Sunnydale, Main street, 1045 hours.
A blonde haired young woman in her early twenties was standing on the roof of a building that had just finished being constructed. She was looking out towards the BPRI building in the distance with a small smile on her face. The young woman was dressed in a simple long sleeved jacket that had a hoodie which was covering her head as strands of blonde hair covered her left eye. She was also wearing with a pair of blue jeans, a white shirt; to anyone, her clothing choices would amount to madness especially given how hot it was thanks to the heat from the sun that was high up in the clear blue sky over the city of Sunnydale. She continued to look at the BPRI building after she had projected her voice over to the office of the man that she hated above all others. Once she was done with projecting her voice, she took a deep breath as she focused her eyes; one of her new abilities gained after her death, as she zoomed onto a worried looking Angel who was looking around his office before he turned and stared at a screen. He then looked over his shoulder while his back was to the young woman, as if he was sensing that someone was looking at him.
"I see you" said the young woman as she saw the man turn around and look in her direction as if he was looking back at her, "but I know you can't see me. This is how it has been for so long, you could never see me because you were so busy with your own stupid desires. First the Whirlwind, Darla, that crazy vampire, and the idiot poet; and then you just had to go kill that Kalderesh girl and have your soul forced back into your body. You thought you were being punished for your sins… the truth was that I'm the one paying for your sins. You did this to me, this is your doing and it's time you paid. You have people you love, you have people you protect, my Liam... but they'll pay for that. I'll take everything away from you. Liam... Angelus... Angel... haha, that's what I called you the night you killed me."
The young woman then turned around and headed for the other side of the roof which dropped into an alley between two buildings. She looked at the front of the shops at the side of the roof facing the street and noticed that there weren't that many people around yet, which was beneficial for her since she really wanted keep her presence hidden. Turning back to the end of the roof-side that led to the alleyway, she jumped down the six floors to the trashed collection bin below before jumping down to the asphalt. The young woman then slowly stood up and put her hands in her pockets since they were already giving her signs of burning since she had spent too long under the sun. She then lowered her hood over her face in the hot weather before she turned to the left and walked to the main road outside the alley and then turned a right turn. She walked past the Sunnydale Day Spa where, unknown to her, Buffy, Tara, Cordelia, and Dawn were having a spa day… a retreat from the BPRI and a 'day before leaving' day for Dawn before she had to head for the SGC. Unknown to Dawn, however, she would soon be activated for a rescue mission to Cylon Earth. In the meantime, the mysterious young woman continued walking slowly as the pavement started to fill up with people.
'It has taken me years to find you again, Liam" she thought to herself while walking with a faraway look in her eyes, "I found Spike in Los Angeles, and I did plan to kill him but.. but I wanted you first. The insane one, she's… well… insane… but she can be last. Too bad Darla's already dead… I had some choice words for her. Did you know that the last Kalderesh on Earth still hates your guts after what you did to her… what do they call themselves? She called her some Calendar woman or something. Who knows.. whatever it is… she told me that you were in Sunnydale. She even had intelligence that you had gone all soft and started training Slayers and Potential Slayers… I really don't know what to say to that. But that was all she said before I drank her. The blood tasted like apple juice... tasty. But now..."
"Hey lady" said a man in a long sleeved striped shirt and trousers, who she bumped into accidentally. She then looked up at him and smiled, "watch where you're going you... oh, hello."
"Hello" she said seductively as she walked towards the man she had just bumped into. She was looking into his blue eyes as they slowly glassed over, "this is my first time in this city, and I don't have a place to stay... and I am so very hungry."
"I have a house" said the man as he spoke in a monotonous tone of voice while the young woman walked towards him as various other people were walking around them; other people who were going about their own lives. The man, though, could only see the young woman's eyes... her mesmerizing eyes and everyone else around them vanished, "but my.. my wife and.. and kids... they... they..."
"I would like to meet them" said the young woman who seemed to be in her mid twenties, "what's your name?"
"Colin Rearwood."
"Colin Rearwood" said the young woman, "I would very much like to see your home. I would like to meet your family... is it a happy family? Are you happy?"
"Yes" said Colin in the same monotonous voice as he nodded his head, "we are happy."
"I had a family once" said the woman as she placed her hand on Collin's chest, "but I lost them... someone I trusted took them away from me. Do you trust me?
"I... I..." said Colin.
"I have been so rude, Colin" said the woman, "my name is Katharine O'Brian; but my friends and family call me Kathy; well, they used to call me Kathy. But you… you call me mistress."
"Yes, mistress" said Colin.
"Do you trust me?" continued Kathy seductively as she got closer to him and kissed him before stepping back, "well? Do you trust me? Now shall we go?"
"Yes" said Colin as he placed his arm around her waist while he looked into her eyes as he slowly felt his body running on autopilot, "my car is right this way, Mistress."
"Good" said the woman as they reached Colin's car and the man opened the door for her. She got into the car as Colin closed the door before he walked around the front while looking at Kathy the entire time before he got into the car and closed the driver side door. Colin then inserted the keys to start the engine of his car before he looked at Kathy who was looking back at him with a smile. Kathy started to look into the man's glassed over eyes before she leaned forward, grabbed the back of his head and then pulled him in for a kiss. She then kissed his cheek, before going down his jaw and then whispering into his ear, "I want a taste.. and then I'm going to have your wife, and your entire family for lunch. What do you say?"
"Yes.. ye… ye.. yes… mistress" said Colin as Kathy, whose lips were brushing Colin's neck, opened her mouth and extended her fangs without 'vamping' out before she pierced Colin's skin and sucked his blood for a few seconds while he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in.
"Now" said Kathy as she pulled back and looked at Colin while using her tongue to lick the blood from her lips and the side of her mouth, "let's go home. I have a message I need to leave someone, and I need you and your family to do it… how many children did you say you have?"
"Three" said Colin as he answered monotonously with a single tear coming down from his left eye.
"Aren't they at school now?" asked Kathy as she leaned forward and licked the man's tears before looking into his eyes again as he nodded his head slowly while more tears fell down his check, "oh my dear, you're trying to fight it. Don't… no-one's been able to negate this ability…. You are mine. Now, we're going to take your children out of their classes for an emergency… your relative had an accident.. and you need to give blood, along with your wife, in another city. You don't have a babysitter so the kids are leaving with you. Understand?"
"Yes, mistress" said the man as his arm trembled.
"I'll have them first, Colin" said Kathy as she smiled at the man, "your kids… I'll make sure that they're dead… it'll be like I wasn't, you know? But after that come the fun part? Oh it's going to be so fantastic…. I'll be shagging you in front of your wife, and then when you're ready to pop; did you know that's when the blood tastes the sweetest? Anyway, I'll drink you like you're a pint of Guinness… then I'll take your wife. Then I'll leave them for Liam… what a thing to happen under his nose. Let's see if he's still as thick as ever. Now go."
"Yes, mistress" said Colin as he drove to Sunnydale high while tears were falling from his eyes.
It was thirty minutes later that Colin, Kathy and the three confused children, who were between fifteen and eleven years old, had reached their home. They asked their father who the strange woman was in the car, and all their father could say that she was a family friend visiting from Ireland. Once they reached the house, Colin and the others got out of the car. His eyes still glassed over as he led the two girls and one boy to the door with Kathy behind them.
"Colin?" asked a hazel eyed slim brunette who opened the door to find her husband, and her kids, along with a strange woman in a hoodie standing outside their door, "Kids? What're you doing here? Why aren't you in school and…."
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" asked Kathy as she looked at the woman, who instantly became mesmerized, "What's your name?"
"E… Elaine" said the woman.
"Invite me in, Elaine" said Kathy as she smiled before she looked at the children, "and these children, they have the day off from school."
It was then that the kids noticed that their mother was acting strangely as she spoke in a monotonous voice while a tear was falling down her cheek as she nodded her head and asked Kathy to come in.
"Come, children" said Elaine as she looked at the three of them before stepping to one side, "you've got the day off from school and…"
"But mom" said the oldest girl, "Dave's supposed to…"
"Get in" said Colin as he pushed the girl inside the house, which made the rest of the children follow their sister inside. Finally, Kathy was the last to get into the house before she mentally slammed the door shut behind her as she walked into the house and told everyone to gather in the living room.
"What are you doing to our parents?" said the boy who was the middle child when he noticed that Collin and Elaine were acting like zombies, following every instruction that they were being given.
"A push" said Kathy as she mentally locked all the doors and drew all the curtains until all the sunlight streaming in was blocked off. The kids realized the danger they were in and tried to pull their parents past Kathy who raised her hand and mumbled a word in a language they didn't understand. However, they recognized the action that the word represented as the kids were simply stopped from moving; they found that they couldn't move at all, no matter how much they tried.
"Please" said the youngest girl, "just leave us alone. We, we haven't done anything and… and…"
"You have a charming family" Kathy said as she mentally turned on the lights and looked at all the pictures, "memories that can be recorded in pictures. In my time, such a thing was difficult for my family…"
"Please let us go" said the oldest girl as she realized the danger they were in. She knew about the rumours of the supernatural that frequented Sunnydale, as well as the organization that investigated claims of supernatural occurrences throughout the city and the country, "we… we can give you the number for paranormal researchers, they can help you… I mean… they may be able to since…"
"Silence" said Kathy softly as she looked at the CD collection, "the people you speak of will come, but it will be too late for you."
'Please" said the boy, "let us go, we won't tell anyone and …. We'll leave Sunnydale. Just let all of us go."
"You're the message that needs to be sent to Liam" said Kathy as she put a CD into the disc player and stepped back as gentle, classical music came out from the speakers throughout the living room. Kathy then started to dance gently by herself as she closed her eyes and moved her body slowly to the slow tuned of the music before she suddenly stopped and looked at the children, and then at the two parents who had tears falling down their cheeks, "you should thank my brother for this. He loved me, and I loved him… our father wasn't the most caring man, and our mother… our mother loved all of us. My brother said he'll never harm me but… but he did. He betrayed me, and then he killed the entire village. At least he thought he killed me but…. why should I tell you? No, I won't tell you.. that story's for Liam. Just know, that everything he did is the reason I'm here… the reason my soul is damned for all time. This is my way of playing with him like he would play with his victims when he didn't have his soul… I have been searching for him for nearly a hundred years… and I finally found him. Killing him is easy, attacking and killing those he wants to protect? That's fun… now…"
Kathy walked towards the youngest girl who was crying as the blonde knelt down and looked at her.
"How old are you?" asked Kathy as the girl sobbed.
"Eleven"
"Don't cry, honey" said Kathy gently as she caressed her face, "did you know I was only twelve when my brother killed me? He was turned into a vampire and.. and… I loved him so much. He was my world so.. so when he returned from death I was full of joy. He was an angel and I invited him into my house. Do you know what he did then?"
"No"
"Stop" said the boy as Kathy looked up at him as he cried, "please, stop."
"Shhh" said Kathy as she put a finger to her lips before looking at the youngest girl, "he killed me. His own sister.. then he went to kill my mother, my father, and even our housekeeper. So, if he's still not as thick as I remember… then he'll know this message… hell, I'll leave you lot exactly like how he left us… of course one of you will be playing Liam. He's unique you know? But he's not like me.. I'm extra unique."
The boy and the oldest girl watched in horror as Kathy's eyes turned yellow, and then she bared her fangs before she did the unthinkable. The boy and the oldest daughter were sobbing while their parents were still glassy eyed, expressionless, and just looking at Kathy with streams of tears coming down their eyes. The remaining children sobbed while they saw Kathy lift the body of their youngest sister and lay it gently near the door before she positioned it in a certain way. They saw Kathy then looking at them and smiling as she wiped the blood from her mouth before she walked towards them while taking off the bloodied jacket that she was wearing, and dropped it on the floor.
"No… please… no" said the boy as Kathy pulled him in, growled and then bit into his neck while looking at the horrified expression on the older sister's face. Once she was done draining his blood, Kathy then grabbed on to the boy and carried him in her arms.
"You are Liam" said Kathy before she screamed and threw his body hard against the mantle. They heard a crack as the body hit the hard surface before falling onto the floor as some of the picture frames fell onto the boy's back. Kathy then turned and extended her fingernails until they were razor sharp and swiped at the oldest girl's chest before she pulled her in and bit into her…. drinking all her blood before picking her up and laying her gently down in the kitchen. Kathy looked at the body of the oldest girl as blood dripped from the sides of her mouth before she stood up and walked to the living room where the two parents were standing and crying.
"Come" said Kathy as she grabbed both of their hands and led them to the main bedroom where she commanded Elaine to take a seat. Kathy then took off her clothes and ordered Colin to do the same. Kathy then pushed him onto the bed while hearing Elaine trying to mumble something while sobbing. Kathy then glared at Elaine with her yellow eyes and snarled, "silence. You will be next… I want to enjoy the taste of blood when it's just at that point when the body's chemical reaction goes into overdrive. It tastes heavenly."
Elaine's mind was screaming for Kathy to stop as she watched the vampire having sex with her husband, and then she watched as the blonde arched her back and bared her fangs before she snapped back down and bit hard into Colin's neck. She could see her husband struggle as his hands and legs were struggling to move, but all that did was make Kathy dig deep and latch on harder. Elaine saw her husband stop moving as she screamed in her mind.. she screamed for her children, and for her husband as Kathy got off the body of her dead husband and then walked towards her. The last thing she saw after Kathy lifted her by the neck and then threw her on the bed next to her dead husband was the vampire straddling her before leaning over her face with the yellow eyes, the specks of blood on Kathy's body, and then the fangs as she felt Kathy bite down on her neck. Elaine could feel her life leaving her as Kathy dug deeper and drank most of her blood.
Once Kathy was done, she sat up and wiped the blood off her mouth before she looked at the wall behind the bed. She then smiled as she thought about another message she could leave her brother, something to tell him that his sister was coming for him. Once she was done writing what she needed to on the wall, Kathy whistled as she headed for the shower. She stood under the hot running water as she wiped away the blood that was on her face and on her body. Then once she was completed clean, Kathy walked over to the closet and took out some of Elaine's clothes. She tried on a few clothes until she found an ensemble she liked. The vampire then went into the kitchen when her stomach growled and opened the refrigerator and smiled.
"Yummy" said the young woman as she took out some leftover pot roast, put it into the microwave and waited for the food to finished heating up while she looked around at all the bodies; all the while smiling to herself.
Once the food was ready, she sat on the sofa and turned on the television. She completed watching an entire two hour movie before she got bored. She then picked up the phone and thought it would be best to see her brother again.
"Nine one one, emergency" said the voice on the other line as Kathy smiled.
"OH my God" said a panicked Kathy, "there's someone in my house, they're all dead.. they.. no… help.. please.. NOO!"
Kathy then slammed the phone down before she went to the master bedroom where the writing on the wall had already dried. She looked at her reflection on the mirror and tied her hair before picking up a jacket from the closet and walking out the backdoor. As she jumped the back fence and got onto a side road, she couldn't help but imagine what her brother's expression would be when he sees her handiwork.
'Maybe I'll get to take a closer look at you, Liam' thought Kathy to herself as she walked with the sounds of sirens in the distance, 'would you recognize your sister grown up? I wonder.'
Sunnydale Day Spa, 1130 hours.
With a significantly lowered supernatural presence in Sunnydale thanks to the BPRI, the city was booming as more and more people were moving in. The increase in people was projected by city hall to lead to a population boom in the next few years so they did everything they could to attract new businesses, build more shops and homes. One of the new shops in town was the Sunnydale Day Spa which was located across the street from the Magic Box where a few of the Potential Slayers were working. In the Sunnydale Day Spa, which was a chain of the Day Spa brand that started in L.A, Tara, Cordelia, Dawn and Buffy were sitting in mud baths as they settled in their day of enjoyment. The four women were sitting in the warm mud with soft music playing all around them.
"This is the life" said Buffy softly as she lay her head back on a soft cushion at the edge of the tub.
"Uh huh" said Dawn softly with her eyes closed.
"Ladies" said Cordelia, "shhh…"
"Agreed" smiled Tara as she lay back on the soft cushion in her tub. The four of them enjoying the warmth from the mud.
However, the peaceful environment was interrupted thanks to the earpiece that was located in Dawn's ear buzzing away. Frowning on being interrupted in this existential moment of peace and serenity, Dawn pressed the side of the earpiece and hoped against hope that maybe it was a wrong number.
"Hello" said Dawn softly as she placed her hands on the sides of the tub while she leaned back on her cushion again.
"Miss Summers"
"General?" asked Dawn as she opened her eyes, as did the other three women who looked at the brunette.
"I'm sorry about interrupting your day off" said General Landry, "but we have a situation that needs to be taken care off. I'm sure you've heard of Cylon Earth?"
"Yes" said Dawn as she sat up.
"We've had an incident involving Major Thompson, and a few other SG-teams" said the General as he described that the Colonials who arrived on the planet were holding them hostage, that Captain Webb had overheard the Colonials telling Major Thompson that they wanted to contact Earth so that they could settled on a planet that they felt they had a god-given right to instead of some false Earth like New Kobol, "we're sending teams including SG-2 in full reverse engineered Kull armour. I've talked to General O'Neill and he agreed to send SG-1 to take down the hostages."
"I understand" said Dawn as she prepared to tell Buffy and the others that she needed to leave for the SGC, "how about Giles? He's there too right?"
At hearing Giles' name, Buffy sat up and looked over at Dawn who was nodded her head as she listened to what General Landry was saying. Dawn then looked at Buffy and whispered that Giles' wasn't in danger for now. But all Buffy could do was frown as she wondered what danger her watcher could be in.
"Miss Summers" said the General as Dawn looked away from Buffy, "I've talked to the NID's Agent Garret, and to Angel as well. With Major Rosenberg, and Miss Lehane among those going to New Kobol on this mission, we'd like your sister and Miss Maclay to go off-world to provide security for the President who's on New Kobol in talks with their delegation. Angel has approved this plan, it all depends on your sister and Miss Maclay."
It was then that an earpiece on the table next to Cordelia's tub started buzzing. Frowning at the earpiece as she put it on before looking at Buffy and Tara, she pressed the side of the device as she listened with eyed wide open as she listened to what Angel was saying on the other line.
"I think Angel's giving Cordy the news, General" said Dawn as she got out of the tub, "give us twenty minutes?"
"Briefing is in forty minutes, Miss Summers" said the General as Dawn nodded her head. "Yikes" said Dawn as she told the General that she'll be going into the shower, just as Cordelia have Buffy and Tara what was going on as they too got up, realizing the importance of what they were being asked to do. Once Dawn was done taking a shower, and had put on her clothes in the locker room, she called back General Landry and asked for a beam out to the SGC. She told the General that Buffy will be heading back to the SGC to armour up before being beamed to the SGC.
Once Dawn had been beamed out of the locker room, Tara, Buffy and Cordelia heading into the latter's car before she drove them back to the BPRI where they were to get into battle armour that was designed by Fred for the protection of the Slayers, and the Potentials… as well as any witch that accompanied them on the field. In the meantime, Cordelia headed directly to the office she shared with Angel and was surprised to find him there with Anya, who she thought had been packing for her trip to Colorado Springs where she was supposed to be working with Daniel on loan for a month. As Cordelia opened the door, she noticed that Angel and Anya were talking but suddenly stopped once she walked into the room.
"What's going on?" asked Cordelia as she stood at the door with her hands on her hips.
"I really like your complexion" said Anya who was waving at her own face while looking at Cordelia and nervously laughing, "I told you that imported stuff was good… when I was there with Dracula, it was just amazing.. the mud does wonders for demons and vampires, and.. well.. for humans too obviously and…"
"Anya" said Cordelia with an eyebrow raised at the former vengeance demon, "what's going on? Angel?"
"It's nothing, Cordy" said Angel before he nodded at Anya.
"Ok" said Anya, "back to packing, packing, packing."
Anya tried to walk hurriedly past Cordelia who quickly stood between her and the door, while repeating her question of what was going on.
"Angel" said Anya as she turned around, "my flight…."
"Cordy, it's nothing.. really" said Angel.
"We've known each other for a long time" said Cordelia as she looked at Angel, "so I know when you're lying."
"And you too" said the co-administrator of the BPRI as she looked at Anya before looking at Angel again, "so?"
"I thought I heard a voice… I mean I know I heard a voice" said Angel as Cordelia looked on in surprise.
"Oh my God, I never knew vampires can go nutso" said Cordelia as Angel shook his head.
"He thinks he heard the First" said Anya as the smile on Cordelia's face faded and she looked at Anya, and then at Angel again.
"What?" asked Cordelia as Angel frowned at Anya, while Anya arched her eyebrow at Angel.
"She'd find out sooner or later" said Anya while looking behind Cordelia as she smiled at Angel. She then looked at Cordelia again and told her that whatever he heard, it wasn't from the First, "when Willow went into that other reality, she said that the First had an army in the Hellmouth. The sensors from the Sunnydale outpost is showing no activity from the Hellmouth for the past three thousand years. We checked… double.. and triple checked. The voice wasn't the First. It cant be… if it was her or him… I mean the First…. Then it would need the army of Turok-Han behind her. And those vampires are powerful, powerful enough that thousands of them coming through the Hellmouth would show up."
"Then what's…" asked Cordelia as Angel sat down, 'Angel?"
"I heard Kathy's voice" said Angel.
"Who's Kathy?" asked Cordelia, "don't tell me you have another groupie out there or something… you know like that nutjob… what's her name? It's on the tip of my tongue…. Damn it."
"Drusilla" said Angel as Cordelia pointed at him and nodded her head, "no… it's not like Dru… Kathy… Kathy's my sister."
"Your sister?" asked a surprised Cordelia.
"Ummm" said Anya, "I should go. But Angel? I can tell you it's not the First… believe me. Because if it was? Every demon in town will feel it from what Willow told us."
"Thanks, Anya" said Angel as she nodded her head before heading out of the office to continue packing her bags in her room. In the meantime, Cordelia walked towards Angel who stood up and walked towards the young woman, "Kathy… Kathy.. look Cordy, you know what I did as Angelus?"
"Yea?"
"When I rose after I turned" said Angel as he led Cordelia to the couch where he sat next to her, "the first person that I killed?"
"Angel" said Cordelia as Angel closed his eyes and nodded his head.
"I killed Kathy first" said Angel as Cordelia held onto his hand tightly, "then my mother, my housekeeper, and then my father. After that, I murdered my entire village before leaving with Darla."
"That was Angelus" said Cordelia as Angel looked at her, "he's why you protect the Kathy's of this world now, so that no one else has to go through that again."
"I know" said Angel, "but her voice was so real."
"Maybe it's just something you sometimes hear, you know?" said Cordelia before she gave Angel a peck on his lips, "I mean you were alone here, and sometimes you hear things. Sometimes I hear screams from the people who died the day the Mayor became a snake if it makes you feel any better."
"Not really, no" said Angel as Cordelia smiled at him.
"Yeah.. me neither" said Cordelia before she and Angel got up, "Coffee, maybe it'll calm you down?"
"Vampire here" said Angel, "Coffee doesn't…"
"Oh come on" said Cordelia as she grabbed Angel's hand and the both of them walked towards the door, "coffee first, and then some breakfast, and then you get to feel how soft my skin really is after this half of a spa day."
"Coffee it is then" said Angel as Cordelia wrapped her arm around his, and laughed.
Briefing Room, 1200 hours.
General Landry had just gotten off the phone with Angel who was having coffee with Cordelia back at the BPRI. The ensouled vampire told General Landry that Buffy and Tara were ready to go, and that he authorized Tara to bring along a gift in case they needed it for the rescue mission. Confused as to what the gift was the General then notified Prometheus station to beam Buffy and Tara right into the briefing room where SG-2, 15, and 29 were waiting in their Kull armour. Just as the General walked into the room, there were two bright flashes of light that deposited Buffy and Tara who were wearing greyish light armour, along with an Intar on their hips. Buffy was carrying a dagger on her right hip while Tara was holding onto a small metallic case.
"Buffy" said Dawn in her armour.
"Nice armour" said Buffy as the others whispered while Tara stood nervously in front of so many people she didn't know, "very shick."
"I know, right" said Dawn excitedly with her eyes wide open before General Landry gave a little caysgh.
"General" said Buffy and Tara together.
'Mrs Summers-Harris, Miss Maclay" he replied, "thank you for coming on such short notice. I hate to go straight to the point but I was told you brought along something interesting?"
"Oh yea" said Buffy before she looked at Tara, "Tar?"
"Mr. Angel and Miss Chase wanted me to bring these along since you have a hostage situation" said Tara as she placed the case of the briefing room table and opened it to show everyone four glass, circular vials about the size of tennis balls that had a purple liquid inside.
Buffy took one out and handed it to General Landry who looked at it confused before looking up at Tara.
"It's something Tara created" said Buffy as Tara blushed when everyone looked at her, "it's a potion that recreates sunlight…. Effective against vampires. At this level, it's better than a flash bang grenade; it can blind any attacker, or hostage, for a few minutes.
"At this level?" asked Major Hurt, team leader of SG-29.
"If.. if.. the bombs are at their… you know.. regular strength than.. then it's like looking at the sun" said Tara, "that… that's why when we use these… Buffy and the others have to use special.. special glasses while the light takes care of the vampires, or blinds any demons."
"Interesting, how's it work?" asked General Landry.
"There is a key word" said Tara as Genera Landry handed her the glass ball while the liquid was sloshing around inside. She then pointed at the wall behind her and looked at the General, asking his permission to test it. The General nodded his head as Buffy closed the metal case while Tara held the ball in her hand and whispered, "Solaris."
Tara then told everyone to close their eyes before she spun around and threw the ball, after the liquid inside had turned red, against the wall as a brilliant white light shone for a few seconds before it faded.
"Damn" said Major Griff, the SG-15 leader, as he wiped his eyes and shook his head, as did the others including Satterfield, Colonel Feretti and Dawn, "that's sweet."
"Thank you" said Tara nodding her head.
"Miss Maclay" said the General, "this could prove to be useful."
The General then went to explain that fifty minutes earlier, he receive a call from Captain Webb about the situation on Cylon Earth, that the Colonials wanted to come to Earth and that they had not only taken hostages but they had also shot Major Thompson. He said that he immediately called General O'Neill and apprised him of the situation and he approved a rescue mission.
"That's when I contacted you, Miss Summers" said the General as he looked at Dawn who nodded her head, 'but it was a few minutes later that General O'Neill contacted the SGC again. The Colonials, or rather Major Daniels not wanting the Colonials to know the address for Earth, or our Alpha, Beta, Gamma sites instead contacted New Kobol where he had to make the Colonial's demand in Ancient Greek so that the Colonials holding them hostage would think that he was really talking to Earth. Now, the President.. both Presidents actually will not give in to threats. Instead President Hayes has authorized SG-1 to accompany SG2, 15 and 29 to New Kobol to rescue the hostages and neutralize the people that the Colonial President on New Kobol referred to as terrorists. And since Major Rosenberg and Miss Lehane will be on New Kobol assisting in the rescue operations, Mrs Buffy Summers-Harris and Miss Tara Maclay will be the ones protecting President Hayes. You will all be sent to New Kobol, which will be our staging area… and I've been informed that Colonial officers will be joining in this operation given that their own people are doing this. Any questions?"
"No, sir" said the military members of the SG teams.
"Get to the Gateroom" said the General as everyone nodded their heads before heading down the stairs with Buffy, Dawn and Tara walking towards the stairs together.
"Miss Maclay?" said the General as Tara turned around, "may I have a word?"
"I'll wait for you downstairs" said Buffy as Tara handed her the case that contained the sunlight bombs. They walked down the stairs as General Landry walked over to Tara who was now standing at near the briefing room table.
"Once Major Rosenberg returns to New Kobol after this operation" said the general, "You and Mrs Summers-Harris will be heading back to Earth, but before you leave for Sunnydale… I'll like for you to get a read on a young girl who came through the Stargate a few hours ago."
"OK" said Tara confused.
"We sent a team to her planet just thirty minutes ago due to some very high temperatures on the DHD" said the General, "it's cooled down significantly since then, but we were afraid that they'd be unable to work the device if it was still at that high temperature. From their initial observations of the village that the girl claims she's from, everything's been destroyed… we believe there was a nuclear detonation."
"My goddess" said Tara in shock, "and this girl… she's part of a refugee…."
"She's the only one who survived" said the General as he heard the Stargate activate, "Major Rosenberg's needed at New Kobol for today to help any injured so I need her to remain there until President Hayes comes back tomorrow morning. But in the meantime, could you use your abilities to put the girl at ease? She hasn't talked since coming here, she hasn't eaten anything either… she saw something horrible on that planet.. that is something I'm very sure of… if you can put her at ease… and according to what I've heard from the people who know you; you have an uncanny ability to make people at ease around you."
"I… I don't know about that, General" said Tara as she smiled and blushed, "but… but I'll talk to her when I get back. I.. I'll try to help."
"Thank you, we need to find out what really happened on that world" said the General before he walked down the stairs to the control room with Tara where Buffy and Dawn were on the ramp, waiting for her. The General nodded at the young woman who walked down the stairs and headed to the Gateroom where she, Buffy and Dawn walked through the event horizon together before it disengaged.
"Good luck" whispered General Landry.
New Kobol, 1210 hours.
Willow was standing on one side of the Stargate with Faith by her side while Colonel Carter, Colonel Mitchell, Daniel, Vala and Teal'c were readying their weapons for the battle that was coming ahead. On the other side of the Stargate's pedestal, right across from them stood three Colonial Marines, Apollo, Racetrack and Helo in their own vests and firearms. With them was General O'Neill who was talking to Commander Adama with Dr. Burke translating.
As the redhead looked at the Stargate, and then at Faith as the both of them then checked their weapons, she recalled having just finished taking a break before the two groups met again about an hour ago. The two delegations kept on talking about one issue after another when the communication building called for Riley to return to the building. Once he was back in the building, the man called General O'Neill, telling him that it was General Landry who wanted to talk to him. The General then excused himself and asked Colonel Carter to accompany him back to the communications building while Willow and Faith looked at each other wondering what was going on.
It was a few minutes later that the General returned with Colonel Carter and Riley, and apologized for interfering with what the two Presidents were talking about. He told them that he received a message from the SGC that the other Colonial's had reached Cylon Earth and had landed three of their ships on the planet.
"One of those ships just happens to be aiming at the main camp" said the General as Commander Adama shook his head while Roslin rubbed her head and stood up asking if anyone was hurt. The General told them that one of the officer's was shot, but he was alive. He continued to tell them that they wanted to negotiate for access to Earth, and that since they shot one of the Earth officers… it could be assumed that they may be willing to kill.
"Who was shot, big G?" asked Faith.
"Thompson" said the General when Willow noticed that the one called Racetrack opened her eyes wide as she started to get worried for the man.
Willow had known the man when they were at the Academy together. He was one of the first people she met within the first few days, other than her roommate. And since she was still hurting after Oz had left her, she needed someone to talk to.. to get her mind away from her ex. She'd talk to her roommate who was doing the same major as her and they'd be spending a lot of time in study groups. She met Thompson in one of those study groups, and had gotten to know each other pretty well; they had gotten close enough, and Willow thought she had started to move on from Oz. It was during the second year of the Academy which was when she and Thompson had dated for a few months. However, it went no further than a few pop drinks, dinners outside in the city during the weekends, or a few quick kisses after he'd walk her to her room. It was during the sixth month of their budding relationship that she immediately slammed on the brakes. Willow had got to know him well, and vice versa, but although she enjoyed his company.. she didn't love him.
"I guess I'm still hung up on Oz" Willow had said one night on the sixth month that they were dating, "sucks huh?"
"Nah" said Thompson who leaned forward and kissed her forehead instead of her lips before looking into her emerald eyes, "you never forget your first love."
"What was it you called me the first time?" asked Willow with a smirk.
"Rose?" said Thompson as Willow laughed.
"You do realise I'm allergic to roses" said Willow after she stopped laughing as the man walked away from her backwards while sticking his tongue out at her. Willow then stuck her tongue out at him before she grinned and walked into her room. They stayed close, occasionally going out with each other, until graduation day. Then life took over as she was assigned to the SGC, and Thompson was transferred to another base in California. They stayed in contact through email and phone calls, but that lessened over the months as they started to really get busy; but they never really lost contact, just the times that they replied to emails lengthened the more busy each one got. Then the whole incident with the Slayer Council occurred and Willow reconnected with Faith who she fell in love with. The redhead had talked to Faith about Thompson when they had gotten serious with each other… she knew about Oz but to Faith, Thompson was a surprise, although it didn't change the feelings she had for the redhead.
Willow still emailed Thompson, as well as her roommate, Colleen Daniels, whenever she had the time since among those who were in her year during the time at the Academy… she was the closest to those two. They kept contact with each other and Willow learnt that he was transferred to SPACECOM. Eventually, five months before their wedding, Willow called Thompson and told him the truth about herself; that she was in love with a woman named Faith, and that they were getting married and that she hoped that he'd be able to make it.
Willow remembered that she had to take the phone off her ear because the man screamed in happiness over the phone.
"Dude" said Willow as she placed the phone back onto her ear, "you still scream like a girl; remember the spider incident."
"Oh shut up" said Thompson laughing.
"Hey" laughed Willow on her phone while Faith was sitting next to the redhead with her head on her shoulders, "Colleen screams like that.. Faith heard it too just so you know."
"Oh I so did!" shouted Faith as Thompson screamed again.
"Oh my God" said Willow, "you're a doofus."
"Takes one to know one" said Thompson as Faith laughed at the expression on Willow's face that day.
Faith had met Thompson a few days before the wedding when he was called to Colorado Springs, along with Colleen, for a transfer to what they knew at the time as Deep Space Telemetry. The four of them had barbeque at the girls' house where they caught up on old times and after they had met Faith for the first time… after which silly stories about their deeds at the Academy were shared as Faith laughed at her wife-to-be's expression.
Eventually, even working together at the SGC meant that they couldn't hang out as much since they had different schedules and his team was placed on more long term missions than SG-1. However, occasionally, Thompson, Colleen, Willow and Faith would meet whenever they had time to catch up with each other's lives… including Colleen's recent marriage, and joke about Thompson's inability to hold on to a woman.
Back in the present, as Willow stood near the Stargate with SG-1, she remembered Racetrack being the first one who volunteered to join the Earth officers in the rescue mission. Commander Adama was the one who then nodded his head before telling the General that since it was Colonial rebels led by Porter and Zarek who were causing these problems, he felt it appropriate that a Colonial force should join with them. IT was a few minutes later that Thompson himself called New Kobol, pretending that he was calling Earth while speaking in Ancient Greek; he told them that they had an hour to make preparations to receive refugees on Earth… and to give those refugees free reign on the planet that their gods had given to them, or else they'll be shooting hostages.
Willow was brought out of her thoughts by the Stargate activating as SG-2 and the others walked through in black Kull armour and headed down the staircase. However, she didn't see Dawn come though until a few minutes later when Buffy, Dawn and Tara walked through together just before the event horizon disengaged.
She could feel the awe, with a mixture of shock, as the Colonials watched the large group of personnel brought in so easily through the Stargate. Colonel Carter, Colonel Feretti, and Colonel Mitchell were then called by General O'Neill and taken to one side. Willow saw Colonel Feretti telling the General something before he turned and called for Tara. Willow and Faith then watched Tara smile at them, while Buffy and Dawn walked towards her, before the blonde witch handed the General a small metallic case which he opened as the three Colonels looked inside. Willow noticed that both Colonel Carter and Mitchell were surprised as they looked at the inside of the case, and then at Tara.
Colonel Carter then mentally called for Willow and Faith.
The both of them ran to where the small group was talking while Buffy and Dawn talked to each other, the older blonde telling her younger sister to be careful.
"Neat" said Faith as she held the glass sphere in her hand while handing another one to Colonel Mitchell, and another one to Willow. Tara then closed the case and told them about the keyword to activate the potions.
"Oh please can I say it?" asked Colonel Mitchell excitedly as General O'Neill rolled his eyes while Colonel Carter was examining the liquid and asked Tara if she could give her a sample so that she could examine it.
"Yea" said the General to Colonel Mitchell, while Tara nodded her head at Colonel Carter.
"Solaris" said Colonel Mitchell as the liquid in the three spheres turned red.
"Now its ready" said Tara, "hope it's useful."
"The Gate on that planet's located in a cave" said the General, "there are some lights, but if this gets as bright as what Colonel Ferretti told me.. then it's gonna be really useful."
It was then that Riley walked up to the group as the General then called up Buffy. He told Buffy and Tara that Riley was going to take them to the President, and that his protection was paramount. He told the two that even though he had secret service protection, Buffy and Tara had to be close to him at all time.
"Got it" said Buffy nodding her head.
"I can feel the magic here" said Tara, "it's a bit different, but I can still work with it."
"Good" said General O'Neill as he nodded at Riley who reached out his hand and offered to hold the small case that Tara was holding. After she handed the case over to the man, Buffy and Tara wished them good luck before she waved at her sister. The Slayer then gently squeezed Willow's and Faith's arms before telling them to be careful.
"We will" said Faith.
"Dawn's gonna be ok" said Willow as she turned and watched Colonel Ferretti order everyone in the armour don their headgear. The redhead then looked at Buffy and told her that the armour was virtually unstoppable, that it would protect her.
Buffy just nodded her head and, as she walked away with Tara and Riley, she still looked back at the redhead.
Willow gave a small smile and waved at Buffy before she looked at Faith who was smiling. General O'Neill then told everyone that they had a minute before going through, and asked Colonel Carter to dial the Stargate. While the Colonel was dialling; the General, whose words were being translated by Dr. Burke, told everyone that the rebels most likely would have people at the Gate on the other end, and that Willow, Colonel Carter and Colonel Mitchell would be using special flash grenades to disable the resistance in the cave before the others got in. Their goal was the rescue of the hostages and to make sure those civilians who were on the landed ships weren't harmed. The General then looked at Commander Adam who told them that the rebels under Zarek and Porter would fight hard, that they needed to be neutralized with lethal force if necessary.
The Colonials chambered their weapons indicating that they were ready. Willow looked over at Racetrack and got a stray thought from her as she imagined killing a dark haired man.
'Yep, that's definitely that Zarek guy" thought Willow to herself as she mentally spoke to Faith about what she saw in her mind.
Faith: "Who knows, maybe Dylan finally found someone for him."
Willow smiled and nodded her head just as the Stargate activated.
"People" said the General, "good luck."
TBC.