A/N: Thanks everyone for reviewing the previous chapter. I tried to make this chapter a bit light hearted, hopefully I was successful. I'll try to have the next chapter up in about a week or so. Have a pleasant work week everyone. Again, thanks for reading, please review
Willow's Apartment, 0630hrs
"Hey sleepyhead!" said Willow on a very cold morning as she knocked on Faith's door, "Come on, you gotta wake up. You have training in two hours"
Willow stepped back smiling as the door opened slightly and a very pissed off Faith peeked out, "Red, its six thirty in the morning, why the hell are you waking me up at this ungodly hour?"
"Come on Faith" said Willow with a grin, "you gotta shower and then have some breakfast. First day of training, you know. Teal'c is a hard taskmaster, trust me I know"
"Ten more minutes" said Faith pouting
"Your pouting won't work on me, at least not this early in the morning" said Willow, "don't make me telekinetically drag you out of bed and put you into the shower"
"You wouldn't" said Faith in mock horror
"Oh, but I would" replied Willow with an evil grin
"Ok… OK…. Five minutes" said Faith
"Alright five minutes.. or else" said Willow smiling
Ten minutes later, Faith opened the door and upon seeing Willow making breakfast, stuck her tongue out at her before going into the shower.
Willow had seen what Faith did, so once she turned on the hot water in the shower, Willow telekinetically turned the tap to the 'ice cold' setting which led to a scream from Faith.
"Hey at least you're awake and refreshed now" said Willow laughing after Faith had gotten out of the shower in just her towel and ran into her room.
"Just so you know" said Faith behind her closed door, "I'll get you for that"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from any Slayer" said Willow smiling as she put on some coffee and made some eggs and toast.
SGC, 0800hrs
"So you're going off-world today?" asked Faith as she and Willow were in the women's locker room changing into a set of standard BDU's
"Yep" said Willow, "one of the SG teams found what they think could be either an Ancient colony or another outpost like the one in Antarctica, so Daniel wants to go and take a look at it. Colonel Carter, Lieutenant Grogan from SG12 and I will be accompanying him"
"Ah" said Faith, "and Teal'c will be training me" said Faith
"Yep" replied Willow, "oh, don't go all out on him. I know that your strength is more than his so if you go all out….."
"Come on Red" said Faith, "I know about that"
"Just saying" said Willow smiling as she closed the locker door and walked out of the locker room with Faith towards the gym.
"So when are you heading out?" asked Faith
"The mission briefing is supposed to be at 0830 hours" replied Willow
"So you gonna escort me to the gym and then go for your briefing?" asked Faith
"Yea" said Willow, "But don't worry, you'll be alright here"
After a few minutes' walk, Willow and Faith reached a blast door.
"The General said that you'll be getting your base I.D and a key card later today" said Willow, "once you get those, you can use the gym or any of the other rooms whenever you're free"
Willow took out her card and swiped it along a panel before the blast door opened to reveal a large room with all manner of equipment inside.
"Woah" said Faith as she looked at all the machines, the various sized punching bags, the weights along the wall and the mat covered centre of the floor which could be made into an impromptu boxing ring, "This is just like the stuff we had at the Council HQ"
At the corner the two girls noticed Teal'c sitting down and putting on his gloves and protection pads, "Good morning Teal'c" said Willow as she approached the Jaffa
"Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c as he bowed his head
"Faith Lehane" he said as he turned to the slayer, "I trust you have been well rested?"
"Yea, Red here gave me an ice cold shower early in the morning" said Faith, "so now I'm fully awake"
Willow smiled until she saw Teal'c's eyebrows raised in surprise, "No Teal'c" she tried to explain, "I didn't give her a shower.. I mean I didn't put her in the shower…. she was already taking it when I turned the water to the 'ice cold' setting…. Argh…. Telekinetically I mean… I wasn't in the shower when I did that…. I mean I took a shower before her… but I didn't give her a shower"
"Come on, Red" said Faith with a wide grin as she nudged Willow with her elbow, "You know it was as good for you as it was for me"
"Umm…. Ah…" said Willow as she blushed a deep red before turning around, "I'll see you guys later"
"Very well, Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c as he gave a slight smile
"See ya Red" said Faith with a smile
Briefing Room, SGC, 0820hrs
"Good morning Daniel" said Willow to the bespectacled archaeologist who was standing looking out at the Stargate through the windows of the briefing room drinking a cup of coffee.
"Morning Willow" he replied
Willow poured herself a cup of coffee and walked over to where Daniel was standing.
"So I take it that Faith is in the gym with Teal'c right now?" he asked
"Yea" said Willow as she too looked out the window, the redness having already disappeared
"Sam talked to me last night after the briefing with Faith" said Daniel as he turned towards Willow, "she said there was something you wanted to tell me?"
"Yeah" said Willow as she and Daniel sat down, "it's about Atlantis"
"What about Atlantis?" asked Daniel
"What if I told you that I saw Atlantis in a dream I had" said Willow, "would you believe me?"
"You did say you saw Atlantis when you were mentally linked with Jack" said Daniel
"This was after the link was severed, after the General put himself in stasis" said Willow, "do you remember right before leaving for Hala I said that there was something I needed to talk to you about?"
"Yes" said Daniel, "it was about a dream?"
"Yes" replied Willow, "I was at the Ancient outpost, I'm guessing it was millions of years ago. I looked out and I saw Atlantis, just as it looked during my link with the General, rising off the ice and flying into space"
"So what you're basically saying is that Atlantis isn't here?" asked Daniel as he pointed to the floor
"It would make sense wouldn't it?" said Willow, "I mean you said that the Ancients were affected by a plague, so wouldn't it make sense that they left Earth?"
"But in a flying city?" asked Daniel
"This is the race that built the Stargates, Daniel" said Willow smiling, "would it really be that much of a stretch to think that they made a flying city? Plus it would probably account for why no sign of Atlantis has been found on Earth yet"
"But the legend says that Atlantis sunk beneath the ocean, Willow" said Daniel
"I know Daniel" replied Willow, "I'm just telling you what I saw. You're going to the outpost right? To check the database they found there? Maybe you can prove me wrong or right"
"You want to go to the outpost too?" asked Daniel
"Sure" said Willow, "it'd be cool to sit in the chair, I wonder what it feels like"
"Huh?" asked Daniel
"I got the results from the blood test" said Willow, "and apparently I have the Ancient gene"
"You too?" said the Colonel as she walked into the briefing room with General O'Neill
"Yes ma'am" said Willow as she stood up to greet the General and the Colonel
"Good morning Sir"
"Morning Red" said the General
"Morning Willow" said the Colonel as she sat down, "So far we have two people confirmed on base who have the Ancient gene" she said as she looked at both the General and Willow
"Well about that" said the General, "before we start the briefing, I received a call from Mr. Woolsey of the IOA and General Hammond"
"What was it about sir?" asked the Colonel
"Well, apparently Dr. Weir is starting to recruit expedition members to actually go to wherever Atlantis is" said the General
"Jack" replied Daniel, "but we don't even know where it is"
"I know that" said the General, "This is a 'just in case' sort of thing. Anyway, Dr. Weir is requesting that all of those who carry the Ancient gene join the expedition"
"Sir?" asked Willow
"The President won't let me go" said the General, "something about I'm too important to leave or something like that", and then he continued as he looked at Willow, "but Dr. Weir knows that Red here is among the handful of people so far with the Ancient gene. She requested that you join the expedition, should it go ahead"
"But sir…" said Willow as General O'Neill interrupted her
"But, I told her that it was your decision to make. I know how much you wanted to be a part of SG1 since you dropped in at the SGC, which is why this is not an order" said the General, "whatever you decide, it won't be held against you"
"Yes sir" said Willow still shocked
"Willow" said the Colonel, "You shouldn't make a decision now, but it sounds like an amazing opportunity"
"Sorry I'm late Sir" said Captain Grogan as he ran into the briefing room
"Grogan" said the General as he motioned for the Captain to take a seat, "I don't know if you have met before but this is Captain Willow Rosenberg"
"Captain Rosenberg" said Captain Grogan
"Ah…. Oh…. Please just call me Willow" said a still stunned Willow
"Grogan" said the General, "you'll be accompanying SG1 for the next two weeks since Teal'c is training one of our new civilian recruits"
"Yes sir" said the young Captain.
"Jack" said Daniel.
"Daniel?"
"Come on Jack" said Daniel, "Can't I go too?"
"No, I need you here" said the General as he changed the subject while Willow and Colonel Carter looked at each other trying not to laugh, "so on to our briefing for this mission to… where are you going again Carter?"
"P8D-767, Sir" said the Colonel
"Inhabited?" asked the General
"According to SG11, there aren't any settlements in the immediate area of the ruins" said Daniel, "but that doesn't mean that there aren't any at all"
For the next twenty or so minutes, the group that made up SG1 and the General were talking about the benefits of the mission to the planet and what they may find there. Daniel did warn them however that P8D-767 did have small, periodic quakes that occurred without warning.
"Be careful out there kids" said the General, "any signs of a quake, I want you all back home. Understood?"
"Yes sir" said Colonel Carter, Willow and Grogan
"And that means you too Daniel" said the General as he looked at the archaeologist, "I don't care if a quake destroys the ruins, you are to get back home with the team. If you refuse, I am authorising Red here to telekinetically drag your ass back to the gate"
"Jaaack" said Daniel
"Daniel" said the General before he turned to look at Willow, "you got that Red?"
"Yes Sir" said Willow smiling
Gym, SGC, 0930hrs
"So Teal'c" said Faith as she was blocking one of Teal'c's punches, "tell me about yourself?"
"What would you like to know?" asked Teal'c as he moved back to avoid one of Faith's kicks
"Any kids? Family?" asked Faith as a punch connected with Teal'c shoulder
"Indeed" said Teal'c taking a step back, "I have a son named Ry'ac. He is being taught by my mentor, Master Bra'tac on Chulak"
"That's cool" said Faith, "Why did you become, what was it you said, a… First Prime?"
"It was one of the highest honors for a Jaffa" said Teal'c, "the ultimate goal for all Jafa was to become the First Prime. The title brought my family security and safety but to maintain that, I had to commit unspeakable crimes in the name of Apophis"
"I see" said Faith, "Why didn't you fight the snakehead?"
"At that time" said Teal'c, "all Jaffa thought of their Goa'uld masters as gods, and I am ashamed to say that when I was young, even I was one such Jaffa"
"So you thought…?"
"Indeed," said Teal'c as he took a seat facing Faith, "eventually, my Master Bra'tac convinced me that this was not so, that the Goa'uld were parasites that were pretending to be gods"
"But you still became the First Prime" said Faith
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "I tried to help people where I could without Apophis discovering me, but there were other times when I had to do what was necessary to keep being his First Prime or else he would would have taken someone else who would have been worse. In all the years that I had been alive, I have committed much acts of violence in Apophis' name"
"Until you met us… SG1, I mean" said Faith
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "upon setting my eyes on SG1 seven years ago on Chulak, I simply knew that the Tau'ri had the courage and the will to defeat the Goa'uld and free the Jaffa. However, my family was the first casualty of my having betrayed Apophis"
"What do you mean?" asked Faith
"My wife and son were shunned by our people on Chulak and were taken out of our home and made to live like squatters in one of the worst areas. They did not have the protection that was provided by my being Apophis' First Prime"
"That sucks" said Faith
"Indeed, a little more than two years ago, my wife had passed while living in squalor on a rebel Jaffa held planet" said Teal'c
"I'm sorry" said Faith
"My son was not happy with the choices I had made" said Teal'c, "and he was angry with me for some time, but eventually he understood why I had to make a stand… why I had to go up against the false gods. And now he is training to be a great warrior among the Jaffa"
"So is the snakehead still alive?" asked Faith
"The false god Apophis is dead" said Teal'c proudly, "as are many other Goa'uld such as Hathor, Set, Kronus, Anubis, Sokar, Ni'irti"
"So looks like you'll be getting your freedom soon huh?" said Faith
"We take the victories as they come" said Teal'c, "but I believe that we will win the war and the Jaffa will be free"
Teal'c looked over at the younger girl as she was sitting down across from him with her head down.
"Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he got up and walked over to her holding out his hand, "the acts committed in the past should not define the person you are, what matters the most is how you handle yourself and what you do from this moment on. Everyone on SG1 has made mistakes in their past, it is what pushes us forward"
"You know" said Faith as she looked up and grabbed Teal'c's hand as he helped to pull her up on her feet, "maybe you should have been a philosopher instead of a warrior"
"Indeed" said Teal'c
Just then the blast door opened to reveal Willow standing at the entrance in her combat gear
"Woah" said Faith
Faith: "Have I ever told you that I like chicks with guns?"
Willow: "No, but it's good to know"
"Hi guys" said Willow as she smiled at Faith before looking towards Teal'c and giving a slight bow, "Teal'c, do you mind if I show Faith the Stargate in action before you continue the training?"
"It is acceptable" said Teal'c with a slight smile, "I shall accompany you as well"
"Alright" said Willow and Faith came to her side, "let's go then"
Gateroom, SGC
After walking for a while, Willow, Teal'c and Faith took the elevator down to level twenty eight where they got out and walked through a maze of corridors until they reached a large metal door.
Willow nodded at the Airman who was standing guard at the door who then promptly turned and slide a card through a reader and the huge blast door opened. Faith was the first one in as she saw the Stargate in its full majesty. She noticed that Daniel, Colonel Carter and another young man were waiting at the bottom of the ramp for Willow and that on the ramp itself, there was a vehicle of some kind.
"Good morning Faith" said Daniel.
"Morning" said Faith as she stared at the Gate.
"Started training I See?" said the Colonel.
"Oh yea" said Faith, "It's been fun, can't wait for the weapons portion."
"Careful with the Zats" said the Colonel, "We've already had two newbies shoot themselves"
Faith noticed that Daniel and Willow were trying their best not to laugh when the Colonel talked about the two trainees who shot themselves.
"What's a Zat?" asked Faith, "and why is it funny that they shot themselves? Isn't that like a bad thing?"
"It's a Goa'uld stun weapon" said Willow, "Don't worry, Teal'c will show you how to use it; just remember to keep the pointed end away from you"
"Hi" said Captain Grogan as he walked towards Faith, "I'm Carl"
"Faith" said Faith as she shook the officer's hand.
"So you're the new civilian consultant I've heard about?" he asked
"That would be me" said Faith
"So what's your field?"
"I guess you could say I'm a specialist of a sort" said Faith
"Huh?" said Grogan as he scratched his head in confusion
Smiling as she overheard their conversation, the Colonel turned around to the control room, "Alright Walter, dial her up"
With a nod, Walter started the dial up sequence.
Faith stood next to Willow as suddenly the inner ring started to turn with a grinding sound, she looked at it surprised when the ring stopped and one of the chevrons lit up.
"Chevron one, encoded" said Walter as Faith looked back into the control room
"Six more to go" whispered Willow to Faith just as General O'Neill walked in
"Alright kids" he said, "watch your sixes"
"Yes Sir" said the Colonel, Grogan and Willow
"Chevron three, encoded" said Walter
The General walked up to the Colonel and told her, "Check in will be every two hours, or else we'll send in SG3 to pull you out"
"Yes Sir" said the Colonel
"And be careful out there Carter" he said
"Of course Sir" smiled the Colonel
"Chevron Six, encoded" said Walter
"This is the coolest part" said Willow as she looked at Faith
"Chevron Seven, locked"
Faith looked in awe and immediately jumped back while holding on to Willow's arm as the wormhole formed with its characteristic unstable vortex 'kawooshing' outwards for a few seconds before settling back down into the event horizon.
"OK, that was just wicked cool" said Faith as she looked at what looked like a vertical puddle of blue shimmering water, "What the hell was that?"
"That" said the Colonel, "is the formation of an artificial subspace wormhole connecting this gate to another one about seven thousand light years away. That thing that just came towards us is the unstable vortex which is created due to the huge amounts of energy needed to actually open the wormhole."
"Think of it like the Star Trek transporters" said Willow.
"But much cooler" said Grogan.
"Well I like the one the Asgard have" said the General.
"The who?" replied a very confused Faith.
"Another story Faith" said Willow smiling, "look at it this way; once we go through the dialling gate, which is this one here, our bodies are converted into sub-atomic particles which are then transmitted to the receiving gate which instantaneously reassembles the transmitted matter into its original form."
"The process is only one way though" said Daniel, "we'll have to dial in from the other planet if we want to come home in one piece."
"Alright, move out people" said the General.
"Hey" whispered Willow as she looked at Faith, "there's something I'd like your opinion on when I get back."
Faith: "Bad?."
Willow: "I don't know."
Faith: "Alrighty, hey when's Dawn arriving?"
Willow: "Tomorrow evening. She'll be coming here after she see's Buffy at the minimum security facility"
Faith: "Cool. So see you tomorrow morning then?"
Willow: "Yes ma'am, you have my car keys and the apartment keys right?"
Faith: "Yea I do"
Willow: "See ya then"
Faith nodded at Willow just as the four members of SG1 walked through the blue puddle and disappeared through the ripples. She looked on as the wormhole vanished as soon as they had gone through.
"Teal'c" said Faith as she looked at the towering Jaffa, "Is it really safe?"
"What are you referring to as safe?" asked Teal'c
"Using the Stargate… I mean travelling through it" She asked
"Indeed it is Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he looked at the deactivated gate, "what matters is what is on the other side"
Teal'c turned his head to look at a slightly worried Faith
"You are concerned about Willow Rosenberg?" whispered Teal'c
"Yes, she used to be…."
"Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he interrupted her, "I do not know what kind of person Willow Rosenberg was before she arrived at the SGC. What I can tell you is that the one whom I know of is one of the bravest females of the Tau'ri"
"Teal'c's right Faith" said the General who had overheard everything, "She's not the Willow you and your friends knew from Sunnydale. Now don't you have a training session to go to?"
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he turned around and headed back to the gym, "let us go back to the gym Faith Lehane for a few more hours of training"
"Lunch?" said the General as he kept on staring at the gate.
"Indeed, O'Neill" said Teal'c, "we shall meet you then"
"See ya" said Faith as she turned around, but not before noticing a look on the General's face that indicated he was worried about something
Planet Designated P8D-767, Seven thousand light years from Earth, 0900hrs
Just as Willow told Faith, the feeling of going through the Stargate was just like going one step forward and finding yourself on another planet. Colonel Carter, Daniel, Grogan and Willow had come through the gate and into another Earth like world with trees all around them. The sun was high up in the sky as the members of SG1 put on their sunglasses, grabbed their packs and camping gear and got ready to walk over to the ruins along a dirt path that led off into the distance
"Daniel" said Willow, "How far are the ruins from the gate?"
"Oh, about an hour's walk" said Daniel smiling
"Just so you know" said Willow, "that's more like a hike"
"Come on Willow" said the Colonel, "We're suffering together"
"Yes ma'am" said Willow smilling
As the Colonel and Daniel were walking together in front of Willow and Grogan, the Captain came closer to Willow.
"Willow?" said Grogan as he turned to Willow
"Yea?" replied Willow
"I've heard the rumours about you" said Grogan
"Rumours you say?" said Willow
"Yes"
"Such as?" replied Willow
"What I heard was that you had certain psychic powers" said Grogan
"I guess the base rumour mill is as accurate as ever" thought Willow to herself
"So it's true?" asked Grogan
"Maybe it is, Captain" said Willow smiling, "And no I haven't thought about using my powers in Vegas"
"I didn't say anything Captain"
"You were thinking very loud" said Willow, "Look Carl; I know you'll be with us for a couple of weeks so I'll give you a helpful hint, don't think loud thoughts around me; especially if those thoughts are private. It's kinda like if I'm sitting next to you in another table and you're talking to someone else about something private at a table right next to me. If you speak too loud, I'll overhear whatever you have to say. Get what I mean?"
"I guess so" said Grogan
After an hour of walking under the hot sun, the small group had finally reached the site of the ruins.
"Alright guys" said Daniel, "Here we are"
Colonel Carter, Willow and Grogan were on top of a small hill as they saw the ruins of what looked like a city in the distance. Slowly, the small group walked down the pathway all the way to the ruins and stopped to make camp near the entrance to the city.
"Grogan…. Daniel" said Colonel Carter, "you guys go ahead and start examining the ruins while Willow and I start making camp"
"Yes ma'am" said Grogan
"See you soon Sam" said Daniel
"Be careful Daniel" said the Colonel, "Don't touch anything I wouldn't"
With a nod and a smile, Daniel walked off to the ruins with Lt. Grogan while Willow and the Colonel took out the gear and the tents to make the camp they'll be staying in until the next morning.
After an hour of pitching the tents, the Colonel and Willow were patrolling the perimeter with their P90's strapped to their vests and walking at a brisk pace.
"Daniel" said the Colonel as she pressed the button on her radio, "everything alright?"
"Yea Sam" replied Daniel
"Willow and I are at the other side of the city" she said, "so far, there have been no hostiles"
"Alright Sam"
"Anything interesting about this place?" asked the Colonel
"According to some of the translations I have, I think this was some kind of a trading post" said Daniel
"For what?" asked the Colonel
"I don't know yet" replied Daniel
"Alright" said the Colonel, "We'll finish up here and then head back to the camp"
"Got it" said Daniel
"He's excited, Colonel" said Willow, "I can feel It from here"
"He's always excited about ruins" said Colonel Carter as she faced Willow, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure Colonel" said Willow
"I was thinking if you've ever thought about different ways to use your abilities, especially your telekinesis in an offensive capacity" said the Colonel
"But I already do know a bit" said Willow, "I mean I can push stuff hard against something or pull something to me, I crushed the symbiotes of those Jaffa that one time too, I disassembled the guns on the Tel'tak, then there was the shield I held around the Tel'tak when we travelled to Hala"
"What I mean is have you ever tried to pick something up and then hit an enemy with it? Or maybe used your abilities to enhance your strength? Or making things explode? Or even healing" asked the Colonel
"Explode?" asked Willow
"Theoretically speaking, if you could increase the vibration of molecules or atoms in an object, it is possible to make it explode, or you could vibrate the molecules in the air to create heat and it you do that near something flammable, you could create a simple fire or another explosion or maybe light" said the Colonel, "same goes for healing; what if you could induce the cells to regenerate thus helping to restore someone back to optimum health?"
"Colonel" said Willow smiling, "have you been reading a lot of comic books? Or talking to General O'Neill? Oh no, not Dr. Felger?"
"I'm serious" said the Colonel with a smile
"I could try" said Willow as they turned a corner and walked back towards the camp, "I haven't really thought about what else I could do with my abilities"
"Give it a try" said the Colonel, "To tell you the truth, I did make a bet with the General that you could make something explode; if you do, I'll split it with it with you fifty-fifty"
"In that case, I'll definitely try Colonel" said Willow laughing
Commissary, SGC, 1330 hours
It's been thirty minutes since Faith had finished her training session with Teal'c. Now she was waiting for both him and the General outside the commissary after she took her shower and got into a fresh set of BDU's.
"Hiya kid" said the General as he walked up to Faith with Teal'c in tow
"So" said Faith, "what's good here?"
"Try the cake" said the General, "and I think its lasagne day today"
"Fun" said Faith smirking
Faith and the General collected their food and went over to SG1's regular table and sat down. Once they were seated, she noticed that Teal'c hadn't arrived yet. As she looked behind the General, she saw him coming up to the table with a mountain of food on his tray.
"Woah" said Faith in surprise, "real hungry are we?"
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he started eating the numerous servings of fruits, Jell-o and lasagne that were on the tray
"Faith" said the General, "there are a few rules that should be followed here, unwritten rules"
"Ok" she replied
"Never, and I can't stress this enough, never take the last cup of blue Jell-O" said the General as she noticed Teal'c smiling
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "The blue coloured gelatine is favoured by Colonel Carter"
"And an unhappy Carter makes the SGC a very unhappy place to work" said the General
"Ok" said Faith, "you're putting me on right?"
"What would we be putting you on, Faith Lehane?" said Teal'c
"She's asking if we're joking T" said the General before turning to face Faith, "and it's no joke. The last person to take the last cup of Blue Jell-O had to spend a week at the Alpha Site so that Carter could calm down before he could be brought back to Earth"
Faith tried not to laugh but she could tell from the look General O'Neill was giving her that it was all true.
"Ok" said Faith, "don't take the last cup of blue Jell-O"
"Beware of Daniel Jackson when he has not had his coffee" said Teal'c
"Huh?" said Faith
"Forgot about that T" said the General, "If you're the one who finishes the coffee, remember to refill the pot before you go"
"Let me guess" said Faith, "an unhappy Daniel make an unhappy base"
"Indeed it does" said Teal'c
"What's the story?" asked Faith
"He chased a guy down because he took the last cup of coffee without refilling the pot" said the General with an even expression on his face
"No way" laughed Faith, "you got some weird people here"
"True" said the General, "but they're still the best at what they do"
"And what triggers your weirdness'" asked Faith as she stared at both the General and Teal'c
"Chocolate cake" the General replied as his face suddenly became serious, "never take the last piece, or there will be hell to pay"
"I do not have a trigger" said Teal'c stoically
"Green Jell-O" whispered the General to a smiling Faith
"Unscheduled off-world activation" said a voice over the P.A system, "General O'Neill to the control room"
Faith noticed an immediate change in the expressions of both the General and Teal'c as they got up from the table and started to run towards the control room. She hurried behind them as the ran through the corridors and into the elevator going to level 28, the Gateroom.
"What's going on?" she asked
"Not sure" said the General as he looked on worriedly, "The only teams' off-world are SG one, six and nine. So it could be anyone of them"
"But when this unscheduled thing happens, it's usually not good?" asked Faith
"Not usually" said the General, "But you need to know that this does happen, so you'll need to be ready to provide back-up for any team that needs it. Once you've been trained that is"
"Indeed, at times SG1 would be required to provide backup for another team" said Teal'c
"Or the other way around" said the General
Once they reached level twenty eight, the three of them ran full stride to the control room.
"Walter" said the General, "what's going on?"
"It's Colonel Carter Sir" said the gate technician, "Audio and visual"
"Put her on" ordered the General
Once the order was given, Faith saw the screens above change to a video feed to the planet that SG1 were on.
"Looks just like Earth" she thought to herself as she saw the background fade away as the camera on the probe on the planet focused on Colonel Carter.
"Carter?"
"Sir" said the Colonel, "sorry about the unscheduled check-in, but I just wanted to let you know that I won"
"Huh?" said the General as Walter, Teal'c and Faith looked at him
"Hi Sir" said Willow grinning as she waved at the camera from behind Colonel Carter.
"Hot Damn" said the General as he saw the red head's soot covered face, "you didn't"
"I did Sir, sorry" said Willow as she smiled.
"Ok… ok…" said the General smiling, "anything else to report?"
"Nothing Sir" said the Colonel, "Daniel's still looking around. He and Grogan found some caves about thirty minutes away from the ruins with artefacts inside, so he's examining those. We may be bringing some back with us when we come back tomorrow morning"
"Very well, Colonel" said the General, "SGC out"
Faith looked on as the communication channel was cut followed by the Stargate disengaging the wormhole.
"So you can communicate through the Stargate?" asked Faith
"Yep" said the General, "now don't you have the weapons training session with Dixon?"
"Yea" said Faith, "where's the range?"
"I shall show you" said Teal'c
"Thanks" said Faith, "Oh, what happened to Willow?"
"Let's just say that Carter won a bet we made before they left for the mission" said the General
"A bet?"
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "O'Neill wagered Colonel Carter that Willow Rosenberg would not be able to make an explosion occur using her abilities"
"I think they ganged up on me" said General O'Neill as Faith tried not to laugh
"I'm guessing they did" said Faith
"I did say…" said Teal'c as he was interrupted by the General
"Not one word, T" he said as he waved his hands around with a nod from Teal'c
"Let us go to the firing range Faith Lehane" said Teal'c
"Faith, after you're done with the training on the firing range, you're free to go home. But before you do, come see me in my office, I need to give you a base I.D and a key card"
"Sure" she replied
"Alright, dismissed then" said the General as Faith and Teal'c walked down the stairs and on towards the firing range