Another chapter done, bringing us back to the main storyline. There's little excitement for now, but things will heat up soon as the policies of the SGC and the New Imperium begin to move in different directions. As always, read and enjoy.
Chapter 20
It was a nice, quiet night at Willy's bar, and while the bar looked quite normal, its clientele was anything but, as this particular club was the favored hangout of all the inhuman denizens of Sunnydale.
"Everyone having a pleasant evening I hope?" The door opened and Buffy walked in, flanked by two Battle Sisters.
"How can I be of service tonight, milady?" Willy was handing her a glass of fine brandy the moment she stopped by the bar. Considering her semi-frequent visits, Willy's choice to buy some good liquor seemed rather wise to him.
"Just passing by. Unless you happen to have anything interesting to tell me?" Buffy spoke calmly as her two escorts kept looking over the nervous demons gathered in the bar. The remaining demons in Sunnydale stayed alive and in town only by striking deals with Buffy, but that didn't mean they were comfortable with scores of soldiers wearing blessed armor running around the city.
"Well, I'm not sure if it's true or not, but word on the street is Spike is back in town." Willy began.
"He's not stupid enough to come back here without a really good reason, and whatever that may be, it can't be good news for us. Come on ladies, we're leaving." Buffy finished her drink and walked out the bar. A minute later, the bar patrons began to relax.
"I can't believe we're cowering to that damn human." One large, scaly skinned demon hissed to his companion.
"Hey, I don't like it anymore than you do, but do you remember what happened to Tim last week?" The grey skinned, horned demon across him replied.
"He always was stupid, but I get your point. There's not much we can do." The demon remembered what the Sisters had done with the demon that had decided to attack them one evening. Getting your limbs shot off a piece at a time was hardly pleasant.
"I heard from a friend they've been getting books and items needed to open portals. Makes you wonder what they're planning, huh?" The demon on the next table joined the conversation.
"You mean they're actually going to attack one of the demon dimensions?" The grey skinned demon exclaimed.
"They have a bloody army in that damn factory of theirs. I don't know a lot of dimensions that can fight them back."
"There's more. I was in the sewer last night when one of their patrols walked by. I was lucky to crawl into a pipe before they saw me." The scaly demon added. "I heard them talking about fighting 'the demon scum in their own land', and how 'the Chaplain would lead them to victory'."
"Who's this Chaplain?" One demon asked.
"Pray you never meet him. I've seen vampires burst into flames just by being too close to his armor." Another demon shivered.
Unconcerned with the rumor mongering of the demons she just left behind, Buffy rushed back to the HQ.
"You're back early." Faith was a bit surprised to see Buffy return, but she figured that there was a good reason for it.
"Willy said Spike may be in town. Did the patrols report anything?" Buffy asked.
"None have reported anything of note. The few demons and vampires they did encounter had a writ of passage." Faith replied. The item in question was a simple scroll that had an embedded transponder that informed the patrols that the person carrying it was allowed to pass unmolested. It was rather expensive, and the few Buffy had put on the market were bought quickly and changed hands frequently.
"I doubt he's alone, and he could have bought a writ. Activate the satellite and do a full scan of the city. Locate any vampire group higher then three." Buffy didn't use the Asgard satellite often as it was still xenotech, and it was also no challenge to hunt demons if you knew where they were at all times. She felt that the patrols improved more if they were facing the unknown at all times, so she only used the scanner for emergencies.
"We have two groups, here and here." Faith pointed at the holomap.
"Send patrols to both locations. Purge them completely, but I want Spike brought to me alive. If Drusilla is with him, get her as well." Buffy ordered.
"Understood. I will teleport several squads close to the sites." Faith replied and began relaying orders.
The vampire group that Spike had bribed or coerced to come to Sunnydale to aid him in his quest to find the gem of Amanra had moved in an abandoned house on the edge of town in preparation for scouting for the legendary artifact. Spike even had the foresight to send one of his men to buy a writ of passage to allow his men to go around town unmolested.
"…and then we'll search…" Spike was explaining his plan to his minions over a large map of the city when his sharp eyes caught a slight shimmer near one of the walls. He walked forward, trailing the faint ripple and with a quick lunge, managed to snatch it from the air. To his surprise, what he grabbed was a human skull with several mechanical components attached to it. The skull gave a mechanical chirp and in a flash of light, they were both gone.
The moment Spike vanished, a dozen Battle Sisters rushed in, raining death from bolters and flamers at the shocked vampires. A minute later, all that was left was an empty house that was slowly burning to the ground.
"Hello, William. What brings you to these parts again?" Buffy grinned at the bound and snarling vampire.
"My name is Spike, bitch. And I go where I please, slayer. I don't answer to you, so you might as well kill me." Spike snarled.
"Kill you? Oh no, William. The last thing you deserve is a quick death. You will do much before I even consider letting you die. The suffering you have inflicted upon humanity will be repaid a thousand fold upon you. And putting you in my service sounds like a good first step." Buffy smirked evilly.
"What makes you think I'll ever obey your self-righteous ass?" Spike spat.
"You actually think you have a choice? I assure you, you do not have one. You will serve me unquestioningly for a long time. Now, I will leave you in the capable hands of Dr. Novak and Giles." Buffy laughed and walked out.
While Spike was not worried about the Watcher, having dealt with him and his kind for a long time, the woman next to him, wearing a blood-splattered white robe and sporting four waving mechanical limbs that emerged from above her shoulders and the sides of her waist did cause a sense on unease in him. Further cause for concern was the wide array of medical instruments arrayed on said limbs.
"Just so you know I'm going to take a great deal of enjoyment from this." Giles told Spike and began preparing some sort of spell by drawing a ritual circle around the vampire.
"Enjoy what?" Spike was a bit confused.
"The Inquisitor has allowed my request to examine a vampire and determine which of your abilities are biological, and which are mystical. I will be also implanting several devices in your body to facilitate your reprogramming. The Arch Magos has also requested that the spinal and cranial implants are applied without pain killers or anesthesia, so I hope you have a high pain threshold." Dr. Novak spoke with a detached tone. She had grown into her role as Magos Biologis just as Dr. Lee had grown into the role of Magos Technis. The man was constantly in the factory, overseeing all aspects of production, thus allowing Willow and Oz to focus most of their time on the constructor.
With growing dread, Spike watched the mechadendrites head towards his body. Soon after, the screaming started.
"He didn't act that differently." Faith commented as she watched the newly released vampire walk away with a few parting insults.
"Of course he acts the same. That's the point of a deep cover agent. Spike is a magnet for trouble, and anyone trying to stir up trouble in this town is liable to seek him out, since it's well known he's one of my major enemies that still draw breath." Buffy explained her plan. It was mostly to make Spike suffer, but that didn't mean she couldn't put him to good use at the same time.
"Ma'am, we received a message from the SGC while you were out on patrol." One of the Sisters handed her a sealed message. To her relief, it was not stamped urgent. She read it once and sent the Sister to fetch Faith and Xander.
"I just received a message from the SGC. They are forming an official alliance with the Tok'ra, and as their ally, they have asked us to be there to witness this event." Buffy explained.
"We don't need that xeno scum." Xander frowned. The thought of an alien infesting the sacred human form was something he found beyond distasteful.
"Still, we need to maintain our tolerant stance and show a civil face. This event will also allow me to speak with Teal'c and hopefully gain his ear and thus open the door towards the Jaffa rebellion." Buffy replied.
"When is this meeting taking place?" Faith asked.
"Two days from now at the SGC." Buffy replied.
"They invite xenos upon Holly Terra? Blasphemy." Xander's voice rose to a roar at that outrageous revelation.
"I don't like that fact anymore than you do, but I will do nothing to endanger our position with the SGC." Buffy said sharply, knowing the stubbornness of her friend and of Space Marines in general.
"Still…" Xander began, but was silenced as Buffy raised her hand.
"Don't worry about the Tok'ra. They have no queen after all, and thus no way to increase their numbers. Our assassins will also thin their numbers once they have been dispersed throughout the galaxy."
"You plan on sending the assassins against the Tok'ra?" Faith asked curiously.
"I will send them against the Goa'uld. It is simply unfortunate that finding the difference between a Goa'uld and a Tok'ra infiltrator won't always be possible." Buffy grinned.
"I find all this deceit and manipulation distasteful. When did we turn into the trice-damned Eldar?" Xander spat.
"We do not have the might of the Emperor's armies at our disposal here. To triumph over our enemies, we must use all the gifts He has bestowed upon us. And if that means deceit and trickery, then so be it." Buffy reminded him.
"Who are you going to take as your escorts?" Faith decided to change the subject before the two began a debate.
"I have no preference, but there's no reason to bring Celestians. Two Sisters will suffice." Buffy replied and walked out.
Unlike the long flights or drives that marked her previous trips east, this was done very quickly thanks to the Asgard teleporter. In a flash of light, Buffy appeared in the gate room, flanked by two Battle Sisters clad in full armor and holding their bolters at the ready.
Buffy was also decked out in full combat gear, with strong carapace armor covering her body. The armor was hand-crafted and extremely elegant, giving Buffy the appearance of a holy knight. Draped over her shoulders was a red cape with gold trim bearing the barred I, while resting on her chest was her ever present Aquila necklace. On her belt hung her trusty bolt pistol and her brand new force sword.
"Ms. Summers, welcome to the SGC. Please, follow me." General Hammond was ready to welcome them and quickly led them away from the room they had arrived in.
"Something seems to be bothering you, general." Buffy had noticed that the general seemed distracted and even concerned about something.
"Well, we learned recently that the Goa'uld can place subconscious programming to turn normal people into assassins called Za'tarcs. We discovered this when one of our men tried to assassin the Tok'ra High Councilor." Hammond began.
"I take it there's more to this?" Buffy frowned at this revelation. They would need to increase the security measures for their off world projects if something like that existed.
"The Tok'ra brought with them a machine capable of detecting this programming, and three people failed the test. Lt. Astor killed herself as we were attempting to remove the programming. The others are Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter." Hammond concluded.
"I'd like to interrogate them myself. No offence to the Tok'ra, but I'd rather make sure for myself that half of SG-1 has really been compromised." Buffy offered.
Hammond nodded and led them to the cell where O'Neill was locked up.
"Well, isn't this a surprise. What brings you here, Inquisitor?" O'Neill grinned.
"I'm here for the treaty signing, of course. After the general filled me in, I decided to check for myself if you're really compromised." Buffy shrugged.
"You don't trust the Tok'ra?" O'Neill asked curiously. He wondered just how tolerant their allies really were to aliens they've encountered.
"I trust them, Colonel, but when it comes to the human mind, I happen to be the expert. Now, try to relax and don't resist my presence." Buffy smirked as her eyes lit with eldritch energy. "Sisters, hold him down."
Ten minutes later, the fire in Buffy's eyes died down and she gestured for the Sisters to release the Colonel, letting the man slump in his chair as he blacked out.
"He's not a Za'tarc. His mind shows no trace of manipulation." Buffy concluded.
"But he failed the Tok'ra testing." Hammond reminded her.
"I find it more likely that he was lying. He seems to harbor feelings for Major Carter that go beyond what regulations would allow. I think he didn't want to admit to this." Buffy replied.
"What if you're wrong?" Hammond asked.
"I'll have Amy and Madison here as escorts for both of them during the conference. If they are Za'tarcs, they will be subdued before they can cause any incident." Buffy gestured to the two Battle Sisters.
"Shall we check on Major Carter next?" The General asked.
"Certainly. Afterwards, I'd like to talk to Kendra for a bit." Buffy nodded. Using the chance to obtain certain secrets the SGC had not shared with them was simply a bonus.
"Councilor Per'sus, allow me to introduce Lady Inquisitor Elisabeth Summers of the Imperium of Man." General Hammond introduced the recently arrived Tok'ra delegation to Buffy who had just emerged from Kendra's chamber. That was when things suddenly turned for the worse. One of the Tok'ra raised his hand and turned towards Buffy. There was a bright flash of light and the sudden bark of bolters firing, coupled with plenty of shouting and screaming.
"Sisters, hold your fire. Everyone stop." Buffy's voice, laced with some psychic suggestion echoed across the gate room. Everyone saw that Buffy was completely unharmed, while the Tok'ra that tried to kill her was pressed, spread eagle against one of the walls.
"It seems your checks were not as thorough as you claimed." Buffy grinned as she observed the shocked looks she was receiving.
"Are you harmed, mistress?" The Sisters were quick to rush to her side, leveling their bolters at everyone present, but keeping an especially vigilant eye on the Tok'ra.
"No, Amy. The Emperor protects." Buffy smirked as she tapped her necklace which contained a conversion field generator. Even then, there was a small scorch mark on her armor, a testament to the penetrating power of the assassin weapon, but since the armor was was black with a few golden elements, no one had noticed it. "Please restrain him."
The Sisters were none too gentle with the man that had dared to raise a weapon against the Most Holy Inquisitor, but had him secured without inflicting any additional damage.
"I think that we need to have a long talk." Councilor Per'sus stepped forward, examining the two armored women and their leader. When the Tok'ra had learned that Earth had obtained more advanced weapons and technology from a source unknown to them, their reactions were mixed. However, after receiving reports about the technology from agents who had seen it firsthand, the Tok'ra placed these new allies Earth had made around the same level as the Tollan, if a bit more militaristic. However, since then, the Tok'ra had received new intelligence that did not match their initial assumptions. The effectiveness of Imperial weapons despite its crude appearance was staggering, and that was just the infantry weapons.
The huge war machine sitting next to the Stargate in the SGC was something the Tok'ra wouldn't be able to conceive, let alone build, and the two women wearing what was obviously powered armor was another issue. Both they and the Goa'uld had made some research in the subject, but they had no success in creating anything viable, while here was a civilization that not only had the ability to build effective powered armor, but could afford to make it as stylized as the examples before them.
Additionally, reports from scout ships sent into Tollan space brought back images of a huge orbital shipyard, where the frames of ships bigger than anything they had ever seen were slowly taking shape, and while these vessels were still too incomplete to recognize the design, they bore no resemblance to Tollan vessels.
The last issue was the strange abilities displayed by the apparent leader of the Imperial forces. Psychic abilities were something the Goa'uld had tried to cultivate in their hosts for generations. Also, the position of Inquisitor brought with it terrifying implications. It meant an organized and enforced state religion, something the Tok'ra had fought against for centuries.
"Certainly. Let us discuss your attempt to assassinate me." Buffy smirked at the Tok'ra.
"Ms. Summers, I don't think this incident was the fault of the Tok'ra." General Hammond protested.
"In that case, I have to question their competence." Buffy continued, causing gasps and shouts of indignation from the Tok'ra present.
"You would have done better?" One Tok'ra protested.
"I know I would have. But, we're all supposed to be friends here. As he is your agent, I will release him to your custody." Buffy pointed to the Tok'ra that she recognized as Martouf thanks to info taken from Carter's mind. "Now, shall we proceed with the treaty signing?"
Soon enough, the President arrived as well, and the treaty was signed successfully. Buffy spent the next few hours mingling with the various officials while she expertly dodged the Tok'ra's attempts to probe for information on the Imperium from her. Sure, with the new treaty they would learn a lot more about the Imperium, but she saw no reason to make their job easier.
Soon enough, the reception was over, and both the Tok'ra and the President had departed, leaving only Buffy and the SGC personnel.
"Next time, Ms. Summers I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from shooting holes in my base." Hammond pointed to the large holes in the wall caused by bolt rounds.
"The Sisters are trained to respond quickly to threats. Martouf was lucky I got him out of the way when I did." Buffy shrugged. Of course, the only reason she did so was to keep her image before the SGC.
"I suppose you'll be leaving now?" Hammond asked.
"Actually, I wanted to have a word with Teal'c before I did, if that's alright with you." Buffy replied.
"May I ask what about?" Hammond frowned.
"I'll let Teal'c fill you in on the details once we're done." Buffy said.
"The choice is yours, Teal'c." Hammond turned to the stoic Jaffa, who only nodded.
"Lead the way, then." Buffy grinned and followed him towards his quarters while her escorts vanished in a burst of light.
AN/ I know some of the readers might say 'Why haven't they found the Initiative base if they have Asgard scanners?'. The answer is, they're not looking for them, and the Initiative has been lucky so far to avoid detection. Remember Buffy ordered a search for groups of vampires, which are practically an endangered species in Sunnydale at the moment, and the Initiative doesn't have any. With months of patrols, Sunnydale is no longer the demon-infested death trap it was in the show, and Buffy is using the town as a training ground. The discovery of the Initiative will cause significant friction between Buffy and the USA, especially the NID as the Initiative is their operation.