires got one step closer to Buffy. "Won't you try to escape?"
You have no idea how much control it takes not to. Buffy thought, getting an idea. "Actually I would be glad if you surrounded me so I had no chance to run away and then attacked me."
The three vampires looked at her like she was crazy, but then thought of it as an interesting game and obeyed. There was nowhere to run and Buffy felt her desire to escape melt away. She smirked and took out her stake.
As soon as Buffy was out of sight, Faith's struggling immediately changed. She broke out of the vampire's hold with ease and punched his face away from her neck. Before the surprised demon had a chance to adjust to the change in his opponent's way of fighting Faith reached for her stake and plunged it into his chest, dusting him.
"Acting as a damsel in distress is obviously not so effective as it used to be." Faith summarized her attempt to make Buffy help her. She began to walk back to the transport rings, but started running when she heard some fighting sounds coming from the crypt.
Buffy ducked under the punch of the vampire in front of her and kicked the one on her right. The third got more lucky and grabbed her left arm with his both hands, which was his last mistake, because when he slew her around to face him, his chest was completely unguarded and Buffy easily staked him. When the vampire began to turn to dust Buffy felt like she had just severed some chains that were making her hold back. She turned to the two remaining demons with an amused expression. They were surprised but clearly not clever enough to realize their prey had just become the hunter and tried to attack her once more. Buffy did an exemplary high kick and send one of them flying towards the nearest tree. The other tried to punch her, but instead of ducking the blow, she stood ground and let him hit her. The vampire saw the attack had no effect and backed away seeing the feral grin she gave him, confused by the fact she wasn't watching his face, but his chest. He looked down and saw the stake embodied in his torso before becoming a pile of dust. Buffy went to the last vamp, who was standing up just at the moment. He tried to escape, but it seemed he broke his right leg when he hit the tree, which made his retreat attempt a little problematic. Buffy grabbed his jacket and picked him up using only one hand.
"You know what? It's good to be me." Buffy threw the vamp against a broken branch, which went right through his heart.
"I see you're having fun." Faith watched Buffy kill the last vamp.
"Nothing like the good old-fashioned violence to make you accept your life." Buffy shrugged.
"Then I guess there is only one thing left." Faith took out a zat gun and aimed at Buffy. "Slayer."
Buffy's expression didn't change and she smirked. "Look's like it's over. I say we party!"
"Agreed." Faith put the zat back into the holster. "We'll get the Scoobies, some drinks and find you a 'well-equipped' watcher to make you company in the cold winter nights."
"Faith!" Buffy's face turned a deep shade of red. "I see you're still on the hungry-and-horny philosophy."
"You bet. Or I could call Angel. I heard he can't lose his soul anymore." Faith hit Buffy's weak spot.
"Really? I mean it's not like I would." Buffy's face got even redder. "Did he...uhm...you know."
"I asked Connor to make a list." Faith made mischievous grin. "But he got tired of writing it after the first hundred and fifty."
"Very funny. Perhaps I should call all your former boyfriends and organize a meeting with Robin in the manor."
"Impossible." Faith shrugged. "There is no room or hall where they'd all fit in."
Both women giggled and continued the bickering for another half hour before they returned back to SWC. After they transported back to the manor they went to the infirmary and Faith wanted to leave Buffy alone with Dawn, but Buffy stopped her.
"I almost forgot to do the most important thing." Buffy pulled Faith closer and hug her. "Thank you for everything what you've done for me."
Faith wasn't sure how to respond. She wasn't used to someone thanking her or showing more affection then simple politeness, so she just stand there and let Buffy hug her for nearly a half minute before she put her arms around Buffy as well. She found it surprising how much this simple gesture of friendship meant to her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed every second of it. It took another two minutes until Buffy let go.
"Come on B. You should go to your sister." Faith kindly reminded her friend.
Buffy looked Faith deep into the eyes, a small tear running down her face and hug her once more. "I am with my sister."
Tauri, the next day
Buffy sat into one of the comfortable chairs in the conference room and gave Hammond and SG-1 a questioning look. "So what's the big emergency?"
"Senator Kinsey's body disappeared." Hammond informed her with a serious expression. "The sniper we sent to him is sure the senator was dead when he left, but later one of his neighbors called the police and when they came to investigate, there was no body. However that's not the most important reason why we asked you to come here." Hammond opened the folder in front of him and gave Buffy several photographs. "These men are Kinsey's bodyguards and also former NID agents. We assume they stole Kinsey's corpse for whatever reason and three hours ago they attacked the president's transport and tried to kill him. Fortunately the president is unharmed and his own bodyguards were able to protect him. You were presumably kidnapped by the same men while you stayed in Colorado and since you've regained your memory we hoped you might tell us something about them. The president would like to talk to you in private about Kinsey and also about the alliance between our planets."
Buffy got suddenly very nervous.The president wants to talk to her? What should she say? And what about her clothes! She was wearing the same outfit she had the night before. Not exactly the best choice for an audience with the president of the U.S. She noticed the encouraging looks Hammond and SG-1 gave her. Of course they do, they're not the ones to be embarrassed. Ok Buffy don't panic, this meeting is not that important. It only might decide the fate of your planet. She took a deep breath and followed Hammond to the office where the president was waiting for her. A guard used a metal detector to make sure she was unarmed and let her inside. Buffy took note of one bodyguard standing next to the president. The conversation won't be so private after all. There was another thing that bothered her. The man standing in front of her was somehow familiar, though she was sure she had never seen the president during her last stay on Tauri. She didn't recognize the features, it was the scent. She smiled and accepted the offered handshake, trying to remember.
"I am glad we finally meet Miss Summers."
Buffy didn't answer and closed her eyes. The words seemed so distant. The only thing that mattered was the familiar scent and the memories it stir. In her mind she saw herself beaten with cuts and bruises all over her body and chained to a metal chair in a hospital room with several men in white cloaks observing her. One of them came closer and injected some liquid into her bloodstream. She screamed in pain as the liquid spread through her body. The man shook his head and began to talk with someone behind her whom she couldn't see. He called him the senator and tried to explain to him why the drug they used on her didn't have the desired effect. "The slayer DNA in her is blocking the modifications."
"Then give her a larger dose. I don't care if it kills her." the senator ordered and went closer to Buffy. "After this is over you'll beg me to give you another dose slayer and your kind will be the ones you'll hate the most."
All of a sudden Buffy realized what she smelled. 'Forget the form and see your enemy.' Buffy thought and opened her eyes. The smile disappeared from her face and was replaced by pure hatred. She squeezed the president's hand until she heard the carpal bones crack. The guard tried to stop her, but she knocked him out with a single punch. The man in front of her began to scream as she continued to crush his hand. Any of his attempts to free himself failed. Buffy released his hand and grabbed his throat.
"I KNOW YOU."
Jack and the rest of SG-1 burst into the room, aiming their weapons at Buffy. "Let him go! Now!"
Buffy released the president's throat, but instead of letting him go she took the alien shape-shifting device hidden on his chest and tore it away. The president's features disappeared and were replaced by Kinsey's.
Jack and the rest of his team lowered their weapons. Jack was the first to realize what was going on and his confused expression changed into a mischievous grin. "I take it back. Do whatever you want."
"Thank you." Buffy punched Kinsey sending him to the other side of the room. She went to his battered body and waited until he stood up. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer to be sure he would hear her.
"Slayer forever." Buffy smirked. "And proud of it."
End chapter.
Review please, I'm not sure if this was cool or completely sucked.