A/N: Anything in italics is a thought projection from either Willow or one of the other characters. I will label who said, or thought, what. Hope it does not get confusing Again, I do apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors. Please read and review .
Ancient Outpost, Antarctica, Earth
And then Willow found herself back inside the room looking at Colonel O'Neill who was in what looked like a block of ice. As she stepped forward, towards the pod and her teammates; she started to hear a buzz in her ears and started getting a headache.
Teal'c: "O'Neill, my brother. SG1 and I will find a way to bring you back. I swear it`"
Daniel: "Jack, I'm so sorry."
Carter: "Colonel….. Jack, come back to us please. Come back. It should have never been you, it should have been her. I should have let her take the download. Never knew it would hurt this much."
Willow stared at the Major with a shocked look on her face. Not only was she hearing the thoughts of her teammates, she was hearing the thoughts of what the Major really thought about her. She had only suspected Major Carter's feelings about the Colonel taking the download when he appeared to her before he was fully in stasis, but it still hurt deeply to have it confirmed. But she knew that the Colonel had given her an order, and she wasn't going to disobey it.
"Ummmm.. Guys," said Willow as Major Carter, Daniel and Teal'c turned around to face her, "I don't know how to tell you this but the Colonel wanted me to relay his last order to us."
"His last order Willow?" asked the Major turning to look at Willow questioningly.
"Yes," replied Willow who tried not to look at her Commanding Officer, "His last order was, and I quote,' Get me the hell out of here as soon as possible'. Then he said he was going fishing and that he hopes that he would be able to catch a big bass," she continued, "Oh, Daniel, he wanted you to record the Simpsons."
"Well, that does sound like Jack," said Daniel smiling as he looked at the Colonel in the stasis pod.
"Indeed," nodded Teal'c.
"Oh, before I forget, there's one tiny little detail I should mention," said Willow, "Now that I'm no longer linked to the Colonel, something in my mind must have remained open because I think I'm able to read all your thoughts as well."
"What?" said SG1 together as they looked at the redhead.
"I'm sorry Major," said Willow finally looking at her, "I really do wish that I was the one who took the download. That way, the Colonel could still be here," she continued before she turned and walked towards the chair room leaving a shocked Major Carter standing behind her.
"Sam?" said Daniel, "Did you tell her anything about what we talked about on the way here?"
"No, Daniel," said the Major in shock, "But… just now…. I was thinking it."
"Sam," said Daniel who was rubbing his forehead.
"It is a most impressive ability is it not, Major Carter and Daniel Jackson?" asked Teal'c as he looked at Willow standing alone while she was brushing her fingers on the Control Chair, "Willow Rosenberg's ability would be a great tactical advantage for us in defeating the rest of the Goa'uld."
"Yes, it is impressive," said Daniel looking concerned, "but there are privacy issues involved now," he continued, "Let me go and talk to her."
"Let me Daniel," said Major Carter as she held on to his arm, "It should be me who talks to her, I'm her commanding officer now and it's my responsibility."
"Sam."
"Daniel," said Major Carter, "It's my job now, you and Teal'c stay with the Colonel until the Prometheus can arrive with backup."
"Ok, Sam."
"Very well, Major Carter," said Teal'c.
Major Carter then turned around and walked slowly towards Wilow.
Carter: "What do I say to someone who can hear thoughts? Oh no, is she hearing my thoughts now? Oh crap!"
"Yes, I can hear your thoughts Major," said Willow softly, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to invade your privacy," she continued, "it's just that some thoughts are so loud that I can't help but hear them, and other times I have to mentally will myself to hear and communicate. Heck, I was communicating with the Colonel in the briefing room, and in the Tel'Tak on the way here."
"Willow, I'm sorry about what I said… I mean about what I thought… earlier," said the Major.
"It doesn't matter Major, every family has a black sheep," said Willow pointing to herself.
"No Willow, you're not the black sheep of this family," said Major Carter, "It was cruel of me to even think that. The Colonel made a choice to take the download and spare the rest of us from the pain of having the information slowly unspool into his mind," she continued, "I hope the both of us are ok?"
"Oh, General Hammond is coming, Major," said Willow as she walked towards the Colonel's stasis pod before she turned around and gave Major Carter a smile.
Willow: "Yep, we're ok, Major."
"Woah, that's going to take some getting used to," said the Major to herself as she started to walk towards the ring transportation platform to meet General Hammond.
"Daniel, Teal'c," said Willow, "I'm sorry for reading your thoughts earlier". "I didn't mean to invade your privacy; I'm still learning to control this."
"Do you have anyone who can help you with controlling this new ability Willow?" asked Daniel.
"Unfortunately I don't Daniel," said Willow, "I know that there are some covens in Colorado Springs, but they deal with magic. I think this is completely different, I don't think this is magic related. I think I have no choice but to control it on my own."
"Willow Rosenberg," said Teal'c, "I would suggest you continue your meditation exercises, they would help to calm your mind and perhaps help you to control your abilities."
"Thanks, Teal'c," said Willow.
"Once you have managed to control it," said Teal'c, "we shall test your abilities in a battle situation."
"Do you think that's wise Teal'c?" asked Daniel.
"Indeed I do Daniel Jackson," said Teal'c before turning to Willow, "What do you say Willow Rosenberg?"
"I say yes, Teal'c," said Willow smiling.
Willow's Quarters, Stargate Command, The next day.
Following the incident with the Colonel being frozen in a block of ice the previous day, SG1 had been ordered back to the SGC for their post-mission check up. After the check-up was over, the team was kept in isolation rooms for the sake of base safety in case of another viral outbreak as in their previous trip to the Antarctic where SG1 encountered the Ancient woman Jonas called Ayiana.
While everyone had something to do, Willow just wanted to sleep. She was so tired that once she got into the isolation room, she moved over to the bed and slept until late the next morning.
When she woke up, and once Dr. Brightman had ended the isolation period, the first thing Willow did was go for a shower and a change of clothes in the women's locker room at the SGC. Following a change in clothes, she went back to her room and started on her mission report which she then sent over to Dr. Weir together with Major Carter's, Daniels and Teal'c's. Later she went back to her quarters and took out some candles that Teal'c had given her. She put them around her room and lit them up before taking a seat on the floor and started meditating. She knew in her heart that she should learn to control these new abilities of hers before she gets out of control and hurts innocent people in the base.
"I really hope I know what I'm doing" said Willow to herself.
She closed her eyes and started to breathe deeply in a controlled fashion, and then she started to hear voices from people all over the base including her teammates.
Carter: "There has be a way to get the Colonel out of there. Damn it, what does Pete want now?"
Teal'c: "I should ask Willow Rosenberg for a sparring session later today."
Daniel: "Janet, I wish you were here, I just need to talk to you."
Dr. Weir: "Damn these idiotic bureaucrats. We need access to that outpost, if not for the knowledge to be gained on the location of Atlantis but for Colonel O'Neill's wellbeing."
Willow soon started to hear other voices coming from the base in ever increasing amounts until all she heard was a buzz in her ear like a radio that was out of tune.
All of a sudden, she heard a voice coming over the P.A. system, "SG1 please report to the briefing room, SG1 please report to the briefing room."
"What now?" said Willow to herself as she opened her eyes.
She quickly got up, took control of her thoughts and as she went to open her door, she noticed that her hand was shaking.
Briefing Room, SGC.
As Willow walked over to the briefing room, she saw that Dr. Weir was in her office talking on the phone. She motioned Willow to take a seat. Instead of taking a seat, Willow walked over to the large windows that overlooked the Stargate.
"Damn, it's really an amazing sight," thought Willow to herself, "Oh Buffy, Xander… I wish you could see this."
"Good morning Willow," said Major Carter.
"Good morning, ma'am," replied Willow smiling.
"How are you feeling?" asked the Major, "Yesterday you looked beat when we returned to base. I… we… came by your quarters to see you wanted to go to O'Malley's for dinner, but you were asleep."
"I'm feeling better now, Major," said Willow, "I really was exhausted yesterday. I think it was to do with the constant connection I had to Colonel O'Neill. I think I was running on adrenaline for most of the time from the day he had the Repository of Knowledge downloaded into his head to the battle over Antarctica and, then when we came back to base, all that adrenaline was gone to be replaced by sleep, sleep and more sleep. I honestly don't even remember when I fell asleep."
"I'm glad that you're alright Willow," said Major Carter as she went to take a seat, "Looks like Dr. Weir's done. Come on, take a seat Willow."
"Yes ma'am," she replied as she sat down next to the Major.
"Good morning Willow, Major Carter," said Dr. Weir as she took her seat at the head of the table, "looks like Teal'c and Dr. Jackson will be coming a bit late for the briefing."
"Yes," said Major Carter.
"Actually, I'm glad they are a bit late," said Dr. Weir, "because the first issue I wanted to talk about was an incident that occurred between the two of you on the Goa'Uld cargo ship."
"Ma'am?" asked Willow apprehensively as Major Carter looked down at the table.
"According to your mission report Major," said Dr. Weir looking at Major Carter, "you picked up Willow by the collar and screamed at her."
"Yes I did ma'am," said Major Carter, "I have no excuse for my behavior."
"Willow," said Dr. Weir looking straight at her, "Why haven't you mentioned this on your report?"
Upon hearing that, Major Carter looked up at Willow surprised.
"Willow," said Major Carter, "Why didn't you put that on your report?"
"Major, Dr. Weir…," said Willow nervously, "it's my understanding that relevant information regarding the mission should go onto the report. I feel that, that particular incident wasn't relevant. I already have included everything else, including my report on what I recall on the information I received from Colonel O'Neill."
"I take it that you are referring to this supposed 'physic link' you had with Colonel O'Neill," said Dr. Weir.
"Yes," replied Willow.
"And then," continued Dr. Weir, "based on your report, can I infer that you think you have both telekinetic and telepathic abilities?"
Weir: "Did I just mention telekinesis and telepathy in the same sentence? I think I'm going nuts. What did I get myself into?"
"Umm… yes ma'am," said Willow.
"I don't think she's making this up," said Major Carter, "We saw for ourselves what happened in the cargo ship."
"I'm not saying that she's lying, Major," replied Dr. Weir, "Although I would have suspected that you, of all people, would be the first to be skeptical about all this."
"I really don't know what to think," said Major Carter as she looked at Willow, "But I've seen this girl perform things with my own eyes that I can't simply deny or explain away."
"I see," said Dr. Weir as Daniel and Teal'c walked into the briefing room.
"Good morning Dr. Jackson, Teal'c," said Dr. Weir, "Thank you for coming."
"Sorry, I overslept," said Daniel.
"Good morning Dr. Weir, Major Carter, Willow Rosenberg," said Teal'c bowing his head.
"Alright," said Dr. Weir, "now that everyone's here, let's start this briefing."
After everyone sat down, they started going through what had happened in the past few days. The most surprising event that occurred was Vice President Kinsey getting fired by the President.
"Good riddance," said Daniel.
"Indeed, he was a most problematic individual," said Teal'c.
"He was creepy," said Willow.
"On to the next issue on our agenda," said Dr. Weir, "Willow has written up a very interesting report on what she gleaned from the link with Colonel O'Neill."
"Willow", said Major Carter, "How did you get all that information? I thought you said that you were only getting bits and pieces?"
"I think by the time we headed back to Earth," said Willow, "we already lost the Colonel to the sheer amount of information from the repository of knowledge. If you recall, I said that the Colonel was drowning in an ocean of information and I was just treading the waters?"
Willow looked around the table to see everyone nodding.
"Well, I think the deeper he went into this 'ocean', the deeper I went as well," explained Willow, "so by the time we headed back, he already had access to almost every information all at once but his mind filtered what he need to know at that time, which was how to defeat Anubis."
"I see," said Dr. Weir, "It sounds a bit confusing but I think I can get my head around it slowly."
"I'm sorry, that's the best explanation I have," replied Willow.
"Willow," interrupted Daniel, "There were other things you said in the Tel'tak."
"I know I promised an explanation Daniel," said Willow.
"The first thing you said was Destiny," said Daniel, "What did you mean?"
"Also, what's Avalon and Alteran?" added Major Carter.
"Destiny is easy to explain," said Willow, "as far as I could tell, it's an Ancient vessel that's in space right now."
The eyes of everyone at the table were widely opened, "An Ancient vessel? You mean a ship with Ancients who are still alive?" said Major Carter.
"I don't know Major," said Willow, "all I know is that it's old, really old and that it's been travelling among the stars for millions of years. The Ancients who built it were amazing in that the ship is powered by the stars, although I'm not exactly sure what that means."
"Well, we know the Ancients have been here for a long time," said Daniel.
"More than fifty or sixty million years ago, Daniel," said Willow.
"What?!" shouted everyone in the room
"They came here from another galaxy, the Alterans I mean," continued Willow, "they were escaping…. Something… I guess we could call them religious fanatics."
"Are they this Ori you talked about?" asked Daniel.
"I think so," replied Willow.
"What happened then Willow Rosenberg?" asked Teal'c.
"After travelling for many years, they came to Avalon where they built and placed many Stargates," said Willow.
"Avalon?" asked Dr. Weir.
"The Milky Way," said Daniel amazed, "I think Avalon is the Milky way and the Alteran's are the Ancients."
"They came here and settled first on… Daka…. Daka…. The name is on the tip of my tongue…," Said Willow, "oh, right. Dakara… it's called Dakara."
Upon hearing the name Dakara, Teal'c sat straight up looking at Willow.
"Teal'c?" asked Major Carter, "You alright?"
"Willow Rosenberg, did you just name Dakara as one of the colonies of the Ancients?" asked Teal'c.
"Yes, I think it was the first colony, do you know that place Teal'c? asked Willow.
"Yes, it is where the enslavement of the Jaffa began," said Teal'c, "The temple at Dakara is where the first implantation of the Goa'uld symbiotes occurred, where the Jaffa received their strength. It is considered by many Jaffa to be the holiest of places, a place where no Jaffa has ever stepped foot."
Nodding to what Teal'c had just said, Willow then continued, "Then after Dakara, the second planet that they colonized was Earth or Terrah and they made it the crown jewel in their empire."
"Amazing," said Daniel.
"But now," interrupted Willow, "I feel as if I have been lied to since high school."
"Do you mean your story about having fought vampires, demons and monsters?" asked Dr. Weir as she looked at a confused Willow, "Don't worry, the president himself briefed me on your past. The Vice-President and others still don't know. He felt I had a need to know since I was taking command of the SGC."
"Oh," said Willow.
"You were saying Willow?" said Major Carter motioning her to continue.
"Well, every book I've read since high school and what I've been told, demons and various other creatures have existed in the world since time began," said Willow, "but if the Ancients came to colonize this planet millions of years ago, did they encounter these demons? Where there any demons to begin with that far ago in time? Were the Ancients affected? How come the Ancients were never referenced in any of the texts I've read? I don't know, now I'm myself confused" she continued, "and it's not as if I call my sources and ask about it since the Stargate program is classified."
"Well, Willow," said Daniel, "There could be some explanations."
"Such as?" asked Willow.
"The first could be that maybe all of these 'demons' never existed in the first place," said Daniel, "and if they did, maybe they are more like the Goa'uld."
"You mean they're aliens?" asked Major Carter.
"Well, they could be but what I meant was that maybe they claim to be older than they really are," said Daniel.
"Just like the Goa'uld claim to be gods when they really aren't, you mean," asked Willow.
"Exactly," said Daniel nodding at Willow, "But this is all just a theory, there's no real way to know the truth."
"But I've read the books…. I've even fought them… hell even my high school was destroyed by one," said Willow.
"Did you not say that your high school exploded Willow Rosenberg?" asked Teal'c.
"Yes, we had to blow it up to kill a giant demonic snake," said Willow.
"Bit of an overkill don't you think?" asked Daniel, "Anyway, another explanation could be what you call the Hellmouth."
"You're referring to when the time when Willow first told us about her past right? When I said that this Hellmouth could just be a dimensional doorway between two worlds?" asked Major Carter.
"Exactly," said Daniel, "What if this doorway was created by the Ancients themselves as an experiment into researching alternate realities, before the Quantum Mirror. Maybe they thought the experiment failed and for whatever reason left the doorway open which led to creatures from another reality to invade this one," he continued, "maybe they lost control of it, no one really knows what happened."
"That is a possibility but remember, without any tests I can't make a claim either way," said Major Carter.
"But then again we really don't know much about the Ancients," said Willow.
"That's true," said Daniel again, "but that's where the Antarctic gate and the Ancient knowledge comes in."
"The Antarctic gate?" asked Willow confused, "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard about that."
"It was before you joined the SGC Willow, in the first year of the program" said Major Carter. Then Major Carter told Willow about the incident when the wormhole had diverted to another Stargate due to an overload during a mission and the wormhole had forcibly ejected her and Colonel O'Neill off at the Antarctic gate.
As she was telling the story, Willow noticed that Daniel flinched a bit and then she saw the memory of him, Teal'c and General Hammond rescuing Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill in a large ice cavern. She could see that the Colonel was badly injured and the Major was beginning to suffer from hypothermia. As she looked around, Willow saw the worried looks in the faces of her friends and then she turned around and saw the second Stargate.
"Willow?... Willow?..." said Dr. Weir, "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" said Willow as she returned back to the present, "I'm sorry, the story must have brought about a strong memory from Daniel"
"Sorry."
"It's alright," said Willow, "Please continue Major."
"Alright," said Major Carter, "Once we took the second gate back to Area 51, we ran tests on it. Eventually we discovered that the Antarctic gate is at least fifty million years old. And since we know that the Ancients are the race that built the Stargates, we could conclude that they have been here for at least that long."
"And from the information you gave us from the Ancient Knowledge download," said Dr. Weir, "It does support that particular idea. Maybe they did encounter these creatures you talked about, and maybe the Ancient Repository of Knowledge does contain accounts of such encounters" she continued, "but, remember you told us that information started to flood your mind as well, and maybe, just maybe, your mind just filtered out the relevant information like what you said happened with Colonel O'Neill."
"That could be," said Willow, "but like I said, I can't really discuss this with anyone else since the Stargate is still classified."
"Very well," said Dr. Weir as she looked at what remained of SG1, "I would like of you to take a couple of days off" she continued as she noticed everyone starting to speak and put up her hands to silence them, "I'm just asking for a couple of days. I know the past few days have been hectic and stressful for everyone here, so after the couple of days leave I expect every one of you to come back refreshed so that we can find a way of getting the location of Atlantis and figuring out how to get Colonel O'Neill out of stasis."
When she saw that everyone at the table nodded in agreement, Dr. Weir dismissed everyone and went back into her office.
"Willow Rosenberg," said Teal'c, "Would you care to test your new abilities in a sparring practice for a few hours?"
"Now?" asked Willow.
"Yes," said Teal'c calmly, "It would be best to gain experience as soon as possible in handling your abilities in a combat situation, would it not?"
"Well, there's that…," said Willow, "Yeah sure, why not."
"Very well," said Teal'c as he stood up, "I will see you in the gym in thirty minutes."
"Ok," replied Willow before she turned to Daniel and Major Carter, "Will you be coming?"
"Oh no," said Daniel, "I'll be in my lab looking through some notes."
"But didn't Dr. Weir order us to take some leave?" asked Willow.
"I'll be here for a few hours only, then I'm going home," said Daniel, "I'll see you guys later."
"Major," said Willow turning to the last person to leave, "does Cassie know what happened?"
"Not yet Willow," said the Major sadly, "I'm going to go contact the Asgard first, and then I'll go home and change, and then go tell Cassie."
"Alright, ma'am," said Willow as the two ladies stood up and walked down the stairs to the control room, "I guess I'll go meet Teal'c in the gym."
"Good luck," said Major Carter.
"I think I'll need it," replied Willow.
Willow's Apartment, Five hours later.
After a session of sparing with Teal'c, which was joined by Daniel later on, Willow had taken a shower on base and then went home.
Once she reached her apartment, she opened the door and noticed that all the lights were off.
"Cassie?" called out Willow.
When she didn't get a reply, she guessed that Cassie must have gone out with Major Carter to talk about what happened with Colonel O'Neill. So she closed the door and walked to her room to change into something a bit more comfortable. A few minutes later she came out of her room wearing track pants, an oversized 'Hello Kitty' shirt and a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled to herself, "Yep, I look cool."
As she sat down to watch some television, she suddenly felt as if she was being watched and it was the exact same feeling she had during the Osiris incident. Slowly and trying to hide from view, she went to her window and carefully peeked out. She had an idea of where to look so she set her view to the direction the feeling was coming from.
Carefully looking around, Willow noticed a black SUV parked at the far corner facing her apartment. Since there was still daylight, she noticed that there was someone in the car but from her hiding position, she couldn't make out who it was. Instead, she focused on the person inside the car and was surprised when she read the thoughts of a very familiar person.
Pete: "Damn it! Where's Sam? Don't tell me she's still with that bitch she calls her adopted daughter."
Willow became angry when she heard what Pete had to say about Cassie.
Pete: "That other red haired bitch that always hangs out with Sam got back a few minutes ago. Should have got into her apartment earlier and bugged it. Would have made for some interesting listening."
Willow could feel the sense of smugness coming from Pete and she didn't like it one bit.
"Maybe Cassie was right about one thing," said Willow to herself as she sat down under the window sill, "Pete really was following Major Carter around."
Slowly the feeling of being watched faded away and as she peeked out the window again and noticed that the black SUV had left. She now knew that this whole Pete situation was going to be trouble but she had no idea if Major Carter would just trust her if the only evidence she had was a feeling and a 'psychic read' on Pete.
"Well, first things first, I need to ask the SGC to improve the security system in the apartment," thought Willow to herself, "and then I need to decide whether to tell the Major now without any evidence or wait until Pete makes a move which, by then, it may already be too late to contain any fallout. What the hell do I do now?"