A/N: Hey guys, it's already New Years Eve morning here. And since I'm not planning on thinking about what to write for the next two days or so, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Have a great 2016. Cheers.
Battlestar Galactica, Hanger Deck, 1000 hours.
Willow and the others had felt the Raptor shudder as it manoeuvred before it landed onto an elevator in the flight pod. It was a few seconds later that they could feel, and then see, the ship going deep down into the shaft for seconds before everyone saw an airlock in front of them. Dr. Winston then told the Earth offers that the pilot was asking Galactica control to seal to upper airlock and then to equalize pressure.
It was almost immediately that everyone heard a hiss as pressure and air was being pumped into the small room. A few seconds later, a panel next the airlock that they were facing turned green, and then the airlock opened to reveal a brightly lit hanger bay. Willow and Faith watched as the Raptor was pulled out of the airlock while the deck hands who had been working suddenly stopped and stared at the first Raptor, followed by the Raptors that were being pulled into the hanger bay towards a large gathering of officers who were in their dress uniforms to greet the visitors that everyone had heard about.
Some of the deck crew dropped what they were doing and ran up to the crowed of officers just as the rear doors on the Raptor's opened.
Commander Adama and Baltar were the first ones out while the pilot stayed in the seat; this was followed by the translators, Hailey, Colonel Carter, Willow, and the other engineers. Once they walked onto the stubby wing of the Raptor, Willow sensed the feelings of awe mixed with trepidation from the Colonial crew standing in front of them; and she felt awe from the Earth personnel as they looked at the brightly lit hanger bay. They looked about, while at the same time stepping onto the floor of the desk and saw many other Raptors being kept in alcoves, as well as some smaller fighters. The redhead got down onto the deck just as she saw Faith come down from the Raptor behind the one the redhead was in.
"Attention!" shouted Colonel Tigh as the entire crew assembled on the deck stood up straight, the sound made by their boots reverberating through the cavernous hanger deck. The Colonel then ordered that the crew offer a salute, which was promptly returned by the Earth crew. Willow looked around the area discretely and noticed several people off to the side with camera's that were flashing away, while some of the Marines from the Galactica were keeping them at bay.
Willow: "We get the whole press treatment."
Faith: "Kinda makes me feel like a celebrity."
Mitchell: "You guys see what, or who, I see?"
Colonel Carter, who was connected to the others through Willow mentally, glanced over at a brown haired woman in the Press section who was shouting questions at them while another male next to her was carrying a camera.
Carter: "Dr. Burke, I see a Cylon. Right side, the one in the yellow dress."
Dr. Burke glanced over to where Colonel Carter had mentioned before looking at the blonde again and nodding her head. Dr. Burke mentally told her that it was one of the D'Anna models, and that it would be better to check on her once they had started scanning for Cylon life signs. Teal'c, who was also connected, then mentioned that it would be better to check the members of the press as soon as possible since it was entirely possible that the Number Three would try to hide, or try to kill herself.
The others in SG-1, Colonel Sam Finn, and Dr. Burke agreed.
The entire mental conversation lasted only a few seconds while Commander Adama, as Dr. Burke was translating, introduced Colonel Mitchell, followed by Colonel Carter to Colonel Tigh, his wife Ellen, and then to Lt. Gaeta, and other officers. Willow was the next in line after Colonel Carter to shake Colonel Tigh's hand. And while Sharon and later Triana had given them names of the final five Cylons… Willow still needed to confirm that they really were machines.
Willow got the answer she was looking for when shaking the hands of Colonel Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Chief Tyrol; there was only one person missing from the remaining five. While Willow shook the hand of the next person while the other Colonials cheered at the coming of their 'cousin's' from Earth, Faith and the others went down the line while nodding at those standing behind the officers who were standing in the front.
Willow: "I'm getting nothing from those three; no thoughts, and no emotions. Just like what happened with Sharon when we went to save SG-2 on Caprica."
Carter: "So it's confirmed then?"
Willow: "Yes, ma'am."
Sam Finn: "This is just so weird; the whole telepathy thing but anyway… we can screen them out when we scan them. We're missing one though… not counting the Model Three that's still taking pictures of us with the other press guys."
Teal'c: "We must stress it upon them that all personnel be examined. Including those who are flying around this vessel in those fighters."
Faith: "Which look cool."
Willow: "Hell no, I prefer the 302's."
Faith: "You say that just cause you're designing the next generation with Sam."
Carter: "I agree with Willow."
Faith: "See."
Mitchell: "I agree with Faith, Vala?"
Vala: "Yes, but the looks on these people… so many of them look tired."
Mitchell: "I see it too."
Faith: "Yeah, Vala. I mean, that's kinda why we're here… you know.. to help them."
Willow looked back at Faith and smiled just as Commander Adama told the murmuring crowd of Colonial Personnel in front of them to quieten down, that he had an announcement to make.
"Thank you" said Commander Adama as he looked at the Colonial Personnel, and then at the Press, and then back to the Colonial personnel, "our friends…."
"Why haven't you Earthers allowed us to go to our home? Why are you hiding Earth from us?" shouted a member of the Press as the Commander frowned and turned to look at him. He told the man that there would be time for questions at a later time; that the Earth personnel were on board now to look through their engineering schematics for possible upgrades due to foreseeable dangers, and they were also here on another matter.
"This message is going throughout the Galactica" said the Commander as he put his hands behind his back. Willow looked at the man as he spoke with authority, despite his exhaustion, and then remembered the little boy who crashed into her all those years ago. The redhead then gave a small smile, a smile that was witnessed by Faith who the redhead had turned towards. Faith then moved towards the redhead while the Commander continued speaking while Daniel, and the other translators translated what the man was saying, "as you know, the Earthers have made it a requirement.. and I agree, that all personnel be scanned with their Cylons detection device."
As the others in the hanger started to mumble, Colonel Carter glanced at the worried look on the face of the Number Three who had put down the device that she was holding. The Colonel than mentally contacted the others and told them that she didn't see anything different reaction-wise in regards to Colonel Tigh, his wife, and Chief Tyrol.
They didn't look scared that they would be found out.
Vala: "Maybe what you told us about what Triana said is true… they really don't know."
Willow: "I can't get a read. They're like the other humanoid Cylon models… no thoughts and emotions coming from them."
Mitchell: "Which brings up something else; why are they machines again? Why aren't they like Triana? Let's say that they did travel in cryo-sleep and arrived at the colonies slightly older than when they left, then shouldn't he and the others be… I don't know; in their eighty's or something?"
Faith: "Unless they resurrected somehow? But that would mean they should have their memories, right?"
Everyone who was mentally connected looked at Faith and acknowledged the point that she just made. The biggest question for the Earth officers was why didn't the five of the Cylons from the Furling Earth know who they were. Pushing that thought to the back of their minds for now, the group listened to Commander Adama as he ordered everyone to return to their stations; or to their quarters, and remain there until they had been scanned.
"If anyone" said the Commander as he stepped forward and spoke with authority in his voice, "if anyone is found to be a Cylon, then you will be sent to the Cylon homeworld."
It was at this point that everyone looked at each other confused while others started to say that it would be unethical to help any Cylon, especially after what they did to the Colonies and the fleet after being chased by the robotic monstrosities for months.
Willow glanced over at the Number Three who was looking at the Earth officers; Willow could tell that she was trying to gauge them before she looked at the Colonial officers, as well as the deck hands… including Chief Tyrol, and especially Colonel Tigh, who were asking questions. It was at this moment that the Commander shouted at the top of his lungs for everyone to stand at attention; while at the same time, Baltar walked over to Colonel Carter and touched her arm before telling her that he'd be honoured to show her around the ship.
"Of course after you and your subordinates have helped us with power generation, and the shield" said Baltar while Dr. Burke translated for the blonde Colonel, "perhaps some drinks? I have a bottle of ambrosia that.."
"Thanks" said the Colonel as she nodded her head, "but I'm afraid that I don't drink while on duty."
"Perhaps after you've finished your duty" said Baltar as he looked up and down at the Colonel who looked at Willow, and then back at the Colonial scientist, "I could have some time to pick your brain. I would so much like to learn about your culture, your rituals and…"
"Oh" said the Colonel as she nodded her head and grinned before she turned and called for Daniel. Once the archaeologist had walked up to the blonde Colonel; Dr. Burke, Willow and the others who were close by smiled when she told Baltar that Daniel was the perfect person to talk about rituals and culture.
"Baltar" said the Commander sternly when he heard the ruckus that the scientist was causing while he was trying to address the Colonial personnel standing in front of him. It was Billy who then walked towards the scientist and pulled him away from Colonel Carter.
"Sam" said Faith as she leaned in towards the Colonel, "you're not gonna help him, or be alone with him?"
"Nope" replied the Colonel as she shook her head.
"Good" said Colonel Mitchell, "I don't like him… he's like an animal on the prowl."
"Awww… you're protecting me" said Colonel Carter as she smiled at Colonel Mitchell who shrugged his shoulder, while Vala patted the man on his back. The blonde Colonel then smiled at Vala before looking at the Commander while he was telling the others that anyone found to be a Cylon would be taken to the surface for a secondary test, and if they were still found to be Cylons; then they would be sent to the Cylon planet if they were not considered a threat to Colonial security.
"Sir" said Colonel Tigh, "with all due respect…."
"I know you're feelings on this, Saul" said the Commander while Willow looked at Faith and the others while Daniel and Dr. Burke translated, "but that's the agreement we made with the people from Earth. Both of our sides lost… heavily."
D'Anna was listening in shock at what the Commander was telling everyone; that most of her brothers and sisters were dead.. that he Ori had nearly wiped the Cylons off the face of the galaxy. He continued to say that the Cylons who remained were given sanctuary on a new world to call their own… that they would never know the address of New Kobol until both sides were willing to talk; even then, only with the Earth personnel present to referee the talks. D'Anna looked over at the people who were in the black BDU's, and then at the Commander again; she wasn't sure if this was true… she didn't know what she would do if she was found out. It was then that she noticed one of the dark haired females standing next to the red-haired woman and the blonde looking at her directly while the Commander was telling everyone, as his voice travelled through every speaker on the gigantic ship, that he needed them to cooperate.
"I know this is difficult!" shouted the Commander as he looked at every Colonial in the hanger bay, "I know how we feel about the Cylons! You know how I feel about the Cylons! We are not doing this to forgive them! We are doing this to show Earth that we too are an enlightened society; that the Twelve Colonies of Kobol still live through us! They will help us, that is why these people are here. Let us show them the best of ourselves, do not resist the scans.. it is completely harmless."
The Commander then turned around and nodded at Colonel Carter who stepped forward with Colonel Mitchell and Daniel; as well as Dr. Burke.
"My name is Lt. Colonel Sam Carter" she said while Dr. Burke translated for her.
"Hiya, folks" said Colonel Mitchell while Daniel Translated, "I'm Cameron Mitchell. I swear to you guys that the scans are painless. Our medical teams have already checked out the people on the surface, and I can tell you that well…. everyone's clean."
"Except for one person on the surface" said Colonel Carter after the Commander nodded at the woman while the other Colonels looked at each other and whispered among themselves. It was then that Colonel Tigh turned around and stood next to Commander Adama and told all the Colonial officers and deck hands to quieten down. Once they personnel had settled, the balding man then looked at Commander Adama, confusion on his face as he looked at his superior officer nodding his head. The Commander leaned in and told the Colonel that he'll tell him everything later, before he patted his Executive Officer's back, and then turned and nodded at Colonel Carter who then continued, "Until tests are run, we cannot confirm if anyone we find on the Galactica is a Cylon or not. The scan is just a preliminary test, and in the event that we find something… then we will run a secondary test. I realize that everyone is afraid.. none of us can imagine what all of you have been through. All we ask is for patience; and if there are any Cylons aboard, there will be no harm to them.. or to your people. As the Commander had said, they will be sent to another world… the Cylon homeworld in fact. Or they will be sent to the world of another ally; either way, they will never see your people again… at least not until you decide to talk."
"The Cylons murdered forty billion lives" said the female reporter next to D'Anna who was looking at the Earth group in stunned silence, "aren't you afraid that you'll be seen as sympathizers to a race of machines?"
"This is…"said the Commander when he was interrupted by Colonel Carter.
"Commander" said Colonel Carter who Dr. Burke was translating for, so that the old man could understand what the blonde officer was saying, "if you don't mind?"
The Commander nodded his head before Colonel Carter turned to look at the older woman who asked her the question. However, she was really looking at D'Anna who was standing shoulder to shoulder with the other reporter.
"Before the Ori, we fought another battle against a race of machines" said Colonel Carter while the other Colonials whispered in hushed, but audible, tones. She could make out hushed voices from the Colonial crowd while Willow and the others looked around, "they invaded this galaxy, and were prepared to take it over. They would have killed anything that wasn't them… they would have killed and replicated; taking over the galaxy in a few days. They would have destroyed Earth, our allies, the Colonies, and even the Cylons. Nothing was safe. These beings even took on human form and even then, along with the ones that looked like bugs, we killed them all. In one bang, all the replicators invading this galaxy were wiped out.. these machines couldn't be reasoned with; they answered to no one… so we had no choice but to destroy them all."
"They did" said Colonel Mitchell as he nodded towards Colonel Carter, and to the officers behind him, "I wasn't there, but Colonel Carter and other in my team were there when they pressed the button."
"So, Miss" said the Colonel as she looked at the reporter while D'Anna continued to look at Colonel Carter.. recalling the story that the President had told the Quorum about that same story; however, it was the recent story that put in a lot more details. Details that D'Anna knew even Commander Adama didn't know from the look of surprise on his face. D'Anna then looked at Colonel Carter who continued to talk, "I can tell you that we aren't sympatric to machines who tried to destroy the galaxy. We aren't sympathetic to the Cylons either due to the fact that they massacred your people, but we also won't ignore the fact that they are a sentient race that came to us for help when their civilization was on the verge of extinction."
"We're not saying that you guys suddenly become friends" said Colonel Mitchell, "you know.. kiss and make up. But we don't want to see you guys going extinct."
"The President has agreed that any Cylons found will be under the protection of Earth" said the Commander, "at least for now. Once they have been confirmed to be Cylons, they will either be sent to the new Cylon planet; or they will be sent somewhere else. If you happen to be next to a Cylon… or see a Cylon being taken away… I am ordering all of you to stay at your posts. Let the Earth officers do their jobs. One part of them will be scanning the personnel on the Galactica; while the others will be meeting with our two Chiefs, and discussing plans to install possible new technologies. Whatever the case may be; we will be confronting the traitor, Helena Cain; and we will get the rest of our people back from the Colonies. SO SAY WE ALL!"
"So say we all!" shoutedthe other Colonial officers, deckhands, and the Press who were standing there.
The Commander then turned and walked towards Colonel Carter and Colonel Mitchell before telling them that they'll be assigned guards. The two Colonels nodded their heads while Dr. Burke and Daniel translated before they broke up into teams while the other Colonials headed back to their posts where they were ordered to stay until they were checked. While everyone moved away, the scanning team was broken into two groups; just as the engineering team would be after they checked out the schematics of the ship.
It was agreed that the deckhands and the members of the Press who were present be scanned first due to the fact that they were the closest people around. With Commander Adama remaining behind with Billy, who himself was holding on to Baltar and keeping the man within his sights, and Helo; the entire deck gang was ordered to stand in formation while Colonel Finn and her medical team prepared the scanners while Colonel Mitchell and his team, as well as Major Atwood and her team watched over the medical teams. At the same time, the groups from Earth were being watched over by Colonial Marines while Helo, and Billy and Baltar followed each of the two medical teams once the deckhands had assembled in twenty minutes. All so that they could look at the readings on the scanners that were being employed.
While Willow, Hailey, Colonel Carter and the other engineers were getting their own equipment ready, Colonel Mitchell was with Colonel Finn as the latter checked on some of the deckhands. It was a while later that they had come to Chief Tyrol, while the others were still scanning the other people. The two Colonel's glanced at each other after the scanner showed similar readings from the nanites in his blood, similar readings to the ones they had from the other Cylons and Tory.
"Dr. Burke" said Colonel Mitchell as he motioned for the translator to join them while she motioned to another translator to take her place. The linguist rushed to where the two Colonel's were standing before being shown the scan.
"Chief" said Dr. Burke nodding her head.
"Is something wrong?" came the Chief's reply as he got a glimpse of the scan on the tablet when he careened his head forward and noticed the nanites on the screen. He then looked up in shock at Dr. Burke, and the two Colonel's looking back at him while he took a step back in shock.
"No" said the Chief while some of the deckhands who heard him looked at him, at the confusion on his face, as he stepped back and shook his head in disbelief.
Cally was one of the first to notice Chief Tyrol telling the Earth officers that it couldn't be, that he wasn't a Cylon. In disbelief, the woman, Chief Tyrol's second in command rushed to the man's side, as did Chief Laird and a few other deckhands; as did a worried Commander Adama and Helo while Billy and Baltar just looked at their direction and then went on with the other teams as they scanned the rest of the hundred or so deckhands.
"Commander" said Chief Tyrol, "I… I'm not a Cylon and… there's no way."
"He's right, Commander" said Cally as she jumped to the defence of the man, "there's no way that he's a Cylon… I mean he's been with us since the beginning. And…"
"So was Boomer" said another Deckhand, a young man who was standing behind Cally as he glared at the Chief.
"Galen" said Chief Laird as he looked at the confused man who was looking at everyone as they surrounded him. He then looked at Chief Laird, "Galen, did you know.. did you…?"
"I'm not a Cylon" said the Chief out loud as everyone looked at his direction, even the ones who were until recently just out of earshot, "I'm not… I know…"
"There… there's another test? Right? Commander?" asked Cally as she looked at Chief Tyrol, and then at Commander Adama, before looking at the Chief again.. her heart pounding as she thought about the one person she cared about being a Cylon; a fact that terrified her to the core. She then looked back at the Commander, Helo, and then at Dr. Burke and the Earth Colonel, "there's another test?"
"Yes" said Commander Adama while Dr. Burke nodded her head, "I want to be sure about this and…. and, I want to be sure."
"Commander" said Chief Tyrol shaking his head, "I swear to you I'm not a Cylon… you have to believe me. I… I can tell you my whole history, I can tell you when I was born and…"
"Chief" said the Commander softly while Dr. Burke translated for the two Colonels, "Once they've finished scanning everyone on the ship… you'll be sent to the surface.."
"But Sir!" shouted the Chief.
"Chief!" shouted the Commander, whose voice reverberated throughout the hanger bay… silencing any whispers from the surrounding deckhands and the Press who had been continuing to take pictures from where the Galactica Marines where keeping them away from the others. The Commander then closed his eyes, took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose before looking at a very frightened man.
'That's the type of fear you can't hide' thought the Commander to himself as he put his glasses back on and looked into the younger man's eyes while Colonel Carter told the Earth officers through Willow's mental connection to continue doing what they were doing. The Commander then walked towards the Chief and told him in no uncertain terms that they had to make sure; that he needed to undergo a blood test on the surface. It was then that the Commander sighed, momentarily revealing himself as a wary old man before he forced himself to regain his sense of authority, "Boomer didn't know that she was a Cylon, Chief. IN the event that you are… then we'll have to decide if you have to be considered a threat to our security."
"But, sir.. I…"
"You're not, chief" said Cally as she turned to looked at the man, "you're not… I know you're not a Cylon."
The two Colonel's and Dr. Burke could only look at each other wordlessly before the linguist approached Commander Adama and asked him if it would be alright for two of their own people to stand guard with Galactica's own Marines in watching over Chief Tyrol… as well as anyone else they may detect as having nanites.
The Commander nodded his head before Colonel Mitchell called for Vala and Faith to watch over the Cylons with the Colonial guards. Chief Tyrol then walked with Vala, Faith and two others from the Colonial side to one corner of the first Raptor. IT was twenty minutes later that the deckhands were scanned before the Commander had ordered them to go back to doing their jobs.
"Move it!" shouted Chief Laird before he glanced at a despondent Chief Tyrol who had his head in his hands in disbelief. The man then looked over at Cally who was crouching next to the man, comforting him by gently stroking his back. He saw the young woman tell him something before he looked away when he noticed Helo and Commander Adama walking towards him.
"Commander" said the Chief as he nodded at the old man, and Helo.
"Chief Laird" said the old man, "as of now, you're the one in charge.. the sole person."
"But…."
"Just do what you've done so far, Chief" said the Commander, "keep on doing a good job. If the tests on Chief Tyrol prove negative, then it's fine for us… but in the event that it's not? Then you're the one who has to rally everyone back from the brink. The deckhands and Chief Tyrol have been working together a long time, and I've heard that you've already gained the respect of many of them."
"I don't know about that, Commander" said the Chief quietly as he glanced over at Chief Tyrol who was nodding his head at something Cally told him. He then looked at the Commander again who told him that he had read reports that Chief Tyrol submitted, as did Cally.
"You can keep these guys together" said the Commander, 'you have to."
"I… I'll do my best" said Chief Laird.
"Good" said the Commander when they heard a commotion from the Press area. Some of the other deckhands, the guards and even Chief Tyrol looked up at the shouts of one of the reporters who was being manhandled by some of the Colonial Marines who quickly sprung into action. The Commander and Helo rushed to the Press area where the other members of the Press were moved back by the other Colonial guards while they were shouting and screaming at the woman who was screaming that she wasn't a Cylon.
Commander Adama just looked at the woman, the one he knew as D'Anna Biers… the same one who had made a documentary on how the Colonial Military in the Galactica lived and how they risked their lives for the rest of the fleet; and now he wanted to throw up. The man looked in shock as the screaming woman, was led away by some of the Earth military and the Colonial guards and made to sit next to Chief Tyrol who looked at the woman in shock; and vice-versa.
"Commander" said Dr. Burke as she ran over to him after having talked to Colonel Finn, "we were surprised to find her among your crew."
"You have seen her before?" asked the Commander in surprise as the both of them looked at D'Anna who was next to Chief Tyrol who looked at the reporter in disgust.
"We didn't notice her at first" lied the linguist, "but our team on Eden has sent us information of the seven Cylon models… and she's the Number Three model."
"She's a reporter" said the Commander shaking his head in disbelief, "she… she made a documentary and was… was given access to the people, and the ship and….you're sure she's a Cylon?"
"Yes" said Dr. Burke as she looked at D'Anna.
"Then… then I can't have her returned to the other Cylons" said Commander Adama, "she knows the layout of the ship, she knows… gods damn it, she knows the secrets of this ship and…"
"That's your prerogative, Commander" said Dr. Burke while Colonel Carter, Mitchell, and Finn were walking towards the two of them, "but we promised you that the Cylons would never find out the location of New Kobol. If you still choose to send her somewhere else, we can make arrangements with one of our ally's, or if you'd consider her being sent to Eden… then we can make arrangements with the council that the Cylons are forming that she be kept in isolation. You're in the driver's seat… whatever you choose is up to you."
"Understood" said the Commander as he nodded at the approaching Colonels.
"Commander" said Colonel Mitchell while Dr. Burke translated, "we're done with your people here; I think it's better if we continue into the ship.. then once everyone's checked out.. our medical staff can meet with your own staff and help out while you decide how you want to send your people down to the planet for a break. Of course we're still building more of the towers so…. Yeah."
The Commander nodded his head before looking at Colonel Carter, and then at Willow who was seated and working on a computer, and then back at Colonel Carter.
"I take it that you would like to begin looking through the ship schematics?" asked the Commander as he looked at Colonel Carter while Dr. Burke translated.
"Yes, sir" said Colonel Carter, "Major Rosenberg, Major Hailey, and three others would be looking through the schematics with your engineering team; and then we'll split up to take readings, measurements, and conduct some tests using the power source we've brought with us."
"Colonel" said Commander Adama, "I'm not entirely comfortable with having networked computers attached to our own. We've bad experiences with Cylon viruses and… well, it was a virus that turned off the fleet, leading to the Cylons massacring nearly the entire Colonial fleet."
"Our computers are protected by a series of firewalls developed using alien technology" said Colonel Carter as the Commander looked at her in surprise, "before leaving, General O'Neill took me to one side and authorised installation of this firewall, as well as an anti-virus program that would be able to scrub your computers off any virus'… provided that our computers are compatible. But that would only be needed once we've checked the computers in the bridge."
"I understand" said the Commander nodding his head.
"Colonel Finn, Major Atwood and myself will be spreading out and examining your people" said Colonel Mitchell as he took out a scanner from a pouch on his belt, "anyone we find, you'll be notified… unless of course you come with us and well.. you'll be right there."
"I would like to have Helo and, although I loathe to admit that he's right, Baltar join the engineering teams" said Commander Adama, "I will also be assigning four Marines to ensure that you don't enter any secure areas, and for your protection."
"Thank you" said Colonel Carter nodding her head as the teams broke up. Colonel Mitchell, Colonel Finn, and Major Atwood's teams, as well as the translators, went into the belly of the Battlestar; the group still in awe about the vastness of the ship and they were followed by Commander Adama and some of the Marines. Colonel Carter, Willow and Hailey, as well as their engineering teams were led by Helo and Chief Laird to a back office in the hanger deck with Billy and Baltar behind them.
All the while, Chief Tyrol was glaring at D'Anna in disgust… still unable to believe what was happening to him.
BPRI, Sunnydale, 1010 hours.
The one thought that was going through Angel's mind was watching Callie's body lying under the bright sunlight right outside the BPRI. HE remembered her just laying there as Agent Garret closed her eyelids before the vampire told Cordelia that she needed to talk to Agent Garret, who was their liaison with the NID Committee that oversaw the BPRI, get him to send a message to the Committee in Washington; they needed to get talk. Cordelia knew what the man was talking about before he turned to Wesley, who had no knowledge about the SGC or Home World Security and the technologies that were available, and nodded his head to the side.
Cordelia watched Angel rush out of the Operations Room with Wesley by his side. Once the doors had closed to the large dimly lit room, Cordelia turned back to the large screen in front of her and watched as the bodies were being covered under white sheets just as three ambulances appeared on the screen. The young woman then looked to her right and called one of the analysts who was working on a computer and asked him to connect her headset to NORAD.
"NORAD?" asked the young man as he looked back at the co-administrator.
"Yea" said Cordelia while she continued to look at the screen, an anger rising in her as she imagined the terror that the young Potential and the agents must have been through, 'two highly trained NID agents, and one experienced Potential Slayer… dead in seconds… damn, and we watched it happen. Even with the Rapid Response Teams ready, it was a minute too long… damn… damn…'
"Damn it!" shouted Cordelia as everyone stopped talking and looked back at her. Cordelia then shook her head before telling everyone softly to get back to their jobs. Once everyone had turned back to their computer screens, Cordelia told the analysts in contact with those who were still on the field, and not being engaged with any enemy, that they were to check-in every hour instead of two, "don't tell anyone on the field what happened; Callie's parents need to be notified and then.. and then we tell the others."
"Ma'am" said the young man that Cordelia had talked to earlier, "I've got NORAD on the line."
"Thanks" said Cordelia softly before she tapped the headset she was wearing, "this is Cordelia Chase, I need to talk to General Landry."
"One moment" said a woman's voice as the other line clicked before being picked up again, this time by Walter in the Control Room.
"NORAD" he said.
"This is Cordelia Chase from the BPRI, I need to talk to General Landry."
"Miss Chase" said Walter nodding his head, "one moment please."
"Thanks" sighed Cordelia as she was transferred again. It was a few seconds later that the familiar voice of General Landry appeared on the other line as Cordelia spoke with a hint of sadness on her voice, "good morning, General."
"Miss Chase" said General Landry as he sat back on his seat. The man had just seen off the President from the upper lobby before coming back down to finish up some paperwork. He had just gone to his first report of the day, a report by Dr. Lam on Camille, before he received the call from Cordelia, "how can I help you this morning?"
"We need to talk, General" said Cordelia as she looked at Callie's body being placed on a gurney while Agent Garret could only look on helplessly.
Willie's Bar, Sunnydale, 1025 hours.
Angel's car, a black 1967 Plymouth GTX convertible with windows that were specifically treated the same as the windows in the BPRI, had just pulled into the front parking lot of Willie's Bar. The vampire had driven the car in silence with Wesley in the passenger seat. The former Watcher could tell that Angel was angry about something, but every time he asked a question.. the man was told to drop it.
"I'm just mad that we weren't able to do a thing" said Angel finally a few minutes before they entered the parking lot of Willie's Bar, "it happened right at our doorstep and…"
"Angel" said Wesley as the vampire parked the car, "it's not your fault. We only found out when she was badly beaten, and… and we had only a minute to get the Rapid Response Teams ready. Their fastest time has been two and…"
"I want them to be faster" said Angel quietly as he leaned back on the seat after taking the key off the ignition, "we need to be faster."
"We will be" said Wesley as he turned on the passenger seat and faced Angel, "and I know you… you're going to take the blame for this since you told Callie and the two agents to come here and collect information from Willie."
"It is my fault" said Angel as he looked at the other man.
"She knew the risks of this job" said Wesley, "so did the other Agents."
"She was only nineteen" said Angel, "she was a sophomore in U.C. Sunnydale majoring in history and…"
"She was a great girl" said Wesley gently as Angel looked out the windshield of his car, "she'll be remembered for her pranks, her kindness, her tenacity…. But she's gone. Angel, she did what she was supposed to do.. contact the BPRI before getting a subject into the car and bringing her to us. The only thing we could do is improve on our response times, and maybe have more Agents with the Potentials in Sunnydale… at least until this killer's found."
"You said that Callie told you that this girl she had with her saw the murders?" asked Angel.
"After what just happened?" said Wesley, "I think she was the murderer; which brings us to something that's very off about whoever this woman is…. I could have sworn I saw her lean down like a vampire and…"
'She drank Callie's blood?" asked Angel.
"We won't know the full details until Garret gets us some preliminary results from her autopsy" said Wesley, "but that's what it looked like… and the strange thing is that she didn't combust under the sun."
"What if we have this wrong?" asked Angel, "are there demons that drink blood? I mean demons that leave tell tale signs similar to a vampire… specifically their bite?"
"I'll have to check the library in London" said Wesley, "I can have Fred check what we have here… but nothing comes to mind. I mean yes, there are demons that drink blood, but that's after they've torn apart the victims."
"Some of the victims last night were torn apart" said Angel as he and Wesley got out of the car. The vampire put his black jacket over his head when his body started to smoke. The two men then ran straight into the bar through the front door; from the hot sun outside, to a dimly lit and smoky interior where there was a song laying on the jukebox to one side of the counter. Once the two of them rushed in, and Angel fixed his coat, the demons, vampires, and assorted creatures stopped what they were doing and looked at the newcomers; and almost immediately, they went back to what they were doing.
Angel and Wesley knew that Willie's Bar was neutral ground; that the demons and vampires inside didn't like the two of them, and if Angel and Wesley had met the demons out at night… they would be dead. Shaking their heads, the two of them headed directly to the bar counter where two creatures were sitting on stools. However, once they saw that Angel and Wesley were heading towards them, the two creatures grumbled and walked off to another seat at the rear of the bar… the same place that Kathy had been earlier that day.
"Willie" said Wesley as the man looked at the both of them nervously.
"Look, I told Callie and the other two that I'll call if I found anything they needed and…" said Willie as he leaned forward and whispered.
"Callie's dead" said Angel as Willie turned to look at him in surprise.
"As are the agents" said Wesley.
"Callie's dead?" asked Willie in a hushed tone. He knew that some of the demons here would probably celebrate that fact, but he didn't want a fight in the bar, especially since it would harm his business, "I… I just saw her."
"I sent her here" said Angel, "when did she leave?"
"It's only been a few minutes" said a shocked Willie, "she's dead?"
"She was killed on camera, right outside the BPRI" said Angel as he leaned forward and grabbed Willie by the collar and pulled him closer as he put on his 'vamp face', "did anyone follow her out of here? She sent in a call saying that she picked up someone and…"
"There.. there was someone" said Willie as Angel shook him hard, "wait.. wait…"
"Tell me who it was!" shouted Angel as he lifted the frightened owner of the bar up as everyone just looked on, before getting back to what they were doing.
"Punch me" whispered Willie. The man knew that he couldn't be seen by the other demons as giving away information freely; which was precisely why the man would contact the BPRI with tips on attacks or anything related to an apocalypse through a secure phone that was given to him, and even then he would only call at night.
Sighing, Wesley gave the bar owner a punch that was hard enough just to cause a little bit of pain as Angel released him, and he stumbled backwards.
"Tell me!" shouted Angel.
"O… ok" said Willie as he raised his hands up, "there was a girl… I don't know what she was. She was the first one in after I just opened the bar. She sat at the back, and all she had was blood mixed with rum."
"What was she? What demon?" asked Angel.
"I don't know" said Willie, "I really don't. She said she just came in today, and was curious about Callie."
"That wasn't a red flag?" asked Wesley.
"You know there are always monsters that wanna see a Slayer… they're like the bogeyman" said Willie, "an urban legend that some demons just want to check out, and then leave… at least most of them.. I mean… Angel, I had no idea that Callie could be in danger. I mean I did since she's a Potential, and they and Slayers are always in danger. But I never thought that Callie was gonna be killed; Rona told me that she was a rising star… she was really good."
"Do you have a camera?" asked Wesley as he looked around the bar before looking at Willie again.
"Four hidden camera's inside" said Willie as he motioned the two of them to follow him. The three of them walked into the back room where there was the cage that Kendra had trapped him in all those years ago, as well as the grate that vampires and demons used to get into the bar during the day. Willie led them to another locked room, which he opened to reveal three tables with two monitors on each one.
"What the?" said Willie as he leaned low and looked at two of the screens which just showed white interference on the screen. He rubbed his forehead before turning to Angel and Wesley where he told them that he needed to check the two cameras outside the front door. Willie then told the two men what they needed to do to rewind the footage from the other four interior cameras; one that had a full view of the bar counter which was currently empty since Willie's was inside in the back office with them, one facing the entrance, and another two cameras that were placed on either far corner of the bar – enough for the camera to capture nearly the whole establishment's seating areas.
Willie then took his leave, telling the others that he'll be right back. But before he left, and as Wesley took a seat, Willie told them to check out the footage that showed the bar counter, and the front entrance.
"Keep an eye out for the hottie in the low cut dress" said Willie while the two looked at him; Angel shaking his head, and Wesley in disgust, "she's hot… I mean, that's before I knew that she may have killed…"
"Go… fix the cameras" said Angel as Willie nodded his head and ran out. Angel then stood behind Wesley who pressed a button before he slowly turned a knob. They saw the image on the screen rewind itself while looking at the timestamp. Wesley stopped rewinding the tape when the timestamp showed it being the time they were looking for. They saw Callie walk in with the two agents before taking a seat at the bar counter. They saw her and the others talking to Willie, the tape was in colour and the images were coming in clear and crisp.. however there was no sound so they couldn't hear what was being said. They saw that Callie was talking with Willie when the two men noticed that the cameras outside the front door just came online. Glancing at Willie's grinning face, the two men then looked at the screen they were just viewing and saw Callie and the other agents continue talking for a few more minutes before they got up and left.
"There" said Wesley as he pointed at a blonde female in a low cut top, and short shorts, who had come up to the counter. It was then that Wesley paused the tape at a section when the female was nodding at Willie, "she fits with Willie's description. And she put down the glass she was holding."
"Yeah" said Angel as he looked at the blonde haired young woman. The ensouled vampire felt as if he knew her, but he didn't know from where, "can you rewind it again, slowly?"
Wesley turned the knob back slowly just as Willie walked into the back office and rewound the tape to the front door cameras on the other two monitors. Willie then pointed at the screen, saying that that was the girl who followed Callie out. He then pointed at the previously disabled cameras where they saw Callie walking off towards the car with the two agents. The three of them saw that they were about to enter the car when they seemed to look back at the front door.
It was then that they saw the newcomer's back just before one camera went on the fritz, and the other camera caught an image of the woman before it too was disconnected.s
"Somehow the power cables were detached" said Willie, "I don't know how… I mean… yeah… I don't know."
"I want that image emailed to the BPRI, and one to the Special Investigations Unit" said Angel as Wesley opened up email programs on one of the computers in the room that the monitors were connected to, "send it to Kate, and have the other front side images sent to Cordy. We have her now."
While Kathy's pictures were being sent to the BPRI and the Special Investigations Unit, Kathy herself was in a young woman's loft which was close to the building where she had lost her pursuers. Kathy's borrowed clothes from last night were strewn all over the floor of the loft while the body of the young woman the apartment belonged to was lying on the bed with all the blood drained from her body. Kathy was in the shower as she washed her skin, before rubbing the shower foam over the healed scar from the stake that Callie had stabbed her with. She felt the water streaming over the healed scars of the place where Tessa had scratched her back last night. She also felt the water running over the scars on her back from being whipped as punishment for what her brother had done; she could still feel their sting when she had flashes of memory of herself crying out in pain as the whip cracked against her back, tearing the skin open.
Kathy just stood there under the warm shower as she remembered every horrible moment. She closed her eyes as she remembered being pushed down into an ice cold bucket of water… she remembered that she'd be put under for several seconds, and then she'd be sobbing and begging the man to stop.
But he never did.
Kathy placed the palms of her hand on the wall in front of her and leaned forward as water from the shower continued to go down her naked body. She recalled more unspeakable things that were done to her by the man who had sold his own soul to get hers back. Being so close to her brother… closer than she had ever been, had brought forth even more horrible memories that the young woman had long buried.
"This is your brother's fault" shouted the man as he kicked Kathy whose body was chained to a bed, "all him…. This is happening because of him. You'll hate me after I'm done with you, and I don't care."
Back in the shower, Kathy closed her eyes and hung her head as she remembered that fateful day for the thousandth time.
She remembered opening the front door, a wide smile on her face when she realized that Liam, the brother she and her parents buried, was alive; what she didn't know was that he was already turned into a vampire by Darla.
"Liam" said Kathy excitedly that fateful night, "my angel… you became an angel and came back to me."
"My sweet Kathy" said Liam as he smiled at his sister, "I am your angel; you're the only one I'd come back for."
"I missed you so" said Kathy as she rushed outside the house and hugged Liam. She then looked up at her brother who looked down at her and smiled. The little girl then closed her eyes and hugged Liam's waist, which was when she noticed movement behind him in the form of a woman in formal wear.
"Hello" said Kathy with a smile, "I'm Kathy, and you are?"
"I am Darla, my dear lady."
Kathy giggled before smiling and looking up at her brother again.
"Darla's someone who showed me great things, Kathy" said Liam as Kathy looked up at him, "can we come in? I want to introduce her to the family."
Kathy remembered what happened the moment she told him to come in, before she pulled him by the hand into the room; while at the same time calling for their mother who was asleep.
"Mother!" shouted Kathy as she pulled her brother, "look Liam has become an angel and returned to us."
"That I have" said a voice with a low growl behind Kathy.
Her heart beating fast, the girl felt herself being turned around roughly before coming face to face with a demon.
"Liam?" said Kathy as her body began to tremble as she looked at his yellow eyes, and then at the forehead ridges and then the fangs. She then looked at Darla who had changed her face and was smiling at her while licking her lips.
Kathy was then pushed onto the floor roughly as Liam sat on top of her while one hand was placed over her mouth.
"You're a little bitch, Kathy" said Liam as he leaned down, "always following me around like a puppy dog. Umm…. Tell you what…. Be the puppy dog you are, and beg."
"Liam" said Kathy as she started to sob while Liam took his hand off her mouth, "please… I love you… please stop and.."
"That's not begging" said Liam as he growled before he moved Kathy's head to one side, exposing her neck. He then bit through the skin and started to drain the blood in her twelve year old body. Kathy saw that her vision was fading while she was being drained; all she could do was grab a hold of Liam's arm and squeeze one last time before whispering.
"I forgive you, Liam"
Back in the shower, Kathy's body was trembling while she was sobbing. She remembered being told by the man that her mother was killed, her father was killed; the entire village was killed… all the men, women and children. Kathy looked up at the tiles in front of her while sobbing before she screamed and drove her fist through the shower wall, and then her other fist. She then screamed and tore off the shower screen and threw it against the wall. She then rushed out of the shower and tore the door off it's hinges and used it to destroy the dining table outside. She looked at all the happy pictures of the young woman she just killed and broke them all. She then saw her own refection in a mirror before she drove a fist through the mirror.. destroying it. Kathy looked at the broken mirror, and then at her fist which was already starting to heal before she closed her eyes. She then turned around and calmly walked towards the closet near the bed.
While she looked for something suitable to wear as she wiped her tears, Kathy looked back at the dead woman lying on the bed before looking at the closet again when she had another memory flash of the entire year of pure torture in the empty village.
A place were no-one could hear her screams; or the shouts of the one who brought her back to life.
"You are nothing!" shouted the man as he grabbed Kathy's lower jaw and squeezed tightly.
It had taken time to break her but eventually Kathy was angry with her brother…. She never wanted to think ill of Liam. But she came to hate him.. she hated him for becoming a vampire, for killing her, for killing the village. She hated him for putting her through this madness.
Then things changed for the worse.
She was degraded even further for another two years; her hate growing for everything that was happening to her. Eventually on her fourteenth birthday she was changed, and as a test to make sure that she had no more hesitation, she murdered the one who raised her up from the dead, she then went on to murder a family of six who had been sent to the village by his mysterious benefactor. After murdering the last child, Kathy dropped the body on the ground and stood up; blood flowing freely down the sides of her mouth and onto her dress.
She then gave a wide smile as she imagined the destruction she'd cause.
Back in the present, Kathy put on some new clothes; including a grey hooded jacket. She was too close for emotions to get in the way; she was so close to her desire, so close to punishing her brother.
"You finally have people you care about" said Kathy to herself, "I'll take them away from you until I'm standing in a lake of their blood. And then I'll turn the person you love, I'll make sure you watch everything that happens to her… she'll be in so much pain that she'll wish she'd die. And then… and then I kill you. I'll kill every man, woman and child in this city because I can… first the Slayers, and then the others… and then your love… and then you. I'm so close, Liam."
She then walked to the computer that was set up to one side of the loft, and sat on the chair. She then powered up the machine before a smile developed on her face as she activated the internet browser.
"Buffy Summers, Kennedy Williams" said Kathy as she typed on the keyboard, "let's see where you live."
TBC.