Glastonbury Tor, Main Cavern, 1045 hours.
It has been nearly forty five minutes since Willow returned to the main cavern in Glastonbury Tor with Teal'c. Since then, some of the crew members from the Prometheus have been steadily being beamed in to help with cataloguing the massive find of gold and other assorted jewels. Willow walked around with Teal'c and marvelled again at the amount of gold that was all over the place.
"Kinda looks like Uncle Scrooge's vault" said Willow as she looked at Teal'c while walking towards Daniel and Colonel Mitchell who were sitting next to each other with Vala lying on the gold coins and playing with a necklace.
"What kind of a name is Scrooge?" asked Vala as she looked at Willow.
"Never mind" said Willow as she looked around, "where's Dawn and the others?"
"Over here" said an excited Dawn as she lay on top of a heap of coins, "check this out."
Willow laughed as Dawn lay face up on the coins and swept her arms back and around.
"Backstroke? On gold coins?" laughed Willow, "that's your wildest dream?"
"Yeah" said Dawn as she sat up, "isn't that yours?"
"No" said Willow, "mine is to do the Snoopy Dance in these things."
"Liar" whispered Faith into Willow's ear as she came up behind her, "You just want to lo lie naked under all these coins."
"Yeah" whispered Willow, "can't really advertise that though."
Just then, Willow noticed that Teal'c was looking at her with an eyebrow raised and she knew that the Jaffa had heard that exchange.
"Let's keep that a secret" said a red faced Willow as she looked at Teal'c while Faith did everything she could to keep from laughing.
"Indeed" replied Teal'c as he bowed his head.
"Snoopy dance?" said Colonel Mitchell as he, Daniel and Vala looked up at Willow.
"What's a Snoopy?" asked Vala.
"Never mind" said Willow as she turned back to Daniel and the Colonel, "by the way, where's Anya?"
"She literally buried herself under the coins behind me" said Daniel as he turned around and patted a large heap of coins, "Anya… Oh Anya…. You better get out of there or else you won't be able to breathe."
"Daniel" said Anya as she sat up and all the gold coins just simply fell off her body, "can't we keep just one of these?"
"Sorry" smiled Daniel.
"They're not even going to let me keep anything" shouted Vala.
"Right" sighed Anya as she looked at Daniel before giving him a smile. She then saw the item that he seemed to be so engrossed in, "so, I see you found something?"
"Yea" said Daniel excitedly as he stood up and moved to sit right next to Anya as he opened a thick book that seemed to have a red coloured leather like cover.
"Figures" said Colonel Mitchell as he looked at Daniel, "room full of gold and jewels and Dr. Jackson finds the only one book. So what's it about?"
Dawn, upon hearing that Daniel had found a book, hurriedly ran up next to him as he opened the book and placed it on the floor so that all three could read it at the same time.
"It reads like a story" said Daniel, "like a fairy tale."
"So" replied Colonel Mitchell as he motioned his hands forward impatiently, "once upon a time?"
"Once upon a time" said Dawn as she leaned forward, "there was a race of people who went on a great journey through space, across the universe. They were called the Alterra. After…."
"What?" said Willow as she stepped forward as Daniel and Teal'c looked at her in shock.
"Willow" said Daniel, "remember what you told us after Jack had the Ancient Database downloaded into his head?"
"I read that report" said Colonel Mitchell as he looked at Willow, "you had some effects from the download because of a link you had with the General."
"Yes" said Willow, "I saw some of the information that was unravelling in his mind."
"Wait a minute" said Vala as she stood up and walked towards Willow until she was in front of her, "how is that possible. I've seen some strange things in my travels but someone like you who can control things with her mind and, gain insight into a database that is coveted by every other race out there, is something rare for me. What are you?"
"She's special" said Dawn.
"Red" said Faith as she gently pushed Vala away, "didn't you tell me that the Alterrans were the ones who…"
"Keep reading" said Willow as she interrupted Faith.
Willow: "Sorry, Faith."
Faith: "I understand."
"After much time" said Dawn as she looked at a set of words in confusion.
"I think that means 'thousands of years'" replied Anya as she pointed at those same words.
"Thanks" said a still shocked Daniel as he looked back at Anya, "so after travelling thousands of years, they found a great belt of stars."
"Avalon" said Willow as Anya and Dawn looked up at her in surprise, "that's the name isn't it Daniel, they called the belt of stars Avalon."
"Yes" said Dawn, "Avalon. The Milky Way."
"And when they reached Avalon" said Daniel as he looked through the book, "they built many Astria Porta."
"Stargates" said the Colonel.
"So these Alterra and the Ancients, they are one and the same?" asked Vala.
"It stands to reason that they weren't always called the Ancients" said Daniel as he looked up, "but this…. This is written proof that Willow was right. That's the first thing. The second is that…."
"Daniel" said Willow, "you didn't believe me?"
"It's not that" said Daniel as he looked up at Willow, "I do… I did believe you, but this is the first direct evidence we've found that directly corroborates the information you got from Jack's download."
"We've always presumed that the Ancients were the first evolution of humans in this galaxy" said the Colonel as he changed the subject, "and this book confirms what we already know, it provides another form of evidence that they came here, long ago from some place far, far away."
"Yes" said Daniel.
"Could there be more of those books here?" asked Vala.
"Why do you care?" asked Willow as she shook her head and looked at Vala, "you've got your treasure."
"Let's see what's more valuable" said Vala as she bent down and picked up some of the gold coins and jewels on the floor, "a few gold trinkets that I, apparently, won't be allowed to keep or previous undiscovered secrets of the Gate Builders, the most powerful race to have ever inhabit the galaxy."
"Right" said Willow.
"Colonel Mitchell!" shouted Major Marks who was on the other side of the cave, "you may want to take a look at this."
The small group ran over to where the Major was and noticed that he was brushing away gold coins from the surface of a large, dark coloured, dome shaped device that had a blue crystal adorning the top.
"Ok" said the Colonel as he pointed at the device, "one of these things is not like the others."
"Right" said Willow.
"Marks" said the Colonel, "ring that thing back to the Prometheus, and then beam it to the SGC."
The Colonel then turned to Willow and told her, "I need you to go back to the SGC with the device. I want you and Dr. Lee to figure out what it is, and what it does. Clear?"
"Yes sir" said Willow.
"Good" replied the Colonel.
"Can we stay here and help to catalogue these things?" asked Dawn.
"Sure" said the Colonel, "I got no problems."
"Sweet" said Dawn as she pulled Anya to another section of the cave.
"Red" said Faith, "I'll come with."
"Its alright" said Willow, "there are a lot of things here of historical significance, you should stay and help Daniel."
"You sure?" asked Faith.
"Yeah" replied Willow, "once we find out what that device is, we'll contact you guys."
"Alright" said Faith as she squeezed the redheads arm before walking away.
"I will come with you, Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c, "I too must return to the SGC."
"Going back to Dakara?" asked Willow.
"Indeed" said Teal'c, "The council will be meeting later today on the type of government the Free Jaffa Nation will be forming."
"Good luck, Teal'c" said Willow as she pressed the buttons that activated the rings.
"Indeed" replied Teal'c as the rings came up from the floor and they disappeared in a flash of white light.
Science Lab One, SGC, 1600 hours.
Anya and Dawn were up in the observation deck overlooking the science lab watching what was happening. They had been there when Daniel convinced General Landry that they found the use of the device from the text they found in the cavern, it was an intergalactic communication device. As she looked at Daniel, she recalled him telling the General that, according to the text, the Ancients who came to this galaxy left behind a civilization. He had also told the General that since the ascended Ancients had no intention of sharing their knowledge, the SGC now had information of a potential race of advanced beings in another galaxy who could share their knowledge freely.
She recalled the General agreeing with what he had said, and now they were here.
"Miss Summers, Miss Jenkins" said Colonel Mitchell as he walked into the observation deck.
"Colonel" said both of the women together.
"What's going on?" asked Dawn as she saw Willow and Dr. Lee talking to both Daniel and Vala.
"Daniel has dibs on using the device since he missed his trip to Atlantis" said the Colonel as he looked at the glass, "and Vala wants to go because of the bracelets. She's afraid that the device could teleport Daniel away and that she'll die, or something to that effect."
"It's not fair" said Anya as she crossed her arms over her chest, "I should be the one going with him."
"Sorry" said the Colonel as he walked closer to Anya, "it's just that even we're not sure what's going to happen with the device. It could be just a communication device like you, Miss Summers and Jackson say it is, or it could be a fancy intergalactic teleportation device. Either way, we don't know what the effects will be and, because of that, we really don't need the ire of the BPRI."
"I understand" said Anya, "but still."
'It should be for communication purposes' thought Dawn to herself, 'why else would it need the communication stones?'
"So" said the Colonel as he looked at Anya, "I heard from the Major and General Landry, is it true?"
"Is what true?" asked Anya as she turned and looked at Colonel Mitchell.
"That.. you know… that you're a demon" said Colonel Mitchell, "I mean, my grandma is one of the most religious people you'll ever meet, what you might call a Bible thumper actually and she'd always tell me to be wary of evil and demons, and such."
"There are evil demons" said Anya, "there are also those who just want to be a productive part of society."
"Like you?" asked the Colonel.
"Yes" said Anya, "but…"
"What the?" said Dawn as she stood up and looked as the crystal on top of the dome glowed brightly after Daniel and Anya had placed the stones on the recesses that were on the surface of the device.
Inside the lab itself, Willow was the first to notice the brilliant glow from the crystal on top of the device and then, almost immediately, both Daniel and Vala collapsed onto the floor.
"Dr. Lee" said Willow as she pointed to the door, "hazmat protocols!"
"Med team to science lab one!" said Colonel Mitchell as he used the phone in the observation deck while Dawn and Anya looked on helplessly.
Willow bent down as Dr. Lee handed her a hazmat suit.
"Thanks" said Willow as she took the suit and put it on. Once she and Dr. Lee were suited up, she went to the intercom and pressed the button to talk to those in the observation desk.
"Anya" said Willow, "Daniel's still breathing, I could use my bare hands to feel for a pulse but we need to take every medical precaution first and make sure that this wasn't the result of a contagion that was on the device, just in case."
"I understand" said Anya into the intercom.
"Major" said Colonel Mitchell, "any idea what happened?"
"I think this has something to do with the device" said Willow, "maybe this is how it's supposed to work, like I said we still don't know much about it.. but, since they're still alive and breathing I'd say that they succeeded in what they needed to do. Or like I mentioned before, it could have contained a contagion of some sort and it just infected Vala and Daniel."
"If it's the first thing, how do we get them back?" asked the Colonel.
"I have no idea, Colonel" said Dr. Lee.
"Great" said Colonel Mitchell just as the door opened at Faith ran into the room.
"What happened? I heard the alarm and ran back here as fast as I could" said Faith as she looked through the glass window.
"It's Daniel" said Anya as she looked at Faith sadly, "he and Vala just collapsed."
"Red?" said Faith as she pressed the button on the intercom.
"We need Dr. Lam" said Willow.
"She's on her way" said Colonel Mitchell.
Isolation Room One, SGC, 1640 hours.
Dr. Lam and her team had immediately brought the unconscious Daniel and Vala to the isolation room while Faith, Anya, Dawn and the Colonel moved to the deck that overlooked this Isolation Room. They saw that Willow, Dr. Lee and Dr. Lam in the room with the two of them.
Willow and Dr. Lee were looking at readouts from a computer that was attached to the device while Dr. Lam was taking measurements from the medical devices that were attached to both Daniel and Vala.
"Blood pressure and heart rate are normal and their pupils are slightly dilated" said the doctor, "now we're sure this is because of the device? They also passed out before when they were separated because of the bracelets."
"The reaction was virtually instantaneous after the device was activated. Anyway, there's no discernible energy rays and no measurable radiation being emitted" said Dr. Lee as Willow nodded.
"And there are no signs of any kind of contagion present" said Dr. Lam as she turned to face Willow and Dr. Lee, "suits off."
"Phew" said Willow, "that was a bit stuffy."
"True" said Dr. Lee.
"I want to get an EEG going, but my first impression here is that they're in some kind of sleep state" said Dr. Lam as she looked at Colonel Mitchell who nodded before reaching for the intercom button.
"Maybe we should disconnect the stones" said the Colonel.
"We tried, Sir" said Willow, "but they're stuck in pretty good."
"Maybe this is how it's meant to work" said Dr. Lee.
"And" said Dr. Lam as she looked at the Colonel, "doing anything to the device while they're still attached to it may cause even worse problems that we're not aware of."
"Great" mumbled Colonel Mitchell under his breath.
Willow was working at the computer when she glanced up at how worried Anya was looking as she sat down on one of the chairs in the observation deck. Almost four hours had gone by since Daniel and Vala collapsed, and in that entire time Anya had just gone out once for ten minutes before heading back to the Observation Deck. Willow could feel the high level of concern she had about Daniel's welfare.
"Dr. Lee" said Willow, "do you mind if I went for a bite to eat?"
"Sure" said the bald scientist, "I was actually going to suggest that, you look beat."
"Not as beat as you" said Willow as she looked at Dr. Lee and then nodded towards Anya, "or as her."
"Maybe you should take her with you" said Dr. Lee.
"Was gonna do that anyway doc" smiled Willow, "can I get you something from the mess?"
"Turkey sandwich?" asked Dr. Lee, "and some coffee?"
'Sure" smiled Willow, "let me know if anything happens before I get back."
"Sure" said the scientist.
Willow rubbed her eyes before she opened the door and walked out of the Isolation Room. She then made another turn and walked up the stairs where she opened the door that led into the Observation Deck where she saw Anya just staring out into the room below.
"Hey" said Willow as she sat beside Anya, "you need to eat something."
"I'm not hungry" said Anya quietly.
"He's fine" said Willow as she lightly nudged Anya using her shoulder, "I mean he's breathing steadily, he has a pulse, it's just that his mind is somewhere else."
"I asked my boss for help" said Anya as she looked at Willow.
"D'Hoffryn? Or Angel" asked Willow.
"D'Hoffryn" said Anya as she looked at Willow with tears gathering in her eyes, "and all he told me was that this wasn't related to vengeance, and since I haven't been doing much of that lately… that I shouldn't come to him for any sort of help… especially for something like this. I even offered to give up my powers again, but…."
"I see" said Willow as she turned towards the Isolation Room, "I think we need to let this play out, see where it goes."
"Is it always like this?" asked Anya, "I mean, I've done a lot… I've seen a lot, but this…"
Anya then stood up and walked towards the glass window.
"His mind is presumably in another galaxy, Willow" said Anya, "what if something goes wrong? What if he can't come back?"
"It's a risk" said Willow as he stood next to Anya, "I've seen that man ascend to a higher plane of existence right in front of my eyes and then come back, then he did it again after the replicators were wiped out from this galaxy. I'm telling you, you can't get rid of him, and you won't. He'll find a way back."
"Come on" said Willow quietly as she put her arm around Anya's shoulders, "let's get something to eat alright? I don't think Daniel will want you to stay up worrying."
"Major" said Colonel Mitchell as he walked into the observation room just as they were ready to leave, "leavin'?"
"Sorry, Sir" said Willow, "I was just taking Anya to the mess, she hasn't eaten anything yet."
"I see" said the Colonel, "feel up to some company?"
"Anya?" asked Willow.
"Sure" said Anya as she gave the Colonel a small smile when suddenly the alarm from the Isolation Room went off.
"Major!" shouted Dr. Lee.
"Anya" said Willow as she released the vengeance demon and ran to the Isolation Room, "stay with the Colonel."
"No" said Anya as she looked at Vala's body trembling on the bed.
As Willow rushed back into the Isolation Room, she noticed that all the medical machines were beeping loudly. A few seconds later, it was Dr. Lam and her team who ran into the room and checked the machines before she looked at Willow, worry etched on her face.
"Doc?" said Willow.
"Her heart rate is 140. She's in distress" said Dr. Lam.
"Umm…. Daniel's B.P. and heart rate are increasing too" said Dr. Lee.
"Pull the stones" said the Colonel as he was trying to comfort Anya while he pressed on the intercom button.
"They're not coming out!" shouted Dr. Lee as he tried to use a crowbar to pry them out.
"Airman!" shouted Willow to the guard outside, "get Faith here now!"
The guard nodded as he ran off to find Faith. Willow then turned around and tried to telekinetically pry the stones out of the recesses they were in.
"Major!?" said the Colonel.
"Damn it" said Willow as she raised her hand and formed the familiar white ball of energy and aimed it at the device.
"Wait" said Dr. Lee as he covered the device with his body, "if you fire that you could kill the both of them, detonate the power source or who know what bad things may happen."
"She's in V-Fib!" shouted Dr. Lam as she took out the defibrillator, "code blue, charge to two hundred."
Just then, Faith ran into the Isolation Room and was shocked by what was going on. She saw organized chaos in the room with loud beeping noises coming from the machines hooked up to Vala.
"Faith!" shouted Willow as she ran to where Dr. Lam was lowering the charged paddles onto Vala's chest, "pull out the stones, my TK can't get them out."
"Got it" said Faith as she ran past Dr. Lee and put her hands on one of the stones and pulled before she looked up at Anya and Colonel Mitchell, and shook her head. She continued to try and pull the stones out but they wouldn't budge, even with all her strength being used.
"Red" said Faith as she turned around, "this is going nowhere. Destroy the thing."
"Can't" said Willow, "it may end up killing them."
Once Dr. Lam released a charge into Vala's heart without success, Willow placed her hands over the alien's chest and concentrated. As the white light emanated from her hands, Vala's vital signs slowly started to get better.
"Alright" smiled Dr. Lam, "she's steady now."
"That was close" said Willow as she stopped her healing abilities and stepped back, wiping the sweat from her forehead, "she should be… no."
"She's crashing again" said Dr. Lam as Vala's heart stopped once more, "charge the paddles again."
"Hold on" said Willow as she attempted to heal Vala again but this time, nothing happened.
"Clear" said Dr. Lam as Willow and everyone else stepped back before she administered the shock.
"Nothing" said Dr. Lam as Willow straddled Vala and started CPR.
"Damn it" said Dr. Lam, "Charge to 360, clear."
Willow quickly got off Vala as Dr. Lam administered the higher charge, but still nothing happened. She saw Dr. Lam administer another shock before she looked at the monitors and then at the Colonel, and shook her head.
"I'm calling it" said Dr. Lam after she felt for a pulse from Vala's wrist.
"She's dead?" asked Willow.
"I'm sorry" said Dr. Lam as she stepped around Willow to check up on Daniel.
"Dr. Lam" said the General as he walked into the Observation Deck where he was joined by Dawn, "how's Dr. Jackson?"
"His vitals have stabilized for the moment" said Dr. Lam, "but…."
"What the?" said Willow as she ran over to Vala's bed, where the machines attached to her body started to beep again, along with Dr. Lam.
"She's got a heartbeat" said Dr. Lam to everyone's shock and surprise as she looked at the monitor and then took her pulse.
Briefing Room, SGC, 2215 hours.
Willow and the other members of SG1 met with General Landry in the briefing room together with Dr. Lam. She had asked Dawn to stay with Anya in the Observation Deck so that she could watch over Daniel.
"So" said the General, "what just happened?"
"She died" said Dr. Lam, "medically speaking she died and there is absolutely no way she should be alive right now."
"But she is" said General Landry as he looked at Dr. Lam before he looked at the Colonel and then at Willow, "any ideas?"
"None, sir" said Colonel Mitchell.
"Major?"
"Sir" said Willow, "I did heal her and then she was alright."
"Yes" said Dr. Lam, "she was alright until you stopped."
"But she crashed again" replied the General as he looked at Willow, "are you saying that she's like you? Someone who has the powers of near ascended Ancients?"
"No, Sir" said Willow, "when I tried to heal her again it didn't work. For some reason, by the time I tried for the second time, she was already dead. I can't revive the dead, no matter how much healing powers I have. Well, I could… but I'd probably die myself, and there's no guarantee that it would even work."
"Can we expect the same for Dr. Jackson?" asked General Landry.
"I can't say" replied Dr. Lam, "and that's my honest answer. We don't even know what happened to Vala."
"Actually" said Willow, "what if we could?"
"Red?" asked Faith.
"Sir" said Willow, "when a Stargate is open, I can read minds of anyone on the other side or conduct recon by taking over the visual senses of an enemy on the other side of the gate."
"As long as the Gate is open" said Colonel Mitchell, "I read the reports."
"Exactly" said Willow, "Daniel's mind is like an open Stargate right now. I can use it to see what he sees and hears."
"Why didn't you mention this before?" asked the General.
"It's risky" said Faith as she looked at Willow, "isn't it? Like extremely dangerous."
"Yes" replied Willow.
"Explain" said the General.
"Sir" said Willow, "I have no idea how far Daniel's mind is, the risk with this is that there is every possibility that I would lose myself travelling through the mental link between his mind and the mind that he's in right now. I mean that's how the stones are supposed to work anyway, one will be able to see what the other is doing.. or feeling. With the machine however, and given that his body hasn't woken up here; makes me guess that with the machine, the connection is only one way. Dr. Lee and I can only guess that's what happened to Vala, something must have happened to the body she's currently in to have a debilitating impact on her real body here."
"Dr Lam?" asked the General.
"It's possible" said Dr. Lam, "I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's possible."
"Please continue" said the General as he turned back to Willow.
"Like I was saying" said Willow, "I could get lost on the way there, or I could get stuck mid way between here and there and all you'll have is my body here, without a mind. That doesn't mean I won't try though, this isn't like my mind going through a Stargate in this galaxy. This is my mind going through a Stargate, in this case Daniel's mind, through who knows how many galaxies."
"You need an anchor" said Anya as she stood at the entrance to the briefing room with her arms wrapped around her body as Dawn stood next to her, "that's the only way. You need a very powerful anchor."
"Miss Jenkins, Miss Summers" said the General as he stood up, "please take a seat."
"Thank you" replied Dawn as she led Anya to a seat near Faith.
"Major?" asked General Landry as he sat back down and looked at Willow, "please continue."
"An anchor would keep me here, Sir" said Willow as she leaned forward, "it would securely plant my consciousness here while I'm completely free to traverse the inter-galactic connection through Daniel's mind, and end up at where he is currently. I can't do this by myself, and I don't want to."
"Why?" asked Colonel Mitchell.
"It requires very powerful magic" said Willow, "and I'm not able to do that, mainly because I haven't practised in such a long time. And even when I did, my control was a bit….. let's say I don't want to open that can of worms. I'd rather have some else perform the magic while I concentrate on using my consciousness to get to Daniel. And the other thing is, being my own anchor would be extremely hard... especially if I have to push my consciousnesses even harder to get to where Daniel is. If I make a mistake in either direction.. then I'll be royally, for lack of a better term, screwed."
"Lets say you did this" asked the Colonel, "how will you find your way back?"
"Faith and I share a permanent psychic link" said Willow as she looked at Faith, "I can use that, together with my anchor to get back."
"I assume you have someone you'd like to bring in to help?" asked the General.
"Tara Maclay from the BPRI already knows about what we do here, General" said Willow, "she is only one of a handful from that place who has the necessary clearance."
"Do it" said the General as he stood up.
"Thank you, Sir" said Willow as she and Colonel Mitchell stood up.
"Major" said Dr. Lam, "I insist on monitoring all of your vitals during this….. trip of yours."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Doc" said Willow.
"Good" said Dr. Lam, "I'll be in the Isolation Room, call me once you're ready."
"Of course" said Willow.
"Can I sit in?" asked Colonel Mitchell.
"Depends on Tara" said Anya, "she'll be the anchor so she needs everything to be as calm as possible, and no offence… but you get excited really easily."
"Well" smiled the Colonel, "I am… I mean magic, and demons and vampires. Who wouldn't be excited."
"Me" said Willow as she raised her hand.
"Me" replied Dawn.
"And me" said Faith.
"Well, I'm already a demon anyway" shrugged Anya.
"Fine" said Colonel Mitchell, "then I guess I'll be excited for all of us."
"Sure, Cam" said Faith, "in the meantime, how about we go for dinner at the mess?"
"I'll see you guys there" said Willow, "I need to call Angel, and then talk to Tara."
"Alright" said Faith as she led everyone to the mess.
Faith: "See you soon?"
Willow: "Yea."
Once everyone had left, Willow walked over to her quarters and sat down on her cot.
"I'm not the one using magic" repeated Willow to herself many times before she picked up her phone and called the BPRI.
TBC.