Plains of Nairobi, ten thousand years ago.
It was ten thousand years ago, or at least, that's what Faith was thinking to herself as she, Buffy, Kennedy, Giles, and Wesley ran after the vampires who were chasing the little girl. Once Buffy and Faith had gotten close enough, they leapt forward only to find themselves going through the vampires who continued to run after Sineya who looked back at the vampires in terror before she ran much faster.
"It's a memory or a projection," said Wesley as Kennedy helped the two Slayers back up to their feet as they ran after Sineya and the vampires; there was just something that compelled them to run. They continued until they saw someone waving a burning branch in the air, followed by the voice of a woman speaking in Ancient… it was something that the group found they could understand.
And for Faith, who had already seen this in Willow's memories, she already knew what was going to happen… but there was something in her that felt different.
As if she was right there, instead of this just being a mere illusion. Faith and the others watched Willow, or Athena as she was then known, push Sineya behind her while she held out the burning branch at the three vampires. The dark haired Slayer saw the redhead in shock at what she was seeing.
"This is the first time that Red's seeing vampires," said Faith as they watched Athena step back with Sineya.
"Is it just me," said Buffy, "or does everyone feel as if… as if this feels real?"
"What do you mean?" asked Giles as he looked at Buffy, and then at the other Slayers.
"I feel like…" said Kennedy as she rubbed her chest, over her heart, "like I'm scared... like... I can't explain it."
"Willow," said Buffy as she and the others watched Athena turn and run while carrying Sineya. They saw the vampires grab Athena's long red hair, an action that made the redhead throw Sineya into her housing unit. Giles and Wesley ran to the door where they saw Sineya looking at the open door in fear while Athena was pulled back hard onto the ground. Giles and Wesley stepped back as a vampire tried to get into the housing unit, but a barrier prevented the creature from getting in.
"It wasn't invited," said Wesley before they looked at Athena running away while the vampire was punching the metallic walls of the housing unit as Sineya closed her eyes and ears and screamed.
Giles and the others ran after Athena, who was running as fast as she could when she was tackled to the ground by one of the two remaining vampires while another one growled as it stood to one side. They saw the vampire over Athena flip her over and then bite into her; they saw Athena struggling to survive and fight back, which she did when she smashed a rock into the side of the Vampire's head. They then saw her get up while the other vampire ran after her, and then she vanished.
Confused about what was going on, and the fact that the vampire seemed to be bouncing off an invisible field, there was a sudden appearance of three red spheres that shot out of nowhere that turned the vampire to dust. The second vampire looked around confused before he too turned and ran, but was shot three times in his back... turning him to dust as well. The group then heard another scream and they rushed to the frightened Sineya as the third vampire continued to punch the metal wall, which had already started denting inwards. Sineya screamed out loud in fear again, when there was a red shot that hit the vampire and it stepped back. Its side scorched and burning, it and Buffy and the others turned to find a panting, and weakened, Athena walking towards them with a weapon raised. They saw the vampire rush Athena just as she fired two more spheres of plasma at the vampire, dusting it. Athena then panted and put the weapon down by her side while feeling her neck with her other hand. She then looked at that particular hand to make sure if she was still bleeding or not; finding that she wasn't bleeding, the redhead then walked into the housing unit as she grabbed the edge of the table next to which Sineya was shivering in fear. Buffy and the others saw the redhead smile at Sineya before walking behind her, and then pressing some buttons. Buffy and the others heard a sound behind them, so they turned and looked behind them as a silver shimmer went up around the unit.
"A shield," said Kennedy before she and the others turned to a panting Athena who was wiping the sweat from her brow before she sat on a chair, and looked at a frightened Sineya who was looking back at the redheaded stranger while slowly got to her feet.
"Do not be afraid, little one," said Willow in Ancient, "I am not here to harm you, I…. am…"
"Willow," said Giles as he stepped forward with his hand out to reach for the redhead as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. In that instance, as Athena's limp body fell to the floor, did Giles realize that he couldn't interact with his surroundings. That what he and the others were just experiencing what Sineya had seen, felt, and heard.. combined with a little bit from what Faith knew from whatever Willow had shown her, 'when Willow, or Athena, was outside… Sineya was in here. So that memory wasn't from her; and since Faith said that Willow shared her memories… it's only logical that part of the memory came from Faith.'
The group saw Sineya looking at the unconscious woman who had shot the red spheres of light, and then she looked at the entrance of the housing unit, and then back to Athena's body. She seemed to be unsure of what she wanted to do as she picked up the plasma weapon that fell onto the floor next to the redhead. Sineya looked at the weapon curiously, she had seen the red light being fired but she wasn't sure if it had appeared from the object in her hand. She looked at in confused as Sineya looked at the weapon but turning it around in her hands; it was something that the Slayers had felt… and it was Buffy describing that feeling to Giles and Wesley.
"Think about it from her point of view," said Giles as they watched Sineya put the weapon carefully on the table before she turned and walked towards the door cautiously, "she's just witnessed someone kill vampires with advanced weaponry. To a person from that time period, it's possibly something magical or supernatural. What you're feeling is her fear of the unknown."
"Something else," said Kennedy, "she's afraid that… but at the same time, she's not? It's kinda confusing."
"I…," said Giles, who was interrupted as Sineya ran through him, and then out of the door. The older watcher turned around and, along with the others, saw Sineya run a few more steps out in the open before there was a silver shimmer as she passed through the shield. They saw Sineya turn around when she noticed the shimmer and stepped back in shock and surprise. Those were emotions that quickly turned to curiosity when she took a few steps towards the housing unit until she hit an invisible wall that shimmered once again in the moonlight. Sineya then pressed her palm down on the shield as it shimmered one more time while she looked at the unconscious woman inside the unit and smiled. The group then saw Sineya turn, and then run towards the distance as fast as she could. Buffy and the others turned to the unconscious Athena when there was a sudden flash of white light all around them. When the light faded, they found themselves in what seemed to be a village that had numerous fires lit in different areas with people walking about the tanned tents.. while there was food being dried in another end of the village, and another area where people were sitting and chanting.
Giles was amazed at what he was seeing as he looked around, as did Wesley.
"My God," said Wesley as Giles crouched down and looked at a man in tanned clothing sharpening a weapon, "this is a ten thousand-year-old…. Oh God, we're witnessing how people lived in that time period, Mr. Giles."
"Indeed," said Giles as he got up while Buffy and the other Slayers walked towards him with Faith saying that she hadn't seen this memory before.
"Probably because this is Sineya's memory," said Giles as he nodded at the little girl who was weaving in and out of the crowd before her arm was grabbed by a man. They saw the little girl stop and turn around while the man said that her grandmother was worried about her, that she should stop her wandering around since there were blood demons roaming the plains.
"I must speak to my grandmother," said a panting Sineya before she jerked her arm away from the grip of the man and ran to a larger circular tent. Giles, Wesley, and the Slayers followed Sineya into the tent which was sparsely furnished. There were cut-outs on the tent walls that let the moonlight in to supplement some of the candles that were burning. The group saw Sineya approaching an older woman who was kneeling on the ground with candles around her; they saw Sineya kneel in front of her as the older woman opened her eyes, and then sighed before shaking her head.
"You were told not to run out at night on your own, Sineya," said the old woman as Sineya looked away and onto the ground, "what would have happened if one of those blood demons that roam the plains had caught you. What would have happened if one of the dangerous animals had caught you? You know that the blood-demons have been attacking our home so that they could get to you."
"I am sorry, grandmother," said Sineya, "but I prefer the plains… I prefer the freedom it affords me instead of staying in the village."
"Where you are protected," said Sineya's grandmother as the group looked on.
"I like the freedom, grandmother," said Sineya as she looked at the floor, and then at the old woman. It was then that, under the light that bounced off Sineya, did her grandmother see some bruises on her arms. Sineya looked at where her grandmother was looking, and then looked down at the floor again before sighing, and looking up at the old woman who was frowning at her, "I was chased by three blood-demons."
"Sineya," said the grandmother shaking her head.
Before she could say anything else, Sineya excitedly told her about the red haired woman who saved her using flashes of red light. Sineya continued talking about the woman she would later know as Athena while the grandmother's eyes started to get wider in horror. Once Sineya had finished talking, the grandmother leaned forward and told Sineya that she was not to approach the sorceress again.
"This is so different than what we have been taught as Watchers," said Giles as he and the others listened to Sineya telling her grandmother that she was afraid of the priests; the same priests that the grandmother had said she would contact so that they could force the 'sorceress' to leave the area. They listened to Sineya telling her grandmother that she didn't want to be part of any destiny as Giles continued to speak, "we were taught that Sineya was a primitive that was proud to have this great destiny. A destiny to be a great warrior that battles the darkness; Willow told us about this, but to see it with our own eyes is…"
"Humbling," said Wesley as the grandmother gave a small smile at Sineya before telling her that her destiny was inescapable, that the young girl would fulfil it.
"What we want is not what we get, my grandchild," said the grandmother, "the world needs you to fulfil your destiny, that is what the priests have said when they laid their eyes on you."
"But…" said Sineya as Buffy closed her eyes and looked away while wrapping her arms around herself, while Faith just stood there with her hands in her pockets and looking at the ground, and Kennedy was just looking away with her hands rolled into fists as the grandmother told Sineya that the young girl needed to sleep. She told her grand-daughter that tomorrow the priests will talk to the sorceress and force her out, and then they would come to see her. Giles and Wesley watched as Sineya slumped her shoulders before she went to one side of the tent, and lay down on a makeshift bed. She then turned around so that her back was to her grandmother.
"She's crying," said Faith as she wiped her eyes.
"She was forced to do something she didn't want to do," said Buffy when there was another flash of light around them, and they found themselves looking at Sineya sneaking out of the tent, and then running towards Athena's home. There was another flash of light as they found Sineya standing behind Athena, who was using her body to protect her from three males.
"Must be those priests," said Wesley.
"The Furlings," said Giles just as Athena herself called out the three priests as members of the Furling race. Giles and the others watched as Athena protected Sineya before she told the priests about the living weapons she had planned to use against the Wraith in Pegasus. Buffy, Faith, and Kennedy listened as the priests gave Athena their 'order' with Athena's only condition being that they would leave Sineya alone. Giles and the others then watched as the Priests walked away after they had made an agreement with Athena, who walked with Sineya back to her housing unit. They chuckled after they followed Athena to her home where she brought Sineya inside, and then Athena sat Sineya down on a chair and told her in Ancient, combined with rudimentary sign language, that they'd get started on learning each other's language after some food.
The group watched through flashes of lights as Sineya taught Athena how to hunt, how to cook, how to speak her language; and in return, Athena taught the little girl the Lantean language, they saw Athena taking Sineya up in the Puddle Jumper, they saw flashes of Athena teaching Sineya about her Lantean culture once the little girl was able to speak fluently in only a few months… it was something that impressed Giles and Wesley as to the intelligence of the young girl. Then there was another flash of light and the group saw Sineya teaching the redhead about her culture and language, followed by periods where the redhead taught Sineya math and science, among various other subjects. There were other flashes of light that showed Sineya and Athena in the nearby outpost as they looked at a three-dimensional model of a DNA strand on a screen.
"That, Sineya," said Athena in Ancient, a language that the young girl could understand fluently while the redhead pointed at the screen "is what makes all of us. Everything that is us is in that strand. All I must do is change some properties and…"
"And you will make the weapons for the priests," said Sineya as she looked at Athena who nodded her head.
"And you would be safe, and free," said Athena with a smile.
There was another flash of light as the Watchers and the Slayers looked at, and experienced, Sineya growing up as she soon became Athena's assistant. They marvelled at how advanced she had become, and could see how proud Athena was of her.
The Slayers could feel how proud Sineya was of herself.
They watched as Athena, with Sineya by her side, sent a batch of the clones to the coordinates that the Furlings had given her. The group then watched as Athena smiled at Sineya, telling the girl that she was going be free from her 'so-called destiny'. They watched Sineya smile as they walked out of the outpost, when there was another flash of light and the group found themselves on a plain, and beams of light deposited the clones in front of the three Furlings. Faith and the other Slayers looked around, with Willow's wife recognizing the mouth of the cave that was behind her, before the dark haired Bostonian looked back at the clones again as the Furlings approached them.
"This wasn't in Red's memories," said Faith, "this is where Sineya became the First Slayer, but this wasn't in Red's memories, I haven't seen this."
"And this isn't Sineya's memories," said Kennedy as she looked around, "since, well, she's not here."
"Then who…." Said Buffy as one of the Priests started to speak.
"You have all been sent to us to fight the darkness that threatens this world," said the man, "my name is Zan, and from this moment on, I am your master."
"You will fight," said another Priest as he stepped forward, "we have vampires, demons, creatures that threaten the lives of humans on this world. If nothing is done, then they will take over the land, and then the world. This planet will become the home of darkness, that cannot happen."
"Some of us wish to live our lives in peace," said one of the clones, a male, as more of them murmured in agreement while Giles and the others looked on, "we wish to be let go, we wish to use our free will to live our lives in peace, and…"
"That will not do," said Zan softly before he looked at the third Priest and nodded his head. The group of Watchers and Slayers looked on as the third priest started chanting a spell, a spell that Giles recognized as one that would place an individual, or individuals, under the command of another person; it was a spell that was outlawed by the Watchers Council when it was formed, but here were the priests using it freely.
"My word," said Wesley as he looked at Giles, who continued to look at the clones who had suddenly quietened down and stood straight while looking ahead. It looked like a military battalion who was being watched over by their commanding officer. They watched Zan give an order before the cloned humans walked in a single file through the cave entrance.
And then there was another flash of light.
When the light faded, the group found themselves at the bottom of a cavern that was dimly lit. They could make out the clones from earlier who were now shackled to the floor, and then they heard a thumping sound. Giles and the others looked up at a ledge at one of the priests who seemed to be beating a drum. They then looked at Zan and the other priest from earlier walking down some stairs to the side of the ledge until they reached the bottom, and then they walked through Buffy; stopping at the front of the large group of shackled clones.
Buffy and the others watched as Zan held out an intricately carved box that he was holding before the second priest opened the lid.
"Oh demon of Shadow," said Zan as Giles opened his eyes wide as a wisp of black smoke rose from the box.
"This isn't Willow's memory, neither is it from Sineya," said Giles as he looked at Wesley whose eyes were wide in shock, indicating that he too knew whose memories they were watching, "it's the Shadow Demon."
"Giles," said Buffy as she pointed at the demon, who was just smoke, as Zan continued to chant.
"These are your sacrifices," said Zan as Kennedy shook her head while putting her hands on her mouth, and stifling a gasp; she knew what was about to happen, as did the others. Willow had told them about what Zan had told her, but they were witnessing it first hand, "their life-force will give you strength, strength to be a power that will remain forever in the battle against the darkness. Take their souls for they are not human, they are vessels of power... batteries that will charge you until your real vessel has come of age. I call you, demon of Shadow; gather your power... let this be the first of such feedings. Be the one who will fulfil the prophecy. The Prophecy of the One, the Prophesy of the Chosen, the Prophesy of the ultimate weapon against the darkness that threatens us all. The prophesy of the Slayer."
"Dear God," said Wesley as the wisp of smoke darted into the first clone who arched her back and gave out a loud scream as her body turned pale. Before the body fell onto the floor dead, the smoke darted into the next and the next… the smoke getting larger and larger every time. The group heard the screams of terror as the demon took the lives of the clones before it went back into the box, and Zan closed the lid.
"Get rid of these things," said Zan as he looked at the dead bodies, and the other priest nodded his head, "Athena will send more."
"The fool," said the second priest.
The group looked on in shock as more flashes of light showed the interactions between Athena and Sineya, and then Athena sending the clones to the priests, and then back to those clones getting murdered as the demon started to grow in strength and power. They watch in silent horror as the last of the clones were killed after Sineya was forcefully taken from her village. Buffy and the Slayers watched with horror on their faces as the screaming Sineya was knocked out before finding herself at the bottom of a cavern chained to the floor with Athena, whose hands were chained to the wall facing her… unable to do anything.
Giles and the others looked between Athena and Sineya as Zan taunted the redhead before he took his position among the other two priests. Wesley and Giles watched as the Shadow Demon was released and then it darted into Sineya who let out a scream. He and Giles then looked back when they heard Athena screaming at them to stop, but it was too late; they watched as Sineya gave one bloodcurdling scream after another while the demon darted in and out of her body. There was a flash of light as they saw images interlaced with visions of Hera promising ascension to Sineya before she was turned to the First Slayer. The group them saw Sineya leap at the unconscious Athena who was knocked out by the cavern that was caving in after the priests had run away. They saw Sineya break the chains that held Athena prisoner, and then carry her before running out to the surface. Then there were flashes of light that showed Sineya's battles; all of her battles. They even watched her final battle as she singlehandedly took out the dragon… the watched the last Old One get killed.
But Sineya was wounded.
A fatal wound.
Giles and the others watched Athena, and then Hera, come to her. They watched as she died in Athena's arms, and then rose into the air; for the first time, Watchers and Slayer witnessed the creation of the Slayer lines.
Then there was another flash of light that enveloped the Watchers and the Slayers, and they found themselves back in the dessert; except, this time, it was day and they were right outside Athena's home.
"Dear God," said Kennedy as she put her hands on the sides of her head while Buffy wiped her eyes.
"Hey," shouted a familiar voice as the group looked towards the river next to the housing unit. Pushing everything she saw at the back of her mind for the moment, Faith ran as fast as she could towards the redhead who was running towards them. Once they were close, Faith grabbed the redhead and then gave her a kiss on the lips as they slowly wrapped their arms around each other; and then Faith hugged her… telling the redhead that they had seen everything.
"From the beginning to the end," said Faith wiping her tears while hugging her wife.
"I was waiting for you guys," whispered Willow as she closed her eyes before she stepped back and looked over her shoulder, and then back at Faith, "we were waiting for you."
"We?" asked Faith as she looked at the redhead while the others rushed towards the couple. Willow then stepped to one side, revealing the young Sineya who was standing behind her, "oh."
"There are no words to describe what happened to you, Sineya," said Giles as Wesley nodded his head.
"We were told stories," said Wesley, "about how you accepted being the First Slayer willingly, we were told wrong and…"
"At the end," said Sineya as she held Willow's hand, "I did accept what was happening. I did everything I could to push back the darkness, and I am happy that I have done my part."
"But still," said Faith as she waved her arms.
"The five of you have passed my tests," said Sineya as she started to get taller and older before their very eyes until she looked just as she did before she died, minus the hole in her body from the dragon. Sineya and Willow then looked at each other, and the redhead nodded her head before she let go of Sineya's hand. She stepped to the side as Sineya approached Giles and the others while her two Scythe's were strapped to her back.
"My successors," continued Sineya as she looked at Faith, Kennedy, and Buffy, "while you anger easily, your hearts have always been with the battle. You have proven yourselves worthy in my eyes by continuing to fight the enemy despite how injured you were. You fought until your deaths, and you used your teamwork… you watched out for each other… never faltering if one of you fell. That is a Slayer; a warrior who fights until her last breath. I was meant to fight alone, as was the entire line… but you have changed everything. You have given meaning to battling the darkness for the protection of others. Having people around you gives an encouragement to fight with everything you have… and you have proven worthy in that aspect with everything you have done. But…"
"But?" asked Buffy.
"But it is time," said Sineya as she looked at Buffy before taking a step forward, and then pressing her palm on Buffy's abdomen while they looked at each other. Sineya then took two steps back, all the while looking at Buffy, before continuing to speak, "there will come a time when you are ready to lead the next generation of Slayers in a different way. When that time comes, accept it with all your heart. You will have two Slayers who will be with you always."
"But I'm not exactly Slaying," said Faith as Sineya looked at her.
"There will be two, Kennedy and one other," said Sineya, "use your science, and I will use my magic to select who I deem to be worthy in my eyes."
"How?" asked Wesley.
"My weapon," said Sineya as she looked at Willow, and then at the Slayers before taking one of the Scythes from her back. She showed them the elegant weapon before Sineya placed it on her back once again, "the metal bonded to the weapon contains my power, it is a conduit for me to activate the worthy. You must choose, but choose wisely. If I deem them not worthy, then they will not be a full Slayer. They will remain as Potentials, for all time... they will have no memory of what happened… just that they are not worthy at that time. All they must do is touch the weapon, and face a similar trial as you three Slayers have. However, they cannot know what they are facing… if they are told, then the test is invalidated and I will not activate them… even if I find them worthy."
"Okay," said Kennedy.
"I must warn you," said Sineya, "I will select who I deem worthy. There will be a time of rest where the Slayer lines must recover due to increased strain of activating a Slayer in this way."
"We understand," said Giles.
"You must know that you will be able to send me three candidates," said Sineya, "and should all three be worthy in my eyes. I will activate them, but the time in-between activations will increase depending on how many I choose. If all three are activated, you must wait three years before attempting to try again."
"And if you select two," said Giles, "then we can try again after two years, in the third year; and if you select one, then we have to wait one year."
"And if you don't select anyone," said Wesley at Sineya, "what happens then?"
"You will must not call on my power for the next year," said Sineya, "it will be as if I have selected one Slayer. The lines will be strained even when no Slayer has been selected, so a year of rest is needed even if I have selected no-one during the ritual."
"Interesting," replied Giles as he fixed his glasses.
"The Watchers have changed," said Sineya changing the subject as she looked at Giles and Wesley, "my test was if you would do everything in your powers to help your Slayers fight, and you have passed that test. I realize that the Potentials have team leaders and…"
"How do you know?" asked Kennedy.
"My power is rooted in the Earth itself," said Sineya, "I know what the Potentials are experiencing, as well as the Slayers."
"Oh," said Buffy.
"The Potentials will have to face me on their own," said Sineya, "defeat me, or not… I will determine their worth by how committed they are to the fight. Send me three of the Potentials you choose, and I will select the worthy."
"Very well," said Wesley.
"Now," said Sineya as she turned to Willow, "it is time to say goodbye, mother."
"I wish you could come back with us," said Willow as she hugged Sineya, "my daughter."
"I miss you," replied the First Slayer as she lay her head on Willow's shoulder while the others just looked on, "and I love you."
"I love you too," said Willow as the bot of them parted, and then Sineya turned around and held out her hand towards Faith, Kennedy, and Buffy.
"I will show you what you need to know," said Sineya, "the reason you have come to see me, the location of the weapon."
"And to pay our respects," said Giles as Sineya smiled and nodded her head.
Buffy was the first to step forward and hold on to Sineya's outstretched hand, followed by Faith, and then Kennedy. The three Slayers then gasped as they saw the lives and deaths of every Slayer before them, followed by flashes of memories of Athena handing the weapon to Lara of the Guardians of the Ones. They then saw the weapon being placed into a black stone, and the stone then being sealed within a larger stone. The Slayers watched as the stone was moved multiple times until it reached its current location; a mission in Gilroy behind a secret chamber. They saw the great stone inside it, and then the view went past the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign until they reached a cemetery where they saw a small pyramid.
And then the Slayers were covered in darkness; a voice whispering in their ears that they were worthy.
All of a sudden, the three Slayers felt warmth hitting their bodies before they sat up together and looked at each other, and then looked at a stunned Tara, and two other SG officers in full tactical gear as they looked back at them in shock. It was a second later that Willow and Wesley sat up with gasps as the two officers and Tara ran towards them.
"Major," said one of the officers as he put away his P90, and reached down with his hand and helped Willow stand up. The redhead nodded her head and asked them to help the others while she panted before she looked out into the empty grasslands. She then looked behind her at the white tree as Buffy and the others were helped up.
"What happened?" asked a worried Tara as she helped up Kennedy while, at that same time, Colonel Pendergast's voice came through the officer's radio's saying that the Stargate had just shut down. He then asked if they found Willow and the others.
"Yes, sir," said the officer as Willow asked for the radio.
"Colonel Pendergast," said Willow into the radio while she was bent down, her hand on her knee while she and the others were panting, "this.. this is Major Rosenberg, we're all right. I repeat, we're all right."
"Major," said the Colonel, "what happened? The Prometheus didn't detect any of your life signs, and when Miss Maclay was sent down with her team, they couldn't find you, Miss Lehane, and the others anywhere."
"What?" asked Kennedy as she looked at Tara who was rubbing her back while nodding her head.
"We got here five minutes ago," said Tara while Willow was talking to Colonel Pendergast, "you've been out for fifteen minutes. Actually, we weren't able to find you… I think you were cloaked or…"
"It felt like we were gone for a whole lot longer," said Wesley as he sat back on the ground and rubbed his head.
"More like days," said Buffy, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"We got too much info," said Faith closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"We need to get back to the SGC," said Willow after she talked on the radio, "we need to debrief General Landry and General O'Neill, they'll be beaming Cordy to the briefing room too."
"Hold on a sec," said Buffy as she looked around, and then at Willow, "where's Giles?
Cylon Camp Three, at that same time.
Dawn was telling the surprised, and stunned, Anna the truth about the supernatural on Earth. The brunette had already told her about vampires, and demons; along with the associated denials and questions over the fifteen minutes since Giles had been unconscious. Machines were still attached to his body while the doctor was standing to one side with the Marine as they listened to Dawn talking to the Cylon in Ancient Greek, to which the brunette would then translate what she had told the surprised Anna who was now shaking her head.
"She's gonna find it hard to believe," said the doctor.
"Hell," replied the Marine, "I'm finding it hard to believe."
It was then that Webb ran out of the Jumper that was parked at the side of the tent, and told the group that he just received information that the Stargate had shut down. And then, Giles snapped his eyes open and gasped before he sat up panting hard as the doctor, Dawn, and then Anna rushed towards him.
"Mr. Giles, I'm Dr. Wexler," said the man as the older man looked at him with eyes wide open while he was breathing hard, before looking at Dawn who was telling him that he was on Furling Earth. The older man then looked at a surprised Anna, and then at the worried looking Marine before the doctor gently pushed Giles back down onto the ground, "relax, breathe… just breathe, Mr. Giles."
"Wat… water," said Giles as the Marine nodded his head and ran to get a bottle of water. He then rushed back and handed it to Dawn, who opened the top while the doctor helped Giles back up again before the Watcher took a sip of water. Giles nodded his head before he went to lay back down with his arm over his eyes as he continued panting, while Dr. Wexler checked the older man's vitals.
"Rupert?" asked Anna with worry in her voice; she had seen him pass out, and then it seemed as if there was another person speaking in the Earth language when his eyes were white; and now he just looked exhausted after miraculously waking up. Anna saw Giles just nod his head to indicate that he could hear her, but he still had his arm over his eyes while panting.
"Captain," said Dawn as she spoke to Webb on her radio, "how about Willow and the others on Earth?"
"The SGC just dialled us again," said Webb in the Jumper, "they asked for a report on Dr. Giles; and they said that Major Rosenberg and the others are safe and sound. Just exhausted."
"Like Giles then," said Dawn.
"Captain Webb," said the doctor, "inform the SGC that I'll be bringing Dr. Giles back once he's gained enough strength to move. I need to do a full physical on him back at the SGC."
"Understood," said Webb, "Webb, out."
"I'm all right," said Giles as he lay both of his hands on either side and slowly got up with the help of Dawn and Dr. Wexler, "it was a… a jarring experience."
"What happened?" asked the Marine.
"Anna's been given clearance," said Dawn as Giles looked at her, and then at the humanoid Cylon who was looking back at him worried. He then looked back at Dawn who told the man that she'll translate so that Anna could understand.
"I felt dizzy," said Giles while Dawn translated, "and then… then I felt like I was being pulled… I saw my body fall and I was flying over the continent, and then over the main camp, and then I went through the Stargate. Next thing I know, I'm with Buffy, Faith, Kennedy, and Wesley. I don't know where Willow was but.. but we saw her later. Anyway, we were surprised to see each other the first time and then… then we found ourselves facing the First Slayer."
"Sineya?" asked Dawn in surprise, "but… how…?"
"This is…" said Anna as she took a step forward, "Rupert, this is all a joke? Because out of body experiences? And… what is a Slayer? And why did you say the First Slayer?"
"I was connected to Buffy since I was her Watcher," said Giles as he answered Dawn first after asking Anna to hold on for a few moments, that he was still getting his bearings, "Wesley and I were Watchers for Buffy and Faith, and Kennedy is the newest Slayer so there was no watcher for her… anyway it was a test. A test to find out if the Slayers were worthy of finding, and wielding, Sineya's weapon."
"The Scythe," said Dawn with her eyes wide open, "so they know?"
"I'd assume so," said Giles, "there was a flash of light and I found myself here. We saw everything… we saw Sineya's life, we were there until the day she died. It felt as if we were gone for days… months."
"Fifteen minutes," said Dr. Wexler as Giles looked at the man, and nodded his head before he looked at Anna who was looking expectantly at him.
"Anna," said Giles while Dawn translated what he was saying to English, "The Slayer is what the Colonial's call the Protector."
"No," said Anna shaking her head as she knelt down next to dawn and looked at Giles, "that's a television show. There is no such thing as a Protector, or demons, or ghosts, or…. Look the Scrolls mention lower demons, but those are just words and… I mean…"
"Into every generation there is a Chosen One," said Giles as he repeated the prophecy he read when he was in the Watcher's academy, a prophecy that caused so much pain for one girl, but created a warrior on the side of good to fight the darkness. Giles remembered the looked of fear and anguish on Sineya's face as she was taken away before the demon was put into her, and one part of him felt sick. But the other part knew that it was something that had to be done for the good of the world. He then continued with the rest of the prophecy, "one girl in all the world, she alone will wield the strength and skills to stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer."
"No," said Anna as she noticed the serious look on Giles' face, and then she looked at Dawn who was nodding her head.
"Demons, vampires… or blood demons as you call them, exist," said Dawn, "that's what I've been telling you. My sister, Buffy Summers, is a Slayer.. she's one of three who's been given the power to fight the darkness. She's saved the planet from apocalypses with her friends. And she's continuing to do that back on Earth."
"But…" said Anna shaking her head.
"I've been training as a Watcher," said Giles, "a guide, a mentor, and an educator to the Slayer for a long time. Anna, they really exist. Magic, exists. We have witches.. people who can harness the magics and wield them to do their bidding; we have creatures such as werewolves, faeries, and many more that we could discuss later on.. that is if you wish."
"Dear God, you're not joking," said Anna with her eyes wide open.
"No," said Dawn while the doctor took off the leads and then helped Giles stand up, along with Dawn who held on to one side of the older man, "it's not a joke. I've seen things that you couldn't imagine. Hell, I even had an honest to goodness hellgod come after me and… well, lets just say that we're alive. Although that fight had some cost…. Anyway, yeah. The evils that I'm sure you heard about? The monsters under the Colonial's beds? Those really do exist."
"But… but how…" said Anna, "I mean the Protector is…"
"A television show," said Giles as he was taken to a seat, and then helped down, "after you told me about that show, I came to the conclusion… which I admit we have no proof for… that it is entirely possible that when the early Colonials were taken from Earth, the Goa'uld must have taken some vampires who were mixed in with the population. When they reached a new world, the vampires must have realized that their food source had become scarce.. so they were careful on how they fed, and how they turned people into vampires."
"So that story is true?" asked Anna as she looked at Dawn, and then at Giles who nodded their heads, "that blood demons can turn the living to one of them?"
"We have a lot to talk about," said Dawn as she looked at Anna while the Doctor helped Giles stand up before he and the Marine took the Watcher to the Jumper.
"In the meantime," said the doctor, "I'll take Dr. Giles back to the SGC for his check-up, and the briefing. If it's nothing too bad as far as his health, then I'll have him here by later tonight."
Dawn nodded her head before she translated for Anna. She told the Cylon woman that she needed to hide this information from the other Cylons; Dawn said that they'd be told eventually, but everything needed to settle down first, and then they could deal with the supernatural side of things.
"I agree," said Anna as she looked at Giles before he was helped onto the Jumper. She saw Giles looking back at her, and she gave a small wave. Giles gave a small smile and nodded his head before he was led in by the doctor, and the Marine. It was a few seconds later that the Marine walked out, and the Jumper rose into the air. Anna then looked at Dawn, and asked her to tell her everything she knew about the supernatural.
"It's a doozy," said Dawn, "but there are some things I can't tell you, it's for everyone's safety."
"I… I understand," said Anna when she looked at the seriousness on Dawn's face.
"So," said Dawn as she clapped her gloved hands in her Kull armour, "what would you like to know?"
TBC.