Kobol, 2230 hours.
Once Willow had secured the bag on her shoulders, and tied it down around her waist, the redhead stood up while looking through the light amplification lens on her night vision goggles. She looked on as the Solaris bombs were put into satchels that were then hung around the waists of the Slayers and Potentials. Willow looked at the basic VPRI provided armour that the Slayers and the Potentials were wearing before turning to Faith who was heading towards her together with Angel, Buffy, and Xander.
"We're ready, Will," said Buffy. Willow could feel the worry just coming off the blonde Slayer even though she was doing her best to keep a calm facade. And the redhead understood Buffy's feelings, mainly because she was feeling the same worry as well… it was something that Faith whispered into Willow's ear. Giving a small smile as she crouched down while Faith lay the map on the floor. Willow pointed out where they were at that time, all the while the others were still handing out the satchels and the packs of arrows for the ones carrying crossbows. Willow looked up at Buffy, who was wearing the Scythe across her back, and then back down at the map.
"From what the Colonel just told us," said Willow as she pointed at the meeting point, "they'll be right there in less than two hours. We have no idea if there's anything between us and them, but we better leave now. On foot, it's gonna be hours before we get anywhere close to where they could be after they meet up.
"Then we leave now," said Xander as Faith picked up the map, folded it, and then placed it into her pockets. Willow, Buffy and the others stood up and then walked towards the other Potentials who had already finished placing their weapons, and the Solaris bombs, where they needed to go.
"Listen up," said Willow, her voice reverberating through the cave. the Potentials stopped what they were doing and listened to the quick briefing, "I know you've already been told about this at the BPRI, and at the SGC. But I still have to make this offer… this is a voluntary mission so if any of you wants to back out now? No one will hold it against you, no one will think any less of you."
"If you want to go home," said Angel, "Willow can dial the Stargate, and you'll be home on Earth. Then you'll be teleported to the BPRI. Is that understood?"
"Yes," said Satsu, as well as the other five Potential Slayers.
"No one here can guarantee that all of us will come back alive," said Buffy as she looked at everyone, and stopping at Willow, "but we watch the back of the people around us, and we keep each other safe."
Willow gave Buffy a small smile before the blonde Slayer turned to the other Potentials.
"So, last chance to back out guys," said Willow who was holding onto a Staff weapon, along with a zat in her holster, "any takers?"
She looked at the heads shaking 'no' in front of her before giving a small smile. She then turned towards Faith who had been holding on to the redhead's hand before giving her a kiss on the cheek.. and then whispering 'good luck' in her ear. Willow looked at Faith, and gave her a lopsided smile before the both of them, while holding their hands walked out of the cave, and into the open night sky surrounded in all directions by trees.
Walking out of the cave mouth, the first thing that the rescuers noticed were the shredded tents and overturned cooking supplies. Frowning, Willow then stepped a few feet away from the mouth of the cave and closed her eyes while Faith was standing next to her. The redhead felt as if she was slipping out of herself, and rose into the air so that she could see the surrounding area. She felt herself moving up, to see an overview of the area, and then she passed her body to scout the surrounding areas. Just as she had done while she was Athena, and when she was on the abandoned Colonial vessels months ago, Willow was performing a form of 'remote surveillance' of the immediate surrounding area for any hostiles. But all there was around them was just darkness and shadows thanks to the partially full moon in the sky.
Opening her eyes again a few seconds later, Willow gasped when she felt herself returning to her body while Faith was holding onto her arm. Soon joined by Xander, Buffy, Angel, and Kennedy, Willow told them that they were clear for now.
"This remote surveillance thing I can do has a limited range," said Willow, "we move as fast as possible for thirty minutes, and then I'll look ahead again."
"How far were you able to look?" asked Kennedy as she eyed her surroundings.
"Three hundred meters in all directions," said Willow, "it's not much, but I could see that we're clear for now… and there's nothing really going on down the trail we need to take."
"Let's get going then," said Faith as Willow nodded her head while she gripped the staff weapon that was in her right hand. The group then set on their way towards the Colonel Ferretti and Colonel Dixon's teams' rendezvous location. The plan was that once they would meet, then they would set off for the cave… and eventually would meet with Willow and her team without incident.
Of course, that would be the perfect scenario since it assumes that there would be no vampires between the combined team of SG-2 and SG-13 and Willow's rescue team. There was no intel on what was happening, and Willow was aware that she could have missed something, which was why she turned to Angel and asked him to confirm if they were clear.
"Yeah," he replied in his vamp form while he scanned the surrounding area while sniffing the air, "I don't smell anything dead, and I don't hear any other footsteps nearby. We're clear for now."
"You guys have already been briefed on how we cover each other," said Buffy, "Willow and Xander takes point, Faith and Kara protects our backs with the Kull Armour. Caridad, Chao-ahn, Diane, and Amanda takes up our flanks with their flame throwers, and me, Kennedy, Rona, Vi, Molly, Satsu will be in the middle suing our crossbows; and once we've finished our arrows, well… that why I have the Scythe, and the rest of us have swords and axes."
"Angel," said Buffy, "you have the Gem of Amara?"
"Yep," came the reply as Angel raised his hand and showed the green gem that was locked within a gold ring. The Gem of Amara was the one mystical object that vampires considered to be their holy grail; a way for vampires to hunt in the sunlight and negated all their other weaknesses. After it had been brought out of the vault at the Omega Site upon Cordelia and Angel's request, Willow found out more about it when Angel put it on back in the SGC. The gem was capable of preventing Angel's death in the sun, or from being staked; it was something that was first kept in a safe at Angel Investigations, and then at the Slayer Council, and then at the BPRI. Then, once Angel, Cordelia, and the others found out about the SGC for the first time, Angel requested that the ring be kept off-world. He was afraid that if knowledge about its existence somehow leaked, then vampires would never stop looking for it.
At least if it was on Earth.
So Angel and Cordelia wanted it kept safe off-world. Which was when General O'Neill told them about the Omega site. Before Buffy and the others found out about the SGC, Angel and Cordelia had been sending numerous magical items to the Omega Site; these magical items were all things that had the possibility, if taken in the wrong hands, of destroying the Earth. And this included the Gem of Amara, and various dark magic books and items. When Angel found out about Dawn, he had already made up his mind to accompany Buffy and Willow, so before he put the phone down after e and Cordelia were contacted… he asked for access for the ring.
Back on Kobol, Willow said "Good' while nodding her head at the vampire. She knew that they could throw the Solaris bombs without having to worry about Angel being caught in the blast since he was now immune.
"Move out," said Willow as the group started to make their way through the forest as fast as possible towards the rendezvous point.
Checkpoint Alpha, Kobol, two hours later.
Dawn had stopped jogging, along with Satterfield, Lewis, and Grogan as they reached their destination. It had taken them a little longer than expected to reach the rendezvous point, but they had stopped for rest periods many times due to the Colonial scientists being tired. AS they entered into the rendezvous point which was surrounded by trees and overgrowth as far as the eyes could see, a panting Satterfield told everyone to sit down.
It was then that she reached into her pack and activated the subspace radio. She let Colonel Dixon, and the others, know that her team was already at the rendezvous point; and the other three teams telling her that they'd be meeting them in another ten minutes. Nodding her head, she then told Lewis, Grogan, and Dawn to set up a perimeter. Once the three of them had walked away together, Satterfield sighed before hearing a sound behind her. Turning around, Satterfield saw one of the Eight's creeping towards her while trying not to make too much noise that could attract the vampires to their location.
"Are we going to be safe?" asked the Cylon. It was a question that made the other Cylons and Colonials look at that particular Number Eight, and then at Satterfield. The human woman told them that they were going o do everything possible to ensure that everyone went back home.
"We will fight our way through if we're attacked," said Satterfield before she looked around into the shadows that were cast by the trees onto the ground, and onto the other trees as well. She then turned to her Cylon copy and asked her to take a seat and relax, "at least relax if you can. Once the other teams get here, we'll start heading for the cave where the Gate to the Stars is located. But, like I said, for now rest and eat your protein bars. We still have some ways to go."
It was nearly fifteen minutes later that Grogan and the others arrived at the small camp, where the Colonials and the Cylons were resting, with Colonel Dixon, Colonel Ferretti, and Hailey following them with their Cylons and Colonials. Once they were together, the Cylons and Colonials from daw's group quickly got up and hugged their own people, silently giving thanks to their God or gods that they were safe; and that they would continue to be safe. While the Colonials and Cylons sat back down for a break, the two Colonels signalled the others towards a private part of the 'camp' so that they could speak in private.
"Satterfield," said Colonel Ferretti as she nodded her head, "contact Major Rosenberg. Tell her that we'll be heading for the cave in ten minutes. And before you say anything, I know everyone's exhausted, but we need to keep moving."
"I understand, sir," said Satterfield before she walked off while activating the subspace radio once again while accompanied by Grogan. While she was telling Willow that SG-2 and SG-13 were now together, the two Colonels ordered their subordinates to take a break. Nodding their heads, Dawn and Jon headed to one side of the camp, a few steps away from the Cylon delegation who were talking to each other about the potential horrors that existed out in the planet. Dawn heard them then talking about the 'Protector' TV show, a topic that brought in the Colonial delegation into their conversation.
While the Cylons and Colonials were now talking about the legends that they had heard about the Blood Demons on their own worlds, Dawn and Jon sat down next to each other. Under the cover of darkness, Jon slipped his arm around Dawn's waist and gently pulled her closer as the two Colonels, Grogan and Satterfield, and the others took their seats all around the 'camp'.
"You scared?" whispered Dawn as she put her head on Jon's shoulder.
"Would be lying if I said I wasn't," replied Jon as Dawn nodded her head on his shoulder, "haven't really gone up against the supernatural before. You think Zats would work?"
"It should," whispered Dawn as she looked past Grogan and Satterfield who were sitting across from them on the other side of the Colonial delegation. Dawn looked at the light of the moon filtering through the otherwise dark forest and undergrowth while telling Jon that the Initiative had used a type of electrical based weapon to take down vampires easily, "so Zats shouldn't be a problem."
"Good," replied Jon, "didn't really think that ordinary rounds would work anyway."
"Nah," smiled Dawn as she looked out at the shadows, and then lifted her head while narrowing her eyes. Slowly standing up while seeing movement in the shadows, Dawn took out her Zat; it was an act that made the curious Jon not ask any questions, instead he followed what Dawn was doing and he slowly stood up.
"Colonel Dixon," whispered the young man into his radio while Dawn crouched down and told the Colonials and Cylons, who had been speaking in hushed tones, to stay silent. Upon seeing the worried look on Dawn's face, a look that could be still seen in the darkness, Satterfield and Grogan stood up as well and took out their Zats. The other SG team members in the camp could hear through their normal radios of Jon saying that Dawn may have seen something in the distance.
"I see shadow's moving," whispered Dawn as she pointed her Zat up, and out into the distance, as did Jon. Satterfield and Grogan hadn't noticed anything as the scanned the area in front of them with their eyes, but couldn't see anything threatening. The two of them were soon joined by Colonel Ferretti, Colonel Dixon, Lewis, Hailey and the remaining members of SG-13 who had their Zats out. Dawn and Satterfield looked over their shoulder at the Colonials and the Cylons before telling them to forget their squabbles for now, and pack themselves tight into the middle of a small circle that was being formed by the SG teams.
"I don't see anything, Dawn," whispered Jon as he looked into the distance.
"I.. I know I saw something," replied Dawn as she scanned the forest in front of her, as did the others who were standing around the Colonials and Cylons in a tight circle.
"Are you sure, Summers?" asked Colonel Ferretti who was eying the area in front of him while pointing his Zat towards the distance. He was looking at various shadows being made by the trees that surrounded them, but he wasn't seeing any movement. It was then that he realized that they were all extremely exhausted from trying to get to the cave with the Stargate as soon as possible. He knew that there was no choice but to keep on moving, that they would be able to really rest once they had gone off Kobol; so the Colonel asked Dawn if it could be that she was seeing things because of exhaustion.
"I… I don't know," said Dawn as she pointed her Zat at movement out of the corner of her eyes. The move made Jon point the zat at the area which Dawn was pointing.. but he saw nothing there.
"Listen up," said Colonel Dixon as he looked over his shoulder, "let's all of us help Summers see that there's nothing out there in the shadows, at least not yet. On my mark, fire bursts from the zats into the trees. Once we know it's clear… we head on out in this tight formation. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," whispered the other SG teams.
"Fire," said both Colonels together as they fired their Zats into the forest. The blue coloured blasts fired into the darkness before them. Occasionally hitting a tree trunk or some overgrowth, the group consisting of the two SG teams continued firing the Zats for a few more minutes in all directions before stopping. They deactivated their weapons and then placed the weapons in their holsters again before they looked at each other, with Dawn saying that she may have been a bit paranoid.
"No," said Colonel Ferretti waving his hands, "we need to be careful. Summers, Satterfield, get everyone up. I want to get going again for the cave."
Satterfield and Dawn nodded their heads, after which they spoke in Ancient Greek to the Colonials and Cylons. The Earthers could hear the Colonials and Cylons grumbling as they got up, which Satterfield translated as them complaining that they were tired from their running and walking before asking if they could take a break for a few more minutes. Colonel Dixon and Ferretti looked at each other while they spoke in a hushed tone before turning to Dawn and Satterfield, and telling them that they'll go on for another thirty minutes, and then take a break.
"I want to get out of this immediate area real quick," said Colonel Dixon, "we'll rest up again in thirty so, for right now, let's move out."
Dawn translated what the Colonel had said while the grumbling Colonials and Cylons got up, and then started walking. The Earthers had taken positions around the group while looking around at their surroundings carefully. As they continued walking, they had no idea that a group of Vampires that had left the cave hours ago was coming after them, and that from that same group, a section cut off and was headed back to Willow's team after catching their scents.
In the meantime, Major Neely's team was still safe despite the vampires causing them to jump in fear when they began pounding on the walls of the Raptor with their fists while growling and hissing at them. The Major and his team stayed away from the open hatch, and the broken canopy even though the invisible field was keeping the vampires out. The Major then had an idea, and he contacted Dawn over the sub-space radio and asked the young woman to translate what he was about to say to Starbuck.
"Starbuck," said Dawn as the blonde officer was handed the microphone to the subspace radio, "Major Neely wanted me to ask you if there was any way to fire the weapons systems on the ship. Maybe the guns, or even the missiles."
Before Starbuck could answer, Tessa told the woman that she tried to check the status of the weapons systems, but there just wasn't enough power. She continued by saying that the ship crashing must has damaged the power relays. All Starbucks could do was frown at the humanoid Cylon before telling Dawn that she'll check on it herself, "and if I can get weapons access, I am going to fire at these infernal creatures."
"I have a feeling that's exactly what Major Neely would want," said Dawn before she translated her statement about firing the weapons if they could be activated for Major Neely's benefit. Starbuck told the young brunette that the Major was nodding his head before saying that she'll go ahead and trying activating the systems.
And then, as she slowly got up, Starbuck asked Dawn if the invisible field will protect them, "I just need to know, honestly."
"As long as none of you invite them in, you will be safe," replied Dawn.
"Got it," said Starbuck before handing the microphone to the Major, who then signed out and told Dawn that he'll check in again once Starbuck had found a way to activate the weapons system. It was then that Tessa spoke up again to say that she already tried the weapons. This led Starbuck to glare at the Cylon before saying that she had no idea what she was doing. Tessa then sighed before shaking her head while Starbuck went to the console, and opened up a panel.
While Starbuck was checking out the wiring in the weapons section in the ECO's console at the rear of the Raptor, and while SG-2 and SG-13 were heading for the cave and, at the same time, Willow's team was heading for Dawn's team; a figure was running faster than he could have ever imagined through the trees. Running in the very same Colonial flight suit that he was killed in, and then turned into a vampire, Major Lee 'Apollo' Adama, found that his senses had been heightened. As he ran, the man remembered opening his eyes and looking at the stars above.
He could see them so clearly that it was unbelievable. Apollo then sat up and looked around him, he looked at the dead bodies… at the blood stained ground, and then she looked at his own arms. Apollo remembered being slammed into the ground as he felt something wrong with his face. He brought his hands to his forehead where he felt bony ridges as he stared out into the distance in anguish. As he shook his head in disbelief while bring his finger to the side of his neck, he whimpered when he felt the two bites marks. He then had a flash of memory in his mind when remembered the creature that held him down biting onto the side of his neck. Apollo started to tear up and began giving off a scream of anguish when he remembered drinking the blood from the creature's wrist. He remembered the blood travelling into his system as his body turned cold.
Apollo brought his hands to his mouth as his tongue brushed against something sharp. He brushed his fingers, his mind in disbelief, on his fangs before he gave off a great scream. He held both sides of his head and continued to scream when he heard something pounding. Apollo quickly got up and turned around, he looked at his surrounding which were in complete darkness; but the young vampire found that he could see everything clearly. He continued to follow the sound of thumping to its source, his mind was hoping that what he was hearing was a lie… that there was no way for what happened to him could be true.
As Apollo ran into the tree line, he noticed a body lying face up. He approached the unconscious body before getting down on his knees, and it was then he realized that the sound that was pounding through his ears was that of a heartbeat. The young woman, one of the Earther officers was still alive but bleeding badly.
And then a darkness started to take Apollo over. A darkness that he was trying to push away.
'Gods, help me,' thought Apollo as he closed his eyes tight, and closed his trembling hands into fists. But no matter how much he tried to push away the darkness, he could feel a growing hunger. Apollo bared his fangs at the woman's neck, and then pulled back in disgust while closing his eyes and mouth tightly.
'So hungry,' thought Apollo to himself as he snapped his eyes open again and listened to the thumping of the young woman's heart. Shaking his head, Apollo growled before, unable to stop himself, he grabbed the woman's head… twisted it to one side, and then leaned in and bit into her jugular vein.
Apollo moaned as the fresh blood from the woman hit his tongue as he lapped it up. He could feel the blood going down his throat, while at the same time he could feel her heart beat getting slower. When the sound was gone, Apollo pulled and looked at the pale body of the woman. Apollo licked his lips as he stepped up to his feet, and smiled at the body.
He had his first taste of blood.
He had done everything to push it down, but he felt something take over. He felt the demon reach into his very being and take control. And he liked it. He liked letting go of his control… it was as if the blood he drank was a trigger.
He wanted more.
And then he sniffed the air and got a whiff of more humans in the distance.
"Hungry," growled Apollo as he took of running faster than he thought possible into the forest. HE didn't know who the humans were, but he wanted to taste their blood… he wanted to drink. Just as he started running, he quickly stopped and thought about what he was doing.
"No, I won't drink them all," said Apollo to himself, "I'm sure the other Blood Demons smelled them too, and they are probably on the way there. I can be the miraculous survivor who helps them get to the Gate to the Stars in the cave, and then when we're at New Kobol… umm… an all you can eat buffet. First Kara… I'm sure on of these humans I'm smelling heading for the cave is Kara; I'll have her first, and then dad, and finally Roslin. Umm… maybe I'll turn the three of them.. and we'll have some fun."
Apollo started to laugh before he started running one more time towards, unknown to him, Dawn's team.
TBC.