Asgard Vessel Mjolnir, hyperspace, five minutes away from Orilla.
Willow was sleeping a restless sleep while leaning her back on one of the walls on Heimdall's ship, the Mjolnir. She felt herself go out like a light once she had closed her eyes, however, she didn't dream about anything in particular. He mind was too busy thinking about Faith. It was ten minutes later that the redhead opened her eyes when she felt someone poking her shoulder, which was soon followed by a voice calling her name.
"Major" said Heimdall as he stepped back as Willow brought her head up before wiping her eyes and looking at the Asgard, "I apologize for waking you, however I have received a message from Commander Thor."
"Oh?" asked Willow as she shook her head before standing up slowly. She then bent down to reach for the Replicator disruptor before following Heimdall to a console at the far end of the room, "how long have I been asleep?"
"Ten minutes" said Heimdall as he turned some stones on the console while telling Willow that Thor had ordered him to stay out of this battle until he had the larger version of the disruptor completed. He told a surprised Willow that the Replicators were attacking in earnest and that although the new settings for the Ion guns were working, it was still not enough, "Commander Thor believes that we would be under attack if we participate in the battle. He wants to have the weapon ready, and not have this ship boarded by the replicators in case they learn the schematics of the weapon and find a way to negate it's effects."
"Has his ship been boarded?" asked Willow quietly as Heimdall nodded his head.
"The majority of the fleet has been infested by replicators" said Heimdall, "the ones that have not been boarded have been ordered to leave this galaxy, to accompany whatever survivors we have, and all of our knowledge out to the void between galaxy's until we can get this weapon online and take the fight to the replicators. However, the consciousnesses that have not been able to get new bodies are in danger. Some of the replicators have landed on the planet, and started replicating while the are heading for the Asgard Science Council where these consciousnesses are kept."
"That means that Thor's planning to sacrifice himself?" asked Willow as she looked at the screen which was showing the battle that was happening over Orilla in real time. Heimdall pointed out Thor's ship, which was among twenty, that had turned red; indicating that the ship was coming under replicator control, "no, no way am I letting that guy give up."
"Major?" asked Heimdall as he looked on in surprise at Willow.
"How long till the weapon is complete?" asked Willow as she looked at Heimdall.
"Twenty minutes" said Heimdall, "but by then it would be too late."
"Can you connect me to Thor?"
"Yes" said Heimdall as he turned some stones and Thor's face came up on the screen that Willow and Heimdall were looking at, "Commander Thor, may I introduce Major Willow Rosenberg. Also know as Athena."
"Major" said Thor, "I am sorry that we have finally met during a time of war between the replicators, and the Asgard."
"Thor" said Willow, "has your ship been boarded?"
"Yes" said Thor as he looked at Heimdall before looking at Willow again.
"Listen to me" said Willow, "is your crew alive?"
"Most of them are" replied Thor, "we are fighting to take control from the replicators. They have already countermanded the weapons controls and navigation, and outgoing transport. It would not be long before they take over communications and life support. I cannot have Heimdall's ship close to this battle; if the weapon you have given us is of Ancient design, then we cannot let the Replicators have access to it. If they do, then the situation would be most grave for all of us."
"I understand that" said Willow, "in my reality, we are allies and although we don't know each other here, there is no way I'm leaving you to die. Can you give a map of your ship?"
"Major" said Thor as Willow interrupted him.
"Thor" said Willow, "humans can be extremely stubborn, so please can you give me a map of your ship?"
"What do you have planned?" asked Heimdall as he looked up at Willow, before Thor pulled up a map of his ship onto Heimdall's screen.
"Ummm" said Willow as she looked at the map which had a blue blinking light that indicated where most of the crew, including Thor, were located, "Heimdall, I need you to go out of hyperspace over Orilla just out of range of the main replicator ships, but close enough to beam down onto Thor's ship."
"Major" said Thor as his face popped up again on the screen, with the map of his ship moving to another screen, "the replicators are attracted to high energy bursts that the beaming technology would give out."
"That's what I'm expecting" said Willow as she turned towards the map and pointed at four areas of Thor's ship, "if you can deactivate the explosion suppression system, I'll have four separate charges beamed down onto the sites I'm pointing out. The charges, what we call C-4, will be put on a 15 second timer to blast any replicator that approaches it. The four sites would cause the replicators to separate and go for those high energy bursts before Heimdall beams me down to where you think I could do the most good."
"It is still dangerous" said Thor.
"But I won't be facing a huge load of replicators since they'll be going towards the four sites which have the delicious high energy bursts" said Willow, "and I'm sure that there will be a lot coming after me once I beam down, but the Ancient weapon will take care of them. In the meantime, Heimdall can escape through hyperspace until the weapon is completed and then come back and fire the weapon at your ships, the replicators ships, and then Orilla itself. But for Orilla, the weapon would need to be fully charged."
"Commander" said Heimdall, "the plan seems sound although, as you said, it is risky."
"But then as Major Rosenberg stated" said Thor, "humans are stubborn."
"You bet" said Willow as she crossed her arms over her chest, "we can be very stubborn."
"Do you have this C-4 with you?" asked Thor.
"I was hoping that Heimdall could help me with that" said Willow as she looked at the Asgard next to her, "I have the chemical composition in my mind, all I need is the construction beams to create four explosive blocks."
"Very well" said Heimdall as he looked up at Willow before looking at Thor again, "Commander, we will be in range soon."
"Just hold out, Thor" said Willow, "and sorry in advance for damaging your ship."
Thor just nodded his head before the image started to break up.
"Commander?" asked Heimdall as the screen became fuzzy for a few seconds before the image cleared up again.
"The replicators are taking over the communication systems" said Thor, "they haven't taken over the suppression systems yet, and those have been disabled."
"Thanks, Thor" replied Willow, "we'll see you soon."
Asgard vessel Belisknir, orbit over Orilla, five minutes later.
In one of the many darkened hallways of the Asgard flagship, there was a buzzing sound followed by a sudden flash of high intensity light. Once the light vanished, there was only a block of a brown-pale, pliable substance that had a timer attached to it that read fifteen seconds. The number started to slowly count down as sounds of metallic feet hitting the floor, running towards the location of the Asgard beam, could be heard. Soon shadows appeared along the walls as thousands of insectoid replicators moved towards the lone block, attracted by the high energy burst that brought it to that empty hallway.
It was the same at the other three locations throughout the ship as the replicators stopped what they were doing to investigate the high energy pulses. Then at all four locations, the closer the replicators got, the closer the timer on the blocks got to zero. They had reached the sites just as the blocks of C-4 exploded in fireballs, the force of the explosion blew away many replicators, destroying the individual blocks so that they couldn't reform to form new ones. The destroyed blocks rained down onto the floor as another high energy burst brought a redhead carrying an Ancient weapon into another hallway close to the auxiliary control room that Thor had said the replicators took over. Willow looked at the grey stone that she was holding in her left hand before she brought it to her lips, and talked into it.
"Heimdall, Thor.. I'm in."
"Very well" said Heimdall, "I will return as soon as possible."
"Major" said Thor before telling Willow that the Mjolnir had jumped into hyperspace, "turn right at the first hallway to your left, and the door to the control room will be on your right side."
"Alright" said Willow as she put the stone into her BDU trouser pocket before raising the weapon and aiming it forward. She took a few steps forward before she heard the sounds of metallic legs that was heading towards her; a lot of metallic legs, "Thor, I've got company coming."
"We are unable to use our sensors to see the replicators, Major" said Thor from the primary control room as he and his crew brought up an image of Willow, blinking red on the screen before them, as she walked towards the corridor, "but we have you on our thermal scanners."
"Alright" said Willow as the sounds seemed to be getting closer and closer as she reached the corridor where she was supposed to turn. Willow peeked her head around the hallway and saw hundreds of replicators coming towards her which led her to head into the corridor and fire several bursts of the weapon as the replicator blocks just fell onto the floor of the ship harmlessly. Willow then heard the same sounds behind her which made her fire the weapon off again as she turned around while walking backwards towards the door to the room she needed to get into. With the replicators all destroyed, Willow turned around again as she heard more sounds from behind her. She continued to fire the weapon both at the replicators coming towards her and then at the ones coming at her from behind. Eventually she made it to the door and hurried in, before closing the doorway again.
Panting, Willow aimed the weapon at the numerous replicator bugs that were in the room and fired the weapon. Once the first bug was taken out, the other all ran towards her; the threat that had taken out their brethren. Willow kept on firing until the room was clear, she even had to take out a few replicators that jumped at her before their component blocks separated in mid-air.
"Thor" said Willow as she headed towards one of the consoles, "the room is clear."
It was then that Willow heard a sound from behind her. Turning around, she saw that the oval shaped crystal near the door was slowly melting away from the inside as the door opened, followed soon by numerous replicators that started to flow in. However, as soon as they walked it, they were soon on the floor deactivated as Willow fired the disruptor weapon. She fired at the replicators while telling Thor that she may be wrong since more were coming.
"They see you as the more immediate threat, Major" said Thor's voice over the speakers.
"You have control of all systems?" asked Willow as she fired her weapon at the door and it's surrounding area.
"Yes" said Thor, "I have full control."
"Good" said Willow as she continued to fired, "because I don't think I thought this through."
Willow continued to fire as more and more of the bugs came into the room, several after several more. Willow walked towards them while firing until she heard the crunch of the dead replicator blocks under her boots.
"How long!?" asked Willow.
"Heimdall estimates he will finish the larger weapon earlier" said Thor, "he is approximating ten minutes."
"Yay" said Willow as she reached the door and continued to fire the weapon. Trying to look out into the hallways while she was firing, she could see that both sides were filling up with the replicator bugs. Hurrying back into the room while walking backwards and firing, Willow asked Thor if he managed to lock out all the controls in the room by permanently disconnecting it from the rest of the ship.
"Yes" said Thor as Willow continued to fire, "stand by for emergency beam out."
"Yea" said Willow as she fired at the increasing number of replicators that were coming in until they were walking over a grey landscape of dead replicator blocks. She knew that she was surrounded but Thor had told her on Heimdall's ship that while the replicators were interfering with the systems in this room, he wouldn't be able to lock it out since the replicators were locking him out of his own ship, "take your time."
Willow continued to fire as she heard a buzzing sound and smiled before a white light washed over her. She then reappeared in another room in front of an Asgard who was seated on a chair with other grey aliens behind various consoles. Willow looked around and saw that some seemed surprised to see her, while others ignored her and just worked on their consoles. The redhead then turned back to look at the alien who was looking back at her with his head slightly tilted.
"Thor" said Willow as she put down the weapon.
"Major Rosenberg" said Thor, "Athena; it is an honour to meet you finally. I am aware that you are not of this reality, but it is still an honour to meet a living Ancient."
"Glad to see you again, Thor" said Willow as she nodded her head, "haven't seen much of you in my reality. Freyr said that you and Heimdall were working on some project using the protein marker from my body."
"I see" said Thor as he looked at Willow, "if we survive this, we will be calling on representatives from the Nox. I assume that you know of them?"
"Yes" said Willow nodding her head, "we've met Lya and her people."
"Very well" said Thor, "then we will get to find a way to send you home."
"Thank you" said Willow, "I have a few idea's how we can do that. In my reality, we found a planet where the Ancients may have created multiple forms of the Quantum Mirror technology. I don't know if you know about it this reality; it's located within a cave on…"
'Yes" said Thor, "we have been there before. If I am not mistaken, the planet you are speaking off had a trading post where the Ancients would test quantum mirrors within a cave made of Naquada."
"Yeah" said Willow as she saw Thor press a few buttons before looking at a screen behind them. Willow turned around and saw the planet where she had gone to an alternate reality to save Dawn, the same alternate reality where her doppelganger lost Tara and came to Willow's own reality to kill her in revenge, "that's the one."
"I am sorry" said Thor as Willow turned around and looked at the grey alien, "we wanted to retrieve the quantum mirrors so that we could examine the technology, however…."
"However?" asked Willow.
"We found this planet from the repository of the Ancients knowledge that we downloaded" said Thor, "but when we went to the planet several years ago, we discovered that seismic activity caused a cave-in. We used our scanners and confirmed that the mirrors were all destroyed. I am sorry. However, I am certain that with the help of the Nox, we will be able to get you home. We know that all matter vibrates at a specific quantum frequency and if we can find your frequency, then we can find a way to send you back."
"We met a team in my reality that punched a bridge from their own alternate reality using an active Stargate and a singularity" said Willow, "maybe I could give you that information?"
"Very well" said Thor when another crewmember ran towards the grey alien and talked to him in the Asgard language. Thor then looked at him, before looking at Willow and telling her that sounds were being heard outside the primary control room that they were occupying.
"Stay there" said Willow as she ran to the door. Putting her ear to the door, she could clearly hear the sounds of replicators on the floor and on the door itself; luckily, they were on the other side. Willow then looked back over her shoulder at the crew who seemed to look nervously at each other, and then at Thor who told them that they would continue to fight. He then told the crew to continue firing at every replicator ship, including the Asgard ships that were still under replicator control.
Smiling at Thor, she knew that the replicators would be coming here since the other control room was permanently cut off. She also knew that she didn't have much time before the replicators chewed through the door, so the redhead took a few steps back and raised the weapon. She knew that the disruption wave would travel through the wall and the door to disintegrate the replicators beyond. Willow started to fire the weapon as the sounds of the replicators stopped for a few minutes before starting up again. While Thor and his crew were firing on the other replicator ships, and replicator controlled Asgard ships; Willow did her part by disintegrating as many Replicator bugs as possible.
"Major" said Thor as she turned around after firing another burst through the door, "more of the replicator blocks have fallen onto the planet's surface. Reports are coming from the remaining Asgard that are protecting the consciousnesses that do not have any bodies yet; they are saying that those same blocks are replicating."
Willow looked over her shoulder as the grey alien told her that the replicator ships were destroyed, but the replicator controlled Asgard ships were starting to fire on the ones that were not yet fully infected. Thor's ship wasn't spared due to the Asgard on board gaining full control of the ship. Willow tried to keep her balance and continued shooting the disruptor as the ship shook from multiple weapon hits from the other ships.
"We need Heimdall" said Willow as she fired another burst before looking back at Thor, "it should be about time, right?"
"Commander Thor" said another crewmember, "we have a hyperspace window opening. It is the Mjolnir."
"Heimdall" said Thor as Heimdall's face appeared on screen, "is the weapon ready?"
"Yes" he replied, "I am targeting your ship."
Thor soon saw a great blue wave wash over them before looking at the screen next to him. HE saw the Mjolnir flying towards the other infected ships as they fired at Heimdall's ship with their ion guns. Thor and the others saw the Ion guns hit the shield before Heimdall fired the weapon again and again, freeing the remaining Asgard ships. In the meantime, Willow opened the main door to the control room and walked out cautiously with the disruptor raised. She stepped onto the disabled replicator blocks and turned to her left, and then to her right, before looking straight ahead for any movement.
"Major" said Thor as Willow turned around, "Heimdall has fired the weapon onto the surface of the planet, and all initial reports coming in are saying that the replicators just disintegrated into their component blocks."
"Phew" said Willow as she leaned on the wall and smiled before putting the weapon down, "yeah, that's what was supposed to happen."
"I have already requested that the High Council refit the rest of the fleet with the weapon so that we can take the war to the replicators" said Thor.
"I placed another design in Heimdall's database" said Willow, "a weapon that could remove the threat of the replicators from the entire galaxy. It's the same weapon we used in my reality to destroy the ones that invaded the Milky Way. It's the same device that the Ancients used to recreate life after they left in Atlantis. They only thing is that you need to activate every single Stargate in the galaxy at the same time, then you can take them all out in one go."
"We have discovered a way to perform that function" said Thor as he looked at his crew and then at Willow again, "you have done a great service to the Asgard, Major. Is there nothing else that we could do for you other than finding a way for you to get back to your own reality?"
"Well" said Willow with a smile, "how long would it take?"
"With the help of the Nox, I estimate we can have a way for you to return within a few days" said Thor, "I would like to know more about what that alternate team did to arrive in your reality. It would give us something to go on while at the same time we try to target the reality that has your quantum frequency."
"Of course" said Willow, "and since that would take some time, I have a few favours to ask."
"Once we have talked to the High Council" said Thor as Willow nodded her head, "and after you have rested."
"Yeah" said Willow softly as Thro took his ship into the atmosphere of Orilla while she sat on the floor, "the adrenaline's wearing off."
"We will beam you down to one of our quarters" said Thor, "there you can rest before speaking to the High Council."
"Thanks" said Willow as a bright light engulfed her.
Surface of Orilla, alternate reality, 1300 hours.
Willow was resting on Orilla for hours as she fell into a deep sleep once she was beamed into one of the guest room in what she would later discover was the building that housed the Asgard High Council. When the redhead slowly opened her eyes, she was confused where she was, but soon remembered she was on Orilla and that the Asgard had just beaten back a Replicator attack. Sitting up on the bed, Willow noticed a set of fresh clothes on a side table that was folded neatly along with some new boots.
Willow then got off the bed and walked to the table while she wiped her eyes and picked up the clothes before placing them on the bed. She smiled at copy of the clothes she was wearing at that moment; her blank short sleeved undershirt, her trousers, socks and boots. Willow then turned around when she heard someone knocking on the door behind her.
"Hello?" asked Willow.
"Greetings, Major" said another grey alien as the door slid opened and the redhead smiled.
"Hi, Freyr" said Willow as the Asgard looked up at her, "we met a few times in my reality."
"I see" said the Asgard, "the sensors in these quarters indicated that you had awakened. In addition, we are unaware of the current Earth dress as we do not have that in our database, we have scanned what you are currently wearing and used our replication system to create a fresh set. I hope it is acceptable?"
"Yes" smiled Willow, "thank you."
"Very well" replied Freyr before he turned around, "I will leave you to prepare for the meeting with the High Council, Major. Representatives from the Nox will be arriving as well, and they would like to meet in order to discuss a way to return you to your own reality."
Willow nodded before the Asgard left and the door to the room slid shut. She then looked around the room as another door opened up where she could freshen up. The redhead remembered that Thor once told her that other races lived on Orilla as well to conduct research with the Asgard; so she wasn't surprised when she walked into this new room to find that there were facilities that humanoid like those from Earth required.
It was two hours later that Willow found herself standing in front of the Asgard High Council. Before the meeting, she went to see Thor who unlocked her genetic code so that the Asgard could copy the full information on her protein marker, before he reengaged the lock on her body. She then briefed the High Council about the state of affairs in her reality, she told them about the Ori and that the need for her to get back was extremely grave. Willow also told them that she needed to help some people on this reality's Earth before she could leave. It was Penegal, one of the High Council members, who told Willow that it would take at most three days to find a safe way to return Willow back to her own reality after she told them about the alternate SG1's who appeared at the SGC. Willow nodded her head when Penegal said that the replicators had destroyed much of the technology on Orilla and that they would need to rebuild before she could be sent back. Willow then told them about the threat that Anubis played in her reality, and told them what he was; a half ascended Goa'uld. This information brought about murmurs from the High Council as they talked to each other in their own language. Willow told them that he was most likely biding his time, but he would use his knowledge of Ancient technology to strengthen the shields and weapons of his ships to dominate the other Goa'uld, before taking over the Milky Way. She then told them about the weapon on Dakara that had the potential to destroy the entire galaxy and that the Asgard had to do something to prevent Anubis from ever using it.
"With the weapons you have provided us with against the replicators" said Penegal as he looked at Willow, "we have no doubt that we will win the war against the replicators. As for your claims in regards to Anubis, we will discuss among ourselves as to how we can strengthen our shields and weapons. However we still have to rebuild most of our technology."
"Penegal" said Thor who was seated next to the alien, "our guests have arrived."
Penegal nodded his head as Thor pressed a button before there were three flashes of light next to Willow.
It was then that Lya and two others from the Nox appeared next to Willow after they were beamed down via an Asgard ship that had been sent to the Milky Way earlier. Penegal briefed Lya on who Willow was, and the help that she had given them in regards to the protein marker, and the Replicator Disruptor.
"You are living up to the legacy of your people, Athena" said Lya as she bowed her head slightly at Willow in respect, as did the others.
"I was Athena a long time ago, Lya" replied Willow who bowed her head in return, "please just call me Willow."
"I can sense a great power" said Lya as she approached the surprised Willow while she placed her hand on Willow's chest, just over her heart, "I recognize this link, it is something connects two beings for the rest of their lives."
"The link still exists?" asked Willow surprised. She had initially thought that the link between her and Faith was severed due to the fact that she was in another reality, and that ever since she came to this reality; there was a throbbing pain in her chest that just wouldn't go away.
"Yes" said Lya, "I can sense that it is stretched thin, but still intact. We have technology that will be able to measure its exact frequency so that you can be sent home."
Lya then turned back to the High Council and told them that the Nox would be able to help them with the protein marker; that it was time for the two members of the Alliance of Four to work together on helping to save the Asgard race. Before the council was dissolved, the Asgard asked Willow if there was anything else they could help her with.
"Yeah" smiled the redhead, "I thank you for everything you're doing to get me home. But there are people on Earth I need to help, and I would like that opportunity. I need to go to a planet called Edina; Loki did something n my reality and I'd like to know if he did the same thing here."
"What did he do?" as Thor while Willow heard a sound of exasperation from his voice once she mentioned Loki's name.
Willow told Thor that what happened had taken place in her reality, so she wasn't sure if the same thing happened here unless she went to Edina and saw for herself.
"I don't want to accuse him of something that I'm not sure he did in this reality" said Willow, "all I know is what he did in mine. If I find what I'm looking for, then I can tell you what happened."
"Very well" said Thor, "I can take you back to your galaxy while Heimdall works on the protein marker with Lya and the Nox."
Lya then told the Council that the Nox would show the Asgard what they need to do in order to measure the exact frequency from Willow's link before the redhead leaves for her galaxy. It was Penegal who had the last word by telling Willow that he hoped she would be patient for the next three days; that they needed to rebuild some of the technology that would be required to send her home, while at the same time fighting off the replicators using the disruptor weapon.
"Alright" said Willow as she looked at the Asgard, and Lya and the other Nox, "thank you all."
Edina, alternate reality, 1700 hours.
It was soon after the meeting with the Council, and Lya that Willow was brought back to the Milky Way and teleported down to the Stargate on Edina. The redhead, on the way back, had asked Thor if she could create a new plain hoodie for herself since the one she had on earlier while fighting the replicators was incinerated on Orilla, as were her used BDU trousers and black undershirt. So as she walked down the trail to the village in the distance, Willow zipped up her jacket before pulling the hood low over her head.
She was hoping that it would be different in this reality, that Joyce really was dead back on Earth. As she walked towards the village, Willow hoped that Joyce hadn't married Jayden if she really was here, then it would be easier to bring her back to Earth once whatever was threatening Buffy and the others was taken care off. However, Willow knew that if she was still married, and happy then she would have no right to take that away from Joyce; especially since Earth had no Stargate Program. She went through every scenario in her mind numerous times, all which led to her asking Thor for permission to create a new hoodie to hide her face from the villager as she wanted to perform some reconnaissance and get a lay of the land.
Willow walked past the short fence that bordered the village as she walked past numerous people who were looking at her, but just walked away. She glanced over at the house she knew that Joyce occupied in her reality and saw that the oil lamps were out. The redhead looked up and saw that the sun was lowering and that it would be night soon as more and more people seemed come out to the square from the fields that surrounded the village, and walk along various stalls that seemed to be selling goods.
Willow walked to one of the stalls and looked at some crafts that were being sold before she felt a tap on her shoulder. Pulling her hood down even more, Willow turned and faced a bearded, middle-aged man who was just wearing a tanned shirt and trousers.
"Greetings" said the man.
"Greetings" replied Willow as she looked at the numerous people who were either walking past her, or talking to each other, "I am sorry to intrude, I am here from a far off land."
"Yes" replied the man as he pointed at Willow's jacket, "I have not this style of dress in this village, are you from another village?"
"You could say that" replied Willow as she stepped back.
"You do not have to hide" said the man as he reached out but Willow took another step back, "my name is Ranen. I am one of the elders of this village."
"I am sorry" said Willow as she looked at Ren with the top of her hood covering the top half of her face, "my people value our privacy; I do not mean any disrespect. My name is Rosen."
"Rosen" said Ranen with a smile, "that is a rather unique name. So have you come our village to trade?"
"I am an explorer of sorts" said Willow, "I have been exploring this world, and have been amazed at its beauty."
"I see" said Ranen as he nodded his head while people were walking past them.
"Ummm" said Willow, "if you would excuse me?"
"Of course" said Ranen nodding his head, "if you require anything at all, then please come to the council building."
Ranen pointed at a two story building while telling Willow that while it wasn't much, the villagers would hold important meetings there; as well as help any travellers.
"Thank you" said Willow as she turned around and walked into the throng of people near her while Ranen simply watched her leave before heading towards another building. The redhead passed a few buildings before she neared one that had its doors wide open. Looking through the door from the square, she suddenly looked away and smiled when she saw Jay sitting at a table with some children. She glanced at Jay again and guessed that he could probably be about two years old.
"Jay!" said a very familiar voice as Willow turned and walked towards another stall on the opposite side of the square. She looked at what seemed to be pies while glancing over her shoulder at a blonde woman with curly hair who crouched down as Jay ran over to her.
"Mother" shouted Jay as he gave Joyce a hug.
"My Jay" said Joyce as she kissed Jay's cheek, which gave Willow a smile before she turned around and walked to another stall. She then walked to another stall closer to Joyce, but still out of her sight, as she heard Joyce ask the boy if he was ready to go see his father. Willow smiled as the little boy nodded his head while he held on to Joyce's hand. Willow saw Joyce give him a small smile before they walked out of the square and towards a pathway that led to another part of the village.
After Joyce had walked some distance off, Willow followed her at a respectful distance through the crowd of people. It was a few minutes later that Willow realized where they were heading, it was a place that Joyce had taken Willow, Buffy, Dawn, Jay and Rose before; the graveyard, the same place where Jayden was buried. Willow watched from a pathway between two buildings as Joyce walked hand in hand with Jayden through a gate. The redhead saw them stop at a headstone as Joyce crouched down and touched the edges of it before wiping her eyes. She smiled as Jay wiped the tears off Joyce's face before turning to the headstone, he walked towards it and hugged it before stepping back again. Willow could see the leaves and branches on the trees that surrounded the graveyard rusting as an evening breeze swept through, bringing along it a smell of food as Willow's stomach growled.
"Yeah" said Willow to herself, "definitely having pizza when I get back to Sunnydale."
Sighing, Willow took out a grey crystal that was in her pocket as she continued to look at Joyce and Jay. She had confirmed that the older blonde woman was alive, and now she had to collect more items before heading back to Earth. Items that Thor was happy to help with in collecting.
"Thor" said Willow as she looked at Joyce and Jay who were holding each other's hands, "please beam me back up. I have what I need to know; I'll… I'll help get her back home later. But I need to get to Kheb. And I'll explain everything that Loki did in my reality, then you can do whatever you want with him after I leave."
"Very well, Major" said Thor over the stone as Willow heard a buzzing sound before she was awash in a bright white light.
Los Angeles, California, Earth; Prime Reality, five hours following arrival of Odyssey.
The past few hours had been a blur for Faith as she stood outside a cave with Tara. The odyssey returned to Earth five hours ago, following which SG-1, Dawn and General O'Neill had gotten themselves checked out by Dr. Lam and her team before they left to debrief General Landry. The General was surprised to hear about Dawn being Hera, and nodded his head when he heard that Willow had been sent to another reality. It was Faith who suggested, along with Colonel Carter, that they use the Quantum Mirror as the last option in case all else failed; to which he agreed, as did General O'Neill.
After the briefing was completed, Faith and the others met with Anya who was waiting eagerly for Daniel to get back from the briefing. It was there that they told Anya what happened on the ship, as well as who Dawn really was. The young brunette then begged Anya not to tell Buffy or Joyce anything yet; that it should be her to tells the both of them.
"In the meantime" said Daniel as he sat next to Anya, "anyway to get Willow back?"
"Melina said that her link with Faith is still strong" said Colonel Carter as she leaned on the wall, "that although it was thin, the link still exists."
"I never would have believed it" said Anya who looked on surprised, "that's not supposed to happen. Think about it, any link should break once the other party is.. well, basically gone."
"Like how Jackson's link with Vala snapped when she was sent to the Ori galaxy?" asked Colonel Mitchell as he stood next to Vala while Anya nodded her head.
"Although that wasn't brought about by mystical forces" said Anya, "it was still a psychic link. But the link with going into another reality, it's not supposed to even exist anymore. One of you must be unconsciously holding it with sheer force of will."
"Or the both of you" said Daniel as Anya looked at him and nodded before looking at Faith.
"Mother said that Faith will feel a throbbing in her chest" said Dawn who walked up next to Faith who was sitting down on one of the seats.
"That's because of the connection" said Anya as she looked at Dawn, and then at everyone else, "it's stretched out far, far away and it wants to return back to its normal state."
"It wants' the Major back in this reality" said Vala.
"Yes" said Anya while she nodded her head.
"So, how do we get her back into this reality" said Colonel Mitchell as he looked at Faith who was looking down at the floor, "like Carter said back on the ship, how do we pull on the line and get her back."
"We can't" said Anya as everyone looked back at her, "you, or to be more specific, Faith has to seek a favour from the Powers that Be."
"The who of the what now?" asked Colonel Mitchell.
"The same things that gave the Furlings that prophecy about the First Slayer" said Faith softly before she reminded the Colonel about Sineya and the Powers hand in the whole thing.
"Right" said the Colonel as he nodded his head, "so we, or Faith, asks them for a favour and then we get the Major back. Sounds easy enough."
"It's not that simple" said Anya as she looked at everyone before looking at Faith, "we're talking about bringing back a physical body from another reality. They will want a sacrifice that you will have to pay; and Faith, it's going to be a high price."
"Any idea on what it could be?" asked Vala as she watched Dawn hold on to Faith's shoulder.
"No" said Anya.
"I pay whatever I have to" said Faith softly as Colonel Carter looked back at her and shook her head.
"No" she said as Faith looked up at the blonde, "I admit I don't know about these Powers, but what would you do if they ask for something like, I can't believe I'm going to say this, but what if they ask for your soul?"
"Then I'll pay it" said Faith as Anya shook her head.
"They won't ask for that" said Anya, "and even they you did, what would Willow say if you say yes?"
"Faith" said Colonel Carter, "I believe that Willow's doing everything she can to come back, but paying a high price just to get her back that much faster is something that she wouldn't want you to do."
"What if there's no SGC, Sam" said Faith as she looked at the Colonel, "that's the reason you said that the Quantum Mirror may be a dead end. What if there are no Ancients? No Quantum Mirror in the other reality? Then how can she get back unless we do this? Red's made sacrifices for us, for me, and it's time I did my part; if they want my soul, then they can have it. At least she'll be back and we'll be together."
"Faith" said Vala, "what if…."
"How can I meet with the Powers?" asked Faith a she looked at Anya.
"Faith" said Dawn, "there has to be another way."
"The Oracles" said Anya softly as she rubbed her forehead, "you can ask the Oracles for a favour. They have a direct link to the Powers and…. and they can help you. But Faith, I need to tell you that what they will ask for will be in the extreme. Just… just think about it… alright?"
"I don't want the low rent middle men" said Faith, "I want to talk to the Powers themselves. No Oracles…. no nothing, I need a way to talk to them directly. It's the Powers who created the Slayers, and those fuckers owe me an audience."
"You need a human being with pure heart to contact them directly, or a Champion… preferably both" said Anya, "and in this day and age, good luck in finding someone like that."
"I think we know someone" said Faith with a smile.
That was how Tara and Faith found themselves standing at the mouth of a cave in the outskirts of Los Angeles. The blonde Wiccan was the only person Faith knew who could come close to being what Anya said was needed. It had taken Tara, using her magic, an hour to find a conduit that she could use to contact the Powers directly. As Tara knelt down at the mouth of the cave, Faith could hear the witch mumbling something under her breath as a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere from inside the cave and hit the both of them. Faith felt the hair on the back of her neck stand as she felt immense amounts of power passing through her body when it suddenly stopped.
"It's time" said Tara as she looked back at Faith who nodded back at her, "Faith, just…. Please don't make any rash decision. Please?"
"I want her back" said Faith as she looked at Tara, "I want her back with me."
"And we will get her back, Faith" said Tara as she gently held on to both the Slayer's arms, "we will…. But, just don't do anything rash? For Willow, please?"
"Alright" said Faith as Tara smiled before taking the Slayer's hand in hers and walked into the cave together. Once they passed the entrance, Faith and Tara looked back as what seemed to be a boulder rolled and closed the mouth of the cave, leaving the two women in darkness. Suddenly, they found themselves in a lit room with torches on the wall and a pedestal in the middle of the room that had a bonfire burning.
"The Conduit" said Tara amazed as she looked at the room.
"Hey" said Faith as she looked up, "anyone here?"
"Slayer, no… former Slayer… former Champion of the Powers that Be" said a disembodied voice, a loud disembodied voice that sounded like hundreds of men and women all talking in unison, "the betrayer to the calling, the betrayer to the prophesy; why have you come here?"
"Exalted ones" said Tara as she put her hand on Faith's shoulder just as the dark haired Slayer was about to open her mouth, "my name is…"
"Tara Maclay, the White Witch" said the voice as it grew angrier, "you dare come before us with this traitor? You should…."
"Hey!" shouted Faith at the ceiling as she took a step forward, "I am no traitor, I am no betrayer… I know the truth about the Slayer line, it's you who betrayed us. I know what you people did, I know about the prophesy that was forced on to Sineya thousands of years ago. I know everything, so do Buffy and Kennedy. You think I'm afraid of cowards who refuse to get their hands dirty? You're just like the Ancients, cowards who use others on the lower planes to…."
"Silence, mortal!" shouted the voice, "how dare you…."
"Exalted ones" said Tara as she squeezed Faith's shoulder gently and walked in front of her, "please forgive the protector of the people. Her heart yearns for her lost love. A love that is trapped within a different reality. She seeks a boon, in return for her love's safe return."
"There will be a price" said the voice as Tara looked back at Faith who had her eyes closed and her hands rolled into fists.
"What's the price?" asked Faith as she looked at Tara before looking up at the ceiling, "my soul?"
"No" said the voice, "you will be our Slayer once more, and you will sacrifice the link you share with your love. You will sacrifice the link, and your memories."
"What?" said both Tara and faith together as they looked at the ceiling.
"Your link with her is powerful" said the voice, "powerful enough to traverse multiple realities. She is so far away that you will sacrifice that link as a price for us to return her to you. In addition to the link, we will take all the memories that exist of the love you share for each other. Only you will remember; everyone else will forget, including your love."
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Tara n surprise, "that is excessive. The Powers exist to guide the good of this Earth. What she is being asked to sacrifice is…"
"She turned away from her calling" said the voice, "from her role as the Slayer. That cannot be tolerated, the Slayers are the Champions of the Powers and she had turned away from that role."
"Faith" said Tara as she turned around, "don't do this. Willow… Willow will lose all memories that you and her were together. I'll lose those memories, so will Dawn and the others. That's too high of a price to pay to get her back."
"What do you choose, Slayer?" asked the Voice.
"Faith!" shouted Tara as she got closer to the dark haired woman and held her arms, "don't. You can't give up… because if you accept this deal, then that's what you're doing. I know it's hard not having her here. I know, ok, I know how hard it is not having someone you constantly think about being close. But this…"
Tara then turned around and said that what this was being cruel to Faith, a punishment for a crime that she didn't commit.
"She turned her back on the legacy that was given to her" said the voice, "now choose!"
"She saw this" said Faith to herself as she looked at the ground in shock, "Melina saw this. She told me never to give it up, that Red would need it one day to come back. But I never knew from where.. what did she mean? Did she mean this?"
"Then don't" said Tara as Faith looked up at the blonde witch, "don't give it up."
"I choose no" said Faith as she looked up, "you hear me, you cowards? I said no. I will not give up my link with her, I will not have you take away the memories of me and her together to power her return back, and to punish me. She will find a way! And me, I choose to not be a Slayer. I am using my own free will not to continue. I am not bound by some screwed up destiny that says I have to follow a prophecy or some bull and…"
"Silence, mortal!" shouted the Voice, "you have insulted us for the last time. Do not seek us out again, Slayer. Your boons will never be granted."
There was a sudden flash of light as the both of them found themselves standing in the lobby of the BPRI in Sunnydale. Tara looked around confused as Clem looked at them as he stood up from his chair at the front counter, she then looked at the surprised Potentials who just stood there wide eyed at the two women who just appeared out of thin air. Tara then looked up at the second floor walkway as a confused Buffy, and her team, were looking down at them.
"Tara?" asked the blonde Slayer confused as she looked down from the second floor walkway, along with members of her team, "where did you…? How did you…? Huh?"
"Buffy" said Tara as she looked up, "could you please call NORAD? We… we need to talk."
"Right" nodded Buffy before she turned around and dismissed her team. Once they went their separate ways, she heard Faith crying. So she leaned down again and saw Tara holding on to Faith as the Slayer started to sob into Tara's neck with the only thing the blonde Slayer could hear from Faith was 'what have I done' and 'please forgive me'. Buffy had no idea what was going on, all she knew was that Tara was called out for an urgent meeting with Faith somewhere. With the result of the meeting being what she was witnessing downstairs, Buffy frowned before heading to Angel and Cordelia's office where she would ask them to contact the SGC and find out what was going on.
Tara watched Buffy run before she looked down and whispered into Faith's ear.
"Shh" said Tara softly, "it's not your fault. You did what you thought was right, you chose to hold the link between the both of you. What they wanted was unreasonable, Faith. I have an idea, but it's very risky; Really, really risky. It won't bring her back, but it would be enough to send a message to her through your link. In the meantime, I'll continue to look for magical ways to get her back. I promise you."
Tara felt the tears from Faith falling onto her neck as the blonde witch rubbed the Slayer's back and comforted her as much as she could.
"You'll get her back, sweetie" said Tara as she laid her head on top of Fait's, 'you'll see."
Asgard Vessel Belisknir, 1730 hours.
After Willow was beamed back to Thor's ship from the surface of Edina, she stopped by Kheb; the same location where she had left the Puddle Jumper and the extra ZPM in her own reality. Once she beamed down right next to it, she felt a charge go through her body as she smiled before a gentle gust of wind moved her hair around.
Smiling to herself, Willow walked towards the puddle jumper and pressed the button that opened the ram and stepped back. Willow frowned as the ramp opened halfway down before stopping. However, the gap between the ramp and the inside of the Puddle Jumper was enough for her to put one leg in before squeezing her body through. Once inside, she noticed that the lights in the ship weren't being switched on by her presence so she walked over to the pilot's seat and sat down before grabbing the controls.
"Nothing" said Willow to herself as the console and the cabin lights didn't switch on, "the power supply must have been depleted."
Willow got off the seat and walked to one of the compartments in the rear and smiled when she found a green coloured cloth. Taking it out from the compartment, Willow placed it on a seat and unwrapped the cloth, uncovering a ZPM.
"Hopefully it's still fully charged" said Willow herself as she rewrapped the power source in the cloth, "I can replace one of the ZPM's in Atlantis with this one. Make the shields last for another three or four thousand years. Then return this Puddle Jumper back to Atlantis."
Looking around the rest of the dilapidated Puddle Jumper, Willow frowned before she squeezed out of the small ship and asked Thor to beam her, and the Puddle Jumper, back up to the Belisknir. She told Thro that she needed to replicate some control crystals, and she needed to recharge the power source for the Puddle Jumper. It was a few seconds later that Thor had come to the orbit of Earth's moon; in the meantime, Willow asked one of the crew member to check the power levels of the ZPM. The redhead smiled when the alien said that the device was fully charged, before another one came up to her and gave the redhead some replicated control crystals for the Puddle Jumper. They told her that the ship's power source was being charged as they were speaking, and that it should be completed in a few minutes. She thanked the crewmembers before turning to face Thor who was looking at a screen from behind his chair console
"Major" said Thor, "where would you like me to transport you?"
"Before that Thor" said Willow, "I have friends down there who are batting something, and I'd like to get the lay of the land. Can your scanners search for any non-human biological life signs?"
"Non-human?" asked Thor as he looked at Willow.
"Yea" said the redhead, "you see, we have these things called demons on Earth and…"
"Yes" said Thor, "we have head of old Earth legends that speak of such beings. The Asgard have even encountered them years after the Ancients left Earth. There are those that still exist?"
"Yes" said Willow as she looked at the screen while pointing to Sunnydale's location on a map, "and they've been trying to end all life for some time now."
"I see" said Thor, "if the Earth were to be destroyed, then the potential that the humans of the planet below have to become the Fifth race will be gone forever."
"And I know the Asgard wont intervene unless asked by the highest ranking official in government" said Willow as Thor nodded his head.
"I am sorry" replied Thor.
"No" said Willow shaking her head before she turned to watched the same screen that was in front of Thor, "it's alright."
"As you can see" said Thor as he zoomed in to Sunnydale while grey dots started to pop up all over the city, "this includes biological life signs that do not have the human genome, and any biological being that could be considered only half human."
"There's a lot" said Willow as Thor zoomed out, which was when she told the alien to stop as she walked forward in shock, "that… that's the high school. It.. it can't be."
"We are unable to get a lock on those beings for study" said Thor as he and Willow looked at the image of Sunnydale High.
"We could see" said Willow as she looked at the screen, "but the mystic forces there could be messing with your sensors locking on any of them."
Willow then looked at the ZPM in her arms and thought about the Puddle Jumper being charged in the cargo hold of the ship. Willow suspected that she may have to use both of the alien technology to launch the drone weapons, because there was no way that Buffy and the others would be able to take all of that on their own. There was just no way. The redhead then shook her head and looked at Thor and nodded her head.
"Thank you for everything, Thor" said Willow, "especially for helping to get me back to my Earth, my reality."
'We should be thanking you" said Thor as he nodded his head.
"I did what I did to help a friend" said Willow, "well, technically we haven't met before until now… but, well.. you get my point."
"Indeed" said Thor, "we will return for you in three days. We will have the technology ready by then with help from the Nox."
"See you in three days" said Willow with a smile before Willow tapped on the screen and showed the alien exactly where she needed to be beamed down. She also told Thor that she'll be heading to the cargo hold and cloaking the Puddle Jumper. She told him to transport the fully charged Jumper to a separate location, to which she gave the alien a set of coordinates. She then nodded at Thor before she was beamed down to the cargo bay where the Jumper was being charged. She walked over to the controls and touched it. She smiled as the console flickered and then steadied as the ship started to power up. Willow put the ZPM back into the compartment after she had mentally opened a panel that was on the left of the pilot's seat. Reaching in, she took out what looked like a remote control and put that into her pockets. She then activated the cloak before walking out of the ship, and closing the ramp. Once the ship was unable to be seen by the redhead, she nodded at one of the crew who informed Thor that Willow was ready to be beamed down.
The Summers Residence, 1745 hours.
Tara was seated at the dining table with Buffy, Xander, Giles, Spike, Faith and a few others while they talked about their next course of action. The blonde witch knew that everyone, including the remaining original Scoobies and the Potentials, were almost ready to openly rebel against Buffy's idea to go back to the vineyard that night and take back what the First and Caleb had taken that belonged to her. It was Tara and Oz who finally managed to calm everyone down before anything was said that could never be taken back.
Tara said that she could see everyone's emotions flaring, including Xander who just came back from the hospital, before she told everyone that they needed to calm down and take a step back. Oz told Buffy that he thought her idea that the First and Caleb having something in the vineyard was sound, but they needed to have some sort of plan instead of going in without any knowledge of what was going on; or what Caleb was keeping from them, from Buffy.
Tara looked around quietly at the people sitting at the table while they were talking, nearly starting to argue once again, before she sighed and leaned back on the chair. She looked at Oz who just gave the blonde a small smile before she looked at Spike who was leaning against the wall and shook his head; the arguing about what to do intensifying again. She noticed that some of the Potentials had come into the dining room to make their voices heard as well; starting the same argument about priorities that Tara and Oz helped to end only an hour ago.
Rubbing her head, Tara's thoughts turned back to Willow, both the one who appeared to her in that vision, and the other one that Wesley and Connor were convinced was a demon. After Spike came back from the desert the previous night, he confirmed what Tara had already told the others; that Willow was really from another reality. However, unknown to Tara and the others, he just confirmed the things that Tara told already told everyone; he never told them about the aliens or Stargate Command, just that Willow was a Major in the Air Force and that she wasn't coming back. Spike knew that she had a good reason for lying, and hoped that she would be back soon. His words were eventually confirmed by Wesley, and Giles, when they asked Tara to perform a locator spell that spanned the entire planet.
Spike had watched Tara and Giles call the Coven in Devon for help and it was soon done, there was no sign of Willow anywhere. That finding led Wesley and Connor to be sent back to Los Angeles by Buffy with instructions that they were to be the second line of defence in case Sunnydale fell to the First.
Back to the present time, Spike shook his head when the argument turned to Caleb. The vampire knew that they didn't know anything much about Caleb, so they had gotten a line to Fred in Los Angeles for some help in hacking police databases. He knew that until they had more information, they were operating in the dark.
"We don't have time to get more information" said Buffy as she stood up, "I'll take a small team with me and…"
"Like the first time?" asked Kennedy sarcastically as she stood next to Rona who had a badly broken arm in a sling, "cause you know; it worked so well the first time."
"How about we give someone else a chance at being the leader?" said Rona, "honestly, we got our asses kicked last night, Xander lost an eye, my arm is gone, the others were pretty badly injured, and… should I go on."
"Please" said Tara as she held Buffy's hand and squeezed, "Buffy, Kennedy, Rona, all of us are tired."
'Yea, B" replied Faith as she leaned back on her chair, "we're all beat, and not thinking straight. I say we sleep, and then we decide on a course of action tomorrow."
"I thought you said you came here to fight?" asked Buffy as she looked at Faith, "I thought you…."
"Guys!" shouted one of the potentials from the living room as everyone heard a buzzing sound, and then saw a flash of bright light in front of the couch.
It was Kennedy and Rona, who were near the main entrance to the house, who rushed into the living room first and stopped mid-stride when they saw Willow standing near some potentials who stumbled back and fell onto the floor. The redhead turned around and saw Kennedy, Rona, Faith, Tara, Anya and Xander looked at her stunned, before she turned to look at Dawn, Buffy, Principal Wood, Oz, Spike and Buffy come into the room from the other doorway as they basically surrounded her.
"Amanda, Vi" said Kennedy as she looked at the Potentials who were trying to get up as she nodded to the weapons chest, "grab something."
"Stand down" said Willow as she looked at Kennedy, and then turned to looked at Vi and Amanda, "seriously, stand down."
"Wi,,,, Willow" said Tara as she pushed her way past Kennedy and Rona, "are.. are… are you my Willow?"
"Sorry, Tara" said Willow as she gave the blonde witch as small smile, "I'm not your Willow."
"I.. I.. I'm st.. still glad you're alright" said Tara as she gave the redhead a smile.
"How did you get here?" asked Vi as Willow glanced back. She smiled when she took out a glowing crystal that Thor had given her for communication purposes, to inform her when he would be in orbit the day he returns.
"Major" said Thor's voice from the stone as the others looked at each other, "I will be leaving for Orilla. I have transported the other vessel to the coordinates you supplied."
"Thanks" said Willow.
"I will return in three days" said Thor, "is there anything else you require?"
"No" said Willow, "thank you, Thor."
"Farewell, Major" said Thor, "we will see each other soon."
Willow saw that the glow emanating from the stone slowly faded away before she put it back into her trouser's pocket before she unzipped her hoodie. Looking around, the redhead saw the open mouth looks that everyone was giving her. She then turned to Spike and asked him if he told them everything.
"No" said Spike as everyone looked at him, "come on, you were taking about aliens; I'm not repeating that in case they think I'm nuts. 'sides, I thought it'd be better coming from you."
"Gee" said Willow sarcastically, "thanks."
"No problem" grinned Spike, "fancy entrance though."
"Isn't it?" smiled Willow as the others still looked on shocked. Eventually, it was Kennedy who spoke up first.
"So that white flash?" asked Kennedy as Willow turned back towards her and then turned again and looked at Amanda and Vi.
"Teleportation technology" said Willow, "sorry, this was the best place that I could beam down to. I don't know what's going on out there so.. yeah."
"And Thor?" said Anya, "are you saying that…."
"Long… Long story, Anya" said Willow before she saw another young man lift his hand up and opened his mouth before she told him that no, the aliens that send her down her don't do probes, "although if you're interested… they may know some who do."
"I would" said Xander as everyone turned to look at him, "I mean I'd like to know what alien's do… you know."
"Yea" said Willow as she looked at Dawn and thought back to Hera. She then shook her head and reminded herself that this wasn't her Dawn, her Dawn was back in her reality.
Willow looked on as everyone started asking her one question to another; from if the ship used warp drive, to if she could use her magic to help them.
"Sorry, Tara" said Willow as she ignored all the other questions and looked at the blonde witch who asked the question about magic, "I haven't practised magic in years. I'm so rusty that I don't even think I can't pick up a nail much less do anything really powerful."
"You.. you don't?" asked Tara as she looked at Willow before looking at Giles who gave her a small smile.
"Sorry" said Willow just as she heard a gasp from her left. She turned around, only to see Buffy and the others step back as a small area in front of them started to shimmer. Willow then grabbed her chest and stumbled back just as Tara and Buffy rushed forward and prevented her from falling.
"Willow?" said Giles as he looked at the shimmer slowly take on a form of a dark haired woman in a red stripped dress, "Oh my lord."
"Faith?" said Willow as Tara and Buffy looked at each other with their eyes wide open before looking at their Faith who had both hands over her mouth as she stepped back slightly.
"Hey" said the brunette Slayer as she gave Willow a small wave and a smile. The red dressed Faith then turned around and looked at everyone before settling her eyes on her doppelganger, "hey… me."
"Ummmm" said Faith as she looked around confused before looking back at herself in the red dress, "hey?"
"I'm alright" said Willow as she rubbed her chest while looking at Buffy and the she gave a small smile at Tara before they let her go.
"Faith" said Willow as she walked towards the Slayer and tried to hug her, but all that happened was that she passed right through her body, "How?"
"I'm at the BPRI" said Faith as she kept her hands to her sides, "I… I'm in a near death type state. Remember what you did to go into the other reality when you were floating in space?"
"Faith" said Willow as she walked towards her wife, "you didn't…"
"I'm lying on a bed at the BPRI" said Faith as she looked at Willow, "Big G's waiting outside the room with Sam, the Big Guy, Cam, Vala and Daniel. I'm in here on the bed with Dr. Lam watching over me who was transported with her team. They put something in me to lower my heart rate just enough that…. Let's say that I'm anchored to our reality."
"How?" asked Willow and Tara together.
"Your idea" said Faith as she looked at Tara, and then at Willow, "I'm anchored back at the BPRI, while my soul followed our link here, but there's not much time even with all the stops pulled. It's taking a great deal of strain on Tara and the others."
"Who else?" asked Willow.
"You have two Slayers, excluding me; one badass Witch; the Coven in Devon that Giles called to help, some of whom was beamed to the BPRI" said Faith as she gave a small smile, "and Dawn."
"Dawn?" asked Buffy as she turned and looked at her sister who shrugged.
"Faith?" asked Giles as she turned around and looked at the Watcher, "why didn't you go to the Powers that Be, they could have granted you a boon and.."
"I was selfish" said Faith as tears started to stream down her face before she looked at Willow, tears that the redhead couldn't wipe away, "I was selfish. I went with Tara to see the Powers that Be, I wanted to have you back…. I want you back so much, Red. But as a price to have you back, they wanted our link to give them the power for you to return, they wanted the memories of us together… our wedding, our first date… our everything.. they wanted all of that until no one would ever remember there was an us. Not even you'd remember."
"Faith" said Willow gently as she reached out for her hand as Tara looked down and away from what was going on before her. She knew that this wasn't the woman she loved, but then again.. she couldn't imagine that the both of them wouldn't fall in love in another reality. And to top it all off, Willow was married to her. She felt a hand on her shoulder as it squeezed gently before turning her head and nodded at Buffy who gave her a sad smile. The both of them looked back at Willow who was heading towards the image of Faith, while their Faith just looked on before she closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall.
"It was a punishment designed for me" said Faith, "I gave up on being a Slayer. I'd be the only one who would remember. And I couldn't handle that… I'm so sorry, Red. But I couldn't."
"Faith" said Willow as she reached for her cheek and just caressed at the image, "I'm glad you didn't. You're my everything; I couldn't imagine a life without you. You did the right thing."
"I need you back" said Faith, "I'm not strong enough."
"You are" said Willow, "you didn't give up our link. That means you were strong enough.. strong enough to not take the easy way out by giving up something important to the both of us. You are the strongest person I know, Faith."
"Come back to me" said Faith, "please come back to me."
"I've met with the Asgard in this reality" said Willow, "they've had some trouble with the Replicators but they've gotten a handle on that now. They said it would take about three days for them to build the technology needed to get me back, they've asked the Nox to help. Something about the quantum frequency of our link…. Or something. Tell Colonel Carter that they'll be using the same equipment that the alternate SG-1 used to punch a bridge into our own reality. Maybe it's better to contact our Asgard to get the same materials ready.. the same stuff they lent us to close the reality bridge."
"I will" said Faith a she wiped her eyes and gave Willow a smile, "look at me… I look like a mess."
"No you don't" said Willow with a grin, "what happened after I left?"
"Moros died, Red" said Faith as Willow closed her eyes and nodded her head, "but he gave Hera her memories back."
"Wait" said a surprised Willow as she looked back at Faith, "you mean…?"
"She remembers" said Faith, "she remembers everything.
"Hera's back" said Willow with a smile, "do the others know yet?"
"She wants to tell them once you get back" said Faith, "and get back, alright."
"I will" said Willow.
"Oh" said as she started to fade out, "eight Ori ships came through the Supergate. Which means that we have ten ships in the galaxy, no news about if the weapon worked.. or if Adria is really dead."
"I'll be coming back, Faith" said Willow, "we'll face them together."
"I'll be waiting" replied Faith as she started to fade away, "I love you."
"I love you too" said Willow as her Faith vanished. She then turned back towards the Faith of this reality who looked back at her before she returned a small smile back at the redhead. She then looked at both Buffy and Tara when the blonde witch gasped and looked behind Willow. Turning around again, she looked at the First who was in Buffy's skin as it smiled, while the others all stepped back, including Willow.
"You lying minx" said the First as it looked at the redhead, "you really had me fooled."
"Get out" said Buffy as she walked toward the First as Willow took a few more steps back.
"I am coming" said the First as it looked at Buffy and then at the others before turning to Willow and pointed it's finger at her, "and it's all her fault."
"Leave" said Buffy.
"Wait" said Willow as she looked at Buffy, who turned back towards the redhead and looked at her confused. Willow put her hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently, silently asking the Slayer to trust her, "you said that you should be feared, that you can take the form of any dead people…. And from what Spike told me on the way to the dessert, you use that to play psychological tricks while you use those creatures to do your bidding. Am I right?"
"Your point?" asked the First as it took the form of Willow.
Willow glanced back at Tara who stepped back and looked at her, before looking at the First again.
"See" said the First as it stared at Tara, "she lets her façade slip when I'm in this body. Right? Tara, baby?"
"Get out" said Buffy as she stood between the First and Tara, while Dawn and Xander joined her, "get out."
"But she asked me to stay" said the First who was still wearing Willow's skin before she looked at the Major, "advanced technology, wow… you know what I'd do if I can get my hands, I mean when I get my real hands, on it?"
"Spike said that you are old" said Willow as she approached the First, "supposedly the evil that created evil. Or some nonsense like that. I don't remember who said what really… I kinda fell mentally asleep when that was mentioned."
"Willow" said Giles, "that is the First Evil. Literally the First.. the evil that created all evil."
"Where's the proof?" asked Willow as she looked at Giles and then at the First again, "and if you are as old as you say; then tell me one thing… do you know who the Alterra are?"
"I don't answer to you, you meat sack" said the First.
"Oh come on" said Willow as she looked at Giles and asked him if was true what the First told her, that it existed even before the universe was formed, that it was there at the beginning of the creation of the universe.
"And it would be there at the end" said Anya as she glanced at Giles who nodded his head.
"Then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about" said Willow as she looked at the First, "do you know the Alterra?"
Willow didn't see any reaction for the creature that called itself the First as it glared at her.
"How about this?" asked Willow looking at the First, "the Asgard, the Nox, the Wraith, the Athosians, the Lanteans. Oh, I know… the Furlings."
Willow smiled when she noticed the First locking her jaw and glaed at the redhead with even more rage than was humanly possible.
"You know them" said Faith as the others turned towards her while she walked and stood next to Dawn, "I saw you twitch…. First time I've seen you twitch."
"Something new" said Xander.
"Yeah" replied Oz, "very."
"What do you think you accomplished?" asked the First as she looked at everyone, and then she looked at Willow, "little girl, you're playing with forces beyond you."
"Have you heard this last name" asked Willow as she looked at the First, "Ancient?"
"You think because you know those names, that it makes you.. what?" asked the First, "you think you discovered something great? You've learnt nothing, I am forever.. I just am."
"Nah" said Willow, "but it showed me something though, but that's something for me to share with these guys. But I've got no doubt that somehow you'll be spying on them."
"Which was why you lied" said Spike as Willow nodded her head.
"You think you could trick me?" asked the First as she walked towards Willow as it took the form of Buffy again, "you think you could trick the First Evil?"
"I'll answer if you do me a favour" said Willow as she squeezed Buffy's shoulder, "show us Joyce Summers."
"Willow?" said Buffy as she looked at the redhead, followed by pretty much everyone in the room, "no."
"Come on, coward" said Willow as she walked towards the First who stood up tall as she changed to the image of Spike, "show us Joyce Summers… come on! You like torturing people don't you?"
"Willow!" shouted Giles.
"Coward" said Willow as she felt a hand on her shoulder that turned her around, just before she saw a furious Dawn punch the side of her face as the redhead stumbled back against the fire place as everyone looked on shocked.
"Mom died, Willow!" shouted Dawn as tears went down her forehead, "she died and…."
Dawn turned around when she heard the First laugh out loud as Buffy held on to Dawn's shoulder while Tara rushed to Willow and frowned at her, but still wiped blood that was coming out from her nose.
"This is rich" said the First as it changed form into that of Joyce as it smiled at Willow, and then at Giles, Xander, and ended with looking at Buffy and Dawn.
"That face doesn't belong to you" said Buffy as she glared at the First, her hands rolled into fists, "get it off!"
"NO" said the First, "Buffy… Dawn… can I get a hug? You're not going to give your mother a hug? Especially after everything I've been with the both of you?"
"Shut up" said Willow as she glared at the first. She then looked at Tara and gently pushed her away before she walked up to Buffy and stood next to her.
"Excuse me?" said the First, "you wanted me in this body. So I'll take it for a ride and torture the little one… right Dawnie?"
"Buffy" said Dawn as she reached for her sister's hand.
"Dawn, Buffy" said Willow that's not your mother.
"Joyce" said Giles as the First turned to face him.
"My dear Rupert" said Joyce with a smile, "it's just too bad that we never…"
"Thank you" said Willow as the First turned back and looked at Willow, "thank you for showing us Joyce. Now I know that you're full of bull."
"Red?" said Spike, "not nice to piss off the creator of Evil… just saying."
"Listen to the half breed" said The First as it looked at Willow.
"For something that says it's so old" said Willow as she looked at the First, "I'm surprised that you didn't realize that Joyce was just like me… a clone."
"What?" asked Buffy as she turned Willow forcefully and looked at her, "Willow, what?"
"That's why Oz and Spike will tell you that my scent is off" said Willow, "In my reality, I died and some allies created a new body for me and transferred my consciousness."
"Wait…" said Giles, "that's…."
"Joyce Summers" said Willow as she turned and looked at the First, "the Joyce Summers that died was a clone. Now this part is the funniest of all, the image you're using is that of a clone of a woman who had all of the original Joyce's memories. You know what that means, you had no idea… for a great, old thing.. you had no idea."
"Willow" said a shocked Spike, "what are you saying?"
"Joyce Summers is alive and well" said Willow as she looked at the rage that was on the face of the First who was still wearing Joyce's body, "she's on another planet. And the kicker of this whole thing is that you didn't know…. Got'cha."
"This doesn't change anything" said the First as it shed its image and took the form of a giant robed demon and looked down at Willow, "you'll feel my Wrath first… before anyone else… you will feel my wrath."
Everyone saw the First vanish into a point of light before they looked at Willow who was looking back at Buffy and Dawn. She apologized for forcing them to watch the First take on Joyce's image, and said that it was necessary for her theory. Willow then hugged a sobbing Buffy before telling her that Joyce was safe and sound when she saw her; the redhead then reached out her hand to Dawn who had already started to cry before pulling the brunette towards her. Willow felt Dawn's arms go around her neck as both young women were crying while their bodies trembled.
"If you saw her" said Rona, "then why didn't you bring her back?"
"It's already dangerous with the First" said Faith as she looked at Giles who was wiping a tear from his eye before looking a t Willow who nodded her head, "she's somewhere safe. That's where she needs to be right now."
"Yeah" said Willow as she looked at Faith, and then at Tara, "in the meantime… I know it's a bit rude and all but I haven't eaten anything other than some chalky block…. Any Pizza place open?"
TBC