Glastonbury Tor, a week later, 10,000 years ago; 1130 hours.
It had been nearly a week since the fateful event of the day that changed two lives forever. Sineya had been taken by the demon which was powered the genetically engineered clones that Athena had given the Furling mystics; and Athena herself, due to all the guilt inside her for causing Sineya to be used in such a way was left in a near catatonic state. Ever since she had returned to the encampment that Moros had built, Athena had not spoken once about her experiences. She could not even walk out of the ship since they arrived from the outcrop where Sineya had gently placed her on the ground before leaving for good.
Moros had gently lifted his daughter from the co-pilots seat after returning to his home, while Janus landed Athena's Gateship next to his. Looking at his daughter as he carried her into his arms, Moros could see her looking straight ahead with her arms hanging limply by her side. He looked at the gash on her forehead which had already stopped bleeding, before he walked down the ramp and nodded at Janus. He then asked Janus to open the door to the home before he walked in and brought his daughter to a room that was simply furnished. In the corner across from the door was a small bed, a small chest of drawers that was created by using a molecular assembler in the nearby outpost in a massive hollow cavern under the nearby hill, and a window that looked out to the hill. Gingerly placing his daughter on the bed, he called out to Janus to bring a cutter so that he could take the manacles off her wrists.
"Who did this to you, Athena?" asked Moros softly as he looked at his daughter, "was it one of those creatures you had warned our people about?"
Athena never answered her father that day, all she could do was breathe slowly and look up at the ceiling. That was Athena's life for nearly a week; she would lie down on the bed and not talk to anyone… even Moros, Janus, or Melia. Ganos had tried to get through to the redhead, but even she was unsuccessful. Athena would not eat, she only drank fluids that Moros would feed her after he would slowly sit her up. Once Melia and Ganos had returned from their mediation sessions, they were shocked to hear about what had happened to Athena. It was Melia who walked into Athena's room after they were told what had happened, she noticed the bruises on Athena's wrists that were caused by the manacles and the chain that Janus had cut a few minutes after returning from the rocky outcrop. She saw that the cuts on her cheek and arms had already healed over, and that the bandage over the gash on her forehead was still holding… it didn't need to be changed yet.
"Athena" said Melia as she crouched next to Athena's bed as the redhead was lying down on her back, "we are worried about you. Please talk to us, talk to me?"
No matter what anyone did, Athena simply refused to talk to anyone. However, Moros and the others never stopped trying. The men had made sure that Athena remained hydrated, while the women made sure that Athena received a shower at least once a day.
Seven days after the incident, Moros ordered a survey to find out what had happened. HE was certain that whatever caused the seismic tremors and the sinking of the land behind the rocky outcrop had something to do with the dark skinned woman that he and Janus had seen, and Athena. It was twelve hours later that Melia, who was one of the chief medical personnel on Atlantis, informed Moros about what they had found. She told the High Councillor that there was a large underground cave system that was now buried. There were still pockets were the caves were still stable but getting down there would be hazardous as it could cave in at any moment. Then with a quick glance to Athena's room, she turned back to Moros and told him that they had used the sensors on the Gateship to search for any other signs of life, or any type of biological material.
"We found bodies, Moros" said Melia as the old man's eyes opened wide as he looked back at Athena who was simply looking up at the ceiling before he turned back to Melia, "there were twenty nine thousand in that cave system, kept in two chambers. We ran additional scans and…. I am sorry Moros, but they had biological indicators that were similar to the proposals that Athena gave the council in regards to the genetically engineered clones."
"I see" said Moros quietly as he tried to wrap his mind around the figures.
"According to the scans" said Melia, "the most intact bodies were only seven days old, the rest seem to have been in those chambers for at least four to five years."
"I see" replied Moros again as he looked at his daughter, "thank you, Melia."
"Will you be letting the Council know?" she asked quietly.
"I would like to hear from Athena why those clones were created" said Moros as he turned back to Melia, "even my daughter cannot escape punishment for going against the Council."
"And if she had a good reason?" asked Melia as she turned Moros around as the both of them looked at Athena, "whatever the case maybe, I believe she is already being punished by her conscience."
Nodding at Melia, Moros watched as she walked out of the home before he walked into Athena's room. He then helped Athena sit up in bed as she kept on looking ahead. Sitting down in front of his daughter, Moros gently took a hold of her hand and squeezed.
"Athena" said Moros softly, "I asked Janus and Melia to conduct a survey of the region we found you. They found bodies in an underground cave system that had genetic similarities with the clones you proposed to create on Atlantis."
Moros watched as Athena's eyes shifted to him before her face slowly twisted as the redhead tried everything she could from breaking down.
"Athena" said Moros as he kissed the top of his daughter's trembling hands, "please tell me what happened?"
It was right then and there that Athena couldn't handle it anymore and simply broke down sobbing as Moros leaned forward and hugged his daughter. He rubbed circles on Athena's back as she sobbed heavily onto his shoulder, while trying to convince her that everything would be alright. But all he could feel was Athena shaking her head.
"No" said Athena softly between sobs and hiccups as she lay her head on his shoulder, "nothing will ever be alright. What have I done, father? What have I done?"
"What happened, Athena?" asked Moros.
"I am a mass murderer" said Athena before she broke down again. It was five minutes before she regained enough of her composure to whisper, "I… I know now what you meant, Father. Why you never allowed this to happen in Atlantis… I know why now. It is my fault… it is my fault."
"Oh Athena" said Moros as he hugged his daughter tighter as she broke down again while he closed his eyes.
"I… I.." said Athena as she composed herself again, "I would like to make a full confession to the Council."
"Athena" said Moros as he looked at his daughter, "you do…"
"I went against the Council's wishes, Father" said Athena, "I went against your wishes to act responsibly, and I should confess my crimes."
"Is that what you really wish, Athena?" asked Moros, "you can tell me, and I can decide if the full Council needs to be assembled."
"I wish to confess in front of the Council, Father" said Athena softly as she looked into Moros' eyes.
"Very well" said Moros as he nodded his head before he pulled Athena closer and hugged her tightly as she started sobbing again; letting out all her restrained emotions at one go.
It was two days later that the full Lantean Council was assembled at the behest of Moros inside the main cavern within Glastonbury Tor. The ten council members had gathered behind the central console as Moros pressed down on a few columns before a 'U' shaped table with its accompanying seats and a seat for Athena at the end of the legs beamed down into the cavern. Taking their places, with Moros at the head of the table, the Council was called into this special session.
"Dear councillors" said Moros as he looked at his colleagues on the Council, "thank you for coming to this special session. However, as this particular session involves my daughter… I feel it improper for me to chair this Council for today. With permission, I ask that I be allowed to recuse myself."
"I agree" said another council member, followed by another one and then another one; until all councillors had agreed. As Moros stepped back and walked towards Athena, Janus got off his seat and offered Moros another one so that he could sit behind Athena. However, Moros refused the seat and insisted on standing behind his daughter. IN Moros' place, Melia took over the chair for this particular session and called it to order before asking that all parties take their seats. As Athena took her seat, she looked behind at Moros who hand his hand gently on her shoulders.
"This special Council session has been called at the request of Athena Ren, daughter of Moros" said Melia as she looked at the other councillors and then at Athena, "I am sure that all of you have read the findings in an area near one of our continental outposts."
"Yes" said a councilman, "the land had subsided into a cave system due to a series of seismic shocks. Upon further investigation, bodies of twenty nine thousand clones were discovered in two chambers at various stages of decomposition."
"The clones had the same genetic signature as the clones that this same Council had objected to being created in Atlantis" said another Councillor to the left of Janus as she looked at Athena.
"Athena" said Melia, "is this true? Have you gone against the will of the Council in creating these clones?"
"Yes" said Athena as everyone on the council started to whisper to each other before Melia called everyone to order again.
"You are aware that this is the highest ruling body?" asked a bearded man who looked at Athena.
"Yes" replied the redhead softly, "I am well aware."
"And yet you went against our wishes" said another man as he raised his voice, "you were told that creating these clones tantamount to committing an act of genocide… which is exactly what seems to have happened. Are there more? Are there more of these clones that we should be aware of?"
"Yes" said Athena to the outrage of the council as Janus and Melia looked at Moros in surprise. They were shocked Moros himself looked back at them in surprise. Before the Council had sat down, Moros had already told Janus and Melia that Athena hadn't told him about everything that had happened, that he would be finding out everything at the same time as them.
'He was telling the truth' thought Janus to himself as he looked at Moros and then at Athena who was hanging her head in shame.
"Order!" shouted Melia over the outraged voices of many on the Council. It took a few minutes for everyone to quieten down before Melia spoke again, "Athena, we would like to hear your side of the story. There are only so much we could glean from these reports and so, to have the proper context, this Council would like to hear from you."
"Very well" said Athena as Moros squeezed her shoulder gently, "this story starts a little more than five years ago, which was went I met an amazing little ten year old girl who lived on the plains. Her name was… no… is Sineya."
Athena then went to tell the Council about how intelligent Sineya was, how adventurous just like how the Lanteans were as a people. Athena told the council that she had helped her in teaching the redhead the local language, while Athena taught her the Lantean language. Athena told the Council that she had been teaching her on various other subjects as well once she had learnt Sineya's language.
She then told them about the mystical sect of the Furlings, which was when the Council members looked at each other with concern. Everyone had read about how their predecessors had unknowingly opened a doorway into multiple dimensions with the help of the mystical sect, and were worried about what they had wanted this time. Athena told them about the prophesy that involved Sineya, that she was to have become a powerful weapon in a war against the darkness. Athena told the Council that in exchange for sparing the life of the child, she told the Furlings that she would give them the genetically engineered clones. But they had to convince the clones to help them fight. It was then that some of the Council members looked at Athena confused.
"Please explain" said a bald Councillor, "why would they have to convince the clones?"
"I removed the genetic programming that would have destroyed the clones with a single command" said Athena, "I wanted to give them the freedom to choose what they wanted to do. If they so wished, they could have said no to the mystics and would have lived a life of their choosing. They would have lived, and then died… they could have even had children."
"I see" said the bald man as others on the Council started whispering to each other before Melia called everyone to order again, and then asked Athena to continue.
Athena told them what how many clones the Furlings had requested, and what else had happened in the intervening years. She told them about the clones that were not viable because of the genetic flaw. She then told them of her discovery that all the clones, even those who had refused the mystics were killed after their life forces were taken by a creature that the Furlings had captured and tamed to follow their bidding. She told them that she had been betrayed by them; that they had taken Sineya anyway and then, right in front of her eyes, they forced the demon into an innocent girl.
"She was brave" said Athena as she wiped tears from her eyes, "at the end, before the demon was forced into her body; she was brave."
"That is the woman that Moros and I had seen?" asked Janus, "she had saved your life."
"Yes" said Athena as she nodded her head, "that is my confession. I will accept any punishment you deem worthy."
The Council had taken twenty minutes to deliberate on what they had just heard from Athena. In the meantime, Moros had crouched next to Athena and wiped the tear that were still falling from her eyes as she talked about Sineya.
"Athena" said Melia once the Council had reconvened, "why did you not inform the Council about the request from the mystic faction of the Furlings?"
"I do not know" said Athena, "all I wanted to do was protect Sineya. I was afraid that the Council would deny my request for the clones. So I took it on myself to create them, and then send them to the Furlings with the tacit agreement that they stay away from Sineya in addition, they were to take the decisions the clones made into account. If any of them refused to aid in their war, those clones were supposed to have been let go so that they could live their lives."
"Could you not have simply taken her off-world?' asked another Council woman.
"She had family in the nearby village" said Athena, "but when I found out that she was taken anyway, I resolved to get her back. I had intended that should I had been successful, she would come with me so that I could ask the Lantean Council to protect her…. but I was too late. Ultimately, everything that happened is my fault."
"I see" said the same woman, as she nodded at Melia.
"Athena Ren" said Melia as she looked at the redhead who sat straight on her seat, "after deliberation and with a split of five to four, this Council finds you guilty of violating its direct order in regards to the creation of the clones. Even though your intentions were well meaning, you still created the clones before coming to the Council, which could have given you and Sineya some alternatives."
"I understand" said Athena as she closed her eyes.
"Your research at the four outposts will be destroyed" said Melia, "all your files, including the data crystals you have brought from Atlantis will be destroyed. This technology is something that should not be passed down to our descendents, I hope that you understand why from what you had witnessed."
"Yes" said Athena softly.
"The thousand remaining clones will be destroyed as well" said Melia as she shook her head.
"I understand" said Athena softly again.
"And" said Melia as she sighed, "we understand your reasons for doing what you did, even though the opinion of this council still remains that what you did was wrong. You wanted to save an innocent life, and in the end you sacrificed thirty thousand and one. Sineya was sacrificed as well. I… we can see how this is hurting you, Athena; and that will be one of your punishments. You will remember what you have done, I do not believe you can forget something like this."
"No" said Athena softly, "I cannot. It will remain with me until the day I die."
"You will also…." Said Melia as she sighed and rubbed her forehead as Athena looked up at her, and then at Moros, "I am sorry."
"I accept any punishment" said Athena softly, "I will remember the clones that died. Their deaths, as well as what happened to Sineya will weigh heavily on my spirit until the day I die. If there is anything in addition, then I will accept that as well."
"The Council" said Melia as she looked at Athena and then at the other members of the Council, "the Council has ordered that you be exiled from this planet for a period of not more than ten years."
"I would like to speak on behalf of…" said Moros as Athena lay her hand on her father's which was still on her shoulder.
"Father" said Athena as she looked up at Moros while shaking her head. She then gave the old man a small smile before turning back to the Council, "I accept your punishment, however I have one last request."
"Speak" said a man who was seated next to Melia.
"Before I leave this planet" said Athena, "I would like the opportunity to say goodbye to Sineya one more time, and to give her a gift so that she may be able to protect herself; Weapons… the last weapons I will ever make."
"Does she not have special gifts because of your clones?" asked the same man.
"Yes" said Athena, "but fighting with her bare hands would go only so far. I do not intend to create clones or any biological weapons. I remember having being trained in wielding bladed weapons during my younger years in Atlantis, before I gave it up and focused myself on pursuing a cure for the Wraith. I intend to create such as weapon, if the Council so desires.. someone could oversee that what I create will not violate the Council's orders."
"Very well" said Melia as she looked at the man next to her who nodded his head, "I will personally oversee the destruction of your research, the clones as well as any data pertaining to them. Then I will oversee your creation of these weapons. Are we in agreement?"
"Yes" said Athena.
"Very well" said Melia as she stood up, "this Council has been dismissed."
Sunnydale Outpost, 10,000 years ago; three days later, 1400 hours.
The next day, Athena and Melia had taken a Gateship to the closest outpost to Athena's home that had the molecular assembler. Before leaving for her home though, Athena asked Melia if they could make a quick stop to Sineya's village; she was hoping that maybe the girl goes home from time to time, especially since her grandmother stays there. After landing the craft, Athena asked Melia to wait inside while she decide to go into the village by herself.
Melia nodded as the redhead lowered the ramp and walked out of the Gateship. Athena walked to the border of the village where she was met with Sineya's grandmother and the other men of the village.
"Sorceress" said the grandmother as she pointed a finger towards Athena, "what have you done to my grand-daughter."
"What do you mean?" asked Athena.
"Sineya came to the village yesterday when we were almost overrun by demons" said one of the men, "she killed them all with her bare hands, it was as if she was a demon herself."
"This is what I warned you may happen" said Athena as she looked at the grandmother, "I told you that this could happen to Sineya, but no… you insisted on her following a destiny that I am quite sure you yourself did not understand."
"She is possessed by a demon" said the grandmother, "and it is all your fault."
"Yes" said Athena as she nodded her head, "I should have taken her out of this region years ago. This is my fault."
"Can you not cure her?" asked another man.
"No" said Athena as she shook her head, "this is beyond the abilities of my people. Sineya will remain like this until the day she dies. Where is she?"
"We chased her away" said the grandmother as she looked at Athena glaring at her.
"Your own grand-daughter" said Athena, "you chased away the very person you sacrificed? How could you?"
"She was insane" said one of the men, "she was like an animal as she killed the demons, we feared her and…."
"Excuses" said Athena as she turned around and started to walk back to her Gateship, "all excuses. The truth is, you people wanted her to fulfil the prophesy and when it did not go the way you thought it would… you disowned her. I feel sorry for you all."
"How dare you" said the grandmother as Athena stopped and glanced back.
"I will left this planet" said Athena, "you will not see me again. Goodbye."
Athena then walked back to the Gateship as a surprised village looked on while the redhead shut the ramp and walked up to the co-pilots seat and sat down. Nodding at Melia, the Gateship then took off and flew towards the outpost in modern day Sunnydale.
Once they had reached the outpost, Athena went to the molecular assembler while Melia went to the console and started to delete all the files related to any, and all, genetic research that Athena had conducted. She then activated the self destruct mechanism on the second and third floors of the outpost. IN the meantime, Athena walked towards the far wall where a screen extended to her face and she grabbed handlebars that were located on the wall as well. Once she looked into the screen, a pedestal to her left started to glow as three dimensional holograms of molecules formed in the space above the pedestal.
"Athena" said Melia as she stepped back from the console, "all files have been deleted, all video has been deleted and the self destruct has been activated; you have twenty minutes."
"Very well" said Athena as Melia watched as the molecules in the air started to change and combine together until they formed two long metal shafts, with one end of the shafts flanged with spikes; and then what looked like a long wooden stake attached to the end.
"Why are you using wood?" asked Melia as she watched what looked like two blades being formed.
"Sineya told be that these vampire creatures had a weakness against wood" said Athena.
"Wood?" said Melia with an eyebrow raised, "why wood?"
"I do not know" replied Athena with a smile, "however, I am reinforcing both of the weapons at the molecular level with Naquada. It would be harness any type of energy that Sineya encounters during her travels."
"I see" replied Melia.
"I have also placed some nanites on the blade itself" said Athena as Melia watched two elegantly curved silver blades attach themselves to the metal shafts before they were gently lowered down to the pedestal, "the nanites would keep the blade razor sharp, that is their only program. It would be sharp enough to cut through any armour."
"It is extremely light as well" said Melia as she carried one of the weapons in her hand, "you would think that a weapon such as this would be heavy, but it is lighter than it appears. I am just concerned about the wood. Will the Naquada be enough?"
"Yes" replied Athena as she took both the other weapon before bending down and opening a small port where she fired her energy weapon and destroyed the crystals inside. Melia had already ripped out the chips from the DNA replication machine and scattered them in the floor before firing on them as well so that no one would ever be able to use them in the future. Then, the both of them headed towards the transportation rings, "it will have to be enough, Melia."
It had taken them nearly three hours and six stops at the nearby villages before they were able to ascertain a location for Sineya. During the search for the young woman, Athena had been hoping that the Furlings had been unable to get to her before she did. Then, as luck would have it, sensors in the Gateship picked up one lone human life sign that was fighting against ten non-human ones. Athena nodded at Melia as the woman accelerated the ship to that location until they were right on top of Sineya as she fought single-handedly against ten horned demons from all sides.
Frowning to herself, Athena then quickly got up from the co-pilots seat and grabbed the two weapons that were on the rear seat. She then ran to the back and pressed the button to put down the ramp in mid-air.
"Hold the ship steady" said Athena as she looked at Melia who nodded her head. Athena then turned at looked out at Sineya as she was punched by a demon and knocked back. Holding a weapon in each hand, the redhead pulled her arms back and looked at the demon that was approaching Sineya as she slowly got up.
"Sineya!" shouted Athena as Sineya and the demons looked at the redhead. She then threw one of the weapons towards Sineya who grabbed it out of midair before she ran towards the demon and slashed it in half with one stroke. She then used the fallen body of that demon and swung the weapon to cleave the head of another demon straight off. As the demons looked at each other confused, Sineya heard Athena call her name again. She turned around just as Athena threw her the second weapon which she grabbed with her other hand. Now with the bladed weapons in each hand, Sineya massacred all ten of the demons easily.
Once the final demon had fallen, Sineya looked up at the two women who were looking at her from the ship. She had vague memories of Athena, the bloodlust had taken her over so much that she couldn't think of anything else… but she had vague memories of the red haired woman. She saw the woman's mouth moving slightly as her voice carried through the air.
"Goodbye, Sineya" said Athena as Sineya looked up with both of the weapons dripping blood, "I am going away for some time. Perhaps I will see you again, before our respective ends. Be careful, and know that I love you."
Athena and Melia looked on as the woman below them raised both of the weapons high into the air, before giving off a scream. Sineya then turned around and started running to a nest of vampires that she had sensed in a cave nearby.
"Athena" said Melia as he looked at the redhead as they set course for the other outposts, "have you thought about where you would go for your exile?"
"No" said Athena softly.
"Moros and I were discussing this" said the dark haired woman, "there is a planet called Kheb. I can give you the gate address; it is the perfect place for one to find forgiveness within themselves. It is an untouched landscape that is peaceful and serene."
"I do not know if I deserve forgiveness" said Athena softly as he leaned back on the seat.
"Everyone deserves forgiveness" said Melia, "you did what you did to protect Sineya, and…."
"I broke a law" said Athena, "which resulted in massive deaths, a sacrifice… and now my exile."
"I am sorry" said Melia.
"No" replied Athena, "nothing to be sorry about, old friend. I'm just tired, that's all. Maybe that is what I will do in Kheb. Sleep."
The Antarctic Stargate, two days later
Athena was gathering the last of her supplies, including the Potentia that she had in her home that had been powering the now disassembled shields. She had placed iy in a compartment on the Gateship while Janus and Ganos helped her put some of her bags in the rear of the ship.
"Athena" said Moros who walked onto the vessel as the redhead stood up from the pilot's seat, "are you prepared?"
"Yes, Father" said Athena as she hugged Moros, "I am very sorry for what I have done."
"I wish you well, my dear daughter" said Moros, "I wish I had visited you more often when you were on the plains."
"It is quite alright, Father" said Athena as she looked at Moros, "I understand that you are close to ascension, as are the others."
"Yes" said Moros as he kissed her forehead, "do not be concerned, I will visit you before that day comes. In the meantime, I would like for you to begin your own preparations."
"I will, Father" smiled Athena as she kissed Moros' cheek. It was then that Ganos, Melia and Janus walked into the ship to say goodbye to Athena. Once all the goodbyes were said, and Moros glared at Janus after he had kissed Athena, the four of them left the ship before the ramp slowly retracted up into the ship. Once everyone was clear off the ship and the Stargate, Athena took off and dialled the address for Kheb. Once the Stargate had activated, Athena waved and smiled at her father before flying through the Gate.
Once she was on the other side, she flew straight up into the sky to take in the beauty of the planet. Her father and Melia were right, there were mountains surrounded by trees, rivers and pathways untouched by anyone. Flying through the air, Athena stopped the ship when she noticed buildings in the distance; in the valley between two mountain ranges.
"That is odd" said Athena to herself as she flew towards the buildings, "Father and Melia told me that there was no one here."
As she landed the ship outside the white walls of the group of buildings, she grabbed her hard case which she placed on her back and walked towards a metal gate. Opening the gate slowly, Athena walked on a clean path to a circular entrance made out of stone that looked like a Stargate. Slowly walking into the square, Athena smiled as she looked around her surroundings.
"It feels… peaceful" said Athena to herself as she walked towards one of two ponds and looked at the plant life that was growing inside. She then stepped back and looked around again before she walked towards a large building and opened the door. Walking into the inside room, she noticed that the walls were yellow with some unknown language on them and then in the middle of the room were some lit candles in a circle. Walking around the outside of the circle, she heard a noise behind her and immediately turned around.
"Hello" said a tall blonde woman as she smiled at Athena.
"Greetings" replied Athena as she bowed her head slightly, "I apologize for coming in uninvited, I was told that there was no one on this planet and, well… I found this place peaceful since I walked in. So…"
"It is quite alright" said the woman as she walked towards Athena, "this is my retreat, I have placed it here for people like yourself."
"Like myself?" asked Athena.
"You are unsure of yourself" said the woman as she looked at Athena who looked back in surprise as she took a step back, "you feel you have done an incredible crime for which you do not believe yourself worthy of forgiveness."
"How?" said Athena shaking her head, "how… I mean… How?"
"The great path is waiting for you, Athena Ren of Atlantis" said the woman, "you need to learn to forgive yourself."
"How you do know my name?" asked Athena as she took another step back, "I never told you my name."
"Can you forgive yourself, Athena?" said the woman again, "is that something you want to achieve?"
"You are right" said Athena as she walked past the woman, "I do not think I am worthy of forgiveness, I should leave… "
"You are afraid that the darkness in your heart will stain the serenity of this location" said the woman as Athena turned back to look at the woman in surprise, "you believe that you have failed everything you set out to do."
"I was thinking that" said Athena as she looked suspiciously at the woman.
"You are not a failure, Athena" said very familiar voice form behind Athena.
Turning around, the redhead saw a bright white light with tendrils floating behind as it descended from the ceiling and took the form of a tall, brown haired young woman.
"Hera" said Athena as she rushed towards her sister and gave her a tight hug as tears fell from her eyes, "you have… you have…"
"Ascended?" asked Hera as she held her sobbing sister tightly, "yes.. yes I have."
"I am so sorry, Hera" said Athena as she looked into her sisters eyes, "I failed… I failed at everything I did… I wanted vengeance for what happened to you, and in my foolishness another innocent was affected."
"Sineya" said Hera, "I know."
"I see" said Athena sadly, "you were not able to do anything, were you?"
"No" said Hera, "you know the rules, we cannot interfere in the lower plains. You had made the choice on your own, you had to make it on your own. I'm sorry about what happened… but it would have happened either way. Sineya meeting you expanded her mind to new possibilities, new futures…. She looked up to you as someone she hoped she could one day become. You helped her understand the universe, Athena."
"Then I betrayed her" said Athena as she knelt down on the floor with Hera, "I betrayed her. I still failed."
"I wanted to end a race by murdering another race" continued Athena as she hung her head in shame, "all for the protection of my civilization and for revenge for what was done to my sister. I then created another race that I wanted to live long lives that were eventually killed, all because I wanted to protect an innocent life from harm. What does that make me?"
"Human" said Hera a she caressed her sister's cheeks, "I have always been watching over you, I have seen the pain in your heart my dear sister. And now, I need for you to let it go."
"I do not know how" said Athena as she shook her head.
"I will show you" said the woman as Hera helped Athena stand up, "you have to unburden yourself; the great path is waiting for you, I can show you how to get there, but you have to walk."
"Very well" said Athena as she looked at her sister, and smiled, "I want to learn. I want to start the journey."
"Come, Athena of Atlantis" said the woman as he reached out her hand, "come with me, and we will begin."
"Athena" said Hera as she redhead walked away with the woman, "I will see you again, as will mother. She miss you greatly."
"So do I" smiled Athena as she looked back and saw Hera start to glow white before she floated up into the air as a pulsing ball of white and left through the ceiling.
"I apologize again" said Athena as she looked at the ceiling, and then at the woman next to her, "I never asked for your name."
"My name is Oma; Oma Desala."
The Giza Plateau, 10,000 years ago; Fifty years later.
A robed and hooded woman was walking through a crowded village at the base of a giant pyramid. As she reached the middle of the village; the woman noticed guards holding what looked like staffs walking down the pathway towards her. Noticing that everyone was bowing down, the woman adjusted the bladed weapon that was underneath her robes and fell down to one knee and kept her head low. She didn't want to bring any attention to herself, especially since she knew quite a lot about the leader of these guards. AS the woman looked at the guards who passed by her, she watched then with her green eyes as a stray grey hair came into view. Slowly standing up, she made sure that the weapon was still in its place as she began the slow walk to where she needed to go.
As she walked she thought back to what happened twenty years ago, back then she was still relatively young and although her hair wasn't as red as when she was younger, it still had that red colour.. unlike now where her hair was all grey, and wrinkles had covered her face.
'Sineya' thought Athena to herself as she walked down a narrow passage way while more of her grey hair covered her face thanks to the gentle breeze that was drifting in from the dessert. It was twenty years ago, that Athena had returned to Earth from her training on Kheb, it was the day that Sineya had fallen bravely in battle against a great and powerful being that would later be referred to as dragons.
Athena had a dream that Sineya fell in battle against the dragon and a horde of thirty demons that were converging at the very first dimensional gateway that was created on Earth. Waking up with a start, she had thanked Oma for everything she had done for her and that she knew what her path was now. Athena told the blonde woman that she had succeeded in showing her the path, and that it was finally time for the redhead to start her own journey.
Smiling at Athena, Oma nodded her head as she saw the redhead leave for the Gateship that she had kept hidden for all these years. As Athena got the ship ready for flight, she checked to make sure that all the drone weapons were available. Once everything was in the clear, she activated the vessel after years of disuse as it slowly rose into the air and then it's wings extended and it flew towards the Stargate, and activated it to go to Earth.
She was surprised when she exited the Gate in a different location than the Stargate in the Southern Pole, and immediately cloaked the vessel when sensors indicated a giant ship in the shape of a pyramid lay right next to the Stargate. Frowning at the vessel, she noticed a large village at the base of the ship as well.
"Must be those Goa'uld my father told me about before he ascended" said Athena to herself as she set course for the first dimensional gateway. She recalled how Moros had come through the gate at Kheb and told her about parasites that took human hosts and used them as puppets had settled on Earth. Not only had they claimed that they were gods so that they subjugate the people, they had also planned to seed the humans throughout the galaxy to be used as slaves. Moros told Athena that to combat this new threat, they had entered into an alliance with three races.
"You know of the Asgard and the Nox?" asked Moros as he walked with Athena along the banks of a river on Kheb.
"Yes" said Athena as she nodded her head, "they are a good people, at least from what I remember from my history classes."
"Yes" replied Moros, "I have met with the leader of the Asgard, Thor. I told him about you… he would like to meet with you one day to talk about genetics."
"I see" replied Athena, "who is the other member of this alliance?"
"The Furlings" said Moros as he noticed the frown on Athena's face, "these are the ones who answer to their Central Authority, not the mystics that you had encountered with Sineya."
"I see" said Athena as she smiled at her father.
It was ten years after the establishment of the alliance that Moros had ascended, along with Janus and the others. Eventually other Lanteans, now calling themselves the Ancients, took over leadership of the council and had approached Athena to take her father's seat. However, she refused stating that it was time for the young to take the reins of leadership, and that she wanted to concentrate on ascension. But she did make herself available to anyone on the Council who wanted advice. Eventually, she became an advisor to the High Councillor, a position that she would keep even after she returned to Earth.
As Athena flew the ship to the site of the battle in her dream, she found that she was too late. The ground was red thanks to the blood that flowed from the demons and the dead dragon that lay on the ground. As Athena landed the ship, she rushed out even before the ramp had a chance to reach the blood stained ground.
"Sineya!" shouted Athena as she searched for the girl she had met all those years ago, "Sineya!"
Not hearing anything, Athena closed her eyes and stood completely still. Reaching out with her mind, she found herself looking over all of the dead or dying on the battlefield until she found Sineya who was sitting against a boulder, and bleeding from her mouth and from a gaping hole in her chest. When she retracted her mind, Athena turned towards the boulder and ran as fast as she could. She saw the wound, it was fatal. Athena knew that it was just a miracle that Sineya was still breathing.
"I can heal her" said Athena to herself, "Oma thought me to open my mind to certain abilities, open my mind to ascension… I can do it. Sineya, I am coming."
It was a few minutes later that she reached Sineya's location and immediately she started to cry as she slid down on down knees in front of her. Athena then looked at the woman in front of her as she lay her hand on Sineya's chest and closed her eyes.
"Heal…. Please heal" said Athena to herself as she opened her eyes, "Heal… please."
"Athena" said Hera's voice from behind the redhead, "I am sorry."
"Heal her, Hera" said Athena as she turned to face her sister, "please."
"I cannot" replied Hera shaking her head, "I am only here to fulfil a promise I had made to Sineya."
"A promise?" said Athena confused, "what promise?"
"Ascension" replied Hera as she look around, "she used your weapons to take down the last of these great creatures. A battle that she paid with her life, and now… I will fulfil my promise to ascend her."
"Mo….. mother" said Sineya as she looked at Athena. Using the last of her strength, Sineya handed one of the weapons to Athena, "k… keep…. Oth.. others… co.. come."
"Sineya" said Athena as she took the bloodstained weapon and placed it beside her, "I am so sorry, I didn't know.. if I had come earlier… I could have used the weapons on the ship.. I…."
"N… No" said Sineya as she struggled to lift her hands. Athena took the warrior's hands in hers and kissed the top as she cried, "de… demon… let.. let me ta… talk."
"Sineya" said Hera as she stood next to Athena before crouching down. She then reached towards the Slayer who looked at Hera and shook her head, leaving both women confused.
"No… no" said Sineya as she struggled to breathe. Sineya was using her will to keep the demon inside her until she could get her message through to the two sisters, "st.. stay he… here."
"You do not want to ascend?" asked Hera as she raised an eyebrow at Sineya and then her sister.
"N.. no" said Sineya, "cho… chosen, mu.. must help. Mu… must guide."
"I see" said Hera as she pulled her hand back.
"Hera?" said Athena, "ascend her."
"It is her choice, Athena" said Hera, "she feels that she should guide her chosen successors here on Earth. I need you to calm down, and only then will you be able to hear her thoughts."
Suddenly, everything melted away for Athena as she and Hera stood in a tent where a girl, who looked as if she was fourteen years old, was talking to her mother.
"My successor" said Sineya as she walked through the tent opening and looked both Athena and Hera, "I will guide her as best I could. The priests will come for her one day, they will watch her… they will train her… they will use her for power."
"Sineya" said Hera, "you realize that if you die…."
"I can sense the lines being formed" said Sineya as she closed her eyes, "I can sense all the ones who could be the one out there… I can sense them throughout time. From me, to the Potentials, to the Chosen… I can feel them all."
"I see" said Hera as she smiled at Sineya, "I wish you well, Sineya."
"Thank you" said Sineya as she smiled at Hera before turning to Athena whose eyes were already red. She walked towards Athena and gave her a hug, "thank you, mother. You opened my mind to great things, things I would never had known about. I only wish that I could have seen your home."
"Here" said Athena as she grabbed a hold of Hera's hand, as well as Sineya's before their surroundings changed and they found themselves on Atlantis' East pier, "the city of towers, Atlantis."
"It is beautiful" replied Sineya as she looked at the various towers that made up Atlantis, before she turned back to Hera and Athena, "thank you for this gift. I wish the both of you well."
"Goodbye, Sineya" said Athena as she and Hera found themselves back in the real world as Sineya's hands became limp, and her breathing stopped. Athena wiped her eyes as she gently laid Sineya's hands down on her lap, and then closed her eyelids, "goodbye, my daughter."
Then suddenly, Sineya's body began to rise into the air slowly as Hera and Athena stood back in surprise. Soon, she was floating high over their heads as eight beams of bright blue light emanated from Sineya's body and shot out to all four cardinal, and ordinal directions. Athena could see the beams running too far for any human eye to see.
"I sense it" said Hera as she looked at her sister, "I sense the lines that Sineya was telling us about. It is going around and through the Earth itself, reinforced by the energy taken from your clones."
"She had to die to create it" said Athena as Sineya's body gently landed in her arms.
"Yes" said Hera as he picked up one weapon as Athena looked at it questioningly "seems as if the other one is broken."
"I will bury her with the one that is broken" said Athena, "I will search for someone who can keep the intact weapon safe. I do not want it to fall into the wrong hands should I ascend."
"Very well" said Hera as she lay the intact and the broken weapon on Sineya who was in Athena's arms, "I wish you well, my sister. I have been here for too long."
"Goodbye, my sister" said Athena as she watched Hera start to glow before she floated away, "I will join you."
Twenty years since that day, Athena had been searching for someone who could keep the weapon safe. She didn't want to give it to the Furlings, even the ones who were in the Alliance, since she didn't trust them. After travelling the world for two decades, Athena had come across a rumour about a group of women calling themselves the Guardians of the Ones. She had heard that they were very much against a group of priests who would come into villages to take away girls who they claimed had a destiny. All the rumours that she had heard, led to back to the area near the Stargate; at the village at the base of the giant pyramid ship.
'Ummm…. Destiny…. Sounded familiar to me at the time' thought Athena to herself as she reached a large tent at one end of the village. Bending low and grimacing from the pain that her back was causing her, she walked into the large tent only to see four young women who stopped talking to themselves once the saw Athena enter their tent.
"Greetings" said Athena, "I am here to see…."
"We know, you must have a friend or a family member who was approached by the men in shadow" said the four girls together as they stood up, "please follow us."
Athena smiled under her hood as she saw the four girls move a rug to one side, leaving a trap door exposed. One of the girls bent down to open the door and then the four of them climbed down the ladder. But not before motioning Athena to follow them down.
"You realize that I am an old lady?" asked a smiling Athena as she walked towards the opening in the floor and looked at the ladder that went straight down. When the girls didn't give her an answer, Athena let out a sigh before she stepped onto the empty space and floated down to the lower level by using her telekinesis to bring her body gently down. Once she was down, she saw the young girl running towards a group of six women who looked to be in their mid-twenties.
"Greetings" said one of them, a young blonde woman, as she got up and walked towards Athena, "my name is Lara. We are the Guardians of the Ones, may we help you?"
"My name is Athena Ren, you need better security" said Athena as she pulled back her hood to reveal a grey haired old woman, "I could have been one of Ra's minions."
"We know the creature known as Ra does not use old women, or old men for that matter" said another woman as the others stood up and walked towards Athena, "how can we aid one of the Ancient ones?"
"I see you are well versed in the mystics" said Athena as she looked at Lara, "however, I sense that you could be trusted with what I have to offer you."
"Is it true?" said another girl excitedly, "that you are really one of the Ancient ones?"
"There was a time we were called Lanteans" said Athena as she chuckled to herself at how excited that girl was getting, "but yes, we are now known as the Ancients."
"Interesting" said the youngest looking of the six of them, "bu you grow old as well."
"We are human" said Athena, "but, the reason I came is…"
"You wish to protect the one known as the Slayer" said another woman who stepped forward, "and…."
"I ask that you do not read my mind without my permission" said Athena as she glared at the woman as she closed off her mind to outside intrusions, "it is very rude."
"Apologies" said Lara as she glared at the woman behind her, and then turned back to face Athena, "how may we help you?"
Athena then pushed her robe to the side and took out the intact weapon and held it out on both her hands.
"This was used by Sineya" said Athena as the six women started to whisper among themselves.
"The First of the Ones?" asked Lara as she gingerly took the weapon from Athena who then stepped back, "the Shadow Men do not know about this weapon?"
"No" said Athena with a smile, "they do not know; will you protect it? Will you give it to the one who is worthy to lift it once more?"
"Why don't you keep it with you?" asked another girl.
"I do not have long" said Athena as the six of them stepped back as the old woman started to slowly glow white, "before I am unable to interfere."
"I see" said Lara as she looked at the weapon, "we will spread your name as the creator of this weapon."
"No" said Athena firmly, "I do not want my name attached to that weapon, no one must know where it came from or who created it. The technology that created it is sealed, only the ones who have the genetic heritage of my people will be able to access it's secrets now, if it is discovered that weapon was created with technology not of this world; people will fight for it…. They will kill for it. And I do not want that. That weapon is for the ones that you call Slayers, do I make myself clear."
"Yes" said Lara as she noticed that Athena had started to walk towards the ladder, "wait, where will you go now? Why do you not stay with us? There is so much we can learn from you."
"My family is waiting for me" said Athena as the six younger women stepped back and covered their eyes as Athena's form was overtaken by a brilliant white glow. When the light dimmed, they saw the robe, hood and clothes that Athena was wearing laying on the floor while Athena herself was dressed in a long sleeved white strapless dress with golden embroidery on her chest as she stood smiling at the women.
"Ascension" said Lara as she looked at a much younger, and red haired, Athena, "the secret of your people."
"It is no secret" said Athena as she started to glow, "every living thing works towards Ascension, I hope that you would be able to find your own way. In the meantime, I wish to explore the universe. My people are explorers by nature… I wish to see the sight and sounds of this galaxy, and the next… and the ones after that."
"Watch over them, watch over the Slayers" said Athena as she glowed white until all that remained was a pulsing white ball of light with tendrils trailing behind it as it flew out of the tent and into the air. Athena then flew towards the Stargate and thought of an address before she flew through the wormhole which had immediately opened.
She was going to meet her family again, and then go on adventures.
Colonel Carter's Home, 0830 hours, the same day. (Present time)
It had been nearly six hours since the briefing was over at the SGC, following which Colonel Carter and the others had their post-mission checks done, and then they had later met with Faith in the infirmary as they talked to her over how Willow was doing. They were surprised that, by the time they had come into the infirmary, the machines were indicating that Willow's brain was operating at ninety six percent capacity. However, she still hadn't woken up.
She remembered Teal'c and Vala had told Faith that he would alternate with her in watching over Willow since the both of them did not have a place to go off the base. When the others had insisted that they join too, Faith told everyone to go home. That it wouldn't do anyone good if everyone had to stay in the infirmary for the whole night. She had reminded the Colonel that Debra and General Carter were waiting at home for her, and that she had to think about the youngest addition to her family. Reluctantly nodding her head, it was Colonel Mitchell, General O'Neill and Woolsey who walked out with Colonel Carter. Once they reached the surface, the General went over to the house he was renting to Faith and Willow so that he could stay in the guest room, while Woolsey headed over to the hotel he was staying in. Colonel Mitchell then said his goodbyes to Colonel Carter as he went home, while the blonde woman walked over to her Volvo and drove to her old house where she saw that General Carter was fast asleep with the television on in the living room. Giving her father a kiss on the forehead, she put a blanket over him before she tip toed over to Debra's room where the four month old baby was fast asleep in her own crib.
Standing over her, the Colonel noticed a little note on the wall. Walking over to it, she took it and then read it by the light from the nightlight. She smiled when she noticed that it was in General Carter's handwriting basically saying that Debra was fed, and changed not thirty minutes ago. Smiling the Colonel put the note in her pocket before walking back to the crib where she leaned over, kissed the tips of her middle and index fingers together before gently tapping Debra's cheeks.
"Mommy will see you tomorrow morning" said the Colonel, "how about we go see Auntie Willow? She's not feeling too well; maybe you can make her feel all better."
Smiling as Debra gave a little yawn but didn't wake up, the Colonel slowly walked out the door… but not before turning around again and looking at her sleeping daughter. Then she thought about Willow, and what she was going through right at this moment.
"if it's true' thought the Colonel to herself as she walked into her room and closed the door before she slipped out of her clothes, 'if Willow really is Athena, then…. Holy Hannah, she must have seen history…. Wow… the technology she must have seen, people she must have met…. I bet everyone will want to talk to her. Starting from the history department onwards.'
It was nearly six in the morning when her cell phone rang, and a groggy Colonel Carter slowly reached for the phone before she flipped it open and connected the call. It was someone from her science decision who had some problems with some of the human built versions of the Kull armour that the teams were wearing to Caprica today, and the Colonel was asked to come in to take care of it before the Avalon and the Excalibur headed to Caprica.
Slowly getting up, she sat at the edge of her bed when she smiled upon hearing laughter from outside her closed door. Putting a robe over her pyjama's, the Colonel walked out of her room only to see her father sitting on the couch as he put a formula bottle into Debra's mouth.
"Hey, morning kiddo" said the General as he smiled at the Colonel before looking down at Debra, "look Debbie, your mommy's here."
"Good morning, honey" said a smiling Colonel Carter as she walked up to the General who gingerly handed the still feeding baby to the blonde woman, "hi, wat'cha drinking?"
The Colonel looked on as she slowly swayed her body from side to side while carrying Debra as the General got up and made a cup of black coffee for his daughter. After handing the Colonel her coffee, he started to make her breakfast while she sat down on the couch just as Debra finished her bottle. Then, proceeding to burp the baby, the General asked her how come she was up so early.. that she was supposed to have a day off.
"Something's come up with the armour, dad" said the Colonel as she smiled when Debra gave a small burp, "I have to get it fixed up before the SG teams leave for that planet I told you about."
"Right" said the General, "Caprica? Is that it?"
"Yea" said the Colonel as she leaned back on her couch and raised Debra with both her hands until they were face to face. She then started making faces at the baby which elicited laughter from the tiny blonde.
"I have a meeting with Jack later on at the mountain" said the General, "I'll leave Debra with Eileen, and if you're done by lunch.. we'll pick up Deb and then get a bite to eat."
With General Carter now working out of the SGC so that he could help the Colonel with Debra, he would leave the baby with Colonel Davis' wife, Eileen and their four children whenever he had to leave for the mountain. They had simply adored Debra and had always welcomed her to their home. Usually the General would only be at the SGC until one in the afternoon and then he'd pick up Debra and spend the rest of the day with her, at least until the Colonel got back which was when she would hog all of Debra's time.
"I'd love that" said the Colonel as she looked at Debra, "what do you say Debra, wanna go for lunch with mommy and grandpa?"
Looking at the smiling baby, all the Colonel could do was laugh when Debra tried to reach for her nose. All of a sudden, there was a foul stench in the air as Debra brought her tiny hands to her mouth and laughed.
"Ok" said the Colonel as she narrowed her eyes at her daughter, "looks like someone just had a little accident."
"How about you go change her?" said the General as he watched the Colonel get up from the couch with Debra's hands across her neck, and trying to eat the Colonel's blonde hair, "and I'll get breakfast set."
"Thanks, dad" replied the Colonel as she took her baby to the changing area.
After she was done changing Debra, the Colonel walked back to the living room and sat down at the table as the General laid a plate of food in front of her. He saw how Debra's eyes went wide at the sight of the food and smiled when her small hands tried to reach for the eggs that were on the plate as the Colonel kissed the top of her head and started eating. The both of them could see Debra following the path of the fork as it went from the plate to the Colonel's mouth, before the baby put her hands on the blonde woman's cheek.
Once the Colonel was done, she gave the little girl a kiss on the cheek before she handed Debra to the General and rushed to her room to change. It was twenty minutes later that the Colonel came back to a crying Debra who could sense that her mother was leaving soon. Smiling, the Colonel reached out as the General handed Debra to her; she then swung Debra side by side until she quietened down and started to laugh hysterically at the Colonel who was also making funny faces at her. The Colonel then leaned over and kissed Debra on both her cheeks and her forehead before gingerly handing the little girl back to the General.
"Deb" said the Colonel as she put on her shoes, "how would you like to cheer up your Auntie Willow?"
"Something's wrong with Willow?" asked the General.
"She… Well, she's kinda injured.. I'll tell you when you get to the mountain" said the Colonel, "maybe after lunch we can head back to the SGC, and we can stay with Willow for a little while. Maybe sensing Debra will wake her up."
"Something major?" asked the General in concern.
"Tell you at the mountain?" asked the Colonel as she reached for the door.
"Sure" said the General as he walked up to the open door with Debra in his arms as the both of them watched the Colonel get into her car, but not before she ran back to the porch and gave Debra two huge kisses on her cheeks as the baby started jumping and flailing her arms at the Colonel. Grinning, the blonde woman carried Debra onto her arms and hugged her tightly before kissing her again and handing her back to the General.
"Bye, Dad… Bye, Deb" said the Colonel as she waved her hand.
"See you, Sam" replied the General, and then her gently held up Debra's hand and waved at the Colonel.
Smiling, the Colonel waved back before she got into her car and reversed it onto the main road. She then waved again before driving off towards the SGC. Once the car had turned at a corner at the end f the street, the General smiled at Debra before turning around and going back into the house.
Unknown to either the General or Colonel Carter, there was a non-descript tanned sedan that was parked at the other far end of the street. It looked like any normal car with tinted windows, except this car's sole occupant was watching as the Colonel left the house, and General Carter went back in with Debra through a pair of binoculars.
"See Debra" said a bearded Pete as he put the binoculars down to the passenger side seat, "I told you that I'd be seeing you again."
Pete reached across the passenger side and opened the glove box, taking out a pair of gloves which he immediately put on, followed by a tube of pepper spray which he kept on the passenger side seat and a handgun with an attached silencer which he kept next to the pepper spray. Taking a deep breath, Pete started the engine to the used piece of junk that he was driving and slowly drove to the Colonel's old home. Ever since the divorce, the former detective's life had got into a downward spiral. He had lost all contacts in the police force after he had admitted what he had done, especially since the Air Force had conducted their own investigation into the syringes of the tampered birth control injections, and the condoms. All the reports had been sent to the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the man had been instantly fired even before he could try and blame everything on Colonel Carter. He then had to sell his house and suffer the indignity of moving back with his parents who wouldn't believe a word of what the police department had said. They were of the opinion that it was Colonel Carter who did something wrong to have gotten their son fired and put on the sex offenders registry.
His biggest loss though wasn't Colonel Carter, it was Debra. He wanted her back, his parents were getting ready to fight for custody of the child despite what was agreed to in their divorce agreement. Pete was sure that nothing would come out of it since he suspected that General O'Neill had powerful friends that would prevent Debra from ever being with him. He didn't fear Willow, despite what she had told him. He convinced himself that he was just seeing things that day at the hospital, that Willow must have been on some drugs that affected her eyes.. and that her hair changing colour was just a trick of the light.
"That red haired bitch will pay one day" said Pete to himself, "but first, I need to take Debra out of here… she's the main objective. Take her out of here, and we'll catch a direct flight to my friend's lakeside cabin up north. Too bad Sam, I was going to take you there after Debra was born. Now I guess it's just Debra and me."
Pete knew that the cabin's owners, who also happened to be one of the few people other than his parents who didn't believe the charges against him, were overseas for a few months. They had told him after he was fired that he was more than welcome to stay there and clear his head, before he made a decision on what to do next. They had showed him where the hidden site for the door key was, and then they went off a few days ago. It was then that Pete had come up with the plan to take Debra away to the cabin, where he would begin a new life with his daughter in a new country.
As he parked his car on the roadside, he reached over and grabbed the pepper spray and his weapon while thinking about his plan again. He would take Debra, put her in the child seat and then drive all the way to Denver. From Denver he'd take a direct flight to Saskatoon, and from there he'd take Debra to the now empty cabin. As he got out of the car, he put the pepper spray in his hand while he tucked the weapon under the jacket that he was wearing this cold morning. It had been a little more than four months for him to plan, and now that his friends were leaving the cabin… he finally had his chance, and he was going to take it.
The man walked up to the house, got onto the porch and knocked on the door. Smiling to himself when he heard a door close from the inside, and then he heard General Carter asking whoever it was to hold on. Taking a quick look around, Pete made sure that no one was nearby just as he heard the door locks being disengaged from the inside. Taking out the weapon from under his jacket, he smiled as the door opened and General Carter looked at him in shock.
"Hiya, dad" said Pete as he fired a shot into the General's abdomen and then looked around again as the bald man stumbled backwards. Smiling as he turned back to the falling General, he walked into the house and closed the door. He then saw the General stumbling towards the phone in the living room before he fired another two shots into the General's back and watched as he fell on top of the coffee table.
Pete then calmly, but quickly, walked over to the Colonel's room and spent a few minutes ransacking her room looking for Debra's passport and birth certificate. Once he found them, the man then stole some of the Colonel's jewellery before he walked into Debra's room.
"Hey, sweetie" said Pete as he leaned in and picked up the little girl who had started crying, "shhh… It's alright baby, I'm your daddy."
Pete then carried the still crying baby through the hallway and out of the house. Taking a quick look around, he never saw anyone on the street, no nosy neighbours looking out of their windows… no pesky joggers. Still, not wanting to take any chances, Pete hurried to his car with the crying Debra before he handed her a little teddy bear that almost immediately quietened the little child. Smiling to himself, the former detective then got into the driver's seat… smiled at the house, and then drove off. He knew that he had time before the Colonel got back home, enough time to get an excellent head start. They'd think that it was a robbery gone wrong, that someone else had kidnapped Debra…. He was sure they would never suspect he'd do something like this. Pete was absolutely sure of it.
"I won" said Pete as he looked into the rear view mirror and saw his daughter's tear streaked face as she stopped crying and looked at the teddy bear, "I finally won."