Thanks for reviews and for reading so far. I realized I should thank everyone for tolerating the strange ideas I sometimes have. (Yes, I mean chapters like these two and no, there won't be so many cliché in this one like in Volume 1 ... just one or two :-) Experimenting is simply too much fun to give it up. And sorry this update took so long, I didn't have many opportunities to write the last two months.
Rating:G
Chapter 25 - Kill Will vol. 2
Part 6 - Six feet above
"It's too big." Willow didn't even try to hide her fear from the 'thing' in front of her. "There is no way I'm going to sit on it."
"Come on. You promised to give it a try." Tara smiled softly, stroking Willow's hair, trying to encourage her. "It's hard the first time, but as soon as you start moving, you're going to enjoy it. The feeling is great."
"Tara. When I said I would like to experience something new, I certainly didn't mean this." Willow started to back away. "I mean look at his eyes. I'm sure he's just waiting for an opportunity to bite me. And how can you trust an animal that can see over 250 degrees of his surroundings anyway?"
"The horse is actually a she. I call her Eve." Tara patted Eve's neck and the horse neighed softly, turning it's head to Willow, who once again retreated to a safe distance. The three of them were standing on a sandy road next to the gate to Mr. Winkler's farm, surrounded by the white ashes growing along the road. The country around Sunnydale was too dry for these trees, but a small creek close to Winkler's house supported them with enough water. The two-storied residence dominating the whole area was build from red bricks in contrast to the other three wooden buildings, which had light brown painting, making them blend with the surroundings. Mr. Winkler was one of the few farmers close to Sunnydale and Tara occasionally worked there during the semester. The pay wasn't great, but she enjoyed spending time with horses and as a reward she was allowed to ride after the work. It's been one week after Buffy killed Adam and the Initiative was destroyed and Tara decided it was time for her girlfriend to face her worst fear - a horse. After ten minutes of finding the suitable outfit, which consisted of jeans, shirt, old leather boots and a hat, and another two hours of persuasion they reached the farm in the late afternoon.
"She can recognize you're afraid of her." Tara explained. "Most important is to hide your fear. Then you can keep the control even though you're scared. Don't worry, Eve's the friendliest horse on this farm and she's never bitten anyone."
Willow reached out her hand and jerked back when the strong muscles hidden under Eve's brown skin stretched. Tara took Willow's hand in her own and guided her to stroke the mane, holding the rein with her other hand to make Willow feel more safe.
"Good horse." Willow smiled nervously. "Not going to bite me or throw me down, are you?"
"Now put your left leg into the stirrup, grip the saddle and swing your right leg over." Tara advised, keeping Eve still. Summoning the confidence she had left, Willow followed Tara's guidance and with a little shriek when the horse moved she climbed up the Eve's back. "And don't forget to hold the rein." Tara added, passing the leather to Willow, keeping only a short rope attached the strap around Eve's head.
"I just realized I'm also afraid of heights." Willow stated as soon as she reached the top and immediately decided to make her stay as short as possible. "Also the saddle is too large for me. Well, it was nice, but I think I should get down again. You know, it's six o'clock and Giles wanted to research a new demon and I promised Buffy to help her with preparation for the philosophy exam and..."
"Willow." Tara stopped her, arching her eyebrow in amusement. "Buffy passed her last exam two weeks ago."
"See?" Willow made expressive gesture of an expert in animal psychology. "The horse is disturbing my higher associative functions.I told you it's evil."
"You're doing great." Tara didn't let Willow give up. "And I chose a saddle big enough for both of us, because I plan to join. You don't expect me to walk the whole time, do you?"
Still a little uncertain, Willow agreed to stay and give it a try. At first they spend several minutes just walking along the fence and when Tara thought Eve got used to Willow enough, she untied the rope and swung up behind Willow, who immediately snuggled against her. Taking the rein, Tara brought Eve to a steady trot, heading towards the nearby creek. It was slowly getting dark and Tara turned the horse towards the west to let the last beams of the reddening sun lighten their faces and enjoyed the warmth spreading on her skin. Almost like in a film, Tara thought, watching the shadows draw over the countryside as the sun reached the horizon, a slight breeze playing with the locks of her hair.
"Are you still afraid to fall?" Tara whispered into Willow's ear, hugging her girlfriend while Willow rested her head on Tara's shoulder.
"I'll never fall as long as you're with me..."
The sound of Willow's words echoed in Tara's mind when she opened her eyes and the image of them riding was slowly disappearing as she once again saw just the simple shape of her room. The walls were white. Too white for her taste. A single shade of grey would create at least a slight feeling of comfort and safety, but the snowy color radiated barrenness and hostility. LA hospital. That's what they told her and even though the halls looked almost real, Tara was sure her current place of residence was fake. Different space, different time. Tara would easily recognize the aura of a hospital. Before her mother passed away and during her staying in Sunnydale, she had spend there more time then she could ever wish for. She knew death, pain and loneliness were part of it, but this was only one side of the medley of emotions she had always felt when she breathed in the thick air, smelling the odor of the ever-present disinfection. There was nervousness before every difficult operation, delight every time the doctors were successful, love and hope the relatives passed on the patients, the joy of a mother holding her newborn child for the first time. The air filling her lungs at the moment was lacking all of them. Tara was able to sense the aura of the brightly lit room where she had spend the most of the last two days and she knew one thing for certain. The place was dead. This knowledge however made Tara even more confused, because somehow she felt a level of familiarity with the place. Almost like she belonged there.
Tara abandoned the speculations about her location for a second and reached for a glass of cocoa standing on the bedside table next to her. Closing her eyes and holding the small glass with both hands, she let the warm liquid run down her throat, it's warmth helping her forget the coldness of her surroundings for a few precious seconds. Every time she did this during the last two days she hoped to open her eyes and see Willow standing in front of her, laughing, telling her everything is fine and that she shouldn't worry. What Lindsey told her was simply too hard to understand, but Tara had to accept it was true. Of course she didn't believe him the first time he talked to her, that's why she conjured a charm to see if he was telling the truth. It cost her almost all magic she had left, but she didn't care. She had to be sure. The whole time he was explaining the situation, she hoped to reveal he was lying, but Lindsey told her the truth. Willow was evil. Willow tried to destroy the world. Willow killed Warren and Amy.
Tara noticed he was hiding something from her though. This definitely wasn't a hospital in LA, they didn't take her to this place because Sunnydale was destroyed and didn't keep her here because of her own safety. Lindsey told her she had been seriously wounded by Warren, but she couldn't recognize any sign of an injury on her body, even though she remembered Warren shot her. That was actually the last thing she was able to recall - she was falling to the ground, watching Willow's stunned face and then she woke up here. Another weird thing was nobody came to visit her except Lindsey and the doctors. Even Dawn didn't come which meant they probably didn't know where she was. Willow could do a locator spell to find her, but Tara assumed the evil version either didn't try or didn't care at all. Evil Willow. Tara still didn't have the strength to let these two words pass her lips. What could cause her girlfriend changed so much? Was it because of Warren?
Tara shook her head to get rid of the depressive thoughts and to be able to concentrate on her own situation. She needed a plan to get out of this 'hospital' and then she will find and help Willow. She already checked the locks on all doors and trying to break through she almost dislocated her shoulder. Picking locks wasn't one of her skills and even if she got outside, she had no idea what to expect. There was another way to contact Willow though. The problem was each time the two of them used telepathy to communicate, Willow was the one who held the connection and she was always only several hundred meters away.
Focusing her mind and forgetting the space around her, Tara searched for a sign of Willow and she was surprised how soon she caught a trace of someone very familiar. It wasn't Willow, but someone equally powerful. Dawn.
Part 7 - Family Matters
Dawn gulped down yet another goof ball, hoping to get at least a few hours of an undisturbed sleep, even though she knew the chance the strange feelings she got during the last two days will go away was on the scale from one to ten far bellow zero. It all started the night after Willow disappeared. She could sense the set was used again, but this time it wasn't painful as previously. On the contrary. She felt comfortable, gratified, almost happy like whatever Anubis used it for wasn't evil. The problem was Dawn couldn't stop thinking she was supposed to do something important, but she had no idea what it was. This caused she had spend the last two nights researching the prophecy Whistler had told them about, unable to rest till she would find an answer.
Accepting the pill didn't have the desired effect, Dawn decided to take a run and get tired enough to lose the strength to stay awake. She chose the path to the warehouse, still tossing the prophecy and the message Willow left them in her mind. Except Buffy, Kennedy was the only slayer who knew about it and it took a lot of effort to persuade her to keep the prophecy a secret. Impatient as she was, Kennedy wanted to send a ship to every Anubis's base they knew about. After they contacted SG-1, Hammond suggested to let the Tok'ra spy out where Willow was while Giles preferred finding Willow with a locator spell. After several hours of arguing Faith joined the discussion by simply walking into the room and asking why they don't contact 'the grey guy'. Faith didn't in fact like the idea to ask Asguard for help each time they messed up, but Thor knew Willow and Faith still had the crystal he gave her to communicate with his ship.
Dawn jogged to the warehouse's entrance and turned around to take the same path back to the manor, mulling over the situation. She thought the Asguard were the best choice, because their ships were fast enough to find and bring back Willow before she could reach Anubis. Except they refused. Thor's fleet was guarding their homeworld, expecting the replicators to attack the planet and they couldn't spare a single ship. After Buffy told them about the set and how dangerous it is for people in this galaxy, Thor stated one of their smaller crafts was being repaired and promised to send it to look for Willow as soon as the repairs were finished. Dawn hoped it will be soon and Willow won't uselessly sacrifice herself. In the beginning Dawn though Willow's way to fulfill the prophecy was a good solution - except the dead Willow part. However when they talked to Whistler later, he gave out it was too late to cancel the calling of new slayers. By connecting the Scythe to the other artifacts it's power corrupted. It didn't control the slayers anymore and Willow's attempt would be pointless.
In the end SWC and SG-1 agreed to follow Willow to the most presumable destination, based on Carter's calculations and the last motion vector of Willow's Pel'tac before it jumped into the hyperspace. It was a Goa'uld space station and they brought six ships from Antara to attack it. The preparation took almost two days and this will be the first large united operation of the two organizations.
Dawn was already half way back when something familiar invaded her mind. The same feeling she had before, only ten times stronger. It was ... no it couldn't be her.
"Dawn. I need help."
"Great. Now I hear voices in my head." Dawn sighed. "Like I wasn't freaky enough before. What will be next? A third eye? Gills? "
"Dawn. Can you hear me?" Tara tried the connection once more.
"This is so not happening." Dawn reached the corner of the manor and spotted John walking towards her. She wanted to step back, but it was too late. "Oh, that's what I need right now. To act crazy in front of an audience."
"Dawn. What are you doing?" John observed her useless attempt to hide. He was worried about her. She seemed more and more depressed, spending most time in the library, barely talking to anyone. The whole problem with her new powers was getting to her and John had no idea how he could make it better. She was still a mystery to him. Every time he thought he figured her out she proved him wrong.
"I hallucinate and talk to myself. You?"
"Actually I was looking for you. Buffy wanted to make sure you get some rest before we leave tomorrow." John replied, not sure what to think. "So what did it say?"
"Huh?" It took Dawn a few seconds to realize what he meant."You mean the funny tiny sound in my brain that proves I lost the last piece of my sanity? It asked for help."
"That's not so bad. I mean it didn't tell you to..." John paused. "I don't know ... burn down the morning training area or stop listening to Britney Spears. Though I'm sure many people would agree with the latter. ", John reconsidered the options "Actually most of us would agree with the first as well."
"That's not the point." Dawn fought back the sad memories connected to the words she heard before. "The voice belonged to someone I used to know and for a moment there I believed she's back. The thing is this happened to me before. After Buffy died I imagined one day I'll just open the door to the kitchen and she'll be there preparing breakfast like she used to and then it really happened and I though she was back, but it was just the Buffybot. Somehow this helped me move on. At least for a few weeks."
"I had a similar experience." John recalled one of Jack's missions. "The first time Jack was cloned. SG-1 visited a planet where they found crystals able to imitate anything close to them. One took over Jack's form and later it even changed into his son. The copy seemed so real." John sighed at the memory. "Maybe because I wished it. It's pointless to ask me what would I do to have my son back, but my instinct told me the person standing next to me was only a substitute."
"So it's just my imagination and I should forget?" Dawn asked, still undecided.
"What does your instinct tell you?"
Dawn closed her eyes and this time she focused on the illusion instead of fighting it. She couldn't recognize words anymore, but images of white room with only a basic equipment started flashing in her mind. A lamp, a bed, a mirror with Tara's reflection in it, a white table with a coffee mug.
"We have to hurry and catch up with Willow." Dawn broke into a full speed run towards Buffy's office."It's not a memory. I saw a table in a room that looked like part of a hospital."
"Dawn. That's not exactly the best prove you could come up with." John objected, running behind her, trying to keep up.
"Tables on Earth usually don't have emblems indicating a Goa'uld production facility on them." Dawn blurted out. She wasn't sure if Tara's images in he mind were real or just an imagination, but it was a safety-belt keeping her from feeling as a burden everyone has to protect. Ever since she got her new powers Buffy and all others started to act like she was fifteen again: 'Dawn you can't do this. Dawn that's too dangerous.' and she had enough of it. If she really had a connection to anything Anubis did with the set, she'd use it against him and if Tara was alive...Dawn's train of thoughts got an abrupt halt command. What would Willow do to keep it that way?
----
Buffy watched John leave to look for Dawn and tried to concentrate on her own work. They needed a plan. A better plan to be more accurate. SGC offered to use a Tok'ra spy on the base who would help them to get inside, but all attempts to contact him were of no effect. He was either dead or Anubis caught him or it was too dangerous for him to send a message. The wrinkles on Buffy's forehead deepened with worries. Too many possibilities definitely didn't make the solution easier to find. Also Willow wasn't the biggest problem she had to solve in the near future. After Giles told her about the prophecy she immediately refused to let a single slayer die. They still had almost two months to find a better way to make her the only slayer over again, but how? Whistler explained the First's army was supposed to be defeated by using the amulet Angel gave her, there was no need to activate new slayers and use the Scythe. Now she had to lie to every one about why exactly Willow left so abruptly to settle the score between her and Anubis, which was beyond torture especially when she talked to Faith. It was strangely ironical that right after Faith and her started to accept and support each other they were torn apart. Buffy realized she won't be able to keep the secret from Faith much longer.
"Something going through the responsible leader head of your's ?" Faith interrupted Buffy's brooding, making her snap out of the slumber mode. "Perhaps why Will took off so fast to kick some Goa'uld ass without asking for an extra pair of football boots?"
"Yeah. What could possibly make her leave so fast." Kennedy snorted, her voice full of sarcasm. She was against keeping the information from other slayers and she used every opportunity to show it. She didn't care if Faith figures it out. Actually she would welcome it.
"I think she should realize what she's doing." Buffy snapped back at Kennedy. She was well aware Kennedy provoked her, but it didn't make her attacks less effective.
"Maybe she thinks it's better that way." Kennedy continued. "Unlike other people she realizes the problem has to be solved."
Faith observed the verbal duel with curiosity. She was sure there was more to it then just simple nervousness and general dislike between the two slayers. It lasted the whole two days and started the evening after Whistler woke up from coma. Only Buffy, Dawn and Giles were allowed to visit him, saying he was too week to have the whole SWC breathing on his neck and demanding answers. Three hours later Kennedy got the privilege as well which Faith found suspicious, considering Kennedy had found out Willow had left only few minutes before.
"Maybe you should go check the weapons Kennedy." Buffy glared at Kennedy in a way that would cause any demon to duck and cover.
"Good idea." Kennedy didn't flinch. "I like weapons. They're so honest in contrast to those who wield them."
Faith watched Kennedy storm out of the room, analyzing what she had just witnessed. It was easy to recognize Kennedy was pissed off, however Buffy's behavior was even more bizarre. She was looking down, staring at her shoes like they were the most interesting object in the galaxy, her face sad and full of guilt. Whatever Kennedy was angry about, it seemed Buffy knew she was right.
"B." Faith closed the door to her office to make sure they won't be disturbed, not sure what she should ask her about. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Buffy lacked the strength to look Faith directly into the eyes. She wanted to tell her the truth, but what would follow? Four hundred slayers with the knowledge they'll die in several weeks. On the other hand perhaps Faith would agree to keep the secret.
"What did Whistler reveal, that made Willow go all revenge gal?" Faith pushed further.
"She believes she can save Kennedy." Buffy replied and started explaining. About the Scythe, the set, the prophecy, Powers That Be and why exactly they sent Earth to this universe. It disturbed Buffy Faith listened to her so calmly, without yelling and cursing. Faith breaking anything within her reach would mean she's angry, but that she can deal. The calm, determined Faith next to her was so creepy it scared her.
"So that's why we're attacking the Goa'uld space station?" Faith asked as soon as Buffy finished. "That's why you wanted so many slayers to participate?"
"What do you mean?"
"How many do you expect to die tomorrow?" Faith raised her voice."Fifty? Hundred? The more the better, right? We're acceptable casualties after all."
"We're researching the prophecy and looking for another way." Buffy defended herself, but the tone of her voice could hardly persuade anyone.
"Why hurry?" Faith continued bitterly. "You're not the one who will turn up her toes in several weeks."
"What exactly do you expect me to say Faith? I'll do anything to save them. I can't promise you more." Buffy replied, an expression of sadness and failure spreading over her features. "You think I don't feel responsible? It was my idea to activate them and now it's all falling apart. Everything we've worked for was of no avail. What are we going to do now?"
Faith couldn't answer Buffy's question. After the battle with the First, she joined the Scoobies, helping to build SWC, because she considered it a way to redemption. As the time passed, somehow redemption became only a word, no more important to her. What she cared about were the new slayers, her students. In the beginning she didn't plan to get involved, but the bond between them soon became much deeper them the typical teacher-student relationship. Once a seventeen year old slayer approached Faith after a skirmish and said that the skills she taught her saved her life and that she wants to be like Faith when she grows up. It stunned Faith how much this appreciation meant for her and that was the moment Faith's opinion changed. This was her reward. The trust of one girl was worth more then Faith's own redemption.
"We will find a solution." Faith declared, her voice forbidding any doubts.
"And what happens if we can't?" Buffy looked at Faith with a lot more confidence then before. She already knew what Faith would answer, but she needed to hear it from her.
"No need to worry about that." Faith shrugged."We won't be here to see it."
Buffy nodded, perfectly understanding what Faith meant. "Third times a charm."
Part 8 - Renegade
Willow's ship left the hyperspace and rapidly approached the alien planet. After sweeping out of the atmosphere she had the first chance to observe the surface covered with dozens of volcanos erupting molten lava, the landscape covered in clouds of dust and ash. Anubis called his home Tartarus and Willow could only laugh spitefully at the concept. The Goa'uld obviously had no idea what the real hell looked like, but he would soon find out. The base where she was heading was wedged in one of the dormant volcanos, completely unprotected, which either meant they weren't aware she was coming or they expected her and didn't bother with countermeasures. Willow shrugged off the feeling she headed into a trap and brought her ship close to the stargate, which was mounted to the landing area.
Lindsey carefully observed Willow's ship on a monitor with a disappointed expression. He hoped to have more time to prepare Tara and manipulate her to help Wolfram and Hart against her former girlfriend. He could forget the original plan to persuade Tara she was still on Earth that was destroyed by Willow's magic. Tara wasn't ready and he will have to use a much more direct approach. Lindsey still had doubts. The way Willow dealt with Amy and other witches proved she can't be underestimated and Tara was the only advantage he had.
Willow's suspicion the place was a trap raised to the level of certainty when she teleported inside without detecting any magical barrier. The wide corridors of the station were empty, she didn't meet a single Jaffa on her way to the main hall, where she initially expected to find Anubis. The huge space lacked a living soul - literally, because there was a vampire standing next to Anubis's golden throne. Willow noticed with surprise he was holding the Scythe, which was melted together with three other artifacts and handing it over to her.
"Is this some kind of lame peace offer?" Willow arched her eyebrow, accepting the set, perplexed by the demon's behavior. The vampire touched a sphere lying next to the throne and Lindsey's face appeared after the transmission established.
"I bet you're wondering why we let you get so far and also why we gave you the nice present to play with." Lindsey searched for a sign of fear in Willow's face, but she remained completely calm. "I'm sure you came here to solve this...", he took out a copy of the Pergamon Codex, opening it on the last page. "...and the lands of Earth will perish in great suffering and pain if the balance won't be restored. The hearts of men and women shall explode, their blood reddening rivers and lakes and their children shall drown in a see of tears. The skies will darken, belching flame and acid instead of water, turning human cities into heaps of ash and rotten bones. Once admired heroes, the slayers will be tortured to death by their own kind, grey crows pecking out their eyes and their bodies will be divided into four, vultures feasting on their flesh." Lindsey paused. "Wow. I admire how visual these prophecies are. However I think the author should concentrate more on the plot. For example, there is nothing about who will actually use the set and open the gateway between dimensions."
"Let me guess." Willow's expression turned into a ruthless grin. "You want me to use it? That's the most stupid plan you could ever come up with. You have nothing to exchange."
"I wouldn't count on it." Lindsey stepped back and let a Jaffa bring Tara to the transmitter. The impenetrable confidence in her own invincibility radiating from Willow's face faded away in a single second as she recognized who was the woman on the other side. A vision she saw thousand times before in her dreams, the person she imagined to see next to her every time she looked into a mirror long months after she passed away. This had to be a trick. No power could bring Tara back, Willow tried it herself. Even though Willow was aware Lindsey was just using both of them for his own profit, her logic was quickly hushed by memories filling her mind.
Tara watched Willow with raising fear and doubts. Willow's condition was far worse then she imagined. Ever since she met Willow, Tara was aware of the great potential in the magical department her girlfriend carried. Whatever these people needed her power for, the forces Willow was using at the moment were pure darkness. She couldn't let Willow agree because of her.
"Willow don't!" Tara shouted, throwing herself against the Jaffa guarding her. She managed to grab his zat gun, but when she aimed at her captor, she realized she didn't have a clue how it worked. The soldier didn't give her the time to figure out the function, kicking the weapon out of her hand, pulling the struggling Tara to him and binding her arms behind her back.
The sound of Tara's words made Willow snap out of the lethargy and focus on her plan. She tried to use her magic to locate Lindsey and Tara, then she would destroy the set and save her.
"I hope you don't consider destroying the set." Lindsey remarked like he could read her thoughts. "We used it to bring Tara back and guess what happens if you do."
Lindsey's statement struck home more effectively then he himself probably realized. Till this moment Willow had the chance to save everyone. Now there was Tara on one side and Kennedy together with all other slayers on the other. The choice should be obvious, but it's easier said then done.
"A complicated situation, isn't it?" Lindsey noticed Willow was hesitating. "A lot of factors to consider. So let me make it a little more simple for you."
Willow watched the events that followed in a slow motion, frozen in silence and unable to react though her mind was screaming in sheer horror. Lindsey draw a gun from a holster hidden under his coat, aimed at Tara's back and fired. With dread in her eyes, Willow saw the bullet leave the barrel of his pistol, listening to the bitter sound of gunshot followed by Tara's surprised expression as her body started to fall to the ground, blood soaking through the fabric of her clothes. It all happened in a matter of seconds, but for Willow it seemed like an eternity of torture.
"You know we can use a sarcophagus and heal her." Lindsey reminded her, trying to get her attention and immediately regretting it when she looked at him. The expression on her face was beyond hatred. She walked towards the Scythe like she was in a trance, touching the handle. The floor began to shake as well the whole surface around the complex. The combined energy was channeled to the space between Tartarus and it's sun. Lindsey expected the process to be accompanied by the typical lighting effects that followed opening every dimensional portal, but he couldn't see any. At one moment there was just open space and a second later there was a planet. From the sensor readings the world Willow transferred was Quortoth.
"We need you to open another portal." Lindsey informed her strictly.
Willow stepped back, breathing heavily, her powers drained by the spell. "I need some time to recover my stre..." Willow couldn't finish the sentence, because of a bright white light encompassing her and the set. Before she could react she suddenly found herself on the board of a small Asguard vessel on the planet's orbit, facing the ship's commander.
"I'm Odin of the Asguard." the small grey alien introduced himself, studying her dark appearance with curiosity. Willow didn't look exactly how Thor described her, but her DNA was the same according to the sensors so he accepted the change as a human habit to regularly manipulate their design and continued. "Thor sent me to find you and help you with your task."
"There is a transmission between this planet and a Ha'tak nearby." Willow quickly recovered from the unexpected surprise. "Can you locate it?"
"Yes." Odin did a few peculiar movements with the crystals on his board and a picture of the Goa'uld ship appeared on the screens. "It's hidden behind one of Tartarus's moons, only half million miles away. However that's not our most important goal. We have to leave the orbit and destroy the set before Anubis sends reinforcements. The ship's repairs aren't finished and the weapons are still out of function as well as other crucial systems."
"We're not leaving or destroying the set." Willow stated in a slightly warning tone.
"I have strict orders from our council." Odin replied calmly. "I'm not here to discuss this."
"Neither am I." Willow's fingers sank into the alien's head, absorbing his live energy before he had a chance to defend himself. Once he was dead she threw his body out of the seat, taking his place, activating the engines. "Thanks for the ship." Willow smirked, taking one of the smaller white crystals, trying to figure out how to control the Asguard vessel. She remembered a lot from her first meeting with Thor so it didn't take long to learn the basic functions. She activated the tractor beam, pulling her Pel'tac along and then she set the course to Lindsey's ship.
As soon as the Goa'uld craft spotted the approaching Asguard vessel, it undertook a useless attempt to escape to hyperspace, but it's acceleration was too slow. Once Willow got at a close distance, she let the Pel'tac fly freely to crash into the Ha'tak, which immediately opened fire. The already damaged Asguard shield wasn't strong enough to withstand the massive volley of plasma bolts and the ship rocked with the hits piercing the hull, losing it's systems one by one. Fortunately the Pel'tac reached the target before the complete destruction of Odin's vessel and the following naquadah explosion disabled the Goa'uld shields and weapons, overpowering the generators, giving Willow enough time to locate and transport Tara out of the ship. Forgetting about everything else, Willow ran to the motionless body lying on the cold floor, ready to heal her, but that wasn't necessary. The Asguard technology was obviously configured to heal all transported humans, because the only reminder Tara got shot few minutes before was a red stain on her clothes.
Kneeling next to her, Willow carefully put a piece of clothing under Tara's head, waiting till she would wake up. To hide her real condition, Willow created an illusion charm making her hair look red instead of black, the dark veins disappear from her skin and her eyes green as they used to be. She also removed the stain on Tara's clothes. The moment she was done, Tara raised her eyelids with a sharp intake of breath, her eyes travelling around the corridor before they rested on Willow's face, a soft smile playing on her lips. Because of her slightly blurred vision caused by the previous injury she didn't notice the dead Asguard next to the seat or the window offering a perfect view of Tartarus and it's moons.
"You'll never believe what I dreamt about." Tara chuckled, her expression suddenly changing as her sight improved. She was about to ask Willow what happened when she noticed a grey figure sneaking to the control panel. "Behind you!"
Willow turned around quickly, catching sight of another Asguard attempting to take one of the crystals. Without hesitation, she focused on the stone and an invisible force hurled it towards the alien with the speed of a bullet. The impact pierced his torso and threw him across the corridor right into a sharp corner. A cracking sound could be heard as the alien's weak skeleton shattered, his lifeless figure falling to the floor.
"What's going on Willow? Where are we?" Tara observed the dead Asguard, her face filled with worries. "What's that?"
"I don't know." Willow shrugged, her voice and expression an example of pure innocence, and tenderly stroked Tara's hair, assuring her with a soothing smile Tara remembered so well. "I guess a demon. It was just a demon."
End of Volume two.
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