"Why didn't you bring this woman in or follow her Colonel?" General George Hammond asked from his seat at the head of the table occupying the center of the briefing room, rather upset with his second in command.
"It seemed like the best thing to do at the time. We were facing an unknown with obviously advanced capabilities, separated from half the team armed with a 9mm and a zat gun between us and after what she did to that Goa'uld I didn't think it was a good idea to risk provoking her. We also had an injured man to worry about." Jack defended his actions.
Hammond nodded his head accepting the answer.
"How is Jarin now?" The General went on concern for the refugee showing in his voice.
"He was in pretty bad shape but he should recover. Dr. Frasier gave him something for the pain and a sedative so he should sleep through the night." Daniel informed him from his seat at the General's left.
"Good." The bald leader of the S.G.C. replied. Turning to face Jack at his right, he got to the big question. "Now about this woman that killed the Ashrak Colonel, what do we know about her?"
"According to what we were able to decipher from Jarin, this woman just showed up and attacked the Ashrak. He saw her use some type of personal shield to stop a blast from his ribbon device then hit him with what looked like an electric bolt. That's when he ran so he didn't see what happened next. By the time Teal'c and myself got there she already had him down. He attacked her with a knife and she broke his neck without even touching him. Then waved her hand and incinerated the body. But, the fire didn't even scorch any of the brush. That's all we know General." The gray haired man reported.
"She also escaped with his ribbon device and knife." Teal'c informed the General in his usual matter of fact voice.
"Do you believe this woman poses a threat to us?" Hammond wanted to know.
"Well, the fact that she killed a Goa'uld gives her a good mark in my book." Jack answered. "But without knowing more it's impossible to say." he went on.
"Could you see a weapon or any other type of technology she was using?" Sam asked both excited about the prospect of studying new technology and worried about facing that technology.
"She appeared to be unarmed." Teal'c answered the Major.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time we've encountered a race with advanced mental abilities. Maybe she is another Ascended or a Nox." Daniel finally chimed in.
"This girl was no Nox."
Everyone looked at Jack after that comment and Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"What!" Jack defended. "The Nox would never fight, much less kill anyone, even the Goa'uld. For that matter neither would the Ascended. Look at what happened to Daniel. He tried to help us stop Annubus from destroying Abydos and they wouldn't let him. They certainly wouldn't let any of their kind save just one person."
Everyone silently agreed.
"If she's not a Nox or Ascended, then what is she? Where did she come from? How did she get here?" Hammond asked the room.
"I don't know the who or where part, but as to how, I would guess a ship." Sam was the one to answer.
"Explain Major" Hammond ordered.
"Well, she either came through the stargate using some type of invisibility so we wouldn't detect her, but I doubt it. The infrared monitors would have picked up her body heat. The only other way on the planet is a ship. It either landed here or transported her down from orbit. Either way a cloaked ship might evade detection."
"So you're saying that there might be a cloaked ship sitting in orbit right now?" Jack asked worried about the threat an unknown ship in orbit posed.
"Possibly, but it's also possible that a ship landed here somewhere or simply dropped her off and then left planning to pick her up later. If it hasn't already. The same also applies to the Ashrak but since he's dead then his ship is sitting out there somewhere unsecured or someone will be coming for him, Sir" Sam said.
"Is there anything we can do to locate a ship if there is one or find out where she is now and what she's doing here?" The General wanted to know. He didn't like the idea of an unknown alien running around loose on the planet.
"Not much Sir, if there is a ship on the ground it's probably well hidden, so I doubt that any satellite images will show anything but it's worth a shot. The only other thing we can do for now is watch our space and hope that if a ship launches or a pick up arrives we get lucky and detect it. Maybe monitor the local media and official communications in Denver for anything unusual. Also, warn the base personnel to keep an eye out for any strange redhead women, not just on base but around town too.
"Alright." The Gen. wasn't happy with his lack of options. "We'll keep a tight watch on the area and the skies. I'll also have an f-302 on standby ready to intercept any spacecraft that show up and surveillance teams ready if she's spotted on the ground. If we do find her don't approach her, just call in and let the surveillance team take it from there."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Daniel spoke up, "If this girl is as powerful as she appears to be and is willing to engage the Goa'uld then she would make a very good ally but we run the risk of alienating her if she finds out we're spying on her. She might perceive that as a hostile action."
"Look Daniel, we need to know what her story is before we make any alliances with her or her people." Sam rebutted her friend.
"I also believe it is unwise to ally ourselves before we know for which side they fight." Teal'c stated.
"Yeah, what he said" Jack thumbed towards the Jaffa.
Daniel realized he wasn't going to win any arguments and slumped back in his seat.
"Now. Is there anything else" Hammond waited a few seconds for an answer before Sam spoke up.
"Remember General I'll be back in Denver tomorrow at the astrophysics lecture at the university for a few hours."
The General nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Just be careful, with this mystery girl out there I want everyone to be cautious." He made eye contact with all four people at the table. Teal'c bowed his head while the others nodded.
" Anything else?" The General. asked. When no one answered there was only one thing to say, "Dismissed."
Everyone left the room.
*** *** ***
Willow slid the key-card unlocking the door and entered the hotel suite that Kennedy's father had arranged for her. The suite was larger than she really needed but was a nice gesture that seemed to show that he approved of her and Kennedy's relationship. She walked over to the sofa in the center of the room setting her purse with the gauntlet and knife in it on the coffee table. Sitting down she reached for the phone and dialed a number.
After several seconds, someone picked up.
"Hi Maria. How are you?" she asked the maid. "I'm glad to hear it." "Is Kennedy around?" she asked politely.
There was a long pause.
*** *** ***
Kennedy flopped across her king size bed and put the phone to her ear. "Willow how's Denver? Did the auction go well?"
"Denver's nice especially the view from my balcony and the scepter is now on its way back to the coven."
"Great, that means my favorite girlfriend'll be back tomorrow?"
"Ah well- Wait! What do you mean 'Favorite', you telling me I'm not your 'Only' girlfriend?" Willow's tone made it clear she knew Kennedy was just messing with her.
"Well a girl has to have a back up for times when her main girlfriend goes off and leaves her all alone." She teased.
Kennedy suddenly heard someone making kissing noises. Rolling over on her back she saw her half sister standing at the door kissing the air.
"Oh Willow I want you I need you." She mocked with exaggerated phony passion.
"Get out of here you little brat before I-" she cut herself off by throwing a pillow at the thirteen-year-old brunette who just scampered away down the hall when the older sister got up off the bed.
"What was that all about?" Willow asked as the new slayer walked over and closed the door making sure to lock it.
"Oh that was just Sarah being a pain. I got rid of her."
"Oh o.k. Listen, I've kind' a had a change in plans. I found out that there's going to be a lecture on some new theories and discoveries in astrophysics tomorrow and I wanted to attend."
"So I'm goin' to have to go another day without you?" Kennedy asked and stated with a pout. "Well I guess I could always go with plan B skinny dipping with Heather Graham," she threatened playfully.
"Ah yeah, then I'd hafta turn her into a rat." Willow warned with the same playful tone then turned serious. "The lecture's not the only reason to stay though, I ran into a little trouble today that might need taken care of first."
"A demon? The brunette guessed and sat up straight as she slipped into a serious mood.
"I'm not sure what he was. He didn't feel demony but he wasn't human either. He was using some type of gauntlet to attack someone in the park. I don't know if this was just your standard bad guy attack or part of something bigger goin' on but I would like to stick around and find out."
"Well, I can fly out and be there tomorrow I just need ---"
Willow cut her girlfriend off. "That's not necessary. If this was just a random attack then the problem is already solved. And if it's not all we can do right now is research. I don't want you to come all the way to Denver just to do research on a false alarm. If this is something bigger then I might need your help but for now, enjoy the family time."
"Listen, I know you can take care of yourself but I don't like doin' nothing while you chase down a demon alone."
"I'm not chasing a demon he's already dead. I'm just trying to find out who he was and what he was up to."
"O.k. I'll stay put for now but call me tomorrow and let me know what you find out either way o.k."
"Oh, I think I can manage that. Just ask your dad if it's alright if I keep the room another day or two. I know it can't be cheap."
" Oh, I'm sure he won't mind but I'll talk to him and let him know what's up. You just be careful and come back to me."
"I will, and one more thing."
"What?"
"I love you."
"I love you too." Kennedy answered with a smile and hung up.
Willow hung up and then pulled the knife and gauntlet from her purse. Walking over to the desk with her laptop on it she sat down and opened it up prepared for a long night of research.
*** *** ***
Jarin stirred as he slowly woke up.
"Doctor" a nearby nurse called out. Several seconds later Dr. Janet Frasier walked up to the bed.
"Inform The General." She ordered the nurse then looked down at Jarin. " Good morning. How are you feeling now, any pain?"
"No. Where a-, What hap-, Oh, I remember now. A woman saved me. Where is she?" he asked trying to sit up.
"Don't worry about her right now. Just lie back down and relax." Dr Frasier put her hand on his chest preventing him from rising and eased him back down as she answered.
General Hammond and sg-1 minus Teal'c came in.
"How ya feelin'" Jack asked.
"Alive. What about the Ashrak di-"
"Already taken care of. He won't be bothering you again." Jack assured him.
"And the woman?"
"She's fine. But she took off and we can't find her." again Jack explained.
Hammond cut in," We were hoping that you could help us with that."
"How? I didn't see that much and what I did see was while my mind was --- "
This time Carter was the one to interrupt, "That's why we're asking now. We're hoping that since your head is clearer you'll be able to remember more details about what happened."
"Well, when I was free I looked up and the woman was standing between me and him. She looked down at me; I think she was trying to determine how badly I was hurt. He said something about being a god but she didn't believe it. She said something about not coming close to being a god, and introducing him to one. Then they started fighting and that's when I ran." The scientist recounted.
"So she knows that Goa'ulds aren't gods?" Jack both asked and stated.
"I didn't get that impression Colonel O'Neill. I don't think she knew what he was. She just knew he wasn't a god." Jarin clarified.
"If that's true then she wasn't there after the Ashrak and since she didn't make any move on Jarin, she probably wasn't there for him either." Carter deduced.
"That means she's here for some other reason. But what? And why did she bother to save Jarin?" Jack wondered.
"Do you think it's possible that she helped him because he was in trouble?" Daniel spoke out.
"Even if that is the case we still need to know what she's up to."
"But – " Daniel didn't get any further.
"Listen Daniel you didn't see what that girl can do. I did, and who knows what else she's capable of. We need to find out as much as we can before we make any attempts at diplomacy. Do I need to remind you of the Aschen?"
"The Colonel's right." Hammond spoke up before Daniel could. "There's to much at risk to take any chances."
"I agree with Dr. Jackson." Everyone turned to look at Jarin when he spoke. "I think she was just trying to help because I needed it. Like Major Carter pointed out, if she was after me she wouldn't have let me go."
"Be that as it may we are still dealing with to many unknowns. When we find her I want her placed under surveillance but no aggressive action taken until we determine her intentions." Hammond commanded.