Unknown area of space, Earth ship Apollo.

All Dawn knew was that her head was pounding as she moaned while she felt herself being placed on a soft surface, before she felt herself being sat up and then gently pushed until her back hit something solid. It was then she heard the sounds of explosions, followed by the floor beneath her shaking followed by thuds, as well as yelps of pain. Opening her eyes to the smell of something burning, the young woman found herself in grey walled surroundings, with windows evenly spaced along what appeared to be a wall. Turning her head to the left, she saw a window that looked out into space as well as someone who was manning a console. To Dawn, it was as if she was on a ship of some kind, a small ship. Moaning from the pain that she felt go through her body, she turned her head slowly to the right when she heard footsteps, followed by the ship shaking again and then sounds of distant explosions.

"Dawnie!"

Confused about what was going on, the brunette groggily looked up at Willow who gingerly placed a bleeding Colonel Mitchell down on the seat next to her.

"Dawnie!"

"Willow?"

"I need you to stay with him alright?" said Willow as she harnessed the Colonel into the seat next to her.

"What's going on?"

"That bump must have messed you up" said Willow as more people ran into the ship behind the redhead who had blood on her BDU's, as well as several cuts and burns that were starting heal, "we were on a mission against the Lucien Alliance when we were called back to this sector since we were the closest ships; remember?"

"The Alliance?" asked Dawn as Willow tightened her harness just as there was another explosion. Dawn leaned forward a little bit and saw sparks showering from a console in the hallway outside.

"Dawnie" said Willow with a serious look in her eyes as Dawn looked at her, "I.. I'll meet you back on Earth ok? This life-raft has enough power for a hyperdrive jump to the nearest planet with a Stargate five minutes away. The survivors will then gate back to Earth."

"I don't understand" said Dawn shaking her head.

"Major!" shouted a familiar voice as Dawn looked to her left and saw Colonel Carter standing at the entrance to the ship, "I'm going to the bridge. Colonel Well's has been put into the other life-raft. We've got the last one ready for us after we activate the self-destruct. I need you at engineering, give me all available power. We need to defend these ships before we activate the timer and get out of here."

"Yes, ma'am" shouted Willow as the ship shook again while Colonel Carter turned around and ran into the hallway, covering her head as more sparks showered overhead.

"Willow?" asked Dawn as she looked at Willow, who in turn looked back at the young woman confused.

"Yea, Dawnie" said Willow as she stood up straight, unzipped her vest and the top of her BDU's before reaching in and taking out her dog-tags. Dawn saw the redhead take something off the chain, Willow then reached out and took Dawn's hand and put the object in her palm. Dawn could only look at the object in her hand and then up at Willow with surprise in her eyes as the redhead zipped her BDU and vest back up.

"Willow" said Dawn as she looked at the object, and then at Willow again, "this.. this is…"

"The seal of the High Counsellor of Atlantis" said Willow as the ship shook again while Willow tried to keep her balance and as two people helped bring in some injured personnel, "if I don't make it back, the city is under your guardianship."

"Willow!" shouted Dawn as the redhead ran out of the door before helping two more enter the craft, "what's going on? Why are you giving me this? Where am I!?"

"Two SuperHives came to this galaxy" said a confused Willow, "you know this. The Apollo and the Britannia are trying to prevent this one from joining the other ship that just entered hyperspace. You'll be safe on Earth, Dawnie. It'll take the Superhive two hours to reach Earth, but our other ships will be there in less than thirty minutes. You've got the planetary defence stations, the Ancients weapons platforms in Area 51 and Death Valley, the planetary force field, and all our allies heading home. We'll take care of this one here, and then I'll come home. OK?"

"Let me stay!" shouted Dawn as she tried to take off the harness but found that it wouldn't budge. It was then she realized that Willow was telekinetically preventing her from releasing the harness, "Willow, damn it. Let me stay."

"Faith's been badly injured" said Willow, "I didn't get to her in time. Look after her, ok. And look after little Anne? Tell her that her Aunt Willow will be home soon.. you know.. if I'm late."

"Anne?" asked Dawn confused, "Willow.. what are you…"

"Major!" shouted Colonel Carter's voice over the radio, "I need full power to all Ancient weapons."

"On the way, ma'am" shouted Willow before she looked at Dawn, who looked back at her with eyes wide open in shock. Willow then took a few steps back as Dawn struggled in her harness to get out; the redhead then pressed a button right outside the life-raft she was in. Dawn looked on as the inside door of the ship closed, followed by the outside airlock. Dawn could see Willow looking back at her through the windows of the back door before the entire ship shuddered. The next thing that Dawn knew, the life-craft she was on shot out of the side of the Apollo, alongside other life-rafts that the brunette could see flying away from the hull window. Looking out the rear window, the young brunette could see that an enormous ship was firing at the Apollo, the shields flaring from the blue energy blasts. She recognized the ship as Wraith, but it was unlike any that she had seen when she was living in Atlantis; it was far too big, and too powerful. She was proved just how powerful when the ship next to the Apollo exploded after taking fire from the enormous HiveShip.

"Willow called it a superhive" said Dawn to herself as she looked at the Apollo manoeuvring around the blasts from the superhive before her life-raft shuddered. Just before the life-raft went into hyperspace, Dawn saw that the hiveship had fired six energy blasts at the Apollo. Just before the blasts hit the shield of the ship, the life-craft left real space and entered hyperspace. Then just as Dawn found herself in the small ship, she found herself walking down the ramp at the Gateroom in Stargate Command. She looked to her left as she noticed the same injured people who were with her in the life-raft, followed by several others, walking in through the gate covered in burns, or cuts, and bruises. Dawn saw the doctors and nurses entering the Gateroom as they took away the injured. It was then, as she was standing at the side on the ramp confused while holding the railing, that she saw an unconscious Faith being carried down the ramp in the hands of Teal'c.

"Teal'c" shouted Dawn as she went down the stairs as the Jaffa turned back towards the brunette, "Teal'c, is she…?"

"She has had a concussion" said Teal'c as he gingerly placed Faith on a gurney that the nurses had brought down to the Gateroom, "how is your team?"

"Teal'c" said Dawn, "this may sound weird, but I don't know what's going on? What's a superhive? Do you mean a supersized hive ship?"

"Yes, Dawn Summers" said Teal'c just as General Landry walked through the doors of the Gateroom and walked up to Teal'c and Dawn.

"Teal'c, Miss Summers" said the General as he looked at Teal'c and then at Dawn as Colonel Mitchell was put on a gurney as well, groaning from the pain of his injuries with Vala being carried down in the arms of another crewmember.

"General Landry" said Teal'c as he watched his teammates being taken away by the doctors before looking back at General Landry, "do you have news on the Apollo?"

"Our deep space sensor net registered two massive explosions" said the General as he looked at a shocked Dawn, "we lost the transponder from the Apollo."

"General" said Dawn, "what does that mean? General? Teal'c?"

"The ship has been destroyed" said Teal'c as he glanced at Dawn who had brought her hands covering her mouth in shock. He then looked at the General and asked if there were any survivors.

"We don't know" said the General shaking his head, "they overloaded the Naquadria reactors to destroy the superhive. The radiation and the electromagnetic interference from the explosion may be preventing us from scanning any life signs."

"We need to send a ship" said Dawn, "I mean… we need to send a ship."

"We need all ships here, Miss Summers" said the General, his eyes filled with sorrow for denying the young brunette the request to send a ship to search for survivors. However, the General knew how dire the situation was, that until the second hiveship was destroyed; there was nothing they could do, every ship had to defend the Earth. That was the orders of the IOA, "the Wraith are coming here to feed. Miss Maclay and the covens are already prepared to activate the planetary shield; Prometheus, Yangtze and Europa stations are ready for battle, our remaining 304's and 305's are heading back from their assigned duties. General O'Neill is at Area 51 while your sister is manning the Death Valley weapons platform. I don't know if we could have taken two superhives, but one… we'll definitely take it down, and then send for rescue. I swear to you. But in the mean time, I need you and the others to report to the infirmary."

"But" said Dawn as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Looking over at Teal'c, she saw the man nod at her before she looked back at the General and asked him if she could go on the rescue mission. The General nodded his head before a crestfallen Dawn turned and followed Teal'c out of the Gateroom, and into the hallway outside.

"They'll be safe" said the General softly as he turned around and headed towards the control room, "they'll be safe. They'll be safe."

Eden, 0900 hours.

Dawn woke up with a start as she found herself in one of the sleeping units for the Earth personnel on the Cylon occupied planet. Dawn quickly sat up panting before she wiped the sweat off her forehead and face, even though the air conditioning system was keeping the room comfortably cool. Dawn looked around her and saw that two of the Earth translators were asleep in their own cots before she turned and placed her bare feet on the hard plastic flooring of the refugee unit. Standing up slowly in her tank top and shorts, the young woman walked silently over to one of the two sinks on either end of the unit. Putting her hands on the sides of the sink, Dawn looked into the mirror as she recalled the dream.

'Or was it a vision?' thought Dawn to herself, 'mother and I have been able to see what could be; alternate timelines as visions, but that was when I was ascended. Not after taking human form, and those visions needed some concentration on my part. Which is why I didn't do it all the time; and why I knew if they were in the here and now, or if they were an alternate timeline. But this dream, I couldn't tell what it was. Was it the near future, or was it an alternate timeline. Or was it just a dream?'

Shaking her head, Dawn turned the tap as she placed her hands together and collected water in the palms of her hands. Splashing it over her face, the brunette then heard the door to the unit open as Satterfield, in her BDU's, walked into the unit with a woman in uniform.

"Dawn" said the Air Force officer as she looked at the brunette, "you're up. Someone I'd like for you to meet". She then guided the unknown woman to Dawn who introduced herself before Satterfield introduced the new arrival as Major Alice Atwood, part of the two British SG teams sent to relieve SG-2 and SG-3. Satterfield told Dawn that Colonel Ferretti wanted the two of them to show Major Atwood and her team around while Colonel Reynolds' team introduces the other British team to their neighbours for the next two months. Dawn asked the Major to keep it down since the translators were taking the night shift, so they usually slept in during the day.

"Like vampires, huh?" said Major Atwood as she looked at the two women who were fast asleep before looking at Dawn and Satterfield who shared a look with each other before looking at Major Atwood confused, "it's a joke, I mean vampires don't exist except in movies."

"Yeah" said Dawn as Satterfield covered the smile on her face with her mouth, "you just gotta be worried about demons and ghosts on this planet."

"Ah" said the Major as she tilted her head and smiled at Dawn, "I see you're a horror aficionado."

"You could say I grew up on the stuff" said Dawn while Satterfield let out a cough. Dawn smiled at her teammate before she looked at the clock on the wall and then turning to the Major, "I should put some clothes on. Don't wanna go out there in these."

"Of course" said the Major as she followed Satterfield out of the unit. Before she left, however, Dawn could have sworn that the Major had turned and looked the brunette over before following Satterfield out of the room. Shaking her head, Dawn turned and put the attached curtain around her cot before changing into her BDU's.

It was after three hours of showing SG-35 and SG-36 around that SG-2 and SG-3 headed to the mess tent where they could have some food. The latter two teams were supposed to leave for Earth in another hour, so to kill the remaining time available.. the four teams decided to have a meal together.

Once Dawn had gotten her food, she turned around and noticed that Sarah, Natalie and D'Anna had left Giles alone at the table. Looking closely, she then saw Natalie and D'Anna turning around and smiling at the former Watcher as he lifted a glass and nodded at them before they looked at each other, smiled, and followed Sarah out of the tent.

"Colonel" said Dawn, intrigued about what just happened, "mind if I sit with Giles? I won't be seeing him for nearly a month and well… I'd like to spend the final hour with him?"

"Yeah, sure" said the Colonel as he nodded his head, "go ahead. I'll let you know when it's time."

"Thanks" said Dawn as she nodded at the Colonel and her team before she headed to where Giles was sitting with a tray of eggs, biscuits and gravy, complete with bacon, "hey Giles."

"Dawn" said the older man as Dawn sat across from him at the table, "how are you?"

"I'm doing alright" said the brunette, "heading back to Earth in an hour. Just wanted to see you before I left, and besides… I saw Dr. Gardner, and the two Cylons leaving you by yourself."

At the last part of the sentence, Dawn pouted as Giles looked back at her with an eyebrow raised.

"They had some things that needed to be looked at" said Giles as he took a sip of coffee.

"You've been hanging with them a lot since you got here" said Dawn as she took a bite of her biscuit, "for three days straight, actually. I see someone has a crush?"

"I do not" said Giles before he continued to drink the hot coffee nervously. He then put the cup down and started coughing as Dawn gave him her bottled water which he drank to cool his mouth. He drank half the bottle at one go before looking at Dawn who was grinning back at him, "I do not, as you put it, have a crush, on Natalie or D'Anna, or Dr. Gardner. I am just too old."

"Oh pish tosh" said Dawn as she waved her arms about as she leaned forward and pointed to her left, "you know there's a lake on the other side of that hill. About six miles from here if I'm not wrong. I'm just making a suggestion but you could take a group with you and go camping. You know, fireside horror stories about vampires and demons, or any other mythological stories that they want. It's a good way to meet them you know. And then.. then under the night stars you could have a… you know… you've got a D'Anna, Natalie and Dr. Gardner. Oh, you would have such fun… I mean, after the work and everything."

"Dawn" said Giles as his face turned red while he used one hand to nervously fix his glasses.

"Enjoy yourself, Giles" said Dawn, "you've looked after all of us for so many years, it's time you let yourself loose a bit."

"I have" said Giles, "I mean, I did… in fact I have been having drinks with Dr. Gardner, some of the Cylon leaders and some of the professors. We've been talking about Ancient Greece, the other civilization like Ancient Egypt, Babylon; religion as well, and it's fascinating actually that among each model, they have an interest on one particular area more than another."

"Neat" said Dawn, "and I take it that D'Anna and Natalie are more interested in myth and legends, as well as religion?"

"The Leoben's as well" said Giles, "I'll be talking to a few of them after breakfast."

"After that" said Dawn leaning forward again, "have some fun, or else I'll convince Buffy to send Xander here; and you know she'll make you promise to keep an eye on him. And with the Number Eights… you know what's going to happen."

"Yes" said Giles as he hung his head and shook it, "he'll be drooling every day, or he'll get a stroke."

"See" said Dawn as she leaned back and smiled after finishing her food, "you now have an incentive to have fun. And…. and have some wild sex, will you?"

Dawn almost laughed when she look at the opened mouthed face of Giles who stared at the young woman in shock. Then just as Giles was about to say something, Dawn tilted her head as Colonel Dixon's voice came over the radio. She listened as Colonel Dixon talked to both Colonel Reynolds, and Colonel Ferretti that they had found a D'Anna model on the Colonial's planet. He told them that Daniel and SG-1 would be accompanying her to Eden, before they head back to Earth. The Colonel also told them that it would be better if they had another D'Anna model meet up with them at the Stargate.

"Copy that" said Colonel Reynolds as he looked at Colonel Feretti who silently told the man that he'd go to the Stargate, "Lou will be heading to the Gate."

"Thanks" said Colonel Dixon, "Dixon, out."

"Dr. Gardner" said Colonel Ferretti as he got onto the radio, "I assume you heard that?"

"I did, Colonel" replied Sarah as she walked with Natalie and D'Anna towards one of the nearby crystal buildings, "I'll send D'Anna over to the Stargate."

"Alright" said Colonel Ferretti as he looked back at Dawn who was looking back at him, "I'll have Summers, and Dr. Giles head to the Stargate with me for translation duties."

"Agreed" said Sarah as Colonel Ferretti got up before telling Colonel Dixon and the others that he'll go and accompany both Giles and Dawn to the Gate. Before he left, he reminded the rest of SG-2 that they needed to be ready to leave for Earth.

It took a few minutes for the group to meet up with D'Anna as they headed towards the Stargate which, by then, had already activated. They then saw a group of people with a blindfolded D'Anna coming through the event horizon while Daniel helped her down the stairs of the pedestal just as the worm hole disengaged.

"Colonels" said Colonel Feretti as he nodded at Colonel Carter and Colonel Mitchell once he arrived at the Stargate.

"Colonel" said the two Colonels from SG-1.

"Major" said Colonel Feretti as he nodded his head at Willow.

"Colonel" replied Willow as she glanced over at Dawn who had her eyebrow raised.

"Seriously?" she asked as Willow walked over to the brunette and squeezed her arm and smiled. She was soon followed by Faith as Daniel untied the blindfold around the eyes of the D'Anna that they had found on the Colonial planet. Once the blindfold was taken off, the group watched the D'Anna look at her surroundings in shock, before she turned around and walked backwards as she stared at the Stargate and panicked.

"What have you people done?" asked D'Anna as the other D'Anna headed towards her, "where am I? You blindfold me and now.. now you want to kill me? How did we get here? What are you? What….?"

Before D'Anna could finish what she wanted to say, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around she looked into the surprised eyes of another of her model, and just like that; the newly arrived Cylon gave the Eden D'Anna a tight hug as she started to cry.

"Shhhh" said the Eden D'Anna, "it is alright, sister. You are safe. These people saved us."

"They lied" said D'Anna while Daniel translated, "they.. they told me that our race is going extinct and then they blindfolded me and… and somehow I'm…. I don't know. It's all a lie, it's all a lie."

"I'm afraid not" said the Eden D'Anna as the Colonial planet's D'Anna opened her eyes in shock and pushed the woman away, the newly arrived humanoid Cylon's face twisted in anguish, "we lost all capability to resurrect. The Hub is gone.. destroyed by a powerful enemy."

"No" said D'Anna as she walked back into Daniel. She then turned again and saw that the archaeologist wasn't meeting her eyes as she brought her hands to her mouth and walked away from all of them while shaking her head, "no, no, it's all a trick. It can't be true… they are human's, they lie… they destroy and they lie.. it's not true."

"Sister" said the Eden D'Anna as she approached the woman and turned her around before gently holding onto both of her shoulders, "you're on another world. They saved the remaining Colonials, and they saved us. They blindfolded you so that you…"

"So that you don't see the point of origin" said Daniel as he cautiously approached D'Anna, "we're keeping your people, and the Colonials separated. We know that your race may eventually be able to know how to get to the Colonial planet if you knew the point of origin. So, in order for us to keep the peace between the both of your peoples, we've given your people one planet to settle on, while the Colonials have another world. Neither of you will know the others address. There's too much bad blood, so for now… your people have a place to stay and rebuild in peace."

"D'Anna" said the Eden D'Anna as she looked into the eyes of the scared Cylon, "you'll be well looked after here. Come with me, I'm sure your sisters would love to see you. We have a few Simons here as well, and I believe some of them were practicing counsellors in the Colonies before the fall. Come."

The humanoid Cylon could only nod her head as Dawn and Giles slowly approached her before introducing themselves. The Eden D'Anna then gave Giles a small smile and told him, Dawn and Colonel Ferretti, while Dawn translated, that she'll bring D'Anna to meet Natalie, and then the others so that she could be well looked after.

"She saw horrors" said Daniel as the Colonial planet's D'Anna looked back at him and shuddered slightly, "things that no human, or Cylon, should have seen. D'Anna, talk to your sisters. Talk to this Simon. Trust me, it helps."

D'Anna could only look at the man before she turned around and quietly told D'Anna that she'd like to leave. The Cylon nodded at Daniel, Dawn, Giles and the Colonels before she walked D'Anna slowly back to the camp. In the meantime, Dawn took Willow to one side as Faith headed back to the rest of SG-1 and told her that she had something to tell her, something that was important.

"Sure" said Willow, "I can ask Colonel Carter and Mitchell if I could stay for a little while, I mean if you wanna talk."

"We get back in an hour" said Dawn, "can we talk when we get home. I.. I think this is something between us. After you hear me out, then you can decide if you need to tell General Landry?"

"Alright" said Willow as she squeezed the brunette's hands, "we'll talk when I get back."

Dawn smiled at Willow as the latter then leaned forward and kissed the brunette's cheek before she walked back to her team. In the meantime, Daniel was dialling a secondary planet as per SGC protocol. The idea was that any Cylon who may be spying at the DHD would be getting the wrong address for Earth. The team would be heading to a different planet, and from that planet; SG-1 will head back to Earth.

The Gateroom, SGC, 1245 hours.

Back on Earth, the Stargate activated as Marines took defensive positions at the foot of the ramp. It wasn't too long before the shield and the iris were retracted and the members of SG-1walked through the gate, and down the ramp.

"SG-1" said Walter as the team reached the bottom of the ramp, "General Landry would like for you to get checked out at the infirmary, and then meet him in the briefing room."

Colonel Mitchell and the others nodded at the man as they left the Gateroom and headed to the infirmary. It was about two hours later that SG-1 walked back into the briefing room and took their seats after which General Landry, who they saw had just gotten off the phone, walked out of his office and sat at his regular spot at the head of the table. He asked for a full report on the situation at the Colonial Planet, as well as any information that they had received from Racetrack. Following that report, the General turned to Colonel Carter about what they had seen on the abandoned ships, and her work on the Cylon detection device.

"Willow and I had one successful test with the D'Anna model that was found on the Colonial planet, sir" said the Colonel, "we were right. The nanites communicate with each other using radio frequency, we've found that frequency; and its various modulations."

"Good" said the General, "I want something ready in case the other Colonials arrive at that planet."

"Colonel Dixon asked the officer to give us a heads up on how many will be coming, sir" said Colonel Mitchell as General Landry nodded his head.

"Very well" said the General, "I'll have the Tok'ra send over some crystals, the same ones they used to create the structures on Eden, just so that we don't get caught with our pants down in case the entire fleet comes to that other planet. I've talked to General O'Neill at Home World, and he agreed that the Avalon and the Excalibur will provide some measure of security for the Colonials and the Cylons, at least until we speak with them on beefing up their security forces."

"But we'll be handling their security in the meantime?" asked Faith.

"Yes" said General Landry, "at the same time, we'll be encouraging them to build up their own security forces which would slowly take over the duties of any force that we provide. Planetary security will be our responsibility, at least for now. Homeworld, the IOA and the President are still deciding if we should be providing the Colonials with defensive technology.

"The shields?" asked Vala as the General nodded.

"There is another problem, sir" said Colonel Carter as everyone looked at her, "we're not sure what power source they use."

"According to the reports from Eden" said the General, "both the Cylons and the Colonials use a type of fuel called Tylium. From the way they describe it, it's similar to the way we use oil on Earth. But instead of it fueling their cars, they use it to power their ships."

"So can this tylium thing power their shields?" asked Vala.

"There's no way to know" said Willow as she leaned forward on the table, "at least until we've run some tests, and.. and if it doesn't.. if it causes the shields to fall after just a few shots, then we need to provide them with naquada reactors, and we'll need to check their power distribution network. Worse to worse, depending on the ship.. and Galactica's a huge ship from what I saw… it'll take at least a year to set up the shields. If the power distribution network can handle the loads from the reactor, then the time would be cut down significantly."

"Ultimately, we need to look at the schematics of the Cylon, and Colonial ships, sir" said Colonel Carter as Willow nodded her head, "and weapons?"

"Weapons are out" said the General, "the previous sensor packages we used on the Prometheus, before the upgrade to the Asgard sensors are under consideration for installing on the Colonial and Cylon vessels. We're negotiating with the Cylons to be allowed to check their ships engineering schematics so that we can run a test."

"Any luck, sir?" asked Willow.

"We should know something soon" replied the General, "but in the event that the Tylium can't hold up the shields, I want the same specifications that we've developed to make the reactors tamper proof so that it could be slowly rolled out for use with the civilian power grid. I don't want either the Colonial, or the Cylons, to find a way to weaponize the damn things. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"The IOA and Home World are also interested in their faster than light technology" said the General as he looked at Willow, "Major, you said that the drives that the Cylons, and Colonials, use have similar principles to Furling drives?"

"Yes, sir" said Willow, "as you know, the early Kobolians found the Furling ship and eventually co-opted its technology for their own. The jump drive that they found was extremely advanced; it was a point to point instant transportation system."

"But the calculations needed for a jump.. the risks" said Colonel Carter shaking her head, "I mean, this could revolutionise space travel and…."

"Back on Atlantis" said Willow as she leaned back, "there were some who experimented with a drive similar to the Furling drive. IN fact, the drive is operational and…"

"Willow?"

"Major?"

"Major?"

"Sir's, Ma'am" said Willow as she looked at Colonel Carter, Mitchell and General Landry while the others looked on surprised at the revelation, "I didn't have anything to do with the project, but I did hear that the calculations, even with the Ancient computers are extremely complex for long range jumping. One mistake… one calculation off…"

"You find yourself inside a planet?" asked Faith as Willow nodded her head.

"Or a sun" said Colonel Carter as she rubbed her head in frustration before she looked at Willow, "power rquirements?"

"The team ran an experiment using Atlantis" said Willow, "a short range jump of about twenty thousand light years from Lantea, and then back again. Just for those two jumps, we used forty six percent of all available power from the three ZPM's that powered Atlantis."

"Holy Hannah!" said the Colonel surprised as Willow nodded her head.

"Please, don't anyone start explaining" said Vala sarcastically as Colonel Mitchell looked at her and frowned.

"Zero Point Modules can last for thousands of years if they're under massive amounts of strain."

"Atlantis when it remained under Lantea's ocean," said Teal'c as Willow nodded before continuing to speak.

"Or for millions of years if they're not" the redhead continued as she looked at Vala.

"Praclarush" said Daniel as the redhead nodded her head while looking at the archaeologist.

"The ones that powered Atlantis when the Expedition left? They were powering the shields for ten thousand years while holding back the ocean, and before that they were holding up against Wraith weapons fire" Said Willow, "With a sustained bombardment from every ship in the Pegasus galaxy? The ZPM's could have powered the shield for maybe two hundred year if we chose to stay on Lantea's surface; and if we did stay on the surface, the power could have gone down by maybe twenty percent the first fifty years. Give or take."

"What are you saying?" asked Colonel Mitchell.

"We used ninety two percent of the ZPM's energy in a few seconds just making a forty thousand light year return jump" said Willow, "that's why the Furlings switched to the Hyperdrive system after the Alliance was formed. The drain in power for jumping is massive, despite the few seconds it takes to jump. HYperspace for that distance would have taken a few hours but we'd only have used no where near that amount of power. So the project was discarded."

"I talked to Melik" said Daniel as everyone looked at him, "but he didn't tell us anything about the jump drives they were using."

"The distance that a ship can jump is determined by the computing power, and the fuel available" said Willow, "at least that's what I remember overhearing the Organic Drones saying when they wanted to jump to Earth. They were making sixty light year jumps, with a break of twenty minutes in between jumps to channel power back into the drive."

"When you think about it" said Faith as she closed her eyes while drawing something on her thigh, "that's kinda slow."

"But they travelled instantly" said Colonel Mitchell confused just as Vala tapped her hands on the table excitedly and pointed at Faith.

"I know.. I know" said the alien woman excitedly while Teal'c, who was seated next to Vala, could only raise an eyebrow, "ships travelling in hyperspace could move on further away while the other, lets have a Colonial ship as an example; the other ship is preparing to jump again. Right?"

"Yep" said Faith as she looked at Vala and then at Willow, "Red?"

"We still don't know about the Colonials drive and if they improved on the timing" said Willow as she looked at Faith, and then at the others before looking at Faith again, "but yeah, you're right too. On short range distances, the Furling drive is unmatched. But for something longer, Hyperdrive is the way to go. With the Furling drive, you have to calculate for stars, planets'; basically anything that could destroy us if we jump right into them."

"But with Hyperdrive" said Colonel Carter, "we're flying in a region of subspace, so we don't need to worry about planets or stars; well, other than phenomena that can disrupt subspace."

"True" said Vala, "black holes."

Everyone nodded before Faith telepathically told Willow something as the redhead leaned back and took a deep breath.

"Sir" said Willow as she looked at General Landry, "there is something else that we need to talk about."

"Go on" said the General, reminding himself to inform General O'Neill of what was discussed regarding the Furling jump drives that the Colonials and the Cylons were using.

"When we went to Eden, I saw a lot of the Number Six walking around" said Willow, "I.. I suspect that one of the Model Sixes helped Baltar to betray the Colonies."

"Are you certain, Willow Rosenberg?" asked Teal'c as everyone looked at the redhead.

"I saw the images of Baltar giving one of them a briefcase containing classified codes when the Colonials wanted Red and Lauren to have their blood tested," said Faith.

"To check for nanites" said Colonel Carter as Willow nodded her head.

"I can't read any of the Cylons' emotions, or minds" said Willow, "so I'm not sure who it could be, or even if that person is still alive."

"Without proof it's hard to pin anything on the guy" said Faith, "he's like a slippery snake. Remember his excuse when he was told he had nanites in his system?"

"True" said General Landry who had already read Baltar's explanation of how the nanites had gotten into his bloodstream, "but we keep this close to our vests for now. Both the Colonials and the Cylons are being kept away from each other, and I highly doubt that simply asking the Cylons would give us an answer. Both sides are traumatised enough as it is, and I believe that Baltar's already being haunted by what he's done. For now, we'll see if the Colonials come to that other planet; and if they do, we'll revisit this question on asking the Cylons if they have any information on Baltar helping them."

"Understood" said everyone.

"Alright" said the General nodding his head as he leaned back on his chair and looked at the team in front of him, and then smiled, "I've been talking to General O'Neill and, although it's going to be announced via memo tomorrow, I might as well tell you this now."

"Sir?" asked Colonel Mitchell as everyone looked around confused.

"It's concerning disclosure" said General Landry, "in recognition of what the SGC has done for the protection of this planet, and the risks that the men and women working here have taken in the realization of that goal; the President, the IOA and Homeworld Security have given approval for family members to know about the project."

"Sir?" asked Colonel Mitchell surprised while the others looked at each other.

"As you are aware, news about the United States and her allies participation in acquiring advanced alien technology have been purposely leaked to the public by government sources" said the General, "and this is the next step. We're still on for full disclosure at the end of next year. When you tell your families, you will be allowed to tell them everything; however they will not be allowed to reveal the location of the SGC, or that any of you actually work for the SGC. As far as the public will eventually know, at least one version of it anyway, is that the Air Force encountered an alien race ten years ago and since then we've been working with our allies in secret, building ships and technology to explore the galaxy, as well as fighting a secret war for the freedoms of millions of humans who were taken from Earth by the Goa'uld. The IOA is still deciding the merits of revealing the existence of the Stargate, so the story could very well change by the time disclosure comes around. Right now, the first story is just a rumour among the media… but they're rolling with it. Getting much mileage as they can."

"So" said Colonel Mitchell, "basically the truth, with a glaring omission."

"Exactly" said the General, "up to the good old IOA if they want to reveal the Stargate. But even if they do, the location of this program.. as well as the names and addresses of those who work protecting this planet will be kept confidential."

"That's a bright spot" said Faith.

"As the SGC's first response team" said the General, "all of you get first crack at this. I need the names of those you intend to tell so that we can run a background check on them, and then… well…"

"MY grandma's gonna be… well…." said Colonel Mitchell, "and my parents…. Damn."

"Shocked, stunned, wowed?" asked Faith as the Colonel shrugged.

"My parents will probably be busy" said Willow as she leaned back before she shrugged, "but I'll put them down for the background check."

"MY brother and his wife" said Colonel Carter, "not sure what I'm going to tell the kids."

"Faith?" asked Vala as she looked at the Slayer, "how about you? Anyone you planning on telling?"

"My dad's a deadbeat" said Faith, "so he's out. Mommy dearest is away for a long time… so definitely out."

"How about that detective cousin of yours" said Willow as she nudged Faith's arm with her elbow, "you know, the long distance one?"

"Maybe" said Faith as she smiled at Willow who nodded her head.

"Alright" said the General as he stood up, "make your decisions and get back to me in two days. In the meantime, I want you all to go home and take a break. I've scheduled your next mission in four days, so… enjoy. Go… move."

"Yes, sir" said Willow and the other military personnel as they stood up while General Landry walked back into his office, and closed the door behind him.

After the briefing with General Landry, Willow and Faith stayed on base to wait for Dawn to return while Colonel Carter headed back home to be with Debra. The Colonel wanted to spend some time with her daughter before she returned to work on Merlin's phase shifting device the next day.

"Sam" said Faith as she called after Colonel Carter who just reached the elevator as they walked through the hallway out of the briefing room, "movie night?"

"Tomorrow?" asked the Colonel, "I just want to spend some time with Debbie tonight."

"Sure" said Faith smiling as she nodded her head, "give her kisses from us."

"I will" grinned the Colonel as the elevator doors closed before the remaining team looked at each other. It was then that Vala walked up to Colonel Mitchell with her hands in her pockets and stood next to the man. Colonel Mitchell looked back at the woman confused as she grinned at him, and then grinned at Willow and the others before looking back at the Colonel.

"So" said Vala non-chalantely, "we never finished our date."

"It wasn't a date" said Colonel Mitchell as Faith nudged Willow's arm while the Colonel turned from looking at Vala, and faced the others, "really, she really wanted to be a part of.. you know… she wanted to see what it was like outside. In case we ever got called to the White House, or something… you know.. for saving the world again."

"Yeah" said Faith as she patted the Colonel's shoulder before walking down another hallway with Willow, "sure. It's all a social study thing, and you're Vala's teacher."

"It's not a date" said the Colonel as Faith and Willow looked back at him and smiled before they took another corner, moving out of his view. The Colonel then looked at Daniel and Teal'c, while Vala grinned at him, as he tried to convince them that they weren't going on a date.

"Uh huh" said Daniel, unconvinced despite Colonel Mitchell's protests, as the elevator doors opened; Teal'c just looked at the man before heading to the elevator with Daniel. Teal'c could only bow slightly towards the Colonel before telling him to enjoy himself on his date.

"It's not a date" said the Colonel as the elevator doors closed while Daniel gave the Colonel a little wave, as Vala wrapped her arm around the Colonel's left arm, "guys… guys…"

"This is going to be fun" said Vala as the Colonel looked back at her with him eyes furrowed, "oh, I need to take a look at some dresses."

"Vala" said Colonel Mitchell.

"I'd like to see if your Earth women have any other interesting things that they put on their faces" said Vala as she pulled the Colonel into the same hallway that Willow and Faith had gone through, "maybe I'll asked Major Rosenberg and Faith if they have anything to push up my chest.. I heard that Earth men…"

"Vala" said the Colonel as his face turned red while he looked around, making sure that no one heard what the alien woman had just said.

Willow and Faith's house, 1500 hours.

Willow, Faith and Dawn had just entered the house with the brunette going straight into her room where she placed her bag on her bed before heading back out to the living room. Seeing that Willow and Faith were in their room, the brunette headed into the kitchen where she started making some coffee. As she sat at the small table in the kitchen, Dawn thought about the vision she had and rubbed her eyes; she knew that the vision had a lot of unanswered questions, but at the same time she was aware that none of it may not come true at all.

'I don't know if I saw the future' thought Dawn to herself as she leaned on the table, 'or was it an alternate timeline. If I was ascended, I'd know but… but this time… or was it a dream. This is confusing.'

While Dawn was thinking on how to break the news to Willow, the redhead and Faith had placed their bags on the floor in their room after closing the door. It was then that Willow reached into her jeans pocket and took out the box that contained the gift that she had the Athosian gemsmiths create for Hera's birthday. She looked at the box before putting it on her dresser. She then turned as Faith bent down to pick up something that she had dropped, and smiled at the sight before her.

"Red" said Faith as she looked behind her while still bent over, "you're not being covert enough with your thoughts, just so you know."

Willow: "I know."

Willow then walked towards Faith as the dark haired Slayer stood up and turned around while the redhead placed her arms around the Slayer's waist, and Faith wrapped her arms around Willow's neck.

Faith: "We're not alone. Dawn's in the other room."

Faith leaned in and gave Willow a deep kiss while the both of them continued to mentally communicate.

Willow: "She'll be alright. It's been a while since you and I were alone. I mean since I got back from the other reality, we haven't had much time for smoochies. I miss my smoochies."

"Me too" said Faith as she broke the kiss while Willow looked back at her, "but I think we've got on too many clothes.. you know."

"Right" said Willow as Faith leaned in for another kiss while the redhead literally tore their clothes off their bodies as Faith gently pushed Willow back into the restroom. Closing the door behind her, Faith continued to kiss Willow as the both of them headed into the shower. Stepping under the showerhead while they continued to kiss, Faith felt for the handle of the glass door, eventually closing it once she found it while Willow mentally turned the shower on to the warm setting.

Willow: "Dawnie, we're gonna be taking a shower. We'll be right out."

Dawn was pouring herself some coffee when she got the message from Willow. All she could do was head back to the table, take a seat and drink her coffee while rolling her eyes.

Dawn: "Shower? Does that mean what I think it means?"

Willow: "Uh huh."

Dawn: "Do I need my headphones?"

Willow pulled on Faith's wet black hair as she kissed her neck while the Slayer opened her mouth in pleasure. At the same time they ran their hand over their bodies before Faith pushed Willow to the wall of the shower area and grabbed the redhead's wrists and held them against the same wall. The Slayer started by kissing Willow's neck as water continued to flow from the showerhead onto the heads and bodies of the two young women. Stopping what she was doing, but still keeping Willow's wrists against the wall, Faith grinned at Willow who told her that she'll be having her turn after the dark haired Slayer. Faith nodded her head before kissing Willow again on her lips, and then down her jaw line, to her neck and then to her chest as the redhead slowly kneeled on the wet floor.

Willow: "Nah, gotta go. Be right out. Twenty minutes, no.. thirty."

Dawn: "Oh God, you're doing it right now, aren't you?"

Willow: "An hour. No, make it an hour and a half."

Dawn: "I.. I really don't wanna know."

"I think my brain needs a scrubbing… eew" said Dawn as she shuddered slightly while looking down at her coffee.

It was two hours later when a wet haired Willow, and Faith, walked out of their room in T-Shirts and shorts before finding Dawn sleeping on the couch in the living room. Smiling at the brunette, Willow kneeled down on the carpet next to Dawn's head while Faith went into the kitchen to get some snacks. After Faith winked at Willow before she walked into the kitchen, Willow placed the small box on the coffee table in front of the couch. She then leaned forward and gently called Dawn's name while caressing her cheek.

"Dawnie" whispered Willow as Dawn slowly opened her eyes, before she yawned and then gave the redhead a small smile, "hey, sorry about leaving you here by yourself."

"I take it you're done?" asked the brunette with a smirk on her face as she slowly sat up on the couch with Willow helping her up. The young woman reminded the redhead that she promised that she and Faith would go with her when she talks to SG-2 about her being Hera while she rubbed her eyes. When Dawn had completely sat up on the couch, she noticed the small box behind Willow on the coffee table. Sensing that Dawn was looking at the object behind her, Willow smiled at Dawn before kissing her cheek. She then turned around while mentally telling Faith that she was going to give the necklace to Dawn.

"Dawnie" said Willow as the brunette looked on while Faith walked out of the kitchen and stood behind Dawn. She then placed both of her hands on Dawn's shoulders as the redhead handed the brunette the small box, "this is something that I had made for you."

Dawn opened the box as her eyes widened in surprise when she saw what was inside. She looked at the contents of the box, before looking up at Willow again, and then looked at the item inside. Willow saw Dawn shaking her head before she looked back up at Willow who then told her that she had it made for her birthday, and that she was going to collect it from a gemsmith on Athos.

"I was told to collect it" said Willow as she held on to Dawn's arms as the young woman started to tear up when she realized that the item inside the box was old. She had recognized the handiwork of the Athosian gemsmiths that she had met when she was living in Pegasus, "but… but you died a few days before I was supposed to get it from the gemsmith. Teyla, the leader of the Athosians, returned it to me after I told her that I used to be Athena."

"It's beautiful" said Dawn, wiping the tears off her eyes as she took out the necklace, and looked at the pendant, "Willow, It's beautiful."

"It's your favourite colours" said Willow, "the only one in two galaxies."

Dawn looked up at Willow, and then back at Faith, before looking at Willow once again surprised. The redhead told Dawn that all the Athosian gemsmiths were gone. That they had all been culled by the Wraith, and that there was no one left who practised those techniques.

"Happy birthday, Dawnie" said Willow as Dawn gave her a hug, "I know it's not any of your two birthdays, but…"

"Thank you" said Dawn as she whispered in Willow's ear.

"You should wear that tonight" said Faith as Willow gingerly handed the pedant that was attached to the necklace back to Faith who put the rare piece of jewellery around Dawn's neck. Dawn looked down at the gentle curves of the pendant, and then at the jewel before looking back at Faith who squeezed Dawn's shoulder. Dawn then looked back at Willow and hugged her again tight.

It was then that Willow looked at Faith concerned when she felt Dawn's body tremble.

"Dawnie?"

"Oh God" said Dawn as tears landed on Willow's shoulder while Faith walked around the couch and placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder, "you gave me this.. .you gave me this after what I've seen."

"Dawn?" asked Faith as she looked at a concerned Willow.

"I…. I think you.. I think you, Colonel Carter and more will die at the hands of the Wraith."

TBC.