The Sunnydale Western Hotel, Sunnydale, CA. 1600 hours.
"You know" said Faith after three beams of lights deposited her, Willow and Dawn into the empty women's rest room at the lobby of the hotel, "that was just a joke."
"What?" laughed Willow, "daring the General to authorize the Prometheus to deposit us in the Women's Restroom as long as it was devoid of life signs?"
"Yeah" said Faith as she exited the restroom.
"You getting the room?" shouted Willow laughing.
"Yes" said Faith as the door to the restroom closed while she and Dawn remained inside.
"Willow" said Dawn as the red head was washing her face after her laughing fit, "thanks."
"For what?" she asked as she got a towel and wiped her face dry before turning towards Dawn.
"Today" said Dawn, "I mean…."
"Dawn" said Willow, "you know everything today was classified right?"
"Yea" said Dawn, "anyway, what I wanted to tell you was thanks, for a great birthday present."
"No problem" said Willow as she opened the door to the lobby, and exited the restroom.
"How about some coffee before we get to the house?" asked Dawn as Faith walked towards them.
"Alright" said Faith, "got the room."
"Cool" said Willow, "Dawn suggested we go for coffee, before the party."
"I'm game" said Faith as she smirked and waggled her eyebrows, "but how about we test out the room's acoustics before that?"
"Ummm.." said Willow, "maybe we should."
"Guys" said Dawn as she placed the palms of her hands over her ears, "I'm right here and that's just too much information."
"We're just playing with you, Kiddo" said Faith as she grabbed Dawn's arm, "let's find the car that Big-G said was delivered here for us."
"You got the keys from the guy at the desk, right?" asked Willow as she walked beside Faith.
"Yep" smiled Faith as she scanned the parking lot, "ah, there she is."
"Nice" whistled Willow as she and the others walked towards a silver sports car.
"I'm driving" said Faith.
"Huh?" said Willow, "Why?"
"I've got the keys" said Faith as she sat in the driver's side and turned the ignition, "besides, you flew today. Twice."
"Yeah" whispered Willow, "but you trained on the Prometheus for a month."
"Too late" said Faith grinning.
"I'll get you tonight" said Willow as she bent down and whispered into Faith's ear.
"I'll be waiting" replied Faith in a husky voice.
"I've got shotgun" said Dawn.
"Hey" said Willow as she snapped her head up at Dawn, "I wanted shotgun."
"Too slow" said Dawn as she sat down in the driver's side as Faith took down the roof of the car.
"I guess I got the back" said Willow in mock horror as she jumped into the rear seat and leaned back.
"You know" said Faith, "we didn't really bring our bags. We've got no clothes."
"Who needs clothes?" said Willow as she leaned forward and put her chin onto the seat cushion next to Faith's head.
"I can still hear you!" laughed Dawn, "and again, too much information."
"Spoil Sport" said Willow laughing as she leaned back into the back seat.
"How about we go shopping for some clothes for tonight and for tomorrow?" asked Faith, "then we drop off Dawn so that she can get ready for her party while we come back to the hotel, change and then meet the other's at B's house. Sound like a plan?"
"Sure" said Dawn.
"It's alright with me" said Willow.
"Alright" said Faith as she put the car into gear and drove off towards the Sunnydale Mall.
The Sunnydale Western Hotel, Sunnydale, CA. 1930 hours.
"Hey" said Faith as she walked towards the window and looked out at the city before looking back at Willow, "you ready?"
"Yea" said Willow as she looked at herself in the mirror and brushed her hair.
"Glad your hair is back after that whole nanite thing" said Faith as she stood behind Willow and put her arms around her waist.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" asked Willow as she looked at Faith's reflection in the mirror.
"Huh?" said Faith confused.
"On the Prometheus, I mean" said Willow as she reached for her lipstick, "you know, I heard you got to fire the rail guns and missiles at some asteroids."
"Oh yeah" said Faith as she kissed Willow's neck before settling her chin on her shoulder, "it was real fun. Colonel Pendergast asked me if I wanted to go out on training another time. Weapons again, before moving on to learning the basics on the use of the new Asgard sensors."
"Really?" said Willow as she turned and looked at Faith, "what did you say?"
"I told him no" said Faith to Willow's surprise, "at least for now."
"How come?" asked Willow surprise, "I mean, it's an opportunity of a lifetime. Well, again."
"For one thing, I'm planning on attending your graduation together with the others" said Faith, "if I go on another training mission, which would probably be about six months in space, I'd have to miss it."
"I could have gotten permission to take my time with my dissertation, you know that" said Willow,
"I know" said Faith as she helped Willow finish up, "but you don't need to delay it just for me, and besides, Colonel Pendergast said that he'll be glad to have me training any time."
"So you're dead set on this?" asked Willow.
"Yep" replied Faith, "at least I'll be graduating with Dawn, so I won't be walking on the huge stage by myself."
"You do realize that you're not alone, right?" said Willow.
"I know" said Faith, "just feels like it sometimes, although not as much as before."
"You're a silly, silly girl" said Willow with a grin as she kissed Faith before walking out of their hotel room hand in hand.
"True" said Faith, "but I'm your silly girl."
"Yes you are" said Willow grinning as the both of walked into the elevator.
The Summers Residence, 1940 hours.
"So, you ready for this?" asked Faith, "it's been what…"
"Ever since the Council fiasco" said Willow, "the only one not here, from the original Scooby gang at least, is Giles."
"Yeah" said Faith as the both of them walked up the driveway after she parked the car.
"Sometimes I wonder" said Willow, "what it would have been like if I have remained in Sunnydale."
"Maybe it would have been like that alternate reality you visited?" said Faith as they reached the door.
"True" said Willow as she pressed the door bell, "me addicted to magic."
"Who knows where I'd be" said Faith as the door opened.
"Faith" said Dawn as she hugged the brunette Slayer tightly before she let her go and turned to face Willow.
"Willow" exclaimed Dawn as she hugged the red head tightly.
"Hey Dawnie" said Willow as she returned the hug, "good party?"
"Well, you guys are the first ones here" said Dawn as she stepped aside, letting Faith and Willlow come into the house.
"Faith" said Buffy as she ran down the stairs and hugged her sister Slayer.
"Hey B" said Faith, "how goes things?"
"Everything's alright" said Buffy as she released Faith and looked at Willow.
"Buffy" said Willow as Dawn and Faith looked on.
"HI Will" said another voice that was coming down the stairs.
"Xander!" said Willow smiling as she pushed past Buffy and ran up the stairs to hug her oldest friend, who had fallen back onto the stairs thanks to the force of the red head's hug.
"B?" said Faith as she looked at the hurt face on Buffy as she saw Willow run towards Xander.
"It's alright, Faith" said Buffy as she turned and looked at the brunette, "you want to get a drink?"
"Yeah, sure" said Faith as she looked at Xander and Willow hugging on the stairs and smiled.
"At least you're on the way to forgiving Me, Dawn and Xander, Red" thought Faith to herself, "give B a chance too."
"Ouch, ouch" said Xander as he slowly started getting up from Willow's hug.
"Come on" said Willow grinning as she helped him stand back up and walked with him down the stairs.
"How are you, Will?" asked Xander as the both of them sat down on the couch.
"I've been the best" said Willow, "I've got a fantastic job and a great girlfriend, what else could I ever ask for?"
"I'm happy for you" said Xander as he leaned closer to Willow, "I'm sorry. For everything that happened to you, I'm sorry."
"Xander" said Willow as she looked down and closed her eyes, "please, I don't want to talk about that. This is Dawn's party, so… please, let's just not."
"Alright" said Xander, "but let's talk about it? Someday?"
"Ok" said Willow, "someday."
While Xander and Willow were talking in the living room, Faith was in the kitchen with Buffy getting some drinks together for the both of them.
"Hey B" said Faith, "you still have that god-awful lawn furniture in the backyard?"
"Nope" said Buffy, "it's been replaced with some better god-awful lawn furniture."
"Nice" laughed Faith as she opened the door and both she and Buffy walked out into the backyard.
"So" said Buffy as she sat down onto one of the lawn chairs and leaned back, "how are you?"
"I'm great, B" said Faith with a grin before she looked up at the star covered night sky, "how about you? I mean you have a great job now, you're getting paid now to be a Slayer and train the potentials and its all on the up and up. And let's not forget, you have your love back."
"Your right" said Buffy as she looked up in the sky, "but… I mean…."
"Yeah" said Faith quetly, "I know what you're thinking."
"How is she?" asked Buffy, "I mean we haven't talked since that time, and when we do… well, you saw what happened at the apartment and just now."
"Can you blame her?" said Faith quietly as she took a sip of her beer, "we traumatised her thanks to what we did, we betrayed her B."
"But she forgave you" said Buffy softly.
"Not fully" said Faith as she looked at the open back door and the reflection of Willow talking to Xander, "I love her, and she loves me but there's always that one part that can never forgive me for my part in all that happened."
"I see" said Buffy.
"Give her some time B" said Faith.
"Why didn't she come visit me?" asked Buffy.
"She was supposed to take Dawn to visit you a week after she moved to stay with us in Colorado" said Faith, "but she couldn't get out of the door."
"Why?" said Buffy as she sat up, hold the glass of wine with both hands.
"She was angry" said Faith, "I was going to work that day, and it was her day off. Just as I left, she asked me to take her place. I mean, Dawn at that time was glad, she wasn't too fond of Red so she was happy that I took her to visit you."
"Oh" said Buffy.
"After that" said Faith, "I was the one who always brought Dawn to visit you while Red took over my shift at NORAD."
"I see" said Buffy, "thanks."
"For?" asked Faith,
"Looking after Dawn" said Buffy.
"It was Red's idea" said Faith, "glad she made it though, Dawn's gonna be ready to graduate within a year. Same time as me."
"I know" said Buffy, "I'm so proud of her. Me, the college dropout and my sister the degree holder. What a messed up life I led."
"We all did" said Faith, "and I know it went all downhill after….. well, you know."
"Mom?" said Buffy.
"Yeah" said Faith, "she was a nice lady, even though I did hold her hostage during my screwed up mental days."
"Yeah" said Buffy as she looked at Faith, "lets never bring those days up again."
"I second that" said Faith, "don't know where that came from."
"Ever wonder what it would have been like if we were all still together?" asked Buffy as she leaned back on the chair again.
"Who knows?" said Faith, "maybe I'd still be in jail or working for Angel in L.A."
"I wonder where I'd be" said Buffy, "maybe at the Doublemeat Palace, who knows."
"Well" said Faith grinning, "let's never mention that place again."
"Right" smiled Buffy before she closed her eyes.
The Summers Residence, 2200 hours.
Dawn's party was already in full swing by now and the entire house was crowded thanks to some of Dawn's high school friends and the potential Slayers who congregated over the entire house, leaving the backyard the only place that was relatively less crowded than the entire house. Willow noticed people coming to the backyard just to escape the crowd inside the house.
"Hey Red" said Faith as she opened the back door and walked into the backyard, "you coming back in or what? You've been missing for twenty minutes and they're playing our song."
"We have a song?" asked Willow.
"Not really" said Faith, "but still."
"I'm just playing with you" said Willow as she took in the last drops of her pop drink and put the cup down, "let's go back in."
"Let's" replied Faith as Willow wrapped an arm around hers and went back into the house.
"Hey Tara" said Faith as she and Willow walked back into the kitchen, "isn't Kennedy here with you?"
"Yes" said Tara, "she's talking to Buffy."
"Ah" replied Faith.
"Actually" said Tara, "I think she was looking for you as well."
"Where is she?" asked Faith.
"Out on the front porch" said Tara.
"Alright" said Faith as she turned to Willow, "let me go find out what she wants?"
"Sure" said Willow.
"I… I can keep Willow company" said Tara.
"Great" replied Faith as she gave Willow as peck on the cheek, "I'll be back."
"You better" said Willow as Faith walked towards the main door. She looked on as she opened it and saw Buffy and Kennedy turn towards Faith and smile.
"Willow?" said Tara.
"Yea" replied Willow as she turned her head to face the blonde.
"Thanks for giving Dawn such a great present" said Tara, "she's been smiling the whole day."
"Oh" said Willow, "well, a day of flying planes was something that was promised to her, so…"
"Thanks" repeated Tara.
"It was my pleasure" said Willow.
"W… Would you like to dance?" asked Tara, "what I mean is that Kennedy and Faith probably have some things to talk about and we don't know how much time it would take or how long they'll be gone, and the music's nice so…."
"Sure" said Willow as she put down her cup, "I'd like a dance."
She then followed Tara to the living room which was transformed into a dance floor, thanks to the efforts of Faith and Buffy who moved the furniture away from the living room and, with some effort, put them into the basement.
Meanwhile, outside on the porch, Faith, Buffy and Kennedy were simply talking when Agent Reed and Angel came over to the house.
"Angel" said Buffy.
"Hey Buffy" said Angel, "where's the birthday girl?"
"Inside dancing her heart away" said Buffy as she looked through the window at Dawn dancing with a friend of hers.
"Alright" said Angel as he turned to Buffy, "I'm sorry to come to you now but…."
"What's up?" asked Buffy.
"We have a source that told us a nest of Vampires just recently moved to Sunnydale" said Agent Reed.
"Where?" said Buffy.
"We've already scouted the location" said Agent Reed, "their headquarters, as it is, is one of the abandoned factories in the Warehouse District. The problem is that it's close to the Bronze and other populated areas so…."
"They have an ample food source" said Kennedy.
"Yeah" said Angel before looking at Buffy, "sorry, I know its Dawn's birthday and all, but we need you and some of the other potentials to take care of this before it gets out of hand."
"Sure" said Buffy as she turned to Kennedy, "get Rona, Amanda and Vi; Discreetly, alright. I don't want Dawn to worry."
"Yeah" said Kennedy as she went to the house to look for the three potential Slayers.
"Faith?" said Buffy, "we could use some help."
"She can't" said Agent Reed, "her department won't allow it."
"What?" said Buffy as she looked at Faith, "why wasn't I told about this?"
"Need to know, Miss Summers" said Agent Reed, "and since this is happening now; well, you need to know."
"Faith?" said Buffy as she looked at her sister Slayer.
"Hold on" said Faith as she reached for her phone and called General O'Neill.
"Big-G?" said Faith as the General picked up the phone.
"Faith?" said the General, "I thought you were at Dawn's birthday party?"
"I am" she replied, "I was outside talking when Agent Reed came with a problem."
"What kind of a problem?" asked the General.
"Well" said Faith, "according to a source of his, there's a nest of Vampires in a Sunnydale factory in the Warehouse District. Buffy's going with some of the potentials to take care of it and…."
"You'd like to go" said the General.
"Yea" said Faith, "I mean I'm still a vampire slayer so, if it alright I'd like to pitch in and help."
"Does Red know?" asked the General.
"No, but it'll be quick. Anyway, I don't wanna worry her" said Faith as she looked at Buffy and Angel who nodded, "we'll just dust them and then get back before she knows we're gone."
"Alright, but at least inform her to keep a mental connection with you" said the General, "also tell Agent Reed to call me now before he lets you go with them."
"Yea" replied Faith.
"And I'll have someone monitor your tracking beacon" said the General, "if anything happens…."
"I'll immediately call Red" said Faith.
"You have authorization, Faith" said the General, "be safe."
"Of course, Big-G" smiled Faith as she disconnected the call and looked at Agent Reed, "the General wants you to call him now."
"Ok" said Agent Reed as he walked to one side and called General O'Neill while Faith turned to Buffy and Angel, "looks I'm joining you too."
"Great" said Kennedy who just came out on the porch with Rona, Amanda and Vi.
"Maybe you should tell Willow?" asked Buffy.
"Nah" said Faith as she looked at Willow dancing with Tara and smiled, "she's enjoying herself, no sense in worrying her."
"Yeah" said Kennedy with a snort, "not as if she'll be any use to us against a nest."
"Kennedy" said Buffy.
"It's true" said Kennedy, "even if it's just temporary, we've got two full Slayers again and four of the best Potentials. What can't we handle?"
"Let's go" said Amanda, "I wanna get back and finish that dance."
"Does Dawn know?" asked Buffy.
"No" said Kennedy, "she doesn't suspect a thing."
"Faith" said Buffy, "you sure you don't want to tell Willow?"
"Yeah" said Faith.
"Alright" said Agent Reed, "let's go to base and get you ladies geared up."
"Talked to the General?" asked Faith.
"Yes" said Agent Reed, "said he'll bury me if anything happens to you."
"And you better believe it" said Faith as she looked at Willow dancing with Tara.
Faith: "Red, you better save me a dance."
Willow looked up and saw Faith smiling at her from the window.
Willow: "Well, you better come in before all the good songs are done."
Faith: "I will. Agent Reed and Kennedy said that they got some new weapons in, so I'm gonna go check them out. You should stay and enjoy yourself, I'll be back soon."
Willow: "Don't take too long."
Faith: "I won't."
"Everything alright?" asked Buffy as she put her hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Yeah" smiled Faith as she locked eyes with Willow, "let's go."
"I'll stay here, Buffy" said Angel, "be safe."
"Of course" said Buffy as she led the small group out.
Warehouse District, Unknown Factory, thirty minutes later.
"Damn, B" whispered Faith as she and Buffy hid behind some machinery as they saw a group of ten vampires congregating near a table, "all of them huddled together. Easy pickings don't you think?"
"Hopefully" replied Buffy, "I want to finish this quickly and get back to Dawn's party."
Buffy then pressed a button on her headset and radioed the potentials.
"You guys ready?" asked Buffy and after a few minutes, she got affirmatives from everyone of the Potential Slayers.
"Andy?" asked Buffy as she radioed Agent Reed but got only static, "Andy? Agent Reed?"
"Anything?" asked Faith.
"No" said Buffy, "maybe its interference because of these machines?"
"They're not running" said Faith, "still wanna do this?"
"They're a nest of vamps close to a civilian population, namely The Bronze" said Buffy, "you know how hard it is to find a good nightspot in this city."
"True" said Faith as she and Buffy brought up their crossbows.
"Guys" said Buffy on the radio, "fire on my command; three, two, one. Now."
"Hi guys" said Buffy as she and Faith, as well as the other Potential Slayers, came out from behind the machines and large pellets they were hiding behind and shot the group of vampires with the wooden arrows through their hearts.
"Ok, that's weird" said Faith as the vampires showed their demonic facades and looked at the wooden arrows that were buried deep inside their chests before pulling them out and heading towards the Slayers and the Potentials.
"Fire again" said Buffy as the group quickly reloaded and fired the wooden arrows again, only to have nothing happen to the vampires.
"Why aren't they dusting?" asked Faith as she dropped the cross bow and took out her traditional stake, as did Buffy and the other Potentials.
"Looks like it's Mr. Pointy's turn" said Buffy as she and Faith attacked the vampires that were coming towards them.
Faith knew that it was going bad for them, that there was something wrong with these particular vampires; they weren't dusting even after getting staked in the heart multiple times and they were stronger than the usual vampire. Case in point, Buffy punched a vampire and all it did was step back a bit but the same vampire gave the Slayer an uppercut that made her fly back into Faith.
"B" said Faith as Buffy slammed into her.
"Damn it" said Buffy as she slowly got up from over Faith, and helped her up.
"We need to get out of here" said Buffy into her headset but all she got was static, "Kennedy? Rona? Vi? Amanda? Anyone?"
"B?" said Faith as she held on to her side, "anything?".
"Nothing" said Buffy as four vampires walked towards them.
"Stop" shouted another voice from the darkness which made the vampires approaching Buffy and Faith stop and stand still.
"Fantastic" said the voice as all the lights in the factory switched on and the two slayers saw someone they thought they wouldn't see again.
"Travers?" said Buffy as she stared at the former head of the old Watcher's Council, Quentin Travers.
"Miss Summers…. Miss Lehane" said Travers, "good to see you again."
"You died" said Buffy, "when the Watchers Council was destroyed, you died."
"No, no, no, Miss Summers" said Travers, "I was at the Council's secondary location in Manchester, it was pure luck really. Even dear Rupert doesn't know I'm alive or that the Council still exists, well, exists in a fashion anyway. We're barely functioning as the organization we used to be."
"What?" said Faith as she stepped forwards with her hands clenched into fists.
"Stop" said Travers as he made a gesture using his hands and out stepped the other four vampires that held Kennedy and the other Potentials by their throats.
"You allied yourselves with vampires now?" said Buffy incredulously.
"And you don't?" smiled Travers, "I mean Angel, or Angelus as he is better known, is one of the heads of your new organization."
"How did you know?" said Buffy.
"I still have contacts" said Travers, "although not in the administration anymore thanks to that red haired witch, that you call your best friend, and her organization; which by the way I'm still trying to gain access into."
"What does Willow have to do with anything?" said Faith.
"The better question is why are you here? And what's with the vamps?" asked Buffy.
"Ah" said Travers as he stared at Buffy, "after the BPRI was started and placed under the auspices of the NID's new civilian oversight committee, I was approached by some individuals representing the interest of the previous iteration of the NID. Calling themselves the Trust now, they approached me and the Council and offered us twenty demonic parasites. You see, they knew about Slayers thanks to an operation they ran in Sunnydale some years back."
"The initiative" said Buffy angrily.
"Yes" replied Travers as he looked at Buffy, "you revealed yourself to them. You were the one who informed them about the Slayer line, that only one could be active at a time. Of course you never mentioned Miss Lehane here and that I'll never know why."
"Are you going to gab all day?" said Faith.
"Ah" replied Travers as he shook his finger at Faith, "I took those parasites from the Trust and offered them to the NID committee."
"Why?" said Buffy as she stared at Travers.
"For joint control of you and the Potentials" said Travers as he stared at Buffy and then at Faith, "you, Miss Lehane, however are a surprise. I never expected two Slayers since you now work for NORAD, but that can change. In return, we offered the NID committee every information we have on the supernatural, threats and otherwise, including offering to artificially activate suitable potential slayers using these demons. But not only can Slayers be activated and controlled this way, so can vampires and other demons."
"What?" said Buffy and Faith together.
"How do you think I'm controlling these vampires. They are really just an experiment to see it really does work and what a success" said Travers smirking.
"Experimentation with demonic parasites?" said Buffy sarcastically, "really?"
"Demonic Parasites?" thought Faith to herself, "please don't let it be what I think it is."
"Oh yes" said Travers as he walked over to a pellet of items and picked up a metal canister that was hidden behind it. Buffy and Faith looked on in surprise as he opened the canister before turning around and showing them the single content.
"This" said Travers as he held a transparent canister filled with what looked like water and a swimming snake like creature, "is what's in these vampires. Making them nearly invincible and under my control."
"Travers" said Faith as her voice became serious, "where did you get that?"
"My contact at the Trust" said Travers, "or actually, as I mentioned before the true NID. They're now a splinter group working for the betterment of this world. The Council's goals and theirs are the same, protection of the planet. And what better way to protect it than having Slayers that are supercharged and do exactly what we tell them to do, go where we tell them to go, and take down any known threat to our survival."
"You're a fool" said Faith, "you've got no idea what you're doing."
"Faith" said Buffy as she saw Faith run towards Travers. She had almost reached him before one of the vampires caught her by her collar and slammed her onto the floor.
Buffy cringed when she heard something crack. She tried to break out of the grip of the two vampires that held her now, but without much success.
"Miss Lehane….. Miss Summers" said Travers, "you want to see how complete my control is over these vampires?"
Travers then turned towards the vampires holding the potentials in place, "feed but not too much, just enough to weaken them for implantation."
"NO!" shouted Buffy as she saw the vampires bite into each of the potentials for a few seconds before they stopped and released them. The two slayers saw the four Potentials fall down to the floor before they were carried to four metal tables underneath a large plastic sheet at the far side of the factory.
Faith: "RED! RED!"
The Summers Residence.
Willow was sitting down on one of the lawn chairs in the backyard talking with Xander and Dawn when she got the mental shout from Faith.
Willow: "You're loud Faith."
"Willow?" said Xander once he heard Willow gasp and then hold her head.
"I'm alright" said Willow, "it's Faith."
"Huh?" said Xander.
"I'll explain later" said Willow as she rubbed her temples, "she's shouting."
Faith: "RED! Call Big-G, we've got a foothold situation."
Willow: "WHAT? Did you just say foothold?"
Faith: "Need assistance now! Its Travers, the bastard has Goa'uld symbiotes and he's planning to implant it into the potentials, myself and B. He implanted them into vampires, they wont dust the traditional way. We need help!"
"NO!" said Willow as she quickly got up and ran into the house.
"Willow" said Xander as he and Dawn ran after her.
"Angel" said Willow as she ran to the vampire who was talking with Cordelia, "I need you to come with me, now."
"Willow?" said Angel as he was pulled by the red head to the car.
"General" said Willow after she called her C.O. as she and Angel got into the sports car and drove off.
"Willow, wait!" shouted Xander and Dawn as the saw the red head drive off with Angel.
"Red" said the General as he was finishing up some paperwork at the SGC, "what's up?"
"Sir" said Willow, "I've got a foothold situation here."
"What, in Sunnydale?" said the General as he got up from his desk at the SGC, "what foothold situation could happen in Sunnydale?"
"Faith contacted me" said Willow, "said that a Quentin Travers was planning to implant Goa'uld symbiotes into her, Buffy and the potential slayers. I'm heading to the BPRI now, that's where Faith said she'll be."
"She's not there" said both Angel and General O'Neill at the same time.
"What?" said Willow as she stared at Angel and slammed on the brakes.
"She didn't tell you?" asked Angel.
"No" said Willow as she got back on her phone, "sir, I need a location on Faith."
"Walter's sending directions to your phone now" said the General as he went downstairs to the control room and motioned to Walter to send information on Faith's location to Willow.
"Andy's supposed to be there as well, as backup" said Angel as he took out his phone and called Agent Reed.
"Sir" said Willow as she received a beep on her phone indicating a message had just arrived, "I just received directions to her locator beacon."
"No luck in reaching Andy" said Angel as Willow started driving the car again towards the factory like a mad woman.
"Red" said the General, "I'm sending backup via Prometheus to that location, just need ten minutes for SG1 and SG3 to be ready."
"Sir" said Willow, "we don't have ten minutes. Plus, I'll be there in five."
"Red" said the General as Willow disconnected the line, "damn it."
The General then picked up the microphone in the control room and got onto the P.A system.
"Attention, this is General O'Neill; I need SG1 and 3 at the Gateroom in five minutes. Full tactical gear. Move it."
Warehouse District, Unknown Factory.
"Travers, you idiotic moron" said Faith as the vampire held her down, "stop this."
"I was told by those in the Trust that these demon parasites were found in the vicinity of Sunnydale" said Travers, "and that they are completely sentient, they even choose who they want for their host."
"Don't harm the potentials" said Buffy as she viciously eyed Travers.
"You know" said Travers as he approached Buffy, "I can't wait to have you under my control; you and the delinquent there."
"Hey" said Faith.
"Despite everything you've done, Miss Summers" said Travers, "you're still all alone. Where are your friends? Even you haven't been able to break away from these vampires. What's wrong? Gotten weak? These parasites can change all that; you think you had strength before? These parasites can increase that by multiple times, you'll never get sick, never age, and heal even faster than with just your own Slayer abilities."
"Travers" said Buffy as she gritted her teeth, "I'm not having that in my body, you sick bastard."
"Fine" said Travers as he shrugged his shoulders, "you'll have no say in the matter though. Vey soon, I'll have two of the most powerful Slayers in the line, while the Committee can have the Potentials."
Buffy then watched the other two vampires pick up Faith who was still on the floor, when the blonde suddenly kicked the one behind her in his crotch and the other one to his head before running towards the vampire that had held Faith down.
"B" said Faith as she held her side and gave the fourth vampire near her a kick that made him fly back and hit a machine, although Faith winced and cried out in pain.
"Faith" said Buffy as she ran towards the brunette, but in her haste to make sure that Faith was alright, Buffy completely forgot about the one who she had kicked in the crotch earlier as he slammed his fist hard onto the side of her face.
"B" said Faith as she ran towards that vampire despite the pain in her side and punched him hard in the chest before she doubled over in pain.
"Broken ribs?" thought Faith to herself.
Faith: "Red! Where are you?"
Willow: "Two minutes."
"Subdue them" shouted Travers to the vampires who were attacking Buffy and Faith, "and bring them here, the parasites are refusing these offerings. These potentials are of no use to me. You can feed on them, but don't kill."
Travers looked on as the other vampires carried the limp but still breathing bodies of Kennedy and the others to some of the office rooms in the abandoned factory and closed the doors.
"Too bad" thought Travers to himself, "but I want those who can be controlled."
Outside the factory, Willow had just arrived with Angel and got out of the car once it stopped, and started running towards the side entrance when Angel stopped her.
"Willow" said Angel as he grabbed her arm, "the both of us are unarmed and we don't know what's going on in there."
"I just tried contacting Faith" said Willow as she concentrated, "I can't reach her, I need to go in."
Just then, Willow heard a buzz from behind Angel before seven beams of light appeared and deposited the remainder of SG1 and SG3.
"Willow" said Colonel Carter as she handed her a vest, a nine millimetre and a Zat.
"Colonel?" said Angel, "can I have a weapon?"
"Take mine" said Willow as she handed him her Zat, "squeeze the lower handle once to stun, twice to kill."
"Willow?" said Colonel Carter.
"Ma'am" said Willow, "I'm sorry, I wish I had time to explain but I can't feel Faith in my head anymore, we need to go in."
"Captain" said Colonel Reynolds, "any idea of how many hostiles?"
"No" said Willow, "all I know is that Faith is in there with five other civilians, and I can't feel any of them."
"Colonel?" said Colonel Reynolds as he looked at Colonel Carter.
"Use Zats only" said the Colonel, "SG3 move to the other entrance and Zat anyone who moves towards you, friendly or not. We'll pick up the pieces later. In the meantime, everyone's a target other than ourselves and Angel, of course."
"Alright" said Colonel Reynolds as he moved his team to the other entrance.
"Where's Agent Reed?" asked Colonel Carter as she looked at Angel.
"He was supposed to be the backup" said Angel, "but I haven't been able to reach him."
"Colonel" said Colonel Reynolds over the radio, "we're here."
"Go" said Colonel Carter as SG1 entered the factory from the front entrance and SG3 entered from the back.
Angel and SG1 headed past some pellets and machines until they saw Faith and Buffy lying on the floor as Travers' vampires bit into their necks.
"Willow?" said Colonel Carter in shock.
"They're feeding ma'am" said Willow as she took out her nine milimneter slowly and aimed it at the head of the one feeding on Buffy.
"Don't drink too much" said Travers as he walked towards the Slayers, "enough to make them weak and unable to resist the parasite."
"Ma'am?" said Willow as she re-aimed at Travers instead.
"Leg shot" said Colonel Carter, "connect me to everyone Willow."
Willow: "Done."
Carter: "Fire."
Willow was the first one to fire as she stood up and fired her nine millimetre at Travers. She looked on as the bullet went through his leg and he fell down onto the concrete floor in pain. She watched as Angel and SG1 made point blank shots at the vampires who were feeding on Buffy and Faith as well as the ones standing guard and awaiting their turn with the Zats, bringing them down almost immediately.
Willow and the others looked on as the Zatted vampires stood up again and ran towards them.
"Zat them again" shouted Colonel Carter as the group released streams of blue electrical energy that hit the Goa'uld powered vampires, finally incapacitating them.
"Colonel" said Colonel Carter into her radio, "shoot them twice if the first shot doesn't work."
"Copy that" replied Colonel Reynolds.
"Sam" said Daniel as he noticed another group of vampires running towards them and others running out the back way, straight into SG3 who had used their Zats to take them down.
Willow raised her hand and built up an electrical charge on her palm before releasing it at the four vampires heading towards them. She shot the charge straight into the middle vampire's head, and watched as he immediately turned into dust.
"Head shots" said Willow as she gathered a white energy in the palm of her hands and shot it at the head of the left most vampire, which immediately dusted; and Colonel Carter, Daniel and Teal'c fired their P90's on full automatic at the heads of the other two which became shredded before becoming dust.
After the immediate danger was over, Willow ran over to where Faith and Buffy lay unmoving.
"SG3" said Colonel Carter into her radio, "secure the perimeter. Make sure no one else is here."
"Got it" replied Colonel Reynolds.
"Daniel, Teal'c" said the Colonel, "check the area, the other potentials should be here somewhere. Find them."
"Yes, Colonel Carter" said Teal'c and Daniel followed him to the other end of the factory.
"Willow?" said the Colonel.
"I'm not feeling a pulse from the both of them, damn it. They must have drank too much" said Willow as she started CPR on Faith while the Colonel started CPR on Buffy as Angel had no breath.
"Come on" said Willow as she did chest compressions on Faith.
"Breathe, Buffy" said Angel as he looked on as the Colonel was doing the same thing to the blonde Slayer.
"You guys are not dying" said Willow as she kneeled right between them.
"Sam!" shouted Daniel on the radio, "we found the other potentials, they're barely breathing."
"Angel?" said the Colonel.
"Got it" said Angel as he ran to help Daniel and Teal'c with the other potentials.
"Willow" said the Colonel as she watched the red head kneel down between the two Slayers, "are you planning on doing what I think you're planning on doing?"
"If you mean an electrical charge to start their hearts?" said Willow as she started to sweat profusely while building up a suitable charge in both her palms, "then yes, ma'am."
"Do it" said the Colonel as she stood and took a few steps back.
"Clear!" shouted Willow as she released the charge into both Buffy and Faith.
"Willow" said the Colonel as she ran back to red head as she was feeling for a pulse, "anything?"
"Faith has a pulse now" said Willow as she saw Faith's chest move up and down as she gave a small cough, "but not Buffy."
"Willow" said the Colonel as she watched Willow build up another charge.
"I felt the charge I already administered to Faith" said Willow, "I'm slightly increasing the voltage now for Buffy."
"Be careful" said the Colonel, "your palms are already burning."
"I know ma'am" said Willow as she looked at her scorched palm, "but Buffy is not dying, not again."
"Ready?" asked the Colonel.
"Yea" said Willow as the Colonel stepped back.
"Clear!" shouted Willow as she released the charge into Buffy as she suddenly snapped her eyes open and started to breathe hard.
"Easy, easy" said Willow as she looked down at the blonde slayer.
"Colonel" said Willow as she looked up after feeling for her pulse, "she's alright."
"Red?" said Faith very softly.
"Faith" said Willow as she turned away from Buffy and ran her hand through Faith's hair, "you're going to be alright, you're going to be alright."
"What happened?" asked Faith.
"You fell" said Willow as she started to tear up.
"Last thing I remember, was a vamp on me. Knocked the both of us out" said Faith as she tried to get up but the weakness from her blood loss and the broken ribs meant that she had to lie back down immediately.
"Take it easy" said Willow, "I really mean you fell, as in you were clinically dead."
"Oh" said Faith as she closed her eyes again.
"Faith?" asked Willow worriedly.
"I'm fine" smiled Faith, "look after B. She's got a party to get back to."
"Yeah" said Willow as she heard sirens in the distance coming towards them.
"I'll take care of the authorities" said Colonel Carter as she got up.
"Sam?" said Faith as she saw the Colonel walking away.
"Yeah?"
"We need to keep Travers" said Faith, "he's in league with something called the Trust, old NID or something."
"Alright" said the Colonel as she looked worriedly at Willow, "we'll take care of it, you rest up."
"Buffy" said Willow as she turned to the blonde slayer, "can you hear me?"
"Yea" said Buffy as she looked up at Willow, "you came.'
"Of course I did" said Willow.
"How?" said Buffy as she struggled to speak.
"Listen" said Willow as she ignored Buffy's earlier statement, "I need the both of you to remain completely still, alright?"
"Not going anywhere, Red" said Faith.
"What are you doing?" said Buffy softly as she saw Willow place her palms on both of their chests before the red head closed her eyes.
Faith saw the familiar white light emanating from Willow's hands over her chest and Buffy's, and smiled at the Blonde Slayer.
"Ah" gasped Faith as she felt Willow telekinetically move her broken ribs up to their natural position as the red head initiated the healing process which combined with Faith's own Slayer healing to accelerate it.
"Willow" said Buffy as she felt her body heal and looked back at Faith who looked back at her smiling.
"I've done as far as I can" said Willow as she started to breathe hard and started to bleed from her nose, "never healed two massively injured people at the same time."
"I feel brand new" said Buffy as she tried to sit up but lay back down again immediately.
"The both of you need to lie down" said Willow, "your injuries are healed but you still have blood loss, although it looks like the both of you are getting less pale by the minute."
"But" said Faith.
"That's an order" said Willow.
"Yes, ma'am" grinned Faith.
"Buffy" said Willow as she handed her a phone, "call Dawn and Xander, I just ran out of your house with Angel so I'm sure they're worried."
"Yeah" said Buffy as she took the phone which Willow had already connected the call to her house, "thanks."
"Willow" said Daniel from the other side of the factory, "we need your help here."
"Coming" said Willow as she ran towards Daniel, Teal'c and Angel.
"Willow" said Angel as he handed the Zat back to her, "that's a nice weapon,"
"I know right" said Willow with a grin, as Daniel and Teal'c helped Kennedy and Rona.
"Hey" said Willow as she looked closely at Kennedy's neck, specifically a bite mark.
"What?" said Kennedy.
"Don't move" said Willow as she stepped back and brought her hand to her holstered nine millimetre, "Daniel, Teal'c… get away from her now."
"What?" said Kennedy as she took one step forward.
"I said don't move one step" said Willow as Daniel and Teal'c walked towards Willow, who had pointed her weapon at Kennedy's head.
"Willow?" said Daniel confused.
"Angel!" said Willow as she called out for the vampire.
"Yea?" asked Angel as he walked in while holding up Amanda who had one arm around his shoulders.
"Is Kennedy alive?" asked Willow as she started to take out her weapon.
"Yes" said Angel, "I can hear her heart beat. Why?"
"Alright" sighed Willow as she stared at Kennedy while putting down her weapon, "the bite marks on her neck just healed over."
"So?" said Daniel and Angel.
"What happens when a Slayer dies?" asked Willow as she stared at Kennedy.
"A new one is called" said Angel, "you know that."
"Yea" said Willow, "Faith was clinically dead, like Buffy was when she faced the Master."
"So that means…" said Angel as he looked at Kennedy.
"Meet Kennedy the Vampire Slayer" said Willow.
TBC.