Chapter 18 - Another slayer vision
Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis, Buffy's quarters,
After Buffy had shown Illyria to some quarters she had retired to her own Tiredly she threw her weapons on top of the weapon chest for cleaning and sharpening later. As she took of her jacket she headed towards the bathroom for a nice hot shower.
A while later Buffy came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel as she dried her wet hair with another towel. She heard the doorbell ring.
"Just a minute" Buffy called before quickly finishing drying her hair and then went to put some clothes on.
5 minutes later Buffy was dressed in a pair of pj's as she opened the door not planning on having a long conversation with whoever it was. She was tired and wanted some sleep. She looked at the figure standing there a light smile on her lips as she noticed the wet hair and uniform suited him well.
"Hey John, if you want my report you're going to have to wait until tomorrow." She told him before shaking her wet blond hair and running her hand through it.
"Alright" John said as he looked at her "…but that's not why I came by." He told her as he tried not to stare at her.
Buffy stopped running a hand through her hair and looked at him "Then why did you come by?" she asked him trying keep the conversation professional and businesslike.
John stepped closer but Buffy stepped back "I can't" she told him, "I'm sorry."
"Look Buffy, I'm not really good at this…I'm not…what I mean is…I'm a little…" John tried to tell her something. Buffy didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Emotional retarded?" Buffy supplied earning her a look from him to which she smiled slightly.
John took a step towards her again, this time Buffy didn't move away from him. Encouraged by this he raised his hand to her chin and raised her head to meet his eyes "I know what you've been through must have been difficult for you. You usually have your friends to fall back on-"
"Actually in the end I am pretty much always alone." Buffy interrupted him.
"My point is, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. You're not just someone on my team to me…I know you feel something for me as well. It doesn't have to be you alone in the end anymore. I can stand with you, you can talk to me, lean on me." John told her carefully as he now held her hands to his heart.
Buffy wanted so bad to lose herself in those blue eyes of his, she knew right then that her carefully constructed armor around her heart had somehow been breached already by him. In alarm she pulled back. Taking a step back she took her hand out of his and looked at his eyes, her defenses fully up. She could not give in, giving in would lead to bad things, hurtful things, for the both of them.
"Have you ever been in love before John?" she asked then added "And I don't mean if you've had girlfriends, but really truly in love. So much that it hurt when you're not with that person. That you have that person on your mind even when you don't want to. That is something happens, bad or good, your first instinct is to go to that person?"
"No." John answered honestly.
"I have…twice. There have been 2 guys in my life that I have really truly loved. Both were good vampires, they both left me in different ways. And in the end they both died, something that could have been prevented if they called me. After my second death, I wanted to die and go back to Heaven so bad. But I couldn't, I am the slayer and I had to fight evil. I felt like I was ripped out of Heaven and brought to Hell. It took a long time for me to get back on my feet. When I died again today I had accepted it because I'm tired of the pain this dimension has brought me. My sister is ascended, I have only my father and a few friends left. I can't let anyone in my heart again because I'm not sure there is much left that can survive if I'm stabbed in the back again, if the people I love and trust turn against me or die. I'm scared John. Scared that if I let you or anyone in I will get hurt again, or if you got hurt because of me. I'm not sure I can survive if I lose someone else who I care a lot about because of my life as the slayer. You chose this and can stop anytime you want to. I never chose this life, it chose me. You're not a warrior in the fight I've been fighting since I got called, John. I don't want you to blame me later if something happens to you or when you realize you've been fighting a war while you have the choice to sit on the sideline and live a normal life."
John stepped closer raised her chin so she met his eyes "I can't predict the future Buffy but I can tell you that if you don't allow yourself to feel emotions and take risks that might get you hurt then life is not worth living. You are not really living! I'm a normal guy and no I don't have to be in this fight, but I chose this fight. Whether you were here or not. I'm not backing out of that because I might get hurt. Besides you, with your slayer and Key powers were the one that died today, not me."
Buffy shook her head and stepped back, away from John as she steeled herself against her own emotions and forced herself to look at him, 'this had to be done.' She thought before saying "John…I can't count on you, you are not a witch, a slayer or have any supernatural powers. I know you will not sit by while I fight my battles and I will not watch another person I care about die. My heart can't take it. I will not let it take it. I came back from Heaven again for one thing and one thing only. To save Atlantis from the Wraith threat. I know they are going to attack the city sometime in the future and I have to stop them. I did not come back for you or to live my life."
"That's just it Buffy, it's not just your fight. It's our fight! Everyone here in Atlantis is fighting the Wraith, the First, the Genii!" Buffy winced at John saying the name of those that had broken her, briefly. "We're all in this together Buffy." John said softer and more gentler as he looked into her green hazel eyes and held a hand to her cheek. "You're not alone anymore. All you have to do is let us in…let me in." he said softly his voice pleading.
The next thing John knew was that Buffy's lips were suddenly crushed against her own. Caught off her guard John still recovered fast and let his body respond to hers and his lips kissing hers back as pulled her closer to him, wanting and needing more of her.
Buffy pulled back breathing heavily "I want you" she told him and he responded by kissing her again and he started to tug at her clothing…which was when Buffy suddenly became very aware of the fact she was in her PJ's. "John stop." Buffy said pulling back.
"What?" John asked confused.
"I am still wet and in my Pj's." Buffy told him.
"I'm still soaked wet from the weather earlier." John told Buffy then as he realized how he must look.
"But that looks good on you." Buffy said letting her eyes go over his delicious body.
John pulled her to him again and just before their lips met whispered "It looks good on you too"
Buffy felt and heard herself giggled and allowed his lips to capture hers as they made their way to the bed.
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Earth, Japan, Old temple,
The First looked at her small army, it wasn't as big as her previous one but it should be big and strong enough to do what she wanted it to do. Stepping closer to the Asian girl who looked around the age of 19, 20. she smiled walking towards her the form of her dead mother.
"Are you ready dear?" The First asked the girl in Japanese.
The girl didn't say anything but nodded, the First looked in delight at the army of different kinds of demons, vampires and bringers. Those fools of the New Watchers council may be aware of so many things in England and America, even Europe. But their relations with Japan and China were poor. There was no base of operations here, no active slayers…except the one that was under her command. She smiled at the girl, Azumi. "It's time. We are taking Atlantis." She spoke and cheers erupted from her army. She smiled knowing that this attack along with the Wraith's attack will not be enough for even Buffy Summers to stop. Azumi just stared ahead with dead cold eyes, watching the demons, waiting for when she would be up to fight.
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Atlantis, Buffy's bedroom,
John watched the small slayer sleep, her face relaxed. He smiled as she seemed to stir but suddenly her face changed, Buffy seemed to struggle with something. He wondered if it were from the horrors she had already seen or if this was one of her slayer visions happening. He shook her gently saying her name. Trying to wake her up.
Slayer dream
Buffy was hovering in the air above Atlantis a figure appeared next to her and she saw the First slayer, Seneya, next to her watching.
"Plans are in motion Buffy, watch." Seneya told her and Buffy saw Wraith, demons, vampires, bringers attack the soldiers and scientists from above, even from such a height above they heard the screams of fear and people dying, they were losing. Then suddenly the city exploded. Buffy shielded her eyes and when she looked again she saw the exploding city, time had stopped. It then seemed to rewind until she was pulled towards the city corridors with people in seemed to flash by until she stopped seeing three portals open, demons, vampires, bringers pouring out. Time stopped again and Buffy walked closer to the portals.
"One leads to Earth, another to a Wraith planet and the last one is one between our dimension and the demon dimension Quor'toth." Buffy heard Seneya say.
"Earth, but Amanda…" Buffy started to say.
"The slayer in charge of Earth is on the Hellmouth in Cleveland. The portal is from an old temple in Japan. Slayer Watcher Council relations with Japan aren't good so the First managed to build a new army there. She had her warlock open a 2 way portal to a Wraith world and a 2 way portal to Quor'toth after her had opened a portal was opened from Earth to the lost City." Seneya told her.
"But the amount of power it would take…" Buffy started saying.
"He is very strong, but you are right. After each portal was opened he drained a human warlock sacrifice, the First had arranged, to restore his power.
"So I just need to be there before he opens a portal to the Wraith planet or Quor'toth." Buffy told her.
"Yes, and you must save the lost slayer Azumi from the First's control. Together with her, the Old One and your lover you will be able to defeat the First's army." Seneya told her.
"My lov- What does John have to do with this?" Buffy asked.
"He is your love. Your heart sings for him, as his years for yours. You have regained love Buffy. Do not let it slip away, the Ancient descendent may not have any powers but he will make a difference." Seneya looked at her daughter "pain may feed the slayer but love gives you your strength."
End slayer dream
Buffy shot upright in her bed, she looked around getting her bearings before her eyes settled on John's worried face.
"Slayer vision?" John asked.
"Slayer vision." Buffy replied then captured his lips in a kiss, she pulled away from him and grinned saying "But nothing that can't at least wait an hour." She whispered and smiled when John let out a low growl and attacked her lips with his and moved his body on top of hers.
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Atlantis, briefing room,
"Shouldn't the Major and Buffy be here by now?" Ford asked after checking his watch, again.
"Yes, it appears they are both running late." Teyla told Ford.
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Atlantis, Buffy's room,
"We're late." Sheppard told Buffy as he came into her bathroom where she was doing her finishing touches.
Buffy looked at him "Well we would have been on time if someone hadn't interrupted my showering."
John grinned putting his arms around her from behind kissing her neck "That is definitely worth being late."
Buffy done with her finishing touches turned around in his arms and grinned placing a quick kiss on his lips before saying "Come on flyboy." She told him slipping out of his arms walking towards the door, the Major behind her.
Buffy saw Illyria in her bedroom waiting "You and your alpha male are late." Illyria's voice said.
"Uh, who's that?" John asked looking at the blue demon.
"Oh, John meet Illyria, also known as Fred Burkle. Although Fred is dead and in Heaven Illyria is a Old One, which is a long story but all you need to know right now is that Illyria is on our side and used to be a demon God in her day." Buffy explained quickly.
"You know this kinda thing should be weird to me, but even since I met you not a whole lot seems to surprise me anymore." John told her.
Buffy gave him a half smile saying "you haven't even seen half the things I have." She told him.
John watched as Illyria changed her form to the one he saw yesterday. The form of Fred Burkle. "Let us go." The blue demon said to them.
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Atlantis, briefing room,
Buffy, Major Sheppard and the one the knew as Fred Burkle came in.
"Sorry we're late. Couldn't be helped." Buffy said flashing John a quick grin.
Weir looked at the three, suspiciously then shrugged it off saying "Well now that you are here, you could tell us what your visions was about."
"There is going to be an attack to Atlantis by portal. The First Evil-" Buffy started saying but Illyria interrupted.
"She's not the First Evil. Just a manifestation of your species darkness." Illyria cut in.
"Really huh, oh well anyways Evil is going to be attacking us from a portal. It then plans to have a powerful warlock under its command open two more portals. One to and from a Wraith world and another to the worst demon dimension there is, that we know of anyways. The first attack from Earth is consistent out of vamps, demons and bringers. We need to get everyone up to date on how to kill them. I think Bringers might be able to get killed by bullets but bullets on vamps just pisses them off, same with demons. We need everyone who can fight to be equipped with a stake and axe or sword. The weaker ones should also have a cross and some holy water to defend themselves." Buffy told them.
"Do you know where the portal will be opened?" Weir asked.
"Yes, and I will be there with Fred and the Major." Buffy told them.
"Teyla, Ford and Mackay are going to be spread out through the other teams since they know more about what we're about to face then the others do. Dr. Weir you should coordinate the attack with Bates from the command center. Dr. Beckett should be put on alert for incoming casualties." John continued.
"I suggest he puts the blood close by the infirmary, vamps are more likely to drain their victims then to just kill them." Buffy added.
Everyone but Illyria looked at Buffy and John, trying to process everything and the already made plan of defense and attack.
McKay broke the silence "You slept together, didn't you?" he asked bluntly.
"I do not believe the relationship of my guide and the alpha male are your business muck." Illyria's cold voice told him.
"Illy, be nice." Buffy told the demon before turning to look at McKay and the others giving them a glare while saying "Not that it is any of your business but the Major and I are seeing each other." He glare filling in the rest.
"About time." Teyla told her smiling at the two.
Buffy felt herself blush and glanced at John.
"Finally." Ford said.
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Atlantis,
It was quite a sight to see as so many people were being informed about the danger that was coming, Buffy mused as she watched the gathered crowd in the gate room from the control room.
"Is this a joke!?" a scientist exclaimed "Those things don't exist. And it is scientifically impossible to open portal. Magic isn't real!"
Buffy stepped forwards "Try telling that to a witch or the warlock that is coming. When I was 15 I was chosen to become a slayer, a mythical warrior with enhanced strength, speed, stamina, vision, hearing and healing abilities. I also get visions sometimes when I sleep, and they always come true. Earth has many dangerous evils, some of those are coming here, but there are those like me who fight these evils. There are other slayers and witches on Earth who protect normal people by fighting these evils. Some even die in the process. I can assure you Earth is in good hands, so you don't have to worry about your families." Buffy told them.
John stepped up next to her "Buffy is right, you don't have to worry about your families, but yourselves. We are going to have to fight these demons in order to protect this great city."
"The first rule in slaying is: Don't die!" Buffy told them.
"I'm going to divide you into teams. Since my teams is the only team experience with the supernatural world each team will be under the command of one of them." John continued.
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Milky way galaxy, Anubis's base,
"You better not fail me again Anubis." The First told him. "Or I am going to let those two slayers get you."
Anubis looked at the short blond woman that the First evil wore "I will not fail. The Chosen ones will be summoned here and dealt with."
"They had better." The First added "And without Faith and Dana around messing with my plans Earth will soon become Goa'uld property."
"What about the Asgard?" Anubis asked.
The first looked at Anubis shaking her head "Those small weak graylings may be smart but are no match for the demons and vampires that will be brought aboard their ships, their world. Without Faith's and Buffy the other slayers will fall quickly by my forces."
"Buffy?" Anubis asked.
"She's of no concern of you." The First dismissed him.
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Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis,
'We're ready.' Buffy thought, even though some of the scientists had gone to the Alpha Site most were staying to fight. Buffy also noted that John had done a good job dividing the teams in equal strength. McKay was with captain Stackhouse, whom she knew could handle himself while Teyla had a more defensive position with most of the scientists, since she wasn't military and could best be put to use to help non fighters become fighters. Buffy had a lot of stakes but not enough, stakes had been made at the main land by the Athosians and shipped by puddlejumper to Atlantis. Even crosses were made and blessed along with water by a scientist who also happened to be a priest.
As Buffy stood at the spot the portal was going to be formed along with John and Illyria she felt the slayer side of her anxiously awaiting the beginning of the fight.
"You seem anxious." John said watching her.
Buffy gave him a small smile "I am. I don't like it when I have to kill humans, it eats at my soul. What happened with the Genii…what I became…I don't want that to happen again." She told him.
"You did what you had to do." John told her after her put his arms around her.
"I know." Buffy said "but it scares me how easy it was for me to kill so many humans. To not feel for their death. The slayer is demonic essence, it doesn't grieve death. I was so in tune with the slayer side inside me I didn't feel anything about their death either." She said looking up at him "I'm not going to dwell on the past but I am going to let myself feel again. You showed me that that is ok."
John kissed her, it was a short but sweet kiss. When he pulled back he said "remember your own rule, don't die."
Buffy rolled her eyes at that but couldn't suppress a small smile on her face as he said that. "I'm just looking forwards to kick some demonic but for a change. I don't plan on dying again. I think 4 times is quite enough…well unless your name is Daniel Jackson."
John chuckled at that, their moment was broken when Illyria said "I sense magic. They are coming."
Buffy and John pulled apart, each taking out their crossbow, ready.
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Milky way galaxy, Anubis's base,
"Get one with it witches!" Anubis ordered.
The witches sitting around a pentagram started chanting.
"…by his power deliver us,
The Chosen Ones,
Bring them here through space and time,
We ask of you,
Accept our sacrifice and deliver them,
Now!"
A brilliant white light shone and Anubis smiled.
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Milky way galaxy, Earth, SGC,
Faith looked around alert.
"Faith?" Dana asked.
"Get Red." Faith told the other slayer who immediately sprinter off to do so.
But as Dana left Faith realized it was too late "Oh shit!" she cursed just as a white light enveloped her. The light faded Willow and Dana came back to an empty room.
"This can't be good." Dana told the witch.
"I sense powerful magic at work here." Willow said calmly as she seemed to be focusing.
"Anubis." Willow suddenly gasped and stumbled back.
"Anubis? What's he got to do with magic. He's a Goa'uld. They use technology not magic." Dana told her.
"I followed the residual magical trail back to witches working for him." Willow informed the slayer.
"This is bad." Dana replied.
"Very bad." Willow agreed.
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Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis,
Buffy looked at the point the portal was forming ready for whatever was coming out. Then suddenly the portal expanded and a vampire sprung out of immediately settling into dust from a bolt of Buffy's crossbow. More vampires and demons followed and the battle began.
Buffy soon tossed her crossbow to John letting him use two at the time while she and Illyria used swords to cut down any demon or vampire coming within their range. Then Buffy was caught off guard when a familiar voice said.
"Hello Buffy." Pike said as he emerged from the portal. "Long time no see."
"Who's the guy with the bad haircut?" John asked her.
Buffy almost forgot to fight but instinct saved her as she ducked under an axe from a demon before sweeping its foot out from under it, seeing it was a Mohra demon she brought the hilt of her sword down hard on the jewel on its head. The demon screamed before disappearing in a flash.
"Pike? What are you doing here? Why are you working for Evil?" Buffy asked
"Now is that any way to greet your old boyfriend?" Pike asked.
"You dated him?" John asked.
"I was 15 and he wasn't working for Evil back then." Buffy told him "Besides I broke up with him when he wanted to be danger man."
"He does not seem very impressive." Illyria told them then added "You taste in males has improved."
"Well it couldn't have gotten worse after dating 2 vamps, a Goa'uld and a secret army guy." Buffy added before decapitating a vamp.
Illyria looked at the slayer barely exerting herself as she put her sword through a demons heart. The bringers seemed to be holding back after being quickly taken out by John's P90.
"Angel and Spike, both famous in their way but not a good choice for procreating. Vampires can not have children…besides Angels' but that was by interference of a higher power." Illyria told them.
"As nice as this is not, if you surrender yourselves now I will make your death quick and painless." Pike told them, but as the words had barely left his mouth Illyria was in his face and grabbed him with one arm choking him while the other knocked him out.
"Pitiful." The demon God exclaimed.
Buffy smirked "Best to keep him unconscious till Will can get here to bind his powers or drain him from his magic." She told John before focusing on the open portal with her sword and concentrated letting her Key's mystical energy flow through her and shout of her her sword at the portal.
A young woman leaped through the portal just before it closed behind her. Buffy examined the woman, feeling a familiar sense with her slayer senses.
"You must be the slayer I have been told that was coming." Buffy told her. "Azumi, was it?"
"I know you, you were in my dreams." The other slayer told her.
"And I bet Evil told you I was well evil…right?" Buffy asked.
"You are the one that plagued my mind in my sleep, making me go out and hunt the monsters that you fought. Because of you I wasn't there the night my mother was killed by normal humans." The Asian slayers eyes flared angrily.
"Foolish child, not even considering that Evil probably planned the attack in order to get you on its side." Illyria told the young woman.
"Stop calling my dead mother evil!" Azumi yelled before launching herself at Buffy intend to make the slayer pay.
"Do not interfere!" Buffy ordered John and Illyria as she blocked and avoided the punches and kicks as much as she could. When Azumi managed to land a hard kick in Buffy's stomach which she only managed to half block so she stumbled a few paces backwards Buffy went on the offensive.
Within a minute that Buffy had gone on the offensive she had the Asian slayer pinned to the floor. "Now you are going to listen to me." Buffy told the other slayer. "The figure you may have seen as your mother is not your mother. She is dead. You have been seeing to what is referred to as the First Evil. Since we recently found out it wasn't first we started calling it Evil. Evil has the ability to come to you in form as someone who has died. It isn't corporeal and it speaks lies and half trusts to get you to do what it wants. It is evil and if you align yourself with it you will become evil yourself. You will become what you hate so much, someone who will go into someone house and kill defenseless women, children…"
"But I killed them, the men who killed my mother, I hunted them down and killed them like I killed vampires and demons." Azumi told Buffy.
"And it was wrong, we are slayer and we determine the law in the supernatural world but in the normal human world they have their own laws to deal with people like that. The system may not always work but it is something that normal humans chose and use." Buffy told her then frowned sensing something, a light started to envelop Buffy and she jumped off Azumi looking at it.
"What the-" Buffy started to say as she felt herself being pulled somewhere, then out of nowhere was Illyria grabbing her arm. The light seemed to diminish, Buffy gave the blue demon a thankful smile when suddenly the light flared bright around both of them.
"Buffy!" John screamed when the light was gone and so were Illyria and the blond slayer.
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Milky way galaxy, Anubis's base,
Buffy and Faith dematerialize in a flash of light in a circle with about two dozen staff weapons from Jaffa pointed at them.
Buffy and Faith looked at each other first, then at the staff weapons, then Anubis. "You know Faith if you wanted to see me again you could have just have Willow open a portal back in Stargate Command or the Slayer Watcher Council building. Not surrounded by Jaffa and some wannabee God." Buffy told her.
"Not my idea B. But now that you are here I must say that you look good. Everything must be working out for you over there…well except for the dying again thing. You really ought to stop doing that. That's four times for you and zero for me, you know." Faith replied.
"Very funny Faith" Buffy replied and was about to retort when Anubis yelled.
"Enough! You will be silent unless you God asks you to speak." Anubis told them.
"Rude much." Buffy commented "What kind of wannabee God are you anyway? At least Glory had some fashion sense." Buffy told him then turned to Faith, ignoring Anubis. "So yeah I died again, but on the upside I got myself a new boyfriend."
"You and Major Sheppard finally hooked up huh?" Faith asked.
"How did you-?" Buffy started to asked but Faith interrupted her.
"Oh please, I saw you both in the gate room before you left. Even a blind would see you two were into each other." Faith replied.
"Enough!" Anubis who seemed to have recovered from being treated by both Buffy and Faith as nothing important and pain shot through both slayers and Anubis used his ribbon device on both of them, taking turns until both slayers had passed out from the pain, which took a while.
Review please.