This will be the last part for a few weeks as life has been catching up with me.
Blessings
Dave
--------
Title: Of Gates and Mouths 7/?
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail:
Archive: If anyone wishes to go ahead, but it would be polite to at least drop me a line.
Rating: 12A/PG-13 at most
Pairings: Willow/Tara Buffy/Faith Amanda/Andrew Janet/Sam
Crossover: BtVS/Angel and Stargate.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in any of the shows. If I did, boy would I have some fun?
Spoilers: See part 1.
Notes: See part 1.
Summery: See part 1.
After graduating from High school Dawn was accepted to PennState, where she meets her new roommate Cassandra.
A/N: The names of the nightclub and bars etc are all real places, I have included them to add an air of authenticity to the background not to offend anyone I am sure those few places I have demons hanging out at are very nice places to socialise with friends without the likelihood of being eaten.
Thanks to the following people who helped me with this story: irishwavefan, Electronis Zappa. I have been trying to contact my beta Hilary for six months now (I hope she is okay!) so I am posting this story un-betad. Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
Thanks again Kim for stepping in and betaing for me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
"Right," said Buffy, "What did you find at this detective agency?" pulling her eyes away from Cassandra's distraught mother.
"All we found was an envelope taped to the bottom of a desk drawer it was addressed to Major Carter," explained O'Neill passing the opened letter to Sam, "It's a list of numbers."
Sam smirked as she took it from her CO, "It's a code we came up with to stop my brother from finding out what we were telling each other," she explained. She looked over at Manda, "Do you know if there is a hardback copy of Withering Heights in the house?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Because the numbers correspond to page numbers, paragraphs and words or letters," she said.
"Right then," said Giles, "I suggest we look to see, if not we will have to wait until we can obtain one from a local book shop."
"The study or Kennedy's bedroom are the most likely places," pointed out Buffy.
"Yes, Manda will you look in Kennedy's room please and I will look in the study," nodded Giles heading for the door followed by Daniel.
Sam looked over at Willow, "So while we're waiting can you please tell me how you crashed our computers without affecting medical?" she asked unable to restrain herself any longer.
"I used magick; the only other way I could have stopped you would have been to take down the entire net."
"That's impossible," exclaimed Sam.
"No I have a special program that when merged with SecurNet 2.1 and several other programs I have written will crash the entire net. It is a sort of a last line of defence type thing; you see a few years ago a demon called Moloch invaded the net..."
"A demon! How?" asked Sam.
"Centuries ago demons were sometimes trapped inside books, which is what happened to Moloch, in high school I was helping my computer teacher scan old reference books into the school computer system," Willow blushed, "I didn't know it at the time but I scanned the book he was trapped in, he found his way onto the net..."
"And let's not forget he wanted to make you his love slave," giggled Buffy.
"You had to say that, didn't you!" snapped Willow blushing, "I have been trying very hard to suppress that part."
"Love slave?" asked Tara trying hard to keep a smirk off her face, Willow had told her the story of Moloch, but had said nothing about 'Love slave!'
"Ah yeah you see I ah... thought I was talking to a boy... he tricked me... sorry baby," said Willow the blush getting deeper.
Tara grabbed her girlfriend's hand, smiling at her, "There's nothing to be sorry about, it's not as if we were together, or you were even going out with Oz at the time," she said gently squeezing Willow's hand.
"I know baby, but it's still embarrassing to think what could have happened," she said a shiver going down her back. Willow looked back at Sam, "Anyway my program is just in case a similar situation happens again," she told her.
"Would you be willing to share the details with me I maybe able to modify it to use against the Goa'uld," asked Sam suddenly fascinated at the idea of sending a computer virus against the greatest threat to Earth.
"Goa'uld?" queried Buffy.
"Carter," growled O'Neill.
"Sorry sir," said an embarrassed Major Carter, "Sir they know the basics of the Stargate program and they have shared their secrets with us."
"Okay Carter," said Jack, "But it doesn't leave this room, clear!" he said looking at the others in the room.
"We'll keep your secrets, but we expect the same courtesy," said Buffy getting nods from Angel and the others.
"Well the Goa'uld are a parasitic creature that enters via your mouth or neck and takes complete control of the host's body, suppressing their mind," explained Sam.
"They sound like Talamour demons," mused Angel from the corner.
"A what?" asked Jack.
"A Talamour demon, they borrow into a human body, but most human bodies are unable to contain the demon's power and decay over a few days or even hours, the only known way to kill them is by fire," replied Angel.
"They certainly sound similar," said Janet, "Are there many of them around? I'd love to examine one."
"No they are very rare in this dimension in two hundred years I have only seen one and heard of another two," Angel told them.
Sam turned back to Willow, "So what do you think, would you be willing to share?"
"I don't know! It could be very dangerous," edged Willow not sure any military group should have such a thing, worried it could be used against other countries. "I'll have to think about it and talk it over with Giles," she said.
Giles came back at that moment holding a book, "We found a copy," he smiled handing it to Sam.
"Right it will take me awhile to get the message," she said rising and heading for the writing desk, "Graham may have a photographic memory but I don't."
"Right then, while we wait to find out what this Graham chap has to say I suggest the rest of us formulate a plan of rescue," said Giles.
"By any chance did you go to the same school as Daniel," asked Jack, "Because you sound a lot alike?"
"I just feel the need to use the Queen's English as it should be used," smirked Giles unable to help himself. "Now I would say we need to accomplish several things besides rescuing our three friends. We need to destroy all the research they may have carried out and find someway of destroying any blood samples they may already have taken."
"This Graham is obviously after any incriminating evidence the President can use against the NID, if we could find any I'm sure he would be grateful," added Daniel.
"Yes of course," agreed Giles, "So I suggest that we split into teams. One team consisting of our three slayers and Teal'c is it?" he asked looking to the large Jaffa.
"It is," said Teal'c bowing his head slightly.
"Right the slayers and Teal'c find and release Dawn, Kennedy and Ms Fraiser..."
"I should be with them, the girls may need medical help," interrupted Janet.
"Both Buffy and Faith have extensive knowledge of field first aid Doctor Fraiser," explained Giles gently attempting to allay her fears. "You would be better employed aiding Tara in finding a way to destroy any samples safely. Angel and Cordelia can back you up and act as lookouts. That will leave Daniel, Willow, Major Carter and myself to destroy any information we find with Spike and Colonel O'Neill as our lookouts."
"I don't usually like splitting my team and adding unknowns into the mix but it is probably best. But I think that if by any chance both the information and any samples are in the same place that I should back up Teal'c and his group," added Jack.
"Yes very well, and we'll add Angel as well, agreed?" said Giles looking around.
"Agreed," nodded Jack.
"Of course all this depends on our finding where they are being held," sighed Giles.
"I'll get on the net and try and find the people we saw in Cordy's vision," said Willow.
"Daniel why don't you go with her," Jack asked his team-mate, he smiled over at the redhead, "I know you can probably hack into the systems you need to find them but Daniel can provide you with security clearance, it'll make things quicker."
"Right good idea Jack," said Daniel heading after the witch.
"Oh but don't forget to change your passwords when we get back, don't want any unauthorised people being able to get at things they shouldn't, do we," called out Jack.
They all heard Willow laughing.
--------------
SGC General Hammond's office
The General sat down at his desk and picked up the phone, "Colonel, what's happening?" he asked.
"Not much at the moment," said O'Neill as he stood on the back porch of Kennedy's house with Teal'c. "Carter was left a coded message from this Graham person, so we are all waiting for her to decode it. Plus we are running some names we found through the FBI data base in the hope of finding where they are holding Cassie and the others."
"Others?" queried Hammond, "I thought it was just Cassie and Dawn Summers! Who else have they taken?"
"It seems that Dawn Summers' sister placed two girls here to protect her and one was captured when they attempted to stop the abduction," explained Jack.
"Why would she send two young women to protect her sister?"
"Apparently they are called slayers, super strong and are they fast," smirked Jack.
"So they are off-worlders then?"
"The jury is still out on that one," said Jack.
"I take it you ran into some of Ms Summers' associates!"
"You might put it that way sir, they attacked us as we were about to leave the girls' dorm room, believing we took the girls, I got kicked into the wall, Carter was beaten black and blue and Daniel got a broken wrist."
"What about Teal'c?" asked the General.
"The youngest girl, I guess she would be about fifteen or sixteen fought him to a standstill. Then the Rosenberg woman came in and things started to get a whole lot worse, if a friend of theirs had not come in at that moment and stopped them I don't thing any of us would have survived!"
"What do you mean?" asked Hammond curiously.
"Not that I fully believe it but according to them, Willow Rosenberg and her girlfriend are witches... Although we didn't see any technology, it could have been used and we are just being told the whole witch story to cover it," mused O'Neill.
"Can you trust them?"
"I think we can sir, besides if we are going after Cassie we are going to need them, unless we want to make this all official," pointed out O'Neill.
"Alright you're the one on the spot; I'll support whatever you feel is best," said the General, "Good luck Jack and keep me advised."
"You got it sir," smiled Jack disconnecting his cell phone. He turned to Teal'c, "Let's go see if Carter has found out anything," he said leading the large Jaffa back inside.
--------------
An hour later, they all gathered in the living room. "It's a bus station locker number in town as well as access codes and address of a NID base in West Virginia where all three girls were supposed to be taken," explained Sam.
"Does it say what is in the locker?" asked Daniel.
"No, but I think we should go and find out, Graham wouldn't have gone to these lengths if it wasn't important!" pointed out Sam.
"Granted, but how are we going to get whatever is inside without a key?" said Janet.
"Not a problem," smirked Faith, "We'll rip-off the door."
"Not very subtle are you Faith," smiled Willow, "It will be less noticeable if Tara or I use magick to open it."
"Yes," nodded Giles, "Why don't you go now but take someone with you just in case, we can't be certain we are not being watched."
"Good point Giles," Buffy agreed. "Manda, you know the town better than anyone, why don't you go with Willow!"
"Of course Buffy," nodded Manda.
"We want to help," Jimmy put in from the corner where he sat with Frank who nodded his agreement.
Buffy smiled at them, "Alright you can go with them but that's it," she told them.
Both boys nodded as they started to leave with Willow and Manda, Jack stopped the tall blond boy, "Frank, I'm sorry we lost touch, if you ever want to talk just phone," he said handing a slip of paper to him.
"How did my dad die?"
Jack looked sadly at the young man, so much like his father, "After this is all over we'll have a long talk okay?" he said solemnly.
Frank nodded and hurried to catch up Jimmy and the others.
--------------
NID base West Virginia
Maybourne walked into the control room just after dawn, "So what have you got Doctor?" he asked seeing Doctor Hoven talking to a tech.
"We have found a way of preventing the energy in Ms Summers' blood from dissipating," the Doctor explained smiling wily. "We tried everything we could think of with absolutely no luck then we tried passing the mixed blood through a low level electrical field immediately followed by freezing with dry-ice, much to everyone's surprise it worked. We can start harvesting in a few hours."
"Excellent Doctor. Have you found a way of obtaining more Naquadah blood from Ms Fraiser?"
"Yes that also turned out to be very simple, all we needed to do was replace the blood taken from her, adding a small amount of powdered naquadah and her body does the rest, but unfortunately we will only be able to harvest two litres in every twenty-four hours," explained Doctor Hoven.
"Will that be enough?" queried Maybourne.
"Yes Colonel, we will be able to produce five warheads a week for as long as you require," said the Doctor. "Now we have solved the problem with the blood I can concentrate on processing the slayer for you."
"Excellent Doctor. The board will be pleased; I have been told that their representative, Senator Kinsey will be here late this afternoon to receive our report."
--------------
Kennedy's house
There was a knocking at the door just after Willow and the others had left.
Buffy frowned at the others, "I'll get it," she said moving towards the door followed by Faith just in case. Opening the door her frown deepened, "What are you three doing here?" she asked.
"I love Dawn as much as anyone," said Xander stepping inside followed by Riley and Samantha, all three were carrying large holdalls, Xander did not look happy.
"What's wrong Xand," asked Buffy.
"You should have phoned me," he snapped.
"Sorry Xand, I know you love her, I didn't have time to phone everyone," Buffy apologised.
"Buffy that's what cell phones are for," Xander pointed out.
"Ah... we forgot to turn them on."
"You mean you didn't want Giles stopping you!" smirked Xander.
"Mmm something like that," said Buffy smirking back at her friend giving him a hug.
"What's in the bags," asked Faith.
"Just some things I managed to persuade my former bosses to sell us," explained Riley, "Special Kevlar body suits and some Mk.3 tazers."
"Great... Oh you two don't know Faith do you," said Buffy looking at Samantha and Riley, "Riley, Sam this is Faith, Faith, meet Riley and Sam," she introduced them, "You can leave the bags here for now and come and meet the others," said Buffy.
"Others?" queried Samantha.
"Ah yeah, we ran into some of Dawn's roommate's friends," said Faith.
"And did the 'run in' include violence on your part?" asked Riley looking back and forth between the slayers.
"You know me so well," smiled Buffy sweetly.
They re-entered the living room to see everyone looking apprehensive, "For those of you who don't know them this is some more of our friends, Xander Harris and Riley and Samantha Finn, guys this is Cassandra Fraiser's friends, her mum Janet, Major Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson..."
"The guy that thinks the pyramids are alien landing sights?" interrupted Xander, much to the surprise of those that knew him. He smirked at them, "You're forgetting I'm a sci-fi fan... although I'm not as bad as Andrew," he finished somewhat defensively.
"Alien's are real, Teal'c there is one," Buffy said indicating the large Jaffa, "And it turns out the pyramids 'are' alien landing sights."
"Woo Andrew is going to freak when he hears that," laughed Xander.
"So much for keeping each others secrets!" snapped Jack.
"We haven't broke our agreement, we said it wouldn't leave this room! It hasn't," she countered.
"You're just twisting it," growled the Colonel.
"Maybe but Xand was at the board meeting when we discussed the Stargate, it would not be much of a leap for him to realise Aliens exist," Buffy pointed out. "Anyway continuing the intros," she said, "The old guy angry at me is their CO Colonel Jack O'Neill... Oh and that is Cordelia Chase and Angel, Sam," she finished for Samantha Finn.
"Old!" growled Jack looking daggers at the petite slayer who was smiling sweetly at him.
"I wouldn't encourage her if I were you," advised Giles.
Riley walked over to the Colonel, his hand extended, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you sir, my former CO, Colonel Stevens told me a lot about you."
O'Neill shook the younger man's hand, "You worked with Stevens? What did he tell you about me?"
Riley smiled, "Mostly how you used to get him and the rest of your team in some very awkward situations."
"Nothing's changed," laughed Daniel, the only one from the SGC with the nerve to say anything.
Jack scowled at his friend, "Well it wasn't always my fault... So what are you doing here?" he asked changing the subject.
"We," he indicated his wife, "Work with them," he said nodding to Buffy and Faith.
"So you know about vampires and demons?" queried Daniel.
"Yes, Colonel Stevens heads the government's unit that deals with everything supernatural," explained Riley.
"The government knows about the supernatural?" frowned Major Carter.
"Yes that's how I met Buffy and the others, at the time it was a joint operation with the NID. We were stationed in Sunnydale where I met her and found out about slayers. Things started going wrong..."
"That's a nice way to say it," laughed Xander.
"Yeah," smiled Riley, "Anyway it is strictly a military operation now."
"By the way Colonel you may be interested in knowing that when the Initiative was setting up in Sunnydale the military wanted you in charge, but the NID vetoed it for some reason," interrupted Giles.
"I can't imagine why!" said Daniel sarcastically.
"How do you know that," asked Riley.
"You remember those computer files Willow got from Adam?" Giles asked, Riley nodded, "Well it contained all the Initiative's files not just what we needed to get into the base," the Watcher explained.
"Adam?" asked Daniel curiously.
"Modern day Frankenstein monster," explained Giles.
"More like Locutus of Borg," countered Xander, "But a lot meaner."
"It's not possible to animate a corpse," announced Janet.
"I wouldn't say that love," smirked Spike morphing into a vampire and back again. "Things like that are possible when you deal with the supernatural."
"All this is destroying all my views of the world," sighed Janet.
"Don't worry about it, you'll go numb eventually," said Cordelia, "I haven't been normal since high school... open your mouth Xander Harris and you will see what becoming a half demon gave me," she finished not even looking at her ex-boyfriend.
"What! I wasn't gonna say anything... although you complete the set now," smirked Xander.
"Huh," frowned Cordelia looking over at him.
"Well every girl I have ever been out with were or are demons now," explained Xander.
"Maybe you should consider playing for the home team," suggested Faith.
A look of horror crossed the young man's face, "No, no, no that would only attract male demons," he shuddered, "At least those demons that don't try killing or eating me, look gorgeous."
Cordelia smiled at her ex, "Why thank you Xander," she said blushing slightly.
"But I haven't decided which group you belong to!" Xander countered.
"Very funny Xander, we'll talk later," she smiled.
"Oh demony goodness coming my way," Xander laughed.
"In your dreams Harris," said Cordelia trying to be angry with him but failing as she joined in his laugh.
"You people are truly strange," said Jack shaking his head.
"I have found over the years with these young people that they often use such banter to hide their true feelings for each other as well as cope with the mind numbing terror they confront on an almost daily basis," explained Giles.
"I need a stiff drink," said Jack getting up and heading for the small bar in the corner, "Anyone else want one?"
"Jack this isn't your house," pointed out Daniel, "You can't just help yourself."
"Why not," asked Jack, "We are planning on taking on a base full of NID to rescue three young women, one of whom lives here, I'm sure she wouldn't begrudge us a little drink."
Giles smiled at the two from the SGC, it seemed that his group were not the only ones to use banter to hide their feelings. "I'm sure Kennedy's father would not mind under the circumstances, I'll have a malt whiskey," he said joining the Colonel at the bar as he started pulling various bottles out and setting them on the top.
--------------
Willow and Manda entered holding a large bulky manila envelope, "It looks like plans of a building," the redhead told them.
"I'd guess it is plans to the base they are holding nibblet," said Spike.
"Yeah probably," mused Willow handing it to the Watcher before spotting the latest arrivals, "Couldn't stay away huh Xand," she said walking over and hugging her oldest friend, "If anymore turn up we're going to have to move this to a convention centre," she laughed.
"I love Dawn as much as you do, there was no way I wasn't coming," smiled Xander hugging the redhead back.
"Right let's see what we have," said Giles spreading the plans out on the table.
"It seems to be a office building with several sub-levels," pointed out Jack looking them over, "We'll enter through here," he indicated the underground car park, "That way we avoid having to wade through dozens of office workers that may not even be aware of the NID's presence. We then secure the elevator and stairs from above."
"That means we have to get down this corridor as fast as possible," said Riley pointing at the long central corridor, "Once the alarm goes off we will never make it in time."
"Mmm Will, you know that spell Amy placed on you back in Sunnydale, the one that made you look like Warren," asked Buffy.
Willow smirked as the realisation dawned on her, "Oh yeah, you want me to do that to you?"
"Yeah, but without all the 'I'm gonna kill you bitch' thing," smiled Buffy.
"Of course," Willow smiled back, "Who?"
"Faith and me," said Buffy, "Use a couple of images from Cordy's vision, can you do that?"
"Yeah no problem."
"Ah what are you two talking about?" asked Jack having followed next to nothing of their conversation.
"Willow will put a spell on Faith and me so that we look like someone from this NID, we then enter before the rest of you and guard the elevator and stairs until you can get to us to help."
"If we can get access to a computer terminal Graham gave us the code to shutdown the power, the elevator won't be a problem," Sam told them.
"Okay that sounds like a plan. Once we get to the stairs Sam, Xander and I can watch your backs and stop anyone coming at you from behind," suggested Riley.
"Okay," said Buffy, "Let's gear-up."
"We only brought eight Kevlar body suits," Riley apologised looking at the members on the SGC.
"Don't worry we brought our own," Jack said leading his people towards the door and their car.
"Right," said Riley, "Buffy, Faith, Manda and Cordelia if you go with Sam she'll show you how the suits are put on," he looked at the slayers and seer.
"What about Willow and Tara?" asked Manda.
The redhead smiled at the young slayer, "Don't worry about us if they try anything stupid they will get a nasty surprise." Since Warren had shot Tara the two Witches had done a lot of experimenting with protection spells, they had discovered they could place powerful defences on themselves to stop a similar incident happening again. However, Willow had managed to modify the spell so that any projectile fired at them returned to the shooter, regardless of the distance. Tara had theorised that it should be possible to avoid the return if the shooter was able to move to another dimension but they had yet to confirm this.
"I'll show Xander and you how to put yours on," said Riley looking at Giles.
--------------
NID base West Virginia
They arrived at Clarksburg, Colonel O'Neill and Riley drove the two nondescript black vans down the ramp of the C-130 that General Hammond had procured for them and had headed straight out the gates and towards town.
While they were on the aircraft Riley had given everyone a rundown on how to use a Mk.3 tazer, "Unlike the older models the Mk.3 has three power settings, level one will takedown a human or vampire and some of the smaller demons, you'll get fifty shots at that setting. Level two will kill humans and dust a vampire and takedown most larger demons, at that setting you'll get about thirty shots. Level three should not be used unless in a desperate situation as it can short-out the weapon unless it has enough power left, it will work, taking out anything short of a fully grown bull elephant, but need to go back to the manufacturer for repair, you'll get two shots at that level from a full charge.
"We have enough spare charged cells to give the eight tazers two extra each, you change the cell by turning it off then sliding back the cover on the shoulder stock like this." He explained, demonstrating, "Lift out the dead cell, please don't discard it, it can be recharged, then just put a new cell in and reverse, cover closed and turn the weapon back on, by the way be careful the weapon will automatically select level one, but that shouldn't be a problem here," he finished.
"Okay I got all that," said Buffy as she looked the tazer over, "You, Sam and Xander should take most of the spare cells just in case," she told Riley.
"Alright just one spare for the other five then," agreed Riley.
"Hey Will, will your spell be able to disguise our weapons?" asked Faith placing her spare cell into the special compartment in her suit.
"Yeah, I'll make them look like briefcases."
O'Neill turned onto the ramp leading to the car park, most of the right hand side of it was filled with cars while the left was mostly empty other than a half dozen cars including a black stretched limousine. Jack slowed the van and looked over into the back, "We got a problem, there's a guy by the limo that can only be a bodyguard. Teal'c when I stop next to the car take him out with the zat."
"Very well O'Neill," said the Jaffa activating his zat. As the van stopped, Daniel pulled the side door open and as the man was reaching into his jacket, Teal'c fired a single burst of energy sending him slumping down next to the front of the car.
Everyone piled out of the vans, Buffy grabbed hold of the man's lapels while Faith opened the limousine's rear door; they quickly taped his hands and feet together and stuck a piece over his mouth.
The two senior slayers joined the others next to the door; Willow and Tara using their magick to temporarily make the group invisible to the camera above the door, they had also positioned the vans to block the door from the rest of the car park, "Ready?" asked the redhead.
"Do it," nodded Buffy.
Willow touched their cheeks as she recited the spell. The members of the SGC gasped, except Teal'c who simply raised his eyebrow. Both young women appeared to grow several inches as well as apparently change sex, "Did it work?" asked Faith.
"Yes, I modified it slightly so you two would look like yourselves, to each other, you know just in case you got separated," explained the redhead.
"Right, give us a two minute head start," said Buffy walking over to where Major Carter stood next to the keypad lock, "What?" asked the slayer seeing the look she was getting from the SGC members.
Sam shook herself, "Sorry it's just so strange seeing you as Colonel Maybourne," she explained.
Buffy released a breath, "Let's do it," she said starting to enter the code.
--------------