A/N: I'd like to apologize for deleting this chapter a day after I had put it up. After putting it up, I thought I had a pretty good accompanying chapter to the ending where Dawn would have been taken over by a Goa'uld. But as I was writing the next chapter, it bordered on the ridiculous no matter how many times I rewrote it. So I had to create another second part to this chapter about Dawn and here it is. I realize that FanFics are kinda supposed to be ridiculous to a certain point, but I made dozens of rewrites to the chapter that followed the previous version of Chapter 56, none of them worked (too ridiculous). So I hope you guys like this chapter, and please review. As usual I suck at fights, both in space and on land so please be patient. Enjoy.
Maybourne's Planet, outside Ancient ship.
"I vote we don't tell the General" smiled Colonel Carter.
"You mean a surprise, ma'am?" asked Willow.
"Exactly" she replied.
"Well" said Willow as she went to the front of the ship and stepped a few feet back as she visually compared the size of the ship with the Stargate behind her, "it does look like it was meant to fly through the Gate."
"That's what we'll do" said the Colonel, "fly it through the gate."
"I'm good with that, ma'am" said Willow with a smile.
"Colonel Carter" said Teal'c as he, Faith and Daniel brought the two Jaffa prisoners to the Stargate.
"Wow" said Daniel as he looked at the ship.
"It's cool, right?" said Faith.
"Indeed" said Teal'c.
"Alright" said the Colonel as she looked at Faith and Teal'c, "How about the both of you drop the prisoners off with the rebel Jaffa and then get back here. We'll go back together in the ship."
"Very well, Colonel Carter" said Teal'c as he handed the prisoners to Faith who held on to them tightly while Teal dialled one of the rebel Jaffa worlds.
"It is done" said Teal'c once the wormhole had formed and both he and Faith stepped through with the prisoners.
"Have you told Jack about the ship yet?" asked Daniel as he passed Colonel Carter.
"Nope" she replied, "thought it would be better as a surprise."
"So how does this work?" asked Daniel as he stepped into the ship followed by the Colonel and then Willow, and stood next to the time device,.
"I think the time device creates a temporal field around the ship enabling it to travel through time" said the Colonel, "which is why we've disabled it."
"Yep" replied Willow, "I kinda like this time period."
"And let me guess" said Daniel as he put his hands on the flight controls, "it needs the Ancient gene to work."
"Yep" grinned Willow, "it's real fun flying this baby."
Willow then gripped the flight controls after she sat down and the entire vessel powered up again, including a HUD which displayed some of the ships schematics.
"Ummm…" said Daniel as he looked at the Ancient words on the screen, "looks like you've got more about seventy five percent power left, but no weapons."
"Yeah" said Willow, "we guessed that since there's a flashing red warning message whenever I try to fire the weapons."
"Oh" replied Daniel sheepishly, "but hey, looks like this ship's got a stealth device."
"Really?" asked Willow.
"Think invisible" said Daniel excitedly.
"Alright, Daniel" said Willow as she concentrated.
"So did it work?" asked Willow as she looked around and out of the front window.
"Hold on" said Colonel Carter as she walked out of the ship and turned around only to see nothing there, not even the inside of the ship, "yea, it works. Looks like the field encompasses the entire ship so even if the ramp is open, no one can find it."
"Cool" said Willow as she looked at the control console, "looks like we've got a portable version of the DHD."
"According to the schematics on here" said Daniel as he read the Ancient words on the HUD, "looks like there's also a subspace communicator."
"Inertial dampeners too, obviously" said Willow as the Stargate activated and their radio's fizzled to life as Teal'c informed them that they were coming back.
"Alright, Teal'c" said the Colonel, "come on back."
"Colonel" said Maybourne as he arrived at the Stargate with some of his subjects and four women who were following closely behind him.
"Maybourne" said the Colonel as Willow and Daniel got out of the ship, just as Teal'c and Faith came through the Stargate.
"So" said Willow, "you're really planning on staying here?"
"Yes" said Maybourne as he nodded to the subjects on his left side who handed out sweet smelling flowers to the members of SG1.
"Smells nice" said Faith.
"Indeed" replied Teal'c.
"Are you absolutely sure?" asked Daniel, "about staying here, I mean."
"I can't leave these people behind, Dr. Jackson" said Maybourne as he looked behind him, "I can't walk away from my family, my friends… or my wives."
"Wait" said the Colonel as she stared at Maybourne, "Wives?"
"As in more than one?" said Willow as she looked at the surprise on the Colonels face.
"Yes" said Maybourne.
"Wives?" repeated Colonel Carter, still in shock, as Daniel took her by the shoulders and led her back into the ship.
"Good luck, Sir" said Willow as she shook his hand before she walked back into the ship and sat at the pilots seat.
"Farewell, Colonel Maybourne" replied Teal'c as he gave the man a small bow before he and Faith went into the ship, with Faith pressing the button that closed the ramp.
"Faith" said the Colonel as she got off the co-pilot seat, "I already had a chance up here, it's your turn."
"Thanks, Sam" said Faith as she sat down beside a grinning Willow.
"How about me?" said Daniel with a slight whine in his voice.
"Don't worry Daniel" said Willow as she put her hands on the flight controls and the engines immediately powered up, "I have a feeling that General O'Neill will want to take this baby for a ride."
"True" said Daniel, "I've got shot-gun for that ride."
"Yes, Daniel" said the Colonel, Willow and Faith together.
"Faith" said Willow, "wanna dial her up?"
"Hell yeah!" replied Faith excitedly as she dialled the address for Earth on the DHD in the ship and looked on as the wormhole formed and settled down.
"Inputting the IDC" said Daniel as he waited until he received the green light on the little electronic device, "alright, we're set."
"SG1 to SGC" said Willow on her radio.
"Red?" said the General's voice over her radio.
"Sir" said Willow, "May I recommend evacuating the Gateroom, we're bringing in a pretty large gift."
"Say again" said the General as he looked at an equally confused Captain Simmons.
"We've got a huge gift coming through, Sir" said the Colonel.
Willow turned around and grinned at the Colonel as she heard the General ordering everyone out of the Gateroom.
"Sir" said Colonel Carter over her radio, "you might want to open the roof too."
"What the heck did you guys get?" said the General.
"You'll like it, Jack" said Daniel.
They waited as the General gave the order before he got back on the radio at the SGC.
"Alright done" said the General, "You're clear to come through."
"Yes, sir" said Willow as she flew the ship through the Stargate.
The General and the rest of the staff in the control room looked on with their mouths hanging wide open at the strange brown coloured ship that had just come through the gate. He looked on as what looked like tiny wings came out from both sides of its body.
"So" said the General on the microphone, "when you say you have a gift; you really mean a gift, huh?"
"Yes, sir" said Willow as she and the others smiled and waved at the General and the others.
"Alright" said General O'Neill, "the roof is open, parking's at Peterson base. I'll meet you all there."
"Yes Sir" said Willow as she engaged the cloak to the surprise of the General, "see you there."
"Just so you know, Red" said the General, "you're not hogging that thing."
"Yes, Sir" replied Willow smiling as she took the ship up through the opening at the top of the mountain while cloaked and flew around for a little bit.
"This is fun!" said Willow as she flew the ship over Colorado Springs while doing barrel rolls before the Colonel ordered her to get back to the Air Force base, where she landed the ship close to where General O'Neill was waiting on one of the unused runways.
"Sir" said the Colonel as she opened the ramp.
"Carter" said the General as he walked up the ramp and into the ship.
"Sir" said Willow as she got off the pilots chair and faced the General, "she's all yours."
"Good job, Red" said the General before he turned to face everyone else, "good job all of you. You've got me an early birthday present."
"Yes, Sir" said Colonel Carter and Willow together.
"You owe us each, a very large steak" said Faith grinning.
"We all agree" said Daniel, "plus I get to sit shot-gun when you take this up."
"Yeah, yeah" said the General as he turned to the Colonel and Willow, "I assume the both of you want to go through this thing with a fine tooth comb?"
"Yes, Sir" replied both Air Force officers enthusiastically.
"Alright" said the General as he looked at the Colonel and Willow, "but not now because I'm gonna fly this baby around for a while before you eggheads can put your grubby little mitts on the technology inside it."
"Of course, Sir" said Colonel Carter as she sat down next to Willow while Daniel sat upfront with the General as he took the ship up into the air. Soon they were passing the upper atmosphere and a few seconds later, they in the void of space.
"This is neat" said the General as he performed various stunts with no ill effects to him or the crew.
"I know, Sir" said Willow as she grinned at Faith.
"You know" said Faith, "I wish I had that gene too, it would be fun to fly this thing."
"Sir" said Colonel Carter, "when the Prometheus returns back to Earth for resupply later today, would it be possible to send Faith for training on some of its systems?"
"Sam?" said Faith as she looked surprised at the Colonel and then at a grinning Willow.
"What're you recommending?" asked the General.
"Nothing too complicated to start with" said the Colonel, "maybe running scans, manning the weapons controls; things like that."
"I'm alright with it" said the General, "maybe you should check with Pendergast as well, although I don't see him making too much of a fuss. He could get Marks to train her."
"Yes Sir" said the Colonel as she turned to look at Faith, "Well? You up for it? I mean it's not flying the ship but it's in space and you'll be trained to shoot some pretty powerful weaponry."
"You're kidding me, right?" said Faith excitedly.
"Nope" said the Colonel, "Willow and I will be pretty busy with this ship so it would be the perfect time for you to get some training on using those systems."
"Hell yeah" said Faith excitedly, "that would be the coolest thing ever."
"I'll talk with Colonel Pendergast once we get back to the SGC and we'll see what he says" said the Colonel, "maybe you'll have to spend about a month on the ship."
"A month?" said Faith as she looked at Willow.
"It's a great opportunity" said Willow as she looked at Faith and then Colonel Carter who nodded back at her.
Faith: "You sure?"
Willow: "Yeah, I'll be busy with Colonel Carter and Dr. Lee on the ship which means late nights and spending most of my time at the SGC anyway."
Faith: "Alright."
"Alright then" said Faith as she looked at a smiling Colonel Carter, "I'll do it."
"Great" said General O'Neill as he continued flying the ship, "now will all of you please stay quiet as I enjoy my flight?"
"Yes Sir" said Willow and Colonel Carter.
One Month later, Willow's Quarter's, SGC. 1000 hours
"Captain Rosenberg? Captain Rosenberg?" said the Airman who was knocking on Willow's door. She had been sleeping for only three hours a day especially since Colonel Carter, Dr. Lee and her were going through the plethora of new technology from the Ancient ship that was brought from Maybourne's planet, and yesterday night was no different.
"Hold on" said Willow as she slowly got up from her bed, turned on the lights and opened the door with her eyes half closed.
"Yes, Airman?"
"Sorry to disturb you Captain but you have an urgent phone call."
"Huh?" How come it wasn't routed to my quarters?" asked Willow as she wiped her eyes.
"I'm afraid you may have taken the hard line out of the wall socket" said the Airman as he pointed to the disconnected hard line.
"Oh" said Willow sheepishly, "alright, can you please get the call transferred to this line?"
"Of course" said the Airman as he got onto his radio while Willow reconnected the hard line back into the wall socket.
As soon as she put in the line into the socket, the phone started to ring.
"Thanks" smiled Willow at the Airman who simply closed the door before he walked off. She then picked up the phone and sat back down on her bed.
"Rosenberg" said Willow as she put the phone receiver to her ear while yawning.
"Willow?"
"Angel?" said Willow in surprise, "What's up?"
"Willow" said Angel, "Did you or Colonel Carter promise Dawn a flight on a jet fighter for her birthday?"
"Huh?" said Willow, still dazed about what was going on.
"You alright?" asked Angel.
"Tired as heck" said Willow, "had some major things to get done, haven't had much sleep for the past month or so."
"Oh" said Angel, "listen, I don't know what you and the Colonel promised Dawn, but she's pretty excited about it. She was telling me and Buffy yesterday how you guys promised her a ride."
"Oh no" said Willow as she suddenly opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Yea" replied Angel.
"Damn" said Willow, "I completely forgot all about it."
"Willow" said Angel, "she's really looking forward to it, I mean Buffy knows that you would probably be too busy and she would maybe understand if you don't remember, but I don't know how Dawn would take it. I mean, she would probably be ok with it since she now knows what your responsibilities are but….."
"Yea" said Willow as she forced her tired body to quickly get up and walk towards the closet in her quarters, "I'll get something done, don't tell Dawn anything yet though. If I can't, then I'll be the one to tell her."
"Alright" said Angel, "Sorry to bring this on you but she was only just talking about it to both Buffy and me."
"I understand" said Willow as she took out a fresh set of BDU's and took off her track pants and her tank top, "I gotta go talk to the Colonel and ask her if there's something she could do."
"Good luck" said Angel before he disconnected the call.
"Yeah" said Willow to herself as she put on the fresh set of BDU's, "I'm gonna need it if I can't get a plane."
After Willow put on the fresh set of BDU's, she immediately ran all the way to Colonel Carter's lab.
"Hey" said Colonel Carter as she looked up from some plans she was looking at when she saw Willow panting at the entrance to her lab, "I was checking out the schematics, at least what we've been ableto determine are the schematics, for the cloaking generator for the Ancient ship. You think there's a way we could maybe back-engineer one and install it for a test run on one of the 302's?"
"Maybe, Colonel" said Willow as she walked over to a chair near her workstation and sat down, "but before that, ummmmm…. I just received a call from Angel at the BPRI about Dawn's birthday present."
"Oh" replied the Colonel, "you forgot didn't you?"
"Yes" said Willow sheepishly.
"Lucky for you, I didn't" said the Colonel, "I was going to come get you after you've slept a bit more but I've arranged for you to take Dawn up in one of the F-302's tomorrow morning from the L.A. Air Base."
"Oh" said Willow.
"Yep" said the Colonel, "I remember all my drunken promises, including the one where I had to read Daniel's first book without falling asleep in front of him and SG1."
"So, I got up all the way here in panic for nothing?" said Willow as she lay her head down on Colonel Carter's workstation and looked up at her.
"I'm afraid so" said a grinning Colonel.
"Great" said Willow as she slowly got back up from her seat, "I guess I should get something to eat, care to join me ma'am?"
"I could do with some blue jell-o" said the Colonel as she walked around her workbench.
"So how are the wedding plans going, ma'am?" asked Willow.
"Pete said he'll take care everything since its been hectic as hell for me" said the Colonel as the both of them walked out the lab, "but I want you, Cassie and Faith to be my maids of honour."
"That would be an…. honour, ma'am" smiled Willow as they walked down the hallways to the commissary.
"Remember to call Dawn" said the Colonel.
"Yes ma'am" smiled Willow.
"So" said the Colonel as they turned a corner, "about that clocking generator."
The Summers Residence, the next day, 0500 hours
"Hold on" said Buffy as she trudged down the stairs as the bell to her front door kept on ringing.
"Miss Summers?" said the Air Force officer once she opened the door.
"I'm one of them" smiled Buffy.
"Oh, I'm Lt. Paxton" she said as she shook Buffy's hand, "I'm here to pick up a Miss Dawn Summers, she has an appointment with Captain Rosenberg."
"Oh" said Buffy, "I thought Willow would be here to pick her up."
"Captain Rosenberg will reach the base in another two hours, ma'am" said Lt. Paxton, "she requested that I take Miss Summers up to the base in L.A."
"Right" said Buffy as she turned back, "Dawn! Your ride's here."
"I'm ready, I'm ready" said Dawn as she came down the stairs and looked at the officer at the door.
"Willow will meet you at the base" said Buffy as she fixed her sister's hair.
"You'll be picking up Xander in a couple of hours right?" asked Dawn.
"Yep" smiled Buffy, "you'll be able to see him when you get back."
"I'll come back with Willow and Faith" said Dawn as she hugged Buffy.
"It's safe right?" asked Buffy as she looked at Lt. Paxton.
"Yes, ma'am" said the officer, "Captain Rosenberg's a good pilot. Miss Summers will be safe."
"Alright" said Buffy as she kissed Dawn's forehead.
"Everything will be ready by the time you get back" said Buffy, "then you can have one of the best birthday's ever."
"We'll all be together again" said Dawn.
"Yea" said Buffy as she saw Dawn walk down the driveway and enter the Air Force car.
Los Angeles Air Base, 0830 hours
"Miss Summers?" said Lt. Paxton as they reached the entrance to the L.A. Air Base.
"We're here?" said a drowsy Dawn as she slowly woke up, only to see a guard looking at and her asking for an I.D.
"Dawn Summers" said the guard after Dawn handed over her I.D, and then looked at a clipboard before looking at Lt. Paxton, "take her to Hanger Two. Captain Rosenberg arrived an hour ago."
"Thanks" said Dawn as she got back her I.D. and Lt. Paxton drove up to Hanger Two where Willow, in her flight suit, was waiting outside the hanger for Dawn.
"Ma'am" said Lt. Paxton as she opened the door for Dawn.
"Thanks" said Dawn as she got out of the car and saw Willow walking towards her.
"Willow" said Dawn as she gave the red head a tight hug.
"Happy Birthday, Dawnie" whispered Willow into her ear.
"Captain" said Lt. Paxton as she saluted Willow.
"Lieutenant" said Willow as she returned the salute, "thanks for picking her up."
"No problem, ma'am" said the lieutenant, "is there anything else, ma'am?"
"I think we'll be just fine" said Willow, "thank you, Lieutenant."
"Yes ma'am" he replied before she looked at Dawn, "Enjoy your flight, ma'am."
"Thanks" said Dawn as Lt. Paxton got back into the car and drove away.
"Come on, kiddo" said Willow as she led Dawn to another building away from the hanger.
"Willow?" said Dawn as she followed the red head, "aren't we supposed to be going flying?"
"Yeah" said Willow as she pointed to the T-Shirt and jeans that Dawn was wearing, "but you can't go wearing that."
Willow led Dawn to a locker room in a smaller building where she handed the younger Summers sister a flight suit.
"Done?" asked Willow as Dawn zipped up her flight suit.
"I guess" said Dawn, "am I missing anything?"
"Here" said Willow as she handed Dawn a helmet before the both of them left the building.
"Thanks" said Dawn as she followed Willow to the hanger.
"For what?" asked Willow as she turned towards Dawn.
"For this" said Dawn as she waved her hands around her.
"You should thank Colonel Carter" said Willow, "she's the one with the pull to make this happen."
"But you're the one flying right?" asked Dawn.
"Of course" replied Willow with a grin.
"So what are we flying?" asked Dawn.
"You wanted the best" said Willow as they rounded the corner and entered Hanger Two where Dawn looked at a sleek craft just waiting on the hanger floor, "meet the F-302."
"Whoa" said Dawn.
"Funny" replied Willow with a smile as the both of them stood looking at the black coloured craft, "that's exactly what Faith said."
"It looks cool" said Dawn as she walked towards it and placed her hands on its metallic skin.
"You should see how it handles in the air" said Willow as she led Dawn up a metal stair case, "you'll be sitting right behind me as my co-pilot."
"Wait" said Dawn as she sat down behind Willow, "I get to fly?"
"Why not?" Willow said, "You don't want to?"
"I do" said Dawn, "I mean…."
"It's just like playing a game" said Willow as the technicians strapped her down into her seat before doing the same thing for Dawn, as well as making sure their oxygen masks were working properly.
"What if I crash? Or fire a missile accidentally?" asked Dawn worriedly.
"True the 302 is armed, but I won't be transferring any of the weapons controls to you" said Willow glancing back at Dawn, "so you don't need to worry about that. As for crashing it, well where we're going we'll have a backup plan in about ten minutes. A kind of 'just in case something goes horribly wrong' kind of thing."
"Ok" said Dawn confused, "backup plan?"
"It's a surprise" said Willow grinning, "ready to go?"
"Yeah" said Dawn with a wide grin.
Willow pressed a button in the cockpit that brought up the canopy and locked it into place.
"You have your helmet on?" asked Willow.
"Yeah" said Dawn.
"Alright" said Willow before she got onto her radio, "L.A. control this is Starlight, requesting clearance for taxi to any available runway."
Dawn looked on as L.A. Control gave Willow a checklist of items to go through before she was given clearance to taxi the 302 to a runway at the far end of the base. After a few minutes of waiting at the runaway, Dawn was excited when Willow was finally given clearance to take off.
"Dawnie" said Willow, "I need you to put on your oxygen mask now."
"Alright" said Dawn as she clipped on the mask onto her face exactly how the technician from earlier had shown her.
"Ready, Dawnie?" asked Willow.
"Yes!" said Dawn excitedly.
"Alright" said Willow as she engaged the engines and brought the 302 into a steep climb towards the upper atmosphere.
"L.A. Control" said Willow into her radio, "I'm already at Mach 6, firing the rocket booster for orbital flight."
"Willow" said Dawn as she looked to her sides and noticed the Earth getting smaller and smaller, "where are we going?"
"I forgot to mention that the 302 is one of Earth's space worthy fighter interceptors" said Willow.
"What?" said Dawn as she started to look around at the darkening sky, "you mean space? As in Space?"
"Dawn" said Willow, "we're out of the outer atmosphere."
"Control" continued Willow on her radio, "I've achieved orbital flight."
"Copy that, Starlight. Please transfer to SATCOM three for communications with Sierra Golf Charlie Flight and Prometheus."
"Prometheus?" said Dawn.
"You'll see" replied Willow as she switched her channel to SATCOM three, "Starlight to Flight, do you copy?"
"Copy, Starlight" said Colonel Carter at the SGC control room, "bumpy ride?"
"Negative, ma'am" said Willow.
"Can I speak on this?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah" said Willow.
"Colonel? Colonel Carter?" said Dawn onto the radio.
"Hi Dawn" said the Colonel, "how was the trip up?"
"It was a trip" replied Dawn, "thank you for the best birthday present ever."
"No problem" said the Colonel, "enjoy the flight."
"Colonel" said Willow, "how long till the Prometheus gets home?"
"Another five minutes" said the Colonel.
"Thanks ma'am" replied Willow.
Dawn looked out the canopy and saw the entire blackness of space that was poke marked by tiny specks of light.
"So many stars" said Dawn as she looked around her.
"You want to fly her for a bit?" asked Willow, "I can transfer some flight controls to you."
"Ummmm… maybe another time?" said Dawn as she looked around her, "I just want to enjoy this."
"Sure" said Willow.
"This is so beautiful Willow" said Dawn, "I wish Buffy could see this."
"I'm sorry" said Willow as she reduced the power of the engines, "but she can't know about this, no one can. At least not yet. Hopefully disclosure day will come soon, and I could even tell my mom and dad what I've been doing."
"What's that?" asked Dawn as she pointed to her left.
"Oh" said Willow as she pushed her engines to maximum power again and flew towards the debris of Anubis' fleet.
"That" continued Willow, "is what remains of Anubis' fleet. Remember, I told you what happened?"
"Oh" said Dawn as she looked at the huge chucks of debris as Willow weaved in and out of them.
"Hold on a sec" said Willow as she started to look around her before going back on the radio, "Starlight to Flight, do we have another 302 or any other allied vessel up here?"
"That's a negative, Starlight" said the Colonel as she looked at General O'Neill who had just walked down to the control room.
"Starlight" said the General, "what's going on?"
"Sir" said Willow, "I just had a feeling up here, maybe it's nothing."
"Copy that" said the General as he turned to face Colonel Carter, "Carter, usually whenever Red has a feeling…"
"Means that there could be something to it" said the Colonel, "I'll get right on it, Sir."
"Walter" said the Colonel.
"Got SPACECOM on the line, ma'am" said Walter as he handed her the phone.
"Thanks, Walter" replied Colonel Carter.
Meanwhile back in the emptiness of space, Willow was weaving in and out of the debris to the excitement of Dawn when she suddenly had that same feeling again.
"Something's wrong here" said Willow to herself.
"Willow?" said Dawn, "something wrong?"
"Dawnie" said Willow as she was flying out of the debris field, "I think I need to get you back."
"Willow!" said Dawn as she saw flashes of light streaking towards them from close range.
"Shit" said Willow as she pushed the engines to maximum and manoeuvred to avoid both the flashes of light which Willow knew were plasma bolts from staff cannons.
"Willow" said Dawn as she saw more plasma bolts coming from the same area of space.
"I know" said Willow as she just managed to avoid getting hit and got on her radio, "Flight, we're being attacked over here."
"Anything?" said Colonel Carter on the phone just when Willow's call came in.
"Starlight" said Walter, "SPACECOM's showing nothing up there."
"They're wrong" said Willow as she kept on avoiding the plasma bolts, "they're following me now, I'm close enough to sense that whoever's flying that thing is a Goa'uld, maybe a group of Goa'uld in a cloaked ship. Guessing it's an Al'Kesh."
"Walter" said the Colonel, "how far is the Prometheus?"
"They're here, ma'am" said Walter.
"Willow" said Dawn as she saw a hyper space window open up, "what's going on?"
"It's the Prometheus" said Willow just as she rolled away to just narrowly avoid getting hit by two plasma bolts, which instead flew past her and hit the just arrived Prometheus, causing a small explosion after it impacted the hull of the ship.
"That was just too close" said Dawn.
"I know" said Willow as she got on the radio again, "Starlight to Prometheus Control, I've got a cloaked ship right behind me."
The General and Colonel Carter were listening to the radio exchange between Willow and the Prometheus.
"Carter" asked the General, "any way to find the cloaked ship?"
"It will take some time to create a program but for now I have an idea, but you're not going to like it" said the Colonel.
"What is it?" asked the General.
Meanwhile back on the 302, Willow was flying towards the Prometheus when she suddenly felt that whoever was piloting the other ship was turning away.
"Flight, Control" said Willow on her radio, "the cloaked vessel seems to be turning back."
"Starlight" said Colonel Carter, "can you sense where the ship is?"
"Ma'am?" said Willow.
"Can you sense where the ship is?" repeated the Colonel.
"Yes ma'am" said Willow, "But I've got Dawn here with me, won't it be better if I brought her back to Earth while Prometheus runs scans?"
"The scans will take time until Carter can get a program she's working on uploaded to its systems" said the General, "and if there really is a cloaked vessel up there, we need to take care of it now. If you can still sense where those Goa'uld are, then I need you to turn around and fire every missile you have."
"But Sir" said Willow as she glanced back at an excited looking Dawn.
"Willow" said the Colonel, "those Goa'uld will never expect it if you fire on them. Since you can sense where they are, you have the best shot at getting them. Once you hit their shields with the missiles, the scanners on the Prometheus can then pick up the impacts on the shield and get a proper firing solution."
"I understand, ma'am" said Willow, "please inform Prometheus not to send out any 302's, this is something new for me to sense emotions from the confines of space, especially if they're on another ship. I can't have others around me when my empathic senses could go haywire and I may not be able to get an empathic lock onto the Goa'uld flying the Al'kesh. Plus, if the Goa'uld flying the ship see a bunch of fighters coming after them along with the Prometheus, they might just escape. They'll probably see just one fighter coming after them as insignificant."
"You sure?" asked the Colonel.
"Yes" replied Willow as the General informed Colonel Pendergast about the situation.
"Dawnie" said Willow as glanced back at Dawn while she cut the 302's engines, "I'm sorry, but I promised you'd be safe."
"Huh?" said Dawn.
"Starlight to Prometheus Control" said Willow, "requesting beam out of my second seat, lock into her subcutaneous transmitter."
"Locked, Starlight" said Colonel Pendergast who nodded at Major Marks to beam out Dawn.
"Willow" said Dawn as she stared at Willow, "don't you dare….."
Before Dawn could finish her sentence, she found herself covered in a white light again before the light faded away and she found herself sitting on a grey floor in front of a window before she fell over backwards.
"Hey" said Faith as she looked down at the surprised Dawn, "welcome to the Prometheus."
"Faith?" said Dawn confused as Faith helped her up, "what?"
"Colonel" said Faith into the phone on the nearby wall, "she's safely aboard."
"Starlight" said Colonel Pendergast, "the package is secure."
"Yes Sir" said Willow as she pushed the engines to its maximum again before turning the 302, and ran towards the Goa'uld presence she had sensed earlier, "Colonel, stay locked to my coordinates. I'm not sure how accurate this is going to be but any hit should show up on your scanners… hopefully."
"Understood" said Colonel Pendergast as he watched Faith run into the bridge.
"Colonel?" said Faith as she watched the scanners from behind Major Marks' shoulder which showed Willow's location as she headed away from them.
"She'll be alright" said the Colonel, "how's your friend?"
"Mad that she got left behind" said Faith, "but she's watching the action from the windows in the cafeteria."
"I see" said the Colonel as he got on the radio, "Starlight, any luck?"
"I think so, Sir" said Willow as she flew around the immediate vicinity from where the ship had fired on her before, "I found them, I think."
"Colonel" said Faith as she pointed at the radio, "may I?"
"Be my guest" said the Colonel.
"Red" said Faith, "can't you just disable them with your.. you know?"
"I've tried, I think it doesn't work if they have a shield up plus I don't know how far they are" said Willow, "the reason it worked before was because they were in the atmosphere where the shields are almost non-existent and they were in close proximity to me, but in space.."
"I understand" said Faith as she looked at Colonel Pendergast.
"Ok" said Willow, "I'm sensing surprise coming from whoever's in that ship."
"Scanners are up" said Major Marks.
"Engage sublight engines" said Colonel Pendergast, "keep pace with Starlight."
"Starlight" said Colonel Pendergast, "fire at your convenience."
"Yes Sir" said Willow as the sense of surprise got even stronger, "firing Fox One and Four."
Willow rolled the 302 away after firing the missiles, but not before she saw one missile hit the shield covering the vessel while the other missile completely missed it.
"I've got a hit" said Willow just as the ship started to fire on her again.
"I've got a lock, Sir" said Major Marks.
"Fire railguns and missiles on that ship" said Colonel Pendergast as he heard a gasp from behind him.
"Dawn" said Faith as he turned around and looked at the younger Summers sister.
"Young lady" said the Colonel before he was interrupted by Major Marks.
"Sir" said the Major, "missiles are away but the ship is firing on Starlight."
The Colonel looked at Dawn before getting back to his command chair, "Starlight, please respond."
"Colonel" said Willow as she tried to avoid the plasma bursts from the still clocked ship, "I can confirm hits on the ship; looks like the shield may be weakening from Prometheus weapon impacts. I'll be turning back and firing last two missiles."
"Confirmed" said the Colonel.
"But" said Dawn as she looked at the Colonel and then Faith, "She'll be unarmed."
"Dawn" said Faith as she turned back towards her, "she'll be alright."
Willow made a tight turn back towards where she thought the ship was and fired her last two missiles, just as one of the plasma bolts hit her wing and caused her F-302 to malfunction.
"Prometheus" said Willow as she tried to regain some control when suddenly she felt both of her engines extinguished out, "I'm hit… I'm hit, I've lost engines."
"Colonel" said Major Marks, "both of Starlight's missiles hit the ship, we have its location."
"Fire all rail guns and missiles" said Colonel Pendergast as the Prometheus fired all its rail guns at the Al'Kesh which then exploded under the barrage of the rail gun fire and the missile hits.
"Confirmed explosion from attacking vessel" said Major Marks, "It's been destroyed Sir."
"Starlight, do you copy?" asked the Colonel as he got back on the radio to Willow, "Starlight?"
"Damn it" said Willow as her F-302 was adrift with all its systems dead and engines out, "Prometheus, mayday.. mayday.."
"Sir" said Major Marks, "I have Starlight on scanners, looks like she's just drifting."
"Prometheus Control to Starlight, do you read?" said Colonel Pendergast.
"Colonel" said Faith, "maybe her communications are down."
"Lock onto her subcutaneous transmitter" said the Colonel as he looked at the officer behind him before looking at Major Marks, "well?"
"We need to get closer for a solid lock Sir" said Major Marks.
"Get closer then" said the Colonel as he looked at the officer seated to his left, "do we have a lock, now?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Beam her on board" said the Colonel, "and then resume recovery operations, I want that ship in the bay before we start on debris of the Al'Kesh. General O'Neill wants to know who's responsible."
Willow was just looking at the stars above her when she heard a buzzing sound and smiled as a white light washed over her and deposited her onto the bridge on the Prometheus as she fell backwards.
"Whoa" said Faith as she ran to help the red head get back up.
"Colonel Pendergast, Sir" said Willow as she saluted the man, "permission to come aboard your fine ship?"
"Permission granted, Captain" said the Colonel as he returned her salute.
"Willow?" said Dawn as she stood beside Faith.
"Hey kiddo" said Willow as she walked towards Dawn, "you alright?"
"Yea" said Dawn as she punched Willow's arm hard, "don't do that again."
"Captain, Miss Summers" said Colonel Pendergast, "if you would follow Miss Lehane to the infirmary for a check-up, I'll have you beamed down to the SGC for a briefing with General O'Neill."
"Yes Sir" said Willow as she and Dawn followed Faith to the infirmary before she stopped and turned around again, "sir, could I ask for a teeny tiny, little favour before you beam us over to the SGC?"
U.S.A.F Prometheus, Earth Orbit, 1130 hours.
"Starlight-2 to Prometheus control" said Willow on the radio as she glanced at Dawn behind her, "requesting clearance for take-off"
"Clearance granted" said Colonel Pendergast.
"Willow" said Dawn, "you don't have to do this, you already given me one hell of a present."
"Well, it didn't go too well considering we were just attacked by a ship" said Willow as she launched the F-302 that was designated as Starlight-2.
"But still" said Dawn.
"I've switched the flight controls to you" said Willow, "go anywhere you like, except for the debris field of the ship that attacked us or Anubis's fleet. Head towards open space and fly to your heart's content. I'll be sleeping for a bit."
"Willow!" said Dawn as she took the controls worriedly.
"I'm kidding" said Willow, "I'll be awake if you need anything, but the ship is under your control. Enjoy."
"Thanks" said Dawn as she flew the ship.
"Starlight-2" said the Colonel, "please get back that ship back in one piece."
"Yes Sir" said Willow grinning.
TBC.