Stargate Command, SGC, 1800 hours.
Satterfield and Dawn had just left the women's locker room in their civilian clothes. They had just finished an intense two hour gym session where Dawn was training Satterfield in sword fighting techniques, while Satterfield was helping Dawn refine her martial arts. This had been a regular session with the both of them ever since Dawn had officially joined the SGC. The only thing different with this day was that the both of them were off-duty from SG2, and they were already late for their shopping trip in the city that they had been meticulously planning for the past few days.
As they were walking through the hallways towards the main elevator lobby, they ran across Colonel Sheppard, McKay, Dr. Weir and Dr. Beckett who were already wearing their full tactical gear, and carrying the Anti-Replicator Guns that Colonel Carter had developed.
"Ummmm….. Colonel?" said Satterfield confused as she and Dawn blocked the hallway, "going on a mission?"
"You could say that?" said the Colonel nervously as he looked at Dr. Weir, "we… ummm.."
"You're going to Atlantis, aren't you?" asked an excited Dawn as the Colonel signalled her to quiet down while he looked behind him.
"Sir" said Satterfield as she looked at the Colonel, "there was nothing on the schedule for any mission to Atlantis."
"Look" said McKay as he looked at the Colonel and Dr. Weir, "we don't have time for this.."
"What happened?" asked Dawn.
"The Pegasus replicators have attacked Atlantis and General O'Neill and Woolsey are stuck there" said Dr. Beckett as the Colonel looked back and glared at the doctor.
"Major… Miss Summers" said the Colonel as he raised a Zat gun at them, "this is for your own good."
"Wait" said Dawn as she held up her hands and started to babble, "I'll go with you. I mean I've always wanted to go to Atlantis and yea, I know that it's not a pleasure cruise that you're going on and that it's a rescue mission and you need people to go with and stuff… you know."
"Do you ever take a breath?" asked McKay as he looked at Dawn, "you just went a hundred words a second."
"Please?" said Dawn as Satterfield tapped her shoulder.
"Dawn" said Satterfield, "we don't have orders to go, maybe if we talk to General Landry…"
"The Daedalus has been turned back to Atlantis with a nuke" said Colonel Sheppard, "General Landry has standing orders, by General O'Neill himself, to nuke the city… so…"
"Come on, Lauren" said Dawn as she grinned at the other brunette, "I'm going, and you promised Willow you'll watch out for me... come on, it's an adventure."
Satterfield then frowned at Dawn, before looking at the nervous faces of the group in front of her who were looking behind them, and then at Satterfield and Dawn.
"Dawn, you'll go even if I say no, right?" said Satterfield as she frowned at the younger brunette.
"Yep" said Dawn, "look at it this way, we watch each other's backs."
"You are so going to get us into trouble" said Satterfield as she shook her head and nodded towards the other side of the hallway, "this way, we need to get to the armoury in the 'C' section."
"We need to get to the Jumper Research Lab" said Colonel Sheppard.
"It's close by" said Satterfield as she led the way before she turned around to the Colonel, "sir, I'll get BDU's and vests for Dawn and myself, can you get…."
"Weapons?" said the Colonel as Satterfield nodded her head, "alright, be quick about it."
"Dawn" said Satterfield before she ran off, "go with them, and stay close by with them."
"Of course" grinned Dawn as she watched Satterfield run down the hallway.
It was ten minutes later that Satterfield ran to the Jumper Research lab where she saw Sergeant Siler lying on the floor of the lab. Running into the Jumper, the Colonel started his pre-flight checks while Dawn and Satterfield closed the ramp of the Jumper. They then activated the partition that separated the main cockpit from the back of the Jumper so that the two young women could change into a sent of BDU's and vests. As soon as they had changed into their BDU's and put their civilian clothes into one of the on-board compartments, they retracted the partition as Colonel Mitchell took off while McKay remotely dialled the Stargate so that they could connect to the Gate Bridge. He then also input a code that would prevent the Iris and the Gate shield from activating until after they left the SGC.
"Thank you" whispered Dawn into Satterfield's ear as they sat in the back.
Satterfield could only smile and nod at the younger brunette as they exited the lab and went down into the Gateroom. It was a few seconds later that they were through the gate, and at the still under construction Midway Station. Once they reached that point, McKay activated the macro he created for the Pegasus gate system… but not before the Milky Way gate activated and the holographic HUD came up with General Landry's frowning face on it. The General told them, and he specifically named Dawn and Satterfield as well, that he knew what they were doing.. and why they were doing it. But the fact was that they were doing something against orders and that they needed to get back or else they would be in trouble. At least that's what the General would have said had the Colonel not disengaged the call.
Looking back at Satterfield and Dawn, he just shrugged and said, "if I don't hear what he said at the end, then it didn't happen."
Smiling to themselves, Dawn and Satterfield got up from where they were sitting and took a closer look at the whole of the Pegasus galaxy with amazement on their faces.
"Looks beautiful, doesn't it?" asked Dr. Weir as she looked at Dawn.
"Yes" said Dawn as she looked transfixed at the colossal collection of stars that was in front of them.
"I wish I had my camera" said Satterfield as she leaned on the back of Dr. Beckett's chair.
"Yes.. yes" said McKay as the station's Pegasus gate activated, "it's a nice view and… yes! We have the macro working, and the Atlantis gate shield has been lowered."
"Good" said Colonel Sheppard, "buckle up, we're going in."
The Colonel then flew the Jumper through the Stargate into a rescue mission that both Satterfield and Dawn would remember for a very long time.
Merlin's Chamber, Unknown Planet, at the same time.
While the leaders of the Atlantis Expedition, Dawn and Satterfield were doing everything they could to rescue General O'Neill and Woolsey in Atlantis; SG1, Vala and Ba'al was looking at Faith after she dropped the huge bombshell regarding Willow, and her connection to Athena.
"What do you mean that she's Athena" said Vala as he pointed at Willow, "she's not a Goa'uld."
"There's a Goa'uld called Athena?" said Colonel Carter as she looked at Vala.
"Yes" said Vala as she looked at Merlin who was still holding onto the sides of Willow's head, "she used to be partnered with Qetesh, the Goa'uld who used to inhabit me. I have her memories, and I can tell you that she was never a red haired woman."
Just then, Merlin slowly let go of Willow's head as the redhead brought her head back down and opened her eyes. Looking at the man before her, she had a memory flash of a bright day on Atlantis where she was being carried on one of the piers; she looked at the clouds that were floating in the sky as the Lantean sun shone down on the Ancient city, she then looked over the pier at the waves of the ocean as they broke on the lower part of the pier. Willow then looked at the person who was holding her in his arms, and gave a wide smile at the young brown haired man. It was then that she smelled the scent of roses wafting into her nostrils. Turning around in the arms of the man, she chuckled excitedly and clapped her hands as a pregnant red haired woman walked up to them. Willow was now flailing her arms, indicating that she wanted to be carried by the woman instead of the man. Laughing at the young redhead, the man then gingerly handed her over to the red haired, brown eyed woman. Willow remembered laying her head into the crook of her neck and smelling her hair, before she closed her eyes.
"Do you remember?" asked Merlin as he gently held both of Willow's cheeks, "do you remember now?"
"I remember you took me to the East pier of Atlantis" said Willow as tears started to flow down her cheeks as the others looked on in shock, "it was a bright sunny day. Some clouds were in the sky but I still saw the rays of sunlight coming through them. I remember mother walking up to us… I remember she joined us when she was carrying Hera. I remembered later that night there was another heavy bombardment by the Wraith. That night, mother took me to the balcony to look at the colours that formed as the strikes were hitting the shield. I was jumping in her arms as the strikes hit. To me they were beautiful, I never realized the real danger we were in. All I saw were bright pretty colours. All I knew was that I was happy."
"Yes" said Merlin as he looked down and nodded his head before looking up at Willow again, "yes, that night I was off-world. I was rushing back with the others from a trade mission when we heard that the Wraith were attacking the city."
"I cried out in excitement when I saw yellow dots rising out of the city" said Willow as more tears fell, "mother pointed the weapons to me, I followed her finger as the weapons went higher and higher into the night sky. Then I clapped in excitement when there were three bright flashes of red, orange and blue in the Lantean night sky."
"Willow?" said Colonel Carter who was surprised at what she was hearing, but Willow was too engrossed in staring at the old man in front of her.
"Athena" said Merlin as he gently caressed her face, "you have come back."
"Father" replied Willow as she looked at Merlin with a smile as she held on to both sides of his face, "I… I….."
"Athena" said Merlin as he saw Willow's eyes roll back, before she started to fall forward. She she was caught by first Merlin, and then Faith.
"What did you do?" asked Faith quietly as she looked at Merlin while she carried her wife's now limp body, and placed it on the table that the old man had been laying on earlier.
"Her memories of Atlantis, of her time on Earth and during her ascension have been unlocked" said Merlin as she tenderly caressed the redhead's cheeks, "her mind is trying to process all the new information. She will be fine, she is my daughter… she will be fine."
"Her memories were suppressed" said Daniel in surprise as he made the connection, "someone must have helped her to descend, that's why she lost all knowledge of when she was ascended but still has her memories, which I bet were locked into her subconscious. I had the same thing done to me, that's how the replicator version of Sam knew about the Dakara super weapon… she was literally in my mind sifting through the memories in my subconscious."
Merlin then looked up at Ba'al and waved his hand at the Goa'uld who narrowed his eyes.
"Forget" said Merlin as Ba'al took a few steps back before he righted himself and then looked around confused. However, Ba'al couldn't verbally convey his thoughts as Merlin's trick to have his vocal chords frozen was still in effect.
"Ummm… Carter" said Colonel Mitchell wanting to make sure that Ba'al didn't hear more than he already had, especially since Merlin already made him forget about Willow being Athena, "let's take Ba'al and check out the DHD, we need to find a way off this rock."
"Ye… yeah" said a still shocked Colonel Carter who was still trying to process the revelation. She then shook her head before grabbing Ba'al by the collar and dragged him out to the entrance of the cave, followed by Colonel Mitchell. Once out there, she took Teal'c to one side and told him what she had learned. When Colonel Carter quietly told Teal'c about Willow being Athena, she received the highest eyebrow raise from Teal'c since the day he discovered that the people of Earth were the Tau'ri of Jaffa legend.
Back in the chamber, Merlin looked up at Daniel in surprise as Faith leaned over Willow and caressed her cheeks.
"You were once ascended?" asked the old man as he almost tumbled over just as Vala and Daniel caught him.
"Yes" said Daniel as he helped Merlin to the chair.
"That's not possible" said Merlin as he looked at Daniel, then Vala and Faith who had looked up while staying close to Willow, "human beings couldn't have progressed that much in only a thousand years."
"I actually had some help" said Daniel as he sat down, "her name was Oma Desala."
"Of course, it had to be her" said Merlin as he leaned back and rubbed his forehead.
"You knew Oma?" asked Faith.
"Yes" said Merlin as he nodded his head before looking at Daniel again, "what happened?"
As Daniel talked to Merlin about his experience as an ascended being, why he was forcibly descended with his memories apparently taken away from him, and followed by their various encounters with the Ori; Faith could only look at Willow as the brunette stood over her and held her hand tightly.
Faith: "I don't know if you can hear me, but I need you to know that no matter what... I still love you."
With no reaction from Willow, Faith sighed as she ran her hands through the redhead's hair. As she was looking down at Willow, she didn't notice that Merlin had silently stood up and had walked the short distance from the chair to the table before putting his hand over Faith's and clasping it gently.
"I sensed your feelings for Athena" said Merlin as Faith looked up at him.
"Willow" said Faith as Daniel and Vala walked towards them, "her name is Willow, she may have been Athena before.. but…."
"To me" said Merlin with a small smile, "she will forever be Athena; my daughter."
"My wife" said Faith as she gently caressed Willow's cheeks.
"I suppose that would make me your father-in-law" said Merlin as Faith couldn't help but smile.
"I guess so" said the brunette Slayer as she looked up at the brown eyes that were looking back at her, "I'm Faith."
"Protect her, Faith" said Merlin as he held onto her hand tightly, "please protect her."
"Always" said Faith as she nodded her head just as Colonel Carter and Mitchell, followed by Ba'al walked back into the chamber. Once they had walked back in, Merlin straightened himself and looked at everyone around him.
"Before I agree to join with you" said Merlin as he looked at everyone in the room, "I need to know that you are willing to do whatever must be done to see it through."
"You do know what we've already gone though to come here" said Vala.
"What you have experienced so far" said Merlin as he looked at Vala, "is nothing compared to what is to come."
"We can handle it" said Colonel Mitchell.
"In that case" said Merlin as he took another look at his daughter before he walked towards the Ancient Knowledge device, "there is much work to be done."
Once Merlin reached the device, he placed his hands below it and almost immediately two lighted handle-like devices extended to his hands. This was soon followed by the screen portion extending to his face. The pedestal then lit up as holograms of various small patterns appeared above it. While he was slowly doing his best to rebuild the Sangraal, the others had no idea that Adria was using the knowledge of the Ori to hack into the DHD system to find out where SG1 had gone . In the meantime, after hours of using the device, Merlin released the handles and stumbled backwards only to be caught by Faith and Daniel.
"Easy" said Faith as she and the archaeologist helped him back to the chair just as the entire room shimmered.
"What was that?" asked Vala as she looked around at the shimmer before it vanished.
"Guys" said Colonel Mitchell on the radio, "we just reached another planet."
"If Daniel's right and Morgan wanted to keep Merlin hidden" said Colonel Carter over the radio, "this would be a great way to do it. My guess is, we're travelling through a circuit of planets, cut off from the rest of the gate system by a deliberate alteration of the DHD program."
"Nothing we could do to head home, Sam?" asked Faith as she looked worriedly at Vala and then Daniel.
"Not until we find the automatic dialing program in the DHD processor and shut it down" said Colonel Carter, "I'll work on it."
"Copy that" said Daniel as he helped Merlin sit back down on the chair and then lean back.
"I thought Willow healed him?" asked Vala as she whispered into Daniel's ear, "why's he so weak?"
"My body is old" said Merlin as he looked at Vala, "I have been in stasis for too long. When I was releasing Athena's memories, I caught a glimpse of hers as well. All of you have become like family to her?"
"Yes" said Daniel as he sat down next to Merlin.
"Her childhood was not a happy one on Earth" said Merlin as he looked at the lying form of Willow, "but unknown to her, Hera was there watching over her, she was always close by keeping her company. She blocked those memories as well… but now she will remember. And I have seen Hera, I've seen my other daughter… she is alive as well. SHe has grown to become a beautiful young woman."
"Who?" asked Daniel as he looked at Vala and then at Merlin again, "who's Hera?"
"Athena will tell you when she has awakened" said Merlin with a smile, "the two daughters of Atlantis are alive, and protected."
"Couldn't you give us a little clue?" smiled Vala as Merlin shook his head, and then looked at the pedestal.
"When I found out what the Ori could become" said Merlin as he looked at Willow while ignoring Vala's question, "I descended for Athena and Hera. I knew that the Ori were gaining worshippers so that they could gain enough power to wipe the Others out. I never wanted Athena and Hera to die in a war that would have potentially destroyed those who you refer to as the Ancients."
"So you built the Sangraal for your daughters" said Faith, "to protect them."
"Yes" said Merlin, "I thought I'd have enough time…"
"Merlin?" said Faith as she noticed the old man looking off into space.
"I have lived many lifetimes" said Merlin as he looked at Faith, Vala and then Daniel, "I have been a husband and a father to two lovely daughters in Atlantis, then I came to Earth before the dawn of your civilization. Then I joined the ranks of the ascended. And finally, I returned to mortal form, to live out my remaining days among the noblemen of Arthur's Court, as well as building a weapon that would destroy ascended beings. And through all these eons, only one thing has stayed the same: there is never enough time. Never enough time to complete my work, never enough time to be with my daughters… to apologize for things that were said, for things that were never done."
"Well, we're safe for the moment" said Daniel softly, "you can take all the time you need."
"I slept too long. My body betrays me" replied Merlin as he looked at his hands, "everything Athena did to heal my body has already faded away."
"She wouldn't want you to give up" said Faith, "not now."
"You realize what's at stake" said Daniel as he looked at Merlin, "if you don't help us, the Ori will take this galaxy."
"One last task then" said Merlin as he sighed in agreement as he stood up, "before I take my final rest."
As he walked back to the Ancient device, he stopped at Willow's unconscious body again and placed his hand on her forehead.
"What I do now" said Merlin as he looked at Willow, "I do for you, and for Hera. I want to apologize for everything that was said after Hera passed… it was not your fault, neither was it mine. She made the choice on her own, you did everything you could to save her. We were fighting a war, and unfortunately she was a casualty. But even though I lost one daughter to the Wraith… I lost you to my grief. I wish there was more time to spend together with you. You and Hera now have people who love and protect you… be happy, be safe."
Merlin then took his hand off Willow's forehead and walked over to the machine, which was still extended. He put his hands on the handlebars before he looked back at Faith.
"Watch over my daughter" said Merlin as Faith nodded her head, "protect her from harm."
"I will" said Faith.
Merlin then looked at Daniel with what looked like pride mixed with sadness in his eyes.
"Good luck, Dr. Jackson" said Merlin as Daniel looked confusingly at Vala, before Merlin turned around and put his face onto the screen.
It was a few seconds later that the green light the screen had given out earlier was replaced by a bright white light that enveloped most of his head. After a few moments, he was thrust backward and fell to the floor before anyone else could stop him. The three of them knelt beside Merlin as his eyes were fixed open; he took one last breath, and stopped as Faith and Vala looked on. Daniel placed his fingers on Merlin's neck and looked up at the two women sadly.
"He's dead" said Daniel as he shook his head.
Faith then leaned forward and closed his eyelids, and whispered into the man's ear, "I swear to you that I'll protect her. I'll protect your daughter."
Unaware of anything that was happening in the outside world, Willow was stuck in her own mind as it tried to sort out all the memories that were slowly unraveling. While the memories unraveled, she did hear a voice in the distance… a voice of a man.
'Father' thought Willow to herself.
Then suddenly, where there was just blackness, her mind exploded in a variety of colours as the memories slowly took their places in her mind. Her first memory was of her on a bed as a red haired woman with brown eyes was looking down at her and grinning.
'This is when I was just a toddler' thought Willow to herself as she saw tiny hands from her point of view flailing towards the woman.
"Why hello, little Athena. It has been one year… one year since you were born on the jewel of our civilization" said the woman as she carried Willow into her arms. She then walked while carrying Willow to a balcony in a large room in Atlantis. Willow saw the doors open to reveal a bright sunny day. The both of them stood out in the balcony of the large room as a light breeze ran through both the woman's hair, as well as the toddler's. "Athena" said the woman as she brought the one year old closer to her, "you will have a younger sister in a few days, she will need her older sister to protect her. Can you stay sister?"
"Sitfer?" said Willow as the woman smiled at her.
"Yes" said the woman as she touched the tip of Willow's nose as the toddler tried to reach for the finger, "and you… you have to look after her, and your father. I would not always be here, my little Athena."
Willow smiled as she reached for the woman's nose. Once she grabbed it, the woman started to laugh since Willow wouldn't let go. Looking at her mother laugh, Willow started to laugh as well. Both the laughter of the woman and the baby reverberated throughout the large room. It was a few minutes later that the woman kissed Willow on her forehead, and the ran her hand through the tuft of red hair on the toddler's head.
"Oh" said the woman as she carried Willow back into the room and headed towards a chest of drawers. She passed her hand over a sensor as it beeped and a drawer that was chest high opened outwards. Willow saw the woman slowly reach into the drawer as she took out what seemed to be a stuffed toy.
"Look what the leader of the Athosian people gave you" said the woman as Willow reached for it. However she kept it just out of reach of the toddler's tiny arms, "oh no, you're not getting this. Not until I get a kiss."
Willow saw the woman lean her head towards the toddler as she offered her cheek. Willow then leaned over and kissed the woman's cheek before she grinned at Willow again. The woman then handed Willow the stuffed toy which Willow held with one hand as she looked at the joy on the woman's face.
'Mother' thought Willow to herself as she looked down at the woman's extended abdomen before she wrapped her tiny hands around the red-haired woman as the scent of roses again wafted through her nostrils.
There was a sudden flash of light as that memory was replaced by another one where Willow was being carried by a young Moros. The both of them leaned over a small cot where she saw a blanket wrapped around a small squirming body. Willow saw brown eyes looking back at her for a split second before they closed as the newborn baby yawned.
"Look, Athena" said Moros, "say hello to your younger sister."
"Come" said the woman as she reached for Willow. Willow felt herself being gingerly handed over to the woman, before she pointed to the cot, "that's Hera, can you say Hera?"
All Willow could do was look up at the woman, and then at her father who gingerly took Hera into his arms before he kissed the newborn baby's forehead. Smiling, he then placed Hera onto the woman's other arm. Willow leaned forward as she put her tiny hands on the blanket as the newborn's eyes opened slightly once again, and looked at her.
"Hela" said Willow as she placed another hand on the newborn's blanket.
Willow then saw Hera yawn before closing her eyes again. Willow looked up the red haired women as she closed her eyes, tilted her head back and then snapped her head forwards again. Noticing that her older daughter was looking at her, the woman smiled at Willow. It was a few seconds later that Willow noticed the distress on her mother's face and then she looked at Merlin who seemed to be explaining something to one of the nurses. Looking back at the tears that were falling from her mother's eyes, Willow did the only thing a toddler could go… she cried.
"Athena" said the red haired woman as she started to breathe hard and the machines all round her started to beep loudly. A distressed Willow looked at the machines as red bars flashed on the screens, and then at her mother's face. She then saw Hera being carried away by the same nurse that Merlin was talking to earlier, and put into her cot as she cried. Coupled with the cries from Willow, the red haired woman tried to calm her down.
"Athena" said the woman gasping for air as she gently touched Willow's cheeks and ran her hands through the tuft of red hair on her head, "wa… watch ov…. over your sister, watch over your fa… father. My.. my daughter... my.. my daughters."
"Melina" said Merlin looking at the woman as he picked up a crying Willow whose arms were still flailing towards her mother.
"Moros" said Melina breathing heavily as she lay back on the bed as another nurse rushed to her side and lowered the back until the bed, and Melina, was lying flat, "wat… wat… watch over the… em. I… I am sorry."
"Moros" said another doctor as another nurse rushed Hera's cot out of the room, "I need you to leave, be with Athena and Hera."
"What has happened?" said Moros still in shock, "Melina had just given birth with no ill effects, what is happening?
"I do not know" said the doctor as he pushed Merlin out of the door, "we will find out. Now please go!"
Just as the doors closed, Merlin and Athena watched as two more nurses and another doctor rushed to Melina's side. It was a few hours later that the doors to the infirmary opened again. Moros was carrying Willow in one arm as she wrapped her hands around Moros' neck, while the younger version of Merlin was caressing Hera's cheek when the doctor sombrely walked out. As another male nurse walked out behind the doctor, he nodded at the man and asked him to take Hera and Athena to the nursery.
As a visibly worried Moros handed Athena over to the nurse, she could only watch as the doctor put his hand on Moros' shoulder and spoke to him. The last thing she saw before she and Hera were taken into the nursery was her father trembling as he brought his hands to his face.
"Athena" said a familiar voice as there was another flash of memory. This time Willow, who felt the tears stinging her eyes, was being carried by a young boy as he walked next to a young woman who was carrying Hera. In front of them was a flat, table-like structure that was being gently pushed by Moros. The table was covered in a white sheet with the whole thing floating off the floor. Looking closer, Willow saw the outline of a body underneath the sheet and instinctively knew it was her mother. They walked through the Atlantis hallways silently as the young man who was holding Athena slowly rubbed her back. After some moments of walking, the group entered the Atlantis Gateroom where there were a large group of people standing on the central staircase as they walked up one of the side stairs.
"Activate the Stargate" said Moros quietly as he looked at the Control room as another man nodded his head.
Willow saw the Stargate dial an address as the respective lights lit up when the address eventually locked and the Stargate activated. The unstable vortex shot out and then settled back down into the event horizon. Willow then saw her father push the table until it was at the event horizon of the wormhole. Willow could see Moros looking down at Melina's sheet covered body, before he walked through the blue event horizon. Next it was the young woman and the young man carrying Hera and Willow respectively that walked through the Stargate and onto a tree lined trail. Willow looked behind her and saw more people in white, those who were standing on the stairs in Atlantis, as they too came through the event horizon before the Stargate shut down.
As they walked along the trail, Willow lay her head on the young man's shoulders as she saw the sleeping form of Hera. Just born three days ago, the newborn would never realize until much later that she was there when her mother was buried. After walking down a couple of different trails, the group hit one that went up a hill. As they followed Moros who still silently pushed the table forward, they finally reached a clearing at the top of a hill. As they approached a large tree with a wide truck, and a huge canopy of green leaves, Moros stopped in the shade as he pushed a button on the table. He then simply looked at the sun which was slowly going down over the horizon before looking up at the cloudless sky as the first star shone brightly. Looking back down at the sheet covered body of Melina, Moros pressed a button combination that tightened the sheet as it shimmered until the sheet itself was clear.
Willow saw Melina lying on the table with her eyes closed and hands placed on top of one another on her chest. The toddler could see that Melina was in a white dress with gold accents. It was the same dress that the young redhead loved and would clap when Melina wore it around her.
Moros then leaned over and kissed Melina's forehead. Looking back up, Moros nodded at the young man as he handed Willow over to him.
"Say goodbye to your mother, Athena" said Moros as he leaned forward with Willow in his arms and the toddler reached for Melina's face. Touching her mother's face, Willow started to sob softly as she did everything she could to wake Melina up. But nothing happened; her eyes were still closed, and there was no movement.
"Motha, Motha" said Willow softly as she pressed on Melina's cheeks again, and slowly got more distressed as her mother's eyes didn't open. Tears fell down the toddler's face when Melina didn't give Willow that wide smile that the toddler loved, the same one that Moros loved.
"Athena" said Moros as his voice broke slightly while he straightened up with Willow in his arms, and looked at Willow's brown eyes that were tinged with red from the tears that were atill falling down her cheeks, "her spirit has passed on, she is one with the stars."
Moros then looked up and pointed at the brightest star that could be seen in the slowly darkening sky as the sun slowly made its way down the horizon. Looking up at where Moros was pointing, Willow could only flail her arms as she tried to reach for the star as Moros kissed the toddler's cheeks which now had turned red.
Willow then looked back at Moros' face and noticed that his eyes were bright red. She then brought her hands to her Father's face, before she brought her hands to her mouth. Moros managed a smile as he leaned towards Melina's body as the one year old leaned forward and pressed her hands onto the side of Melina's cheek before planting her last kiss on that same cheek. The young redhead then felt Moros kissing her again before she was handed back to the young man. Willow saw the young woman then hand Hera to Moros.
"Melina" whispered Moros into her ear as he leaned forward, "our children will be taken well care off; watch over us, protect us. We… I… miss you."
Moros then kissed Melina's forehead again, before he leaned down and gently touched Melina's head with Hera's. He then handed Hera back to the young woman as she took a step back.
"Willow" said that familiar voice again as darkness overcame the redhead.
"Red!" said Faith's voice, "I need you to get up."
"Faith?" said Willow as she slowly opened her eyes, "I… where… my head… it hurts."
"I know" said Faith as she put one of Willow's arms around her shoulder and helped to pull her up. Willow then looked around, still groggy when she heard weapons fire from outside.
"Athena"
"Father, I saw… I remember… I saw mother… I…." said Willow as she slowly turned towards that familiar voice and saw only Daniel looking back at her, "Daniel?"
"Athena" said Daniel as he looked at Willow, "I am sorry, I have had to transfer my consciousness into the body of Dr. Jackson. Adria is coming, you must leave. She cannot know who you truly are, or else she will come to Earth and destroy everything."
"Father….. Daniel" said Willow as she grabbed her head in pain, "I….. I can't… I can't concentrate… it hurts so much."
"I know, my daughter" said Daniel as he slowly towards Willow as if he really was an old man. Willow noticed that his entire demeanour had changed, even his posture and the way he spoke.
"I can't leave without you" said Willow as Faith helped her stand up on the floor and held her steady. Willow saw that the brunette had one P90 already ready, while another one hung on her vest, 'must be mine, I can't fire… I can't concentrate… my powers… I can't feel anyone.'
"Faith" said Daniel using Merlin's tone of voice, "take my daughter home, her memories are yet to establish themselves. In the meantime, she is powerless.. now go. Please."
"Faith" said Daniel as the tone of voice changed, "Merlin's right… go. Trust me on this… he'll protect me. Adria's coming right now; now GO!"
"Don't die, Daniel" said Faith as she led Willow away just as Adria teleported into the chamber.
"Well, well" said Adria as she looked at Willow and Faith who turned around just as they almost exited the chamber, "this is too easy."
Adria collected energy onto her left hand until it become as red as flames, however Daniel then waved his hand and Adria was flung against the wall before the possessed archaeologist knelt down panting. Willow and Faith then saw him hold his hand out as Adria slowly got up. The two members of SG1 saw electric energy crackling between his fingers, just as they heard the sound of thunder from outside.
"Go!" shouted Daniel to Faith and Willow, "dial the gate."
"Daniel" shouted Willow as Faith pulled her away, "Daniel!"
As Willow was being pulled away by the Slayer, she noticed a circular device on the pedestal, and then looked at Daniel as Faith pulled her out of the cave and into the clearing of a jungle planet outside.
"See how they leave you alone?" said Adria as she approached Daniel who was still kneeling on the floor of the chamber, "but then you were foolish. Instead of helping your friends, you should have used your energy to deal with me."
"Would it have helped me?" said Daniel as he looked at Adria as she crouched down next to him.
"Not one single bit" smiled the young woman.
"Dial the gate!" shouted Faith as she helped Willow down onto the bottom clearing from the ledge she was on.
"Colonel" said Willow as she looked at Colonel Mitchell who helped her down, "we need…. We need…. Ahh!"
Everyone then heard Willow scream loudly as she grabbed two sides of her head.
"Willow Rosenberg" said Teal'c as Colonel Mitchell aimed his weapon at the entrance to the cave while handing her off to the Jaffa, "are you alright?"
"My mind, Teal'c" said Willow as she looked at the Jaffa through narrowed eyes, "it's on fire… it's burning…"
"We will be at the SGC very soon" said Teal'c when the Gate activated.
"Where's Daniel?" asked Vala just as the aforementioned archaeologist came flying out of the cave and landed hard on the ground.
"Daniel" said Willow as she pulled away from Teal'c and ran to the archaeologist who was trying to get on his feet.
"Willow" said Daniel softly, "we need you out of here, go… please."
"Not without you" said Willow as she grabbed the side of her head, "not without the both of you."
"He'll protect my mind" said Daniel as he looked at Willow, "trust us… please."
It was then that Adria came to the mouth of the cave. Colonels Mitchell and Carter, Faith and Teal'c fired their weapons at her, but all those fired rounds did was hit her personal shield. Looking at each other in defeat, they stopped firing.
"Adria" said Vala as she stood in front of the four of them bravely, "I am telling you to stop this, listen to your mother."
"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Mother" said Adria as she raised her hand at them while forming the same fire-like energy as earlier. She then fired the energy toward Vala and the others, just as Daniel pushed Willow away and jumped up to put himself in the way. He then held up his left hand and formed a telekinetic shield thanks to the presence and knowledge of Merlin in his mind.
"Get through the gate, now!" said Daniel as he looked at Faith.
"We're not leaving you here!" exclaimed Colonel Carter.
Just as Faith picked up Willow, the redhead looked back at Daniel as their eyes met. Just then everything that surrounded her stopped, it was as if time simply froze and was replaced by a white walled room where a younger bald man stood next to Daniel.
"Father" said Willow as she hugged the younger version of Merlin, and then looked at Daniel who squeezed her hand, "protect him. Please."
"I shall" replied Merlin as he stepped back, "I saw events in his mind. You have proved yourself many times over, you were once so filled with single minded vengeance that you had lost yourself. You were to have taken my place on the Atlantis Council, and eventually could have taken my position of High Councilor. But because of what happened to Hera, because of your need for vengeance against the Wraith…."
"I am sorry for everything" said Willow as she held both sides of Merlin's face gently.
"I am happy that we had begun to put our differences aside before my ascension all those years ago" said Merlin, "the decision to tell Hera about the truth is yours, but know that the both of you are the last two living daughters of Atlantis. Atlantis is your home.. and the legacy of our people. If you so choose, you only have to call the authorization console in the city to be recognized as the rightful High Councilor. I have left the genetic profiles of both you and Hera in the Atlantis database under tight encryption protocols, all you have to do is speak the authorization key. Be safe, my daughter."
"Willow" said Daniel as he took a few steps forward, "everything will be alright; we have a plan in place…. The time will come… you'll see."
"Promise me that you'll be safe, Daniel" said Willow, "you know Anya will be worried."
"I know" replied Daniel.
"Sleep, Athena" said Merlin as he kissed his daughter's cheek, "your memories with take hours to be properly sequenced, and then you will remember everything.. and your powers will return. Remember, you will have flashes of memories of when you were ascended, but not the knowledge. And thank Thor for saving your life, tell him that… tell him that he is a good friend."
"I will, Father" said Willow as the white room disappeared and she found herself at the event horizon after having been pulled by Faith, "we need to go, Faith."
Willow watched as Adria shot of a beam that looked as if it consisted of fire when it suddenly hit a telekinetic shield that Daniel, with the help of Merlin's consciousness, put up to prevent the others from being hit.
"Come on" said Faith as Colonel Mitchell went through the gate first, followed by Teal'c, Vala, and then Colonel Carter, Faith and finally Willow.
Just as they reached the Gateroom in the SGC, the wormhole disengaged while General Landry ran down to the large room.
"Where's Daniel?" said the General as he looked at everyone. Colonel Mitchell was frowning, as was Colonel Carter and Teal'c.
"Sir" said Willow as she grabbed her head and then the railing before she collapsed onto her knees on the ramp.
"Get a medical team here!" shouted Faith as she put the extra P90 on the ramp as she knelt down behind Willow and prevented her from falling backwards onto the metal ramp, "Now!"
"Major?" said General Landry as he walked up the ramp.
"They have a plan, sir" said Willow softly as she looked at the General, "my father will protect him."
"Father?" asked General Landry, obviously confused as he looked at SG1.
"Willow" said Colonel Carter as she knelt down beside the redhead as Walter repeated his call for the medical teams to come to the Gateroom.
As Willow looked at Colonel Carter, she noticed everything change around her. In a few seconds, she found herself lying down in a large room made of high stone walls. Sitting up on her elbows, she saw a large round table in front of her with Colonel Mitchell, and few others decked out in shiny silver armour. She then looked to her right side and saw Colonel Carter with what looked like a tiara on her head, wearing a dark green silk dress as she knelt down next to the redhead.
"He was right" said Willow while looking at Colonel Carter as her surroundings changed back to the drab grey concrete of the SGC Gateroom, "my father was right."
'Willow?" said Colonel Carter as she looked at the redhead, and then at Faith who shrugged.
"You really do look like Guinevere, ma'am" replied Willow as she closed her eyes and her head fell back onto Faith's chest.
"Red?" said Faith as she placed her fingers on her neck and was relieved when she felt a pulse.
"General" said Dr. Lam as she rushed into the Gateroom with some nurses, "what's going on?"
"Doc" said Faith as she held onto Willow tightly, "she needs… she… I don't know."
"Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he walked over to the brunette Slayer, "I will take Willow Rosenberg to the bed, Dr. Lam will help her."
"She can't wake up" said Faith as she nodded her head while Teal'c picked the redhead up into his arms, "Merlin said that her memories were coming back, she needed to rest so that her mind can… I mean…"
"Handle the strain?" said Colonel Carter as she put her hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Yes" said Faith as she looked on worriedly as Teal'c put Willow on the gurney as the nurses attached wires to her body that were connected to machines.
"Get her to the scanner" said Dr. Lam, "I need to measure her brain activity."
"Dr. Lam" said General Landry, "take care of her."
"Yes, Sir" said the doctor as she and her team rushed to the infirmary leaving General Landry with SG1.
"What happened?" asked the General.
"Sir" said Colonel Mitchell, "we need to talk."
"Get checked out and….." said the General as Vala interrupted him.
"General" said Vala as she held onto Faith's shoulder, "this is important, we really… and I cant emphasize this enough… really need to talk."
"Fine" said General Landry, "briefing room, ten minutes."
"Thank you, Sir" said Colonel Mitchell.
Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy, 2230 hours.
It had taken the rescue team led by Colonel Sheppard almost four hours, after retrieving Teyla and Ronon, to complete the mission of rescuing General O'Neill, and the IOA's Richard Woolsey. It was actually McKay's idea to use the control crystals of the Anti-Replicator Guns and interface it with the crystals that control the shields. They had separated into teams to place the crystals into the ten shield emitters throughout Atlantis while attacking the Pegasus replicators with the ARG's.
Eventually, with the Daedalus only minutes away from exiting hyperspace over Lantea, the replicators activated the shield. It was then that massive surges of an Anti-Replicator wave spread through the city at one go, destroying every single replicator. Once they made sure that General O'Neill and Woolsey were doing alright, the General contacted the Daedalus and ordered them to stop the nuclear attack. However, since all of their codes were deactivated by General Landry at the SGC, Dr. Weir recommended that Colonel Caldwell send in a Marine team to ensure that everyone was who they said they were.
It was a few hours later that the rescue team had been cleared off having any nanites in their blood streams. While the General was reassuring Dr. Weir that she and her team would be back in residence on Atlantis, Dawn and Satterfield were leaning on the railing at the main balcony as they looked at the view.
"Wow" said Dawn as she closed her eyes and heard the waves breaking against the piers of the city, "this is so cool."
"You know what?" replied Satterfield as she looked at the towers all around her, "the city is beautiful; I can see why Willow likes it so much."
"I would love to work here after getting my doctorate" said Dawn as she smiled at Satterfield when they heard the door behind them opening.
Turning around, Satterfield quickly stood at attention as Dr. Weir, General O'Neill and Colonel Sheppard walked onto the balcony.
"Miss Summers" said Dr. Weir as she looked at Dawn, "I'd love having you here if you ever decide you would like a change."
"Sweet" said Dawn smiling.
"Hey" said General O'Neill as he looked at Dr, Weir with an eyebrow raised, "I thought I said no poaching my people… it's bad manners."
"Of course" smiled Dr. Weir, "but then again, it was Miss. Summers' idea."
"True" said General O'Neill as he took a step towards Dawn and Satterfield, "now the question is, what do I do with the two of you?"
"Sir?" said Satterfield as she gulped.
"Let's see" replied the General, "the both of you left the SGC for an unauthorized mission without telling anyone, no doubt Landry ordered you to returned to the SGC so I can pretty much guess that you disobeyed that, and…"
"Sir" said Satterfield, "I can explain, I forced Dawn to come with me… she didn't want to come in the first place and well…. You and Mr. Woolsey…."
"Lauren" hissed Dawn at Satterfield before turning to the General, "she had nothing to do with it, I swear… I was my idea the whole way. She didn't want to come but I forced her to.. and well, I told her that I'll be going even if she didn't go and that it would be good if she could watch my back."
"Sir" said Colonel Sheppard, "I should have zatted them at the SGC, that way they wouldn't be in trouble… but then again, they did help to rescue you and Mr. Woolsey."
"True" said Dr. Weir, "plus it was downright honourable when one decided to take the blame over the other."
"Right" said General O'Neill as he rubbed his chin while the two young women noticed Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard grinning at them, "at least now I've got enough time to get home and watch some Simpsons."
"So we're not in trouble, sir?" asked Satterfield.
"Oh you are" said General O'Neill, "but the fact that you helped to save my life, and Woolsey's, will go a long way for you. I'll talk to Hank when we get back."
"Speaking of which" said Dr. Weir as she tapped her earpiece, "Rodney says that your jumper is ready."
"Elizabeth" said the General as he turned towards Dr. Weir, "the city is back in your capable hands."
"It's beautiful, ma'am" said Satterfield as she looked around again, "it really is."
"Thank you" said Dr. Weir as she looked at the two young women, "thank you both for your help."
It was twenty minutes later that the jumper was ready and brought down to the Gateroom as General O'Neill, Woolsey, Dawn and Satterfield walked on board. Before closing the ramp, and heading to the control chair, the General told Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard that he'll send two teams of Marines for defensive purposes. He said that he'll also send one of the new British SG teams to help and for them to get some experience in off-world operations. The General said that Woolsey will have the rest of the civilian members sent back to Atlantis within the next few days.
"Thank you, General" said Dr. Weir.
"Bye, Dr. Weir" said Dawn as Dr. Weir nodded her head and stepped aside when the ramp started coming up. Just before the ramp closed, Dawn and Satterfield looked at the writing that was on the central stair case and smiled.
"Something you wanna share?" asked the General as he put his hands on the controls.
"Just read the words on the staircase" said Dawn as the ship rose slowly into the air.
"Does it say something nice?" asked General O'Neill.
"Yea" said Dawn, "it's like a mission statement, or something."
"Sweet" replied the General, "you know…. It's funny Daniel never translated that."
"We saw it after the check up" replied Satterfield.
"Geeks" mumbled the General as he looked back and grinned at the two young women, "you ready?"
"Yes" said Dawn and Satterfield.
"Richard?" asked the General.
"Yes" said the IOA representative as he leaned back on his chair. A few seconds later, the Puddle Jumper went through the Stargate. It was about thirty minutes later that the Stargate at the SGC activated, and the Puddle Jumper came through. Once they were in the SGC Gateroom and the Stargate had deactivated, General O'Neill noticed that General Landry wasn't happy about something.
'Or I could be wrong' thought the General to himself as he saw SG1 coming down the stairs, still in their tactical gear minus weapons, 'SG1's behind him but…. Wait a sec, where's Red? Where's Daniel?'
"General" said General Landry, "you arrived just in time, I need you to park the Jumper.. and then meet us in the briefing room. Mr. Woolsey as well. As for Miss Summers and Major Satterfield, report to Colonel Ferretti. Now."
"Ye… yes, sir" said Satterfield as she gulped.
"General" said General O'Neill, "everything alright?"
"It's Major Rosenberg, General" replied General Landry, "you need to hear this."
"Is she alright?" asked Dawn.
"You can see her after the both of you talk to Colonel Ferretti" said General Landry, "General O'Neill, and Mr. Woolsey… I need the both of you in the briefing room. SG1's got one hell of a debrief."
"On the way, General" said General O'Neill as General Landry nodded his head.
TBC.