Part 13

Daniel opened yet another door that showed an empty room. With all the rooms, armories and floors in this facility they could search for days and still not find Willow, if she was even still here.  For all they knew she could have been taken back to her home world. He couldn't help but feel this was an exercise in futility.  If Panthesilea wanted Willow hidden she would stay hidden.

Jack rounded a corner and saw Daniel, "Anything?"

Daniel shook his head no, "Jack…"

Jack held up his hand stopping Daniel. "Danny, I don't want to hear it. I'm gonna find her. If it weren't for me she wouldn't have been stuck here. She'd have had a nice adventure and then gone back home." He turned determined eyes back to Daniel, "I'm gonna find her and then take her back."

The unspoken whether General Hammond allows him to or not hung in the air between them.

Daniel sighed and nodded his head in agreement. Jack had backed him up more times than he could count and if he was determined to find Willow than he'd be right there looking with him. "Right. You go down there and I'll go this way. We'll keep looking."

Colonel O'Neill had stayed back out of sight when he'd heard his "twin" talking to Daniel. Hell he understood his feeling of wanting to return Willow safe to her home world and he'd help his "twin" and Daniel make sure she got back. What concerned him was the something extra that was in Jack's voice. The hint of more than I feel responsible. He'd noticed Jack checking out Willow's legs when she entered the conference room earlier but he hadn't thought anything about it. Hell, he'd noticed Daniel checking out her legs, too. But maybe there was a little something extra in Jack's look. He'd have to keep a closer eye on his "twin's" reaction to Willow. That's all they'd need was for the de-aging Jack to get raging hormones.

~~~~

Panthesilea watched Willow's eyes as the knowledge of the Furlings began to take hold within the witch. Her genetic code was awakening to its heritage.

Willow's mind raced with all the knowledge that was flooding her system. Was this how Buffy, Kendra and Faith felt when they were called to duty? She felt connected to this Earth, her Earth and to the Furling home world. The barriers between the planes of existence seemed to be melting and she felt that she could traverse distance, time and space with just a step. She blinked a few times to clear her mind as the sensation began to subside.

"Do you understand now, why the Warriors against the demons would have no need for a Council once called?"

Willow tried to calm her racing heart and took a couple of deep breaths before answering. "So the Slayers get the same knowledge that I just received when they're called?"

"Not the same knowledge, no. For their skills are different than yours and the other Mages but yes the same type knowledge is given to them when they are called. There should be hundreds if not thousands on Niurin called before we return. A contingent of Furlings is to meet us there after they've gathered the newly called."

"I need to get back home and let Giles know what's happening. They need to be prepared for the Warriors and Mages that are coming."

"There is no hurry. A Mage has recently been activated near the One Warrior. They both have the knowledge that you have just been given. A sister arrived earlier when the threat was first reported. She is part of our advanced guard."

Willow bit her lip and wasn't sure if she should mention Faith in jail or not. Angel had told them that she was making a real attempt at redemption but what if it was too soon and she sided with the new threat. "Ummm, what if one of the One Warriors went against their training and sided with the demons?"

The Furling looked intently at Willow, "There have been times since the beginning when this has happened and our home world has known of them. The threat to Niurin coincided with the last such occurrence. She has retained her powers though her genetic memory will be wiped from the next called. The demons that she fought and how to kill them will be retained but there won't be any memories of the Warrior herself. Each Warrior that is called is given the genetic memory of those before them. ALL their memories are included; their lives they have lived, they learn how to fight against the forces of darkness and how to kill. The elders coded their genes this way to enable those that come after to know how to fight a demon that was previously encountered."

Willow's mind was whirling with the information. The Watcher's Council really didn't need to exist. It sounded like the Furlings put all the information needed into the genetic code of the Slayer. Why didn't Buffy know how to kill a vamp? She remembered Buffy telling her that she had missed the heart the first time she tried to stake a vamp. Why was Kendra raised by her Watcher? Would Giles even know or is this just another example of the Head of the Watchers keeping their own in the dark? So many questions for Giles were swirling in her brain.

Panthesilea put her hand on Willow's shoulder, "I understand this is a lot of information to process, Willow. In time your question will be answered." She paused and grinned at Willow, "Ready to try your new powers?"

"Really? Now?"

"You can return us from where we left. Concentrate on the knowledge given you. Everything is connected, Earth, people, animals, buildings, time, even space. Let your mind feel the connection between them all." She reached down and grabbed a tree limb that had fallen. "These two ends seem far away until you do this." She brought the ends together in a circle to demonstrate what she meant. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, it's very close to a science we call quantum physics."

"Visualize where you want us to go. Once you have the picture firmly set in your mind, you'll know what to do. Let the magic of the sisters guide you."

Willow concentrated and visualized her room next to Jack's. She saw the bed, the small table and the little television and with that vision came the knowledge of how to get them there. A small smile curved her lips as a bright light flashed in the forest.

~~~~

Sam had just turned down the corridor that led to Willow's room when a flash of bright light caused her to stop. It appeared to be like the flash that occurred just before Willow disappeared. She automatically reached for her weapon and hit air. She had forgotten that the Furling had caused all their weapons to disappear. They hadn't known the extent of the disappearing weapons until it was reported that ALL weapons were missing from the base armories. She tensed and went into fighter stance ready to face whatever had caused the light. It wasn't until she moved closer that she heard Willow's voice.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe I just did that. That was so cool, can I do it again?"

Willow gasped and turned at the sound of her door crashing open. "Sam!"

"Willow, are you all right?" Sam asked not taking her eyes off the Furling.

"Your friend has not been harmed."

Sam ignored the Furling, "Willow?"

"I'm okay. Really, I'm fine. No harming here."

Sam relaxed slightly but still didn't take her eyes off Panthelisea. She reached for her radio, "Found Willow, Sir. She appears unharmed. Both she and the Furling are in Willow's quarters."

A slight smile spread across the Furlings features, "You would fit in well in our society."

"Roger that Carter." O'Neill's tin voice came across the radio. "We're on our way."