New Kobol, 1215 hours.
Willow, Colonel Carter, and Colonel Mitchell walked up the stairs on the pedestal and stood in front of the event horizon with the glass spheres that contained the potion in their hands. Colonel Mitchell looked back at General O'Neill, who nodded his head before Colonel Mitchell looked at Willow and nodded his head at the redhead; mentally asking her to contact Major Thompson who he was sure would be with the Colonial rebels in the cave since he was the highest ranking officer in the camp on Cylon Earth.
"Major Thompson" said Colonel Mitchell as Colonel Carter pointed at Daniel who was ready to speak in ancient Greek, "this is Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, do you copy?"
"Yes" said Major Thompson with a pain in his voice as if he was being hit. Just then a man speaking in ancient Greek spoke over the radio as Colonel Carter turned and nodded at Daniel.
"My name is Dr. Daniel Jackson of Earth" he said after the man on the other side demanded to know why the Stargate was opened earlier than planned, "we would like to send your people a peace offering. I'm sure that you are all hungry and thirsty, as well as in need of supplies. We've asked our leaders to come speak to you as you've asked and they are on the way... but our goal is to make sure that everyone of your people are taken care off. We'll be sending in food and water for you... do you understand?"
While Daniel was talking to the Colonial rebels, Willow closed her eyes and contacted Major Thompson mentally through the Stargate.
Willow: "Hey Dylan, how's it hanging?"
Thompson: "Rose? How are you.. huh? I mean... are you in my head? Wait…how are you in my head?"
Willow: "Long story... but right now, I need to know how many hostages there are in the cave, and how many rebels holding you guys."
Thompson: "Ok, there are six of us that they'll shoot if they don't speak to someone in authority, and twenty of them. There's another thirty in the camp, and a few hundred in the three ships according to Captain Webb who's in the cloaked Puddle Jumper."
Willow: "In five seconds, I need you to tell our people to close their eyes tight. Do you understand me? Real tight... or else they'll be temporarily blinded."
Thompson: "But..."
Willow: "Trust me?"
Thompson: "Of course, Rose."
Willow: "I'm allergic, remember? Don't open your eyes until we tell you to. Understand?"
Thompson: "Yea."
Willow: "Five second count down, starting... now!"
"Five seconds" said Willow as she lifted one hand and counted down while the two Colonels took position as Daniel continued to talk about some fictional topics to the rebels. When Willow counted down to one, she and the Colonels then pulled back their arms and a few seconds later they threw the small spheres through the event horizon.
"Major " said Colonel Mitchell as he nodded at Willow while pulling his P90 up, as did Colonel Carter.
Willow: "Dylon... can you hear me?"
Thompson: "Yeah, damn... we could see the light through our eyelids... so bright.. what the heck was that?"
Willow: "Yeah…. It's kinda classified. Trust me, you won't believe me even if I could tell you."
Thompson: "O…..K. I heard the Colonials screaming; and I think the one behind me just collapsed. I think you should be clear to get through."
"Sir, Ma'am" said Willow as she nodded, "coast's clear."
"Move out" said Colonel Mitchell as he, Colonel Carter, and then Willow walked through the event horizon to end up in a cave were there were soft lights from the lamps that were hanging on the walls. While the two Colonel's were sweeping around with their P90's as Teal'c, Vala, Daniel and Faith then walked through the Stargate, Willow knelt down next to a kneeling Major Thompson while another bald headed man was lying on the ground behind him.. a weapon on the floor next to him.
"Hey, doofus" whispered Willow as Major Thompson slowly opened his eyes, only to see spots and shadows behind a blurred vision of Willow, "can you see me?"
"Almost there" said Major Thompson softly as he blinked his eyes multiple times until his vision cleared, and he saw Willow, with Faith behind her while other SG teams in Kull armour were walking through the gate; some of whom were placing the unconscious Colonials on one side of the cave and others were helping the Earth officers who were still blinking their eyes. Major Thompson's vision cleared up after a few seconds as Racetrack walked through the Stargate with Apollo, Helo and the Marines while they looked around in shock. Willow and Faith noticed that Major Thompson was looking behind them and the two young women smiled as they looked at each other before Faith helped him stand up while pulling on his good hand. Major Thompson then looked at Willow with an eyebrow arched, "so… telepath?"
"More like descended Ancient" said Willow to Major Thompson, whose eyes widened in surprise when he suddenly grinned.
"So when you and I were… you know…" said the Major with a wide grin, "I was dating an Ancient?"
"Umm.. no" whispered Willow shaking her head before discretely nodding her head towards Racetrack "I didn't know anything then. And technically this is a new body for me but that's a long story for another time, but right now… oh boy… I'm getting some thoughts from your new friend."
"Huh?" said Major Thompson as he looked past Willow at Racetrack who was talking to Helo and Apollo, while the Marines were still looking around. Racetrack then glanced at Major Thompson who gave him a small smile before her attention returned to both the Colonial officers. Major Thompson then looked at Faith and Willow and gave a small smile before Colonel Carter, Mitchell and Feretti walked over to where they were standing.
"Thompson" said Colonel Ferretti as the Major nodded his head, "how's your injury? How many people are injured?"
"I'm fine, sir" said the man, "they were gonna start shooting if there was nothing done by the SGC in this call. The others are in the camp. Captain Webb's been in contact with me, and we've got some military personnel out there heading towards the camp… they're positioned close by.. just waiting on your orders."
"Alright" said Colonel Feretti as Colonel Mitchell turned and shouted within the cave.
"Listen up" said the Colonel as Dawn and Satterfield, in their armour, walked up to the Colonials and translated, "SG-1 will be using the Puddle Jumper to infiltrate the armed ship; we take out the rebels who're in control.. and we've got one less problem to worry about. The rest of you will go with the Colonials and take the camp… rules of engagement is as follows; they shoot, shoot them back. Use Zats to take the ones in the camp."
"Zat?" asked Apollo as he looked at the one he thought was Dawn.
"It's a stun weapon" said the brunette who was wearing the helmet that covered her whole head, "I'm sure that you guys will find out about it eventually."
"Major Adama will be heading for the armed ship with SG-1 in the Jumper" said Colonel Mitchell.
"The rest of us will be heading to the camp" said Colonel Ferretti, "once we're ready, we will coordinate with our teams that are in the surrounding area before we move in. The safety of the hostages is the goal. I want the armoured teams to use your plasma repeaters and fire on any hostile that happens to try and take us one once the camp has been secured. From what the Colonials have told us about this Zarek person, it's most likely that he'll do something.. and when he does, I'm guessing he'll use his hundreds of followers. Fire the repeaters on the ground in front of them, show them what they're facing… hopefully they'll stop, and then surrender. If they don't… then we'll use lethal force."
"Colonel" said Apollo while Dawn translated, "Commander Adama and President Roslin have requested that if possible, Zarek be taken alive to stand trial."
The Colonel nodded his head before telling everyone that they had their missions, and it was time to move out.
Daniel looked back and told Apollo to head out with them as SG-1, with Colonel Mitchell on the radio to Captain Webb asking him to pick them up right outside the cave entrance, walked towards the cave entrance. Willow and Faith raised their weapons as they almost reached the cave entrance with Vala, Daniel, Teal'c' and Apollo doing the same as they cautiously stepped out of the cave entrance when Captain Webb contacted Colonel Mitchell. The officer told the co-leader of SG-1 that he was directly on his left side.
Apollo looked in shock as Colonel Mitchell walked to his left and disappeared into thin air. Looking at a sheepish looking Daniel with his eyes wide open, Apollo asked him what was going on.
"Come on, Daniel" said Vala as she walked in ahead after Faith, before Teal'c nodded at the archaeologist and walked into the Puddle Jumper. Once Teal'c was inside, followed by Willow; Daniel then walked in as Apollo looking around the ship in shock while Willow and Colonel Carter talked to Captain Webb and asked him to pull up the scans of the armed ship. While Captain Webb was doing just that, Apollo turned and looked at Daniel and demanded to know what was going on, and how it was that they had hands on such advanced technology when even the Colonials who had been in space for much longer than them, thought that this was all science fiction.
"We went out there and explored" said Vala matter of factly as she sat down while Colonel Mitchell looked at the dark haired woman who put her hands on top of her head and looked at Apollo, who in turn was still looking around in surprise, "maybe the reason your people haven't had your hands on this technology, or met any new races is because you haven't gone out of your own corner of the galaxy?"
"Vala" said Colonel Mitchell as he looked at the woman; he knew that her mind was in the right place, and that she had a point… but this really was not the best time, "not the right time."
"Fine" sighed Vala as Daniel translated for Apollo who looked at Vala who had stood back up and walked towards the entrance to the cockpit, looking at the plans of the armed ship. Apollo then looked at Daniel and asked him if he thought that they had the right to this technology, especially the cloaking technology without sharing it with the Colonials.
"TO be honest with you" said Daniel, "this is only one of two ships we have on loan to us from our outpost in the other galaxy. This was brought in to scout this planet and make sure that everyone's being kept safe. And the other one is conducting a mission that even I'm not aware of. And in a way, Vala has a point… everything that we've done to improve ourselves is based on our travels through the Gate to the Stars. I'm sure General O'Neill's already told you, but we're sharing shield technology with you, as well as medicine and food. We'll show you how to conduct gate travel, how to keep yourselves safe. But the minute details will have to be worked out between those people earning the big money… but I'm sure that we'll be able to come to an arrangement where we can help you study whatever technology you retrieve through the Stargate. But when it comes to this technology, I highly doubt if we'll agree to share it… let me ask you a question. If our roles were reversed, and your people had found this technology before we did… would you have shared it with us?"
Apollo just looked at Daniel with a frown. He knew that the man was right, especially about the part of the role reversal… he was certain that neither the Colonial government, nor the military, would want to share this particular technology with people who they weren't sure if they would just turn around and use it against them.
"I will still have to tell the Commander and the President about this development" said Apollo as Daniel nodded his head.
It was then that Colonel Carter looked back and called Daniel and Apollo to the cockpit. The Colonial officer's eyes went even wider at seeing the holographic HUD while the blonde Colonial was asking him about the best way to enter the ship so that they can extinguish this entire situation.
"We need to know where the weapons control room's located" said Colonel Carter while Apollo looked at the HUD in amazement before he put his hand forward and through the display. All the while, the Earth officers were looking at him before he looked at Willow, nodded his head, and then pointed at the disc shaped forward section of the ship. He pointed to a room, telling them that the weapons control for the main weapon was located in that area of the ship; and the bridge was in another section of the ship.
"Carter, Teal'c, Major Rosenberg, and Faith take the weapons control room" said Colonel Mitchell while Daniel translated, "remember, we don't want them to know that we're there…. But given our luck.. they'll probably know anyway. Use zats… zats are our friends today. We don't know how many more armed Colonials there are in that ship, so I'd like to take out the bridge, and have the firing controls for the weapons system destroyed. We take out that weapon, and we've taken out their leverage."
"The others on the ground" said Colonel Carter, "especially the ones in the Kull armour will use the repeaters to show anyone else who tries to do something hostile that we mean business. And then… and then it's up to the Colonials what they wanna do."
"The President and the Commander would like for Colonial officers to lead the others using Zarek's ship back to New Kobol" said Apollo, "they're certain that the others, particularly the civilians, have no idea what's going on. SO once they know that they've been tricked, we're hoping that they'll voluntarily agree to settle on New Kobol."
"And if they do not?" asked Teal'c as Daniel translated while Apollo looked at him.
"Then the President has authorised that they be left to their own devices" said the Colonial officer softly, still can't believing what the President decided, "her reasoning is that she's trying to unite the remaining people of the Colonies, and… and if this remnant still refuses her offer to settle down on New Kobol.. then they are welcome to search for a new home on their own. Her first priority is to those who've already settled on New Kobol… she'd like everyone to unite on that planet… but she's already planning for their refusal to join us."
"Maybe you should tell them that they have nowhere else to go if they refuse" said Vala as Daniel translated, "they can settle there for a few years while they search for another planet, and then they can move there if they want."
"Yea" said Faith, "you can them 'em that. You guys just want a home, and what better home than one where the rest of the people who have the same ideals and culture as your own are staying."
Apollo just nodded his head before Colonel Mitchell ordered Captain Webb to head to the air lock where the team would be making their entrance. And then once inside the ship, they'd then go their separate ways… and end Zarek's rebellion.
It had taken two minutes for the small ship to fly over the Astral Queen while they noticed the other SG teams in black armour, and the personnel who were already waiting at the outskirts of the camp, approaching the main camp stealthily. Captain Webb made another pass over the ship while cloaked before he carefully docked the Puddle Jumper at a port-side airlock. Once he had made sure that the inner room was clear of people, Captain Webb opened the rear door, after which Apollo typed in an override code on a panel that was right next to the airlock and stepped back as the Earth officers pointed their Zats in the room beyond as the door opened. Finding the room empty, SG-1 and Apollo stepped into the rood before the Colonial officer closed the airlock doors, and Colonel Mitchell ordered Captain Webb to head to the window outside the bridge and wait for his signal should anything go wrong.
"Let's hope nothing goes wrong then" said Colonel Carter as she glanced at Colonel Mitchell.
Cylon Earth, Camp Three, 1220 hours.
While Triana was resting under a tent while sitting on a foldable chair, and drinking some fresh water; Giles and some of the scientists from Earth, as well as the two Marines who stayed with them while the other one was still out exploring with Anna and her team. Anna was already told by Giles to head back to camp, that they needed to be in one location in case of any emergency… and she had already told him that she'd be back in thirty minutes. In the meantime, the others were listening to the radio from the Puddle Jumper as Captain Webb was giving them a blow by blow of what was going on. He had already told them that SG-1 entered the larger ship which had some of the scientists in the camp biting their fingernails nervously. They listened as Captain Webb told them that SG-1 had broken up into two teams and that almost immediately once they headed into the ship, the Earth officers had started firing their Zat's.
"Now the other SG teams are attacking the camp" said Webb as he looked at the scans of the camp being taken by the port sensors. It showed teams of the Earth personnel in their Kull Armour, as well as the other military officers that were stationed outside the camp, started firing on the rebel Colonials in the camp with their Zats. While everyone was firing at each other, the hostages all got onto the floor so that they wouldn't get hit by the blue energy beam, "oh boy."
"Captain?" asked Giles over the radio.
"We've got nearly a hundred and ten people coming out of the three ships, they're firing at our people" said Captain Webb while he looked at two HUDs side by side, one showed the battle going on outside as a few of the armoured personnel and the military personnel who were parts of the SG teams that were outside the camp headed in and pulled back the hostages. In the meantime, the other personnel wearing the armour, including Colonel Ferretti, Satterfield and Grogan.. along with some of the Colonial Marines, Helo, and Racetrack started firing their weapons toward the oncoming mass of Colonial rebels who were armed. Then Captain Webb looked at the other HUD and saw one team in the ship heading towards the weapons control room.
"We're in" said Willow over her radio while Captain Webb, and the others in Camp three, Camp Two, and Camp One heard the laud bang in the background caused by a pack of C-4 destroying the door. They then heard sounds of energy weapons being fired, as well as rifle fire, in the background while Teal'c was saying that he had taken down two.
"I got four, big guy" said Faith as Giles smiled hearing her voice, and wondered at the look that Teal'c must be giving the Slayer.
"This is not a competition, folks" said Colonel Mitchell, "we're at the door to the bridge. Stand by."
"This is Colonel Carter, weapons control room is secure. Placing C-4."
"Copy" said Colonel Mitchell who signalled towards the door before he and his team went inside. The Colonel shot two men with the Zat gun, while Apollo shot the knee caps off one more rebel, and Daniel along with Vala took down two more each. Colonel Mitchell then heard a loud boom sound before Colonel Carter's voice came through the radio saying that the fire controls form the weapons were destroyed, and that they were heading to the bridge.
The Colonel acknowledged before looking at Apollo and told him to send a message to the rebel colonials through all their frequencies. He told Apollo to tell them to surrender while Colonel Ferretti's voice was coming over the radio that the Colonial Marines, Helo and Racetrack had already started using lethal shots, and they were about ready to do them same with their own repeaters; that right now they were simply firing at the ground, and in about ten seconds.. they were getting ready to fire into the hostile crowd that were taking cover, while other Rebels were firing; the bullets just falling onto the ground harmlessly after hitting the armour.
"You wanna save as many people as possible?" said Colonel Mitchell while Daniel translated for Apollo who nodded his head just as they heard people running in the hallway outside the bridge. Colonel Mitchell pointed at the communication system as he got onto the radio, which Giles and the others listened in from Camp Three as they stood around the radio helplessly as some of the other Cylons also started to surround them… the former Watcher translating what was going on for their benefit.
Meanwhile, inside the Astral Queen's bridge, Colonel Mitchell and the others took positions and started to fire their Zats as a group of people lead by Cage took cover in two adjacent hallways while they fired at the remaining members of SG-1 from behind their cover.
"Sam?" said Daniel over the radio as the Colonel and Vala fired out of the door while Apollo got onto another console and accessed the communications systems on both of the landed ships, "Sam, we're taking fire."
Once Daniel finished talking, he then started to fire into the hallway while Apollo was telling the armed rebels to put down their weapons; that Earth had sent teams to take them down by force if they had to, and that if they don't surrender in the next ten seconds… the Earth personnel would have no choice but to resort to lethal force.
In the meantime, while Daniel heard Zarek… who happened to be taking cover outside on the ground while firing at the Earth forces, shout over the radio that the Earthers wouldn't fire lethal rounds at them… that he was looking at them firing energy weapons that were simply hitting the ground.
"They're doing everything that they can not to shoot at us and…"
"We've taken out the Astral Queen's weapons" said Apollo while he looked back, and then ducked, as bullets flew overhead while SG-1 took cover behind some consoles as more rebels came down the hall. Apollo then reached for the phone he was talking on and pulled it down before telling Zarek that if he didn't order his people to surrender, then they really were going to shoot to kill, "think about what you're doing. What kind of leader puts their people in danger."
"Earth is our birthright, that is our home and where we belong… not on some gods-damn backwards planet" said Zarek over the radio just as Daniel and the others stopped firing when the people who were shooting at them were taken down by blue energy bolts, as well as other attackers who were mentally thrown against the wall after their weapons were forced out of their hands and thrown aside. While the shooting in the hallway stopped as the rest of SG-1 ran into the bridge while Willow and Faith raised their Zats as they walked backwards in preparation from another attack from behind them.
"SG-1" said Colonel Ferretti, "times up, they're still firing on us… we've got six injured. We're using lethal force."
"Damn it, Zarek!" shouted Apollo into the radio after Daniel translated what the Colonel had told them, "put all your weapons…"
"Dear gods! They're firing on us… we… we can't.. we're firing but… God's…" shouted Zarek.
"Surrender, damn it!" shouted Apollo as Daniel looked at him from the doorway as even more people headed to the bridge, which Willow and the others filled with the energy blasts from the zat guns.
"They… they killed so many of my men in a few seconds we… and.. and… we surrender! We surrender!"
"They surrender" said Apollo as he looked at Daniel who in turn translated for Colonel Mitchell. The man then told Apollo that Zarek needed to give the order to his men in the ship to put down their weapons and surrender while Colonel Carter radioed Colonel Ferretti and relayed him Zarek's surrender. While Apollo told Zarek to put down his weapons, the shooting in the hallway outside the bridge stopped as people could be seen putting their weapons down before putting their hands up.
Camp Three was cheering when Captain Webb let them know that the firing had stopped and that the rebel Colonial's who were outside had put down their weapons and were lying on the ground with their hands over their heads.
"We've got six from our side injured" said Captain Webb over the radio as one of the Marines quietened everyone down, "not too bad though. I just contacted General O'Neill and he said that he'll send med teams and more people from the Colonial military to take these clowns into whatever custody they have. I'm guessing that they'll be here for awhile; the civilians may be brought to New Kobol… one of the Colonial officers is talking to the other ships in orbit now. Stay put… once I've been given the go ahead, I'll bring you guys back to your places near the primary camp."
"Understood" said one of the Marines before Giles pointed at the radio, and the Marine nodded his head.
"Captain" said Giles, "did Will… I mean Major Rosenberg come along with SG-1?"
"Yes, sir" said Captain Webb, "they're in the armed ship."
"Tell her and Dr. Jackson that we've found someone who claims to be a native to this planet" said Giles.
"Sir?" asked Captain Webb; he knew that there shouldn't be anyone left on this planet, particularly given the extent of damage that was wrought planet wide, "can you please repeat that, sir?"
"We've found… or a native of this world found us. She hasn't yet told us how she survived but… but she looks just like the Number Six models" said Giles, "please pass along the message to Willow and the others. We haven't questioned her as yet, she seems to be dehydrated and hungry… but once she's fit, we can ask her some questions."
'Understood" said a still surprised Captain Webb before he reconnected himself to SG-1, "Jumper One to Major Rosenberg."
"Jumper One?" asked Willow as she and the others watched those who were just firing on them put their weapons down and surrender after Zarek told them over their wireless that the Earthers had the capability to kill all of them if they wanted; especially since a part of their force was neutralized in the first few seconds of them turning the plasma repeaters on the rebel Colonial's and killing many.
"Major" said Captain Webb, "Dr. Giles has asked me to inform you and Dr. Jackson that a native of this planet found him and his team at Camp Three."
"What?" asked Willow in disbelief as everyone in SG-1 looked at each other in shock while they waited for SG-2 and the Colonial Marines.
"Webb, this is Colonel Mitchell. Can you confirm?"
"That's what Dr. Giles told me, sir" said Captain Webb.
"For over two thousand years?" asked Colonel Carter as she looked at Willow who shrugged her shoulders.
"Perhaps it would be prudent to speak with this individual" said Teal'c while the others nodded their heads before they glanced back at Apollo who was still on the radio, "given that we suspect that the people who occupied this planet may have been Cylons, I would recommend that we do not inform the Colonials of this discovery."
"Muscles is right" said Vala, "with what they each went through, I'm guessing that they'll most likely kill this Cylon before we get any information."
"We keep them away first" said Colonel Mitchell as Vala looked at him and grinned.
"We wait for Dawn and her team to get here" said Faith, "and then we check in with the G-man."
While SG-1 nodded their heads, Giles and the other Cylons went back to work while the there scientists waited for their Puddle Jumper ride back to the other continent so that they could continue their work. Giles, and the other Cylons.. including the Leoben model who was still processing that the woman who was looking back at him from the tent was not only a native to this world, but was claiming to be the template for the Number Six models in the Cylon line.
'And I was created in the image of her father' thought Leoben to himself as he walked behind Giles with the other Cylons, 'and Saul Tigh…. The infamous Saul Tigh of the Galactica is one of us? He is one of the five we do not know about.. the five we are forbidden to speak about? Cavil's the first of us, did he know?'
"How are you feeling?" asked Giles as he took a seat in front of Triana who gave him a small smile after she finished her second bowl of macaroni and cheese. She then looked at Leoben and smiled at him before looking at Giles again and nodded her head.
"I am feeling much better than before" said Triana, "is everything safe with your people?"
Triana remembered Giles telling her that there were some problems on the other continent, and that he and the others were going to be listening in on the mission. IN the meantime, Giles had ordered her to take a seat, and drink some water before he handed her some food bowls. He then went to listen to the radio transmissions.
"Yes" said Giles, "I have notified one of the teams that come from my homeworld to talk to you about what has happened here. You are the only survivor that we have found and… and we would like to know if there are more of you. I am certain that they would like to speak to you… would you mind holding off explaining until they have returned?."
"I will wait" said Trina as she looked at Leoben, "if you do not mind."
"Of.. of course" said Leoben nodding his head, "we… we can wait."
The Rearwood Residence, Sunnydale, 1245 hours.
Thousands of light years away from Cylon Earth where Willow and the others were busy speaking with Triana in private; back on Earth it was three minutes following Kathy's call that two patrol cars were sent to the Rearwood house. The cars screeched to a stop outside the garage before the officers headed up the footpath through the front yard and then onto the front porch.
"Sunnydale Police Department!" said one of the officers while his partner looked through the glass panels next to the door which were covered by two curtains. The other two officers than headed towards the backdoor with their guns in hand. Meanwhile, an officer pounded on the front door again while his partner tried to get a good look inside through a gap that he found between the two curtains.
What he eventually did find turned his blood cold.
"Open the door!" said the officer to his partner who was pounding on the door, "now! Open the door!"
The officer who was at the door stood back before he kicked hard and the door swung inside. It was then he and his partner saw the pale body of a young girl on the floor with her eyes facing the door. The two of them took off their weapons off their holsters and put up their weapons to the front as they walked in, and around the body of the little girl to find the body of the boy lying under the mantle with picture frames covering the body. It was then that they heard the back door open as the other two officers entered the kitchen and saw the oldest girl lying on the floor, her shirt torn by five bloody slashes across her chest; her eyes looking up at the ceiling.
"Oh dear God" said one of the officers as he ran out the door and vomited in the bushes.
Another officer radioed dispatch and called for detectives while his partners headed up the stairs to the second floor. The officer on the radio then noticed the two puncture holes on the neck of the oldest girl, and stopped mid-sentence. He then, with his heart beating hard in his chest, then went over to the living room and saw the other two bodies. He then crouched down while telling dispatch to stand-by, and it was then that he noticed the puncture wounds on the youngest girl's neck... and then he went on to check on the boy; and he found the same thing.
"We need Special Investigations" said the officer into the radio as his stunned partners walked slowly down the stairs, their faces white while they held on tightly to the banister.
"Sarge?" asked the man who was in the living room… still in disbelief, "what.. what did you see?"
"Everyone out" said the Sergeant softly, "block... block off the house and... and canvas the area. Go. We'll.. we'll wait for special investigations to get here. Go!"
BPRI, 1300 hours.
Cordelia was looking up at Angel lovingly before she closed her eyes and opened her mouth in pleasure. She felt the ensouled vampire gently pull her hair as her head went backwards while he leaned down and kissed her jaw, making her moan lightly. He then looked at her again as he quickened his pace before the co-administrator of the BPRI gave a light scream, after which Angel just fell on top of the woman who was panting while she gently tussled Angel's hair.
"You're right" said Angel as he looked at a breathless Cordelia and wiped off the sweat on her cheeks and forehead, "your skin's really soft."
"Told 'ja" said Cordelia.
It was then that the both of them laughed out loud before Angel kissed her again. HE then rolled to his back while Cordelia lay her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist. Angel had wanted to make Cordelia happy.. he knew that she wanted a child, and something more in a relationship but the both of them remembered what happened when he had sex with Buffy all those years ago. As the both of them lay in bed, Cordelia brushed her finger on his abs while the vampire brushed his hands on her arm, and then on her shoulder. He then pulled her in and kissed her again while thinking about the idea Willow had given him after she called apologizing to him for trying to go ahead with her project to clone a new genetically engineered body without the demon present; a project that he didn't agree to. He approached Tara with Cordelia that night after Willow's call, and asked her if there was any way that his soul could be anchored.
"Angel" said Cordelia as they were walking to Tara's room, "are you sure about this? What if this is like what you said will happen if Willow clones your body, or using genetic engineering to..."
"Because I'm sure that every clone she makes of me will have the demon" said Angel, "the truth is that with magic, we don't know.. and I know Willow just apologized to me. She said that she didn't think it through, and that she just wanted the best for you and me."
"I know" said Cordelia all those weeks ago.
"She suggested an anchor" said Angel, "and it's something no-one's thought about. Tara anchored Willow to this planet when she went to help Dr. Jackson in the Ori's galaxy, and if we could do something similar to my soul... then I can give you a semi-normal life. I know that you want kids and... until now we really haven't... you know.."
"Had nasty, sweaty, screaming sex?" smirked Cordelia, enjoying the nervousness in Angel's eyes. She then held both of his hands in hers while looking into his eyes, "like you said we can adopt. And I remember the whole thing with Buffy. The one moment of true happiness... I know that's why you haven't well, you know... done me."
"I'm scared" said Angel as he looked at Cordelia, "becoming Angelus means that everyone's in danger.. but if I can anchor my soul to the planet? Then maybe... just maybe I can make you happy."
"I'm already happy" said Cordelia as she pulled his hands towards Tara's room, "let's get to making the both of us even more happy. But please, no more brooding?"
"Hey" said Angel, "brooding's my thing... you can't take that away from me."
"Uh huh" said Cordelia as she looked back at him and smiled, a smile that if Angel's heart did beat.. it would be skipping multiple beats as he watched the woman in front of him pulling him through hallways.
It was a few minutes later that they reached Tara's room. They knocked on the door and then stepped back while sheepishly looking at a sweaty, but barely covered, Kennedy who opened the door with a bed sheet covered Tara behind her who was sitting up on the bed; her face red with embarrassment.
"Sorry ladies" said a red faced Cordelia while Angel suddenly found the fire extinguisher on the wall very interesting, "we'll come back."
"Miss Chase" said Tara as she picked up the bed sheet that was trailing behind her covered body as she headed towards the door, "is everything alright?"
"Yea, Angel?" smirked Kennedy as she looked at the nervous vampire who was pretending to check if the fire extinguisher needed to be refilled, "what's up?"
"We didn't know you were busy" said Cordelia nervously, "I mean we should have since you guys were staying here tonight instead of Tara staying over with Mrs. Summers and the kids. I mean, we can talk tomorrow, and..."
"Miss Chase" said Tara as she frowned at them, "give me five minutes?"
"You don't have to hurry or…." said Cordelia when Kennedy opened the door and stepped to one side while Tara told them to come in before she picked up a shirt and track pants. She then rushed into the restroom while Kennedy grinned at the blonde with, and the waggled her eyebrows at Cordelia and Angel.
"I can see you" shouted Tara from behind the closed door while Kennedy giggled.
It was ten minutes later that Tara, Angel and Cordelia sat under the full moon on a wooden table at the front lawn of the BPRI; they could barely hear the howls from Oz, and Bay, who were locked underneath the BPRI behind timed, steel reinforced doors while Kelden was with a babysitter. But Cordelia, Angel, and Tara put those thoughts behind them while they talked to Tara who listened intently about what Willow had told Angel in regards to the soul anchoring.
"Yea" said Tara as she placed both her hands on the table iin front of her, "Willow's anchoring was complicated... I had to anchor part of her soul here... while the other part was travelling to the Ori galaxy. But with her, I had the link that she shared with Faith to work with. I... I'm not saying it can't be done, but I'll need to do some research on this. And. and I'd like to ask Wesley about any soul anchoring rituals; if that's alright with you?"
"Yes" said both Cordelia and Angel together.
It was a few days later that Tara walked over to Angel and Cordelia's office and told them that it was possible, but Angel's soul could not be tethered to the Earth.. it had to be anchored to another human soul.
"Wait, what?" asked Angel as he leaned forward on his desk.
"Your soul can only be anchored to a human soul.. it's something to do with the fact that the demon is still in there" said Tara as she sat down on the couch, across from both Angel and Cordelia, "and there is a risk. When the soul that you're anchored to dies, then not only is the anchor gone… there'll be a magical backlash that'll affect you. It's like losing a piece of your own soul, you won't lose it and become Angelus by any means… it just means that you'll be depressed, and…"
"Needy? Grumpy? Moody?" asked Cordelia as she looked at Tara who gave a small smile and then she looked at Angel, "need I go on?"
"That's some of the effects" said Tara as she looked at Angel, "think of it more like Miss Chase's soul is what's reinforcing your own... I think that's something that the Kalderesh clan never expected. I mean, for your soul to be anchored to another human beings... I think that will negate the curse about the whole true happiness moment... thing."
"So basically if I die" said Cordelia as Angel and Tara snapped their heads at her, "then.."
"Cordy" said Angel, "if this works by anchoring my soul to something else, then yeah… but doing it to you… Tara, what's the risks to her?"
"If you die" said Tara, "she'll suffer from the same effects. She shouldn't be in danger, just a lot of emotional pain. But then again, with the demon in play… it could take Cordelia's soul with you if you die… or it may not. A vampire soul connection's never been done before."
"Cordy" said Angel.
"I'm doing it" said Cordelia as she placed her hand on Angel's face, "I am doing this."
Back in the present day, Cordelia snuggled closer to Angel as she thought about the first night that they really spent together after his soul was anchored. Buffy, Satsu, Violet, Rona, and Kennedy were close by, and Tara had placed charms and wards around Cordelia's door that would leave a desouled Angelus unable to leave the room while Buffy and Kennedy got a potentially naked Cordelia away from Angelus at record time. Xander would then come by minutes later to stand with his wife in full armour while carrying an axe.
"Hey" said Xander as the girls looked at him with eyebrows raised, "if deadboy happens to go all Angelus again, then I'm helping to dust him… I mean, it's what Angel would want."
"You're enjoying this way too much" said Buffy as she nudged his arm while smiling at him.
"Shhh" said Xander when they suddenly heard sounds coming from Cordelia's room, sounds that made the group of girls and one man look around nervously when suddenly they heard a scream from Cordelia's room. The girls then looked at Xander who shrugged his shoulders and said that he didn't know what was going in there. Buffy smirked before they looked at Cordelia's door again, and waited…. in case Angelus was released into the world.
The group were waiting for a total of thirty minutes before the door to Cordelia's room opened slightly and a breathless young woman popped her head out and gave them a thumbs up before slamming the door shut again.
"Thanks! Guys!" shouted Cordelia as she giggled, "but we're gonna be alright."
"Ok" said Buffy as she shook her head, "I'm gonna go home… I need a shower. A really hot shower with something that can clean my brain off Cordy's sex noises."
"Me too" said Kennedy before the others left.
Back in teh present, as Cordelia raised her head and grinned at Angel, her phone rang. Reaching for the side table that was next to her bed, Cordelia activated the line and spoke into the device. Almost immediately her face became serious as she looked at Angel, who looked back at her confused.
"It's Kate" said Cordelia as she handed her phone to Angel who sat up quickly. The both of them knew that it was nothing good when Detective Kate Lockley, formerly of the LAPD, and the current head of the Sunnydale Police Department's Special Investigations Unit called on them. The SIU was formed after the formation of the BPRI, and following a revamp of the Sunnydale Police Department to investigate deaths related to the supernatural. The officers in that unit were trained by the BPRI in taking down demons, and Vampires, but occasionally they'd call on the BPRI to help in their investigations… with their usual liason being either Xander or Agent Garret.
This time though, Angel could tell from the tone of Det. Lockley's voice that whatever happened was bad enough to directly call the co-administrators.
"I'll be right there with Agent Garret, and Xander" said Angel as he watched Cordelia run to the intercom system and called on the two of them to get ready to respond to a SIU call.
"I'll go" said Cordelia as she headed into the rest room, "I'll just take a shower and…"
'Cordy" said Angel as she ran in after Cordelia who had already started the shower and was under the running water, "whatever this is, it sounded really bad. We're taking the U.V protected cars so I'll be fine… and even if I'm under the sun for a few seconds I won't turn to ash. The people here need you safe.. and, before you say anything, I know you can protect yourself but this is just a consult on what could be a really bad crime scene. She said that a while family was murdered…"
"How?' asked Cordelia.
"They found vampire bites on the three kids, and the parents" said Angel as he stepped under the running water, "the mother's body was mutilated… they found her insides all close to the side of the bed. And.. and there was a message on the wall; but Kate didn't tell me what it was. She said I should be there to read it.. that.. that that the message was written in blood. And here's the odd thing, she thinks there could be two people… one of them a human."
"What?" asked Cordelia as they both stepped out of the shower.
'Yea" said Angel as he started to put on some clothes that he kept in Cordelia's room, "she and her partner found some unfinished food on a plate, even the TV was warm."
'So hold on" said Cordelia, "whoever killed that family, also decided to have lunch and watch TV while the vampire killed the children and the parents?"
"Looks like it" said Angel before he kissed Cordelia again before putting on his earpiece, and then pointing at it while looking at Cordelia, "I'll be right here, Cordy. Garret and Xander should be downstairs by now."
"Be careful" said Cordelia as she walked out with Angel who was headed to the back covered entrance where the special car was parked, while Cordelia headed for the Operations Room so that she could talk to Angel and the team through a secured line.
The Rearwood Residence, Sunnydale, 1345 hours.
Just as Angel and the others drove up to the address that Det. Lockley had texted Agent Garret, the SUV that was carrying the three of them passed five stationary ambulances, police cars, and even a few news vans… all of whom heard about the Rearwood family massacre by a possible mentally disturbed individual. The SUV then parked at the side of the road as Angel placed his coat over his head to block out the sunlight before ran into the house, his body starting to already smoke, with Agent Garret and Xander right behind him.
"Kate" said Angel as she nodded at him before speaking to her partner who went into the kitchen. She then walked towards Angel and the others, "how bad?"
"Bad" said the detective as she pointed at the outline of where the bodies used to lie on the floor. She pointed at the places where the Children were placed before telling Angel that the boy's ribs were broken, "and the girls? It was like they were just laid there. We found picture frames on the boys back, and the mantle was cracked… I'm guessing that the autopsy will show that the edge of the mantle's what broke his ribs."
"You're saying he was pushed? Hard?" asked Xander.
"Or thrown" said Agent Garret, "but we'll need to see the autopsy reports."
"The parents?" asked Angel as he looked around the room, and sniffed the air… smelling cooked meat, perfume, and blood.
'Upstairs" said Det. Lockley as she pointed at the stairs.
"So someone really ate food?" asked Xander, "as in burgers, and fries?"
"More like pot roast" said Det. Lockley, "they didn't finish it.. and the television was on when the officers responded to the call."
"So they ate, and watched TV" said Agent Garret as they reached the second floor and Detective Lockley led them to the parent's room, "while the vampire killed everyone."
"Looks that way" said Detective Lockley as they entered the bedroom where Xander, the detective and Agent Garret covered their noses while looking at one side of the bed that was covered in blood. It was then that the Detective pointed at the message on the wall behind the headboard… and Angel's eyes went wide as he stumbled back towards the door while Det. Lockley, Xander and Agent Garret turned around.
"Angel?"
"Deadboy?"
"It.. it can't be… no" said Angel as he looked at the message with both eyes wide open in shock, "no…"
"Angel" said Agent Garret.
"Angel?" said Cordelia, who was listening to everything through his earpiece while she was in the Operations Room, "what's going on? What did you see…. What's the message?"
"No tears; We'll meet again" said Angel in shock a he just stared at the wall.
"What kind of a message is that?" asked Cordelia.
"That… that's what I told Kathy.. the day I died" said Angel as the detective, Agent Garret and Xander looked at each other confused before looking at Angel again, "it.. it has to be the First… it used one of her agents and…"
"Who's Kathy?" asked Xander.
"My sister" said Angel as Xander looked at him with eyes wide open, "but… but she's dead. I.. I killed her after I turned and became Angelus. She's.. she's dead….. I… I need to leave.. I…"
"Angel" said Xander as Angel turned and stumbled out of the bedroom followed by the rest of the group as they followed him down to the entrance where he stood just looking out at the crowd outside. He knew that the sun was high up in the sky and the light had reached the entrance. He didn't want everyone to see his face while he pulled his jacket over his head while he ran, his body smoking from the exposure to the sun, back to the car. He didn't want to reveal himself as a vampire, so all he did was just stand at the entrance looking out the door; in the same house where there was a message that was most likely left by the First. He remembered Willow telling him that the First had agents in the other reality, agents that did its bidding.
"It was the First" whispered Angel as he looked at the throngs of people gathered outside, "it used it's agents to… to… kill the family and then… then the First must have taken the form of Kathy and used her memories to make the vampire write that message. That's the only thing it could be. The human watched TV while the vampire killed."
"Angel?" asked Cordelia through his earpiece.
"Angel" said Agent Garret as he pulled the man back away from the sunlight, "get a hold of yourself."
"It has to be the First" said Angel as he ignored the people in the house, and the voice of Cordelia in his ear as he scanned the people who were gathered outside, including the ones gathered on the front lawn of the houses across the street, "It has to be…"
Angel then saw a figure wearing a black jacket that had a hoodie covering the face. He could tell that it was a female from her walking down the lawn to the side of the road before she turned and walked away by herself. Angel then turned his attention to the other people in the crowd before he turned around to face Xander and the others.
Kathy walked down the street as ambulances drove by her before she turned to look over her shoulder and saw the door close. She then turned her head to the front and pulled the hoodie lower while she continued to walk with a smile on her face. She had finally seen her brother again.
"You look just as you did the day you killed me, well… your hair's shorter now" said Kathy to herself as she turned into a corner and looked at the houses on that particular row while shaking her head, she continued to walk as another ambulance went past her, "I'll have to leave you another message I see… you think I'm the First… can't have that. I'm worse. Looks like I have to leave you another message… but we can have that tonight. I'm full right now… see you soon, Liam."
TBC.