Chapter 25
The scoobies and Sg1 walked through the portal and into the magic shop to find it filled with marines.
Jacob was there, smiling grimly as he pulled Sam into a hug before releasing her and speaking to the group.
"General Hammond sent more reinforcements, I trust all went well with your mission"
Giles pulled the dagger out and passed it to Jacob who examined it minutely. Selnac flashed into his eyes and his deep voice rumbled.
"I can feel the power in this blade but admittedly I am looking for it. To anyone who did not suspect it, they would feel nothing, especially as it will be carried by the daywalker. His aura should mask its resonance perfectly."
He handed the blade to William who slid it into the folds of his clothes out of sight. Giles waved everyone to be seated around the large table, while Jack sent the rest of the marines to prepare for action.
"We now have a way to break Nefu's hold on Xander, what we need to do now is organise a way to get William into Nefu's ship"
"We're not going to just wait for Daniel are we?"
"No Buffy I don't think that would be wise"
Sam glanced over at Jack carefully choosing her words.
"Colonel do you think Nefu expects us to attack?"
Jack shrugged, bouncing the question to Teal'c who steepled his hands in front of his chest.
"The false god would indeed be expecting an attack, perhaps it would be wise to give him one"
Buffy arched her eyebrows and smiled at the big man,
"You mean send in the marines to tackle them head on while we slip in another way"
A smile twitched at the corners of Teal'cs mouth and he inclined his head slightly at the petite slayer.
"That is correct, doubtless the way to Nefu's ship through the tunnels is guarded, a large enough force should be able to occupy them."
"How else are we going to find Daniel and Xander if we don't go through the tunnels"
"I believe that the bond between your mate and the witch Willow" Teal'c bowed his head respectfully in her direction "should be strong enough to guide us to Nefu's ship above ground"
William turned hopeful eyes on the redheaded witch who smiled back at him.
"Can you do it Willow, can you find Xander for me"
"I can try William, the connection between us has not been broken, though it came close when Nefu discovered it. I think it wasn't severed because Xander and are well… we're family to each other"
Jack slapped his hand on the table, "Ok, Willow can you test this bond, see if it still working, if it does then we'll go ahead with Teal'cs plan."
The redhead sat down on the floor, her head bowed as she closed her eyes and concentrated, the others stood around quietly, watching…..waiting. Willow freed her mind and thought of Xander, reaching out across the gap between them, reaching out to his spirit with a loving touch. She gasped as she discerned the cage that surrounded his mind, felt the division of his mind and spirits, sensed the unclean magics used to control him. Her face when she raised it was calm but her eyes were full of sorrow, William saw and shuddered at her words.
"I can feel him, he's been bespelled , but there's something……different about him. Somehow he's been divided into two separate personalities"
William took her hand and she smiled slightly at him, hope in her green gaze.
"Its like he's partially under Nefu's control, there's a part of him that's fighting it"
"What do you mean Willow, what personalities?"
"Daniel had obviously been under the same sort of spell, but with Xander well…the….the hyena never left him. The spell used to control him doesn't seem to be able to control that part of him."
"Oh dear god"
"But isn't that a good thing, if he's at least partially able to fight Nefu"
Giles sat down with a thump at the table, taking his glasses off and rubbing his hands over his eyes.
"No Jack its not, the hyena is an animal, it wont obey any instruction from us"
The colonel waved his hands around in a vague way, trying to find a way to use the information Willow had gained for them.
"Wouldn't he like, I don't know, see us as his pack"
Giles polished his glasses slowly as he thought about that particular angle.
"Maybe not you, Sam or Teal'c, but the rest of us and especially William will be considered in that way."
"William do you think you would be able to control Xander?"
"I'm not sure?"
"Willow is there anything you can do"
"Not while Nefu has the crystal"
"Well that's not exactly how I want to go into to battle, but it'll have to do"
Jack looked around at the group and started to issue his orders as he checked his weapons.
"Jacob, you and Tealc will head up the ground forces to engage the enemy in the Initiative tunnels. Giles, Willow, Tara, Buffy, Sam and I will accompany William to Nefu's ship above ground."
The two groups gathered their arms and left the magic shop loading into the humvee's and speeding to the initiative base cave entrance. The soldiers entered the dark cave in small groups led by Teal'c and Jacob, while the others gathered around Willow. The red head closed her eyes and concentrated on her bond with Xander, her brows knitting together in a frown.
"He's that way" she pointed to the east through a large corpse of trees. Buffy started out with Jack ahead of the rest of the group. William walked between Willow and Tara, Sam and Giles brought up the rear. They cautiously covered ground, until Willow gestured silently for them to stop. Jack surveyed the area not seeing anything but trees. Sam felt around till she found a small stone and threw it in the direction Willow was pointing in. It seemingly bounced off thin air and into the brush. Jack looked over at her and she pulled out a small device from her pack. She looked at the readings and pointed towards a spot about 3 metres away. Jack moved over thumping against the outside of the ship. He ducked out of site as a door appeared out of nowhere and a Jaffa came into view.
"Kinda neat ship ya got there, how you do you make it all see throughy and stuff?"
The Jaffa seeing nothing but a small blonde girl standing outside raised his eyebrows and stepped forward menacingly. Buffy smiled and walked over, smiling disarmingly at the tall dark man.
"Do you think I could have a look inside?"
The Jaffa smiled evilly, his hands shot out to grasp Buffy, but the petite blonde slayer ducked under his arm and slammed an elbow into his side.
"Now really that's not very nice."
She pulled her arm back and slammed a punch to the jaw knocking him out. Jack smiled at Buffy and she saluted him smartly before reaching down and taking the Jaffa's zat and tossing it to Giles. They quickly bound their prisoner and left him in the bushes. Cautiously they entered the ship, closing the hatch behind them. They made their way into the maze of corridors, soon passing the ring room. From there they silently slipped towards the room where they'd last seen Xander and Daniel.
Buffy took the lone guard by surprise and quietly disposed of him. The group slipped into the room dragging the unconscious guard with them. Muffled growls and voices could be heard inside the room as they crouched behind the screen. Jack and Buffy pointed out the guards posted at intervals around the walls, all staring straight ahead. They heard a muffled shout and peered over at the bed that dominated the large room. A mop of dark hair was just visible and William stifled a gasp as he watched Nefu move away. Tears came to his eyes and he felt Buffy's hand in his, giving comfort. Daniel came into sight, cleaning and dressing his master. The Goa'uld smiled smugly and made his way to the throne, signalling his guards to release Xander from the bed. William looked over and could see Jack, hands clenched on his gun as he watched the scene before him unfold. The colonel's face was grim and he motioned for William and Buffy to move. William checked the blade through his clothes and closed his eyes for a second conferring with his other selves. Eyes open and his look changed to a leer as he smirked at Buffy. A low growl erupted as he watched his mate dragged back to kneel before Nefu.
"Spike" Buffy breathed quietly "lets go"
tbc