Willow's Quarters, SGC.
Using the secured phone provided for by Colonel O'Neill in her room on base, Willow finished making calls to her parents after speaking to her friends in Sunnydale. Of course, Willow couldn't tell her parents about how she really ended up in Colorado Springs. She told her parents that she had lived in Sunnydale her whole life, and so desired a new start somewhere else. They figured that she was tired of staying in a high crime city like Sunnydale and just wanted a change. Willow was pleasantly surprised that they supported her move to Colorado.
She didn't mention anything about the Air Force Academy, at least not yet anyway. As far as they were concerned, she was taking a semester off from U C Sunnydale. Willow first needed to figure out a plausible reason for her to be sponsored for the Academy in the first place. For Giles and the others, the reasoning would be relatively simple. In her story, Willow accidentally used her magic, someone from the Air Force saw it, questioned her, and she would tell this person about magic. And ta-da, she would be offered a place at the Academy.
'Or I tell a similar, very weird, story like that,' Willows thought to herself. She would still have to figure out what to tell her parents. Deep in thought, Willow was forced back to the present when there was a knock on her door.
"Hi Willow, it's Sam. Mind if I come in?"
"Sure," replied Willow while sitting cross-legged on her bed.
Carter stepped into the small room and closed the door behind her. Willow nodded her head after Carter asked if she could take a seat. The Major sat on the bed adjacent to the redhead who had her lips pressed together in a tight smile.
"I take it that your friends weren't too keen on you leaving?" Carter asked.
"Nope, they were quite sad that I was leaving," replied Willow before taking a breath. Thinking about the conversation, and how sad both Xander and Buffy sounded, made Willow feel a soft throbbing sting around her chest, "after that talk with them, I feel kind of alone." Willow had lived in Sunnydale her whole life, and now, for the first time, she was in another state by herself. Her friends were in Sunnydale… the people she was closest to were in Sunnydale. And she was in Colorado Springs. Alone. Willow should have guessed she would feel as lonely as she was feeling now.
"I can understand this decision was extremely hard for you, but I think you're making the right one," Carter spoke in a reassuring tone. She continued, "I've looked through your school records, especially the ones from U C Sunnydale and your grades were really top notch. And I have to admit that the General was right, I am kinda jealous of your standardized test scores." Willow and Carter chuckled. The latter then said, "I think with training, and the Academy's strict curriculum, you'll be one of the best officers we have at the SGC. You really do have a lot of potential".
"You're just saying that, Sam," said Willow, warmth creeping up the back of her neck, "But thanks. It's nice to be appreciated."
"I have to be honest with you, Willow," Carter continued, her lips were pressed tight, as if she was thinking about what to say next. She then continued, "I still don't understand how this magic of yours works, so please don't be upset if I'm a bit skeptical."
"I understand," replied the redhead,
The Major then asked, "is it genetic? Or… I mean… can anyone use magic or is there some kind of catalyst…" Carter breathed in deep, knowing she didn't make much sense. She then asked, "is there an underlying reason that allows someone to use magic?"
Willow understood. Giles had told her anyone could use magic. Except some found wielding magic much easier than others. Some couldn't even use magic. But Willow couldn't… wouldn't use Giles' name. "When I first started practicing with simple spells, I read anyone… well, most people can use magic." The Major seemed to be still skeptical. Willow continued, "some find it easier to control magic… wait, lets see if I can… okay, have you ever met aliens who could channel energy?"
Carter thought back to the Nox. They were able to channel a form of energy which brought back a nearly dead Jaffa to full health. The Jaffa ran away later, to return to Apophis, but he was fully restored. Carter nodded her head.
"Okay…" Willow was impressed and excitedly said, "I have so many questions." She then animatedly waved her arms before continuing, "think of magic as energy. Some find it easy to channel that energy, others need more work."
"And there are other's who can't," Carter finished. Willow nodded her head.
Willow continued. "It was easy for me. I mean I don't know why, but maybe it just happens for some people."
Carter nodded her head. Could she wield magic? A part of her wanted to know. The other part? Not so much. She was already living a fulfilling life and so wasn't sure what magic could add to it.
Leaning forward, Willow then added. "I'll try not to do any magic here, especially at the academy."
"That's a good idea," Carter replied, "especially at the Academy. I'm not sure how you can explain a cadet disappearing and reappearing in Las Vegas." Carter and Willow chuckled.
"Anyway," continued Major Carter, "I also came by to ask if you wanted to get some things for yourself tomorrow? Like some clothes, toiletries, stuff like that, at least until we can get some of your things from Sunnydale. Dr. Frasier, her daughter, and I can take you shopping."
"Sure, it would be nice to just be a normal girl. It's been a really long time," replied Willow.
"Umm... As far as my living situation, will I be staying here?" asked Willow suddenly, thinking about where she will be staying in Colorado Springs.
"Well, for now, until your security clearance is worked out, you'll be staying here," replied Carter, "after that, well, you could stay here until the Academy start date where you'll be staying in the dorms. I know Janet's interested, if you want to stay with her after you get your clearance."
"That would be great," Willow replied before there was a knock on the door.
Willow asked them to come in. The door opened to both Colonel O'Neill and Daniel standing at the door entrance, checking up on her before they left for the night.
"Hey Willow, may we come in?" asked Daniel.
"Hey Kiddo, you doing alright? We just came by to check up on you," said Colonel O'Neill. Willow welcomed them in.
"Oh Carter," continued O'Neill who turned towards Carter, "the General wants to see you about the mission to P7X-867 tomorrow before you leave."
"Alright then," nodded Carter before turning towards Willow, "I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night, Willow."
"Good night, Sam," Willow said before Carter got off the bed and nodded at Colonel O'Neill, and then at Daniel, before bidding them good night.
"See you tomorrow, Carter," waved both O'Neil and Daniel.
"Um… Colonel?" Willow spoke, looking up at the older man from her bed.
"Red, until you start at the Academy, you can call me Jack," Jack nodded before continuing, "Of course, once you start, you'd have to call me Colonel, or Sir."
"OK... Jack. What I wanted to ask was…. Well, Can I see the Stargate?" Willow asked a bit apprehensively. She was excited to see it… she didn't know what it looked like… which was the reason why she wanted to see it in the first place. I would be nice to see the very thing she was one day hoping to travel through.
"That shouldn't be a problem," said Daniel as he looked at Willow and then turned to the Colonel who was standing next to him with his hands in his pockets. Daniel continued with an expectant expression, "right Jack?"
"Your security clearance isn't…"
"Come on, Jack," Daniel said, jumping in, "we're going to be there with her the whole time. What's the worst thing that could…"
"Don't say it," Colonel O'Neill turned towards Daniel, "don't finish that sentence… nothing good happens when you, or anyone else, finishes that sentence." Willow stared at their interaction with a gentle smile, they were like two brothers arguing. Daniel reminded O'Neill once again that they will be accompanying Willow the entire time.
O'Neill sighed and then turned towards Willow, "you stay close to us, Red. Got that?"
Willow nodded her head excitedly before getting off the bed. She then followed O'Neill and Daniel out of the room and down the hallway. After an elevator ride and a few minutes of walking through numerous corridors, O'Neill, Willow, and Daniel were standing outside a huge metal door.
"Red, behind this door lies the world's most closely guarded secret," Colonel proudly said before taking out a keycard and then swiping it through a card reader, "only a handful of our allies know about its existence. So, be prepared to have your mind blown."
The metal door slid open and the three of them walked into a very large room that was devoid of people. There were two defensive placements at the end of a metal ramp leading up to the circular artifact. Willow was stunned when she saw the Stargate.
"It's beautiful," she whispered her eyes taking in the huge metallic ring.
"It is, isn't it," replied the Colonel with his hands folded over his chest. He then tilted his head and joked, "huh… maybe it'll look better in peridot."
Daniel chuckled at the Colonel's comment before guiding Willow toward the bottom of the ramp. As they walked, Daniel pointed at the Stargate, "The symbols in the inner rings form parts of a gate address." He continued telling Willow the basic mechanics of the device, "when the address is input into the dialing computer, the inner ring spins until each chevron is locked onto each symbol. Once the correct symbol combination creates a valid gate address, an artificial wormhole is formed to that particular Stargate. Basically, we can go to anywhere in the galaxy nearly instantaneously."
"But if you want the detailed scientific stuff, you'd have to ask Carter," said the Colonel gently bumping Willow's shoulder.
"What's it like?" Willow asked, her focus on the device, "I mean… umm… do you feel it?"
"It's like you're stepping into a different room," Daniel explained.
"So will I be able to go through the gate one day?" asked Willow as she looked at Daniel with a wide grin on her face, and then to the Colonel.
"Sure," shrugged the Colonel, "but only after you graduate from the Academy. Remember, General Hammond said that you'd be assigned a SG team only after you've graduated. Tell you what, if you ace all your classes…" Willow was about to make a comment, but the Colonel stopped her. He then continued, "and I mean the whole four years…" Willow nodded her head excitedly. O'Neill then shrugged and said, "sure, I'll recommend to the General that you join SG1."
Willow grinned.
Looking up at the Gate, she once again thought to herself this was so much different than facing off against vampires and demons. She thought about the Harvest, vampires, the Master, the Child of the Hellmouth, her alternate Vampire self, and so many of the other nightmares she has already seen and experienced. This was going to be so different. She would be going to other worlds… she'll be meeting aliens! Willow sensed a shift in the air. She felt eyes on her. Turning her head towards O'Neill and Daniel, they were staring at her with quizzical expressions. What just happened?
Colonel O'Neill and Daniel looked at each other, and then at Willow, both with their eyebrows raised.
"Wait up!" exclaimed the Colonel leaning forward, "did you just say vampires?"
"Huh?" Willow asked. She didn't mention vampires.
"The Master? What or who is the Master?" Daniel asked.
Oh no. "Was I just speaking to myself, or…"
Daniel nodded his head. "Yes, you were mumbling something about the Harvest, vampires…"
"Something something your alternate vampire self…?" O'Neill arched an eyebrow.
"Vampires as in fangs, drinking blood, stakes through the heart, garlic, die in sunlight?" Daniel jumped in asking, "that kind of vampire?"
"No," Willow shook her head, "No."
The looks on their faces told Willow they didn't believe her. Now that she had mentioned it, Willow was afraid hiding this new information could jeopardize her clearance. They had placed a certain amount of trust in just showing her that Stargate, and now that she had mentioned Vampires, it didn't feel right in hiding the truth behind Sunnydale. She just wouldn't mention Buffy as the Slayer, and Giles as her Watcher.
"Yes?" said Willow sheepishly.
"Young lady, you have some explaining to do," O'Neill said in his best Dezi Arnez impression.
"Could we please go somewhere private? I don't want to sound like a crazy person," asked Willow nervously.
"This is a military base, there is no private place," replied the Colonel.
"Well, that's true unless you count the restrooms or anywhere off world," said Daniel scratching his head.
Upon hearing the word "off world" Willow's eyes widened.
"And no, we won't be going off-world just to have a private conversation," replied O'Neill when he saw her wide-eyed, excited expression.
"Alright," he then sighed, "follow me." He patted Willow on the shoulder and said, "we're going to your quarters. There's only one camera there, and it one can be disconnected." Willow nodded her head when O'Neill said, "I'm disconnecting the camera just this once. That should give us enough privacy, so we want to hear everything about this vampire stuff, is that understood?" Willow nodded her head again. He didn't sound angry, Willow thought.
"Yes, Sir" said Willow in a soft voice.
"Red, you're not at the Academy yet" replied the Colonel as they walked out of the Gate Room together.
To Be Continued.