The Summers Residence, 1045hours, 15 hours and 25 minutes elapsed.
It's been one hell of a day for Joyce as she just sat down on her sofa thinking about what happened last night, and then this morning.
"My God" said Joyce as she drank some coffee and tucked her legs beneath her, "aliens…. Actual, real life aliens. And Willow… Willow fights aliens and travels to other planets. I can't even bring my mind around it."
Just then she heard a series of hurried knocks on her door.
"Who could that be now?" said Joyce silently, 'I hope there are no more surprises, I don't think my heart can take any more.'
"Dawn?" said Joyce as she opened the door and saw the disguised version of her daughter from an alternate reality, "and… Willow?! What happened?"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Summers" said Willow as tears continued down her face, "I'm sorry to bother you, but… could I…"
"Yes" said Joyce in shock as she moved to the side and let Dawn and Willow into the house.
"Willow" said Dawn as she took off the mimic device after closing the door and holding Willow's still trembling hand, "come with me and take a seat."
"Dawn….. Willow" said Joyce as she sat down next to Willow, "What happened?"
"He….. He…. He tried to kidnap me" said Willow as she reached towards Joyce before hugging her tightly and breaking down on her shoulder, "I trusted him… I trusted them."
"Dawn?" said Joyce as she looked at the brunette girl in surprise, "who tried to kidnap her?"
"There's a military organization known as the Initiative" said Dawn, "they've been capturing demons and vampires for testing and experimentation; at least that's what they did in my reality. Who knew it would be the same here?"
"Why did they target her?" asked Joyce as she rubbed Willow's back.
"It's all my fault" said Dawn softly, "Willow; I mean my Willow, followed me here to bring me back. When she came, she was in a different holographic disguise. She told us that she used her powers against a soldier to find out where I was, and after she got what she needed, she changed disguises. Although she mentally took out every security camera, apparently they had some hidden away she didn't know about and the Initiative people saw her real face and what she could do."
"So they came after Willow? I mean this Willow?" asked Joyce outraged.
"Yes" replied Dawn as she got up and took the Intar out from the small of her back underneath her shirt, "don't worry, this is for our protection. Just in case."
"Where's the other Willow?" asked Joyce.
"She and the others went to the Initiative headquarters to get the mirror back" said Dawn.
"And you?" asked Joyce, "Will you be staying? I mean since you don't exist in this reality."
"No" said Dawn, "I have my Buffy, and she… well, it's really just us right now. I'm here in case they followed us and decide to try and capture her again."
"Right" said Joyce as Willow moved her head off Joyce's shoulder as Joyce wiped her tears, "you're safe here, I have some cocoa. You want some?"
"Sure" said Willow softly as she turned and looked at Dawn, "who are you?"
"Dawn?" asked Joyce, "Cocoa?"
"Sure" smiled Dawn, "thanks."
"Who are you?" repeated Willow as she wiped the tears from her face, "who is she?"
"Well, you know I'm Dawn" said the brunette with a smile, "you know; I did introduce myself in the car."
"Yes" laughed Willow as she wiped even more tears, "but…"
"Willow, I mean my Willow, will explain everything to you when she gets back" said Dawn as she sat closer to the redhead.
"How do you know Buffy?" asked Willow.
"We're close" said Dawn, "very, very close."
"Oh" said Willow when suddenly she opened her eyes wide as she pointed at Dawn, "OH! The both of you are…."
"Yes?" said Dawn smiling.
"The both of you are…. Dating?" said Willow as Dawn laughed, falling onto the carpet with a thud.
"What happened?" asked Joyce as she came running into the living room and was stunned to see Willow smiling at a laughing Dawn on the carpet, "Dawn?"
"She thinks…. She thinks…." said Dawn as she struggled to speak, "she thinks that Buffy and I are dating."
"Oh" said Joyce.
"I… I don't understand" said Willow as she shrugged her shoulders but couldn't help but smile at the laughing girl.
"Damn….." said Dawn as she slowly regained her composure and sat up on the carpet, "Sorry, it's been such a long time that I laughed like that."
"Glad to be of service" said Willow softly.
"Listen" said Dawn as she got off the carpet and sat back down on the couch, "my Willow will explain everything to you. We haven't had a great relationship as of late, actually we're starting to slowly rebuild it, so I don't wanna do anything to harm that."
"OK" said Willow before she looked at Dawn again, "so are we…. I mean you and her….. you know… dating?"
"What?!" said Dawn, "No… no way."
"Oh" said Willow, "I mean you said relationship so I thought…. Well… I guess I'm the one who's always wrong."
"Actually" said Dawn, "to let you the truth, I've always had a crush on Xander."
"Really?" said Willow as she smiled, "me too."
"Hah" smiled Dawn as she sat facing Willow.
Joyce was in the kitchen smiling as she heard the banter between Dawn and Willow, who had just a little while ago been crying non-stop on her shoulder.
'Who did this to you Willow?' thought Joyce to herself as she made the cocoa, 'Have you told Buffy about this? There are so many questions I have about what your other… well, counterpart said.'
"Here you go" said Joyce as she picked up the two cups and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where Dawn and Willow were now just sitting quietly.
"Willow" said Joyce as she sat down next to her, "I know what happened to you was traumatic, but if you want to talk… then.. well, I'm always here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Summers" said Willow softly, "but I think I should try to reach Buffy, I was supposed to meet her and, well, she'll get worried if I don't call."
"Willow" said Dawn, "don't tell her about what happened. I mean about me, the other Willow and the people who saved you."
"What about…. Well.. the Initiative?" said Willow.
"No sense in worrying her about them" said Dawn, "those guys will take care of them."
"Alright" said Willow as she reached for the phone.
Storage Room, SGC, Prime Reality.
"Sam" said Faith as she ran into the storage area where the Quantum Mirror was being kept, "has she come back yet?"
"No" said Colonel Carter worriedly, "it's been over fifteen hours now."
"Didn't Red's report say that she got that cascade failure thing after 14 hours in that other reality?" asked Faith.
"Yea" said Colonel Carter as she stood in front of the mirror.
"We really can't do anything?" asked Faith.
"I don't know" said the Colonel, "honestly, we don't know much about this particular piece of Ancient technology. All that we do know is that this mirror needs the Ancient gene to activate and it's keyed in to Willow's genetic signature."
"But that's the thing I don't understand" said Faith, "how did Dawn go through? Yes she has the Ancient gene, but how did she go through?"
"I don't know" said Colonel Carter.
"Argh!" said Faith as she turned around before looking at the Colonel again, "can we maybe, I don't know, reset the thing?"
"Like a computer?" asked the Colonel.
"Yea" replied Faith.
"We could try, but to do that I'd need to find the control crystal in this sea of crystals" said the Colonel as she looked at the crystals in the geode before looking back at Faith, "feel up to helping me?"
"Yeah" said Faith as the Colonel disconnected the Naquada reactor.
Initiative HQ, U.C Sunnydale, 1130 hours, 16 hours and 10 minutes elapsed.
"Captain Rosenberg" said Teal'c as he noticed that Captain Willow kept on checking her watch the entire ride down the elevator, "is everything alright?"
"Huh?" asked Captain Willow.
"Are you alright?" asked Daniel.
"Yeah" said Willow as she looked at Daniel before discretely checking her watch again.
"How long has it been Captain?" asked Major Carter.
"A little over sixteen hours, ma'am" said Captain Willow as the elevator doors opened and the group walked out.
"This way" said a very angry Maggie as she led them through a hallway before opening the door at the end.
"Woah" said the Colonel as he and the others looked at the sheer size of the Initiative base before they walked down a series of metallic stairs.
"What is being conducted here?" asked Teal'c as he walked towards a huge opening in the middle of the room which was surrounded by metallic railings.
"That's known as the Pit" said Riley as he walked up to the edge of the hole.
"O'Neill… Major Carter" said Teal'c as he looked on in surprise at what he was looking at.
"Teal'c?" said the Colonel as he and the Major walked towards him, "what's….."
"Jack" said Daniel at what he saw was going on below in the Pit, "this is… what the hell?"
"This is exactly what I read about in the Initiative files" said Willow as she looked down into the Pit as scientists hovered over demons and monsters that were lying on the beds, with some having their chest cavities opened and others with their brains on show.
"Behaviour modification" said Maggie as she approached Willow and the others, "this is what we've been doing in Sunnydale. Helping to put these HST's under our direct control so that they don't harm the civilian population."
"You seek to exploit them, do you not?" asked Teal'c as he stared at Maggie.
"I admit that they would be useful at… certain tasks" said Maggie, "and I make no apologies for that."
"You don't know what you're dealing with" said Willow as she looked at Maggie, "you're playing with fire."
"You shouldn't talk" said Maggie, "if it were up to me, you'd be down there along with your counterpart, the both of you are dangerous."
"Right" said Willow as she glared at Maggie.
Unknown: "Help me."
"What?" said Willow as she turned around.
Unknown: "Please, I require assistance."
Willow: "Hello?"
Unknown: "Please help me."
Willow: "That voice…."
Unknown: "You know me?"
"It can't be" said Willow as she turned again and looked at Maggie.
"Captain Rosenberg" said Teal'c as he saw Willow stare at Maggie, "what is the matter?"
"What did you do?" said Willow as she stared at Maggie, "what did you do?"
"I don't know what you….." said Maggie as Willow interrupted her.
"Don't" said Willow before she faced Colonel O'Neill, "Sir, do you remember about something Dawn said, regarding what she saw in the mirror when it activated in my reality?"
"You mean something about a long thin shadow on a wall?" asked Major Carter.
"Yes, Ma'am" said Willow as she stared at Maggie.
"Captain?" said Daniel.
"She's holding an Asgard here" said Willow.
"What?!" replied Colonel O'Neill.
"Professor" said Willow, "where's special projects?"
"You don't have authorization" said Maggie.
"I do" said Colonel O'Neill, "Now where is it?"
"You don't understand" said Maggie, "you'll be ruining us, and the only hope we have to protect this planet."
"Where is it?" said Colonel O'Neill as he walked towards Maggie.
"It's in a secured area" said Riley as he walked towards a door that said 'authorized personnel only'."
"Riley!" shouted Maggie, "I'm ordering you to stop."
"Professor" said Riley defeated as everyone one followed him to the doors, "it's over, all we can do now is co-operate and hope that our punishments aren't as severe as it could be."
"Thank you, Riley" said Willow as Riley nodded.
"What's the code?" asked the Colonel as he turned towards Maggie and pointed at the Keypad.
"Fine" said Maggie as she approached the keypad and input a code.
Unknown: "Help, please. The air…. It is….."
"NO!" said Willow as she pushed Maggie away, "what did you do?"
"Captain!" said Major Carter.
"That was a failsafe, ma'am" said Willow as she turned to face Major Carter, "the code she input is a failsafe to pretty much kill everything that's in the labs behind this door and…"
Dr. Angleman: "What…. The air…. What's going on? Adam… need to wake up Adam, he can bring down the sealed doors. Hope…. Enough time."
"Captain?" said Major Carter.
"She's got one of her own in there" said Willow, "he's dying."
"Open the door!" said Major Carter.
"Professor" said Riley as he raised his sidearm at her while all the other Initiative soldiers looked on in surprise, "open the door, people are dying."
"You knew it could have come to this Riley" said Maggie, "I'm protecting my work."
"Damn it" said Willow as she pushed Maggie away, and approached the key pad while raising her hand.
"Captain Rosenberg?" said Teal'c.
Willow concentrated as she quickly built up an electrical charge on the palm of her hand before releasing it into the key pad's electrical systems, short circuiting it and opening the door.
"Neat" said Colonel O'Neill, "Asgard?"
"Asgard" said Willow as she opened the door and ran inside.
"Which room?" asked Major Carter as she looked at Maggie, "Which room!"
"She…. She….. how can you people not believe me? She's dangerous…. Anyone who can do that is dangerous" said Maggie.
"Oh, shut up" replied Major Carter.
Willow: "Where are you? Which room? Do you know?"
"No" said Willow as she looked at Colonel O'Neill with worry, "he's not answering."
"You idiot" said the Colonel as he stared at Maggie, "do you want to be responsible for pissing off one of our allies?"
"What?" said Maggie.
"Damn it" said the Colonel as he faced Willow, "bring down all the doors, find him. That's an order."
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as she ran down the hall followed by the others.
The Asgard was getting dizzy, the air was escaping from the room at a rapid pace and before he knew it, he found he couldn't concentrate. He had heard a female voice in his mind calling out to him about his location but he couldn't answer back. All of his strength was required to hold in whatever air was available in his small body, hopefully that would give whoever his would-be rescuer was, enough time to find him alive.
"Sir" said Willow as she passed room 314 and released an electrical change into the keypad shorting it out, "Adam is in there, and I think so is one of the scientists."
"Carter" said the Colonel, "I need you and Teal'c to bring out the scientist and make sure he's ok. Don't touch anything."
"Yes, sir" said the Major as she and Teal'c opened the door while Maggie waited outside.
The Asgard felt his chest burning as his body burned through the air that was left in his alien lungs. He knew his species couldn't die, well not technically. The others would just move his consciousness to a new cloned body but that was before physical death. As he waited for real death, with no chance of a consciousness transfer, he recalled at what happened to bring him to this point.
He recalled coming into the orbit of Earth; the home of the Tau'ri, the people that Supreme Commander Thor had claimed would one day become the Fifth Race; the people of O'Neill who had the gene of the Ancients and the hope for the survival of his race. It was really because he wanted to know more about the human race that he came to Earth, his only mistake was thinking that all humans were like the Colonel. He recalled reading an energy signature that was typically given out by a Quantum Mirror, one of the most unique technological creations of the Ancients. Wanting to know more, he beamed into a white coloured room where the Mirror was being held. Holding an Asgard stone in his hand, he remotely activated the mirror when suddenly the door to the room opened and he dropped the stone in surprise. The last thing he recalled was two men in some sort of dark coloured uniform blasting him with an energy weapon before he fell onto the floor. Then as his eyes closed, he noticed a human female looking through the mirror as it suddenly deactivated.
As he closed his eyes, he suddenly heard voices from outside the room he was in and he opened his eyes again once he recognized that voice. It was the same one that was speaking into his mind.
"Sir" said Willow as she blasted the keypad that was a few doors down from room 314, "this is the last one, he's got to be here."
"Open it" said the Colonel as Willow opened the door and he, Daniel and Riley opened the door.
"Eir" said Willow as she ran to the Asgard, the same one who was her counsellor in her own reality.
"Hello" said Eir as he looked at Willow and then at the Colonel, "O'Neill, it is you."
"Hi" said the Colonel as he and Daniel released the straps that were holding him in place.
"My God" said Riley as he looked on as Daniel and the Colonel helped Eir sit up, "that's….. that's…"
"Yea" said Willow as she walked towards Eir.
"Are you alright?" asked Willow as she crouched down.
"You" said Eir, "it was your voice I heard within my mind."
"Yes" said Willow as she suddenly opened her eyes in shock.
"Colonel!" said Willow as she ran out the door, "its Major Carter."
"Daniel" said the Colonel, "take him, and you…. Agent Finn or whatever, make sure he's safe… that's an order."
"Sir" said Riley as he stared at Daniel who was looking over the small grey alien.
"Captain" said the Colonel as he reached Willow who had suddenly stopped at the entrance to room 314, "what's….."
Before the Colonel could finish what he wanted to say, he saw Maggie and Dr. Angleman stumble out of Rrom 314 just before Teal'c was thrown out of the room and smashed against the wall.
"Teal'c" said Colonel O'Neill as he and Willow ran towards him.
"We need weapons, O'Neill" said Teal'c before he passed out.
"Oh God" said Willow as she covered her mouth in shock as she looked into the room.
"Carter!" shouted Colonel O'Neill as he looked at what could only be described as a real life Frankenstein's monster which had impaled Major Carter with a skewer that came out from underneath its left forearm.
"You are not my mother" said the creature as he pulled out the skewer and threw her into Willow.
"Major" said Willow as she was thrown into her as the both of them fell, "Major!"
"I….." mumbled Major Carter.
"Sir" said Willow, "she has a pulse but is losing a lot of blood, I need you to….."
"Carter!" said the Colonel as the monster just looked on quizzically at the older man who was trying to comfort the younger blonde woman who was bleeding out of her wound.
"Interesting" he said as he walked into the hallway while Willow and Colonel O'Neill pulled Major Carter as far away from Adam as they could while leaving a trail of blood on the floor, "do you not know how she works?"
"You" said Willow, "you're Adam."
"Yes" said Adam, "that is what my mother named me, where is she?"
Willow looked around but found that Maggie and Dr. Angleman had gone.
"Coward" said Willow before looked at Colonel O'Neill who had come to crouch next to Major Carter. Looking around, Willow saw that Daniel and Riley was behind her and Adam was blocking the only way out of the hallway.
"Sir" said Willow as she reached as she handed the Colonel her two Intars, "I need a distraction, I can heal her."
"You sure?" asked the Colonel as he ran his hand through the Major's blonde hair.
"Yes" said Willow as the Colonel turned and started firing the Intars.
"Daniel" shouted the Colonel, "fire your Zat, we need to buy the Captain some time."
"For what?" said Daniel as he ran up to Willow and fired, leaving Eir with Riley.
"Healing" said Willow as she lay Major Carter flat onto the floor.
"Major" said Willow as she brushed her hair, "can you hear me? Don't die, do you understand me?"
"Right" said Major Carter as she struggled to smile, "may be too…. Late."
"No" said Willow as she put both her hands on top of the wound and concentrated among the weapons fire.
"Jack?" said Daniel as he saw a white light coming from Willow's hands as the wound slowly began to close.
"Captain?" said the Colonel as he stopped shooting while looking at Willow in surprise.
"Interesting" said Adam as he approached the small group just as the Colonel started firing again, and just as before there was only minimal effect in stopping Adam, "healing induction abilities."
"Come on…. Come on" said Willow as she heard a sound coming from behind her as Riley ran up and raised his nine milimeter at Adam and started shooting as well.
"Willow" said Riley, "how is she?"
"A few more seconds" said Willow as she looked on as Major Carter snapped her eyes open, "don't move Major, you lost a bit of blood. You may be a bit weakened."
"You're bleeding" said the Major softly as she saw blood coming out of Willow's nose.
"It happens sometimes" said Willow as she quickly turned to face Adam and used the full power of her telekinesis to push Adam into the far wall next to the only exit.
"Carter" said the Colonel as he held the Major up and sat her onto the wall.
"I….. I'm alright, sir" said the Major softly, "just a bit weak."
"Now it's Teal'c's turn" said Willow panting as she crouched in front of the Jaffa ,and placed her hand on his chest.
"I want to know how you work" said Adam as he walked quickly towards Willow just as she had finished healing Teal'c. He had pushed Colonel O'Neill, Daniel and Riley out of the way as if they were just rag dolls before he picked up Willow by her collar.
"Your brain" said Adam "why hasn't mother put your brain into my body?"
"Ewww" said Willow as she struggled to breathe, "I actually prefer my own body. I mean you know… young…. And not so…. Frankensteiny."
"Does not matter, your brain will be mine" said Adam as he slammed Willow back onto the ground and kneeled as he held her down with one hand around her neck and the other arm pulled back.
"Get off me" said Willow angrily just as a pair of thick hands grabbed Adam's skewer arm and pulled him off Willow.
"Captain Rosenberg" said Teal'c as he pushed Adam away and then came running to Willow, helping her up, "thank you for healing me."
"No sweat, Teal'c" said Willow, "I know Junior could handle it but, we needed you up fast."
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he saw Colonel O'Neill and the others getting up slowly.
"Ow" said Daniel as he reached for his Zat.
"I sense another life within you" said Adam as he stared at Teal'c, "you are….. not of this world."
"Indeed" said Teal'c.
"I see" said Adam as he walked towards Teal'c, "then I will examine you first."
"Stay away from him!" shouted Willow as she mentally pushed away Adam again and then, once he hit the wall, Willow turned her head to the left as Adam was mentally thrown out through the sealed security doors.
"AHHHH!" screamed Willow as she grabbed her head and kneeled onto the floor.
"Willow!" said Riley as he kneeled down next to her and noticed blood dripping out of her nose.
"Red?" said the Colonel.
"I've been waiting for you to call me that, Sir" said Willow as she looked at the Colonel.
"Right" said the Colonel as he helped her up, "you alright?"
"I haven't used my powers against someone like him" said Willow, "this body can handle it, though it needs time to get used to it."
"Sir" said Major Carter as she tried to get up but then dropped back down, "I'm sorry."
"Rest up, Carter" said the Colonel as he motioned to Eir to come over to them, "I need you to watch over him."
"Alright" said the Major before she turned to face Eir, "hello."
"Major Carter" said Eir, "Supreme Commander Thor has spoken about you as well."
"That's good" said the Major.
"Are you in pain?" asked Eir.
"Captain Rosenberg…. Willow.. healed my injury" said the Major.
"Yes" replied Eir, "that technique is reminiscent of the Ancients."
"Long story" said Willow as she slowly stood up, "but first…."
Willow stopped and stared at the entrance as they heard shots being fired and people shouting.
"Come on" said the Colonel as the rest of SG1 and Riley followed him into the large chamber they were in earlier, near the pit.
From their cover behind a wall, they looked through the broken doors at soldiers shooting at Adam with various weapons without any luck.
"Red?" asked the Colonel, "can you do that mind thing again?"
"Yea" said Willow as she mentally grabbed some weapons from the weapons rack close by.
"Nice" said the Colonel as he grabbed the M16's and passed them to Teal'c and Riley and then to Daniel, before loading one for himself.
"Red?" asked the Colonel as she mentally reached for another rack that was a bit further away and grabbed the M16 with the grenade launcher attachment.
"Not fair" said the Colonel, "I wanted that."
"Switch, Sir?" said Willow grinning.
"Jack" said Daniel, "really not the time."
"Sure" said the Colonel as he switched weapons with Willow.
"Fire in the hole!" shouted the Colonel as he launched a grenade directly at Adam. However a few seconds later, Adam just walked out of the fire with slight damage to his body.
"What's this guy made of?" said Daniel as he started to fire his weapon together with Riley.
"I'm guessing Terminator?" said Willow as she moved under the staircase and started to shoot at Adam from another angle, as did most of the other Initiative soldiers.
"Ummm….Guys!" shouted Daniel over the shooting as he saw Adam drop both of the weapons he was wielding.
"What the…." said the Colonel as he saw Adam raise his right arm.
"Mother gave me a gift" smiled Adam as Willow saw his right arm morph into a mini-gun as he aimed it at Willow and the others, "it was in a rush after you had come to this reality but it is still deadly."
"Get down" said Willow as she ran in front of them and raised a telekinetic shield just as Adam started to fire the gun.
"Red" said the Colonel as he, Daniel, Teal'c and Riley went behind Willow for cover, "is that thing...?"
"One way?" said Willow as she concentrated on her shield, "Yes!"
"Fire" said the Colonel as he and the other fired through the shield as she concentrated on stopping the bullets coming towards her and the others.
"I see" said Adam as he stopped shooting, "a telekinetic shield. That is why mother kept on talking about you when she was implementing these additional protocols."
"Ah" said Adam as he stared at Willow, "you are attempting to read my mind."
"How?" said Willow as she kneeled down and held the side of her head.
"Red?" said the Colonel.
"Pain Sir" said Willow panting.
"You cannot control my mind" said Adam, "you are too weak now. Goodbye."
"What?" said Willow as she looked up and saw the mini-gun retract back into his arm before it was replaced by a rocket launcher.
"Sir" said Willow as she raised her shield again just as Adam fired the rocket at Willow, "run, run now!"
Time seemed to slow down for Willow as she glanced back to see Daniel and Riley being pulled away by the Colonel and Teal'c respectively. She then saw Major Carter peek out through the broken security door and watch in horror as the rocket hit the shield and exploded. All Willow saw before the feedback from the explosion hit her mind was a bright orange and red light as she flew backwards through the broken door, and hit the wall cracking something in her body, before she slid down the wall.
"Such a pity" said Adam as he retracted the rocket launcher back into his arm, "I don't know why mother thought you were strong; maybe I will have to ask her."
"Adam" said Dr. Angleman as he ran to Adam with a contingent of soldiers who themselves looked in shock at the number of their own who was already killed by one person, "Maggie wouldn't want you to do this."
"Dr. Angleman" said Adam, "where is mother? Why isn't she here?"
"She's gone to run an errand" said Dr. Angleman, "in the meantime she wants you to shut down and rest. You've proven yourself."
"Doctor?" said Riley, "this was a proving test? We've got injuries and this was all part of a test?! People died! And Willow….. Willow may have…. What did you people do?"
"Agent Finn" said Dr. Angleman, "please, we'll explain everything later."
"Test, my ass…." said the Colonel as he slowly got up, "You lost control didn't you."
Although Willow and her shield took the brunt of the explosive blast, the others had felt it too. The Colonel glanced at Daniel, who was still passed out and then at Teal'c, who was slowly getting up.
"No" said Dr. Angleman as he looked at the Colonel, "Adam's under control."
"Control, Doctor?" said Adam, "humanity and its need to control. It's sad."
As Adam was talking with the others outside, a still weak Major Carter slowly went over to Willow who was lying slumped on the floor with her head down, her hair covering her face.
"Captain… Captain…." Said the Major, "Willow…. can you hear me?"
"Ma'am" said Willow softly.
"You told us this body of yours can heal" said the Major, "is it healing?"
"Time" said Willow as she struggle to talk.
"Willow" said the Major, "I don't understand."
"Need…. Time… colonel" said Willow.
"You want to talk to the Colonel?" said Major Carter as she prepared to turn around just as Willow reached for her hand and squeezed.
"Colonel… Carter" mumbled Willow.
"Wait.. what?" said the Major.
"Not… potato…" said Willow.
"Willow" said the Major, "you're not making sense."
"Faith…" mumbled Willow.
"I believe that she is…. What your people would say… delirious" said Eir.
"Or she may be talking about events in her reality" said the Major.
"She is from another reality?" asked Eir.
"Yes" replied the Major, "two of them came through."
"I see" said Eir, "we should return them home as soon as possible."
"I know" replied the Major when she suddenly heard screams and gunshots from outside. Moving to shield Willow with her body, the Major saw that Adam was mowing down everyone in front of him with his mini-gun before he turned around.
"Willow!" shouted the Major as the redhead suddenly opened her eyes and raised her hand.
"What have you done?" said Adam as he looked at Willow and the telekinetic barrier that surrounded only him.
"Barrier… surrounding him" said Willow as she glanced at Major Carter while struggling to speak, "healing… few more minutes."
"I don't think we have a few more minutes" said the Major as Adam pulled back his fist and punched the barrier hard.
"AHHH!" screamed Willow as the feedback travelled back to her mind.
"Willow?" said the Major as the redhead closed her eyes before opening them again stunned.
"What the…..?" said Willow in surprise, "how? It can't be.."
"Die" said Adam as he continually punched the barrier as he saw Willow again scream out in pain until it had come down, "how unfortunate."
"Stop" said Riley as he stepped between Willow and Adam.
"Ah" said Adam, "my brother."
"I am not your brother" said Riley.
"You are just like me" said Adam, "mother created the person you are today, she told me so when we had our little talks as she was creating me."
"Shut up" said Riley as he raised his weapon.
"But" said Adam as he grabbed the weapon and hit Riley with the blunt end of it, "seems mother was wrong about you, another failure. It seems that this whole enterprise has been a failure."
"Which means that you're a failure too" said the Colonel.
"I'm perfect" said Adam, "mother made me perfect. The perfect super soldier; a combination of human intelligence and demonic strength."
"Right" said the Colonel as he aimed his weapon at Adam.
"Stop" said a group of soldiers who came running into the area, "drop your weapons, everyone."
"They are like ants" said Adam as he started firing on the unsuspecting soldiers, killing most of them.
"No!" shouted the Colonel as he and Teal'c started firing their weapons at Adam, just as everything around them started to shake.
"Earthquake?" asked the Colonel as he looked at Riley.
"It is California" said Riley as he looked around.
"Sir!" shouted the Major, "something's wrong."
"What the?" said the Colonel as he walked over to the door only to see Willow looking back at him in rage, 'no….. not at me… at Adam.'
"You cruel bastard" said Willow angrily as she raised her hand again.
Major Carter looked on as a grey ball of energy started to form at the palm of Willow's hand before it flew towards Adam, pushing him back once it hit his chest.
"What was that?" asked the Major as everyone looked at Willow surprised.
"I don't know what it's called" said Willow as she stared at Adam while panting heavily with her arm still raised, "I just know it's one of the powers of an Ancient."
"Ummm…. Jack" said Daniel as he pointed behind Adam, "is it just me or are those metal railings at the Pit shaking loose."
"I guess so" said the Colonel as he looked at Willow concentrating, before turning to look at the shaking railings when they suddenly came loose and floated in the air.
Willow changed the direction the edge of the railings were pointed at by directing them towards Adam. The Major looked on as Willow steadied her breathing before she closed her hand into a fist and pulled her arm back.
"Everyone spread out" said the Colonel as the railings flew towards Adam at a very quick rate of speed.
Everyone took cover as some of the railings missed Adam completely, while others were blocked by the metal skin grafts. However six long pieces managed to pierce his body.
"I don't know what you are trying to do" said Adam as Willow built up another electrical charge, "my grafts can absorb any electrical charge you fire."
"Yeah" said Willow as she fired the charge at the metallic railings that went through his body, "but going through your body should hurt like hell."
"Or fry something" said the Major as she looked at Willow, "good try."
"At least it was something" said Willow as she put her hand back down exhausted, "had to buy some time."
"For?" asked the Major as she saw two beams of blue light hit the pieces of the metal railings that were impaled through Adam's body.
"Faith" whispered Willow as Major Carter slowly helped Willow up.
"You healed up?" asked the Major.
"Still have some buzzing in my ears" said Willow, "and my left arm will take a bit more time, but other than that, well… I'm peachy."
"Good" said the Major as she walked outside with Willow and stood next to the Colonel as they looked at Faith.
"Faith" smiled Willow.
"Red!" shouted Faith as she stood at the far end of the room as she took off the two Jaffa staff weapons that were strapped to her back, "Sam sends her compliments!"
"Cool" said Willow as she telekinetically grabbed the weapons and pulled them towards her as Adam tried to catch the weapons but missed as they flew just out of his reach.
"Colonel….. Teal'c?" said Willow as she made sure the weapons fell right into their hands.
Willow could see that Adam was confused as to who he should engage as he looked between Faith who was walking towards him with a P90 aimed straight at him or at the group in front of him, specifically the two men with the strange weapons.
Then, deciding that he was surrounded, he decided to attempt an escape as he activated his mini-gun and aimed it at Faith.
"Faith!" shouted Willow, "get down!"
Faith immediately slid down onto the floor and rolled away as Adam started to fire his mini-gun.
"Everyone get down" shouted the Colonel as Willow and all the remaining soldiers close by fell onto the floor as he and Teal'c activated the staff weapons and fired at Adam's back. The plasma blasts burning his skin and the other cybernetic grafts.
The Colonel and Teal'c stopped firing once Adam had stopped moving but could only look on in surprise as he turned around to face them.
Colonel O'Neill looked at Teal'c as he shrugged and fired the staff weapons again.
Riley and the other soldiers could only look on as the plasma blasts all impacted Adam as he started to burn after he had gone down on his knees, and then collapsed.
"Alright" said the colonel as he and Teal'c deactivated the staff weapons, "looks like that's done."
"Faith!" shouted Willow, "You're clear."
"Cool" said Faith as she walked towards the collapsed Adam.
"Red!" shouted Faith, "take out these things would you?"
"Alright" said Willow as she mentally removing the long pieces of the railings that Adam was impaled with and let them fall into the Pit.
Willow then looked in shock as Faith pulled back her arm and punched through Adam's chest cavity as she grimaced in pain from the extreme heat from the earlier blasts.
"Faith" said Willow as she and Major Carter ran to where Adam was lying with Faith's hand in his chest cavity, "what are you doing?"
"Soldier boy told me that this thing runs on a Uranium power core" said Faith, "he isn't dead, he's just rebooting his systems, but….." continued Faith as she pulled out what looked like a green and yellow canister, "now he's dead."
"Oh" said Willow and Major Carter.
Faith then handed the canister to Major Carter, who walked back with it carefully to the rest of the group, before she stepped towards Willow after attaching her P90 back to her vest, "you know how long you've been gone? Sam had to reset that damn thing, then Big-G had to restart it. We were surprised that I was able to come through, especially with some presents."
"Thanks" said a panting Willow.
"You would have done the same for me" whispered Faith as she stepped closer, "out of line if I kissed you?"
"Yea" said Willow.
"Hug?" asked Faith.
"Sure" said Willow as she hugged Faith, "I'm glad you're here."
"You had us all worried" said Faith, "where's the squirt?"
"At Buffy's house" said Willow.
"Ummm… .Captain?" said the Colonel, "introductions.. maybe?"
"Oh.. Sorry Sir" said Willow as she faced the Colonel and the alternate SG1, "This is Faith… Faith Lehane, also a member of SG1 in my reality."
"Thanks for the save" said the Colonel.
"Indeed" said Teal'c as he deactivated the staff weapon and handed it back to Faith.
"Thanks big guy" said Faith, "you know… you look cooler without hair."
"Teal'c?" said Daniel, "with hair?"
"Hard to believe" said the Colonel.
"Thank you Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he gave the brunette a small bow.
"Eir" said the Major as she went back into the hallway, "Eir, its safe now."
"I see" said Eir as he walked out of one of the labs, "I would like to convey my thanks as well for saving me."
Major Carter nodded as she walked with him out of the hallway.
"Willow" said the Major as she brought Eir with her.
"Eir" said Willow, "I'm glad you're alright."
"Major Carter has told me that you are from an alternate reality" said Eir, "you have come through the Quantum Mirror?"
"Yes" said Willow, "and I think it's about time we left."
"Eir" said the Major, "do you have a ship in orbit?"
"Yes" replied Eir.
"Think you can beam the Quantum Mirror out of this place?" asked Major Carter.
"Yes" said Eir, "however, I require the stone I came here with, in order to access the transporters on my ship."
"Ummm….." said Riley as he approached Eir, "I may know where it is."
"Alright" said the Colonel, "Daniel… Teal'c, please accompany Eir and Agent Finn here to find the stone so that we can all go home."
"Sure Jack" said Daniel.
"Wait a second" said the Colonel as he looked around, "where's Walsh?"
"Riley?" asked Willow.
"She must have gotten away" said Riley as he looked around him at the dead bodies and the injured soldiers, "but she does have a lot to answer for. So do I."
"Thanks Riley" said Willow as she grabbed his arm, "for helping us."
"I have a lot of apologies to make" said Riley, "especially to the other Willow."
"Oh no!" said Willow as she came to a realization, "the other me."
The Summers Residence, 1230 hours, 17 hours and 10 minutes elapsed
"Dawn?" said Joyce as she noticed the brunette looking at the clock, "everything alright?"
"Still no news from Willow" said Dawn as she looked on in worry, "it's been almost seventeen hours and I'm scared she'll suffer from that cascade failure thing at anytime."
"She'll be alright" said Joyce, "if need be, we'll ask Buffy to look for her."
"She's on the way?" asked Dawn.
"Yes, she should be here within an hour or so" replied Joyce, "Willow, I mean my Willow, told her that she was staying here for the night. So Buffy thought it would be fun to come here and spend some time with me and Willow. She didn't say anything about you or your friends."
"Thanks" said Dawn as she heard Willow coming down the stairs.
"Mrs Summers" said Willow, "thanks for letting me stay here, at least till tomorrow."
"Don't be silly" said Joyce, "as if I'd accept no for an answer from you after what just happened."
"Well" smiled Willow, "thanks anyway."
"So you feeling better?" asked Dawn just as she heard someone knocking on the door.
"Wait" said Dawn as she reached for the Intar on the side table but was too late when Willow opened the door and was greeted with a punch to her face as she fell onto the floor.
"No!" said Dawn as she brought around the Intar and shot at the Initiative soldier who had just walked into the house. Dawn squeezed the trigger on the Intar as three red energy pulses left the weapon and hit the Initiative soldier in his chest. But before she could turn the Intar at the soldier behind him, he had already shot Dawn through the shoulder of the arm she was holding the Intar with.
"Willow…. Dawn" shouted Joyce as she ran to the living room only to see a soldier on the floor holding his chest and another soldier pointing an already smoking gun at Dawn who was leaning with her back against the wall as her left hand tried to stop the flow of red liquid from her right shoulder.
"Down" shouted the soldier as he pointed the gun at Joyce, "on the floor."
"Don't harm her" said Dawn as she stood up and started to walk to the soldier with the gun, "I'll kill you if you do."
"Really?" said the soldier as he fired into the floor before raising the gun at Dawn, "you're an HST, I'll get a medal."
"Agent Forrest" said Maggie as she walked into the house, "everything secure?"
"Yes ma'am" said Forrest as he stared at Dawn.
"Ah" said Maggie, "so my two HST's were here. Luckily the parking lot camera's where I found these two picked up your license plates on video."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" said Dawn, "you know how illegal this is?"
"Speaks the HST" said Maggie as she turned to Forrest, "take Willow and Dawn. We'll take them to the secondary site."
"The woman, ma'am?" asked Forrest.
"She provided assistance to two known HST's" said Maggie, "make it look like an accident. Burn the place down."
"What… what are you saying?" said Joyce horrified.
"You opened your home to a HST" said Maggie before she looked at Dawn, "your friend may have ruined my operations here, but I've got friends in the Pentagon who can help brush this whole thing under the carpet. They know how important my work is for the protection of this planet."
"So Willow and the others beat you" smiled Dawn.
"Just a temporary setback" said Maggie as she looked to her left, "Agent Forrest?"
"With pleasure ma'am" said Forrest as he approached Dawn.
"Stay away from me" said Dawn as she held her shoulder and stepped back.
"Come quietly or else I shoot the woman" said Forrest as the other soldier started to slowly stand up.
"You're crazy" said Dawn, "what kind of a military officer are you?"
"One who'll get a medal for stopping a HST threat, now move" said Forrest as he aimed the gun at Joyce, "or else I shoot the woman, your choice."
"I told you" said Dawn angrily, "if you harm my mother in any way, I swear to God I'll kill you."
"With what?" said Forrest as he grabbed Dawn's injured arm and twisted it as he pulled it behind her, "your incessant talking?"
"Ahhhh!" shouted Dawn as she felt pain going down her arm from her shoulder as Forrest pulled and twisted her arm back.
"You're coming with me now" said Forrest as he pushed Dawn forward while twisting her injured arm behind her.
"No.. stop" said Joyce angrily as she stood up and ran towards Forrest when a shot rang out.
"Mom?" said Dawn as she saw the smoking gun that was pointed at Joyce from behind her. Everything happened in slow motion as Joyce looked at Dawn in shock as she took a step back before looking down at her dress. Dawn stared at the area where a bright red spot started to spread before Joyce rolled her eyes into her head and collapsed. Dawn then heard someone screaming, screaming so loud that it made her deaf. It took some time to realize that it was herself who was screaming.
"Move it" said Maggie as she looked at the screaming Dawn as she started to feel the house suddenly shake.
"I'll kill you" screamed Dawn at Maggie as a vase from the mantle behind Dawn flew towards Maggie's head.
Ducking the attack from the vase, Maggie looked at Dawn and smiled.
"Another telekinetic" smiled Maggie, "Take her now."
The other soldier had already opened the door when he started hearing someone talking. Turning around he saw that it was coming from Willow who was slowly getting up as a blue sphere of energy suddenly appeared beside her.
"Attack" said Willow as the blue ball hit the soldier squarely in the chest, making him fly out of the house and into the street where he lay injured.
"Willow!" shouted Dawn, "Mom.. help mom."
"Mom?" said Willow as she looked at the bleeding Joyce, "No! Mrs Summers."
"Don't move" said Forrest as he looked at Willow while pointing the gun at Dawn's head, "or I shoot this HST and then you."
"If you don't want any more deaths" said Maggie as she smiled at Willow, "I'm telling you to move… now."
"Murderer" said Willow as she suddenly heard a buzzing sound.
"You're getting it now" smiled Dawn as two bright lights deposited Captain Willow and Faith into the living room, while another light beamed Joyce up to the awaiting Asgard ship.
"Mrs Summers?" said Willow as she looked at her counterpart.
"She'll be alright" said Captain Willow as Forrest fired his gun at the older redhead. He looked shocked as the bullets stopped in mid-air before they turned around and took positions on either side of Forrest's head.
"Now" continued Captain Willow as she glared at Forrest, "give me one good reason why I shouldn't shove those bullets into your brain."
"Red" said Faith as she held her shoulder, "don't, this reality's Big-G can take care these guys."
"You" said Maggie, "you know what you cost me?"
"I. don't. care" said Captain Willow as she turned her head and stared at Maggie.
"Your science experiment is gone" said Faith as she shoved Maggie face first into a wall while twisting her arm behind her body, "in our reality you died, but I so wish I could see you being put into a deep, dark hole for the rest of your miserable life in this reality."
"Faith?" said Willow as she slowly got out of the shock of watching Faith, "but you…. you're in a coma."
"Hey" smiled Faith, "young Red."
"Hey" said Captain, "still not done yet."
"Right" said Faith, "young Red, think you can use your magic to restrain her?"
"Ummmm… yeah" said Willow as she made a motion with her hands.
"Thanks" replied Faith as she let go of Maggie who was stuck onto the wall.
"Put the gun down now" said Captain Willow as she looked at Forrest, "or else."
"You…." said Forrest.
"Before you say anything you regret" said Captain Willow furiously, "I can peel your mind like an onion until all you can do for the rest of your miserable life is drool into a bowl. So either you put down the gun and let Dawn go, or the other thing happens."
Willow smiled as she saw her counterpart threaten Forrest and watched in bated breath as he dropped the gun onto the floor, let Dawn go and raised his hands in surrender. Her smile turned into a wide grin as she saw Dawn turn around and kick Forrest hard into his groin, causing him to double over.
"That was for hitting Willow and taking me hostage" said Dawn as she grabbed his head with both hands and raised it up before pushing it back down straight into her rising knee, "and that was for shooting my mother, you filth."
Both Willow's could only grimace after they heard a crack as Dawn broke Forrrest's nose before he fell onto the carpet in pain.
"Hey" said Captain Willow as she ran to Dawn and immediately healed her bullet wound, "where did you learn that?"
"I taught her" said Faith.
"Oh" replied Captain Willow.
"Ummmm" said Willow, "so…"
"Yeah" said Captain Willow.
"Hey" said Faith as she looked at both Willow's, "here's an idea…"
"No" said Captain Willow, "you thought about that too loud Faith."
"What?" said Willow.
"Oh no" said Dawn with a smile, "no…. no…. no…. no… no…."
"What?!" said Willow confused.
"Well" said Captain Willow as she whispered into her counterpart's ear what Faith was thinking.
"Oh" said Willow as her eyes opened wide, "OH!"
"Yep" said Captain Willow.
"So we…. I mean you…. I mean me…. I" said Willow as she pointed at her counterpart and then Faith before pointing at herself.
"What do you say?" smiled Faith as she waggled her eyebrows.
Just then everyone heard another buzzing sound as six beams of light deposited Joyce, the Quantum Mirror and SG1.
"Ma'am" said the Colonel as he tried to hold Joyce steady after she seemed to have lost her footing.
"Mom" said Dawn as she hugged the older Summers woman.
"Hey" said Joyce as she returned the hug, "I'm alright… I'm alright."
"I thought I lost you again" said Dawn.
"Sir" said Captain Willow, "does my counterpart have full clearance?"
"Yes" said the Colonel.
"If it's alright with you" said Captain Willow, "I'd like to be the one to tell her about the program."
"Go ahead" said the Colonel as he nodded his head.
"Thank you, Sir" said Captain Willow as she walked to her counterpart, "can we go somewhere private? There are something's you need to know."
"Alright" said Willow.
The Summers Residence, Basement.
"So" said Willow once the two Willow's had reached the bottom of the basement stairs.
"Yea" said Captain Willow.
"The Air Force?" asked Willow.
Captain Willow then told her counterpart everything about the Stargate, the SGC and even how she came to be at the SGC as Willow looked at the older redhead in surprise.
"But" said Willow, "why?"
"Why what?" asked the Captain.
"Why did you make that wish?" asked Willow.
"I hurt Buffy and the others" said Captain Willow.
"But Xander would have forgiven you….. forgiven us" said Willow, "I mean…. The others would have forgiven us eventually."
"Yes" said Captain Willow, "Xander would have forgiven me faster than the others… but at the time, I was desperate. I wasn't thinking about the consequences when I made that wish. Then I arrived at the SGC and they offered me a chance to be something more. Visit planets hundreds, sometimes thousands of light years away, fight aliens who would do anything to enslave this planet again, saving lives, and…."
"If you knew Xander would have forgiven you" said Willow as she interrupted her counterpart, "why didn't you go back? You could have stayed in Sunnydale. Xander and the others wouldn't have been alone."
"Are you serious?" asked the Captain.
"Yes" said Willow.
"Look" said Captain Willow, "making that wish was a desperate act, but staying in the SGC was a choice that I was damn proud to make. And it's a choice I'll make again if I could reverse time. What would have happened if I stayed in Sunnydale?"
"I don't know" said Willow, "the Scoobies would have been together. You wouldn't have split your friendship with Xander."
"Is that what you are so unhappy about?" asked Captain Willow, "why I left without Xander?"
"I know…" said Willow.
"No" said Captain Willow, "you listen, I talk."
"Alright" said the younger redhead.
"I should have left Sunnydale earlier" said Captain Willow, "I received offers from every top school I applied to and still chose Sunnydale because of Xander and the others."
"Me too" said willow.
"Yes" said Captain Willow, "I know. I was happy for awhile but… but maybe deep down I knew that I was just staying here not for me… but for other people.. I was staying in Sunnydale for Xander, Buffy, Giles and Dawn. I was doing it to make others happy. My entire identity, my entire existence was to make others happy… make others accept me by trying to change who I am. Tell me something, when was the last time you built something, designed something or even coded something cool on a computer?"
"I don't remember" said Willow.
"That's just it" said Captain Willow, "then if I hadn't left Sunnydale, I wouldn't have been able to do all of that. Heck, I don't think I would have come so close to getting my PhD."
"Really?" said Willow.
"Yea" said Captain Willow, "and that's the thing. I left without Xander, without Buffy…. without anyone else because I wanted to find my own identity. Not have the identity of someone I think others want me to be. I wanted to get out on my own, be my own person. It was hard at first, but eventually I made new friends. Am I making sense?"
"But Xander" said Willow.
"Look" said Captain Willow, "Xander is my best friend. I guess he's my best friend in the entire multiverse, but my life does not begin and end with him. Neither does it begin or end with Buffy or with Giles. I made the choice to stay in Colorado Springs. They gave me the option not to join the SGC but I chose to stay. What I'm trying to say is that I don't have to go everywhere Xander goes, and he doesn't have to go everywhere I go. There comes a point where we have to grow up and discover that all of that thinking is childish."
"I guess so" said Willow.
"You should do what's best for yourself" said Captain Willow, "I mean keep Xander and the others close in your heart, but eventually you have to do what's best for you."
"What about your powers?" asked Willow, "are they magic?"
"Genetic" said Willow, "harder to control than magic, but once I got the hang of it… it's pretty easy."
"There's so much" said Willow as she walked around the basement.
"After I leave" said Captain Willow as she walked up to Willow and held her hands, "talk with Major Carter. I'm not saying you join the Air Force or anything, just talk with her. She's a fun person to have around and the smartest."
"So" said Willow, "you're with Faith?"
"Oh yeah" said Captain Willow grinning.
"So" said Willow, "we're like that vampire version of us? Gay?"
"Technically I think the term is Bi-sexual" said Captain Willow, "I mean we did love Oz…. I guess we still love Oz."
"Do you talk to him?" asked Willow as she suddenly became downcast.
"No" said Captain Willow, "he has his own life now, like I have mine."
"Do you love…." asked Willow as she nodded up the stairs.
"Very much" said Captain Willow with a smile.
"Can you tell me more about you?" asked Willow as she sat up on the dryer.
"Sure" said Captain Willow, "what do you want to know?"
Summers Residence, Living Room.
"Mrs Summers?" smiled Faith as she looked at Joyce.
"Faith" said Joyce as she looked at the brunette, "are you.. you know?"
"Alternate reality" said Faith as she hugged Joyce tightly, "I miss you so much.. and I… I really do miss you despite what you think of me."
Dawn could only look on as the two women in front of her just hugged as Teal'c and Daniel walked Maggie and Forrest out of the house.
"Can you promise me something?" asked Faith as she stepped back from the hug.
"Sure" said Joyce.
"If I ever wake up from my coma in this reality" said Faith, "please help me? I'll be so broken and do so many bad things, just promise me that you'll be there for me before any of that happens. I'll need someone to help me. Please."
"Of course" said Joyce as she hugged Faith, "I'm sorry about what Buffy and Willow did to you, and I'll have some questions for them later."
"Look after them, Mrs Summers" said Faith, "they'll need you too."
"I will" said Joyce as she saw Colonel O'Neill approaching her.
"Ma'am" said the Colonel, "there are some things that we should talk about regarding the events of today."
"Sure" said Joyce, "In the kitchen alright?"
"Of course" said the Colonel, "any cake?"
"Yes" said Joyce as the both of them entered the kitchen along with a smiling Major Carter.
It was almost thirty minutes later that everyone had gathered in the living room in front of the Quantum Mirror.
"Joyce" said Captain Willow as she hugged Joyce tightly, "it was great to see you again."
"Take care of yourself" said Joyce.
"Captain" said Major Carter, "today was…. Eventful."
"Yes ma'am" said Captain Willow.
"The Pentagon will be going over the Initiative with a fine tooth comb" said Colonel O'Neill, "let's see what they find in those files."
"Hopefully it's the same thing that happens in my reality" said Captain Willow, "except with Walsh charged for her crimes."
"That's gonna definitely happen" said the Colonel.
"Good to know" said Captain Willow as she launched an electrical charge at the mirror which then activated to the concerned faces of General O'Neill and Colonel Carter looking on.
"Dawn" said Captain Willow, "you're up first."
"Bye mom" said Dawn.
Joyce could only smiled and nod as Dawn touched the surface of the mirror and was instantly flung to the other side and caught by General O'Neill.
"Faith?" said Captain Willow.
"See ya" said Faith as she touched the mirror and vanished.
"Bye Sir… ma'am" said Captain Willow as she saluted the both of them.
"Good luck Captain" said Colonel O'Neill as he and the Major returned the salute.
Storage Room, SGC, Prime Reality.
"Easy… easy" said General O'Neill as he caught Willow who had just come through the mirror before it deactivated.
"Hi Sir.. ma'am" said Willow.
"Enjoy yourself?" asked the Colonel.
"Not really" said Willow as she crinkled her nose, "but….. forgive me for being so blunt…. what the hell is that smell?"
"Faith didn't tell you?" said the General as he looked at Faith who shrugged.
"Hey" said Faith, "busy helping them to fight Frankenstein, it slipped my mind."
"Ok" said Willow, "but still doesn't explain the smell."
"The Hak'tyl brought all their people, supplies and animals onto the base until Carter finds them a new planet" said the General, "that smell… is from the horses."
"Oh" said Willow.
"Plus" said the Colonel, "Ry'ac's getting married here."
"Here?" said Willow surprised.
'Yup" replied the Colonel, "in about a weeks time."
"Where's Teal'c?" asked Willow, "I need to congratulate him. Well, him and Ry'ac."
"Teal'c locked himself in his room" said the Colonel.
"Chicken" mumbled the Colonel as Willow smiled, "anyway Red, report?"
"I'll have it on your desk by tomorrow morning Sir" said Willow.
"Look forward to reading it. Really want to know why the mirror was able to send Faith back this time" said the General.
"Eir told us about the unique properties of this version of the mirror" said Willow, "but it will all be in my report, Sir."
"Can't wait." Said the General, "oh, Colonel Finn wants to see you too. He wanted to make sure you came back alright. So get your post mission check-ups done before you do anything else."
"Of course Sir…. Ma'am" said Willow as she nodded at the Colonel before the redhead and Faith walked with Dawn to the infirmary.
TBC