Phoenix Risings
Necro-Gate: Part 1    
 
Rating: PG-13/R
Author: White Werewolf
Category: Buffy/Xander, Eric/Faith, Sam/Daniel (Maybe), Gabrielle/Joxer
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: After Buffy leaves Sunnydale, Xander decides to go looking for her. On the other side of the universe, Ninedinna wants the book she created...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: the Book of the Dead. 
Author Notes: This part is just a prologue to the Phoenix Risings Trilogy; which is in turn the starting fic to a huge series. This is the third part of the trilogy. It will be mainly focused on the Buffy/Xander relationship and it will be housing many crossovers.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, and X-Lander
 
Crossovers Planned:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Evil Dead
Stargate SG-1
Xena: Warrior Princess
Boy Meets World
 
Cameo Crossovers will suddenly appear. Take a read, and see if you can spot one.
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"Welcome to casa de Xander, Buff.  Current population is one, but I'm always looking for roommates."  He said with his eyebrows wiggling.
 
She whacked him upside the head, "You pig."
 
He shrugged, "Well, all I can say is oink oink."
 
She giggled, "You definitely are a pig."
 
Xander smiled, "Would you have me any other way?"
 
Buffy shook her head, "Not at all.  I'm talking to the superior Xander.  I accept no substitutes."
 
He sighed, "Guess you're stuck with me."
 
"Guess so."
 
"C'mon, we gotta talk."
 
She nodded as Xander opened his door.  He immediately turned on the lights and allowed Buffy to come inside.
 
Her eyes widened as she saw the apartment.  "You live here?"
 
He grinned, "Yeah. I know the landlord and he hooked me up.  He gave me a deal for this place based on my predicament.  So, I got a sweet deal."
 
His friend smiled, "That's cool.  It's all about connections."
 
Xander nodded, "You bet it is.  You want something to drink?"
 
Buffy shook her head, "No, thanks.  I want to get started."
 
He motioned to the couch, "Sure.  Let's sit down."
 
Together, the two friends sat down, not knowing how to start.  But both wanting to be completely honest.  It was the best way to get through this conversation, and knowing what the other person was truly capable of only wanted them to tell the truth more.
 
"So..."
 
"So..."
 
Xander took a deep breath and was about to speak, when Buffy did.  "First of all, Xander.  I want to thank you."
 
He showed a confused look for a brief second, "Thank me?  You don't ha-"
 
She interrupted him, "No, I do.  I want to thank you for coming to LA and looking for me.  I always knew you cared about me, but I just didn't know how much."
 
He was surprised she was saying this, but maybe Buffy was right.  Maybe these three weeks did her well.  It most definitely helped him.  
 
Xander said simply, "I love you, Buffy."
 
She grinned, "I love you too, Xander.  You're my best friend.  The one person who would go at any length to find me.  You would go at any length to protect me."
 
The boy said, "I don't want to see you die, Buffy.  I already saw that happen to you, and I lost it."
 
She agreed, "Same here.  I saw you dead at the cabin, and it hurt me at the core.  I never had an experience where my best friend died.  It hurt."
 
Xander nodded, "It does hurt, Buffy.  But I'm grateful that you came back to us."
 
"And I'm grateful you came back to life."
 
He stated, "Well, we both died, came back to life, and are grateful that the other person survived."
 
"Nothing wrong with being grateful, Xander.  I should've been more grateful to you in the past."
 
A smile was made, "Part of growing up is knowing when to become grateful.  It's the journey that life is all about.  We keep wanting to improve ourselves in order to have happier lives."
 
She nodded and grasped his right hand, "Xander, you've done a lot for me over the past few years, and I've hurt you.  I called you 'one of the girls,' and I sexy danced you to make Angel jealous.  You saw Angel as he really was, a vampire."
 
He shook his head, "Seeing Angel as a vampire is something that comes natural to me.  But to be fair to you, you fell in love with him before you knew what he was.  That wasn't you're choice.  You don't chose who you fall in love."
 
The blond sighed, "I know, Xander.  I know.  But as soon as I found out what he was, I wanted not to be involved with him.  I didn't want to date a vampire, but my heart wouldn't allow it."  Tears started to glisten in her eyes, "I wanted to find some happiness.  I'm a girl who's destined to have a short life.  I just want to find some happiness to make me feel better about who I am."
 
Xander agreed, "I understand, Buffy.  I understand that you love Angel."
 
She said sternly, "Loved.  I loved Angel.  He's dead now, Xander.  There's no denying it.  I loved him.  It's over."
 
Xander nodded slowly, "Loved or love.  You have a powerful heart Buffy and Angel was lucky to have it.  He saw the wonderful person you really are, and that's who he fell in love with."  (That's who I fell in love with.)
 
"Thank you."  She wiped her eyes dry.  "Thank you for saying that to me, Xan."
 
"It's the truth, Buffy.  You have faults.  We all do, but that's what makes us human.  Angel may not have a human body, but he has a human soul.  A soul that deserves to be loved.  Everybody deserves to be loved."
 
"I know.  But as soon as I ran that sword through his heart and sent him to hell, I shut down.  And my mom told me that I wasn't allowed back in the house."  Tears started to cascade down her cheeks, "you guys would've been mad at me for letting Drusilla do those things to you.  There was nothing left for me in Sunnydale.  I had to leave."
 
He took his thumb and dried her tears.  "Buffy, you got hurt.  We all do.  But we could never hate you, Buff.    You're mom was crying herself to sleep ever since you left.  I know, because I called her. "
 
She gulped, "You talked to my mom?"
 
"And Giles.  I had to tell them and let them know how my search was going.  I couldn't let them cry every night.  I just had to find you, Buffy.  I had to make sure you were alright, that you weren't a meal for a vampire."
 
"Are they okay?  I never meant to hurt them, Xander.  I never meant to hurt anyone.  I just needed to get away.  I needed a new start."
 
He nodded, "They're fine.  They'll be even more fine when you talk to them."
 
Gulping again, she said, "I'll talk to them.  I'll do anything to make this easier."
 
Xander grinned, "Good to know.  They deserve that much."
 
Suddenly she remembered something else, "What was the deal with the ghost?" 
 
He answered, "The ghost was something that I had to stop in order to find you."
 
Buffy showed a confused look, "You had to stop a ghost in order to find me?"
 
Xander nodded and told her his tale.  He told her about meeting Kevin Sorbo, Ash, Faith, and Wesley.  He told her about meeting Lorne and what he predicted.  The boy told her everything that had happened during the last three weeks.  Everything except telling her who Kevin Sorbo really was.  It wasn't his thing to tell.  
 
And he didn't tell her about his family.  Like he decided earlier, Buffy didn't need to know.  It was always a sensitive subject, and talking about it was always hard.  He didn't want to burden her with his problems.  Right now, the goal was to get Buffy back to Sunnydale safe and sound.
 
She looked at the carpet, "You had quite an adventure, haven't you?"
 
Xander grinned, "You can say that.  All these people have helped me find you, Buffy.   Without them, I didn't think I would be ever to find you.  They helped me at times when I thought I didn't have an answer.  They showed me a lot of truths about myself and my heart."
 
"Intense," she said with a whisper.  "and all I met was Gunn."
 
"Gunn?"  Xander asked in confusion.
 
With that said, Buffy told him her tale.  She told him about her life these past few weeks.  She told him about getting a job, a place to stay, and meeting Charles Gunn.  Buffy didn't tell him about Alex being her sprit guide because it was truly a personal matter.  A matter that no one else should know.  Not now anyway.
 
"You still went through a lot though, Buffy.  And I'm guessing those three weeks also had a lot of self discovery."
 
Immediately, she thought, (You have no idea, Xand.  You have no idea.)  "There was some self discovery.  Some realizations every now and then, but those I like to keep to myself."
 
Xander nodded, "You have every right not to tell me.  Some things are hard to talk about and telling them to people would give them a huge burden.  Talking about things are good and all, but everyone has their right to keep things to themselves."
 
She grinned, "Exactly, Xander.  Did I ever tell you that you were wise beyond your years?"
 
He chuckled, "Nope.  Never been known for my intelligence, Buff.  You've seen some of my grades.  I don't do well in school."
 
Buffy smiled, "There's a difference between book smarts and life smarts.  Xander, you're a survivor.  Someone who has done a lot of thing on their own, and part of the reason being that I hurt you over the years.  You're incredibly smart, Xan.  Never doubt that."
 
He chucked, "Yeah, I'm as smart as Smartfood.  Small brain on the inside covered by a big white shell."
 
Sighing, Buffy said, "Smartfood nothing.  Don't compare yourself to popcorn.   There are big differences between you two."
 
"Yeah, although we're both good at movies.  We make the whole movie experience worth while."
 
She giggled, "I'd have to agree with you there, Xander.  But you are smart.  Never doubt that."
 
Giving in, "Alright, alright.  I'm smart."  (No I'm not.  I'm a lost cause.  My dad was right.  My life ain't worth shit.  That's why you won't go out with me.  Because I'm a loser.  A loser who would never get a chance with you.)
 
"Xander?"
 
Her voice brought him back to reality, "Sorry.  Just thinking things."
 
Buffy nodded slowly, "Uh...huh."  (What were you thinking, Xander?  What is going on in that brain of yours?)
 
Xander looked at her eyes and saw them focusing on him, searching for something.  But what?  He didn't know.
 
For the next few moments, nothing was said.  The two of them just sat on the couch looking everywhere but at each other.
 
"How about some TV?"  Xander asked to fill the silence.
 
The young woman nodded, "TV is something I could definitely get into.  I've been through a lot today."
 
"Same here, Buff.  Same here."
 
*** 
 
Lisa fell to the ground with a thud.
 
Ryan, Richard, and Steve looked at each other in horror as they saw the blond woman jump out of the sarcophagus.
 
"How dare you disturb me?"  She said sternly.
 
The three men stepped a few feet back.  "Steve?"
 
The colonel nodded, "What is it if it isn't goa'uld?  And why would it use a sarcophagus?"
 
He glared at him, "You tell me, you're the archeologist."
 
"Colonel Kavenox, I suggest we go back to the stargate."
 
The colonel nodded, "Good suggestion.  C'mon, gang.  Let's go."
 
"What about Lisa?"  Richard asked.
 
"Leave her body.  We need to-"
 
Before he could finish his sentence, the woman pounced on her victim and her face changed along with her eye and what appeared to be fangs extended.  "Thanks for the snack."  She then took a bite out of his neck and began to drink his blood.
 
Richard's eyes widened, "It's a vampire!"
 
 
Ryan said in astonishment, "Something tells me you've been seeing too many horror movies, Richard."
 
The woman took her final drink of Steve's blood and dropped his body.  "He's right.  I'm a vampire."
 
Richard shook his head, "Let's get out of here!"
 
Ryan nodded, "Right behind you."  
 
The two remaining members of SG-25 sprinted toward the stargate.
 
The archeologist looked behind his shoulder and saw the woman charging with her changed face.  "Get back here!"
 
He turned back to his last teammate, "Dial the DHD."
 
Ryan nodded, "Right ahead of you."  He ran to his destined location and started to dial.  
 
With a smile, he said, "One more symbol."  Ryan looked up and saw the woman snapping Richard's neck.
 
"No!"  He yelled in anguish.
 
Shaking his head, Ryan dialed in the last symbol and was about to hit the center of the device when he was tackled to the ground.
 
 "Where you going?"
 
Ryan didn't answer.
 
"Going home?"  Again no reaction.  "Mind if I come along."  
 
He went to his MP5, and tried to aim it at the vampire.  "Take this, Asshole!" 
 
But he couldn't.  The vampire had his arm pinned, "Pathetic mortal."  The vampiress said.
 
She leaned down and extended her fangs.  "I got a plan for you."  With that, she started to drink his blood.
 
*** 
 
"This is going to be hard, Xan."  Buffy Summers said to her best friend.
 
He nodded, "I can understand, Buff.  But like you said, you want to do this.  If you want me to be here, I will be.  You know for extra support."
 
Did she want Xander to be in the room when she talked to her mother?  Normally, she would say no.  Talking to her mother was something that was private. Things could get said meant for her ears only and he'd be standing right there.
 
Yet, she did have to admit.  Having somebody she just talked to, someone that knew who she really was a blessing.
 
Xander was her strength.  Within these past few weeks, she realized that Xander was her hero.  A person who did these things voluntarily.  A person who loved her and put her in front of just about everything in his life.
 
But still.  There needed to be some private Buffy Summers matters.  There had to be some moments in her life and conversations that had to be dealt with just herself. 
 
Taking a deep breath, she said, "I need to do this by myself, Xander.  I appreciate you wanting to be here.  But this is something I need to do myself."
 
Xander grinned, "Not a problem, Buff.  I'll be in my room."
 
Before he left, Buffy walked over to him and pulled him into a hug.  "I love you, Xander.  I said this once, I'll say this again.  Thank you for everything."
 
He smiled, "I love you too, Buff."  Xander withdrew himself from her, and then said, "I'll be in the other room."
 
Xander left leaving Buffy Summers to have an important conversation.
 
Buffy reached for the phone and placed the receiver to her ear.  She dialed the familiar number.  (One step at a time.  One step at a time.)
 
It rang a few times, "Hello?"
 
Taking another breath, she said, "Hi, Mom."
 
Joyce immediately recognized the voice.  She stood up from her seat and walked over to the corner of the living room, and said calmly, "Hi, Buffy."
 
Buffy was taken surprised by her tone.  But took it as a blessing.  "I'm sorry, Mom.  I'm sorry for everything."
 
She had to be calm.  She didn't want to scare her daughter away again.  And in order to do that, she had to be calm and rational.  She had to listen to why her daughter did the things she did.  "It's nice to know that you are sorry, Buffy."
 
"I am, Mom.  I'm sorry for running away.  I'm sorry for not letting you in on my sacred duty.  I'm sorry that I put my life in danger every night.  I'm sorry that I made you cry."
 
"I assume that the only reason why you're calling is because Xander found you."
 
She shook her head, "No.  I called of my free will.  I actually found Xander.  We talked, and these past three weeks have done a lot of things for me.  More things then I realized I needed help in.  The main thing I need help in is realizing when I need help.  I can't do this anymore alone.  I can't fight the vampires anymore by myself."
 
Her mother said, "You realized a lot, I take it.  What you have to remember is that you have friends and a mother that loves you.  We always will love you, and we will always be there for you.  You just have to remember that."
 
This was amazing.  Her mother was being very understanding.  "You're taking this well?"
 
She nodded, "Buffy, Honey.  You may have been dealt a bad hand in life, but God blessed with a great support system.  I never met a young man like Xander who would take it upon himself to leave his home and find his friend.  If you ask me, I'd say you're lucky."
 
Buffy smiled, "I am lucky."
 
Joyce said, "You really do sound different, Buffy.  Who are you, and what have you done with my daughter?"
 
She giggled, "It's me, Mom."
 
"I know, Honey.  It's just that I never saw you so apologetic before.  I never see you wanting to accept help.  You were always a girl to take charge.  You were always by yourself.  After Hemery, you never were the same.  In some ways better, in some ways not."
 
She wondered if she should tell her mom about Alex.  Telling her might let Buffy's mom know how much of a change that she went through, but there were things that were meant to be said face-to-face.  And Alex was this case.
 
"Like I said, Mom.  These past three weeks have really helped me.  I learned things about myself that I never knew existed.  This summer has done wonders for me."
 
"That's good to hear, Buffy.  So, tell me.  When are you coming home?"
 
"That's the problem, Mom.  Xander and I weren't able to find each other until things were met.  He met a demon that gave him a prediction.  In the prediction, Xander had to defeat a ghost in order to find me.  Next, we have to do something before Sunnydale.  And what it is, we don't know."
 
Joyce asked in a surprised voice, "Xander had to defeat a ghost in order for you to find each other?"
 
She nodded, "Yeah, he did.  Xander beat this guy and then we talked.  We talked a great deal, and things have gotten better between us.  There's still something out there that we have to defeat.  Something that is tougher than the ghost."
 
Her mother sighed, "I don't want you to do this by yourself, Buffy."
 
Buffy smiled, "I'm not.  I got Xander, Faith, Ash, Wesley, and Kevin Sorbo helping us."
 
Her eyes widened, "You know Kevin Sorbo?  Who are these other people, Honey?"
 
With that said, Buffy filled her mother in on the people she met.  The only thing that she didn't tell her about was Alex.  That was something that had to be her own story to tell.
 
*** 
 
The vampiress paced the temple as she waited for her childe to wake.
 
The stargate actually was something that she always wanted to use, but she never knew the correct combinations to get the wormhole to work properly.
 
It has been millennia since she was transported to this planet.  Back when she was a normal human.   But of course she was kidnapped by the goa'uld.
 
Plans were that she would either be a host or a slave for these aliens.  All plans were off when a vampire that the goa'uld captured to study escaped.
 
One night, the vampire broke this woman out of her cell and turned her.  As a result, the newly turned vampire staked her sire and started to make her own rules and has successfully survived for the past millennia.
 
And in order for her not scar, to not to deform, the vampire stole the sarcophagus, and she's been using it ever since.  The sarcophagus kept her as her youthful self.
 
All of a sudden, her childe started to stir.
 
The vampiress walked over to him, and knelt down in front of him.  "Welcome to my world."
 
The reborn Ryan looked up at his sire.  "What happened?"
 
She replied, "I turned you, Ryan.  I gave you a gift."
 
He showed a confusing look, "What type of gift, Ma'am?"
 
The blond woman smiled, "I gave you the gift of eternal life and eternal youth.  You'd get to live forever, and never age a day.  Only a selected number of people have been lucky to obtain this type of gift."
 
Ryan smiled, "Thank you, Ma'am."  She helped him up.  "What can I do for you?"
 
"I want you to open the stargate, Ryan.  I want you to take me to Earth.  I have some unfinished business there, and from the moment I saw you.  I knew you were the man for job."
 
Again, the new vampire said, "Thank you.  What are we going to do on Earth?"
 
A malevolent smile appeared on the vampiress' face as she told him the future plans.  She only told him what she had planned for him.  The woman didn't want him to know everything.  That would be too risqué.  "Now, when we get to Earth, you'll be able to feed for the first time.  And in order to do that, you must open the stargate."
 
He nodded, "That won't be a problem.  This way, Ma'am."
 
A smile crossed her lips, "Call me Callisto." 
 
 
Her childe asked in confusion, "Would you rather be called Ma'am or Callisto?"
 
Callisto smiled, "I prefer the name, Callisto, Ryan.  Few people can call me that and live."
 
He grinned, "Oh I do, Callsto.  I do.
 
With that said, the two headed for the stargate.  When they did, the blond said, "Show me how to get back to Earth."
 
Her childe nodded, "But of course, Callisto."
 
The blond said with a malevolent grin, "Show me, childe.  Show me." 
 
Ryan dialed the DHD and hit the activation symbol.  After the wormhole settled, he punched in his GDO code.
 
"Callisto, I should warn you that we will be entering a secure military base."
 
"I know, childe, just do as I say." Callisto then gave the soldier several instructions.
 
 The two then walked into the shimmering event horizon and vanished.
 
*** 
 
"Unscheduled off-world activation!" 
 
Red lights flashed and alarm klaxons sounded throughout the base.
 
The doors to the main computer room opened, and in walked a well-dressed man of command. General Hammond immediately rushed to the Gate Control Room and said,  "Close the iris."
 
Sgt. Davis nodded, "Yes, Sir."  Soon, he did the aforementioned action, and the iris closed. 
 
When satisfied, Davis looked back at the computer, "Sir, it's SG-25."
 
General Hammond smiled, "Open the iris, and welcome them home."
 
The iris opened, and the wormhole established.  A few seconds passed when two people walked through the stargate.  
 
Hammond's eyes widened. He saw only a single member of SG-25 appear with a strange woman.  He immediately turned around and ran down the stairs.  As soon as he entered the gate room, he walked over to the two people.
 
Recognizing one as Ryan Banks.  "What happened, Lieutenant?  Where's the rest of your team?"
 
Ryan said, "There was an ambush, General Hammond.  The goa'uld appeared out of nowhere.  The others didn't make it.  I was lucky to get out when I did."
 
He nodded slowly and looked to the person standing next to him, "And who is this young lady, Lieutenant?"
 
The woman smiled weakly, "My name is Caroline.  Lieutenant Banks rescued me I could be made a host."
 
The general nodded, "Report to the infirmary.  A nurse will help you.  Doctor Fraiser is away visiting family.  Debriefing will be in the debriefing room in one hour."  He turned to Caroline.  After you are cleared by the nurse, we'll see what we can do about your accommodations."
 
Callisto nodded, "Thank you, General."
 
"Escort Ms. Caroline to the infirmary, Lieutenant."
 
"Right away, General Hammond."  Ryan said to his officer.
 
***
 
The two walked down the corridor and Callisto took the time to notice all the improvements since she was last on the Earth
 
"This place is quite impressive."  Caroline said to Ryan.
 
Ryan nodded, "The SGC has been running for a few years, Ma'am.  It all began with SG-1 ..." 
 
With that, Ryan told her the history of SGC.  About General George Hammond, Colonel Jonathan "Jack" O'Neill, Captain Samantha "Sam" Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c.
 
When Lt. Ryan explained about how Teal'c had rebelled against Apophis and grasped her interest.  A former Jaffa who worked for Apophis now worked for the SGC, a smile crossed her lips. (Looks like Xena wasn't the only one to reform.)
 
"Remember what we have planned, Ryan?  As soon as we get to the infirmary, I'll get rid of the personnel, and then you take me topside.  You should be able to get through no problem.  If anyone questions our motives, just get that person look at me."
 
A smile crossed his lips, "Of course, Callisto.  Of course."
 
As soon as they turned the corner, Callisto wondered, (Now, that I'm back on Earth, I wonder if Hercules is still around.)
 
 
As soon as they turned the corner, Callisto wondered, (Now, that I'm back on Earth, I wonder if Hercules is still around.)
 
The two entered the infirmary to notice a short redhead with green eyes.  "Ah, Lt. Banks.  And I assume this is Caroline, please sit down on the stretcher here and I'll start your examination."
 
Ryan said, "Thank you, Nurse Hall."  He said as he sat down in front of her.
 
The nurse smiled weakly, "I'm sorry about your team, Lieutenant.  They were fine people.  Some of the best the SGC had to offer."
 
He grinned, "Thank you.  They will be missed."
 
The nurse suddenly jerked back her head, and could feel her body getting cold, and soon became limp.
 
"Blood type AB.  A personal favorite of mine."  Callisto said to her childe.
 
He pouted, "Why didn't you save any for me?"
 
Callisto smiled, "I just wanted to get out of here as soon as we could.  I want to check on something.  And sooner the better.  Would you like to come along?"
 
Ryan said with a wide smile, "Of course I would."  He walked to the door that led to the hallway.  When it was clear, he glanced back to his sire and smiled, "Coast is clear.  Follow me."
 
She nodded, "Right behind you."
 
With that said, the two walked down the hallway and headed for the elevator.   
 
Callisto's nose suddenly picked up and odor.  "Kiss me."
 
Ryan showed a confused look, "What?"
 
She shook her head, "No time to argue."  The blond woman grabbed her childe in her arms, lowered her face and kissed him.
 
Ryan stiffened in awe.  But soon felt a slap on the back, "Way to go, Lieutenant."  
 
Banks realized who the voice was coming from and understood Callisto's actions.
 
Shortly she let go of her childe and smiled, "Nice lip action."
 
Ryan smiled, "Thanks." 
 
She said, "C'mon, let's go."
 
He nodded, and pushed the button for the elevator.  
 
It soon opened to reveal Daniel Jackson.
 
"Ryan.  On you're way home?"
 
He nodded, "Yes, Sir.  But I'm taking Caroline to her guest quarters first."
 
Daniel chuckled, "Call me Daniel.  I'll see you tomorrow."  He then headed down the hallway.  Inwardly he thought, (Uh huh.  Something seems off.)
 
"This place is busy, isn't it?"
 
Banks nodded, "This is a top secret military base, Caroline.  We're almost there."
 
The two entered the elevator, and Ryan pressed the button to the service.  The doors closed shortly leaving sire and childe alone.
 
The elevator stopped at the eleventh floor and opened.  "We have to switch elevators before going to the surface."
 
They left the elevator, and entered the other one.  When the doors closed, they continued their conversation.
  
Ryan said to her, "This is going easier then I hoped."
 
Callisto said, "Nothing is easy.  Something's going to happen.  I know it."
 
The door open when they reach the service.
 
"Stay right where you."  A man said emerged from a group of ten people.  He was rather tall and lanky.  His brown hair shifted in the wind with his blue eyes glaring at the two people.  He aimed his MP5 at them.  "General Hammond says you two are not permitted to leave the premises."
 
Ryan smiled, "What are you going to do, Colonel Hummings?  Shoot us if we don't follow your directions?"
 
Colonel Leonard Hummings said, "If I have to.  My orders are to bring you down to the SGC alive."
 
Callisto's chide laughed, "That's a problem right there, Lenny.  We're already dead."
 
Callisto sighed, "Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.  We don't need bloodshed, although I'd love to have some action.  Watch this."
 
She approached the said Colonel, and with her eyes narrowing, "General Hammond said we could go."
 
Leonard nodded and dropped his MP5 to his side, "My mistake, Ms. Caroline."  He turned to his group.  "Allow them to pass."
 
"But General Hammond said not to."  One of them said.
 
Callisto smiled, "I don't know about you.  But I wouldn't want to cross your supervising officer.  It wouldn't be looked upon that well."
 
"But Colonel?"  the same man asked.
 
Without breaking her gaze from Leonard, she said, "Colonel, it appears that your men aren't following orders."
 
He nodded, "Lt. Brown.  Allow them to pass.  That is a direct order, Lt.  I'd follow it if I were you."
 
"But Sir?"  asked another man.
 
"I outrank you.  Follow my orders."
 
Sighing, they said, "Yes, Colonel."
 
Colonel Hummings's team parted allowing Callisto and Ryan to pass.  They entered Ryan's car and drove away.
 
*** 
 
"Hi, Danielle.  Is Anne done for the day?"
 
Danielle nodded, "She's about done, Xander.  I'll tell her you're here.  Take a seat."
 
He walked over to a booth and sat down.  
 
It had been a few days since Buffy found him.  The two spent a lot of time together, just hanging around.  It seemed like they were back in Sunnydale, but different at the same time.
 
In Sunnydale, him, Buffy, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and Giles formed the now current Scooby Gang.
 
But in LA, it was a different group.  Buffy, Faith, Ash, Wesley, and him formed a different team.  They didn't have the supernatural powers that the Scoobies had.  Buffy and Faith were the only ones with powers, but that didn't matter.  It seemed like Buffy was able to work well with people without powers.   It had something to do with Charles Gunn, but that was fine with him.
 
This Buffy he's been hanging with has been a lot different.  She wasn't the same Buffy he knew from Sunnydale.  This Buffy paid more attention to him, seemed to acknowledge him more.  Why, he didn't know.  But this Buffy was stronger and more confident.  She was also more of a team person.  Not like the Buffy in Sunnydale.
 
Buffy became his hero these past few weeks, and she would always stay to be if she continued to improve this way.  He couldn't help but fall more in love with her.  Xander couldn't wait until the two of them got together.  But like he promised, he'd give her space.  Allow her the time for her to be ready. 
 
"Hi, Xand."
 
He looked up to see a smiling Buffy.  "Hi, Anne."
 
She sat down across from him, "Thanks for meeting here.  I wanted to ask you something.  Something that's been going on in my head a week now."
 
He nodded, "You know you can tell me anything."
 
Buffy grinned, "I know I can."
 
"So what do you want to ask me?"
 
His friend said, "I know you want to help me in my patrolling, and I love you for that.  And I know you have your army knowledge in your mind still, and I want to take advantage of that."
 
"Uh huh."
 
"I want to train you, Xander.  I want you to become a better fighter.  So when we get back to Sunnydale, I'm going to tell Giles to help you train.  I want all my friends to train.  That's you, Wills, Oz, and Cordy."
 
He grinned, "I'd like that, Buff.  But do you really think Cordelia would want to train?  I don't know if she'd be the type to do that.  I just don't see her wanting to learn."
 
She nodded, "I understand.  Cordy doesn't strike me as the training type.  How about Wills and Oz?"
 
The boy answered, "Oz might want to train, and I think Willow would give it a shot, but I don't see her continuing it.  She's more of the researcher and recently magical person."
 
"Yeah."  She took a breath, and then asked, "so you want to learn how to fight?"
 
Her friend nodded, "Definitely.  I'd love to kick more demon ass.  And spending time with the Buffster is always a plus."
 
Buffy blushed, "And I love spending time with my Xander."
 
Xander showed a confused look, "I'm your Xander?  What makes you think you can own me?"
 
The Slayer smiled, "I just mean I know that you're my best friend, and I love you for that.  I know you're always there, and I know you're always willing to help.  Like I said, you're my best friend, you're my Xander."
 
He said, "And I guess that makes you my Buffy."
 
"Definitely, Xander.  You're my Xander, and I'm your Buffy.  Nothing is going to change that."
 
"Just remember that the next time we face an apocalypse.  That way, I know if my life was in danger, I'd know you'd come to rescue me."
 
She smiled, "Yeah, I would.  Anyway, it takes too long to break in a new best friend."
 
"Hardy har har, Buff."
 
Changing the subject, she asked, "I hate to stop this, Xander.  But what's this next problem we have to face?"
 
*** 
 
Changing the subject, she asked, "I hate to stop this, Xander.  But what's this next problem we have to face?"
 
He asked innocently, "You don't want to spend any more time with me?"
 
She swatted his arm, "Of course I do, Xan.  I just want to know our timeframe, that's all."
 
Xander nodded slowly, "Uh huh.  Well, we could see Lorne.  He might know something."
 
Buffy sighed, "Every time you need information, you go to see Lorne.  I mean, we have Willy back in Sunnydale, but we don't go to him all the time."
 
He agreed, "True.  But we don't have to threaten Lorne with his life.  He gives the information for free."
 
 
 
She smiled, "I have to agree with you there.  But since it's getting late, why don't we go back to the cabin and split up patrol routes.  Tomorrow we can bother Lorne, tonight I just want to patrol."
 
He grinned as he got out of his seat.  Offering his hand, Xander said, "C'mon, Anne.  Let's get out of here."
 
Buffy accepted his hand and got out of the booth.  "Yeah, I need to get out of here anyway."
 
With that said, the two friends left with Xander saying as soon as he got out of the door, "How long you going to keep this Anne thing going?"
 
*** 
 
"I'm home, Uncle Ash!"
 
Ash flipped off the television seeing his niece coming through the door.  "Have a nice time with Eric?"
 
She grinned, "Yeah, it was cool."
 
He noticed the smile on her lips, "You two been getting along together great.  Do I detect a future relationship happening?"
 
She shook her head, "Fuck no!"
 
Her uncle chuckled, "That's not what I seem to remember.  You couldn't speak the first time you met him."
 
Faith glared at him, "Well, excuse me if I found him attractive!"
 
Ash flashed a lopsided grin, "So you admit you like him?"
 
Shaking her head, she stammered, "What?  No!  Yes!  No!  I dunno."
 
He grinned, "This kid obviously has you twisted inside out, Kiddo."
 
Faith sighed, "X told me things about making sure if I really want to get involved with a guy."
 
Ash asked slowly, "He did, did he?"
 
She nodded, "He did, Uncle Ash.  He told me I had to make sure that Eric had to be the right guy.  I don't want him to know about my slayer half when he isn't with me."
 
The former promised said, "I understand, Faith.  Knowing about what goes bump in the night is never easy."
 
Saying that, he saw his niece downcast her glance at the ground, "But if you really wanted to, you could train him in order for him to get better chances to survive."
 
The Slayer smiled weakly, "I know I could train him.  But I don't know if I'm ready for dating yet.  B's been a slayer longer and she's still not ready to date."
 
Ash said calmly, "Faith, Kiddo.  Buffy tried the dating thing before and fell in love with Angel.  That guy lost his soul and went on a killing spree.  Buffy's heart is broken and needs this time to heal.  Xander knows all this, and that's why he ran after her.  He wanted to make sure she was safe."
 
Realizing what he was saying, Ash said, "We're getting off topic here.  What you have to do is make sure you want to let Eric in on your nightjob.  You have to make sure that he won't abandon you or hurt you by cheating on you."
 
Faith said, "I know, I know.  I have a lot to think about."
 
"Hi, Honey, I'm home!"
 
Ash and Faith saw the door open to reveal a smiling Xander with Buffy standing behind him.
 
Faith grinned, "Hi, Ricky.  Would you please put me in your show tonight?"
 
Xander chuckled, "Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.  How many times do we have to go over this?  No, you can't perform in the show tonight."
 
Buffy walked passed him, "Alright Ricardos, can we go over the patrol routes for tonight?  Because if we don't, I could always call Gunn in, and we'd be already out on patrol."
 
Ash smiled, "Who's Gunn?"
 
"Someone mentioned me?"
 
Buffy turned around immediately and said in a wide smile, "Hey, Gunn.  What you doing here?"
 
Wesley came in from beside him.  "I remember you talking about a Charles Gunn with me the other day.  So, I took the liberty to locate him.  Thought he'd could help us in some patrols."
 
Buffy said, "Gunn has a team of people who fight vampires."
 
Xander smiled, "Cool."
 
His love continued, "We met while I was patrolling.  Charles Gunn, this is my best friend, Xander Harris.  Next to him is another slayer named Faith Williams.  Behind her is her uncle, Ashley Williams.  And you already know Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
 
Gunn chuckled, "You're name is Ashley?"
 
He got out of his seat, "Listen Gunn.  Don't mess with the name.  You don't want to make me angry."
 
Buffy whispered to Gunn, "I wouldn't push it, Gunn.  This guy is tough."
 
He knew when not to cross anyone.  "Sorry, man.  Didn't mean anything by it."
 
Ash took a breath, "Forget about it, Gunn."
 
"Good.  Wes told me about you in the car.  So, what are the patrol teams?"
 
Wesley grinned, "I suggest that Buffy and Xander be one team.  I shall be with Faith, and you, Gunn should be with Ash."
 
"Cool."  Gunn said, "So does this mean we can go break some skulls?"
 
Ash grinned, "I think I'm going to like this guy."
 
 
Wesley stated, "Alright, alright.  The time is now 10:00.  We shall patrol and meet back here at midnight.  Discuss what happened tonight, and then we'll settle in for the night."
 
"Groovy."  Ash said with a grin.
 
Faith went to the nightstand and grabbed her weapon.  She attached it to her belt.  "I fucking can't wait to see how this baby works on vamps."
 
Buffy pouted, "You got that for a weapon?  All I got is a stake."
 
The former promised one looked at her, "What happened to the knife I sold you?"
 
She replied, "I only use it for sharpening stakes.  It's the best way to keep them nice and pointy."
 
Xander chuckled, "Now I know why Kendra called it Mr. Pointy."
 
Buffy looked up at him, "What would you've called it?"
 
He shrugged, "Bob?"
 
Faith smiled, "That seems like something you would say.  Enough small talk, I want to kick some demon ass."
 
Ash walked over to his mantle that was above his fireplace and grabbed his chainsaw.  "I'm read when you are."
 
Gunn's eyes widened, "You got a chainsaw?"
 
He grinned, "Yep.  Buzz, here comes in real handy for these type of missions."
 
Xander nodded, "I can vouch for that."
 
Wesley sighed, "Children, if you please.  Can we go?"
 
Buffy giggled, "Party pooper."
 
Her friend said in surprise, "Party pooper, Buff?"
 
She grinned, "You get the idea, Xan.  So, I guess we better get going."
 
The Watcher smiled, "Precisely."
 
*** 
 
"Wes told me what happened to you, Man.  I gotta say, you been put through some tough shit."
 
Ash grinned as the two walked down a street in Los Angeles.  "You have no idea, Gunn.  That damn book really fucked up my life."
 
He nodded, "Yeah, it is.  Life can be a bitch, but you got to remember the people you have in your life.  That makes life worth living."
 
The former promised one said, "Yep.  I lost a few people, but then I soon met Xander.  Soon after him, I met a ton of people, and I must say it feels good."
 
The self-appointed male slayer stated, "Buffy and Xander really changed our lives in LA, huh?"
 
"You better believe it, Kid.  When all this is said and done, Faith and I got to move to Sunnydale."
 
He showed a confused look, "Sunnydale?"
 
The S-Mart employee said, "That's where the Hellmouth is.  Its vampire central, and I don't want Faith to do this alone.  I went through this shit before, and it can change a person.  Wes, Faith, Xander, Buffy, and I'll head there before the summer ends."
 
"That's cool, Ash.  I got my own thing here in LA going.  My crew have been fighting vamps for years now and we're getting better.  My sister keeps me going."
 
"Family is extremely important, Gunn."
 
"You have no idea."  A voice said as someone appeared out of the darkness.
 
Ash sighed as he revved up his chainsaw, "You read for this?"
 
Gunn withdrew his stake from his sleeve and gave it a twirl, "You better believe it."
 
Ash grinned as three move vampires came from the darkness making the total four, "Come get some."
 
*** 
 
"I assume you've been practicing, Faith?"
 
She grinned as she patted her chackram, "Sure have, Wes.   Gotta admit, this chackram Kevin gave me kicks major ass."
 
Her watcher nodded, "I agree.  It should handle well against the undead.  And I must say, your fighting skills has improved."
 
Faith said, "Well, when B found X. it meant that she was ready to fight again.  And according to what we figure, I'd should be at close to top slayer capacity."
 
"You certainly are correct.  It appears that Mr. Harris knew what he was talking about."
 
Faith grinned, "Call him Xander, Wes.  We went through that already."
 
The Englishman nodded, "That we did."  
 
Saying that, the two turned the corner to see a young woman being forced to the ground.  
 
"As X would say, 'It's clobbering time!'"
 
Wesley sighed, "He never says that."
 
Faith said as she launched herself at the attacker, "You obviously don't know about Xander's love of comics."
 
*** 
 
"Throw me a stake, Buff!"
 
Buffy nodded as she somersaulted over a vampire's back and landed on her feet.  She grabbed the loose weapon and tossed it to her friend, "Here you go, Xan."
 
He said with a slight smile, "Thanks, B."
 
She shook her head as she used her free arm and staked the vampire that she just somersaulted over.  "One down." 
 
"Make that two." Xander said as he staked his opponent.
 
Buffy looked up in front of her, "Five more left."
 
Buffy and Xander walked toward each other and flipped around.  Touching backs, they circled around getting ready to fight the remaining vampires.
 
"You take the boy."  One of the vampires said.  "I want the Slayer."
 
Buffy sighed, "Everybody wants me."
 
Xander asked, "What's not to want, Buff?  I'd kill to get a chance to hang with you."
 
"Shut up."  The vampire said as he leaped toward Buffy.
 
"Duck."  Buffy said.
 
Xander nodded in agreement, "Right."  He did just that, and the vampire leaped over him and landed on his face.
 
The boy sprang into the air and landed onto the vampire-straddling him.  Staking him, he said, "That's the way the vampire crumbles."
 
He dusted himself off and looked toward Buffy. "How many left?"
 
She staked two of them and said, "Two more."
 
"Make that one more."  Another voice said as he came out of the darkness.
 
 
Buffy and Xander looked at each other as the unknown visitor walked forward.
 
Before any of them could do anything, the visitor staked the last demon.  "For the Slayer, you certainly are slow on doing the staking."
 
Her eyes narrowed, "Who the hell are you?"
 
He chuckled as he walked forward to the teenagers.  "I'm just someone who was sent by the powers that be."
 
(The powers that be?  What? Alex wasn't enough?)  With a calming sigh, she asked, "What do you want?"
 
He smiled, "It's not what I want, it's what you want."
 
Xander showed a confused look, "What do we want?"
 
"Oh, I don't know.   I'd think stopping someone so you two can go home be something that you want."
 
Xander's friend asked, "How do you know what's coming?"
 
The visitor said with a smile, "I have visions.  Consider me a personal link to the powers."
 
The boy questioned, "What kinda visions?  We talking visions of the women of Baywatch?  Prophetic visions?  Or visions from our past?"
 
Buffy looked at her friend, "Xander..."
 
He showed a confused look, "What?  I'm a guy after all.  I have a right to imagine Pamela Anderson."
 
She smiled, "Whatever."  Turing to her new link, "As my horny friend was saying."
 
He showed a hurt look, "Hey!"
 
Giggling, she continued, "As I was saying.  What kind of visions?"
 
"Prophetic visions, Buffy."  Introducing himself, "By the way.  My name's Doyle."
 
"How do you know my name, Doyle?"
 
He grinned, "I know all about you, Buffy.  I also know all about you, Xander."
 
Xander gulped, "You know about my stash of Playboys under my mattress?"
 
Buffy asked surprisingly, "You have Playboys?  Let me guess.  You read them for the articles?"
 
He shrugged, "Of course I do."
 
(Men,) she thought. (It's all they think about.)  Moving on, she asked, "So, what's the vision?"
 
"The vision was kinda vague, but I'll tell ya this: Someone's comin' to LA, and she's gonna cause some real trouble."
 
*** 
 
The voice from the darkness came forward, followed by three others.  "Allow me to introduce my family."
 
Ash growled, "Not interested."  He walked up to a vampire and looked down, "You're shoelaces are untied."  The demon looked as Ash flew a right cross against his chin.  "That's the second time that that worked."
 
The demon recoiled with a roundhouse, knocking the S-Mart employee's air right out of him.  "Attack!"
 
Ash jumped to his feet and grabbed the said demon by the shirt.  With his revved up chainsaw in the air, he brought it down full force dissecting the demon lengthwise.  "Try pulling yourself together faster, Jerkface."
 
The former promised one turned around to see Gunn in the middle of a two vampire brawl.
 
Grabbing one into a half-nelson, Gunn staked the vampire with ease.  "Get your hands off me!"
 
Watching the demon's ash settle to the ground, the second vampire threw a punch at Gunn's back.
 
Before the demon connected, Ash intercepted and caught the fist.  He twirled around dissecting the vampire in two with his chainsaw.  "Leave him alone, Asswipe."  Soon, Ash's victim crumbled into dust.
 
Gunn, meanwhile, ran to the last demon and grabbed his arm.  With all his human strength, he threw the vampire to the other side of the street.  
 
"Pathetic mortal."  The vampire said as he got to his feet.  "You're going to pay for that."
 
Ash smirked, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."  He looked at Gunn, "Can I borrow your stake?"  
 
Nodding, he threw it to him, "Not at all."
 
Catching it, Ash walked up to the demon.  "You guys make me sick."  He quickly stabbed the piece of wood into the vampire's chest.  "And that's how it ends."  
 
Turning back to his new friend, he tossed him the stake.  "Thanks, Kid."
 
Gunn smiled, "Nice work, Ash.  That chainsaw of yours can do some serious damage."
 
"You better believe it.  But you never saw what it could do against deadites.  These vampires are strong, but deadites are so much more stronger."
 
"I believe it."  Gunn said with his still conscious grin.  "Let's get back to the cabin."
 
"Let's take the longer route.  Strangly enough, I'm in the mood for a walk."
 
"That's cool."  He said as joined the brunette.  "Where can I get one of those chainsaws?"
 
*** 
 
Saying that, the two turned the corner to see a young woman being forced to the ground.  
 
"As X would say, 'It's clobbering time!'"
 
Wesley sighed, "He never says that."
 
Faith said as she launched herself at the attacker, "You obviously don't know about Xander's love of comics."
 
She landed on the demon who was holding onto the young woman.  "Get the fuck off of her!"
 
The demon dropped his victim as he heard the cry from the unfamiliar brunette female.  Turning around, he caught her in mid-air and tossed his attacker aside.  "Get the hell away from me!"
 
Faith got back to her feet, with one hand on her chackram, she used the other one to gesture a signal for her watcher, "Get her out of here!"
 
"Of course, Faith."  Wesley said as we ran to the fallen young woman.  "Remember your training, Faith."
 
Faith nodded, "Training, right.  Move it!"
 
Watching him go, Faith aimed her chacram and let it loose.  She watched it as the weapon bounced off of the buildings that surrounded the street as well as trashcans and a fire escape.  But it missed the demon by a few centimeters and landed by the far right wall.
 
"Damn.  I guess I need more practice."  She said to herself as she went for her stake.
 
"You got one hell of a lousy aim."  The demon said as he grabbed something from the ground.  "I got what I needed."
 
He then began running down the street.
 
Faith sprinted down the street, making sure to pick up her chackram. 
 
Looking up from the ground, she noticed the demon escaped.  "Shit!"
 
"Everything okay?"
 
Faith looked at the source of the voice to see her watcher coming from the darkness.  "The demon got away."
 
"He couldn't of gotten far.  Let's go after it."
 
Nodding, Faith placed her chackram back on her belt.  "I wonder what he picked up from the ground."
 
*** 
 
"What is this show?"
 
Ryan looked up from the television.  "It's called Xena: Warrior Princess.  It's a spin-off of Hercules: the Legendary Journeys."
 
Callisto looked at her show, "There's shows based on Hercules and Xena?"
 
The vampire nodded, "Yeah."  He turned to the television and looked at the episode.  "This is a repeat.  It has Hercules making a crossover."
 
"Hercules is in this episode?"
 
Pointing to the screen, he said, "Yeah, he is.  The brunette is Xena.  And the annoying blond is Gabrielle.  They work together fighting the gods, warlords, and creatures.   Whether they are Ares, Callisto, or a minotaur."
 
His face paled, "Callisto..."
 
*** 
 
 
*** 
The demon lowered his head as he entered the spacious room.
 
Raising it, flicked the light switch on allowing the florescent lights to brighten the room.
 
Shadows soon danced across the room as he walked over to the right corner.  Grabbing the object he obtained from the ground, he placed it on a podium.  
 
With a malevolent smile, the demon said, "Finally.  I now have the last page."
 
He lit surrounding candles that decorated the top of the podium with a match.  Satisfied, he closed his eyes, raised his arms and started to move his hands in a circular motion.
 
"Abba moni clactu virata nikto josuz---."
 
CRACK!
 
The demon suddenly fell to ground in a thud.
 
Somebody walked inside the room and walked over to the fallen body.  With a mighty thrust, she yanked her weapon out of the demon's neck.
 
With a smile, "Looks like I didn't miss this time."
 
"Well done, Faith."  Said the Englishman.  
 
"Thanks, Wes."  Stepping over the body, she grabbed the pages that were on the podium.  She looked down at it, and saw red writing on the torn pages.  Faith gave them to her watcher, "What do you make of this?"
 
He immediately recognized the pages.  "These are from the Necronomicon Ex Mortis."
 
"Shit!"  Faith hollered out.  "Uncle Ash isn't going to like this."
 
Saying in a low voice, Wesley said, "No he won't.  We better take these to him and the others.  I have a feeling something is bound to happen shortly."
 
"Hurry up then, Wes.  We'll figure out what to do there."
 
They then ran out of he room with the pages of the Necronomicon.
 
***
 
 
Xander looked at his friend, "Do you think this guy is for real?"
 
She nodded, "As much as I think the powers should be screwed.  I recently learned to trust them on occasion."
 
He showed you a confused look, "You learned to trust the powers?  Since when?"
 
Buffy didn't want him to know about Alex.  Alex was somebody that only Buffy knew about, and she wanted it to stay that way.  Hoping something would happen to change the course of this conversation, anything at all.
 
Doyle said, "Listen you two.  Something is coming.  I should know, I got a vision, and my former migraine proves it."
 
Thankfully, Buffy asked, "Migraine?"
 
He nodded, "Aye.  I get a migraine every time I get a vision.   It hurts like hell, but everything has a price."
 
Buffy sighed, "Don't I know it." 
 
Xander noticed the tone of her voice.  Buffy was a girl that had too much responsibility.  Strike that.  She was a young woman who had too damn much responsibility.
 
Every night since he known her and even before that, she went out of her way to risk her life so people like him could live the next day.
 
Knowing that, he promised himself that from the very day he met her, he'd protect her in anyway he could.  Xander already lost Jesse and Catharine.  He didn't want to lose anyone else.
 
Xander would help her in anyway that he could.  He has proven that time and time again, and it looked like she knew that.
 
"You alright, Xan?"
 
Her voice cut him out of his inner musings.  With a smile, he said, "Yeah, I am.   Forget about it."
 
She grinned, "Already forgotten.  C'mon. We're off to the cabin."
 
*** 
 
She nodded, "Before I answer that, I want to make sure I'm right..."
 
Her eyes widened as she saw a character appear on the screen.  The character had long hair, wore a familiar set of pants as well as a familiar shirt.  
 
Callisto approached the screen, getting the whole picture of the said character.  "Is that...?"
 
Ryan showed a confused look, "Is that who?"
 
His sire reworded the question, "Is that Hercules?"
 
Her childe looked down at the screen, nodded, and said, "Yeah, that's Kevin Sorbo.  He plays Hercules."
 
A wide grin realizing the truth.  Hercules was still alive, but as Kevin Sorbo?  Didn't matter.  Killing him would only make her feel more complete.
 
"What are you talking about?"
 
Callisto said with a smile, "Never mind.  Where is this 'Kevin Sorbo' now?"
 
"My guess is Los Angeles.  That's where the show's being taped."
 
"Take me there, Ryan.  Take me to Los Angeles.  I'll tell you everything you need to know on the way."
 
Without any further hesitation, Lieutenant Ryan Banks said, "Of course, Callisto."
 
***  
 
That smell.  
 
It was that smell.
 
With two glowing green eyes, he looked down the street with himself in the shadows of the night.
 
With his eyes glaring at the two humans down the street, his smile grew even more malevolent.  He rubbed his hands in eagerness.
 
As soon as he got those pages, he would be the most famous demon in the entire planet.  Satan would no longer be the name that all men feared.  The name would be none other than Goklox.  
 
Goklox would be truly omnipotent and all the world would tremble when his name was spoken.
 
Feeling nothing but pure evil energy in his body, Goklox ran out of the shadows hollering, "You have crossed the street for the last time!"
 
The young woman asked in confusion, "What?"
 
With a snarl, the demon said, "My name is Goklox.  For I am the most omnipotent demon on the face of this Earth.  And all I need are those pages!"
 
The elder man said, "If you think that my slayer here is going to give you these pages, you are hugely mistaken."
 
"You dare defy me!  Nobody will forget who I am!"
 
Faith smirked, "Yeah, right.  You ain't getting these pages."
 
He stomped forward, "Oh, but I am!"
 
She gave the pages to her watcher as she took her weapon from her belt.  "Shut the fuck up!"  Faith then aimed her weapon, and let it loose.
 
Her chackram cut through the demon's windpipe, killing him in the process.
 
"That was easy enough."
 
Wesley nodded, "It appears that way.  He definitely thought highly of himself."
 
She showed a confused look, "What was his name again?"
 
He shrugged, "I do not remember.  Let's go to the cabin."
 
*** 
 
"Ash!"
 
Ash stood up from the couch to see Wesley charging inside the cabin carrying a limp Faith.  "We need your help!"
 
"What happened?"  Xander yelled as he approached his friend.
 
"Is she alright?" Buffy asked.
 
"Is she alright, Man?"  Doyle repeated the question.
 
Wesley looked at the source of the new voice, "Who are you?"
 
Buffy said, "It's alright, Wes.  This is just Doyle."
 
Ash immediately ran to his niece, "Don't worry about him.  What happened to her, Wes?  You better tell me what the fuck is going on?"
 
He looked down at her and she started shaking recklessly.  "Somebody damn well tell me what's wrong?"
 
Faith soon felt something on her shoulder.  She immediately grabbed the spot to try and stop the pain.
 
"What the hell happened?"  Gunn asked.
 
Ash brought Faith to the couch as Wesley told the story.
 
"We followed a demon to his apartment where he was chanting some kind of spell.  After Faith killed him, we took the pages the demon was reading from."
 
Ash growled getting an idea in his idea, "What kind of pages?"
 
Wesley said immediately, "The Necronomicon..."
 
The former promised one cut him off, "Shit!  I fucking hate that book!"
 
Gunn showed a confused look, "What's this Necronomicon?"
 
Ash snarled, "It's the damn book that ruined my life!  There is no way I'm going to lose Faith."
 
Faith's hand grasped her shirt and yanked it off revealing bare skin.  Her skin started to open up.
 
Buffy's eyes widened, "What's happening to her?  There's an eye on her shoulder!"
 
"Shit!  That ain't normal, Uncle Ash!"
 
Her uncle shook his head, "No!   Not again!"
 
Xander asked, "What the hell are you talking about?"
 
Wesley stated, "Chances of what your thinking are slim to none on happening again, Ash!"
 
He glared at him, "You may have studied the book.  But I've lived it!  I know better than anyone what's happening!"
 
"What's happening?"  Gunn asked.
 
Soon the cut on Faith's shoulder started expanding showing a nose.
 
"Shit!"  Xander yelled.
 
"That ain't right!"  Doyle yelled.  
 
Faith immediately sprang from the couch and ran to the mantle.  Grabbing the chainsaw, she tossed to Ash, "Get this thing out of me!  Get this mother fucking thing out of me!"
 
The hole in her shoulder expanded more and more.  A new eye emerged followed by more skin.  
 
"You got to be kidding!"  Xander yelled.
 
Catching the chainsaw in his free hand.  "Dismemberment ain't going to do shit!"
 
"Then what will?"  Asked the human/demon half-breed.
 
Faith hollered,  "Then take the chackram!"
 
Their eyes widened in horror as a head appeared out of Faith's shoulder.
 
Faith looked in the mirror that was by the right wall, and screamed in horror.  
 
"You got to be kidding me!"  Faith yelled.
 
She started running out of the cabin, screaming into the night.
 
"We're coming, Faith!"  Xander yelled as he sprinted out of the cabin as well.  His friends followed suit.
 
*** 
 
The two-headed Slayer ran into the night.  Soon, an arm and another set of legs grew from Faith.  It looked like Faith now had a Siamese Twin.
 
The two of them ran down the street.  They started pulling away from each other.  And soon, two bodies separated from Faith's body.
 
"What the fuck are you?"  Faith asked.
 
The other Faith snickered, "'What the fuck are you?'"  She repeated with a haunting laugh.
 
Faith suddenly remembered her uncle's stories.  "You're me!  Aren't you?"
 
Ash and the others came running to them.
 
"It happened again!"  Ash yelled.
 
"There two of you now!"  Gunn asked.
 
Ash growled, "That's Bad Faith."
 
Faith said, "You're me."
 
Evil Faith smiled wickedly, "Give the Slayer a prize!"  
 
"What do we do?"  Doyle asked.
 
Faith's evil twin saw the pages from the Necronomicon in Wesley's hands.  "I'll take those!"  She grabbed them.
 
"If you thought Bad Ash was bad, wait to you see Bad Faith."  Evil Faith said as clobbered Buffy in the cheek.  "Slayers may be strong, but I'm stronger."
 
Buffy recoiled quickly with a left cross but Evil Faith intercepted by grabbing the blond's hand and throwing her onto the Englishman.
 
Xander charged the double but was kicked in the gut.  "Pathetic."
 
She saw Ash's chainsaw revving, "That won't do any good.  You realize that, don't you?"
 
Gunn grabbed his stake and launched himself at her.
 
The stake imbedded in Bad Faith's chest, but it didn't do any good.
 
"Damn!"
 
She kicked Gunn's side forcing the bald man to the ground.  "Did you fall and go boom?"
 
"I'll kill you!"  Faith yelled.  
 
"We'll kill you!"  Xander said as helped Buffy to her feet.
 
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."  Bad Faith said as she turned around.  "Wait till I come back!  I won't be alone next time!"  Then she ran off.
 
*** 
 
"Good.  You're all here."
 
Colonel Jonathan "Jack" O'Neill looked at his superior officer, "What's the problem, Sir?  I was going to go fishing."
 
General George Hammond said, "It's going to have to wait, Colonel.  We have a problem on our hands."
 
"What kind of problem, Sir?"  Captain Samantha "Sam" Carter asked.
 
"Please sit down."
 
The four members of SG-1 and the general sat down in their familiar seating arrangements.  "Lieutenant Banks and Caroline have left the premises.  When they were stopped by Colonel Hummings, they easily got passed him.  No damage was dealt.  The two of them just walked off the base."
 
Doctor Daniel Jackson looked at them. "Well, General Hammond.  I saw them earlier.   Ryan said he was on his way home."
 
He nodded, "I called Lieutenant Banks' phone.  But nobody was there."
 
"Perhaps Lieutenant Banks has not arrived home yet?"  Teal'c offered.
 
"That is a distinct possibility.  But that was over an hour ago.  Lieutenant Banks only lives fifteen minutes away."
 
Jack nodded, "I saw Banks kissing a woman in the corridor a while ago."  
 
"General Hammond!"
 
Hammond look at the door and noticed a horrid look on his face.  "What is it, Colonel?  You better have a good reason for barging in."
 
Colonel Makepeace said, "I do, Sir.  I just went to see Nurse Hall.  She's dead."
 
"Are you sure, Colonel?" 
 
He nodded, "She had two holes in the side of her neck, Sir."
 
Jack showed a confused look, "Two holes?  You sure it wasn't just from a goa'uld?"
 
Makepeace shook his head, "No, Sir.  Two holes in her neck.  Her body's cold."
 
The general looked at the archeologist, "What do you make of this, Doctor Jackson?"
 
Daniel looked at him in confusion, "I really can't think of anything that would cause two holes in the neck, General."
 
Jack smirked, "Vampires could."
 
Sam looked at him, "Vampires, Colonel?"
 
Daniel said, "Vampires could exist, Jack.  Recently, we've found out a lot of Earth's mythology was based on alien influence.  Vampire mythology could've been influenced by goa'uld or other parasitic animals' interference."
 
Jack said, "That would make sense, Sir.  Banks' not the type to kiss women."
 
Hammond looked at him, "What are you suggesting, Jack?"
 
Jack said, "Well, Banks was never the type of guy that kisses in the base.  He was a guy who lived by the book.  And plus, don't vampires have that whole sexual appeal?"
 
"You can't be serious, Colonel."  Sam asked.  "You really believe that vampires exist?"
 
Daniel said, "Actually, Sam.  It would make sense.  Vampires have always been a part of world culture.  Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, and a lot of fiction is based on some truth.  Who know's if he hasn't come in contact with a vampire?"
 
Nodding, the captain asked, "What do we do, Sir?"
 
Hammond gave it some thought, then said, "If either Lieutenant Banks or Caroline are vampires, then this world is in serious trouble.  I want SG-1 on the top of this matter."
 
Sam then remembered something.  "Actually General, the whole incident Colonel Hummings experience could be explained by this.  Hathor did the same thing.  She was able to use all of you to her advantage.  Perhaps Banks was just under Caroline's influence."
 
He nodded, "Either way.  I'd like SG-1 on top of this.  The problem is, we don't know where Lieutenant Banks or Caroline are.  They could be anywhere."
 
"Indeed."  Was the Jaffa's statement.
 
Sam suggest, "We could just ask around, Sirs.  If I were a goa'uld, I'd want to travel in secret.  Causing a ruckus wouldn't be the best solution."
 
Hammond agreed, "That's probably the best solution we can come up with, Captain Carter.  I want you four to get going."
 
Jack sighed, "I guess I'll have to fish another day."
 
"Afraid so, Jack.  You're dismissed."
 
They left the room with Daniel saying to Sam, "Who knew Jack have the right answer to something."
 
"I heard that."  Jack said from outside the office.
*** 
 
"Here you go, Sir.  Two tickets for Los Angeles."
 
Banks grinned, "Thanks.  The train leaves when?"
 
The teller looked at the clock, "In fifteen minutes, Lieutenant Banks.  Thank you for making Western Union Rails your train station.  Have a good trip."
 
Caroline said, "We will.  Thank you."
 
With that said, the two vampires turned around and headed for the right train.
 
*** 
 
"What do we do now?"  
 
Ash looked at down at her niece.  "Fighting my twin wasn't easy, Faith.  It took a lot to get rid of him."  He turned to Wesley.  "What exactly happened?"
 
He replied, "As I have said before.  Faith and I tracked a demon to his apartment.  He chanted a spell from the Necronomicon. Then we killed him."
 
The former promised one asked, "Did he finish the spell?"
 
Faith thought for a moment.  "No.  We stopped him in the middle of it."
 
Ash grunted, "That's what happened last time.  I didn't say the right three words and I awoke the army of darkness.  Big mistake."
 
Buffy asked, "So how do we stop her?"
 
He thought back, "It took a lot of fire power.  But what we need to do is train an army."  He then remembered something, "Gunn, do you think your team can help us here?"
 
The bald man nodded, "Definitely.  They're always up for action."
 
He grinned, "Good.  Because we have a lot of work to do."  He turned to Xander, "You think Kevin will want to help?"
 
Xander said, "I could ask him.  He'd probably want to help.  He already knows a lot about us."
 
Ash smiled, "Good.  So this is what's going to happen.  We don't have much time.  Since tomorrow is Sunday, we need the time to train.  Faith's training room wont be enough space for us."
 
Xander shook his head, "Neither will my apartment."
 
"Or mine."  Buffy said.
 
Wesley grinned, "I believe I have a suitable solution."
 
 
Ash looked at his friend, "What do you suggest?"
 
He smiled, "Well, my time at the Council has proven to be quite beneficial in other ways besides demonic activities and self defense."
 
"I see."  Ash said in a distinct annoyed tone.  "What are you suggesting?"
 
"I have an acquaintance who runs a firing range.  He used to work for the council, but now he owns the range.  I'm more than sure that he'd be willing to help us."
 
Faith said, "Do it, Wes.  If it'll help us take down my other half, then do it."
 
He nodded, "Right.  I shall call Mr. Pierce. "
 
"Cool."  Xander said with a grin.  
 
"Right, cool."  Wesley said while trying to maintain the teenager's language.
 
"So, what do we do in the mean time?"  Buffy asked.
 
Gunn said, "I'd say we get a good night's rest, Buff.   Tomorrow is a day of training.  I need to tell my crew what's going on."
 
"Wicked," Faith said with a smile. 
 
Xander thought for a minute.  "Do you think this blond woman we have to stop is something attached to Bad Faith?"
 
Doyle shrugged, "It could, and it couldn't.  My visions aren't exactly specific.  I just remember seeing a blond woman heading for Los Angeles.  She had a man with her in army clothing."
 
Buffy asked, "Do you know where they're heading to in LA?"
 
The half human/demon hybrid thought back to his vision.  "They were heading to a television studio.  That much I remember."
 
(I wonder...) Xander thought for a second.  He knew he had to call Hercules at some point tomorrow.   He'll warn him about the vision.  Being prepared was nothing to sneeze at.  "We'll figure it out tomorrow.  Right now, all I want to do is get some sleep."
 
Faith looked at the clock, "Damn.  I had no idea it was so late.  Yeah, I guess I'll get to bed too."
 
"We shall reconvene here tomorrow at nine o'clock." Wesley said to them.  "That shall give me enough time to contact Mr. Pierce in the morning."
 
"You do that, Wes."  Ash said. 
 
With that said, the friends left the cabin, headed for their own apartments, not knowing what was to come tomorrow and the days after.
 
*** 
"Shit!"
 
Bad Faith banged her fist on the desk that she was using.  
 
"These are the wrong pages!"
 
Sighing, she leaned back her back, and placed her feet on top of the desk.  "Where are they?"
 
Before anything else could be said or thought, she lost her balance and fell off the seat.
 
"Shit!"
 
***
 
"May I help you?"
 
Jack nodded, "My friend Murray here and I were wondering if you could help us locate a fellow soldier?"
 
The teller looked at them.  "What's the name, Colonel O'Neill?"
 
Teal'c submitted the answer, "Lieutenant Banks."
 
Jack reconfirmed, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks.  He let the base in a hurry, and forgot his binder.  It's urgent that he gets this."
 
The teller nodded as she looked in the computer system for the name.  "One moment please."
 
"Take your time."  Jack said.
 
"Indeed."  Teal'c said.
 
Shaking her head, "Sorry, Colonel O'Neill. Lieutenant Ryan Banks never came here. "
 
Sighing, the head of SG-1 said, "Thanks for the help.  Come along, Murray."
 
"Thank you for coming to Colorado Greyhound."
 
*** 
 
"Excuse me?"
 
A man turned around in the office and walked to the window.  "Welcome to Western Union Rails.  How may I help you?"
 
Daniel said, "Captain Carter and I are looking for a soldier.  Perhaps you saw him?"
 
The man said, "Name?"
 
Sam said, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks.  He bought two tickets."
 
He nodded, "Lemme check."  Then went into his computer and typed in the needed information.
 
"Right here, Captain Carter.  Lieutenant Banks bought two tickets to Los Angeles last night.  They should be there now."
 
Daniel smiled, "Thank you."
 
With that said, Sam and Daniel left the railroad station.
 
Sam grabbed her walkie-talkie.  She pressed the button, "Sir, it's Captain Carter.  Lieutenant Banks left for LA."
 
*** 
"Take it easy, Faith."
 
Bad Faith looked in front of her and saw a vision of Ash. 
 
She could feel him.  This wasn't the Ash that lived back at the cabin.  This was...
 
"...Uncle Ash?"
 
He grinned, "So my niece finally turned evil, did she?"
 
She grinned malevolently, "I'm not that pathetic excuse of a slayer.  I'm more lethal."
 
Bad Ash walked over to her.  "Good to know, Faith.  Good to know.  I'm here to help you."
 
Faith asked, "Help me with what?"
 
He grimed, "Help you get the Necronomicon.  I failed because my damn goody two-shoe twin blew me up.  I want to make him pay.  And now that you're like me.  I want to help you."
 
"What do I do?"
 
Bad Ash grinned, "Find the  book.   Simple as that.  Once you do, you'll know what to do."
 
Faith spat at him figuratively, "Easier said then done.  I only got a few lousy pages!"
 
He walked over to her, "The book isn't that far away.  Let the darkness within you tell you.  Follow your instincts.  The Hellmouth's waiting for you, Faith.  It's waiting for you."
 
With that said, Bad Ash dissipated..."I'll be back."
 
Bad Faith sighed, "He may  be bad, but he's pathetic on the help.  Now," she grunted, "where's that damn book!"
 
*** 
 
"Hello?"
 
Recognizing the voice, Xander smiled, "Hey, Herc.  Morning."
 
"Hello, Xander."  He looked at the clock in his bedroom, "it's eight o'clock."
 
"I know.  We got problems, Hercules.  Major ones."
 
Hearing the tone in his voice, Hercules knew that this was serious.  "What sort of problems?"
 
With that Xander said into the phone the problems. He told him about Faith splitting in two, saying that her bad half ran away into the night with pages of the Necronomicon.  The boy also told him about the vision that Doyle had.
 
"Do you know any blond women?"
 
The demigod said with sarcasm, "You mean like your friend, Buffy?"
 
Chuckling, he said, "Good point.  I just wanted to warn you.  We're meeting at Ash's place in one hour.  Can you make it?"
 
Hercules gave it some thought; "This is going to be hard with me trying to keep my secret, Xander.  You know that."
 
"I know, Herc.  But Ash said this is going to take some work.  He fought his bad self before and it wasn't easy.  Fighting a bad version of Faith is going to be worse."
 
"I'll be there, Xander.  I'm going to need your help coming up with some answers."
 
He returned, "Don't worry.  I've been covering for Buffy for a few years now.  I don't let just anyone know she's the Slayer."
 
"Yet you tell a lot of people here.  You told Ash, me, Faith, Wesley."
 
"I told them because they needed to know, Herc.  You know that."
 
"True.  I'll be there for nine."
 
"Thanks, Hercules.  I'll see you there."
 
*** 
 
"Sean Pierce speaking."  A British man said in a thick accent.
 
"Ah, Mr. Pierce.  Good morning.  It's Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
 
Knowing fully well what this would be about, he was prepared for the situation.  "What do you need, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce?"
 
"We need the firing range to do some training.  There's danger a foot.  Danger that includes the necessity of two vampire slayers and a number of people.  I would not be calling you if this was not extremely necessarily." 
 
"I understand, Wesley.  What type of training are we talking about?"
 
"We need help in the areas of combat and firing guns.  We truly are short on time, Mr. Pierce."
 
"Call me Pierce."
 
"Most certainly Mr. Pierce.  I mean, Pierce.  We'll be there within two hours."
 
"See you then, Wesley."
 
"Good day."
 
"Good day."  Sean said waiting for the other phone to hang up.  Hanging up soon after.  Taking off his hat, he tossed it in the direction of a coat rack, watching it land on top of it.  With a smile, he said, "Works every time."
 
***
"Where you going, Callisto?"
 
Callisto turned to her childe, "I'm going to the studio, Ryan."
 
He shook his head, "It's Sunday."
 
"So?"
 
"So, places aren't open.  I don't think Kevin Sorbo will be in today.  Wait until tomorrow."
 
Sighing, she said, "But I want to kill him now."
 
"Waiting one day won't be a problem, Callisto.  Just think of it this way, it gives him one more day to have life.  Tomorrow, we can rip it away from him.  Anyway, it's morning now.  Not much we can do."
 
"Fine.  We'll leave tomorrow.  But I want to go as soon as night comes."
 
*** 
 
"O'Neill?"
 
Jack looked next to him, "Yeah, Murray?"
 
"What happens on these trains?"
 
"Trains are just a way to travel."  He pointed in front of him.  "See the monitor."
 
"Yes, I do, O'Neill."
 
"We'll be watching a movie to pass the time."
 
"Will it be Star Wars?"
 
"Let me check."  He said as he pulled out a specific magazine.  Finding the page he wants, "Not this time."  Sighing his head in disappointment, "It's Soldier."
 
"Is it a bad movie, O'Neill?"
 
Shaking his head, "No, it's not.  It's just the guy who plays Sergeant Todd.  He just bugs me."
 
 
"So where we off to?"  Faith called out as she exited the hallway.
 
Looking around, she spotted a ton of people: Xander, Buffy, her uncle, Wesley, Kevin, Doyle, Gunn, and a group of what looked like a dozen men.  There was also one young woman within them.
 
"Damn.  This place's packed."
 
Ash said calmly, "I had a lot more last time, but think of it this way.  It looks like all these people know how to handle themselves in a fight."
 
Xander nodded, "Right.  But we're still going to need to learn how to fight better."
 
Ash nodded, "We're going to have to learn battle formations and gun use properly."
 
Buffy just glanced at the floor.
 
"What's up, Buff?"  Xander asked his friend.
 
Looking up, she said, "I never liked guns, Xander.  I'd rather fight with a stake, crossbow, or sword."
 
Ash walked up to her, "I've fought these deadites before, and trust me, you'll want all the firepower you can get.  It's the best way to take 'em out."
 
Wesley agreed, "And Mr. Pierce is the best at what he does.  He's been known to have great skill in combat and weaponry.  He was an important asset for the council."
 
Sighing, she said, "I just dunno.  I heard using a gun can change a person."
 
Xander looked at his friends, "Is it alright if I talk to her?"
 
Around of nods could be seen.
 
Grinning, he said, "Thanks."  
 
Walking over to his friend, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked out of the cabin.
 
The two friends made their way down the front steps and walked over to a nearby tree.
 
Xander looked at her, "Alright, Buff.  It's just you and me.  No one else.  What's the problem?"
 
She glanced up at him and said in a soft voice, "This is hard for me, Xan.  It's really hard for me."
 
He said cautiously, "Why's it so hard?"
 
Her eyes started to glaze over with tears, "Because, Xander..."
 
Xander nodded, "Because why?"
 
She saw the concern he had for her.  She saw the love he had for her.  "Because of what happened to my father."
 
The mention of her father made this conversation more important then what Xander suspected.  "What happened to him?"
 
"He, he, he got shot."
 
Realizing she said that, tears started to cascade down her cheeks.  He immediately pulled her into his embrace and allowed her tears to eat away at his shirt.
 
He started to let his fingers run through her blond hair.  "It's alright, Buff.  You can tell me."
 
Buf she didn't talk, she just let him hold her.  She let him take care of her.  The way he always did.
 
She tried to start talking, but couldn't.  She never could stop crying whenever this was brought up.
 
The only people she ever told about this was her mother and father.  They  would always hold her, much like what Xander was doing.
 
She raised her head and looked at Xander.  He carefully took his thumb and wiped her tears away.  "What happened?"
 
Buffy knew she could tell him.  It only seemed right.  "It happened when I was eight..."
 
*** 
 
"Alright, Buffy.  What flavor do you want?"
 
Buffy looked through the display case at the man flavors of ice cream.  She grinned, "Chocolate.  Two scoops with chocolate sprinkles."
 
He chucked, "Sounds good to me."  He looked at the cashier.  "Ill have the same.  Two servings of two scoops of chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles."
 
"Right away, Sir."  Said the cashier as she went to get the order.
 
Buffy hugged her father's waist.  "Thanks, Daddy."
 
He smiled, "Anything for my princess."
 
She giggled,  "I love you."
 
"I love you, Buffy.  Never forget that."
 
"Here you are, Sir."
 
Her father went inside his pocket and pulled out his wallet.  After paying for the ice cream, he gave one cone to Buffy.  "Here you go, Sweetheart."
 
Buffy grinned, "Thank you, Daddy."  She then took a lick of the ice cream.
 
Taking a lick of his, he said, "C'mon, Buffy.  Let's go home."
 
Her father opened the door and let her go through.  Walking through, he closed the door, and they left.
 
The two of them walked down the streets eating their ice cream and talking to each other.
 
Soon a man came down the street.  He was wearing a trench coat and a fedora.  The man went inside his breast pocket and pulled out a gun.  He wrapped his left arm around Buffy and pointed the gun at her right temple.
 
With a sadistic smile, he said, "Give me your money!"
 
He nodded slowly, "Alright, alright.  Just don't kill her."
 
She dropped her cone and had her eyes wet with tears.  "Daddy?"
 
"I'll kill her if I have to.  Give me your money."
 
"Daddy, I'm scared."
 
"It'll be alright.  It'll be over soon."
 
Nodding, he took his wallet from his gave it to the mugger.  "Here, take your money.  Just leave my daughter alone."
 
He quickly let go of Buffy and took the wallet.  Placing the wallet in his pocket, he watched the girl run to her father.  "I'm not finished yet!"
 
The mugger aimed his handgun at Buffy and squeezed the trigger.
 
Her father instinctively shoved Buffy out of the way, and a look of pain suddenly crossed his face.
 
Buffy looked down in horror.
 
"Noooooo!"
 
*** 
 
 
Talking about that night was always hard for Buffy.  What kind of human being would actually kill a girl's father right in front of her?
 
Well, maybe not kill.  But the mugger certainly made it close to a vital organ.   It hurt too much at times to talk about.  As she remembered before, her mother and father were the only ones that she talked to about this.  Now, Xander knew.
 
But why Xander?  Why was she able to trust Xander with all this information?  
 
Simple answer.
 
His love, his kindness, his friendship, his loyalty, his honesty, and his ability to tell what really mattered in this world.
 
And to think it was someone sent by the Powers that Be that told her.  She always felt that they should be screwed over...that they made everything difficult.  But then they sent Alex.  
 
Alex opened her eyes to what her friends were really capable of.  She learned a lot about them, and learned a lot about Xander.  Behind this joking man was her best friend.  The one person that wasn't her parents.  One of the people she could come to.  That meant a lot to her, and there was no way in hell that she was going to lose him.  
 
If he died, she'd go insane.  Well, maybe not insane, but she'd definitely be emotionally and mentally scarred.
 
"What happened next?"
 
She looked back up at him and saw him give that soft smile.  
 
"I mean, if you don't want to tell me, I understand, Buffy.  I'm so sorry you had to witness that.  Seeing your dad get shot at eight-years-old must've really hurt you."
 
She nodded, "It did hurt, Xan.  It hurt so much."
 
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But I need to tell someone.  It'll help me get passed this pain."
 
Looking around, he spotted a swinging bench that Ash must've set up yeas ago.  Taking her hand, "C'mon, Buff."  He said to her as he took her to the bench and sat her down.   Still holding her hand, he said, "Continue."
 
Taking another breath, she said, "After he got shot, the mugger ran away in horror.  Now, that I look back at it.  I think he was just full of hot air.  It got hot and heavy and he just ran away.
 
"Running back to my dad, I asked if he was alright.  But when he didn't answer me, I really got worried.  I looked around and noticed a phone booth.  I remembered what my mom told me.  Taking the phone I called for an ambulance.  Followed by mother.
 
"Hanging up the phone, I turned back to my dad and held his hand.  I kept asking him to live.  I kept telling him that I loved him.
 
"Soon, I heard footsteps.  Feeling an arm wrap around me, I was pulled into a hug.  Looking up I saw my mom.  She held me while we both cried until the ambulance came by.
 
"The doctors said I called them at that right time.  If I waited any time longer, my dad would've died."
 
With a cautious voice, Xander said, "Did they ever find the guy?"
 
She nodded, "Yeah, they did.  It was a week later.  But during the next few months, I had a hard time walking home at night.  I made myself not go out.  I didn't want to see again what happened to my father.  I basically became a hermit crab.  That asshole took away a lot more than my dad's wallet.  He took away my life"
 
"And now that I slay vampires, I keep imagining the face of that son of a bitch on all the kills that I make."
 
"I'm the only that you told this to?"
 
Buffy said, "Yeah, you are, Xand."
 
"That's why I don't want to use a gun, Xander.  I don't want to use the very weapon that shot my dad.  I don't want to know that kind of power.  I'm afraid if I do, I might use it by accident and shoot someone that I love.  If I ever shot my parents or my friends, I wouldn't know what I'd do."
 
Tears started to remerge from her eyes. 
 
Xander pulled her into a hug, and held on to her while she cried.
 
Buffy was being a blubbery mess.  She couldn't handle it anymore.  All those years of holding it in was bound to break.  Buffy was just lucky it was in front of Xander.  He always saw her at her worst and her best.
 
"I love you, Buffy.  I love that you told me."
 
It took a serious amount of will power to not take advantage of her right now.  His heart melted as he held her.  He wanted to protect her.  He wanted to keep her safe and let her never to feel the pain of seeing someone close to her die.
 
He knew better.  This was Buffy Summers.   His hero, the love of his life, his friend.  Like his time with the love spell, he couldn't take advantage of her.
 
"Just hold me, Xander.  Don't make me use a gun.  I just can't.  I really can't."
 
"Shhh," he whispered into her ear.  "I'm not going anywhere.  We'll go back in when you're ready.  Alright?"
 
"I love you, Xan.  Never doubt that I don't.  You're my best friend."
 
"I love you too, Buff.  Don't worry about the gun.  We'll talk about it after."
 
"Do we have to?"
 
She raised her head and faced him.  Tear stains remained on her cheeks.
 
He nodded slowly, "Like it or not, Buffy.  We need to fight these guys.  I know that you don't like guns, and I fully understand it."
 
She knew this to be true.  She knew that these deadites were going to be tough.
 
"I'll tell you what, Buffy.  I remember everything about my time as soldier boy.  If you want, I'll train you.  I'll show you how to do it the easiest and safe way I know how.  I won't let this Sean Pierce guy show you.  I'll do it."
 
She smiled weakly.  If she had to learn how to use a gun, she'd want it to be taught by him.
 
"You promise you'll do it."
 
He nodded, "I will, Buffy Summers.  I will show you the correct and safe way to do it.  I promise you I won't let you do this alone.  I promise you this, Buffy.  I promise you that after this, you won't use a gun again until you're ready to use one on your own."
 
She nodded this time, "And I promise you that I'll train you.  I promise that you'll be much stronger when we go out of patrol."
 
Sighing, he said, "You shouldn't have to keep this to yourself anymore.  When this is all said and done, how about we go into counseling."
 
The word counseling made her made her pull away from Xander.  "I don't think so, Xander.  Nobody needs to know about this.  Before an hour ago, I was ready to fight these guys head on.  Now, you want to take me to a shrink?  I don't think so."
 
She stood up and looked at him, "I don't want to pay some guy who has to listen to my problems and use the phrases, 'I feel that,' and 'I think that.'"
 
Standing up, he said, "I know it hurts, Buffy.  But bottling up those emotions are never good.  You said yourself that you imagine the bastard's face on the vampires you slay.  What if that person you hit isn't a vampire, deadite, or demon?  What if you get into a heated argument and you soon see his face on somebody you love.  What if you see his face on your mother's body, father's body, Giles' body, Wills' body, or mine?  I don't think you'll like the outcome."
 
"That bastard shot my dad!  That son of a bitch had a gun, aimed it at me, and my dad pushed me out of the way and was shot.  He was shot right in front of me!"
 
God no!
 
Not again!
 
She started crying again and crumbled to the ground.
 
She felt arms wrap around her again.
 
"I hate this!  I hate that I couldn't do anything to stop this!  I hate that that bastard shot him!  I hate that I couldn't protect my dad!"
 
"Let it out, Buff.  Let it all out."
 
And she did.  She wept in front of him.
 
"Why does this hurt so much?  Why does this still bother the hell out of me?"
 
"Nobody should hold in this much pain."
 
"God, I want this to stop.  I don't want to cry any more.  I don't want to be a wreck.  I just can't stop crying, Xander.  I can't stop these tears."
 
"Then go into counseling, Buff.  When we get home, we'll get your mom and dad together.  Together you'll go into counseling.  You'll get passed this.  You need serious help.  I can't do this all for you.  You need someone non-family/friend orientated to talk to."
 
She started to stop her tears.  "Will you be there?"
 
He nodded slowly, "If you want me to.  It's up to you.  If not me, then just take your parents and see a doctor."
 
"Please, Xan?  I need you there."
 
 
*** 
 
"What do you think they're talking about out there?"
 
Ash walked over to the window where his niece was standing.  Together they looked out the window and saw Buffy and Xander sitting on the swinging bench the former promised one built so many years ago.
 
"Could be anything, Faith.  They've been out there for a while."
 
"Everything okay?"
 
The two Williamses turned around to see Kevin, "We hope so, Kevin."  Faith said.  "They just been out there for a while."
 
Hercules smiled, "I'm sure everything will work out.  Xander is the type of man that cares a lot about his friends.  I'm sure they'll come through the door any time now."
 
They noticed Buffy and Xander walking to the door.  "See," the demigod said, "they'll be here in a few seconds."
 
The three of them walked back to the others just as Buffy and Xander entered into the cabin.
 
"Now that everyone is here again, I suggest that we go to see Mr. Pierce."
 
"You ready for this, Buff?"  Xander asked her.
 
She nodded with a slight smile on her face, "As ready as I'll ever be, Xan."
 
"Good."  Doyle said, "Let's get going then, Man."
 
*** 
 
SG-1 met together at the station.
 
"How was your first time on a train, Teal'c?"
 
He addressed Daniel, "It was most informative, Daniel Jackson."
 
"Yes, it was."  Jack said, "So, where do we go now, Kids?"
 
Sam stated, "We find Lieutenant Banks and Caroline, Sir."
 
"Thank you for stating the obvious."  Jack said rolling his eyes.
 
"You did ask what we were going to do, Sir."  Sam said in her defense.
 
Sighing, he said, "Good point, Carter.  Let's go to the front counter.  Maybe they saw Banks and Caroline."
 
"Indeed."  Teal'c commented.
 
"Come along, Murray."
 
With that said, SG-1 headed for the front counter.
 
"Excuse me?"
 
The person behind the desk said, "May I help you?"
 
Jack said, "I should hope so.  Have you seen two guys about this high."  He said raising his hand, "one of them in army clothing.  Goes by the name, Lieutenant Ryan Banks.  He had a girl with him.  Blond.  Believe she said her name was Caroline.  The US Air force needs to get in contact with them."
 
"Let me check, Sir."  The person said.  She looked through the computer.  "Right here, um?"
 
Smiling, he said, "Sorry, Colonel Jack O'Neill.  This is Captain Carter, Murray, and Doctor Daniel Jackson."
 
Nodding, she continued, "Right, Colonel O'Neill.  Lieutenant Banks and Caroline came to Los Angeles a few hours ago."
 
"Do you know where they went?"  Daniel asked.
 
She thought back to her conversation with the aforementioned people, "They were asking about hotel accommodations.  Try the Holiday Inn."
 
"Thank you."  Sam said.
 
*** 
 
Sean Pierce placed the last mat on the floor.  
 
His firing range was now fully ready for training matches and gun training. E had no idea why Wesley needed this much training.  But giving his time with the Council, he knew that people had to be ready for everything.
 
Before his time with the Council, Pierce was always in the service to the Queen.  He went on a numerous number of missions to stop terrorists and crime lords.
 
"Mr. Pierce?"
 
Sean looked up to see the door opening to a group of people.  He recognized the person in front of him.
 
"Ah, Wesley.  I'm just setting up the firing range for the training.  Now, tell me.  What type of villain are going against?  Vampire?  Demon?"
 
Faith said,  "The bad version of myself."
 
"Bad version of yourself?  What do you mean by that?"
 
Wesley said, "Allow me to bring you up to speed on our situation, Pierce."
 
Then for the next while, Wesley and the others told him about the past few days.
 
"That's an incredible story, Wesley.  Well, I'm more than willing to help you.  I suggest we break into groups.  This firing range has four rooms: my office, the restroom, the training room, and the firing range.  I suggest half of the group goes to the training room while the other half goes to the firing range."
 
"Good plan," Wesley said with a smile.
 
With that, the group of people split into two groups.  Buffy, Xander, Hercules, Gunn, and six of his men went to the range.  While the others went to the mat.
 
Buffy took a breath, "I want to get this over with, Xan."
 
He nodded, "Let me take a look at the guns."  He said with a soft smile.  "Mr. Pierce?"
 
Sean looked at the young man.  "How may I help you?"
 
Xander said, "I want to know if you have a gun that I can teach to a beginner.  I want something that would be easy for a slayer to learn with."
 
"I see," stated Sean.  He thought for a second, "then I recommend the Colt 1911.  It's fairly simple enough.  I suppose you want me to train her then?"
 
He shook his head, "Nah, it's okay.  Last Halloween, I was processed with army information.  Thanks to a toy gun I bought at a costume shop.  I know a lot of army knowledge because of that."
 
Sean went over to where his weapons were, and easily pulled out the said model.  He gave it to Xander.  "If she likes it, and since she's a slayer.  I think I may be able to give you that gun for free."
 
Xander smiled, "Thanks for the offer, but Buffy isn't fond of guns.  The only reason she wants to learn is because of the deadites."
 
Pierce nodded, "Right.  Very well then, train her the best way you can."
 
He took the gun, "I will.  Thanks."
 
Sean smiled as he went over to Hercules while Xander went over to Buffy. 
 
Taking a breath, he held the gun in his hand and showed it to Buffy.  "I know this is going to be extremely hard for you, Buffy.
 
"I'm going to show you how to use this.  Alright?"
 
Nodding slowly, she said, "I need to do this."
 
"Okay."  He opened the base of the handle.  "This is how you load the bullets.  You load the clip and place it inside.  Fairly simple."
 
Buffy saw what he was doing, and nodded, "So far so good."
 
"Good."  Xander said with a smile.  "Then you pull back the slide." 
 
"Right."
 
Xander said, "Hold the gun."   
 
Cautiously, she took the gun and held it in her right hand.  He stepped behind her and placed his hand on hers.  Making sure she could fully understand the weapon.
 
"Hold the gun like this."  He wrapped his hands around hers and helped her aim at the target they were standing in front of.  
 
Taking a breath, "This is hard, Xan.  Look at my hands, they're trembling."
 
He nodded, "That's why I'm helping you.  Just remember.  A gun is like any weapon.  If you don't know how to use it properly, it will be dangerous."
 
Buffy's memory flashed back to when she first used a stake.  She didn't know how to use it and was extremely nervous.  Now, she handled a stake like a pro.
 
"Good point."
 
Xander chuckled, "I know.  That's why I staid that."
 
"No time for jokes.  I need you to be serious.  I know you can be."
 
"Right.  Serious.  I can do that.  Now, aim the gun.  Use the iron sights."
 
"Huh?"
 
Xander clarified, "See this notched thingy back here?"  She nodded, "Line up the notch with the fin at the front, then point it at the target."
 
Buffy nodded as she closed one eye and looked through.  "Got it."
 
"Good.  Now, just squeeze the trigger..."
 
Buffy did.
 
"...and you just shot your first bullet."
 
She smiled, "I guess I did."  Realizing the position she was in, she said, "You can let go of me now."
 
Xander chuckled, "Right.  Sorry."  He then let go of her.  Despite the good feeling he had with her in his arms.
 
Buffy grinned, "Show me again."
 
He smiled back, "Not a problem, Buff."
 
*** 
 
"That damn book!"
 
Bad Faith grunted.  
 
"Where the fuck is that book?"
 
Shaking her head, she paced back and forth.  She kept replaying what her uncle told her in her mind.  'Let the darkness within you tell you. Follow your instincts.'
 
What the hell did he mean?
 
"Follow your instincts."  She snickered to herself.  "Let the darkness with you tell you."
 
Bad Faith stared at herself in the mirror.  "What the hell did he mean?"
 
Her mirror image popped out of the mirror and grabbed a hold of her shoulders.  "What do you think he meant?"  The image asked.  "Think, you asshole!"
 
The image morphed into the face of her uncle.  "What is with you?  Are you full of tar or something?  Use your instincts!  What are you going to do?  Pity yourself?  Think about what I said!"
 
Then the image disappeared leaving a confused Bad Faith.
 
*** 
 
"Whatcha find out, Carter?"
 
"I told them I was his wife, Sir.  Here's the room number," Sam replied, handing him a small piece of paper.
 
Jack took the paper, "Good work, Carter.  I can't believe that jackass behind the counter gave us the wrong hotel."
 
"It appears he did, Sir.  Lieutenant Banks and Caroline are upstairs."
 
"Good.  Radio Daniel and Teal'c.  Let them know where we are.  I'll go ahead."
 
She nodded taking out her walkie-talkie.  "Be careful, Sir."
 
He grinned, "I will."
 
***
 
"So you're the famous Ashley Williams?"
 
Ash looked at Sean as he met him by the far wall of the matted area.  "Call me Ash."
 
The owner of the firing range nodded, "Fair enough, Ash.  Call me Pierce."
 
He grinned, "Not a problem, Pierce.  Thanks for letting us use your place here."
 
Sean grinned, "Think of it as my way to help, Mr. Williams.  I mean, Ash.  I just wanted to know how you were?"
 
He shrugged, "At the moment, okay.  But my life has been really fucked up because of that book."
 
Sean nodded, "I can understand it.  Wesley and I studied that book.  I just never expected to meet you.  With the chances slim to none and all."
 
Ash flashed a lopsided grin, "Consider yourself lucky then, Pierce.  So, what's the Sean Pierce story?  Why'd you leave the Council and end up here?"
 
Pierce answered, "I worked for the Council a number of years, Ash.  After doing work for the mother country, I got interested in the unexplained.  I always thought that it was bloody insane for people to believe in this stuff.  Until however I came against my first vampire."
 
"Ah, the first vampire experience.  That would do a lot to a person."
 
"Yes, it opened a lot of curiosity for me.  During my downtime from the service of the Queen, I took it upon myself to do some research on the matter.  One night I met Quentin Travers."
 
Wesley mentioned that name before to Ash, "You met that Asshole."
 
He chuckled, "You could say that I dropped in on him."
 
"What happened?"
 
He answered honestly, "One night I was on one of my pre-Council missions when I tracked my challenge to a rooftop.  I lost my footing and fell through the sunroof ceiling.  I landed on Mr. Travers."
 
Ash smiled, "That's one way to make a first impression."
 
"Yes, it is.  I suppose."  He looked at the clock, "would you like a martini?"
 
He grinned, "I'd like that, thanks."
 
"Come along then, Ash."  
 
With that said, the two men went into Sean Pierce's office.
 
Sean opened a cabinet and pulled out some alcoholic ingredients.  "Shaken or stirred?"
 
Ash grinned, "Shaken."
 
"A man after my own heart."
 
He did the drinks as the two decided.  As Sean passed Ash the drink, the former promised one asked, "You never told me the reason you left the Council.  What happened?"
 
The Britain sat down on the edge of his desk.  He took a sip of his drink, and answered, "Well, Ash.  I left because a lot of what the Council did was research.  They researched a lot of information on demonic histories as well as histories based on the slayers and the powers that be.
 
"I was able to get sent to their university.  I trained some of the watchers in training and some slayers in training.  It was nice and all, but it got rather tiresome.
 
"One thing always interested me was the United States.  The country had a lot of demonic history of its own and it did not require the use of the Council.  
 
"It had the history that I found interesting and I didn't have to do the research.  However, I needed a place to pay the bills.  
 
"So, I opened this firing range.  This way I could still train people, study demonic histories, and not have to be in relation to the Council.  I could do my work the way I want to.  I wouldn't have to stay within the guidelines of the Council."
 
Ash grinned, "That's quite the story, Pierce."
 
Sean chuckled, "It is, isn't it?"
 
"Can I ask you another question?"
 
"Go right ahead, Ash."
 
The former promised one smiled, "What do you think of them?"
 
He showed a confused look, "Them?"
 
Ash nodded, "Yeah, y'know, the people I came in with."
 
Sean smiled, "Right.  Some of them are rough around the edges.  Training more can easily fix that.  You seem to handle yourself well as well as Xander.  Buffy and him seem to be rather close."
 
"Ever since Buffy found Xander dead.  She hasn't left his side.  They're practically joined at the hip."  
 
"Well, considering the amount of history the two share, I'm surprised they're not more than friends."
 
Ash smiled, "Good point.  But I've got Buffy stealing glances at Xander.  I wouldn't be surprised if the two hook up."
 
Sean chuckled, "When did we become gossiping teenagers?"
 
The younger man looked at the clock, "Since fifteen minutes ago."
 
"You certainly are entertaining, Ash."
 
***
 
"Nobody move!"
 
A woman screamed.
 
Jack O'Neill looked at the woman in the hotel room that he busted in.  "Is this room 606?"  
 
The woman shouted, "Yes!  What do you want?"  
 
Jack went into his pocket and took out the paper Carter gave him.  He looked at it, and then flipped it around.  "Oops.  Wrong room.  Sorry to barge in.  The Air force will pay for the broken door.  I'll let myself out."
 
Then he left thinking, (909.  Not 606.  Damn it Carter.)
 
*** 
 
 
Insane.
 
That was what it was.
 
Insanity.
 
Plain and simple.
 
Her mind kept replaying the whole experience she just had with the mirror.  She first saw her self, then the bad version of her uncle.
 
Why the hell would he say that her head was made of tar?  Why tar?  What was so special about a substance that smelled awful, that held fossils, that held artifacts...
 
...artifacts like an ancient Sumerian book?  Like something bound in human flesh and inked in human blood.
 
A smile crossed her lips malevolently, realizing that the Necronmicon could be in tar.
 
But where in Los Angeles, could you find tar?
 
La Brea Tar Pits!
 
Now she knew where to go.
 
*** 
 
"Do you smell that?"
 
Her childe looked at her, "Smell what, Callisto?"
 
She grinned, "It's that man from the SGC.  The one that smacked you on the back?"
 
He asked confusingly, "Colonel O'Neill?"
 
The vampiress asked, "Was that his name?"  She sniffed the air again, "It's the same person.   We have to get out of here!  I won't lose my chance at taking down Hercules!"
 
He nodded slowly, "Y'know, Hercules was the just the character he plays?"
 
Callisto grinned slightly, "Right.  We got to get going."
 
"But how?  It's still day out."
 
She snarled, "Grab the blankets.  I'll take care of O'Neill."
 
Knowing the ability of his sire, Ryan did what he was told.
 
Soon the door barged open and in walked a man with a weapon pointed at her.  "Hello, Caroline."
 
She smiled back, "Greetings, Colonel O'Neill."
 
Pointing his head to the door as he spoke, "We're going back to the SGC."
 
Shaking her head, "I don't think so, Colonel.  Look into my eyes."
 
"You know what?  I don't think so.  Already went through that with Hathor."
 
Walking closer, she said, "But I'm not goa'uld, Colonel."  
 
Allowing her face to morph to the demonic creature that she truly was, her eyes turned feral yellow and her skin crunched forward changing her facial appearance.
 
Smiling wickedly, she said, "I repeat.  Look into my eyes."
 
Surprised by her appearance, he looked into her eyes and lost all ability to function on his own.
 
"Give me your jacket."
 
Nodding, he took off his jacket and gave it to her.  "Here you go, Caroline."
 
Grinning her thanks, she took the jacket and put it on.  "You have the blankets, Ryan?"
 
Nodding, he walked next to her, "I do, Caroline."
 
"Give me one, and wrap the other one around yourself.  We're moving elsewhere."
 
Doing as told, he gave his sire a blanket.  The two of them wrapped them around themselves.
 
Morphing her face back to normal, she said, "Thanks for the jacket, O'Neill.  We'll see ourselves off."
 
With that said, the two left.
 
***
 
"Where you going, Xan?"
 
He looked at his friend, "I just wanted to see how the others were doing.  That's all."
 
Looking back at her target.  She could see the amount of bullets that hit it.  "I dunno if I can do this by myself.  Sure, I'm hitting the target, but that's only because you're here.  I dunno if I can do this by myself."
 
He wrapped his around her back, his hands meeting his arms causing a circle to form around Buffy.  "You're doing fine, Buff.  I just wanted to see how Faith was doing.  You may be a slayer, but she's one too."  
 
Still remember her story, he said, "But if you want me here, I will.  I won't leave you until your ready."
 
Feeling the comfort from Xander, she couldn't help but smile.  She patted his arm gently, "I guess I can do this myself.  Just promise me you'll come back."
 
He grinned.  "Nothing on this Earth will tear me away from my Buffy."  He meant that with all his heart.
 
She could trust him, "Well, my Xander better not leave me.  Now, go and hang with the others."
 
"I'll be back, Buffy."  He then withdrew his arms from her and walked away.
 
Sighing from the loss of contact, she pulled back the slide like she learned, and continued shooting.
 
*** 
 
"Jack?"
 
No answer.
 
His friend walked into the hotel room and made it to the colonel.  Placing his hands on his shoulders, the doctor tried again, "Jack?"
 
"Huh?  What?"
 
Jack suddenly shook his head as Daniel released his grasp.  "Daniel?"
 
"What happened to Lieutenant Banks and Caroline, Sir?"
 
He looked at the door as Sam and Teal'c came in.
 
"Tell me, Teal'c.  Do you have any friends that can entrance you by just their eyes?"
 
"Hathor, O'Neill."
 
He shook his head, "Besides her.  I mean someone that isn't a goa'uld."
 
"Isn't goa'uld, Sir?"
 
Jack nodded, "Nope.  Not goa'uld.  This one had their face change, eyes turn yellow.  It was something out of a horror movie."
 
"You mean like vampires, Jack."
 
"Right.  Those.  You think that these vampires are real?  And not goa'uld?"
*** 
 
 
 
Bad Faith drove her motorcycle down the highway.  The wind hallowed through her long dark hair.  The midday sun was shining on her back as she continued on her ride.
 
The tar pits weren't that far away.  Her insides were burning.  She could feel this yearning.  A yearning for the book...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis.
 
Her uncle was right.  Just follow her instincts.
 
The book was within her grasp, and soon she could make her plan a reality.  She just hoped that her goody two-shoed twin and the twin's uncle didn't get in the way.  
 
*** 
 
"How's it going, Faith?"
 
Faith dropped her gun to the side as she turned to her best friend, "It's going okay I guess, X."
 
Nodding, he asked,  "Just okay?"
 
"Well, how would you feel if you were split in two?  How would you feel if the book Uncle Ash is always complaining about suddenly shows up?  He must be going through hell!"
 
He sighed, "I guess I can see why.  He has said he's lost a lot of people over the years."
 
"He has, Xander.  Too many if you ask me.  And like hell am I going to give up on him!  He ain't going to lose any more people!"
 
Xander approached her and asked, "How can you be so sure, Faith?  How do you know he isn't going to lose anyone else?"
 
She glared at him, "Because I'm the slayer!  I have the power!  I have the strength!  I can protect him!"
 
He said slowly, "Faith..."
 
Taking a breath, the slayer said, "I know, X.  I know. I may have super strength, but it can only help so much.  I don't want to lose him, and he doesn't want to lose me."
 
Xander smiled, "I know what you mean.  You want to protect your uncle in every way that you can.  You want him to be safe and not want to experience any more pain.  It's the same with me and Buffy.  I want to protect her in every way possible, but I can't.  Protecting someone forever could never happen.  You just have to try and deal with what you can do and make the person you want to save the most comfortable they can be."
 
She responded, "I get you, X."
 
"Good.  Now, show me what you can do, Faith."
 
Faith grinned, "Get ready to see some real fire power."
 
*** 
 
"Are you telling me that vampires exist, Sir?"
 
Colonel O'Neill asked, "Well how do you explain what I just saw, Carter?  A woman, an attractive woman no less, had her face change!  Her eyes turned yellow and her skin was crunched forward, Carter!"
 
"Are you sure, O'Neill?"
 
The colonel looked at his eldest friend of the group, "Daniel, you know this stuff.  You're into that whole mythological mumbo-jumbo.  Tell them that vampires could exist!"
 
The archeologist said simply, "Anything's possible, Jack.  Like I said before, a lot of Egyption mythology was created by the goa'uld.  So who knows what else could exist?  Do you have any other proof?"
 
Jack searched his memories as he scanned the room.  He saw a mirror on the back wall.  "She didn't have a reflection.  Vampires don't have a reflection!"
 
"He's right, Guys.  According to myth, vampires were never known to have a reflection."
 
Sam sighed, "I know, Daniel. Mark used to tell me horror stories when we were kids."
 
"Just pointing out some truths, Sam.  So, it appears that we're dealing with a real vampire."
 
"Indeed, Daniel Jackson."  Teal'c said to his team.  
 
"Do you have any idea on how to deal with this vampire problem, Sir?  Don't we need some holy water, wooden stake, or something? Will a zat do?"
 
"It's worth a try, Sam.   According to vampire folklore, wooden stakes and holy water work.  As for a zat, I don't know.  It might still have some effect on them."
 
Jack smiled, "Well, Kids.  It looks like we're going vampire hunting.  Who knew I'd ever actually get to say that?"
 
"Where do we find Caroline and Lieutenant Banks, O'Neill?"
 
"At this point, it's still in the afternoon.  Almost night though.  Right now, they probably be away from the sun.  I suggest that we split in two teams.  Daniel and Sam as one and you're with me, Teal'c.  When someone finds them, they'll radio the other team.  Then we'll come running."
 
"Agreed."  Teal'c said.
 
*** 
 
Bad Faith parked her motorcycle outside the tar pit fence.  She jumped off of it and leaned it against the fence.
 
Grabbing one of the links of the fence, she started to climb up.  Reaching the top, she swung her leg around, followed by her other.  Now on the other side, she climbed down and scanned the area in front of her.
 
It was rather spacious.  Covered by the sands of the Earth.  It truly had a dessert atmosphere.
 
Her insides burned as she walked to the tar pit.  She could feel the book calling to her.  The darkness within her and the evilness of the book were connected.  It seemed only natural for her to have the book in her possession.
 
The area looked deserted.  
 
It was Sunday after all.
 
Maybe they closed early.
 
Shrugging that off, Bad Faith walked into the tar pit.  She walked deeper and deeper into the tar.  Her body was getting covered, the tar was sticking to her body.
 
Turning to her left, she saw a cavern.  She approached it with ease.  Her footing wasn't as balanced as it was normally.  Tar would do that, easily.
 
Reaching the end of the tar, she climbed out and headed inside.
 
It was dark.  Pure dark.  She couldn't see her hand in front of her face.  But there was a light.  A light by the far wall.  She walked closer to it.
 
The inside of the cavern was calm.  Too calm.  She could hear the sound of a pin dropping if a pin were to drop.  Bad Faith walked slowly inside, trying to prevent any disaster from happening.
 
Reaching the end, felt around her.  Her hands felt a rough surface.  A surface that she knew too well.  Her hand moved down the object's side, feeling all around.  Realizing they were pages, she flipped opened the book and a bright light flashed throughout the cavern.
 
There in front of her was what she was looking for.
 
Bad Faith now had the Necrononicon Ex Mortis: The Book of the Dead.
 
"I finally found the damn book!"  She yelled in triumph. 
 
*** 
 
Returning back to her apartment, she placed the book down on the desk.  
 
Sitting down, she rested her hand on the cover of the book.  The evil version of the brunette slayer could feel the rough texture of the human skin.
 
Bad Faith needed a distraction.  She needed something to distract her enemies so she could do the spell she needed to do.
 
A distraction.
 
She began flipping through the pages, searching for something.  Anything that could help her.
 
A evil grin appeared on her face as she found a spell for a lost warrior to come.  The warrior would help take down her opponents leaving her free to control the hellmouth.
 
She looked down at the page.  The spell seemed a little different from the rest of the pages, but Bad Faith could make out the words.  
 
Taking a breath, she began to read, "Alpo mutzi rocco galootus capatous nizro blajox."
 
The apartment building started to shake, and could tell that the spell was working.  With a grin, Bad Faith said, "You're time is up."
 
*** 
 
"Hi, Baby Bro."
 
Hercules sat up from his couch in his trailer, as a bundle of golden sparkles appeared out of nowhere.  
 
He placed down his script for the latest episode when he saw a blond figure walked toward him.   "What do you want, Aphrodite?"
 
The Love Goddess sat next to him, "Can't a girl see her brother?"
 
"True.  But whenever you show up, you want something.  What is it this time?  And it better not be for me to introduce you to Joey."
 
She shrugged, "As if.  Hephy keeps me busy."
 
"The other day you told me that you thought he was cute."
 
The blond smiled, "I have two eyes after all, Hercules.  I love Hephy.  That's not why I'm here."
 
"Why are you here?"
 
She said simply, "Joxer's waking up."
 
His memories flashed back to that fateful day so many centuries ago.  "Are you sure?"
 
She nodded, "Yeah, I was looking at him an hour ago.  He's coming out of his suspended animation."
 
He showed a confused look, "But why?  We never woke him up."
 
"Don't look at me, Hercules.  He was waking up.  We better see why he is."
 
Hercules nodded, "Meet me back at my place.  I got to get someone to help us."
 
Aphrodite showed a confused look, "Who are you going to get?"
 
The demigod smiled, "Just meet me underneath my house.  I'll be right there."
 
*** 
 
"Shop smart.  Shop S-Mart."
 
"So I guess they really do make you say that."
 
Xander sighed, "You have no idea on how stupid I feel when I say that."
 
"It comes with the job, Xander.  Having a job is nothing to laugh at."
 
With an annoyed voice, Xander asked, "What do you want, Gunn?"
 
Gunn smiled, "Right to the point, I like that.  Anyway, I'm worried about Buff."
 
"What's wrong with her?"
 
He asked, "When you on break?"
 
Xander looked down at the clock behind him.  Noticing the time, he returned back to his new friend, ""Right now actually.  Let me just clock out."  
 
After clocking out, he said, "Take over, RF.  I'll be back in one hour.  Taking my lunch break."
 
"Not a problem, Xander.  See you later."  Said the apartment building owner.
 
"You have lunch, Gunn?"
 
"Xander?"
 
Gunn and Xander turned around to spot Kevin coming.
 
"Hi, Kevin."  Xander greeted.  "You remember Gunn, right?"
 
The demigod nodded, "Yeah, we met yesterday.  Anyway, I need you to come with me.  It's important."
 
Glancing back at Gunn, he asked, "Can I take a rain check?"
 
Gunn said, "Sure, I guess.  I'll come by your apartment tonight.  Alright?"
 
"Sure thing."  Xander said as he walked over to his Greek friend.  "What's the problem, Kevin?"
 
"Come with me, Xander.  It involves an old friend."
 
*** 
 
The two friends jumped into Hercules' car.
 
"What's the what, Herc?"
 
He smiled, "We have to back to my place.  An old friend has finally woken up.  I need your help."
 
The boy nodded, "Why me?"
 
"Because this friend is from ancient Greece.  He needs to know what year this is.  Seeing me will make him think that it's still Greece.  I need someone who's from this time period, and that's you."
 
He showed a confusing look, "Which friend?"
 
"Joxer."
 
"Joxer?  As in the character from Xena.  The one played by Bobby Wheeler."
 
"The one in the same.  Aphrodite is waiting for us at my place.  We have to get there before he fully awakes."
 
*** 
 
"Anything, Carter?"
 
Sam and Daniel looked at Jack coming in from through the door.  "Not yet, Sir."
 
Jack looked at the two friends as they had a bunch of books on the table.  "You guys have been at this for hours.  How hard is to find information on vampires?"
 
Daniel said, "Well, you could always contrbute to make the search go faster."
 
He shook his head, "No, that's okay.  You do your thing, and I'll do my thing.  You're much better at it then I am."
 
He looked down at his watch and said, "I'm going back to Teal'c.  See if he needs anything."
 
Daniel nodded, "We'll let you know when we're done."
 
With that said, Jack left the room.
 
"Daniel?"
 
He glanced at her, "Yeah, Sam?"
 
"According to this book, there are girls who fight vampires for a living.  Have you ever heard of a vampire slayer?"
 
*** 
 
Hercules and Xander walked out of the elevator as they walked down a long hallway.
 
The demigod turned to his new close friend and said, "Joxer's going to need some training.  He's been way out of the loop."
 
He smirked, "We all need training.  Buff told me she'd train me too."
 
The son of Zeus smiled, "I wouldn't be surprised if she did.  You two are always together."
 
Xander shrugged, "She told me something that was hard to talk about.  She confided in me, Herc.  Not a lot of people do that."
 
"Well, like Buffy, I confided in you.  You were the first person I told my identity to in a long time."
 
"And I appreciate that.  So, is Joxer like the Joxer from Xena?"
 
He grinned, "More or less.  Like I said, he needs to train, and he's a bit egotistical."
 
"He's egotistical?  Just how egotistical?  Because I've dated Cordelia, and she's really egotistical."
 
He chuckled, "Not that egotistical.  Joxer just brags a lot about his victories and sometimes takes the credit for doing things.  He needs to learn how to mellow out some.  But like you, he has the humor thing."
 
"Humor thing?  Is that the technical term?"
 
Hercules smiled, "I don't think so."
 
Remembering the other part of Hercules's statement, he said, "So, he's a bragger?  That's not cool."
 
"No, it isn't.  And he wondered why he and Gabrielle never got together."
 
He showed a confused look, "Gabrielle?  You mean Joxer was in love with her in real life?  That wasn't just some relationship the writers were toying with?"
 
The demigod, "Nope.  I have my hands involved with Hercules and Xena.  I try to keep them historically accurate."
 
He grinned, "Any chance on Autolycus getting his own show?"
 
Hercules smiled, "We're thinking about it.  It'll probably be called Autolycus: King of Thieves."
 
Xander asked, "In your show, Ioulas hangs around with you.  In Xena, it was Gabrielle.  Who would hang around with Autloycus?  Salmoneus?"
 
He chuckled, "Autolycus and Salmoneus have worked together on occasion.  We're thinking of using Alicia."
 
The boy showed a confused look, "Alicia?"
 
Hercules nodded, "Alicia was Autolycus's wife.  He later married.  The two of them were able to pull off some great thefts.  Of course Ioulas and I stopped them every now and then.  But I'm sure they pulled some away from us."
 
The brunette said, "Well, I wish you the best of luck.  Have you thought what you'd do after Hercules wrapped?"
 
Just as the demigod was about to answer, a familiar set of golden sparkles flew around.  "Good, you're here."
 
Hercules smiled, "Xander, meet Aphrodite.  Aphrodite, meet Xander."  He turned to his young friend who had a surprised look on his face.
 
"Ah, ah, ah..."
 
The demigod shoved him a little, "That's my sister, Xander."
 
"Ease off, Baby Bro.  I am the goddess of love."
 
He nodded, "That doesn't make me feel better."
 
She interjected, "Hey!"
 
Xander said finally, "Sorry.  So you're the goddess of love?"
 
The blond giggled, "Guilty, Sweetcheeks."
 
Xander said in annoyed voice, "I don't need you to call me that.  Lorne already does."
 
"Well, where do you think he got it from, Xander?  He's a demon that helps get people together sometimes.  We were bound to meet at some point."
 
Hercules said, "So how's Joxer coming?  Did you clear up the language problem?"
 
Xander showed a confused look, "Language problem?"
 
The demigod said, "I learned English over the years and gods know it easily.  They know all languages.  Joxer sill speaks Greek."
 
Aphrodite grinned, "It's taken care of, Hercules.  I talked to Athena, she gave Joxer the ability to speak English too."
 
"Good."  Was the actor's response.  "Now that, that's taken care of, how's Joxer?"
 
"Ask him yourself, Hercules.  He's over there."
 
The three of them walked to the destined area and spotted a man with a weird looking armor.  And an obscure hat.  
 
"Morning, Joxer."  Hercules said to his friend.
 
Joxer looked at the three of them strangely, "Hercules?  Aphrodite?"
 
"Hi there, Studmuffin.  How you feeling?"
 
Taking his hand, he covered his chin and stretched out his mouth.  "A little stiff."  He turned to the new visitor.  "Uh, Herc?"
 
He chuckled, "Right.  Joxer, this is Xander.  Xander's a new friend I made a couple days ago."
 
"So, you're Joxer?  I kinda expected someone to be, well, stronger?  You know, bigger."
 
Joxer said, "Hardy har har.  Very funny."  He glanced at Hercules and noticed the strange cloths he was wearing.  "What year is it?"
 
Xander grinned, "1998."
 
His eyes widened, "1998?  That's over...over..."
 
Hercules said, "5,000 years."
 
"Woah.  That's a long time.  Do you mind filling me in on what's happened, Herc?"
 
"Eventually. Right now, we got to find out why you woke up early."
 
"You got it, Joxy.  You woke up early."
 
"Early from what?"
 
*** 
 
"...and that's why Aphrodite and I are so worried.  He's early."
 
Xander nodded, "So if he's early, what do we do?"
 
Hercules replied, "We get him accustomed to the twentieth century."
 
The three of them looked at Joxer who was busy stretching his arms.  "Let me get this straight, Hercules.  I'm currently in the 20th century?  What's the 20th century?"
 
Hercules said, "A century is one hundred years.  The year now is 1998.  This means, we are in the twentieth century."
 
Aphrodite smiled, "You got in one, Joxy.  Wait to you see bathroom plumbing.  It's going to knock your socks off."
 
He showed a confused look, "Plumbing?"
 
Xander grinned, "Forget about that, Joxer.  Wait to you see television.  Think of it as a small play in your home.  But you get to change plays any time you want."
 
The confused man asked his friend, "Television, plumbing?  Anything else I need to know?"
 
The demigod nodded, "A lot more, Joxer.  Xander and I'll help you get used to this time period."
 
"I'll help Joxer too, Baby Bro."
 
Hercules chuckled, "I don't think so, Aphrodite.  The last thing Joxer needs is for you to show him how to live."
 
She scowled, "Hercules?  C'mon.  Joxer and I are buds."
 
Joxer stared at her, "Friends?  Friends don't let their child go crazy with his bows and arrows."
 
Aphrodite said in her defense, "That was Cupid, Joxer.  It wasn't me.   Cupid's son went crazy as you put it with his father's arrows."
 
Xander asked, "Bliss?"
 
The Grecian looked at him, "You know about Bliss?  How does he know about my life?  Did you tell him, Hercules?"
 
Hercules said, "Well, it's like this..."
 
*** 
 
"Vampire slayer?"  Daniel asked his friend.
 
Sam nodded, "Like I said, Daniel.  According to this book, there are girls who fight vampires for a living."
 
The archeologist said, "Well, there has been myths about young women warriors having to go against vampires.  So I suppose these 'vampire slayers' as they are called might be relating to the ancient myths.  What else does the book say?"
 
The blond went back to the book, and continued on reading.  After coming to the bottom of the page, she said to her friend, "Apparently these girls have been fighting vampires for centuries.  They all seem to die young.  When one dies, another one is called."  She placed the book down and looked at Daniel, "My question is though, if vampires have been around for centuries, how come we never seen any before this Caroline?"
 
He answered, "That's a good question."  Thinking back to his college days, he remembered something.  "Does it say anything about 'Boca Del Inferno'?"
 
She went to the book's index and looked for the words Daniel just mentioned.  The captain found the desired page and went to it.  Sam started reading, "Well, according to this, Boca Del Inferno or 'Mouths of Hell' are all around Earth.  They draw demons to their locations."
 
Daniel said, "Maybe that's your answer, Sam.  Colorado might not have one."
 
Thinking for a second, she said, "You think there's one in Los Angeles?"
 
"Either that, or one close by.  That could be the reason why Caroline headed here.  Maybe the power of this 'Mouth of Hell' called to her.  She did come from the Stargate.  We don't know how long she's been on that other planet."
 
"Anything new, Kids?"
 
Sam and Daniel looked up to see Jack with Teal'c.  
 
"Actually, Jack, we found something interesting."
 
"What you find out?"
 
The captain said, "Well, Daniel and I found out that there are girls fighting vampires for a living called vampire slayers.   Vampire slayers have been around for centuries, Sir."
 
"Wow."  Jack said  "Really makes you think, huh?  Wonder if I ever met one of these slayers and never knew about that this girl was one."
 
Teal'c nodded, "It is possible, O'Neill.  It seems that there is this whole other world that we never knew about."
 
Jack glanced at his friend, "One of these days Teal'c I'm going to get a real reaction out of you."
 
He raised his eyebrow, "Real reaction, O'Neill?"
 
"Sir?"
 
"What?  Have you ever seen Teal'c smile?"
 
Daniel interrupted, "As much as I find this interesting, I suggest we try and locate one of these vampires slayer and get her to help us stop Caroline."
 
Jack asked, "And where do you suggest we find one of these vampire slayers?"
 
*** 
 
"So what's the deal with you and X?"
 
She showed a confused look, "Huh?"
 
Faith said, "Ever since you found Xander, you never seem to leave his side.  Why is that?"
 
The blond said simply, "Xander's my best friend, Faith.  He and I have the most history in our little gang here."
 
"Gang?  We have a gang?"
 
She nodded, "Yeah, according to Xander.  In Sunnydale, Xander and I are part of the 'Scooby Gang.'  Xander decided to come up with another name for us."
 
The brunette nodded, "And what name is that?"
 
"Scrappy Gang."
 
Faith sat down, "Xander watches way too much TV."
 
Buffy sat down next to him on her couch.  "I think it's kind of cute."
 
The two of them were in Buffy's apartment.   
 
After Buffy got out of work, Faith met up with her.  They haven't really spent that much time together.  With her always hanging with her uncle and Xander.
 
Buffy was always with Xander. 
 
She grinned, "You like Xander, don'tcha?"
 
She immediately shook her head, "No.  Of course not.  I love Xander.  Don't get me wrong, but I don't feel that way about him.  He's my best friend.  That's it."
 
"Feel that way about him?  Look at the evidence, B.  You two never seem to be apart.  He ran to LA to bring you home.  I've seen you stealing glances at his ass."
 
She said sternly, "Xander and I are the closest friends people could have.  In a platonic way.  Nothing more."
 
Gunn nodded, "Uh huh.  And I'm the Pillsbury Dough Boy.  You like him."
 
She glared at her, "I do not like him like that way, Dough Boy.  The only reason why I've been hanging around with Xander this much is because I've learned a lot about him these past few weeks.  I reevaluated my life and realized that Xander is my best friend.  He would go at any length to protect me, to save me.  I confided in him, Faith.  Xander and I have nothing between us, alright?"
 
The younger Slayer nodded, "Alright, alright, Buffy.  Take it easy.  Didn't mean to strike a nerve."
 
She said calmly, "Bottom line is this, Faith Williams.  Xander and I are best friends.  We love hanging around each other.  That's it."
 
"I guess I can see that, Buff.  Seeing someone die in front of you could do that.  It would definitely bring people closer together if that person came back to life."
 
"Yeah, it would.  He saw me die, and I saw him die.  The two of us has been put through hell and we still hold onto our friendship.  It's the only strong bond I have that's keeping me sane right now." 
 
*** 
Bad Faith flipped through the book at an energetic pace.  Her smile widening as she flipped further into the book.
 
Suddenly, she stopped.
 
With a growl, Bad Faith slammed the book shut.  "Where the fuck is that warrior?"
 
*** 
 
"Herc?"
 
Hercules looked at his friend, "Yeah, Xander?"
 
He said simply, "Joxer's going to need a name?"
 
Joxer showed a confused look, "Another name?  What's wrong with Joxer?  I am Joxer the Mighty!"
 
"For one thing, Joxer.  People don't go by names like that any more.  Nobody I know adds 'the Mighty.'" Xander said to his new friend, "you are going to need a last name though."
 
"Last name?"  The warrior turned to Hercules, "What's a last name?"
 
Hercules said, "Almost everyone now has three names.  A first name, a middle name, and a last name.  First names and last names are crucial to live in this word.  You can go without a middle name though.  Which is one reason why I go by Kevin Sorbo now."
 
"Kevin Sorbo?"
 
The television star said, "People today are not the same as ancient Greece.  People are not ready to know the truth.  Things could get hectic if I started calling myself Hercules now anyway.  People might to try and put me in a mental hospital."
 
"Mental hospital?  Herc, I have no idea what your talking about.  Man from the past remember?"
 
Hercules chuckled, "Right."  He turned to his half-sister and two friends; "we're going to need to give Joxer here more of an update.  I'll tell you what.  Since it's pretty much getting late, I got to stop by the studio before I go on patrol with you Xander.  Why don't you two come along?"
 
Xander grinned, "I'm game."
 
"I'll meet you there, Baby Bro.  I got to meet up with Hephy.  Great to have you back, Joxer.  Catch ya later, X-Babe."  She then disappeared.
 
Xander showed a confused look, "X-Babe?"
 
The demigod said, "She has an unusual way of giving people nicknames.  She called Ioulas, Curly."
 
The boy sighed, "Lorne calls me Sweetcheeks and now Aphrodite calls me X-Babe.  Can I get any more bad names?"
 
Joxer said, "Two names?  That's nothing.  I've been called worse.  At least now, nobody knows me.  So, I get a fresh start."
 
Hercules nodded, "Yes, you do.  If I was you, I'd seriously think about trying to make a good impression."
 
"I always make a good impression." He lost his footing and tripped.
 
"You should look into getting glasses too."
 
Joxer asked, "What are glasses?"
 
Xander sighed again, "We have a lot of work to do, Joxer.  We'll talk in the car."
 
"Car?"
 
Xander shook his head, "Listen, Joxer.  I know you're new to everything and that you need to learn.  But in order to not to sound annoying, don't keep asking questions like that."
 
"How am I supposed to learn then?"
 
"You might want to put the coffee on tonight, Herc."
 
*** 
 
"I can't take it anymore!"
 
Ryan looked at his sire, "Take what?"
 
Callisto snarled, "I need to take out Kevin Sorbo.  The sun is going down, I want to leave now."
 
Ryan looked at the clock and smiled, "I'll drive.  Come on."
 
With that said, the two vampires left for the studio. 
 
***  
 
Hercules slipped on his seatbelt as he turned the key, "Welcome to California, Joxer."
 
Letting the engine roar to life, Hercules back out his car and drove off.
 
------ 
 
"Drive already, Ryan."
 
Her childe nodded, "We're on our way, Callisto."
 
------- 
 
"By the gods, Herc!  This place is incredible!"
 
Xander clarified, "It's Kevin when we're out in public."
 
Joxer said, "Right.  Kevin it is.  See, I'm learning."
 
The demigod chuckled, "Yeah, you are.  Just keep doing that."
 
------ 
 
"We'll be there in ten minutes."
 
Callisto smiled, "Excellent.  Tonight, Kevin Sorbo, you die."  (I'll be the one to kill Hercules!)
 
------ 
 
Hercules parked his car, and turned to Joxer, "This is where I work, Joxer.  Watch where you step.   I don't want to cause any trouble."
 
The warrior smiled, "Don't worry about it, Kevin.  Nothing's going to happen."
 
Xander smirked, "Yeah, nothings going to happen."
 
"Everybody out."  Hercules said as he closed his door.
 
------ 
 
"Here's the studio, Callisto.  We're here."
 
The blond smiled, "Excellent.  C'mon, Ryan."
 
Ryan parked the car in the parking lot, and the two got out.  They headed for the front gate.
 
*** 
 
Hercules closed the door to his closet in his dressing room holding a hanger with a shirt and a pair of jeans.
 
"What are those?"  Joxer asked.
 
The actor said, "These are for you, Joxer.  Try them on."  He then handed them to his friend.
 
He grinned, "Thanks, Hercules."
 
Xander said, "Go into the bathroom and change.  We'll be in here."
 
Hercules opened the door, and said, "Just change in there."
 
Joxer nodded, "Sure."  He then walked into the bathroom.  "When you come back, we'll head for Ash's."
 
"Good."  Joxer said as he closed the door.  
 
------ 
 
"He's in here."  Kirk said as he tried to breath.
 
Ryan smiled, "Thank you, Kirk."  He glanced at his sire, "He's in there, Caroline."
 
Caroline grinned, "It all ends now."  
 
Banks placed the hand on the door knob and twisted.  There was some restraint from the lock, but Ryan's grip broke the knob off.
 
"Hi, Hercules."  Callisto said with a mealovent grin.  
 
Hercules twisted around and stared in recognition as the blonde woman charged through the doorway and pounced on him.  
  
"Gabrielle?"
 
The vampiress snarled, "I am not Gabrielle!"  She punched him across the face.  "You know who I am, Dammit!  I'm Callisto."
 
His eyes widened as he flipped her over to her back.  "You really think you're Callisto?"
 
He pinned her down while she morphed her face to the vampire image that she's became accustomed to for over 5,000 years.  "I've been waiting along time for this, Hercules."
 
Hercules looked up as another vampire was about to drain Kirk's neck.  "Xander, take care of him."
 
The boy grinned, "Right."  He went to his pocket and pulled out a stake.  He leaped forward at the vampire and pulled him away from Kirk.  "Get the hell away from him, Fangface."
 
Ryan smirked, "What are you going to do?  Stake me?"
 
Xander launched his hand forward and aimed for the demon's heart, but Banks intercepted his hand and grabbed the stake.  He tossed aside as the very vampire pinned down the boy.  "Pathetic mortal."
 
Kirk was too frozen in fear.  He didn't know what to do.  So, he just stood there and watched as these two people fought off the vampires.
 
Hercules said to his opponent, "I don't know why you took the name, Callisto, Gabrielle.  But you are Gabrielle.  You traveled around with Xena.  Remember Xena?  You remember Joxer?"
 
His eyes widened getting an idea.  He knew some things about vampires over the years and knew how they worked.  "Joxer!"
 
The door to the bathroom opened with Joxer saying, "I think I got my shirt stuck in my zipper.  It is called a zipper, right?"
 
The warrior looked at the scene unfold as Hercules and someone else were rolling around on the floor.  "Do you really think this is the time for that?  I mean, you are the son of a god and all, but learn to keep it in your pants."
 
Hercules looked up at him, "Joxer, just look at who I'm fighting."
 
Joxer nodded as he looked underneath Hercules.  His eyes widened, "Gabby?"
 
The tone of the voice hit the vampire like a ton of bricks.  She flipped Hercules around so she was on top.  The blond looked up at the eyes of the new visitor.  She could feel something happen in her body.  Something broke free as she saw that goofy grin from thousands of years ago.
 
In a lowered voice, she asked, "Joxer?"
 
He nodded as he walked over to her.  Joxer crouched down and clasped the sides of her face with his hands, "Yeah, Gabby.  It's me."
 
She shook her head as tears started to emerge from her eyes, "But you're dead."
 
Joxer shook his head, "Nope.  I'm alive and kicking."
 
The vampire released Hercules and stood up.  She walked over to Joxer who was now also standing up.  The blond took her hands and touched Joxer's cheeks, making sure he was alive.  "You're alive, but how?"
 
He wrapped the vampire in his arms and pulled her into a hug.  "It's a long story, Gabrielle.  But it is me.  I'm alive."
 
The blond vampire looked at the person in front of her, and could feel something happen within her.  She didn't want that.  
 
The vampiress pulled away from the man in front of her.  "No!  No!  No!"  She yelled in anguish.  "I'm Callisto.  I want to kill Hercules."
 
Glaring at the man in front of her, she morphed her face once again and growled, "Get away from me!"
 
She ran to the door and looked back at the three men, "I'll be back Hercules!  You hear me! I'll be back!"
 
***
 
Xander grabbed his stake that was lying on the floor.  He managed to turn around and jam the wooden weapon into the demon's heart.
 
Ryan looked up to see his sire hugging this mortal, "Callisto?"  He whispered as he crumbled to dust.
 
The boy stood up as he dusted himself off.  "I needed that."  He looked at Hercules, "What's going on?"
 
The demigod smiled, "I was talking to Kirk.  I told him that he better layoff the alcohol."
 
Xander showed a confused look, "He believed you?"
 
The actor chuckled, "I smelt alcohol on his breath.  He already was drunk.  I just took advantage of that."
 
The two friends turned around to see Joxer hugging the other vampire.  Xander was about to launch himself at the demon when his friend yanked him back.  "Don't, Xander."
 
He showed a confused look, "Why?"
 
The elder man smiled, "That's Gabrielle."
 
All of a sudden, they heard, "I'll be back Hercules!  You hear me! I'll be back!"
 
Then she ran away from the dressing room.
 
*** 
 
"So, how do we find this vampire slayer?"  Jack asked.  "It's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack."
 
"Needle in a haystack, O'Neill?"
 
Jack nodded, "It's an expression, Teal'c.  It means that it's going to take a while to find it.  A needle is something small, and a haystack is big.  It's going to take you a while to find something that small in something that big."
 
The alien nodded, "Indeed."
 
"Do you have any contacts, Daniel?"
 
The archeologist looked up at the colonel, "Why do you think I'd have any contacts, Jack?  I'm just as new to this as you."
 
He said, "Well, I thought that since you were all about that ancient artifacts stuff and into the unexplained phenomenon, you'd might be well into this kind of stuff."
 
Daniel shook his head, "I don't know anyone, Jack.  I can't think of anyone."
 
Sam showed a confused look remembering a past conversation, "What about Merrick?"
 
"Who is this Merrick, Daniel Jackson?"
 
He said simply, "Merrick died a few years ago, Sam.  How can I contact him when he's dead?"
 
"Danny boy's got a point, Carter.  It's not like he can go talk to him.  With being under a grave and everything."
 
She nodded, "I know that, Sir.  But if this Merrick was someone that Daniel knew, maybe Merrick left some notes behind.  We could use that to research."
 
Daniel scratched his head; "He did live in Los Angeles for a while.  I was told that he was found dead with..." Suddenly he remembered something.
 
"With what, Daniel?"  Sam asked.
 
He answered, "With two holes in his neck."
 
Jack asked, "You remember his neck getting bitten now?"
 
The archeologist replied, "I haven't thought about Merrick in awhile, Jack.  So if he died by a vampire bite, maybe there is some recorded information.  Sam and I can go to the library and read his obituary.  I think he has a sister here now too."
 
Jack nodded, "Alright. Teal'c and Sam will go to the library and look up this Merrick guy.  Daniel and I'll go visit his sister."
 
 
*** 
 
"So that was Gabrielle?"  Xander asked the two people remaining in the room with him.
 
Joxer nodded, "And she went out the door."
 
Hercules sighed, "It appears that way."
 
The warrior said in heated voice, "We need to go after her, Hercules.  We have to find Gabrielle."
 
The demigod said, "We will, Joxer.  I just gained two of my eldest friends back, I'm not going to lose them."
 
Xander said, "I'm going to call Ash and tell him that you, a new friend, and I are going on our patrol.  We'll meet up back at Ash's after we're done."
 
Hercules said, "You do that, Xander."
 
All of a sudden, Xander thought of something.  He turned to Joxer, "You love Gabrielle, right?  I need to know completely, Joxer.  Do you, Joxer the Mighty, love Gabrielle?"
 
Joxer just looked at him, "That's kind of an awkward question Xander."
 
The demigod asked, "What are you getting at, Xander?"
 
The boy said, "Well, if love is involved, I'd think Aphrodite might be able to help us.  After all, she was with you Herc when you placed Joxer into suspended animation."
 
"Good point."  The actor said to his young friend.  He looked to the ceiling, 
"Aphrodite!"
 
A sudden burst of golden sparkles flew in the room as the Love goddess appeared, "Hey Baby Bro, Joxy, X-Babe."
 
"We need your help, Aphrodite."  Joxer said in an urgent voice.  "I don't know how to tell you this, but Gabrielle's back."
 
She squealed, "Tubular.  Go get her Joxer.  You finally can be together.  After all these centuries."
 
Hercules said, "Problem is, we don't know where she is.  We were hoping you could cast a spell that would help Joxer find her."
 
The blond said with a wide grin, "If it finally helps get Joxer and Gabrielle together, I'm all for it."
 
Joxer said, "Give me a spell that actually works, Aphrodite.  Or that doesn't cause trouble.  I don't want another scroll where it read, 'Gabrielle awoke with a jerk.'  I still don't get it."
 
The Love goddess smiled, "Don't worry about it, Joxy.  You have nothing to worry about."  She clicked her fingers, and said, "There you go.  You'll find her.  Just start walking, and you'll reach her.  Problem solved."
 
"What I want to know is why was she calling herself Callisto?  From the show, she was a psychopath who wanted to kill anything in her path."
 
Hercules said, "That's pretty much what she was.  Then she became a goddess and then Xena killed her."
 
He nodded, "I remember that.  I was there."
 
The tall man said, "We'll find her, Joxer.  Don't worry about that."
 
Xander asked, "Vampires lose their souls when they get turned.  But it looked like Gabrielle had two people within her."
 
Joxer questioned, "Two people?"
 
Hercules thought back to the meeting, "Now that you mention it, she did look like she was confused.  It was like there were two people inside her.  I wonder what happened to her during all those centuries.  We lost her in Egypt."
 
The warrior sighed, "I remember, Hercules.  I remember searching for her.  I remember going a long time trying to find her before Aphrodite came to me."
 
Xander said, "She seemed to be more in control when Joxer was talking to her.  Maybe Joxer can get through to her.  But what I want to know is how come there still some good in her.  I need to call Giles."
 
Hercules said, "You call Giles, I'll call Ash.  Then we'll head for Gabrielle."
 
*** 
 
"What are we looking for, Captain Carter?"
 
Sam said as she sat down in front of a machine.  "I'm using the Microfilm Reader, Murray."
 
He raised an eyebrow, "Microfilm Reader, Captain Carter?"
 
She nodded, "It's a way for people to get old articles from Newspapers.  According to Daniel, Merrick died April 15, 1996.  So I'm looking for his full name, Merrick Jamison-Smythe.  I'll be able to read his obituary."
 
"Understood."
 
With that said, Sam and Teal'c started to go through the old articles.  
 
Sam stopped temporarily looking at an article.
 
Teal'c questioned, "Who is this OJ Simpson?"
 
Sam looked back at her friend and saw that he was interested.  The blond answered simply, "He was a football player that was accused of murder."
 
"Did he get caught?"
 
She nodded, "Yeah, he did.  There was a highway car chase and everything.  Of course OJ was proven innocent."  Taking a second she said, "Forget about OJ, Murray.  We need to worry about Merrick."
 
She continued to go through the microfiche when she found an article, "According to this Merrick was found with two holes in his neck like Daniel remembered.  However, there was a hole found in his head too.  The article says that Merrick also had a gun wound that was self-afflicted."
 
"I see.  Does it mention anything else?"
 
Sam returned to the screen and pulled down the article more.  "Merrick has a sister named Sylvia Jamison-Smyth.  Let's just hope Daniel and Colonel O'Neill get some better information."
 
***
 
The vampire screamed into the ceiling, "What the fuck is going on!"
 
Inside her mind, two people were circling around each other.  
 
"Give me my body back!"
 
Callisto smiled, "I don't think so.  I enjoy this youthful body.  After all these centuries, I'm just as beautiful as the day that we were turned."
 
Gabrielle glared at her, "That's because you used the sarcophagus.  I want my body back you bitch!"
 
Then the blond bard pounced onto her vampire self and shot a right cross across her face.  "You've been in control way too long."
 
Callisto used her feet and kicked Gabrielle off of her.  "You wouldn't be fighting back if you didn't see your precious Joxer.  What is with him?  You see his stupid grin and all of a sudden you fight back?"
 
Gabrielle picked herself up and said, "So?  What does Joxer have to do with this?"
 
"You tell me.  Why does Joxer make you have the strength?"
 
Gabrielle thought back to her days of fighting beside him, "Because he cares about me.  Because he's saved my life a few times.  Because..."
 
"Because why?"
 
*** 
 
"When was the last time you talked to Merrick, Daniel?"
 
His fiend answered, "It hit my pretty hard when I found out.  I was on Abydos when it happened."
 
Jack said, "Good alibi.  Better not tell his sister that.  Tell her something else."
 
Daniel stated, "I was planning to."
 
The two friends walked up the sidewalk to the front door.  Daniel reached out his arm and pressed the doorbell.
 
Soon a woman answered the door, "Hello?"
 
 
Daniel said with a saddened smile, "Hello, Sylvia."
 
The woman smiled, "Dr. Jackson.  It's been a while.  Good to see you."  She glanced at the man next to him, "and who is?"
 
The archeologist said, "This is my friend, Colonel Jack O'Neill."
 
Jack grinned, "It's nice to meet you.  Sylvia, is it?"
 
She grinned, "Yes, it is.  Come inside." 
 
With that said, Sylvia opened the door further and allowed the two people entrance.
 
Daniel said, "I want to apologize for not making it to your brother's funeral.  I was in Cairo at the time, stranded.  I had difficult trying to get the radio to work."
 
She nodded, "I'm sorry to hear that, Dr. Jackson."
 
He smiled, "Daniel.  Call me Daniel."
 
The woman said, "Alright, Daniel it is.  Merrick will be sadly missed.  Please sit down."
 
The three of them went into the living room and sat down.  Jack and Daniel sat on the couch while Sylvia sat in the armchair in front of them.  "How did you leave Cairo?"
 
Daniel responded, "My ex-girlfriend found me.  She was in the next city over.  Got worried when I never returned."
 
"I'm sure that's quite the tale and I'd like to hear it at some point."  Seeing Daniel's face at that moment reminded her of something her brother said to her.  "Oh, it's a good thing you came by, Daniel.  Merrick wanted me to give you something."
 
He nodded, "He did?"
 
Sylvia grinned, "He did.  I didn't know how to contact you, so I'm glad you stopped by."  She turned to Jack, "You're certainly quiet, Colonel?"
 
Jack smiled, "I didn't want to interrupt.  Seemed you two had stuff to talk about.  I'm sorry for you loss by the way.  I'm sure Merrick was a good man.  Daniel told me that he was."
 
The woman said, "Merrick was a good man and a good brother.  Although he spent many hours on his work.  He was quite a loner.  I was surprised to see a young blond woman at his funeral.  She was the only non-family member.  She just kept to herself at the back of the church."
 
Sylvia stood up and said, "I'll be right back with what Merrick wanted to give you, Daniel."
 
With that said, Sylvia left the room leaving Jack and Daniel to talk.
 
"Cairo?"
 
Daniel said innocently, "It was the only thing I could come up within that ten minutes, Jack."
 
"I know, but Cairo?  You could've said you had a sick relative of your own or something else."
 
Just as Daniel was about to answer, Sylvia came back into the room, "Here you go, Daniel.  This was his notebook.  He wanted to give it you."
 
He got off the couch and approached the elderly woman, "Thank you."
 
Sylvia nodded, "Merrick left me explicit instructions not to look what was inside.  And I respect him for that.  I believe you saved his life, Daniel."
 
Jack asked, "You saved his life?"
 
Daniel said, "Merrick needed a blood transfusion and I was the only one at the time with his blood type."
 
"Yes, AB negative is a rare type indeed.  Anyway, this book was only met for your eyes."
 
He grinned, "Thank you, Sylvia.  I'll cherish it."  He brought the book to his side, "By the way.  I wanted to ask you something."
 
"What can I do for you?"
 
Jack said, "Recently we came upon a problem dealing with something that your brother worked with.  We were hoping to get some information on that matter."
 
Sylvia said, "As I said earlier, Colonel.  My brother was very indulged in his work.  He kept to himself.  Everything he knew, he wrote into that book. Now, if you excuse me, I was expecting company any minute now."
 
Daniel said, "Well, we must get going anyway, Sylvia.  Thank you for the book and again, I'm sorry for you loss."
 
She grinned, "It was lovely of seeing you again, Daniel.  It was nice to meet you, Colonel.  Do come back."
 
"We'll keep that in mind, Ms. Jamison-Smyth."
 
"Good.  Now, if you don't mind, I have to get ready."
 
Daniel nodded, "It was good to see you again.  Goodbye."
 
Daniel, Jack, and Sylvia said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
 
*** 
 
Callisto snarled again, "Because why?"
 
Spending all those centuries on the other planet, it gave her the time to think about her life.  It was all she could really do.  She knew that none of her friends would be alive if she ever got back home.
 
Realizing that, she gave into the darkness. Knowing that there was no hope for her, that she would be alone forever more living in this eternal torment.
 
When Callisto was in Hercules's dressing room, Gabrielle not only laid her old eyes on Hercules but also on Joxer.  Joxer gave her the strength to finally fight back, but the question was, why?
 
Though all those years, she thought about Xena and Joxer.  The two best friends she had.  Xena was a person with a troubled past and the three of them worked together in helping Xena deal with her inner demons.
 
She remembered the first time she met Xena and how much she wanted to be like her.  She wanted to become just like Xena, but soon, Gabrielle found her own path and it was to aid Xena.  She grew from there and became another person entirely.
 
The two were best friends and had a great partnership.  They worked well together.
 
Then she thought about Joxer.  Joxer was a mystery in itself.   Since she met him, he wanted to become a warrior.  Someone who wanted to be like Xena also, but he seemed never to try and work towards that goal.  He seemed to always just be there to make her laugh.
 
To laugh.
 
That was something that she hasn't done in ages.  Joxer was always able to do that, and as soon as the vampire saw Joxer in Hercules's dressing room, Gabrielle saw that goofy smile and couldn't wait to laugh again.
 
Was that what gave her the strength to fight back.  To laugh?  No.  That wouldn't be enough.
 
But why did he make her want to fight?
 
Throughout the past centuries, it gave her time to think.  That's pretty much all she could do.  She thought about all that Joxer has done for her, besides being able to make her laugh.  He has saved her life a few times and that's always an aspect of a person that would be honored.  He cared about her a great deal.  He always tried to comfort her.  He's seen her at her best and at her worst.
 
It also made her realize that maybe Joxer did more than care for her.  The time made her realize that he, Joxer the Mighty, was in fact in love with her.  
 
Did she love him?  
 
Gabrielle didn't know.  But if she can brake free from Callisto's hold on her, she'd use this time to help him become a warrior.  She'd train him like how Xena trained her.  
 
"Because why?"
 
Gabrielle pounced on her, "Because he loves me!"  She grabbed Callisto by the arms and threw her over her shoulder and she launched her to the other side of the room.
 
Now, Gabrielle had to find a way to defeat Callisto.
 
*** 
 
"Hi, Giles."
 
"Why, hello, Xander.   How are you?"
 
The boy said, "Physically fine.  Mentally fine at the moment too.  I need some help on vampires."
 
Giles sat down on his couch, and spoke into the phone, "What kind of help do you need?"
 
Xander thought about what he had to say.  He had to think of a way where he would explain the Gabrielle/Callisto problem without giving too much away.  "When people are turned, the soul leaves, right?"
 
"For the most part, yes."
 
"Most part?"  Xander asked in surprise.
 
His friend answered, "When a human is turned, the placement of the soul is quite interesting.  Most people believe that the soul leaves right away, but other people believe that that this is not the case."
 
"Is not the case?"
 
The watcher nodded, "When vampires are first introduced to the human host, the demon feeds on the host's family.  With each family member they kill, the soul gets weaker and weaker.  As soon as the vampire kills the last of the immediate family, the soul departs from the body."
 
Xander tried to clarify, "That means the soul never leaves until the last of the human's immediate family is dead."
 
"That is one theory on how the soul leaves the body when a vampire is sired."
 
"So that means Angel had to kill his family in order to become Angelus."
 
Giles said, "Precisely.  The host's family is something that is very powerful.  It has to be dealt with in order for the vampire to be free."
 
Xander grinned, "Thanks, Giles.  One more question.  If I remember correctly, Spike wasn't his real name.  And I believe Angelus wasn't his real name either.  Am I right?"
 
Giles thought back to his days of researching Spike and Angel.  "You are correct, Xander.  Sometimes, a vampire changes their name to clean their history of the former host."
 
"And the vampire remembers all the memories of the host?"
 
"Again, right.  Xander, what are you asking about?"
 
Xander answered, "Well, a group of us are hunting down a vampires and wondering what happened to the soul.  Buffy and Faith weren't with my group tonight, and Wesley wasn't around.  I called you because I knew you'd have the information."
 
Giles said, "Fair enough.  I wish you well, Xander.  Now, do you have any more inquires.  I have some other matters to attend to."
 
The teenager said, "No more questions, Giles.  Thanks for the help.  Goodbye."
 
"I'll talk to you later, Xander.  Goodbye."
 
With that said, Giles and Xander hung up their phones.
 
Giles final thought before getting to his other matters was, (Something doesn't seem right. What were you really asking about, Xander?)
 
Xander looked at his friends, "Well, I think I figured out the Gabrielle/Callisto situation."
 
"Oh," Hercules said in interest.  "Do tell."
 
*** 
 
"That's it!"  Bad Faith yelled.  She opened the book once more.  "There's got be a spell that can help me find this warrior.  Why the fuck hasn't he shown up?"
 
She flipped through the pages looking for a spell.  "C'mon, c'mon.  I've had enough of this waiting crap.  Where the hell is this warrior?"
 
*** 
 
"Over hear, Sir!"
 
Daniel and Jack looked to Sam and Teal'c sitting in a park bench in Henson Park.
 
"How'd you guys do?"  Jack asked as he approached them.
 
Sam said, "We looked up information on Merrick, Sir.  It all seems to be what Daniel remembered.  He had three holes in though, not two."
 
Daniel asked, "Three holes?"
 
Teal'c nodded, "Indeed, Daniel Jackson.  Two from a vampire bite and one from a gun shot wound.  It appears that he committed suicide."
 
Daniel nodded, "It makes sense."
 
Jack and Sam asked at the same time, "It does?"
 
The archeologist said, "The book Sylvia gave me was his personal diary.  I went to his last entry and it appears that he planned to do that in case of something drastic happened.  It appears Merrick was more into the vampire mythos then I suspected."
 
"Vampire mythos?"  Jack asked.
 
He nodded, "Apparently Merrick was a part of a group of people from London.  It was called the Watchers' Council and they were responsible of training vampire slayers as well as other supernatural creatures.  It appears that vampires are not the only creatures of the horror genre to actually exist."
 
"What are you saying, Daniel?"  Sam asked.
 
"Vampires do exist, Sam.  As well as werewolves, witches, mummies, demons.  All the things that your parents told you as a child that didn't exist, actually do.   And it's the vampire slayer's responsibility to defeat these creatures."
 
Jack asked, "Just one girl has to fight these creatures.  That hardly seems fair."
 
"You're right, Jack.  It isn't fair.  But life isn't fair either.  If it was, I'd still have Sha're and Skaara would still be safe."  Getting excited, he said, "but what gets me interested, is that this world isn't the boring world we were brought up to believe in.  Recently we found out that the goa'uld existed and then the tok'ra as well as other alien species like the Nox.  Now, there's also vampires, werewolves, and so on.  This is completely mind blowing.  But also explainable on a lot of problems that people have wondered about over the centuries.  Maybe that's how the Easter Islands formed."
 
"That's all well and good, Daniel.  But, we need to know about the vampire slayer.  Does it mention one that is currently active?"
 
Daniel said, "Right.  Sorry."  He went though the pages again and said, "According to Merrick, he was training a girl named Buffy Summers.  She was also blond."
 
"Why does that matter, Daniel Jackson?"
 
The Colonel said, "Sylvia said there was a young blond woman sitting in the back of the church during Merrick's funeral.  Maybe that young woman was this Buffy Summers."
 
Teal'c asked, "How do we find this Buffy Summers?"
 
***
 
 
Xander nodded, "It's like this.  You said Gabrielle was missing.  I'm guessing around 5,000 years ago?"
 
Joxer looked at Aphrodite and Hercules.
 
The demigod nodded, "Around that."
 
Xander grinned, "Alight, so it's been 5,000 years since she went missing.  We suddenly find her as a vampire calling herself Callisto.  However, when Joxer talked to her, it seemed as if Callisto disappeared and Gabrielle emerged.  Am I right?"
 
Joxer went back to his confrontation with the vampire and said, "Yeah.  When I talked to her, her eyes were different.  There was something in them asking for help.  I think Gabby is still alive."
 
Hercules said, "In my experience, I've never seen a vampire do what Gabrielle did.  It seems that she might very well be alive.  Only as a vampire."
 
Joxer said in confusion, "But vampires lose their soul.  That's what you said."
 
Xander stated, "I talked to Giles, Joxer.  When a person is turned, the soul is placed in a difficult position.  The vampire has to kill the host's family in order for the soul to leave the body.  Now from what I've seen from the show and from talks with you, Herc.  Did Xena or any of Gabrielle's other friends die with two holes in the neck?"  
 
Hercules, Joxer, and Aphrodite looked at each other.  Neither of them could say that had happened.
 
Aphrodite said, "Now that I think about it, Sweetcheeks, no.  Xena died from her battle with Warlord Zylox.  Gabrielle's family died of naturally causes."
 
Xander smiled glad his idea was proving to be true.  "Now, if Gabrielle was denied that, of killing her friends, it's a good chance that her soul never left.  That in fact, the vampire could very well still have the soul of Gabrielle."
 
Hercules asked, "But why go after me now?  Why calling herself Callisto?"
 
Xander commented, "Being from Sunnydale, I've had to fight vampires who were named Angelus and Spike.  From research, I found out that Angelus's real name was Liam.  Spike's real name was William.  I'm thinking Gabrielle took a new name.  The demon went inside Gabrielle's memories and chose a name from a person that was long dead, that was a psychopathic murderer...Callisto."
 
Hercules said getting the gist, "So, it would seem.  That Gabrielle never got the chance to kill her family, allowing her soul to still reside within her body.  Sometime, the demon must've taken over and called itself Callisto."
 
Joxer asked, "But why did she attack Hercules now?"
 
The boy shrugged, "Must've been trapped or something until now.  I'm thinking going after Hercules would be something a vampire Gabrielle would first do.  Well, you know after she killed Xena, Joxer, and her family.  Something must've kept her away.  And something finally let her loose."
 
Joxer said, "Let me get this straight.  Gabby somehow became a vampire and was taken away from her family not allowing her soul to leave the body.  Sometime as a vampire, the vampire Gabby picked a new name for herself...Callisto. So at that point in time, two entities were in that vampire...our Gabby and Callisto.  Suddenly, now Callisto comes to kill Hercules and takes a look at me.  Gabby sees me and suddenly fights back.  I was able to talk to her for a few seconds, and then Callisto came back in control.  Now, Callisto and Gabrielle are fighting for control?"
 
The Sunnydale visitor said, "That's what I'm thinking.  Hercules, being a demigod is immortal."
 
"Ageless.  Xander, ageless.  I can still die."
 
Xander corrected himself, "Right.  Callisto figured you'd still be alive.  But seeing Joxer alive, someone that was a close friend wasn't suspected.  That gave Gabrielle the power to fight back.  I'm thinking that Joxer has to confront Gabrielle again and help her defeat Callisto."
 
Joxer asked, "But how do I do that?"
 
Xander and Aphrodite looked at each other.  Then she looked at Joxer, "Confess your love to her, Joxer.  When I touched Gabrielle's string I saw her return as a vampire.  The only way I knew to save her was for you to come back at a later time.  Which of course was why Herc, you, and I agreed to put you in suspended animation.  But as I said earlier, you woke up early.  Gabrielle's coming wasn't something that caused you to wake up.  You obviously woke up from something else."
 
*** 
 
Bad Faith slammed her foot on the motorcycle and drove down the highway with the book on her back.  She kept glaring at the road in front of her.  "I'm coming for you warrior.  I'm coming for you."
 
*** 
 
"Hi Ash."
 
Ash smiled allowing Buffy and his niece to come inside.  
 
"Hi, Uncle Ash."
 
The former promised one said, "Hey girls.  You're just in time."
 
The two slayers walked into the room noticing Gunn and Wesley were already inside.  
 
Noticing someone wasn't there, Buffy turned to her friend, "Where's Xander?"
 
Ash shrugged, "He hasn't come yet.  I'm sure he'll be coming around shortly."
 
Buffy nodded to herself and walked over to her other friend, Gunn.
 
"I hope the kid's alright."  Ash said to Faith.
 
She grinned, "I'm sure he's fine.  He and Kevin are probably going over some lines or something.  X told me that Kevin was trying to give him a guest spot on his show."
 
"That's cool.  Well, when Kevin and Xander come, we can go and patrol."
 
"Five by five."  Faith said with a grin.  
 
Together, the two Williamses sat down with their other friends.
 
Soon the phone rang, and Ash went to pick it up.  "Ash Williams speaking."
 
"Hi, Ash."
 
The S-Mart employee said with a lop sided grin, "Hi Sorborino."
 
"Sorborino?"
 
He chuckled, "Just trying something new."
 
Hercules said, "Stick with Kevin, Ash."
 
Faith's uncle nodded, "Consider it done, Kevin."
 
Hercules got right to the point of the matter, "Ash, Xander and I are going to do our own patrol.  We met up with some other friends and thought we just do it by ourselves.  Alright?"
 
"Yeah, it's cool.  See you in a few hour then?"
 
"A few hours.  See you then, Ash."
 
"See you later, Kevin."
 
Ash hung up the phone and looked at the people in the room with him.  "That was Kevin.  He, Xander, and a few other people are going on their own patrol.  They'll meet us back her in a few hours."
 
Faith got up, "Alright.  So, X and Sorbo are already on patrol.  I say we split into two groups and do a patrol tonight.  Meet them back here after."
 
*** 
 
Daniel went back into the notebook started flipping though the pages.  Finding something, he said, "According to the this, she's a student of Hermery High School."
 
"And he died in 1996 which was two years ago.  Do you think Buffy is still a student there?"
 
Sam said, "It's the summer, Sir.  Chances are she wouldn't be attending right now."
 
The archeologist said, "Well, the records would still be there.  And on records. There are addresses.  We find the address, we find Buffy's home.  We find her home, we find the slayer.  We find the..."
 
Jack cut him off, "We get the idea Daniel.  We find Buffy, we get her to help us slay Caroline and Banks."  He got up, "Let's move on out."
 
"Uh, Sir?"
 
Jack looked at the captain.  "Carter?"
 
Sam looked at the clock in the room and said, "It's 11:00 at night.  The school's closed at this point.  Might as well as go in the morning."
 
The colonel nodded, "Good idea.  Well, kids.  Tomorrow's a school day.  We better get to bed."
 
Daniel smiled getting an idea, "Yes, Dad."
 
He just rolled his eyes, "Just go to bed."
 
*** 
 
Joxer, Xander, and Hercules walked down the night streets of Los Angeles.  
 
The three friends could feel the night's wind on their backs. A moon hung in the sky.  Only a crescent of the moon was visible.
 
Stars speckled through the sky creating a polka-dot patter in the dark sky.  
 
Joxer walked around in amazement.  Everything was new to him, yet there was the familiar trees, rocks, and of course the sky.  He looked at the architecture of the buildings and was in complete awe.
 
"This is incredible."
 
Hercules chuckled, "Yeah, it is, isn't it?  Earth has gone through major changes since our days in Greece."  Remembering a conversion they had ealier, he glanced at Joxer and at Xander, "we need to give you a name."
 
Joxer frowned, "I can't keep Joxer?"
 
Xander shrugged, "You can keep it as a last name.  You still need a first name."
 
"First name, huh?  What do people go by nowadays?"
 
The youngest friend said, "Let me think.  Well, there's: Shawn, John, Daniel, Tom, Josh, Jeff, Nick, Bruce, Tim, Aaron, among others."
 
Joxer thought for a moment.  He didn't know what they meant, but some of them sounded interesting.  "I kinda like Tim."
 
Xander said, "Alright.  Kevin Sorbo, meet Timothy Joxer."
 
Joxer asked in confusion, "Timothy?"
 
He nodded, "Timothy is the full name.  Or if you want, you can go by Tim. My full name is Alexander, but I go by Xander."
 
The Greecian mortal said, "Tim is fine."
 
Hercules said, "Well, Tim.  I assume you know where you're going."
 
Timothy Joxer said, "In truth, no I don't.  But I got this feeling in my gut.  I'm just walking to where it sends me.  That is what 'Dite told us."
 
"'Dite?"
 
The son of Zeus smiled, "It's a nickname Hephaestus gave her.  It just stuck with her."
 
Xander grinned, "'Dite's cool.  I always thought last part of first names were cool ways to form nicknames."
 
Joxer smiled, "I wonder why you would say that, *Xander.*"
 
The boy just glared at him, "You made your point, Joxer.  C'mon, let's go free Gabrielle."
 
Hercules said, "We better get going.  We've been searching for Gabrielle a few hours now."
 
*** 
 
"Long time no see, Honey."
 
The vampire looked as a bundle of golden sparkles appeared out of nowhere.
 
The blond stared at the goddess, "Aphrodite?"
 
She smiled, "You remember me!  Tubular.  So, who am I talking to?  Callisto or Gabrielle?"
 
The vampire snarled and pounced onto Aphrodite, "You bitch!"
 
She disappeared letting the vampire fall to the floor and Aphrodite appeared a few feet from her.  "You got a real problem, don't you?"  The Love Goddess walked to the fallen form of the vampire and pulled her up.  "Honey, you listen to me.  Your friends are coming."
 
She watched as the vampire's eyes changed to a different color.  In a pained voice, the demon said, "Friends?"
 
Aphrodite nodded, "Hercules and Joxer are coming.  They'll be here soon."
 
A tear manages to escape from the vampire's face, "Joxer?"
 
She smiled realizing who she was talking to, "You got it, Gabrielle.  So fight it.  Fight Callisto and come back to us."
 
The vampire pulled away in rage.  "No!  It can't end like this!"
 
------ 
 
Callisto punched Gabrielle across the face, "No!  It can't end like this!"
 
Gabrielle narrowed her eyes and kneed her vampire half in the chest.  "I'm not alone anymore, Bitch."
 
The demon smiled wickedly, "Oh, but you are.  Why would Hercules want you around?  It looks like Hercules gave up the hero life.  He's an actor now.  And Joxer?  Why would you want be around him?  You found him annoying.  You always hurt him. Why would he want to be around you anymore?"
 
Gabrielle turned her head to the left not wanting Callisto to see the pain in her eyes.
 
"Gabrielle?"
 
------ 
 
"Gabrielle?"
 
The vampire turned to look at the Love Goddess.  "What do you want?"
 
"I want to help you, Honey.  Hercules and Joxer are on their way.  They love you."
 
She yelled in disgust, "They don't love me!  They only love me because you're here.  You cast a spell on them to make them think they love me!"
 
"We do love you, Gabby."
 
The vampire looked to her right as three people came in.  She immediately recognized them.
 
"No you don't, Joxer!"
 
------ 
 
"No you don't Joxer!"
 
Gabrielle yelled at Callisto, "Yes, he does!  They're here because they want to help me."
 
Callisto laughed, "Help you?  Don't make me laugh.  Wait.  I am laughing."
 
------ 
 
Joxer grabbed the shaking vampire.  "Gabby, listen to me."  He glanced at Aphrodite who nodded.  
 
He glanced at Hercules and Xander who both said.  "Tell her."
 
Joxer nodded as he turned to the vampire.  "Gabrielle.  I gotta say, this vampire thing is kinda different.  If you can come back from being a bachae.  You can come back from being a vampire."
 
"Shut up, Joxer!"  The vampire yelled at him.
 
"Is that what you want, Gabby?  Do you want me to shut up?"
 
"No.  Yes.  No.  Yes."
 
He grinned, "Make up your mind, Gabrielle."
 
Her eyes glared at him, "My name is Callisto."
 
"No, it's not.  Your name is Gabrielle.  You're from Poteidaia.  You had a sister named Lilla.  You were best friends with Xena.  You're my best friend.  I love you, Gabrielle.  Fight her.  Fight her, Gabby.  If not for me, for you."
 
"It's not true!"
 
Joxer said in a stern voice, "Listen to me, Gabrielle.  I know you.  I know you love writing.  You wrote some amazing stories.  I love the way you laugh, I love the way you smile.  I love the way you think.  I love that you let me hang around with you and Xena.  I love that you became and Xena became my family.  I love you, Gabrielle.  I truly love you with all my heart and soul."
 
------ 
 
"...I truly love you with my heart and soul."
 
Gabrielle pounced at the vampire.  "He loves me!"
 
Callisto shook her head, "He could never love you."
 
Gabrielle kicked her in the side.  "Didn't you just hear him?  He's telling us what he remembers.  He's telling me to fight back.  That's what I'm going to do!  Now, be a good girl, and give me my body back, you bitch!"
 
Callisto grabbed her, "Never!"
 
Gabrielle tossed her aside, "I'm done with the torture.  I'm done of being alone.  I'm done using that sarcophagus.  I'm done drinking blood.  I'm done with killing innocent people.  I'm done listening to you.  I want to be my own person.  I want to be what I once was."
 
Callisto launched herself on to the bard.  "I'm not going to let you."
 
Gabrielle smiled, "Wanna make a bet?"
 
*** 
 
"I love you, Gabby.  Please fight it.  Fight Callisto and come back to me."
 
"Shut up!"  The vampire punches him in the gut and knocks him down.
 
Joxer looks up at her, gets back to his feet, takes a breath and said, "I love you."
 
She glared at him, "Stop that!"
 
"I remember our first meeting.  I remember you hurting me.  I remember all the times you hurt me, Gabrielle.  But you know what?  Over the years I heard a saying.  You always hurt the ones you love.  You've hurt me quite a bit, yet I still keep wanting to be around you.  Back in Greece, you were always full of life. 
 
"You had your bad days too.  But you were human.  Human beings make mistakes.  Gods know I had my share, and so have you.  Come back to me and we can work through our problems together."
 
She slammed him across the cheek, followed by punches to the chest.  "Shut the hell up!"
 
Joxer smiled, "I love you."
 
Her face morphed to the vampire's.  She glanced at him, "You can love this?  No way!"
 
He said, "I still love you, Gabby.  I fell in love with the inner you.  You can be a minotaur and I'd still love you."
 
Gabrielle's friend got an idea, "Remember my song?"
 
She looked up at him, "Song?"
 
Joxer nodded and started to sing:
 
Joxer the Mighty
Roams through the countryside
He never needs a place to hide
With Gabby as his sidekick
Fighting with her little stick
Righting wrongs and singing songs
Being mighty all day long
He's Joxer-he's Joxer the Mighty!"
 
As he concluded his song, she crumbled down in tears, "I always found that song annoying."
 
He chuckled, "It may be annoying, but it was misunderstood."
 
The vampire looked up at his brown eyes and could see the love he had for her, "I think it finally was understood."
 
In a surprised voice, he asked, "Gabrielle?  Are you back?"
 
The blond pulled him into a hug and held him tight, "What does this tell you?"
 
He pulled away from her, "It tells me nothing.  It tells me that you want to suffocate the life out of me."
 
Gabrielle giggled, "I missed you so much, Joxer.  Can I tell you three words?"
 
"Go ahead."
 
"I love you."
 
The next couple of minutes, two long separated friends just held each other.  They sought comfort in something so old yet suddenly was now refreshed and full of life.
 
Hercules walked up and coughed suddenly, "Uh, Joxer?  Remember us?"
 
Joxer smiled in embarrassment.  "Sorry."  He glanced at Gabrielle and said, "You remember, Hercules?"
 
Gabrielle grinned, "It's been a while, Hercules."
 
The demigod chuckled, "It certainly has."  He turned to his friend, "Gabrielle, I'd like you to meet Xander."
 
Xander walked up to the forming group and smiled at the vampire, "So your Gabrielle, huh?  The show doesn't do you any justice."
 
She showed a confused look, "Show?"
 
Aphrodite smiled, "Honey, a lot's happened since you disappeared.  You and Joxer have a lot to catch up.  I believe Hercules would be willing to do that."
 
The actor nodded, "No doubt about it."  He looked at her, "What do we do about Callisto though?"
 
Gabrielle snarled, "I want her out."  She turned to the goddess, "can you do anything about it?"
 
The Love Goddess said, "I can talk to Hades or someone.  There might be some way to make her be dormant.  I'll have to look into it."
 
She grinned, "Thank you, Aphrodite.  I just want to be free of that bitch."
 
Joxer nodded, "And you will, Gabby.  I already lost you once.  I don't want to lose you again."
 
The blond said with sincerity, "You're not going to, Joxer.  You two are the only link I have to Greece."
 
Cupid's mother questioned, "What about me?  Aren't I a link to Greece?"
 
"I don't know, Aphrodite.  You've caused some trouble over the years."
 
Joxer said with a grin, "Gabby, 'Dite was the one who told me about your future.  If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here."
 
She glared at the goddess, "You knew?  You knew about my future and you didn't do anything about it?"
 
Aphrodite said in her defense, "Gabrielle, we didn't know what happened to you.  We searched all over Greece and couldn't find you.  Joxer here traveled farther than any of us.  I myself didn't know until I touched your thread that was watched over by the Fates.  They may not be able to change destiny, but I could try to prevent it.  So I told Joxer and Hercules.  Joxy decided to place himself in suspended animation so he could be alive when you returned to us."
 
She had tears glisten in her eyes, "You did that?"
 
Joxer nodded, "Yeah, I did.  After Xena died, I didn't have much to do with my life.  I searched for you for years.  Everyone did.  But I was the last one to give up.  I didn't want to live in world that didn't have you in it.  After Aphrodite told me what she found out, I decided to put myself in suspended animation.  We still don't know why I woke up early, but I did.   Believe it or not, Gabby, it's been over 5,000 years since you went missing."
 
She asked in confusion, "5,000 years?"
 
Hercules nodded as he explained the use of the year.  "In other words, its been a very long time."
 
Gabrielle nodded, "I guess it has."  She wrapped one arm around Joxer's waist as she glanced at the only human she didn't know.  "Not to be rude or anything, but who are you?"
 
Xander chuckled, "As Herc explained before.  My name's Xander.  We met a few weeks ago."
 
"Nice to meet you, Xander."  Gabrielle turned to Hercules, "So what do I need to know in order to live in this world?"
 
Joxer said, "One think you need is a name."
 
She showed a confused look, "Name?"
 
Xander said, "We already went over this with Joxer.  In today's society people go by three names.  A first name, a middle name, and a last name. A  middle name isn't needed though.  Gabrielle is actually a good name for a first name.  You still need a last name though."
 
"What are you going by, Joxer?"
 
He said honestly, "Tim Joxer."
 
"Tim?"
 
The warrior nodded, "Tim is a name Xander suggested.  What we need to do is come up with a last name for you, Gabby."
 
"What do you suggest?"
 
Xander looked around the room.  "We need a name that is on the brink of something normal.  Man, this is going to be difficult."
 
Gabrielle asked, "Brink?  What does that word mean?"
 
Hercules said, "Brink means you're on the edge of something new."
 
She said to herself, "Brink."  Taking a moment, she said, "Interesting word."
 
Xander shrugged, "Brink isn't much to go on.  If you want to use that word, you might want to add something to it.  In the past, people used to add the word 'son' too their last name in order to give respect to their father's name.  Johnson is an example of that.  It just means that he was the son of his father who was named John."
 
"So what do I add?"
 
Hercules said, "There's son obviously, there's also: witz, burg, smith, man, lutz, and so on."
 
Gabrielle thought for a moment.  She needed to know, what sounded good with brink.  The only thing that seemed to work was, How about Brinkman?"
 
"Not a bad choice, Gabrielle.  So, we have Kevin Sorbo, Tim Joxer, and Gabrielle  Brinkman."  She turned to Xander, "all we need is Xena, Ioulas, and Autolycus."
 
Xander immediately flashed back to a conversation he had with Hercules, "Actually, according to Herc, Ash is the reincarnated form of Autolycus."
 
Joxer asked, "You mean Autolycus is still around?"
 
Hercules shook his head, "He's not actually here in this time frame.  But we have reason to believe that Ash is Autolycus reincarnated.  They look exactly alike.  Just wait to see you Ash.  Judge for yourself."
 
Gabrielle questioned, "So, what about Xena and Ioulas?"
 
The demigod said, "I really don't know.  I haven't run into them yet."
 
Xander looked at his watch, "Guys, I hate to break up this reunion.  But we really need to get to Ash's.  Buffy and the others are really going to get worried if we don't show up."
 
Gabrielle asked, "Buffy?"
 
Hercules said, "I'll explain on the way.  You coming Aphrodite?"
 
She sighed, "I'd love to, Baby Bro.  But I really got to see Hephy.  Plus, the Goddess of Love has work to do."
 
With that said, she teleported out of the room.
 
"C'mon, Guys.  Let's get a move on."
 
*** 
 
 
"Am I too late?"
 
Ash and the others looked up as a man entered the cabin.
 
"Sorry I didn't come earlier, Ash.   I kinda got preoccupied."
 
Buffy said, "Everything alright?"
 
The demon/human hybrid nodded, "Sure am, Princess."  He went over to the others and sat down on the free space beside the young brunette slayer.  "Have any of you seen Faith's evil twin recently?"
 
Faith lowered her eyes to the ground and then back at her new friend, "Nope.  Bad me hasn't shown her face yet."
 
The link to the powers that be smiled, "We'll find a way to deal with her."  He glanced at the rest of people in the cabin and then to Buffy.  "Where's your friend?"
 
She shrugged, "I dunno, Doyle.  He should be here soon.  He's with Kevin, and some new friends."
 
"Aye.  Did you all ready go on patrol?"
 
Wesley said, "We just returned, Doyle."
 
Doyle sighed, "Sorry I missed it.  Like I said, I was preoccupied."
 
All of a sudden a knock was heard on the door.
 
Faith got up from her seat and approached the cabin door.  She opened it to reveal Xander, Kevin, and two people she never met before.  
 
The younger slayer grinned, "How was patrol?" 
 
-------
 
"So who is this Buffy?"
 
Hercules looked at the vampire bard and said, "Buffy's a vampire slayer, Gabrielle.  Her job is to slay vampires."
 
Her eyes widened, "And you want to introduce me to her?"
 
Joxer shook his head, "I'm not going to loose Gabby again."
 
Xander said simply, "We won't let anything happen to her, Tim."  Pausing, he remembered something, "Although it's going to be difficult."
 
Tim asked, "Just how difficult?"
 
Xander scratched the back of his neck, "Buffy's kind of sensitive when it comes to vampires at the moment."
 
Gabrielle asked, "How sensitive?"
 
He said honestly, "Buffy's last boyfriend was a souled vampire."
 
The blond gulped, "Souled vampire?"
 
The boy nodded, "Buffy got involved with Angel.  The two of them were in love.  Due to recent history, Buffy doesn't fair well with vampires with a soul.  She doesn't fair well with vampires at all at the moment."
 
Joxer asked, "What happened?"
 
"Buffy and Angel slept together and Angel's soul was removed.  A long time ago, Angel was a vampire named Angelus.  Some gypsies got a hold of him and cursed him with a soul.  This way he could feel the pain of the people he tortured, maimed, raped, drank, and killed.  Having a soul, Angelus renamed himself as Angel and began a quest for redemption."
 
"Like Xena?"  Joxer asked.
 
He nodded, "In a way, Tim.  Angelus was now cursed with a soul.  But as soon as he experienced a moment of true happiness, he loses his soul.  After that happened, we had to take Angelus down.  During his reign as the big bad, he killed Jenny Calendar and his childe killed Kendra, another vampire slayer."
 
The two new people to the group listened as Xander told the tale of Angelus and Angel.
 
"So I'm afraid once Buffy sees Gabrielle, another vampire with a soul, she's going get pretty upset."
 
Joxer looked at his eldest friend and back at Xander, "We can reason with her, can't we?"
 
Xander chuckled, "You know what?  Before this summer started, I'd say it would be pretty hard for her to reason with other people.  But since she left for Los Angeles, Buffy has almost become a different person entirely.  So, she might be able to be reasoned to."
 
Gabrielle smiled, "Good.  I don't want to cause any trouble."
 
"I don't think she wants that either, Gabrielle.  I'm just warning you."
 
Hercules said, "This is going to be interesting."
 
The teenager said, "No doubt about it. "
 
The bard looked at the pavement, and then back at her friends, "Do you think there is a way to become human?  Now that I'm back in control and have friends again, do you think I can become human again?"
 
Hercules shrugged, "Anything's possible, Gabrielle.  We can certainly look into it."
 
She smiled, "That's good to know."
 
"Here we are."  Xander said as they stepped on to the drive.  "Remember, my warning about Buffy."
 
Tim grinned, "We'll be ready."
 
Hercules stepped onto the front step and knocked the door.
 
Soon the door opened.
 
"How was patrol?" A voice asked.
 
Xander said, "It was truly an eye-opening experience."
 
Hercules chuckled, "Can we come in?"
 
The brunette chuckled as she opened door further.  She still got nervous when Kevin Sorbo was around.  However, she was getting better at it, "Come on in."
 
Hercules smiled, "Thank you, Faith.  Allow me to you introduce you to some of my old friends."
 
The four of them entered as Hercules introduced them, "Everyone.  This is Tim Joxer and Gabrielle Brinkman."
 
Faith suddenly felt something as the blond woman entered the cabin.  She automatically pinned her against the wall.  "You let a vampire come in here?"
 
Xander shook his head, "It's not like you think."
 
Buffy stood up and stormed to her friend, with a snarl, she yelled, "You brought a vampire in here!  Why would my best friend bring a vampire?  Especially someone who was always against vampires!"
 
"Take it easy, Buffy. Gabrielle isn't an evil vampire."  Hercules said in a calm voice.
 
Gabrielle shook her head, "I'm not like Angel."
 
The blond slayer glared at Xander, "You told them about Angel?  What gives you the right to tell them about my personal life, Xander?"
 
Joxer nodded, "He did tell us about him, Buffy.  She does have a soul, and you better leave her alone."
 
Buffy glared at the warrior, "Why should I leave her alone?"
 
"Because I love her!"
 
Her eyes widened, "You love her?  You love a vampire, Tim?  You have no idea what kind of trouble that can lead to!"
 
"Yeah, I love her, Buffy.  You got a problem with that?"
 
Xander said under his breath, "Big mistake, Tim."
 
Buffy said with conviction, "I know first hand, Tim.  Dating a vampire can't lead to anything good.  Vampires lead to trouble.  Having a soul isn't permanent-especially for vampires."
 
Tim stated, "I know, Buffy.  Xander told me.  Gabrielle and Angel are nothing alike.  Gabby's soul is permanent."
 
She glared at Xander, "How is her soul permanent?  Why did you tell them about Angel?"
 
He stated, "I wanted to warn them what would happen if Gabrielle came here tonight, Buff.  As Tim said, Gabrielle and Angel are completely different."
 
Faith snarled, "Just how different?  I suppose G here is cursed."
 
Gabrielle and Hercules exchanged looks.  
 
Hercules was about to say something, when Joxer interrupted, "Gabs isn't cursed, Buffy.  She always had her soul."
 
She snarled, "Vampires lose their souls when they get turned."
 
Gabrielle said, "Not at first."
 
Buffy said with venom, "What do you mean, 'not at first?"
 
Xander explained, "I talked to Giles."
 
She asked, "What did Giles say?"
 
Her friend said, "Giles told me that a vampire never loses their soul at first."
 
The eldest slayer asked, "What do you mean they don't lose their souls as first?"
 
Xander explained the information that Giles told him.  The boy explained to her what he learned.  He kept out everything Tim and Gabrielle's true identities.  "She never got the chance to kill her family, Buff.  Angelus did.  That's why he went without a soul.  Gabrielle never did."
 
"But Gabrielle could very well kill her family now."
 
Tim shook his head, "That can't happen, Buffy."
 
"And why not, Tim?"
 
Gabrielle addressed Faith, "Because my family was dead a long time ago.  And I wasn't responsible.  Throw in a number of years where I was cut-off from society."
  
"Just hold on here!"
 
 
 
 
The people by the door looked to the other side of the room as they saw the head of the cabin walking forward.
 
"Why the hell would you invite a vampire in here, Kid?"
 
Gabrielle and Joxer both looked at each other in surprise, and then at Hercules who nodded in acknowledgement.
 
Hercules said, "Ash, it's alright."
 
He showed a confused look, "How is it alright?  How is inviting a demon into my cabin alright?"
 
The demigod said calmly, "Do you trust me?"
 
Ash turned his head to look at his other friends who were coming to the group.  Just as he was about to say something, Buffy walked over to Xander and grabbed his arm.  "You're coming with me."  
 
Xander said without thinking, "Whatever you do, don't touch the ear."
 
She grinned, "Thanks for the idea."   Releasing his arm, she twisted his ear and pulled him into the other room.
 
"Smooth move, Xander."  He said to himself as the two exited the room.
 
Returning to the conversation at hand, Wesley said, "We do trust you, Kevin.  The odds of having another souled vampire is rather hard to believe."
 
Gunn said as he pulled out his stake, "A vampire is a vampire to me.  Clear the way, Tim."
 
Joxer shook his head as he approached him.  His hand automatically went to where his sword usually was place, "Shit," he said to himself as he realized that he didn't have the sword anymore.  
 
Taking a look back at his beloved, he saw the terror in her eyes.  Turning back he grabbed the stake out of the young man's grasp.  "Listen you, leave her alone!"
 
Feeling the wooden weapon fall from his fingers, he pinned the new visitor to the wall, next to where the blond vampire was pinned.  "If I were you, Tim, I'd shut up.  Things don't really look good for you right now."
 
Gabrielle and Joxer exchanged worried glances as they nodded in agreement.
 
Though they were recently reunited, their memories flashed back to the days of Greece.  After a moments pause, the two pinned people kneed their opponents in the groin causing them to release them.
 
Gabrielle shook herself free and said to the other people calmly, "I assure you.  I am no threat to you."
 
Ash walked over to his niece to make sure she was all right, "You're no threat to us?  You just hurt my niece."
 
Faith shook her head, "I'm cool, Uncle Ash.  No big."
 
Gabrielle said, "Sorry, Ash.  I won't hurt you or any of you.  I already did enough of that."
 
Joxer nodded as he reset his collar, "I've know Gabrielle for years, Ash.  I can say with complete honesty, never once has Gabrielle killed someone in cold blood.  It's always been self-defense."
 
She smiled sweetly, "I only want to help you."
 
------ 
 
"Talk to me, Xander."  Buffy said as she let go of his ear and threw him on the empty bed. 
 
Xander immediately went for his ear, and covered it to lesson the pain, "First of all, let me say ouch."
 
She stood beyond the foot of the bed, "What the hell were you thinking?"
 
He grinned looking where he was.  Couldn't help a grin appearing on his face, "You sure you ready for this, Buff?"
 
Her eyes widened at what he just said, but immediately shook it off.  "Get your mind out of the gutter, Xand.  Why did you bring a vampire into this cabin?"
 
Xander pushed himself into a sitting position, "Kevin said Gabrielle could help, Buffy."
 
She glared at him, "But you brought a vampire here!  You brought a souled vampire here!  You told them about Angel!"
 
He got to his feet and said, "I told them about Angel because I wanted to warn them.  I know Angel will always be a sensitive subject for you.  But we're talking about a souled vampire that doesn't have a curse."
 
His friend narrowed her eyes, "So having a vampire without a curse is alrght!  You're saying if Angel didn't have a curse, you'd be okay with us dating, with us being in love."
 
He shook his head, "No."
 
Her eyes kept glaring, "Then what are you saying?  Are you saying that isn't okay for me to be in love with a vampire, but it's okay for Tim to be!  Why can Tim be in love with one, and I can't!  What's so special about Tim!?"
 
He took a step back and fell onto the bed.  Xander looked up to his friend and saw the tears in her eyes, "Are you that jealous of Angel?  Do you want me that much?  Do you want me to be your girlfriend so much that you'd sacrifice my happiness only to make you happy?"
 
He immediately shook his head, "No!"  He bellowed at her.  
 
"Do you enjoy seeing me in pain, Xander!  Do you enjoy seeing my life be in terror?  Am I some ultimate prize for you?  Am I someone that you crave, someone that you can tell your friends that you got to get in bed with a slayer?  Do you even care about me?"
 
A wave of confusion washed over him, "What are you saying, Buffy?"
 
She continued on her tirade, tears pouring down her cheeks, "What makes Tim so special, Xander?  Why is it okay for him to be in love with Gabrielle but it isn't okay for me to be in love with Angel?"
 
"Buffy?"
 
She ignored him, "Tell me Xander!  Tell me why you think Gabrielle is an okay vampire?  Why is it all right for Tim to love her?  Why was it not alright for me to be in love with Angel?"
 
Xander got off the bed and approached her.  Carefully, he raised his arms and wrapped them around her shoulders.
 
She pulled away, "Why?  Why do you feel this way?"
 
Xander took a breath, and rewrapped his arms around her.  She didn't pull away this time, instead she just crumpled into his arms, "Why, Xander?  Tell me why."
 
He just held her as she cried into his chest.  Lately, it seemed that all he did was to comfort her.  But if he wanted Buffy to go home to Sunnydale with him, he'd had to be this way.  With a sigh, he just held her.
 
Taking the initiative, he walked them over to the side of the bed, and sat down.  He placed her next to him, with one arm wrapped around her still.  The other arm went to his side allowing his hand to go to her cheek.  He caressed the side of her face lovingly, wiping the tears away from her eyes.  
 
"You want to know why Tim and Gabrielle are alright, but you and Angel aren't?"
 
Buffy nodded, "Please, Xander.  Tell me."
 
Xander sighed, "It's because Gabrielle was denied something.  Angelus wasn't denied."
 
Taking a breath, "You mean the killing of the family?"
 
Xander agreed, "Gabrielle is a vampire who recently found her way back to the side of good.   I can only imagine what was going on insider her mind, Buffy.  But when I was around her, she looked like she was in complete torture. 
 
"Angel was cursed with a soul.  He killed his family when he was first turned.  Gabrielle didn't have that chance.  As she said, she was cut-off from society.  She just recently became free and Tim was there for her.  Before Gabrielle was turned, her and Tim were best friends.
 
"Gabrielle went missing.  For the longest time, Tim searched for her.  So did Kevin.  But they couldn't find her.  Gabrielle's family died, and it wasn't by supernatural causes.  They were natural ones.
 
"When Tim got to her, he told her he loved her.  He had to break through to the girl that he remembered her as and that was through his love.  Buffy, Tim loves Gabrielle unconditionally.  He knows all her faults and her positive aspects.  Buffy, Tim is someone that needs Gabrielle in his life.  Gabrielle needs Tim in her life.  They work well together, and it looks like they finally found each other.
 
"Angel and you had love.  That I won't deny you.  But can you live without Angel?  Now that Angel's gone, are you alright?  Are you able to on in life without him?"
 
Before she was about to answer, Xander said, "Buffy, since you found me, it seems you're in a much better place in life.  You seem happier, more self confident, and a better person in general.  You're willing to have help when you need it.  To me, Angel's death was also the beginning of a new life for you.  Angel gave you a better life.  He could never have a life with you, but now that he's gone, you seem to be in a better place.  Are you, Buffy Summers, in any pain?  I mean, at this moment, within the last few days, are you in pain?"
 
Buffy looked at the ground and then back at him, "No, no I'm not."
 
He grinned, "That's good, Buffy.  You can live without Angel and you seem to be doing that extremely well.  Tim and Gabrielle are different.  They recently found each other and they need one another.  That's why I'm okay with them dating.  Because they need each other right now, because they know each other, because they need each other to survive right now.  They depend on one another."
 
 
***
 
"Everything alright?"
 
The group of people looked to the pathway leading to the hallway as two teenagers entered the main room.
 
Hercules nodded, "Everything's alright, Xander.  Gabrielle and Tim are now welcomed members of the Scrappy Gang.  It is the Scrappy Gang, right?"
 
Xander chuckled, "As far as I can tell."  Glancing at the clock, Xander sighed, "It's getting kinda late, Guys.  Want to call it a night?"  He then glanced at his best friend, and hugged her shoulders to him.  "You okay?"
 
Buffy looked at Gabrielle and Tim.  She noticed how close they looked.  She had to admit.  Xander was right, they looked like they needed each other right now.  Looking into Xander's eyes she said in a low voice, "I'm getting there."
 
The boy grinned, "Good.  In the immoral words of Snagglepuss, 'Exit stage left.'"
 
Joxer asked, "Snagglepuss?"
 
Buffy giggled, "Old Hanna Barbarra character, Tim.  Think of him as a pink mountain lion."
 
Hercules noticed the confused look at Joxer, and smiled, "They don't know you don't watch much cartoons."
 
"Cartoons?"  He looked at Gabrielle who glared at him, smiling, he added, "Right.  Never really got into them."
 
Ash nodded, "Alright.  Let's call it a night and meet back here for patrol tomorrow night."
 
*** 
 
"This feels weird, Jack."
 
Jack looked at his friend, "You mean going back to highshcool?"
 
The archeologist nodded, "Yeah.  Never had many good memories here."
 
"This is not your highschool, Daniel."
 
He sighed, "I know, Sam.  But highschool was never a fun time for me.  Partially because I never really stayed in highschool that much at a time."
 
The colonel smiled, "Highschool was alright I guess.  Never really cared for it.  When to the prom though."
 
She said, "Have fun, Sir?"
 
Jack nodded, "The night went by okay, hang out with my friends.   I missed out for Class Clown though."
 
"O'Neill, it appears that the students finally left the school."
 
Jack grinned, "C'mon, Murray.  Let's go find us a slayer."
 
*** 
 
Bad Faith slumped off her bike as she walked down the sidewalk.
 
The only think she was holding was the Necronomicon.  She had no idea what happened to the warrior that she called out for.  The warrior was going to be the perfect distraction for her enemies to withstand.
 
Sighing, she sat down on a bench that she passed, and opened the book.  She started to go through the pages looking for the spell to help locate her warrior.  With that done, she'll find him, and then work towards her goal to contain the Hellmouth.
 
*** 
 
SG-1 walked down the empty hall.  
 
The four of them sporadically looked at their environment.  Lockers lined down the hallway.  The grayness of the lockers blended with the tan brick walls.  
 
"Where would these records be, O'Neill?"
 
Jack said simply, "Principal's office."
 
Daniel smiled, "I'm sure you spent a lot of time there, huh, Jack?"
 
Sam stated, "You know Jack the longest, Daniel.  Any interesting stories?"
 
Jack's eyes widened remembering an incident.  But sighing in relief, he realized that he never told any body any stories.
 
The archeologist shook his head, "Nope.  No stories."
 
The colonel smiled, "There's nothing to tell anyway, Carter."
 
She nodded, "Sure, Sir."
 
"May I help you?"
 
The four members from the SGC turned to see a brunette woman. 
 
Daniel said, "Actually, maybe you can.  We're looking for a student here."
 
The woman said, "School's over, Mr?"
 
He chuckled, "Sorry.  My name is Daniel Jackson.  This is Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter, and Murray."
 
Her eyes widened looking at the uniforms these people were wearing.  Her memory flashed back to her days at highschool.  One of her friends' father was in the army.
 
"And you are?"
 
She knew from her friend that honesty was always the best way to handle issues with the army.  Taking a breath, she said, "My name is Mrs. Kelly Kapowski Morris.  I'm a teacher here."
 
"Well, Mrs. Morris."
 
"That's Kapowski Morris.  I married four your years ago."
 
Jack continued, "Alright, Mrs. Kapowski Morris, we're looking for a student.  It is very important that you cooperate."
 
She nodded, "One of my friends' father is in the army.  Maybe you know him, Major Martin Slater?"
 
Jack thought back to his days of training and shook his head, "Sorry, no.  Anyway, we're hoping you can help us find a young woman.  Goes by the name Buffy Summers.  We believe she's a student here."
 
The name hit her like a ton of bricks, "She used to be a student here."
 
"Oh."  Was the colonel's response.
 
Daniel spoke up, "Do you know where we can find her.  It is important that we locate her."
 
The teacher remembered something, "Well, I saw her a few days ago at Helen's Diner.  It appears that she's working there now.  Although she goes by another name, Anne Phillips."
 
Sam grinned, "Thank you, Mrs. Kapowski Morris."
 
Mrs. Kapowski Morris said, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
 
Jack shook her head, "Nope.  Everything's fine.  We'll let ourselves out.  C'mon, Kids.  We're going to Helen's Diner."
 
With that said, the four members of the SGC turned around and left the highschool. 
 
*** 
 
"Excuse me?"
 
A woman looked up from her cash registrar as she saw four people dressed in army fatigues.  
 
Jack smiled, "I was wondering.  Does a Buffy Sumemrs work here?"
 
She showed a confused look, "Who is Buffy Summers?"
 
Daniel corrected his friend, "Anne Phillips he means."
 
The clerk smiled, "May I ask why you want to talk to Anne?"
 
Sam said, "We need Mss Phillips help on something.  We were told she would be a good source."
 
Her eyes narrowed, "What kind of source?  No offence, uh?"
 
A grin appeared, "Captain Carter.  That's Colonel O'Neill, Murray, and Daniel Jackson.  We're with the air force."
 
"Why would the air force want Anne?"  
 
Jack grinned, "That's confidential."
 
Her eyes scowled, but sighed knowing nothing was going to be spoiled, "I'll get her.  By the way, the name's Danielle."
 
------ 
 
"Anne?"
 
Buffy looked at her co-worker as she placed the last dish in the washer.  "Yeah, Danielle?"
 
Her friend said, "People from the army are here to see you."
 
The blond's eye brows shot up, "Army?"
 
Danielle nodded, "Yeah.  The say they need your help."
 
She asked, "What kind of help?"
 
Her friend shrugged, "Dunno.  Confidential.  Want me to call Xander or someone just in case?"
 
Buffy thought about if for a second, but shook her head, "No.  I can handle this."  (I hope,) she thought of anyway.
 
With that said, Buffy washed her hands, dried them, "Thanks, Danielle.  I'll go see what they want."
 
Then it hit her.  She looked at Danielle and said, "Actually, do call him.  Tell him to meet me here and soon."
 
Danielle grinned, "Sure."
 
The Slayer stated, "Thanks."  (With Xander's army knowledge, I can tell if these guys are right.)
 
Then she left the kitchen.
 
------ 
 
SG-1 sat at one of the booths with Teal'c looking around the establishment.  
 
"This place seems to be quite full."
 
Jack said, "Well, it is a restaurant, Murray.  People tend to eat here."
 
Daniel said, "I'm more interesting on meeting Buffy.  Wonder why she's going by Anne Phillips now."
 
Teal'c looked at him, "Perhaps to create an identity for herself."  He glanced at the colonel, "Isn't that what Spider-Man would do, O'Neill?"
 
Sam asked confusingly, "Spider-Man, Sir?"
 
He shrugged, "Used to read comics when I was a kid, Carter.  I have a couple comic books in my office.  And besides, Spider-Man is a cool character."
 
"You're looking for me?"
 
SG-1 looked to their left as they saw a young blond woman.
 
"Miss Summers?"
 
Her eyes widened as they called out her real name.  She immediately shrank in fear.  Here was an army team that knew her true name.
 
She smiled slightly, "My name is Anne Phillips.  I'm sorry.  You're mistaken."
 
With that said, Buffy started to leave for the kitchen.
 
Daniel spoke up, "That's not what Merrick knew you as, is it?"
 
The name of her first watcher made her turn around and look at the members of the SGC.
 
"You knew Merrick?"
 
The archeologist nodded, "You could say that.   We just came from his sister's house."
 
Buffy nodded as she pulled up a chair from an empty table.  She sat down in front of the four person team.
 
She said in a sad voice, "He died two years ago."
 
Daniel nodded, "We know.  Merrick left a notebook for me and we need your help."
 
"There you are, Anne."
 
Buffy looked up as her best friend came walking inside.  "Hi, Xander."
 
Noticing the people in army clothing, he became more serious.  "Everything alright?"
 
She shrugged, "Dunno, Xand.  These people know who I am."
 
He chuckled, "Yeah, you're Anne Phillips."
 
The blond shook her head, "No.  They know who I really am."
 
Xander noticed the seriousness of the comment from Buffy.  He took another seat from the same table Buffy did earlier.  Sitting down beside her, he asked, "Everything okay, Colonel?"
 
Jack's eyes widened, "You know I'm a colonel?"
 
He nodded, "Noticed your uniform.  And by the type of uniform, it's an air force uniform.  Danielle called me telling me that Anne wanted me here.  So, I just left from my break at S-Mart."
 
Sam turned the conversation back, "Miss Summers?"
 
Buffy said, "Call me Buffy.  That's Xander.  Everything you need to tell me, you can tell him.  He knows a lot about the army and how it works."
 
Jack asked, "He does?"
 
The boy nodded, "I do, Colonel.  And if I were you, I'd be cooperative."
 
The colonel smiled slightly, (This guy is getting on my nerves.  How does he know this information?)  
 
Sam introduced herself, "My name is Captain Carter.  This is Murray, Daniel Jackson, and that is Colonel Jack O'Neill."
 
Daniel added, "As we said before, we need your help.  It has to deal with a vampire."
 
The head of SG-1 nodded, "We recently came across this vampire and found out through Daniel's friend that you are a vampire slayer."
 
She nodded and said to herself, "One of two."
 
Xander heard her because he was sitting right next to her.  He said, "Colonel O'Neill, why would the army be interested in Buffy?"
 
Thinking for a second, Xander corrected himself, "Scratch that.  My question is why would the US Air Force be interested in Buffy?  As long as I known her, she never took up any flying lessons."
 
Jack looked at his friends.  Daniel just shrugged, Teal'c raised an eyebrow, and Sam smiled slightly.
 
Daniel spoke, "Well, it's like this."
 
Jack scowled, "Daniel?"
 
He sighed, "Jack, they have to know about Caroline."
 
The colonel said in a somber tone, "Oh."
 
Buffy asked in surprise, "Caroline?"
 
Sam nodded, "Caroline is a vampire we recently came across.  We found out that she came to Los Angeles and decided to go after her."
 
Buffy nodded, "Let me guess.  And you thought the vampire slayer would help?"
 
Daniel said, "Exactly.  We never came across a vampire before.  If you asked us a few days ago, we'd never know about vampire.  We'd think they wouldn't exist."
 
The blond slayer said, "I'm just surprised the US Air Force wants my help."
 
Xander said, "You are the slayer, Buff."  He turned to SG-1, "We got some friends that might be able to help."  Glancing at Buffy, he asked, "When do you get off work?"
 
Buffy looked at her watch, "Four more hours."
 
The boy grinned, "Alright.  Meet us here at 8 o'clock.  Then we'll go to Ash's."
 
Jack asked, "Ash?"
 
The male Scrappy member nodded, "One of our friends."  Looking at his watch, he noticed the time, "I hate to stop this, but I have to get back to work.  See you guys in four hours."
 
*** 
 
Bad Faith turned to a page.  She began to read it.  Getting to a spell, she smiled.  After reading it through once silently, she closed her eyes and said in a menacing tone.
 
"Garaca bulno brorias japka laus brozo elzo bob funas."
 
Closing the book, she could feel something happen in her stomach.  With a sadistic smile, she said to herself, "I'll find you warrior.  You're mine."
 
*** 
 
"Gabby?"
 
She looked as her eldest friend came through the door.
 
"Hi, Joxer."
 
She smiled at the mention of her old nickname.  "How are you?"
 
She shrugged, "Okay, I guess."
 
Joxer asked, "Just okay?"
 
She got up from his chair and sat down at the bed Hercules said he could use.  "Come in, Joxer."
 
The brunette nodded as he walked into his bedroom.  "Yeah, Gabby?"
 
Watching him sit down, she said to him, "I'm just thinking about the past."
 
He lowered her eyes to the ground, "You miss them, huh?"
 
She agreed, "Everything we know is gone, Joxer.  Xena is long dead.  Lilla is dead as well as my parents.  I'm no longer human.  I'll live forever while you'll die eventually.  Hercules is only ageless.  He can die at some point.  I'm going to be all alone at some point."
 
Taking her hand in his, Joxer said, "Gabby, we'll find a way to turn you human.  Becoming a vampire wasn't your fault.  Being separated from us wasn't your fault either.  You were taken from us, and now that your back.  I won't ever let you go."
 
She smiled at the sincerity of his words.  He loved her.  Simple as that.  Gabrielle looked to her right and could see the emotion the man held in his eyes.  She reached her hand up to his cheek, and caressed it lovingly.  The vampire lowered her face to his, and gave him a kiss on the lips.  A brief one at that.
 
Withdrawing from him, she could see the shocked look on his face.  
 
"What was that for?"
 
Gabrielle grinned, "That was my way of saying thank you."
 
He showed a confused look, "For what?"
 
The bard said honestly, "For being you.
 
"For placing yourself in suspended animation.  For telling me you love me.  For helping me get rid of Callisto.  For loving me for me.  For being my best friend.  For being you."
 
He couldn't help the wide grin appearing on his face, "You're welcome."
 
*** 
 
 "Hi, Faith."
 
The brunette turned around to see her friend coming up the driveway.
 
She greeted him, "Hey, Eric."
 
The man from Philadelphia smiled, "It's been a while, huh?"
 
Faith shrugged, "It's only been three days, Eric."
 
He nodded as he stepped on the front porch by his friend, "I know, Faith.  It's just been a few days since we last talked.  Wanted to know if everything was alright."
 
She grinned, "Everything's five by five."
 
He nodded with uncertainty, "Uh, and my brother Cory, he doesn't love Topanga."
 
The young slayer looked at her friend, "No.  Everything's cool."
 
Eric sat down on the front step.  Faith sat beside him, and looked at him.  "I mean it, Eric.  Everything's cool."
 
He sighed, "Faith?"
 
"What?"
 
"I don't believe you.   Ever since we met at your birthday, I've been learning a lot about you.  You're a very loving.  Especially to your uncle."
 
Faith said with certainty, "I just know what's important in my life."
 
He grinned, "That's always good.  It's just that I am worried about you.  What aren't you telling me?"
 
She sighed, "There's nothing to tell you."  (I'm not ready to tell you yet,) she thought sadly.
 
The security guard nodded, "Well, I know something is bothering you.  And right now, it looks like you aren't going to tell me."  He got back to his feet.  "When you are ready to tell me.  Call me.  You do know the number."
 
With that, Eric started to walk down the stairs.  Turning around, he said to Faith, "I'll be here when you're ready to tell me.  Just remember, I can't wait forever."
 
Taking a breath, Eric Matthews left Faith to think.
 
 
*** 
 
"It's 8:01, Sir."
 
Jack nodded, "I know, Carter.  It's only one minute passed eight."
 
"I know, Sir."  Sam said with a sigh, "I'm simply just stating the time.  That's all.  Nothing wrong with that."
 
He shook his head, "Nope.  Nothing wrong with that, I guess."  The colonel tucked his legs behind the legs of the stool that he was sitting on.  Taking a quick spin, Jack spun around on the stool he was sitting on.  When coming back to the counter, he looked up at the menu.  "What looks good?"  He asked himself.
 
"This isn't the time to eat, Jack.  We have to take care of the Caroline situation."
 
He nodded, "And Banks.  Don't forget him."
 
"I didn't forget him, Jack.  We just been using Caroline's name more recently, and I decided to keep with the trend."
 
"Perhaps we should see if Buffy Summers is alright?"
 
The colonel said, "Easy, Murray.  I'm sure Anne will be right out."
 
"Hi, Colonel."
 
Jack and the other members of the SGC looked as Xander came in.  "Glad you made it."
 
He shrugged, "What exactly were we going to do?  We don't know LA that well, Xander.  Besides, I was thinking of getting a slice of cherry pie."
 
The boy chuckled, "Yeah, this place does have a pretty good cherry pie.  I'm sure Anne will be out soon."
 
"Somebody mention my name?"  A voice asked as she walked out of the kitchen.
 
"Hiya, Buffster."
 
She smiled at Xander's nickname for her.  "You haven't called me that in a while."
 
The teenager shrugged, "I thought I start using the name again.  You ready?"
 
Buffy said, "One second."  She opened the door to the kitchen, "I'm leaving Danielle."
 
"You can go, Anne.  I'll clock you out."
 
She grinned, "Thanks.  See ya tomorrow."
 
Closing the door, Buffy turned on her heals.  Looking at her best friend and the people in army fatigues.  "Let's get going."
 
Jack sighed, "And I wanted that cherry pie."
 
Xander grinned, "Another time, Colonel."
 
*** 
 
 "You ready?"
 
Joxer and Gabrielle looked up as Hercules entered the room.  
 
"Where we going again?"
 
The demigod looked at the human, "We're going to Ash's, Joxer.  We patrol every night."
 
She asked confusingly, "Aren't you worried somebody will find out your secret?"
 
He grinned, "You mean, like yours and Joxer's?"
 
The vampire nodded, "Yeah, I guess I do mean that."
 
The actor said, "When I first met Xander, I was nervous.  But now, I'm feeling a little more comfortable."
 
"How so?"  Was the blond's question.
 
Kevin answered, "For one thing, Xander knows about me and I trust him.  I also now have you two to help me back up stories.   And since Gabrielle is a bard, all the better for us."
 
The mention of her former life made tears glisten in her eyes.  "I haven't written so many centuries."
 
Joxer smiled, "You were somewhere else."  Thinking for a second, he asked, "Where were you exactly?"
 
Gabrielle said simply, "Another planet."
 
He nodded, "Okay, another planet." Joxer looked at the demigod, "Gabrielle was on another planet."
 
His eyes widened, "Another planet?  What in Tartarus is a planet?"
 
Hercules chuckled, "Remember my theory where the Earth was round."
 
Joxer sighed, "You still telling that crap.  Hercules, the Earth is flat."
 
He laughed, "Actually, a man named Christopher Columbus proved that wrong.  He went by boat to America, where we're standing now.  America is on the other side of the Earth from Greece."
 
The warrior made the connection, "You mean the Earth is actually round?"
 
"That it is, Joxer."
 
He showed a confused look, "What are planets though?"
 
The demigod said, "Earth is classified as a planet.  Centuries ago, people found objects in the night sky that resembled to what Earth looked like.  The people classified them as planets."
 
"Huh?"
 
Hercules sighed, "This is going to take a while to explain.  Why don't we just go to Ash's right now?  Then I'll explain it in a way that you'll understand.  Alright?"
 
He looked at his best friend who nodded in understanding.  Joxer looked back to the eldest man in the room and said, "Alright, Hercules.  I guess that mean's we're going."
 
*** 
 
Gabrielle, Joxer, and Hercules walked up the steps to Ash's cabin.  
 
The bard looked at the demigod and said, "Ash really looks like Autolycus, doesn't he?"
 
He nodded, "Yeah.  They do look a lot alike.  I keep wondering if he would recognize us from Greece."
 
Joxer smiled, "You never know, Kevin.  I'm just afraid that Ash might blow our cover."
 
The son of Zeus said, "I doubt Ash or Autolycus will blow our cover.  That is of course if we talk to him first.  Should be interesting I must say."
 
At that point, Gabrielle knocked on the door as they reached the front door.  "I just hope tonight goes right. "
 
The door opened to reveal a scarred man.
 
"How ya doing, Kevin?"
 
Hercules grinned, "I'm good, Ash.  Gabrielle and Tim came tonight too."
 
The former promised one looked at the three of them for a second and took a step back in shock.  "Woah."
 
Hercules looked at him in curiosity, "You alright, Ash?"
 
He nodded as he scratched the back of his neck, "Yeah, I just had a strange sense of déjà vu.  I don't know why, but when I look at you three, I suddenly got this strange feeling as if we met before."
 
Joxer grinned, "We have those types of faces."
 
The clerk shrugged, "Well, either way.  Everyone's not here yet.  Come on in."
 
With that said, the four of them walked into cabin and saw some of their friends inside. 
 
Faith and Gunn sat down on the couch.  Wesley was looking through a book at the table by the other side of the room.  Doyle walked through the doorway, drinking something.
 
"Glad you made it, Man."
 
The demigod nodded, "Had a free night, Doyle.  Xander here yet?"
 
Faith shook her head as she got up from her seat, "Not yet, Kevin.  X and B haven't turned up yet."
 
Joxer grinned, "They're probably on their way, I'm sure."
 
Ash grinned, "You're probably right, Tim.  They'll show up eventually."
 
The blond nodded, "Eventually."
 
The atmosphere in the room just turned a little stale.  Gabrielle cursed herself knowing that everyone wasn't comfortable with her yet.  She could understand.
 
A vampire that none of them knew was inside the cabin.  She could tell that they didn't like vampires.  And she didn't blame them.
 
Making a sudden giggle to try and lighten the mood, she turned to Joxer who noted the looks of fear in her eyes.  Gabrielle hoped so anyway that Joxer would understand.
 
Creating a smile on his lips, Joxer said, "So, how'd you guys meet Xander?  Kevin introduced him to me the other night."
 
For some reason Ash had to say something.  Looking at the three of them made him feel like he knew them from somewhere.  But from where?  He didn't know.  Ash knew he had to contribute his story.
 
"Xander and I work at S-Mart.  He met me one night when we were called in to work."
 
Faith added, "Uncle Ash invited X over for dinner one night.  He's the one that found out that I was a vampire slayer."
 
Hercules grinned, "I met him at Caritas.  You should hear him sing.  He doesn't have a bad voice."
 
Joxer smiled, "I've been known to sing at times.  Pretty good at it."
 
Faith asked, "You sing?"
 
Gabrielle smiled, "Yeah, he sings.  Believe me, he sings.  Whenever you hear his voice, you know it's from him."
 
He grinned not getting the idea, "Thanks, Gabby."
 
All of a sudden the door made a sound.
 
Ash said, "I'll get it."  He opened the door to reveal six people.  The former promised one recognized two of them immediately.  "Hi, Kid.  How are you, Buffy?"
 
He then noted the rest of the people behind them.  "And you are?"
 
Xander said, "Easy, Ash.  This is Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, Daniel, and Murray."
 
Jack smiled as he extended his arm, "You must be Ash."
 
The scarred man nodded as he shook the man's hand with his normal hand.  "That be me.  May I ask why you people are here?"
 
Sam said, "We needed Buffy's help, Ash.  Can we come in?"
 
He looked at Xander who nodded.  With a smile he said, "If Xander says you're okay, then that's fine by me."  He moved to allow them inside.
 
He said, "Come on in."
 
The six of them entered the room as Xander said, "Everyone, meet Colonel Jack O'Neill, Captain Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Muray."
 
Wesley walked up to them, "What is your last name, Mr. Murray?"
 
Teal'c raised his eyebrow, "Last name?"
 
Ash nodded, "Yeah, a last name.  You know.  My full name is Ash Williams."
 
Jack looked at Teal'c and said, "Don't be rude, Murray.  You know your last name is Jaffaman."
 
The Jaffa nodded, "Indeed."
 
Wesley grinned, "Was that so hard, Mr. Jaffaman?  My name is Wesley Whyndam-Pryce.  Next to me Doyle, Faith Williams, Gunn, Tim Joxer, Gabrielle Brinkman, and Kevin Sorbo."
 
Jack's eyes widened at the site of the blond.  He growled, "Caroline."
 
Joxer asked, "You must be mistaken.  That's Gabrielle."
 
Jack went to his side and took a zat.  He aimed it at the vampire and placed his finger on the trigger.  
 
Joxer didn't know much about this world yet, but one thing seemed not to change was weapons.  With all the strength he could muster, he leapt forward to protect the woman he loved.
 
Jack squeezed the trigger and the electricity of the weapon discharged and made it's way to the vampire, but Joxer intercepted and got hit instead.  
 
Suddenly, his body fell to the ground with a thud.
 
Gabrielle screamed, "No!"  
 
She immediately went down to his side and went to check his pulse.  "What did you do to him?"
 
Knowing Tim was alright, Jack aimed his weapon at the vampire and was about to shoot when he heard a familiar click. 
 
 
 
"Put the weapon down."
 
------ 
 
Watching the scene unfold, Ash went to his mantle and grabbed his shotgun.  Loading it quickly he aimed it at the colonel.
 
After it clicked, Ash said, "Put the weapon down."
 
------ 
 
"Carter?"
 
"It's alright, Sir.  I have Ash."  Sam then aimed her zat at Ash to make sure Jack was alright.
 
Thinking Ash would surrender, Sam relaxed a little, but still had her zat ready.  Teal'c followed suit.
 
Normally, anybody would give into the statement, like that.  But Ash knew otherwise.
 
With a wild grin, he dropped to the floor and did a foot sweep watching the two of them drop to the ground.  Ash got to his feet and aimed his shotgun at Sam and Murray.
 
"I wouldn't move it I were you."
 
"Sir?"
 
Teal'c jumped back to his feet and knocked the weapon out of Ash's hand.  
 
He aimed his zat back at the man as Faith pulled back her chackram and said, "Leave my uncle alone!"
 
"Uh, Jack?"
 
Jack said, "A little busy right now, Daniel."
 
"You might want to take a look at this."
 
Sighing, he shot Gabrille once with the zat and looked at the others.
 
Jack turned around with his zat tightly in his hand.  Ash picked up his shotgun and aimed it at Teal'c.  Sam was standing as well now with her Beretta aimed at Faith.
 
Faith held up some kind of weapon toward Teal'c while Gunn held his axe, standing in front of Jack. 
 
Xander, Buffy, Kevin, Wesley, and Doyle all had stunned expressions on their faces.
 
Jack aimed his zat at Ash, "Well, isn't this a fun party?"
 
 
Hercules suddenly broke free of his trance and walked to the center of the room.  Taking a breath and holding his hands up, he said, "Alright, everyone.  Calm down."
 
Ash snarled, "Not until these people yank their weapons away from my niece, Kevin!"
 
Daniel said, "This isn't going to get us anywhere.  Like Mr. Sorbo said, everyone calm down."
 
Jack glanced at his friend, "They're protecting a vampire, Daniel!  She killed three people!"  Looking around the room, he yelled, "And where's Banks!?"
 
Xander looked at the fallen forms of his friends, "First of all, Colonel.  What did you do to my friends?"
 
Wesley said, "Before we get into discussion, I suggest we place our weapons down."
 
Ash said, "I'll do it once she gets that Beretta off my niece!"
 
She glanced at the colonel, "Sir?"
 
Jack surveyed his surroundings.  Then he glanced down at the people he shot.  Knowing Daniel had the best interest in mind, he sighed, "Stand down."
 
Slowly, he lowered his zat as he watched the others lower their weapons.
 
"Somebody damn well tell me what the hell is going on!"  Jack said to the group.  "For crying out loud!  Why would you protect a vampire?"
 
Suddenly, Gabrielle's eyes popped open.  She slowly raised her hand and cleared the blurriness from her eyes.  Trying to remain calm, she turned over to face Joxer. 
 
He was still out...
 
...but alive.
 
She leaned down and kissed his forehead.  In a quiet voice, she said, "Come back, Joxer."
 
Suddenly remembering what was happening, she stood back to her feet and punched the colonel across the face.  "What the hell did you do to him?"
 
Jack took a few feet back and glared at blond, "You should be stunned!"
 
Teal'c said, "O'Niell, the zat'nik'tel effects people differently."
 
He stated, "Thanks for telling me that now, Murray."
 
Gabrielle approached her assailant, "What did you do to him?"
 
Jack snarled, "I shot him, Caroline."
 
The name shot through her like a ton of bricks.  
 
What was she going to do?  If she told him that she was Caroline, the others would have to know about her true identity.  She would have to explain about Hercules and Joxer as well.
 
From what she recently learned from Hercules, people right now weren't ready for the truth.  
 
But how would she explain Caroline?
 
Only if she had a twin.
 
Xena had four look-alikes.  Diana, Meg, Leah, and Lyla.
 
If Xena had four, why couldn't Gabrielle say Caroline was a look-alike of her?  Even Hope at one point looked like her.
 
Her eyes widened at the sudden thought of her daughter with Dahok.
 
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts of Hope, she glanced at the man staring at her.
 
"Well?"
 
"My name is Gabrielle.  It's not Caroline."
 
He nodded slowly, "Well, you look like Caroline.   And how does the line go?  If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and moves like a duck, it probably is a duck."
 
Sneering at him, she said, "I can assure you.  I am in no shape or form this Caroline you mention."
 
"Jack?"
 
Spinning around he looked at Daniel, "What Daniel?"
 
The archeologist said to the colonel, "Banks isn't here."
 
He nodded, "I see that, Daniel."
 
Sam said getting the idea, "So, Sir.  Maybe Gabrielle is telling the truth.  When you faced Caroline at the motel, Banks was with her."
 
Gabrielle smiled thinking her idea was actually pulling off.
 
She glanced at the demigod hoping he would understand the Caroline situation.
 
------ 
 
Hercules looked at his friend from so many centuries ago and noticed something in her eyes.
 
Was she trying to tell him something?  He didn't know.  Maybe the colonel was right.  Maybe there was some truth in the Caroline mention?
 
But why?  But how?
 
Thinking back to the a few days ago, Gabrielle emerged as Callisto. It seemed as if Callisto knew what was going on.  
 
He then thought back to Xander's evaluation on the situation between Gabrielle and Callisto.  
 
Back in Greece, Gabrielle was a very intelligent woman who trained well and fought well with Xena.  Xena took a young innocent woman and taught her everything she knew.  
 
It was a simple fact that Gabrielle became a tough warrior who was also very intelligent.  She faced Callisto many times.  Callisto even slew Gabrielle's husband, Perdicas.  
 
Gabrielle and Xena had faced Callisto many times in the past.  Hercules even fought against her a few times as well.
 
Now, Hercules and Gabrielle reunited an old friendship after a 5,000 year hiatus.  Only thing different was that Gabrielle was now a vampire who took on the persona of Callisto.  
 
Knowing how clever Gabrielle was, he wondered if the colonel was right.  Maybe Gabrielle was Caroline.  It would make sense.  He himself chose numerous names over the centuries to blend into Earth's history.
 
Maybe Gabrielle chose another name too when she showed up on Earth.  Gabrielle called herself Callisto for so long, it would be only natural for the vampire to chose another name when she came back to Earth.  Calling herself Gabrielle would be a mistake on Callisto's part.  It would give Gabrielle some strength to fight back and take over.
 
So maybe Callisto chose the name Caroline to blend into the current Earth's history.
 
There was also a man with Callisto that dressed like the colonel.  Was that this Banks the colonel was talking about?  It had to be.
 
If Callisto started calling herself Caroline, then that would make the man with her be Banks.  
 
One problem though.
 
Xander staked that man.  Xander staked Banks.  That's had to be who the boy slew.
 
Hercules smiled in triumph realizing the truth.  So now, he had to help his friend out. 
 
------ 
 
"Gabrielle's right, Colonel O'Neill.  She isn't Caroline."
 
The colonel looked at the television actor, "How do you know?  How do you know that this woman isn't Caroline?"
 
He said calmly, "Because I dusted Caroline myself.  Same with Banks."
 
His eyes widened, "What do you mean dusted?"
 
Buffy spoke up, "When you kill a vampire, they turn to dust, Colonel."
 
Jack glanced at Daniel, "They do?"
 
The archeologist shrugged, "I dunno, Jack.  I never 'dusted' a vampire before."
 
O'Neill looked at Teal'c who raised an eyebrow and at Sam who said, "Don't look at me, Sir.  I don't know either."
 
He glanced back at Buffy.  She was a slayer for at least two years now.  If she knew vampires turned to dust, then it had to be true.
 
Jack looked at Kevin and then Gabrielle.  Maybe they were right.  Doubles were nothing special.  He himself was cloned at one point and took on his identity.  He'll never forget the blue crystal.  Because of the crystal, he was able to see Charlie again.  His son.
 
"O'Neill?"
 
Jack looked at Teal'c forcing him to come back to the present.  
 
The colonel didn't know how long Caroline was on that planet.  Maybe Caroline and Gabrielle were related some how.  Maybe not.  Anything is possible.
 
Sighing, he lowered his zat and looked at Gabrielle, "Alright whoever you are.  Maybe you are Gabrielle and maybe you are Caroline."
 
Gabrielle said on her behalf, "I am Gabrielle.  As Kevin said, he staked Caroline and Banks."
 
Nodding, the colonel said, "Well, this trip was pretty much a let down, huh?"
 
At that point, Joxer began to stir as he pulled himself into a sitting position, "Gabby?  What happened?"
 
Gabrielle went to inspect her friend as the door flew open. 
 
"You!"  A voice said as she walked inside the cabin.
 
The people in the cabin looked as the doors flew open and in stormed a familiar brunette woman.
 
Jack’s eyes widened at the person who entered the cabin.  Looking back at the rest of the people in the cabin, he saw two Faith Williams.
 
“For crying out loud!  There’s two of you!”
 
Faith snarled, “Bitch!” She then aimed her chakram at her bad self and let loose.
 
Bad Faith watched the weapon whiz up to her as she easily snatched it with her free hand.  “You don’t stand a chance against me, Faith.  I’m you.  I’m just the super evil version of you.”  She then launched the weapon back at Faith and watched it whiz by.
 
Hercules’s eyes widened as the weapon through the air.  He launched himself forward and caught the weapon before it was too late.
 
Bad Faith snarled as he caught the chackram.  She looked around the room and spotted something bright white by the corner of the cabin.
 
Inside the bright area was a man…her warrior.  It had to be.  “Get away from my warrior, you stupid blond!”
 
Gabrielle left her friend’s side as she saw Bad Faith charging forward.  The bard stood back to her feet and grabbed Bad Faith by the arm.  “I don’t think so.”  Gabrielle then threw Bad Faith to the other side of the cabin.
 
Soon Bad Faith felt cold steel against the back of her head, “As I told my bad self so many centuries ago.  Good, bad, I’m the guy with gun!  You leave my friends alone.”
 
Bad Faith smiled wickedly as she lowered herself and quickly did a foot sweep causing Ash to fall on the floor.  The bad version of the brunette slayer growled, “Obviously the spell didn’t work if it brought that imbecile here.  At least I got the Necronomicon!”
 
The others minus SG-1 started to charge at Bad Faith, but soon she chanted a spell under her breath, “Galaticus flojon numbus corius.”
 
Eyes widened around the room as two objects poked through her skin.  Soon, two wings emerged, jumping up into the air, with a powerful thrust; she crashed through the roof and flew into the night’s sky.
 
“What the?”  Jack asked in surprise.
 
“Right there with you, Sir.”
 
Ash raised his shotgun again and aimed it through the hole the bad version of his niece made and shot twice.  A spray of lead pellets missed the target.
 
“Shit!  That bitch ruined my cabin!”
 
“C’mon, Ash.  We got to stop her!”
 
Ash nodded as he saw Xander heading for the door, “Right behind you, Kid.”
 
Jack watched the scene go into chaos as he shot a bullet from his handgun into the ceiling, “Somebody damn well tell us what the hell is going on!”
 
Gabrielle helped Joxer to his feet as Hercules spoke, “You just met Faith’s bad self.”
 
Daniel asked, “Bad self?”
 
Ash nodded, “Take it from me, Danny.  Bad Faith isn’t going to be easy to beat.“
 
“O’Neill?”
 
Jack looked at Teal’c, “Do you know what’s going on, Murray?”
 
He said, “I do not comprehend what is going on.”
 
Wesley said, “Colonel O’Neill, Captain Carter, Dr. Jackson, Mr. Jaffaman, what you just saw was the bad version of Faith here.  Bad Faith came from the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: Book of the Dead.”
 
Daniel’s eyes widened, “The Necronomicon!  You mean it actually exists!”
 
“What is this Necronomicon, Daniel?”
 
The archeologist answered, “It’s an ancient Sumerian book, Sam.  A book bound in human flesh if I’m not mistaken and inked in blood.”
 
Jack nodded slowly, “Book of the dead?”
 
Ash asked, “You know about this book, Danny?”
 
“Ash, right?”  The former promised one nodded, “Well, I’ve never studied it, but I’ve read about it.  Supposedly, it’s as Wesley put it, a book of the dead.”
 
Faith spoke up, “All this is well and good, but my bad self is out there flying around.  We got to take her down!”
 
Buffy agreed, “We will, Faith.”  She glanced at Sam, “Will you be willing to help?”
 
Jack said, “Hold on!  How do we even take this Bad Faith down?”
 
Ash said simply, “A lot of firepower.  It took a catapult and explosives to beat Bad Ash.”
 
Hercules said, “I suggest we split into three groups and stop Bad Faith.  We all had our training with guns recently.  We’ll capture her, get the Necronomicon out of her hands, and defeat her.”
 
“Good idea, Kevin.”  Xander said.  He looked at SG-1, “You willing to help?”
 
“What do you say, Sir?  You have to admit, fighting this Bad Faith is an interesting ordeal.”
 
Jack looked at Sam, “All I care about is stopping her before she kills someone.”
 
“So how do we split ourselves up, Jack?”  Daniel asked.
 
Gunn gave a twirl of his axe in his hand, “I can go get my crew if you want.”
 
Hercules looked at the group of people in front of him, “I suggest that we do four groups then.  Gunn and his crew will be one group.  Buffy, Ash, Faith, Doyle, and Wesley will be another group.  Colonel O’Neill, Captain Carter, Daniel, and Murray as group three.  This leaves Xander, Gabrielle, Tim, and myself as the final group.”
 
Jack said, “I think we should arrange the groups better, Kevin.  If we’re going to stop this Bad Faith, we’re going to need well-balanced teams.  It will only help in the long run.”
 
“What do you suggest, O’Neill?”
 
The colonel said, “Well, Buffy and Faith are vampire slayers.  They’ll have the strength factor.  Apparently Xander here knows his army information.  Seems Ash has experienced this book before.  Wesley and Daniel know about this Necronomicon, and we have the training, Murray.”
 
Buffy added, “We better figure this out fast, Colonel.  We don’t even know what Bad Faith has planned.”
 
Gunn questioned, “Does it matter?   Just get the book and destroy her.  Pretty easy answer “
 
Wesley nodded, “And let’s not forget to read the spell correctly.  Due to Ash’s experiences with the book, we have to be extremely careful with it.”
 
Hercules said, “Right.  The only reason suggested these groups are because these are the people we are used to working with.”
 
Xander added, “And we haven’t that much time to work on battle strategies.”
 
Jack nodded, “Fair enough.  I suggest we meet back here at,“ he looked at his watch, “22 hundred hours.”
 
Joxer asked, “22 hundred hours?”
 
Xander confirmed, “Army time.  Meet back here at 10:00.”
 
The warrior wanted to figure out the answer but quickly thought that Hercules and Xander would explain right after.
 
*** 
 
Faith landed in the middle of the forest.  
 
With a grunt, “Why did that warrier have to be him?  He’s no threat!”
 
Soon a thunderclap was sounded as someone said, “Because you fucked up the spell!”
 
She turned around and spotted the who she thought it was.
 
“What do you mean I read it wrong, Uncle Ash?”
 
He glared at her, “Show me the spell you read.”
 
Bad Faith opened the book and flipped to the certain page.  She showed it to him.  “It’s this spell!”
 
Bad Ash looked at the spell, and read it silently not to read it aloud to cause it to happen again.  “You twit!”
 
“What?”
 
“You read the spell wrong!  It’s wrong.’”
 
She showed a confusing look, “It is?”
 
He hollered, “Yeah!  It’s galoutus cabatous nizo.  It’s not galoutus capatous nizo.  You sent a warrior alright.  But you sent a warrior to help them, not to distract them!”
 
“You mean…”
 
Bad Ash nodded, “Yeah.  You brought that fool to help them, not to hurt them.”
 
“FUCK!”
 
He grumbled, “Forget about the warrior spell now.  Just bring the Hellmouth here.  It’s too late to get someone to distract them.  The spell will make deadites and any demon come forward.” 
 
 
Ash placed his shotgun down on the couch as he walked over to a nearby trunk.  Taking a key from his pocket, he opened the lock, followed by the lid.
 
Sticking his hand inside the chest he said, “After we left Pierce, he gave us some weapons to fight these deadites.  I got something for everyone.”  He turned to the four army figures, “I already know you got your own weapons.”
 
Jack walked up to the chest and looked inside, “You sure do have a lot of firepower, Ash.”
 
He nodded, “You never went up a deadite before, Jack.  As I said before, it takes a lot to take them down.”
 
With that said, Ash started giving guns to the Scrappies.  He turned to Buffy with a specific type of gun.  The former promised one said to her, “Pierce said for me to give you this one.”
 
Buffy took a deep breath and carefully took the gun out of his hand, “Thanks, Ash.”  She withdrew the weapon from his hand and looked at Xander who returned her gaze with a comforting smile.
 
That made her feel better.
 
He nodded, “Not a problem, Buffy.”
 
Ash then returned to the chest and handed out the rest of the weapons.
 
Xander walked over to Buffy and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “You alright, Buff?”
 
Buffy looked down at the gun she held in her hand and nodded, “Yeah, Xan.  I’ll be okay.  I just wish you would be in my group.”
 
“Walk with me, Buff.”
 
Together, the two walked to the other side of the room.  The rest of the people were still with Ash.  They didn’t seem to notice.
 
“I know you’d like me to be with you, Buffy.  But Kevin needs me.  You need to start being your own person again.”
 
“It’s just so hard, Xander.”
 
He pulled his arm away from her and grabbed her shoulders.  Now they were looking into each others’ eyes.  “I know it’s hard, Buffy.  But you are a strong confident person.  You need to be that again.  I’ll never leave you, Buffy.  I don’t plan to.  But you have to start being yourself again.”
 
She nodded, “I know.”
 
He smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead, “I’m just going to be with Kevin, Tim, and Gabrielle.”
 
The blond smiled and kissed him on the cheek, “Thank you.”
 
Xander grinned, “Not a problem.”
 
------ 
 
“Here you go, Tim.  Be careful with this.”
 
Joxer smiled as he took the weapon from Hercules, “You got me my sword?”
 
The demigod nodded, “Yeah.  I’d thought you’d be more comfortable with it.”
 
The warrior grinned, “Thanks, Kevin.”  He then gave the weapon a quick twirl of the wrist.
 
Hercules walked over to the coat rack and pulled out a familiar pair of weapons.  He walked over to Gabrielle and gave them to her, “I believe these are yours?”
 
Her eyes widened and a smile crossed her lips.  “Are those my sai?”
 
He nodded, “Yeah.  After you disappeared, I kept them with me.  I had your staff with me as well as Xena’s chakram.  Which by the way Faith is using now.”
 
She showed a confused look, “Won’t Xena mind?”
 
The demigod shook his head, “I don’t think she’ll mind.  Faith’s a vampire slayer.  She’s one of the only few people that can handle it anyway.”
 
“What’s the story with those two?”
 
Hercules and Gabrielle looked to the other side of the room and saw Buffy and Xander talking.
 
The actor said with a chuckle, “Those two are always together.  Funny thing is, it’s actually the story of you two.”
 
The bard showed a confused look, “Story of us?”
 
Kevin’s eyes widened as he realized what he just said.  To correct himself, he said, “I don’t think I should answer that.  You two should figure it out on your own.”
 
Gabrielle looked at the floor, “Oh.”  She turned to her friend, “What does he mean, ‘story of us’?”
 
Joxer looked at Hercules, “Uh, Kevin.  Can you give me a second?”
 
Hercules grinned, “I’ll go see what Ash wants.”
 
With that said, the demigod left the two friends.
 
Joxer immediately placed his hand on her shoulder, “Gabby.  You know I love you, right?  You know I really mean that, right?”
 
She thought back to the other night on how much he said to her and what he did say to her.  
 
“I remember.”
 
Joxer took a breath.  She needed to hear this, which he knew.  “Well, like you and I, Xander loves Buffy.  But like you, Buffy only thinks of Xander as a friend.  You do the same with me.”
 
Her eyes soon started to glisten with tears.
 
The warrior placed his hands on her shoulders.  “It’s alright, Gabby.  When you don’t feel love, you don’t feel love.”
 
Joxer continued, “I love you, Gabrielle.  You’re my best friend.”
 
She looked up at him, “I love you, too.  You’re my best friend too.  And I don’t think of you as just a friend anymore.”
 
Her friend  showed a confusing look, “You don’t?”
 
The blond shook her head; “Things have been getting really confusing for me lately.  When the colonel shot you, I lost it.  I couldn’t do this in this world without you.  I do love you, Joxer.  And I think there might be a time in the near future when we can start courting.”
 
He grinned, “You serious?”
 
The blond nodded, “Yes, I am.  That time on the other planet really made me think of my past.  I know you love me.  Because of your love, you broke Callisto’s hold on me.”
 
The warrior shook his head, “That was all you, Gabrielle.”
 
She kissed him on the forehead, “I love you, Tim.  Don’t ever leave me.”
 
He chuckled, “Don’t plan too.”
 
------ 
 
“Faith?”
 
She looked up to see her watcher standing in front of her, “Hey, Wes.”
 
He noted the hurt look in her eyes, “Don’t worry, Faith.  We’ll stop your bad version.”
 
She nodded, “That’s not what I’m thinking about.”
 
Wesley squatted down in front of her, “Then what’s the problem.”
 
The Slayer got up from her seat and looked at him, “You wouldn’t understand.”  She then took a few steps away from him.
 
The Watcher got back to his feet and walked over to her, “I wouldn’t understand what?”
 
Faith sighed, “Forget about it, Wesley.”
 
He shook his head, “Faith, you are my slayer.  It is my duty to make sure you are alright.”
 
She turned around and glared at him, “You’re duty?  That’s what I am to you?”
 
Taking a step back in surprise, “Of course not!”
 
The young woman said, “That’s what you just said, Wesley.  You said it was your duty to make sure I was alright.”
 
“Faith…”
 
She shook her head, “I don’t want to talk to you right now, Wes.”
 
With that said, she left for her room.
 
He said to himself, “Good show, Wesley.  Good show indeed.”
 
 “Everybody ready?”
 
 
Wesley coughed, “Well…uh.”
 
Ash looked at the people in the room and said, “One second.”  He then walked over to the Englishman and said with narrowed eyes, “What happened, Wesley?”
 
He smiled, “Faith is rather…”
 
The former promised one nodded, “Rather what?”
 
The Englishman said, “Rather in distress.  She’s in her room.”
 
“I see,” Ash said as he scratched his chin, “what did you say to her, Wesley?”
 
Wesley smiled weakly, “I told her it was my duty to make sure she was alight.”
 
Ash lowered his face in and shook his head, “You may be Faith’s watcher, Wesley and might love her.  But you certainly don’t know her that well.”
 
He glared at him, “What do you mean I don’t know her, Ash?  She’s the slayer, the chosen one.”
 
Ash held his hand up trying to quite him down, “Stop right there.  Yes, she is a slayer, Wesley.  But she is also a girl, a girl that has a lot on her mind.  Once you said duty…”
 
Wesley rolled his eyes, “I can’t believe I said that, Ash.”
 
The former promised one said, “Well, you did.  She’s obviously having a problem.  Why don’t you go see what’s wrong. I’d go myself, but Faith needs to hear it from you.  We’ll wait for you to get back before we go.”
 
The Watcher nodded, “This should only take a moment.  Thank you, Ash.”
 
He flashed a grin, “Just go, Wes.  We don’t have that much time to spare.”
 
With that said, Wesley left to talk to Faith.
 
------ 
 
“What does he mean its his duty?”  Faith said to herself in the mirror.  “I am so not his duty!”
 
She pulled out a chair from her desk and sat down.  Lowering her arms on her legs, she rested her forehead on her limbs.  “I am not somebody’s duty.”
 
After a second of breathing, she added, “I am not a obligation.”
 
“Faith?”
 
Her head shot up after hearing the voice.  Recognizing it right away, she said, “I’m not in the mood, Wes.”
 
“Faith, can I talk to you?”
 
“No.”
 
“Faith…”  He said with pure sincerity.
 
“No.”
 
He hit his hand on the door, “Faith, we need to talk.”
 
Knowing that she would have to talk to him at some point, she got out of her seat.  She shoved the chair back to its place and went to the door.  Opening it, she said, “You got five minutes, Jeeves.”
 
Disliking the nickname she gave him from a while ago, he knew he’d had to let it slide.  He wanted to fix this problem.
 
“Five minutes is all I need.”
 
She just stood there.
 
“Can I come in?”
 
Faith shrugged and opened the door further.  Taking a step back, she said, “Sure.”
 
The Slayer retreated to the bed and sat down.  Wesley closed the door behind.
 
She looked at her watch, “Make that four minutes.”
 
He nodded, “Right.  First of all, Faith.  I feel I must apologize.”
 
She nodded, “Go on.”
 
“Of course.  I was wrong.  You’re well being is not my duty.  It is my own concern for you.”
 
“And?”
 
Wesley took a deep breath, “And, it was wrong of me to you place you as an oblogation.  I truly am sorry.”
 
She smiled, “Good.”
 
He grinned, “Good indeed.”
 
“Now, that you realize that, let’s go kick my ass!”
 
Wesley showed a confused look, “Your ass?”
 
Faith smirked, “Not my ass.  Bad Faith’s ass.”
 
The Englishman nodded, “Right.”  He went to the door and opened it, “Shall we?”
 
Faith walked through the opening, and said, “Let’s go.”
 
*** 
 
“We are nearing Earth’s atmosphere.”
 
“Excellent.  The Necronomicon will be mine again.”
 
*** 
 
Ash saw his niece and her watcher enter the room.  Realizing everything was set, he said, “Alright, guys.  We’ve got no idea what Bad Faith has up her sleeve.  But you can pretty much count on it being extremely difficult.  As Jack said before, we meet back here at 10.  The time is now 8:00 which means we’ve got two hours.”
 
Jack said, “Kids, Ash is the only one that has faced this type of menace before.  We must take her down beyond anything.  Shoot to kill.”
 
The former promised one took the chainsaw from its usual location and attached it to it’s proper limb.  “Deadites are extremely tough.  Dismember if you have to.”
 
He glanced at Gabrielle and Tim, “I recommend that you use one of my weapons.”
 
Gabrielle shook her head, “Thanks, Ash, but I prefer my sai here.  I’m used to them.”
 
Joxer grinned, “And I never part from my sword.  It’s important to me.”
 
He nodded, “Alright, then.  Using those are only going to make things more difficult.”
 
Hercules smiled, “Don’t worry about them, Ash.  Xander and I are with them.”
 
Ash said, “Right.”  He looked at SG-1, “I assume you four know what your doing.”
 
Sam said, “Don’t worry about us, Ash.  We’ll be fine.”
 
“Indeed.”  Was Teal’c’s response.
 
The scarred man looked at Gunn, “You called your crew right?”
 
Gunn nodded, “They’ll be here soon, Ash.  These deadites are as good as dead.”
 
“Excellent.”  The clerk looked at the two slayers, the watcher, and the demon/human hybrid, “And we’re good to go.”
 
He walked up to the door and opened it.  He glanced at his friends, both new and old, “Tonight you face something that you never went up against.  Vampires we’ve fought and won against.  Same with demons and everything else.  But tonight, we go against something that is new to you.  Something truly old and powerful.   The last time I went up against something like this was in 1300 AD.  That was a long time ago, but I remember it just as if it was yesterday.  We’re going against the same thing.  Except something far worse. 
 
“You trained and you know all I can teach you.  During this past week, we went to Pierce’s firing range a few times and trained in our own way.
 
Taking a breath, he continued, “Let’s give them hell!”
 
 
"Ash?"
 
Ash turned back to the room and looked at the source
of the voice, "Yeah?"
 
Jack asked, "Do you have any walkie-talkies?  So we
can keep in contact?"
 
The former promised one looked at his niece, "Faith,
go in the drawer and pull out three of them."
 
She nodded, "Sure thing, Uncle Ash."  Faith did as she
was told and pulled them out.  "Got them right here."
 
He smiled, "Good.  Give one to Xander, one to Gunn,
keep one, and I assume Jack has one?"
 
The colonel nodded, "Yeah, I do.  All we need is the
correct frequencies and we'll be able to call for
back-up if needed."
 
The youngest slayer handed them out.  She tossed the
last one to her uncle, "Head's up."
 
The clerk caught it easily, "Groovy."
 
The four groups exchanged frequency numbers and headed
out for Bad Faith.
 
*** 
 
After seeing her uncle disappear, Bad Faith slammed
open the book and went to the marked spells.  Reading
them carefully, she chanted, "Baruk atta morengo
kattabo hochimochi golonga."
 
As soon as she uttered the last word, the ground began
to shake signaling the hellmouth to move.
 
With a wicked grin, she flew up into the air and
recited the second spell, "Demoklaus bakas cyrox
frumgo wednax clactu varacta nikto."
 
Deadites started to raise from the ground as well as
hollard screams forcing the demons within her 20 mile
radius.
 
Placing the Necronomicon to her chest, she flew upto a
strong branch that was attached to a tree.  She landed
successfully and looked in front of her to see the
carnage that was destined to come.
 
All of a sudden she heard a mighty cry of, "We shall
swallow your souls!"
 
------ 
 
"What are we looking for, Sir?"
 
Jack said, "Anything that isn't human and who wasn't
from the cabin, Carter.  We shoot to kill."
 
Teal'c tightened his grasp on his zat.  "I am ready,
O'Neill."
 
The colonel smiled, "This is about to get interesting."
 
Suddenly the ground began to shake.
 
"Earthquake!"  Daniel yelled.
 
Sam shook her head, "Don't think it's an earthquake,
Daniel?"
 
The archeologist asked,  "How can you be so sure?"
 
She started shooting a spray of bullets, "Because I
don't think that's human!"
 
------ 
 
"You guys ready?"
 
Bobby nodded, "Sure am, Gunn.  How tough are these
deadites?"
 
Gunn answered, "According to Ash, pretty tough. 
Tougher than vampires."
 
James said, "If it ain't human, it's dead to me."
 
Charles asked, "Is my sister alright?"
 
Rondell nodded, "She's with a friend.  We didn't think
she could handle these deadites."
 
Gunn smiled, "Good.  I can't lose her.  Let's go kick
some ass!"
 
"I was hoping you'd say that.  Of course, we're going
to kick your ass."
 
The ground began to shake.
 
------ 
 
"Deadites."  
 
Faith, Wesley, Doyle, and Buffy looked at their
friend.
 
"Are you sure, Ash?"  Doyle asked.
 
He nodded, "I know they're sent by now."  He pointed
in front of him, "A couple feet away.  Be ready.  This
is going to get messy."
 
Suddenly the ground began to shook, "That's how it
started last time," Ash said to himself, "It's now or
never."
 
Buffy tightened her hold on the gun, (I can do this.  I
have to.)
 
------ 
 
"What's a deadite supposed to look like, Hercules?"
 
Hercules shrugged, "I don't know, Gabrielle.  But
hearing from Ash, we're looking for an almost zombie
looking creature."
 
Gabrielle looked at him confusingly, "Zombie looking
creatures?"
 
Xander said, "If it doesn't look like us, don't kill. 
How well do you know your sai?"
 
The bard answered, "It's been a while, Xander."
 
"Definitely a long while."  Joxer put in.
 
She said, "Too long.  But I'm hoping I still
remember."
 
Hercules stated, "You should do okay with them,
Gabrielle."
 
The vampire gave one of her sai a twirl in her hand,
"It feels familiar to me.  It should."  She glanced at
her best friend, "you doing okay with that sword,
Joxer?"
 
He nodded, "It feels like I never gave it up, Gabby."
 
She smiled, "That's good."
 
All of a sudden, Gabrielle dropped her sai and bent
over in pain.  She grunted, "Not now.  Not again."
 
Joxer looked at her with concern, "Gabby?"
 
The vampire shook her head, "It's Callisto.  She's
trying to gain control again."
 
Hercules added, "Fight it, Gabrielle.  You can do it."
 
The bard looked up to the eyes of Joxer.  She could
see the concern those brown pupils were holding. 
"Don't give in to her, Gabrielle."  
 
"What do you think is happening, Hercules?"  Xander
asked.
 
The demigod shook his head, "I don't know, Xander."
 
"Fight her, Gabby."
 
Gabrielle concentrated on the pain.  She could feel
Callisto fighting her way back, but Gabrielle didn't
want to go back to being dormant.  The blond finally
had control over her body, she didn't want to lose it.
 Not again.
 
Then she saw Joxer with such concern and love.
 
"We shall swallow your soul!"
 
She started shooting a spray of bullets, "Because I
don't think that's human!"
 
SG-1’s eyes widened as they saw something that they never saw before.  All they ever knew were the goa’uld among other aliens.  And just recently vampires, but they never saw what was before them.
 
“We shall swallow your soul!”
 
Jack raised his arm and his hand tightened on the trigger of the MP5.  Launching a spray of bullets, his eyes narrowed at the demonic creatures in front of him.  “You know what, I don’t think so.  I’m kinda attached to my soul.  Thank you very much.”
 
“We shall swallow your soul!”
 
The skin of the creatures started to tear open as the bullets whizzed by through the air.  Their bodies burst open as SG-1’s ammo rocketed into the woods.
 
“You shall never possess the Necronomicon!”
 
“Possess this.”  Jack said as he continued shooting.
 
*** 
 
 “Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“I didn’t hear them correctly, Gunn.  Did they say ‘Dead by dawn!?”
 
Gunn flung his axe forward watching the blade smash through one of the deadites’ forehead, “Believe so, Bobby.  Let’s kill these guys, huh?”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Shut the fuck up!”  James yelled as he crossed his tightened fist across one of the deadite’s cheeks.
 
The deadite intercepted the attack and retaliated with a firm roundhouse.  “We shall swallow your soul.”  It then came back with a back kick.
 
“Can’t you say anything original?”
 
The deadites chorused with, “Dead by dawn!”
 
Gunn shook his head in disappointment as he yanked his axe from the deadite’s forehead and back swung his arm decapitating another deadite’s head.  “At least now you can’t say anything!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Damn,” Gunn grunted.  “I forgot there were more of you.”
 
“A little help here, bro.”
 
Gunn, Bobby, and James turned their heads as their friends were trying their best to fight these deadites.  
 
“You hit them hi, and we’ll hit them low.”    Bobby said.
 
One of the crew said, “I don’t care where you hit them, Bobby.  Just help us.”
 
 
***
 
“And they’re not alone!”
 
Buffy, Faith, and Wesley looked to where the demon/human hybrid was pointing.  “That’s rather odd.”
 
Ash looked at Faith’s watcher, “What is?”
 
The Englishman said, “It appears demons and deadites are working together.  They never had in the past.”
 
The former promised one revved up his chainsaw, “Well, I fuckin don’t care, Wes.  Demons and deadites are the same to me.”
 
The five of them looked around as what appeared to be a dozen deadites and six demons charged toward them.
 
Puddles of mud splashed as the feet from their opponents came forward.  “You’re too late,” one of the demons said, “we already have the book.”
 
Faith’s hand immediately grabbed her chakram and let it soar through the air and zip by three deadites—cutting through them as if they were made of tissue paper.  “Damn.”  Faith said to herself, “this chakram kicks ass!”
 
------ 
 
“Isn’t this the pretty picture?”  A demon said as it approached his victim.  “The Slayer is shaking like a leaf.”
 
Buffy tried to control her hand with the gun, but it was still difficult.  
 
The demon smiled malevolently as he circled around her, “You’re friends are fighting off the deadites, and the vampire slayer from Sunnydale can’t even hold up a gun.”
 
Feeling the fear boil in her body, she watched in terror as the demon came up to her.  Her free hand went to her side for the stake, but it wasn’t there.  Buffy’s two hazel eyes quickly scanned her surroundings—spotting the stake on the ground a few feet in front of her.
 
The demon chuckled to himself, “The Slayer’s stake is on the ground, what’s a blond girl to do?”
 
Fear continued to torture her body.  She wanted her stake, she wanted her weapon that she knew all too well, her weapon that she mastered within the past few years.
 
She needed help, her eyes scurried through the scenery.  Ash, Faith, Wesley, and Doyle were all a little busy.  
 
Xander wasn’t there either.  He was off with Kevin, Tim, and Gabrielle.
 
“The Slayer is all alone, so scared, so shaken.”
 
Xander’s words ran through her mind, ‘I know it’s hard, Buffy.  But you are a strong confident person.  You need to be that again.  I’ll never leave you, Buffy.  I don’t plan to.  But you have to be yourself again.’
 
Her mind suddenly centered on his last few words to her,  ‘But you have to be yourself again.’
 
With a smile, Buffy tightened her grip on the gun.
 
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
 
Her eyes brightened at that moment, “Not anymore.” 
 
***
 
Then she saw Joxer with such concern and love.
 
"We shall swallow your soul!"
 
Gabrielle looked at her friend, and smiled.  She turned to whatever was saying the last statement.  “My soul isn’t for swallowing!  It’s already been swallowed for way too long.”
 
Joxer’s eyes widened as he watched his beloved shake free of her torture.  Gabrielle launched herself forward with her sai aimed high.  “You get them, Gabby!”
 
Suddenly he was knocked to the ground as two of their opened hit him.  
 
“You shall never possess the Necronomicon!”  One of them said.
 
“Leave my friend alone.”  Joxer heard Hercules say as the demigod yanked the two of them off of him.
 
The warrior smiled, “Thanks, Hercules.”  Joxer said as he got to his feet, “Although, they would never have beaten Joxer the Mighty!”
 
Soon, three more deadites attacked him, “This will be easy.”  He took his sword and attempted to knock the creatures off of him.  But his sword was knocked out of the warrior’s hand as one of the deadites yanked it free.
 
Suddenly, he heard three loud bangs.  Joxer looked at his opponents as they fell on top of them.  He shoved them off of his body and stood back to his feet, “Of course you got the upper hand for a while, I have been asleep for 5,000 years.”  He then ran to help Hercules, “Have no fear, Joxer the Mighty is here!”
 
Joxer failed to notice Xander standing by with a gun in his hands.
 
All of a sudden, Xander heard Gabrielle shout, “Joxer!”
*** 
 
Bullets tore through the air at rapid speeds.  All of them were aimed at the lifeless creatures in front of the eyes of SG-1.
 
“These guys keep on coming, Sir.”  Carter said as she continued her onslaught of buckshot.
 
Teal’c nodded as he shot his zat.  “You are correct, Captain Carter.  They seem to raising from the ground.”
 
Daniel shook his head in shock, “It seems that these deadites, Jack are a lot like zombies.”
 
The colonel sighed, “Great.  Not only vampires and werewolves exist, zombies do too.”
 
The archeologist added, “Among other creatures.”
 
“O’Neill?”
 
Jack looked at his friend, “Yeah, Teal’c?”
 
The Jaffa suggested, “Perhaps we should contact one of the other groups for assistance?”
 
O’Niell stated, “Good call, Teal’c.  Radio Ash’s team.”
 
With that said, Danielle took his walkie-talkie and said to his friends, “I’m on it.”
 
“Meanwhile, let’s take what we can down.”
 
“We shall swallow your souls!”
 
Jack smirked, “I don’t think so.”
 
*** 
 
Gunn and his side of friends ran to where the other half of his team was.  The self-proclaimed mail slayer launched his axe forward until it tore into a deadite’s chest.  
 
Bobby smiled, “Look, Gunn.  It takes a lickin, and keeps on tickin.”
 
He shook his head, “That was lame, Bobby.”
 
Bobby shrugged, “I’ve been talking to Xander.”
 
Charles gave his axe another thrust and decapitated the deadite’s head, “That explains a lot.”
 
James slashed his opponent with his sword followed by one long hook at the end.  He smiled at his accomplishment.  “This deadite will always know that I was the one who took him down.”
 
Chain looked at him, “How can you be so sure?”
 
“I cut the letter ‘J’ into his chest, Chain.”
 
Gunn sighed, “Stop acting like Zorro.  C’mon, we got deadite to destroy.”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dammit.”  Gunn said again.  “These guys are still just as annoying as before.”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Shut the fuck up!”
 
*** 
 
 
Ash cut through one of the deadite with ease.  The teeth of the blade rapidly span around as the sharp edges tore through the decaying flesh across the neck.  “Ooh, that’s gotta hurt.”
 
The deadite tried to speak.  
 
He glared at his opponent, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.  ‘We swollow your souls!’  Looks like you’ll have a hard time swallowing now.”  He then chuckled a little to himself.
 
As soon as the blade tore through the neck, Ash brought the chainsaw back and cut through the torso of the undead creature.  “It slices, it dices, and it makes julienne fries.”
 
The former promised one than cut through more of the deadite.  From one arm, to the right leg, left leg, finally the other arm fell off.
 
Shoving the remaining body pieces from the blade, Ash glared at the upcoming deadites and demons.  “Who’s next?”
 
--- 
 
Doyle and Faith were back to back while a total of six demons circled around them.  “This hardly seems fair, doesn’t it, Lass?”
 
Faith brought the chakram closer to her face.  “Yeah, it sure does, D.”  With a quick thrust, the weapon soared from her hand to the nearest demon.  After making a quick cut, the chakram rebounded and continuously cut into three more of the said demons.  
 
“You certainly are getting better with that thing.”
 
The brunette nodded, “Damn straight, Doyle.”
 
The human/demon hybrid swung his sword diagonally forcing the blade to run from the right shoulder to the left side of the demon’s torso.  The two parts of the demons collapsed onto the ground.
 
Faith cleaned off the demon guts from her weapon as she looked up into the sky.  “Now, where’s the fuck is my counterpart?”
 
--- 
 
Buffy launched out a spray of bullets.  Each piece of ammunition impacted the demon with rapid flare.  Drops of green blood started to squirt out of the newly formed wounds.
 
“What?  No taunt from the big scary demon?”
 
Her eyes glared at her foe when she quickly did a roundhouse forcing the demon to fall to the ground. 
 
“C’mon.  You thought I was this helpless little girl.  Didn’t you?”
 
Again, the demon said nothing.
 
She shrugged not waiting for an answer.  With her gun aimed at the demon’s left temple, she felt the bullet expload within the barrol as it left the gun and tore through the skin, followed by the skull of the demon.
 
“Nicely done, Buffy.”
 
The blond looked up from her kill to the watcher that was standing a few feet away from her.
 
“Thanks, Wes.”
 
“Anytime, Buffy.  Anytime.  Now, as I believe it.  Ash received a radio signal from Daniel Jackson.  We’re on our way to help.”
 
Buffy nodded as she picked up the stake from the ground that was laying beside Wesley.  “Lead the way, Wesley.”
 
*** 
 
Xander watched as the vampire ran toward her fallen friend.  “What happened?”
 
Joxer was on the ground rolling side to side.  He held his left leg tightly in his grasp.  “By the gods!”
 
Gabrielle went to inspect him, “You okay?”
 
As Joxer started to pull himself into a sitting position and glance at his beloved, two deadites came charging forward.  With a wild grin, Joxer said, “I can handle these guys, Gabby.”
 
Just as she was about to respond, Hercules grabbed the two of the undead creatures and forced them forward.  He heard a loud noise as the two deadites banged together on their foreheads.
 
 
“You have to be careful, Joxer,” the demigod said as he released his opponents.  
 
Joxer said with pride, “I’m always careful, Herc.”  He glanced at Gabrielle, “aren’t I?”
 
She smiled weakly, “You really need to train more, Joxer.”
 
Xander looked up into the nightsky and saw something flying.  Under the moon’s light, he could make out who he thought it was.  Remembering his army knowledge, he aimed his gun, tightened his aim, and pressed the trigger.
 
A bullet exploded within the weapon as it launched itself out of the barrel and flew recklessly through the air.
 
His eyes widened as the bullet, followed by numerous others, hit the target.
 
“SHIT!”
 
“What happened, Xander?”
 
 
Xander, Hercules, Joxer, and Gabrielle looked up into the night sky when they saw something falling at incredible speeds.
 
“I think I nailed that thing, Herc.”
 
The demigod nodded as he saw the target hitting the ground.  “We better see what happened.”
 
The four of them ran towards the target—the whole time slashing through deadites and demons along the way.
 
Just as they were about to reach their destination.  The creature that landed leapt onto the boy.  “You fuckin’ son of a bitch!  You ruined my wing!”
  
Gabrielle launched her sai into the demon’s back.  Both weapons breaking the joint between body and wing.  “Like to see you fly now.”
 
The demon tried to fly back into the sky, but found it to be hard with her wings broken.  Landing back to her feet, she glared at the boy that shot her and screamed a mighty sound.  “Arrrghhhhhhh!”
 
Xander immediately covered his ears with his hands, allowing the guns to fall out of his hands.  He bent down as if he was in pain, which he was.  He felt like he was getting a migraine.
 
All of a sudden there was silence.  Xander looked back at the demon and saw Gabrielle standing over the injured demon.  Her body twisting back to a normal fighting stance.  “You’re a sad excuse for a siren, you know that.”  The demon was in a kneeling posting from a roundhouse that the vampire shot.
 
Xander used the opportunity to gather his guns and approach the still out-of-breath demon.  He walked up to the demon, and smirked.  “Hasta la vista, baby.”  The teenager then shot a spray of bullets into the demon’s forehead.
 
“What language was that?”  Joxer asked his new friend.
 
Hercules spoke up, “That would be Spanish.”  He then shrugged, “For the most part that is.  Xander just used a reference to a movie called, Terminator.”
 
The warrior showed a confused look, “Movie?”
 
Xander shook his head, “Later, Tim.  We better head back to the others.  I’ll radio Buffy to see if she needs help.”
 
The four of them started to through the woods.  “Joxer?”
 
The Greecian turned to the demigod.  “Yeah, Herc?”
 
“We need to give you some training, and fast.  If you want to survive in this time period, you’re going to need to learn to handle yourself better.”
 
He scowled, “I don’t need training.”
 
The vampire nodded, “Yes, you do.  But, Hercules, Xander, and I are going to help you through it.”
 
*** 
 
“Damn it!”
 
Gunn looked to his friend, “What’s up, Bobby?”
 
Bobby growled as he decapitated a deadite.  “These things are easy to kill, but there too damn many of them!”
 
The leader said, “We just have to keep on fighting until we hear otherwise, bro.”
 
James successfully dragged his foot across one of his opponents.  “We’re this Bad Faith anyway?”
 
*** 
 
“I see someone, O’Neill.”
 
Jack looked at the alien, “What do you see, Teal’c?”
 
The Jaffa said as he let out two discharges from his zat, “I believe our reinforcements have arrived, O’Neill.”
 
Sam hollered, “It’s Buffy, Sir.  She and her friends are here.”
 
“Colonel O’Neill, we came as fast as we could.  What’s the situation?”
 
Jack glared at the source of the comment, “Harris, we’re knee deep in deadites.”
 
Ash growled, “I see that, Jack.”  He revved up his chainsaw, “And we’re here to destroy these guys.”
 
With that said, SG-1’s new friends charged forward to get near them, with weapons held in the air.  
 
“We shall swallow your souls!”
 
“We shall swallow your souls!”
 
A new wave of deadites came from the east.  They appeared to be chasing some people.
 
“Fuck!”
 
Hercules looked to the east, “It’s Gunn.  Need a hand?”
 
James said, “Definitely.”
 
What seemed to be nearly three dozen demons and deadites disbursed.  Some went towards SG-1, some went toward the Scrappies, and the rest went for Gunn’s crew.  
         
“This is so not what I need.”  Buffy said under her breath, but smiled when she saw Xander releasing a real of buckshot.  “But I can use the workout.”
 
--- 
 
Ash took his free hand, balled it into a fist, and shot an uppercut to one of the deadites.  It soured into the air a few inches, and the former promised one spun around and felt the teeth of the blade tear into the undead skin as Ash did a full circle.
 
He came to a halt when he saw Faith’s chakram come whizzing by.  Ash watched in awe as the weapon rebounded against necks of demons, decapitating them with ease.  When the chakram came back to his niece, he said with a grin.  “Come get some.”
 
The deadites soon came forward, forming a circle around Faith, him, and Buffy.  The three of them soon touched back-to-back.  “I’ll watch your back, if you watch mine.”  Faith said to her uncle and friend.
 
“That sounds like a plan.”  The blond slayer said to them as they started to cycle.
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
“Dead by dawn!”
 
Buffy took her gun and stared at one deadite.  Narrowing her eye, she aimed the weapon, and placed pressure on the trigger.  Still feeling the fear of the gun, she shook it off easily when she saw Xande not that far away.  Pressing the trigger, bullets shot out of the barrel and she moved her gun down the line—killing four deadites in a row.
 
“Nice move, B.”
 
The eldest slayer nodded, “Thanks, Faith.  Not bad on that chakram of yours.”
 
“This baby kicks so much ass, B.”  She then placed it at her hip, “but sometimes hand-to-hand contact is better.”
 
“I still prefer my chainsaw.”  Ash said as he cut through a demon, lengthwise—from the top of the head, to the bottom of the crotch.
 
Buffy placed her gun back into her holster, grabbed her stake and said, “I’m with you, Faith.”
 
With that said, the two slayers sprang into action as they headed towards the deadites.
 
Ash said, “If you two go that way, I’ll go the other.”
 
--- 
 
“Can you do me a favor, Kevin?”
 
Hercules looked at Xander as he decked a demon across its face.  “A little busy, Xander.”
 
Xander said, “I’m just wondering if you can do something.  You saying is probably the closest way I’ll actually get to someone real saying it.”
 
The actor shrugged, “What do you want me to say?”
 
“Have you read Fantastic Four?”
 
He showed a confused look, “Fantastic Four?”
 
Xander sighed, “Just clobber two deadites together and say this line.”  He then whispered it to the demigod.
 
Hercules said, “Sure.”  The son of Zeus then walked toward two deadites, grabbed them by the back of their heads and smashed them together, “It’s clobbering time!”
 
Xander couldn’t help but smile, “That was awesome!”
 
--- 
 
“Sir, look up there!”
 
Jack looked up, “What is it, Carter?”
 
Jack’s eyes widened, “It’s the damn bitch!”
 
“Who?”  Daniel Jackson asked.
 
Faith glared up into the sky as she saw her counterpart soaring by.  With heated breath, she yelled, “This ends now!”  The younger slayer grabbed her chakram and let loose.  The weapon whizzed into the air, but Bad Faith caught it.
 
She flew down at her other self.  Holding the Necronomicon within her arm, the bad version of the slayer landed on Faith.  Her feet crushing down on Faith’s shoulders.  “You foolish, Bitch!”
 
Faith collapsed on the ground, and stared at her opponent as she said, “I’m you, remember?  I’m just the stronger version!”
 
A chucking sound could be heard as the two Faiths turned their heads to the source of the sound.  
 
“Sronger, yes.  Smarter? I don’t think so.”
 
Bad Faith then flew off Faith and hit the ground a few feet back.  She looked up and saw Kevin Sorbo helping Faith to her feet.
 
“Now, be a good whatever you are, and give back the Necronomicon.”
 
She gritted her teeth, “I don’t think so, Sorbo.”
 
“You better do what he says.”  Joxer said.
 
She smirked, “And that’s because why?”
 
Xander let out a round of buckshot from his gun as he targeted the big bad.  “Because you’re not facing Kevin and Faith alone.”
 
Bad Faith snarled at Xander as his ammunition hit her.  She leapt forward and charged him when she suddenly fell to the ground.  She looked up to see Buffy standing by her.
 
“And that slayer never has to be alone.  Neither does this one.”
 
Bad Faith got back to her feet as the rest of Scrappies, SG-1, Gunn, and his crew shot their weapons at Bad Faith.
 
She flipped open the book to a destined spell when her hand was cut off.
 
Bad Faith looked up to see Ash’s chainsaw ripping through her skin.  “No Necronomicon for you.  Forever.”
 
As the book fell to the ground, Ash cut her other hand off while the Scrappies , SG-1, and a few members of Gunn’s crew shot Bad Faith.  
 
They stopped when Bad Faith’s body fell to the ground with a thud.
 
With Bad Faith gone, the deadites and demons disbursed.  The deadites fell to the ground and disintegrated.  The demons walked away to their own matters.
 
“Well, I guess that’s why the demons and deadites were working together.”  Wesley said.
 
“How so?”  Gabrielle asked, “and why wasn’t I part of the battle?”
 
Danielle spoke up, “Well according to what I learned about the Necronomicon, Gabrielle, Bad Faith was the source behind all of this.  With her dead, everything she cast nullified.  As for you not fighting, I suppose it’s because of your soul.”
 
Gabrielle asked herself, “My soul?”
 
Xander nodded, “It makes sense, Gabrielle.  With your soul intact, you were able to fight off Bad Faith’s spell.  That would explain why you were having trouble back there.”
 
She nodded.  “I understand now.”
 
“Good.”  Ash said with certainty.
 
“So what do we do now?”  Joxer asked.
 
“Well, Buffy, Ash, Wesley, Faith, and I head back to Sunnydale.  Thanks for all your help, guys.”
 
Hercules walked over to Xander and grabbed his forearm.  “Don’t be a stranger, Xander.”
 
He smiled, “Don’t plan to.”
 
Jack said, “And my team has to go back to Colorado.  It was nice meeting you all.”
 
No one failed to notice Faith picking up the Necronomicon.  “What do we do with this book now?”
 
Hercules said to her, “I think I can find the perfect place for it.”
 
Just as Hercules was about to take it, a blueish light appeared.  When it dissipated, a woman who was covered in gold jewelry walked out.  Her eyes flashed silver when she saw the book.  “That book is mine.”  
 
She then walked over to Faith and grabbed her—placing the slayer close to her body.
 
“Get away from her!”  Hercules said as approached the unknown woman.
 
She held out her hand, and light came out.  A sudden blast shot from her palm and sent the Scrappies, SG-1, and Gunn and his crew back.  “I don’t have time for this.”
 
With that said, she closed her eyes, and Faith, the Necronomicon, and the mysterious woman disappeared.
 
“Here we go again.”  Xander said to himself.
 
-------------------------------------- 
TBC—To Be Concluded in…
 
Phoenix Risings: Necro-Gate: Part 2.---The last of the Phoenix Risings Trilogy.
 
Now, you can find Phoenix Risings, Phantasmal Terrain, and Necro-Gate: Part 1 at http://www.phoenixverse.com
 
Phoenix Risings
Necro-Gate: Part 2
Author: White Werewolf <whitewerewolf81[at]yahoo.com>
Co-Author (Epilogue): Silent Bob Foley <BobRgnt[at]netscape.com>
Category: Buffy/Xander-only for this fic. Maybe a surprise ship at the end.
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: The Scrappies, SG-1, and Gunn and his crew just witnessed Faith and the Necronomicon being taken away from some unknown woman. The team gets spit and eight people head back to the SGC with a goal in mind.
Author Notes: This part is just a prologue to the Phoenix Risings Trilogy; which is in turn the starting fic to a huge series. This is the third part of the trilogy. It will be mainly focused on the Buffy/Xander relationship and it will be housing many crossovers.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, and X-Lander
Crossovers Planned: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Hercules: the Legendary Journeys Evil Dead Stargate SG-1 Xena: Warrior Princess
Cameo Crossovers will suddenly appear. Take a read, and see if you can spot one.
Latest addition
 
Prologue
"Who was that?" Joxer asked his friends, "and what happened to Faith?"
Daniel stared at Jack with a questionable look in his eyes.
Jack looked at these people in front of him. A small debate began in his mind. Looking at the woman, seeing the flashing eyes, and hearing the deep voice only proved to be what he thought. The woman was goa'uld. But the question was does he tell these people? Does he tell them that this world isn't the only planet with life in it?
Normally, mum was the word when it came to public relations. The world wasn't ready for the truth.
But.
These past few days he and his friends had learned the truth about another problem the Earth was facing?the issue with vampires, demons, and deadites. A few of these he saw himself. Maybe they could create an alliance? Who knows when SG-1 would meet up with vampires again? Buffy Summers was a vampire slayer, a girl who fought these demons for a living. She also fought other demons. And, if SG-1 looked to other worlds for assistance and alliances all the time, why couldn't he do the same with these people?
"Well, Tim, that would be?"
(Goa'uld) Gabrielle thought to herself. Her eyes immediately narrowed. She hated the goa'uld. They were the aliens that captured her thousands of years ago-took her away from Xena, from Joxer, from her family.
Sam's eyes widened, "Sir?"
Sam's question brought Gabrielle back to the current conversation at hand. She couldn't tell them that she knew about the goa'uld. If the blond told them the truth, Jack would've done something drastic, and she couldn't afford to lose anything right now?especially since she got body back, reconnected with Hercules, and started to fall for Joxer. She couldn't lose any of it.
So, Gabrielle would have to play everything, as she was a novice. She could be normal in front of Hercules, Joxer, and now Xander. That was it.
He looked at her, "It's okay, Carter."
She asked, "You sure, Colonel?"
He nodded, "I am. Tim, what you just saw was an alien."
Buffy asked skeptically, "Alien?"
Xander nodded, "And I'm guessing not your basic ET, huh?"
Sam couldn't help but smile slightly, "That would be a goa'uld."
"I fuckin' don't care what type of alien that was, I want my niece back!" Ash yelled bringing everyone back to the important matter at hand.
Xander continued for his friend, "Tell me there's a way to bring her back!"
"That's going to be quite difficult." Daniel stated.
"Just how difficult?" Joxer asked.
Jack said, "We don't even know where Faith went."
"Let me guess?Area 51 is where your team is based."
Xander said.
"Nope," Daniel said. "Area 51 would be something else."
"All I'm going to tell you right now is on a need to know basis. That's it." Jack said to their friends.
He looked at his eldest friend, "You got that, Daniel?"
The archeologist nodded, "Right. Based on that, what do we do, Jack?"
"I think my team and I should talk before anything else gets said." The colonel said to them.
"I understand, Colonel O'Neill." Hercules stated.
With that said, SG-1 went to the other side of them to the nearest tree and huddled together.
"Are you sure about telling them, Sir? The SGC is top secret, y'know that."
He nodded, "I do, Carter. But, think about what we just experienced these past few days. We found out that vampires actually exist. I mean, actually immortal, blood-sucking creatures! And that's not all, Captain.
"Now, Buffy was willing to help us in our situation. The same with her friends. If we create an alliance with them, they'll be able to help us on other matters."
Teal'c said, "Telling them would make a good strategic move, Captain Carter."
"I'd have to agree, Sam. Finding out that the Necronomicon actually exists is mind blowing enough."
"I understand. I do agree that we tell them only on a need to know basis. General Hammond isn't going to be excited that we told them about the goa'uld though."
"We're obviously going to need their help with this goa'uld, Jack. And I don't think that General Hammond is going to let a little over a dozen people into the SGC. Especially civilians on that matter."
"If we tell General Hammond that we need their expertise on the Necronomicon, he should be willing to allow some of them inside."
"Not a bad idea, Teal'c," Jack said to his friend. "Remember, we only tell them on a need to know bases.
I should radio, Hammond, and let him know what's happening. Hopefully, he'll be okay with this."
*****
The Scrappies, Gunn, and his crew watched as SG-1 walked over to the far tree.
"What do you think there talking about, Xander?"
He looked at Joxer, "Well, it seems that they might be making sure that giving us the okay on this alien business. They were about to give us some classified information, Tim."
Buffy stated, "We did help them with their vampire situation. Well, we tried to anyway. But they do know about vampires. I think Xander might be right."
"I don't care about any of this, Buffy. All I want is to have my niece back."
Hercules commented, "And we will get her back. We're going to need their help, Ash. What we're dealing with is something that we never dealt with before."
"Aye," Doyle said as he looked at the group next to them. "I guess that's why it's taking this long."
*****
Jack talked into his radio, "General Hammond, I think we should talk."
Chapter 1
Jack talked into his cell phone, "General Hammond, I think we should talk."
"What about, son? Did you stop Caroline?"
O'Neill said, "About that, Sir. Caroline was already taken care of when we got here."
"Then may I ask why aren't you at the SGC?"
"We ran into some trouble. It seems that we stumbled on a war that dealt with deadites. Apparently Sir, deadites are a lot like zombies. We found some locals with knowledge of the matter."
"Zombies? Are you aware that you're speaking nonsense, Colonel?"
He shook his head, "Sir, I am not speaking nonsense. As it turns out there's more to Earth then the goa'uld?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"Daniel had an old friend that lived in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, he died a few years back. But he left Daniel his journal. In the journal, we found that Daniel's friend was a watcher from England. Watchers are people who train vampire slayers. Vampire slayers are"
"Cut to the chase, Jack."
"Alright, Sir. Bottom line is vampires are real. And that's what Caroline was. She wasn't a goa'uld or alien. She was a vampire."
"A vampire, Son? What are you trying to tell me?"
"Simply this. A goa'uld just teleported down to Earth, took an ancient book, and kidnapped a girl?a vampire slayer."
"?"
"You think I've lost it completely, don't you?"
"Son, the only reason I haven't Section Eighted you yet is because I don't know where you are."
"So?you don't believe me, Sir?"
"I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt, Jack. Only you could run into something this ridicules. Pick some people who can convince me, Colonel. Bring them in. Once I'm sure you haven't gone insane, I'll authorize a go."
"Thank you, Sir. I'm thinking five people might be good to bring."
"Bring only four, Jack. Then we'll talk. But, these people better be good at what they do."
"Understood, General."
With that said, Jack turned off his phone and went back to the team who were already with the rest of the group.
"I just talked to General Hammond. I can only bring four of you."
Before anyone else could say something, SG-1, Xander, Buffy, Ash, and Kevin disappeared.
"What the hell just happened?" Gunn asked.
*****
The eight of them appeared on the Asgard ship, Biliskner.
"Where are we?" Ash asked as he surveyed the room they were in.
"Greetings, Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, Doctor Jackson, and Teal'c." He glanced at the four new people, "And welcome Mr. Sorbo, Mr. Harris, Ms.
Summers, and Mr. Williams."
Xander took a few steps back, "That is definitely not ET!"
Buffy got into her fighting stance as Ash revved up his chainsaw. "We want to go home, right now!"
"I assure you Ms. Summers and Mr. Williams, I will not harm you. I teleported you here because I needed to tell you about Ninnedinna."
"Ninnedinna?" Jack asked surprised.
Daniel said, "Ninnedinna was a Babylonian Goddess.
She was the one who created the books of the dead."
Ash questioned, "You mean to tell me, that this goa'uld created the Necronomicon?"
Thor nodded, "You are correct, Mr. Williams. Before we get any further, my name is Thor. And you are on my ship, the Biliskner."
"You're Thor?" Xander asked. He glanced Hercules, "This is Thor? Thor's an alien?"
Hercules nodded, "If he says he's Thor. Then he's Thor. (Allot has happened since the show ended.
Things have changed.)
"I brought you here because you're the ones that have to go to Ninnedinna and rescue your friend and take back the book. The Asgard cannot because of Protected Planets Treaty. You all bring something that would be useful against Ninnedinna."
"We do?" Xander asked surprised.
"Indeed," Thor said to the young man. "SG-1 is Earth's first line of defence. Mr. Williams has experience with the Necronomicon before. Ms. Summers and Mr. Harris are both part of a demon fighting team.
Due to their contributions, Earth has survived many dangers. Mr. Sorbo has also served the Earth well for some time in many unique ways."
Jack asked, "Do you know where we can find Ninnedinna?"
Thor stated, "That I do not know the answer to."
Buffy looked at the alien, "Are you going to send us home after this?"
Thor said, "After we are finished, I am going to send you to the SGC. That is where is located. There, you can contact your friends and let them know everything is fine. Now, if you excuse, I would like to talk to Mr. Sorbo."
Hercules asked, "Where do you want to talk?"
The Asgard said, "Follow me. When we are finished, then I will send you back to the SGC."
With that said, the two of them left the room.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Buffy asked.
Xander said, "I don't have the slightest idea." He then glanced over to a window. "Take a look at this, Buff."
The two of them headed over to the window. "Just look at that. Doesn't that make you feel, y'know, small?"
She looked at through the window and was amazed by the vastness of outer space. Buffy sighed, "I do now."
He wrapped his arm around her waist as they continued to look, "I know it's depressing. But it makes you think. I realize that we might have any effect to change all that, but we do have the ability to change things around us. And as I look at you and the gang, I realize that we've had an effect on each other. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't get any donuts and if you weren't here, I probably would've died too many years ago."
She looked at him, and stared into his eyes. She saw that the same look a few weeks ago when they went to his apartment that first time since the summer began.
"You do more than just the donut runs."
"I do?"
She smiled, "Xander, this summer I learned a lot about myself and reevaluated my life and everyone that I hold dear to me. And you're my hero."
"I'm your hero?"
Buffy pulled him down to her and hugged him, "Yes you are."
He smiled back, "And you're mine too."
She pulled away from him and had tears in her eyes.
"I'm you're hero?"
Xander smiled, "Without a doubt."
"What are you looking at?"
The question brought the two of them back to the group.
With a smile, Buffy said, "We never saw the stars this close. Have you Teal'c?"
Chapter 2
Hercules and Thor walked down the corridor, both staring forward.
"It has been a long time, Hercules."
The demigod nodded, "It sure has, Thor. Too long if you ask me."
"We certainly have been occupied. You have saved Earth numerous times, my friend.
He smiled, "It's what I do, Thor."
"Indeed."
"Thank you for using my alias back there. For a moment, I though you were going to call me, Hercules."
"Having the same mind since they day I was first born, makes me realize that at times change is good. Also, your world has lost what it first had. Many people fear and are prejudice down there."
"We still had our problems back then."
"Yes, that would be correct. But that was between humans and centaurs. Color was never an issue."
"Times change, Thor. But things like prejudice never will. It's sadly part of human nature."
"All races have bad and good factors, Hercules. When Humanity learns from their mistakes, then they can become the fifth race."
"I hope to be alive then."
"And you should be. One thing about your agelessness is that you have proven yourself to be an almost unstoppable force. The Asgard are lucky to have a friend like you."
"I'm just glad the goa'uld didn't take the roles of all the gods they killed."
"We did the best we could, Hercules. Now, about Ninnedinna?"
"I was wondering when you were getting to that." He chuckled to himself.
"Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, and Mr. Williams have never traveled the sars before. They are going to need some help. Keep a close eye on your friends. They do not know the truth, do they?"
The demigod, "Only Xander does." He saw a confused look, "The boy. He found out about me during a fight."
"Ah, I see." He said with certainty. "Do you know where to find Ninnedinna?"
"No, I don't sadly."
"I suggest you look to your family for help."
His eyes widened, "My family?"
*****
The mention of Teal'c real name caused SG-1 to turn to the blond slayer.
Xander asked, "What kind of name is Teal'c? No offence."
Teal'c just responded with a raised eyebrow.
Daniel looked his friend, not sure how to respond, "Jack?"
The colonel said to them, "Murray is just a cover name for Teal'c."
"His last name isn't Jaffaman, is it?" Ash asked.
Teal'c said, "My real name is Teal'c. I come from the planet, Chulak."
Buffy said, "You mean-"
Xander continued for his friend, "Teal'c is an alien?"
Daniel said, "For the most part. He is human in nature, except he has a pouch in his stomach."
"Like a kangaroo?" Xander asked.
Jack smirked.
Everyone looked at him.
"What? I thought it was funny."
Sam said, "For the most part. Instead of housing a baby marsupial, it houses a goa'uld symbiot."
"Or snake." Jack rephrased.
Daniel nodded, "Right. Snake. Teal'c and the 'snake' have a symbiotic relationship. The goa'uld uses Teal'c to live and the goa'uld allows Teal'c good health."
"Is there anything else you want to tell us?" Ash asked. "Or is Thor, Teal'c, and Ninnedinna is?"
"That's all we can tell you for now." Jack said. "Remember? We're on a need to know bases."
"Alright then." Xander said.
*****
"Get in there!"
Ninnedinna threw Faith across the room until she landed by the far wall.
Faith sprung to her feet and charged the unknown woman, "Where the fuck am I?"
The fake-goddess shot out her hand, opened her palm, and light emerged. Soon energy released and shot Faith back to the wall.
"What are you?" Faith screamed as she got to her feet/
Smiled, "I am a goddess. My name is Ninnedinna."
She showed a confused look, "A goddess?"
"You're right, Faith."
"You know my name?"
Ninnedinna nodded, "I do, Faith. I know about you, and your uncle. I'm the one who created the Neronomicon."
The Slayer glared at her, "You created the Necronomicon! You sent my uncle through hell?"
She cackled, "Your uncle has proven himself to be quite strong. I have the perfect plan for him and you. All will know the power of Ninnedinna!"
"What are you planning?" Faith asked to her as she walked forward.
She grinned, "Like I'm going to tell you." Faith turned around and started to walk down the hall, "I have plans for you, Faith. I have plans for you."
When she was gone from sight, Faith said to herself, "I'll give her one thing. She didn't tell me her plan. That's different."
Faith then turned around and looked out the window, "In the words of Dorothy, 'Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.'"
Chapter 3
Hercules repeated his question, "My family?"
Thor answered, "Indeed, Hercules. The Asgard does not know where Faith and Ninedinna are. However, the Ancients and your friend, Prometheus, had an arrangement."
He remembered, "Right. If I remember correctly, Prometheus was given the Astral Rod by the Ancients."
Thor stated, "Yes, which is why Zeus chained him to Caucasus the first time."
Hercules said, "But Zeus gave the Astral Rod to Raiden. Being an elder god might help us. Although the Astral Rod might be in Outworld."
The alien said, "As with Faith I have not been able to ascertain the current whereabouts of Raiden. Since you will be at the SGC with SG-1 and your friends, you will be unable to contact Raiden in order to help you.
It is possible that one of your family could help."
He shook his head, "My family won't help. All they care about are themselves. And saving Faith would not be on their 'to do ' list."
Thor sighed, "I am sorry then, Hercules. The Asgard cannot locate Raiden. Are you sure you do not have any family that will help?"
Hercules sighed, "I have to think about this, Thor. Ares wouldn't do this. Same with Hades, Apollo, or any other gods. Traveling offworld is forbidden. And after Zeus chained up Prometheus, I don't think any god would be willing to help."
"All I can say then, Hercules is you should return to your friends in the other room and prepare to be transported to the SGC. It would be wise to think about which god to send. We shall be in touch."
The demigod shrugged, "Maybe Xander will have some insight."
With that said, two old friends left the corridor and headed back to the main room.
*****
"I trust everyone is ready to be transported to the SGC."
SG-1, Xander, Buffy, and Ash looked to the source of the voice as Thor and Hercules came walking in.
Buffy sighed, "I'm ready as I'll ever be."
"We just don't know where to find Faith and this means we're pretty much at a stand-still." Xander said to sum up.
"Hate to say this Jack, but Xander's right." Daniel said to his friend.
Suddenly, light brightened within the room, and the eight people disappeared.
*****
"Dammit, General where the hell has SG-1 got to now?"
The general looked up to the man that stood before him, Senator Robert Kinsey- a man that he really didn't much, like the pompous senator. The man had always a thorn in the side to himself and the SGC.
"I assure you, Senator. SG-1 is on a mission that is important. Our teams here are looking into a way to contact them."
"One of these days General that incompetent team you call SG1 is going to end up causing problems for the entire planet, this is precisely the type of thing I said would happen if the SGC stayed in operation now with the entire team out of communication you don't think that you should have warned the oversight committee?"
Soon, white light filled the room, and then dissipated.
General Hammond and Senator Kinsey saw with open eyes eight other people standing in General Hammond's office.
Hammond looked at the colonel, "What's going on, Colonel? Where have you been?" He then looked at four people he never saw before.
Before he could say anything, Kinsey interrupted, "Who the hell are you?"
Jack said, "Sir, we just came from seeing Thor."
Kinsey looked at Hammond, "Thor?" He then turned to SG-1, "What the hell is going on, Colonel?"
He suddenly remembered something, "You mean the 'Thor' from your reports, don't you, Colonel?" The senator looked at the four others, "I'll say this again, who are these people? Civilians aren't welcomed to the SGC."
"You're proof of that." Mumbled Jack under his breath.
"Senator," Sam began before any hostility broke out, "Thor requested out help to go after Ninedinna."
"Ninedinna, Captain?"
The archeologist said, "A goa'uld, Sir. She kidnapped Faith and took the Necronomicon."
"Ninedinna, Thor, Necronomicon?" Kinsey asked aloud. "What is hell is going on around here?"
"We're trying to explain," Hercules said to calm down the situation.
"And who the hell are you Mister? This is a military instillation give me a reason not to throw you in the brig."
"Well Sir, My name's Kevin Sorbo."
"The Actor?"
"Yes, Sir.
"So not only do you bring Civilians into this base Colonel you bring a high profile actor with you, you better have a damn good explanation."
Xander said, "Sir, Thor chose us because we bring something to help SG-1 on this matter."
"I didn't ask you boy?" Kinsey snarled at Xander, Buffy's grip on Xander's arm was the only thing holding him back from punching Kinsey across the room.
"You better explain, Colonel." Asked Hammond
"Well, Sir. I'd prefer Danny to do this but I'll try.
Basically Sir, these are Ash Williams, Xander Harris, Buffy Summers, and Kevin Sorbo. They're the locals I was talking about, Sir."
Hammond remembered their previous discussion. So, he knew Jack was serious with these people, "Senator, I assure you, that even though these people are needed to bring back their friend and stop Ninedinna from using the Necronimicon."
He walked over to the younger members of these people he just met, "These two look like they're still in high school! What are you, freshmen?"
Buffy said in her defense, "Seniors."
He looked at the general, "Whatever. So you're okay with teenagers being here?"
Daniel slipped out, "She's also a vampire slayer."
His eyes rolled as he glanced at the archeologist, "A vampire slayer?"
Kinsey looked at Jack, "So, you didn't just bring in a teenager, Colonel? You brought in a psychotic slut?"
Without even thinking, Xander balled his hand into a fist, and launched forward. He punched Kinsey across the face, "You take that back, you Bastard!"
Jack smirked, (This kid isn't that bad after all.)
Kinsey took a few steps back, and rubbed his sore spot, "Hammond, I demand that you take these civilians to the brig!"
"Colonel O'Neill, you and you're team, take Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, Mr. Sorbo, and Mr. Williams to the debriefing room. I'll be right down."
Jack nodded, "Yes, Sir. Follow me." With that, the eight of them left the office.
Hammond looked at the senator. "We need to talk. Right now!"
*****
Chapter 4
The eight of them walked down the corridor. "Well, kids," Jack said as they walked, "you just met Senator Kinsey."
"Senator of what? Being a bastard?" Buffy asked aloud.
The colonel chuckled, "No. Not really. He's been trying to shut us down for years now."
"I see." Ash said. He looked down at his hand and realized he still had his chainsaw attached. "Forgot I still had this on." The former promised one said with a grin. He quickly detached the chainsaw and attached the gauntlet.
Sam looked at his attachment, "What exactly happened to your hand there, Ash?"
He looked up at the elder blond, "The book took over my hand, and I had to chop it off at the wrist. When I was in Medieval Europe, I got it replaced by a gauntlet."
Sam looked at him skeptically, "Medieval Europe?"
Ash then began to tell his tale about the Necronomicon. Daniel was amazed at what this man went through, and how the book was able to do that.
"What I don't understand is, I thought the Goa'uld only used technology. And not magic." Jack said.
The archeologist suggested, "Maybe Ninedinna is older then Apophis. And maybe even older then Ra."
Xander asked, "Ra? Apophis?"
Hercules pointed out, "Egyptian and Sumerian Gods."
Daniel looked at the actor, "I see you know your mythology, Mr. Sorbo."
The demigod grinned, "My show uses mythological figures all the time."
Jack snapped his fingers, "I knew you looked familiar. My cousin watches your show."
Teal'c raised his eyebrow, "You have a cousin, O'Neill?"
He nodded, "Yeah, Sam."
Sam looked at him, "Sam?"
He grinned. "Yeah. My cousin, Angus, has a son, Sam. He watches Hercules and Xena all the time."
Hercules grinned, "It's always nice to hear about fans."
Changing the subject, Buffy asked, "Were is the debriefing room?"
Daniel said as he looked forward, "Just up ahead. We'll be there shortly."
The Slayer asked, "We need to let the others know we're okay, Colonel. The last time they saw us was in Los Angeles." Thinking for a second, "Where are we anyway?"
Daniel said, "That would be Colorado. And I think you could call them. But don't tell them where we are."
Xander nodded, "Makes sense, Buff. If I'm correct, this is a top security military base. And the public doesn't need to know this."
Jack glanced at him, "How do you know all this information, Xander?"
He answered back, "Last Halloween, a spell was cast on Sunnydale. Everyone who bought something from Ethan's turned into what they bought. I bought a toy gun. Next thing I know is that night, I turned into soldier boy. Buffy here was turned into a noble woman."
"That would explain it." Sam said to the group of eight. "But I find that to be rather cheating."
Daniel said, "This coming from the woman who had a tokra within her, and now has superior tokra knowledge."
Sam rolled her eyes, "Touché."
Xander asked, "Tokra?"
Jack stared at Daniel, "You got to learn to keep your mouth shut sometimes, Danny. You let Kinsey know about Buffy and you just let them know about the Tokra."
Daniel grinned slightly, "Sorry."
The colonel said, "Just don't do it again. I think we can trust these guys."
Just as Sam was about to say something, Teal'c spoke up, "This is the debriefing room. I am sure General Hammond will be here soon."
*****
"Where do you get off calling that young woman a slut, Senator?"
He walked up to the general. The whole time, they were still separated by a desk.
"General, this is a military base, the most confidential project in Earth's history and now some so called Alien 'friend' has graciously dropped help in our laps.
And what help? Two of them are teenagers, one is a television actor, and the other one had a chainsaw for a hand? These people are in no shape or form suitable for the SGC, get them off this base now."
"Senator Kinsey, these four people as you say were chosen by Thor. And if he has just cause for selecting these people, then I might have to agree with him."
"So because of the word of some alien that we barely know, you're going to allow them to walk freely around the SGC and possibly go through the Stargate? These civilians must be removed at once General, that is an order."
"You barely know him Senator, he is responsible for you to even be standing there, now I assure you that they will be well watched over. Thor chose them for what he believed would be best when we come up against what is apparently another Goa'uld named Ninedinna. Now considering your actions here already I suggest you calm down and think before you act."
"No General. I will not take time over this, not only do you have four unauthorized civilians in the SGC but you have allowed one of them, one who assaulted me to walk around freely."
"Senator, I don't know if you realized this, but the young man did only retaliate for your actions in the Briefing room, you called the young woman a slut, not only was it uncalled for, but it was rude, insensitive, and above all not language commiserate with your position of authority."
"I don't particularly care what you think General. I was assaulted by that insolent young man, I want it taken care of immediately."
Hammond glared at the man, "Mr Harris reacted in the defense of a young woman who obviously means a lot to him, now if any man insulted a woman like that then in my opinion they deserve what they get Senator, he may be in the wrong with a physical assault but you were just as much in the wrong."
"Damn it Hammond, Doctor Jackson practically declared her psychotic sprouting off about Slayer's and Vampires. She should be in a mental hospital. Vampires don't exist."
George walked over to his door, "Senator, I don't have time for this. Less than a week ago, a powerful goa'uld came down to Earth without our radar detecting them or anyone seeing her, further more she and kidnapped a girl, an American citizen no less and took her away. As a senator, you should realize that we have to resolve this situation before other goa'uld come down and do it again."
"Now, see here, General Hammond."
"No, you see here, Senator. I have to talk to my team and our guests. We need to rectify this ASAP."
With that said, the general left the office leaving a confused and angered senator.
*****
"I see you're all here." General Hammond said as he walked into the debriefing room.
On one side of the table, sat the four members of SG-1. They sat in their usual seats. On the other side, Buffy sat next to Xander, who sat next to Hercules. Ash was by the far wall. All eyes were focused on the general.
"First of all, I want to apologize for Senator Kinsey, Ms. Summers. He had no right to insult you in any way."
She nodded, "It's alright, General. But I hope nothing happens to Xander." She said squeezing her friend's hand absent-mindedly
He sighed and a slight smile came to his face as the two teenagers comforted each other as he sat down in his seat. "We'll try to make things easy for him, Senator Kinsey had no right to that and Mr. Harris' reaction is understandable."
"Besides the Security cameras would have picked up the whole thing and they show Kinsey was in the wrong, you guys have nothing to worry about." Jack replied
"However, that's not what we need to discuss at the moment."
Ash nodded, "Right. We have to find my niece, General."
Hammond said, "And we will, Mr. Williams." He looked at around the room one more time, "so, what exactly happened during your recon Colonel?"
Chapter 5
SG-1, Buffy, Xander, Hercules, and Ash took turns filling in General Hammond on the situation. Everything that happened these past three weeks was told to the General.
"That is quite the tale, People."
Xander smirked, "It is, isn't it? And it's one hundred percent accurate."
Hercules added, "Everything's true. Well, except for the fact that SG-1 killed Bad Faith. That was a team effort."
General Hammond sighed, "Well, finding out that vampires among other demons existing is nothing new to the American Government."
Jack looked at him skeptically, "And the reason you didn't fill me in on this, was because?"
Hammond said, "After we last talked, I contacted one of my superiors and he told me that the US Government was in the process of forming a military operation based on the supernatural."
Buffy said, "I hope these people know what they're getting into."
The general stated, "This will be well looked into. They want to make this military operation the best it can be. So, they're preparing for it now. Should be running in two years time."
"Sir? We still don't know what we're going to do about Ninedinna." Carter said to bring the subject to the one at hand, "Thor didn't have anything to comment on."
Hammond looked at the clock, "Well, right now it's pretty late, and we're all exhausted. I suggest we all sleep on it, and reconvene at 0700 hours. Mr. Williams, Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, and Mr. Sorbo can all find rooms here at the base. SG-1 will show you each to one."
Buffy asked, "Do you mind if I call our friends and let them know we're alright, General. We disappeared after defeating Bad Faith. I don't want them to worry."
He smiled, "I don't see why not. Just don't tell them where we are. The SGC is classified."
Xander yawned, "Thanks. We'll see you in the morning."
With that said, the current members of the Scrappies and SG-1 left the debriefing room for their destined quarters.
*****
Ash and Jack were walking down the hallway. Behind them, were the six others. Each group of two were at their own pace.
The former promised one and the colonel walked over to room number, 55. Jack opened the room, flipped on the light switch, and held the door open for Ash.
"This will be your room until you leave, Ash."
Ash placed his chainsaw on top of the desk that was by the far wall. Leaning against the wall beside the desk, he rubbed the metal of his gaunlet hand with his normal one.
"So this is the SGC, huh?"
Jack nodded as he stepped closer to the scarred man, "Yep. Much has happened here. Some good, and some bad."
He grinned, "I know all about the good and the bad. My life has been pretty much of the bad as of late."
The colonel sighed, "Ash, I know what your feeling. You feel helpless. I'm sure you've gone through the whole situation with your niece a thousand times, and every time, you wonder if there was something different. Something different that would allow you to save your niece."
He sighed, "It hurts, Jack. I just find out my niece is a vampire slayer, promise to help her in every way that I can; I can't even save her from that fucking bitch. I've gone through so much of my life, so many horrors, and I can't even stop one single woman."
"To be fair to you, Ash. You never went up against a goa'uld before. You may have fought deadites, vampires, demons, and other creatures, but you never faced an opponent like Ninedinna. I know what it's like to lose someone. And I know you lost some too, but I will help you find Faith. That's a promise."
Ash said, "Thanks, Jack." He looked at his hand and then back at new friend. "Mind if I ask you a question?"
He shrugged, "Sure. What's the question?"
The clerk grinned, "What's the story with Captain Carter?"
*****
Hercules and Daniel were a few feet behind Jack and Ash. As they disappeared into room 55, the two of them went further.
"I must admit, Mr. Sorbo."
He grinned, "Call me Kevin."
Daniel smiled, "Alright, Kevin. I was surprised you knew about Ra and Apophis. I always had the impression that celebrities didn't care much for mythology. Well, I always thought many people didn't care for them."
Hercules grinned, "Mythology always fascinated me, Daniel. I always wanted to do some acting with the genre. Before I got the job on Hercules, I was going for the role of Clark Kent in Lois and Clark. But of course Dean Cain got the job."
The archeologist said, "I don't know much about the acting game. Never really got on with me. I always preferred the supernatural. UFOs always interested me. Same with the odd mysteries of the world. Like what happened with Atlantis."
Hercules chuckled, "It's an island that sunk. But from what I know of it, the technology on the island was very advanced. Especially for that time period."
Daniel opened the door to room number, 61. "This will be your room, Kevin. I might suggest you calling the studio and letting them know that you're unavailable for filming future episodes."
The demigod smiled, "Thanks, I'll do that."
With that said, Daniel turned around and headed for the door.
"Doctor Jackson?"
Daniel turned around, "Yes?"
Hercules asked, "Is it alright if I get a snack later. Fighting Bad Faith really took a lot out of me."
The archeologist nodded, "Not a problem. Just go to the mess hall. It's down the hall. Take a right at the end and go down four doors. There'll be people guarding it. But that's just standard procedure."
"Thanks." The son of Zeus said. (I'll talk to Xander later tonight.)
*****
The two blonds watched as Kevin and Daniel went into room 61. They headed down two more rooms.
Sam opened the door allowing Buffy to enter.
"This is your room, Ms. Summers."
Buffy nodded as she went inside. Turning back to the captain, she said, "Call me, Buffy, Captain."
Sam nodded, "Call me Sam."
Sam then went to sit down on the bed. She was shortly joined by the younger woman of the two.
"You went through a lot these past few weeks, Buffy."
Buffy sighed, "Don't I know it. Too much testosterone."
The captain grinned, "I know that feeling. Other than Janet, I feel like I'm the only woman here. I'm always around men. Not that I mind at all, but it starts to feel lonely."
The Slayer nodded, "It's weird. Back in Sunnydale, Xander and Giles are the only men that I hang around with mainly. After Angel, all I really had to hang out with was Xander. Oz was always with Willow, and Giles was my watcher. Now I know how Xander felt a lot of the time during high school.
"When I went to LA, and met up with Xander again, the tables turned. I was the only female of the group. There was Faith, but it still felt lonely. And I just met Gabrielle. But the rest of the group is men. Men are such slobs sometimes."
Sam said, "You better believe it. I'm glad there's another female at the SGC."
Buffy smiled, "I just hope we're not here long. After this, I want to go home. This summer has been tough on all of us, and after we rescue Faith, Xander, Ash, Wesley, and I'll head back to Sunnydale. Xander and I are going to have to find some way to get back into school. Principal Snyder hates having me as a student."
The captain said, "If your under 18, you should be able to get back to school. They can't deny you an education."
Buffy nodded, "I just hope I survive high school. Being a slayer has it's high points, don't get me wrong. But being a slayer also means that you get to have a short life. I know I'm living on borrowed time."
Sam looked at her, not knowing how to respond to that. She never thought about slayers having a short lifespan. She never thought much about slayers before.
*****
"This way, Alexander Harris." Teal'c said as they walked past Buffy and Sam. "Number 65 will be your room."
Xander grinned his thanks. "Thanks, Teal'c"
"You are quite welcome." He then opened the door. "I will leave you now."
"Uh, Teal'c?"
Teal'c raised his eyebrow, "Yes, Alexander Harris?"
"First of all, call me Xander."
"Certainly, Xander."
He smiled, "Good. Second, you mind if I ask you something?"
"Not at all, Xander."
Xander went inside as Teal'c turned on the lights. The boy sat down on his bed, "Can I ask you something about Chulak?"
Teal asked, "What would you like to know?"
"Sit down, Teal'c." Teal'c sat down.
"Do you miss home? Do you miss your planet?"
He answered, "I do miss my time at Chulak. I miss my son, Rya'c. I know he is doing well though."
Xander asked, "You have a son?"
He nodded, "Indeed," was the Jaffa's response. "I may miss Chulak, Alexander Harris. However, since I am friends with Colonel O'Neill, Captain Carter, and Daniel Jackson. I do not miss Chulak as much."
Xander grinned, "Now that I think about it. Hanging with Buffy is always a plus. Being far from Sunnydale isn't so bad."
"I do believe you will go home again, Alexander Harris."
"Xander. Call me Xander."
He nodded, "Very well then, Xander. I shall leave you now. That is if you do not have any other questions."
The boy shook his head, "No, I'm good."
Teal'c stood up. "I will see you tomorrow."
With that said, Teal'c left Xander.
*****
"Xander?"
Xander sat up from his bed as he heard his name being called. He flipped on the lamp as he got out of his bed. The boy went to the door and opened it a smidge, "What's wrong?"
Hercules opened the door further, "Come with me. I want to ask your advice on something."
Chapter 6
Xander looked back at the clock. Turning back to hisfriend, "Damn Kevin, it's 2:00 in the morning."
He nodded raised his eyebrow and pointed to the cornerof the room with his head.
"Huh?"
Hercules looked as he was in thought which he was,then shook his head farther.
Xander sighed, "What?"
Giving up, he mouthed the words, "We gotta talk."
He opened the door.
The boy rolled his eyes, "What?"
Signing, Hercules grabbed Xander by the arm and pulled him out of his room. Closing the door behind Xander, Hercules said to him, "Cameras."
Xander nodded, "Oh…"
The demigod sighed, "Come with me. We have to talk."
The two of them walked down the hallway. "Where we going?"
Kevin smiled, "I feeling a little hungry. Want to join me for a snack?"
Getting the idea, the young man nodded, "I can go for something.
"Good. C'mon."
The two of them walked toward the mess hall. Walking to the entrance, the two friends failed to noticed two people standing in front of the mess hall entrance. The two men stepped up to the pair.
"Halt."
"Uhh hi." Stammered Xander.
"Identification."
Both Herc and Xander pulled out the identical civilian ID cards issued them by Colonel O'Neill for their stay at the SGC.
"Why are you walking around at 2 am gentlemen?" Asked the Guard.
"My friend and I were just wondering if we could get a quick snack. Doctor Jackson said we were permitted to leave our quarters to get something."
One of the guards nodded, "Go ahead."
Xander grinned, "Thanks."
With that said, Hercules and Xander walked into the mess hall and noticed a man sitting at a nearby table. "Uh, Kevin?" Xander asked his friend.
Hercules looked at him, "We have company."
Hercules walked over to the man and sat down next to him. "Burning the midnight oil?"
The man looked at him and smiled wearily, "I just had ameeting with General Hammond. We're working on a problem, and I'm just taking a break, Mr…."
Hercules grinned, " Sorbo, Kevin Sorbo"
The man looked at him in shock, "You're Kevin Sorbo. Gushie and Sam won't believe this!"
Xander stated slowly, "Sam." (How many Sams arethere?) "This Sam wouldn't be the Sam Colonel O'Neill has as a cousin."
He shook his head, "Nah I doubt it, The Sam I know is a doctor of physics."
The boy said, "Just like Captain Carter."
The man looked at him, "This Sam is male."
Xander chucked, "That would be the difference."
"If he's Kevin Sorbo, then you'd be?"
"Xander. Alexander Harris, but I prefer Xander."
"Nice to meet ya, the names Albert, Admiral Albert Calavicci, but most people call me Al."
*****
Buffy sighed as she woke up. Turning to the wall that held the clock, she noticed that it was only three o'clock. She couldn't fall a sleep. The Slayer had successfully fallen asleep on her third attempt, but found out it didn't last long. Her mind was too overwhelmed with worry. Here she was in a room within some secret military base. The only person that she knew truly was Xander. Kevin and Ash were nice and all, but she didn't really know them.
Her main cause for worry though that her friends in LA were without a slayer. Both her and Faith were gone. All that was left was Wesley, Gunn, Gabrielle, Tim, Doyle, and Eric. Her eyes widened, "Eric?" Buffy cursed herself of not thinking about him sooner. Him and Faith were close and he didn't know anything that was going on. After talking to Faith, she realized that there was some romantic feelings between the two. They were just never gone into.
Buffy had to call him first. Let him know that Faith didn't abandon him. Well, actually, she did. But notby choice. The younger slayer was kidnapped. Eric would definitely want to know why she never contacted him after they had that conversation a few days ago. It left everything between them on shaky ground.
Without even thinking of the repercussions, Buffy reached the phone that was beside the bed and dialed a familiar number.
A few rings passed.
"Helllo?" A tired voice asked.
"Hi, Eric?"
Not thinking, he mistook the voice, "What are you doing up, Morgan? Something wrong?"
Buffy shook her head, "Eric, it's Buffy."
"Buffy? Where are you?"
Buffy sighed, "I can't answer that. It's classified. But I wanted to talk to you about Faith."
His eyes widened, "Faith? Is she aright? She was supposed to talk to me like two days ago."
The blond female nodded, "I know, Eric. She told me about the conversation you two had."
He gulped, "She did?"
"Yeah, she did. I don't want to get into the middle of, but Faith not giving you answer is understandable. She merely wasn't available to talk to you."
"Wasn't available? What about her cellphone I gaveher? She could've called me from anywhere? Well, obviously not if there was interference." Gettingmore worried by the second, he asked, " Can you please tell me what's going on? Why are you being vague? Why is your location classified? Wesley told mesomething about Faith had to visit her aunt and took Xander and you along with her. Then Kevin took Ash to one of his charity events."
She took a deep breath. He deserved to know, but she wanted to be sure it was the right thing to do. Bottom line was, if she told him where Faith was he'd want to know why. And while she didn't know why, it was pretty sure that he would know about Faith and her night jobs.
"Eric, I'm going to ask you something. I want you to be completely honest."
"Sure, no problem."
"Do you believe in the unexplained?"
Chapter 7
Hercules looked at the admiral, "I haven't seen you around this afternoon."
He answered, "Well, I'm based in New Mexico. General Hammond is just helping me with a problem. As soon as I'm done here, I'm going to meet back with him, and then head to my hotel."
Xander grinned, "New Mexico? What's in New Mexico?"
Al said, "Can't help you there, Xander. Sorry." He finished up his coffee and looked at the both of them. "Hate to meet and run, but General Hammond is waiting for me. I'll talk to you later."
The three of them said their goodbyes and watched Al leave the mess hall.
As Xander sat back down, he looked at Hercules, "Alright, what do we need to talk about? Why was it so important to wake me up at 2 o'clock in the morning?"
The demigod said, "I want to talk to you about what Thor said."
"How do you know each other anyway?"
Hercules filled him on the story.
"That is quite the tale."
He grinned, "It is, isn't it?"
After a moment's pause, he said, "Well, anyway, someone has to go to Outworld and find the Astral Rod. I would do it, but I'm stuck here."
"So who do you think will do it?"
"The problem is that Zeus will punish who ever uses the Astral Rod. The last time someone used it, Zeus chained up Prometheus."
He nodded, "That would put a damper on things."
The actor chuckled, "It most certainly would."
"So who are\our choices?" Xander asked.
Just as Hercules was about to say something, golden sparks exploded in the room and Aphrodite appeared.
"Hi, Baby Bro. Hi, X-Babe."
"Aphrodite." Xander growled.
"Hey, what's with the attitude, Sweetcheeks?"
Xander sighed, "You just don't pop down from Olympus to a military base. Especially one with security cameras and guards everywhere. What if someone sees you?"
She grinned, "Don't worry about it. I cast a spell. No mortal can see or hear me."
He questioned, "Then how can I see you?"
The goddess said, "Simple, X-Babe. I can select who and who isn't targeted by the spell. I used to do that all the time with Ioulas."
"What are you doing here, Aphrodite?"
The blond turned to her brother, "Gabrielle sent me. She wanted to know what happened? Your friends back there are worried."
The boy sighed, "Great. I just hope Buffy calls them tomorrow."
"Might even be sooner then that, Sweetcheeks. She's on the phone with Eric now."
"I wonder if she's going to tell Eric the truth."
"You'll just have to wait and see." She then looked at the two of them, "So, what did happen to you?"
Hercules filled her in on the situation. "Now we're wondering who to send to get the Astral Rod."
She grinned, "Let me do it."
The demigod spit out his coffee that he was drinking from, "What?"
The love goddess pouted, "Let me do it."
Xander said, "Zeus could punish you. Is that what you want?"
She rolled her eyes, "Daddy has been punishing gods for a while, Xander. Besides his powers can't work in Outworld. Why do you think he gave it to Raiden to look after?"
"I dunno, Aphrodite. Whenever you try to help, someone always gets hurt."
"C'mon Hercules. Let me do this. Ares won't help. The other gods won't help."
Xander looked at him, "She's got a point, Herc."
He took a sip of his coffee, "I still dunno."
But then he realized she was probably right. "Alright, Aphrodite. You get the Astral Rod, find Faith, and get back to us."
She squealed, "You won't regret this."
Then she disappeared.
Hercules said, "I hope you're right."
Xander sighed, "Let's go to bed."
He nodded, "Good idea."
*****
He showed a confused look, "Unexplained?"
Buffy always knew that bringing someone into the truth was hard. But she didn't know if she should be the one to do it. After all, Eric was Faith's friend. The problem was though that Faith was off somewhere in the universe and wasn't around to make that choice. And Eric was someone who needed to know the truth. Especially because of how worried he was for her.
If Faith got upset with Buffy for telling the truth, then she would be. There was no way around it. At least Faith would be around to have that aragance toward her. The blond only hoped that they could work through the problem when the get her.
"I want you to think about something, Eric. Think about Faith's birthday. What did she get?"
"Why is what she got for presents important?"
Buffy sighed, "Just humor me, Eric."
"Well, her uncle got her a jacket, Xander got her a CD, Kevin gave her the chakram from Xena, and Wesley gave her a book."
She nodded, "What kind of book?"
He answered, "Some kind of book that dealt with vampires."
"Right." Buffy answered, "Now, wouldn't that be weird for someone to get?"
Eric shook his head, "Not entirely. It just means that she's into that kind of thing."
(Damn it. He's right. Wrong way to bring that in, Buffy.) Buffy then tried another tactic.
Buffy then remembered a story Faith told her that she thought was pretty funny. It actually might help bring Eric into the truth. "Faith told me a story that dealt with your brother."
"Again, I ask you why is that important? I'm trying to figure out what happened to Faith and where she is. And all you are doing is playing 20 questions. Why bring Cory into this? Why bring up Faith's birthday gifts?"
Giving up the easy bring in, she said, "Because I thought if I brought in vampires and werewolves, you might understand the truth about Faith."
"Truth about Faith? What the hell is going on?"
She took a deep breath, "Faith is a vampire slayer. So am I."
"What?"
Chapter 8
She said, "We're vampire slayers."
He showed a confused look, "Vampire slayers?"
Buffy clarified, "Chosen girls who kill vampires."
Eric said with uncertainty, "Vampires exist?'
She nodded, "As well as other creatures."
"Other creatures…"
"Yeah, vampires, werewolves, mummies. Anything you could think of…exists. Well, accept for leprechauns. And all can say is thank god."
"…"
"Eric?"
"This is intense."
She didn't like the sound of that. "I know it is, Eric. But it is the truth."
"Assuming you are telling me the truth, Buffy. Where is Faith?"
"That's another story."
*****
Aphrodite appeared in the middle of a vacant space. To her left were rocks, the same with the right. Stalagmites and stalagtites covered the roof and floor.
In front of her was a gate. A circular gate that led to Outworld, another dimension. No deity of the Earthrealm had any powers within the dimension. Which was a flaw, especially for her.
But Hercules needed her help. Xander did too as well as this girl she never met. But she needed to prove to herself that she could do something beneficial. Something that went beyond her godly heritage and into the world of mortality. Hercules did it all the time and was famous for it. Aphrodite wanted to experience that too.
However this time, she wouldn't try to dress like Hercules. This time, she was going to be herself and do what was right.
Taking a deep breath, she approached to the gate and pressed the seal. Soon, it circulated and the gateway split open. Two sides left and a vast window emerged. A swirling blue light was left in the gate's wake.
"Here goes nothing, girlfriend." Aphrodite said to herself as she stepped through the gate. The whole time, not knowing what could happen to her as an after effect, but willing to do what was needed.
*****
Aphoridte appeared out of the whirling window and looked around herself. She was in a very dark place. It could easily be compared to her uncle's underworld. Taratus and Outworld had a lot in common.
She walked forward, feeling the shivering wind that howled in the air. Gazing upward, she saw steps that led to some kind of temple. "I guess that's somewhere to start."
The goddess would've teleported there, but she didn't have her powers in this realm. So, seeing the size of the steps and the amount of them only made her upset.
"I was not built to be mortal." She said to herself.
Sighing, she shook her head, "Doesn't matter. You can do it, girl."
The blond then started to walk up the steps, the coldness of the air started to slowly change to warm air. Partly because fire from torches were bordering the staircase.
Reaching the top of the staircase, she wrapped her dress tighter around her waist. Now, she wished didn't always where that loose pink lacy outfit. But it was her style…and the goddess of love had to always be the most noticeable. It was a simple fact.
"Hello?"
No answer.
"I'm trying to find Raiden."
No answer again.
"What's a goddess got to do to get some attention here?"
"Well, wearing that outfit is sure to get some attention."
She scowled, "Duh. That's why I wear it." She then looked around, "Who's there?"
A man walked out of the shadows, "I was told you were coming."
Aphrodite looked harder at the approaching figure, "Who are you?'
He grinned, "You don't remember me?"
Her eyes widened, "Nightwolf."
*****
"Goddess Ninedinna." The First Prime of Ninedinna said aloud.
She smiled, "Young Faith is in captivity, K'nic. I finally have the Necromicon."
"Congratulations, my goddess. What do you have planned for your captive?"
The fake goddess turned her head and glanced down the hallway towards the room of Faith's confinement. "I have my plans."
*****
"Buffy, stop with all these vague questions. I ask you something, and then you return with another question. Where is Faith?"
She knew Eric wasn't going to let this go, and she had no right to deny him this information. Well, she did. But he wouldn't have it.
Thinking over this situation only made her head hurt. She didn't want to cross General Hammond, especially because he has been so understanding with her and her friends. But Eric was one of those exceptions
With that final thought, she decided to tell him, "Eric, what I'm about to tell you may sound strange. Hell, I still find this incredibly strange."
"Just tell me what's going on?"
Taking another breath, she admitted, "Faith was kidnapped by an alien. Xander, Kevin, Ash, and I are at some military base and we plan to rescue her."
"What?"
"Eric, bottom line here. There's a lot to this world outside what you know. Everything you ever thought to be fake or crazy is true. Most of it, if not all. Vampires, werewolves, aliens…they all exist. Faith and I are girls who fight vampires every night. Back in Sunnydale, Xander and I are part of a group that fight vampires every night."
"Excuse me while I faint.' Eric said, and then the phone went dead.
"Eric?'
No answer.
"Eric? Pick up the phone Eric Matthews or I'll be forced to kick your ass."
Again no answer.
Sighing she said to herself, "Now what do I do?"
Chapter 9
"How are you doing, Aphrodite?"
The goddess looked at the mortal, "Can't complain too much, Wolfy. But I am in a bit of a problem."
Nightwolf approached her, "That's what I've heard. So, tell me, Aphrodite. What do you need?"
She said shyly, "I'm looking for Raiden. Hercules asked me talk to him."
He looked at her skeptically, "Hercules sent you? Why didn't he come himself?"
Aphrodite filled him on with the situation. "So, bottom line, I need to talk to Raiden. He's the one that knows where the Astral Rod."
The man said, "Raiden is down the South Tunnel. He's in his temple. Go there, and you shall speak to him."
"Tubular." The goddess said with a grin, "But why couldn't he meet me here?"
Nightwolf answered, "He had to finish up a ritual, and couldn't be interrupted."
She sighed, "I wish I could just teleport there."
He grinned, "That's what happens when you're a god or goddess from Earthrealm. You lose your powers. Just be glad you don't have to be part of Mortal Kombat."
The goddess of love smiled, "Can't say I hate that. Although Hercules would win hands down."
"Probably, but he isn't mortal. That is the rule."
She glanced down the stairs to the south. "So, Raiden is down there?"
He replied, "Sure is. You better get going."
Aphrodite nodded, "On my way."
With that said, the two split there ways.
*****
Trying again, she asked, "Eric?"
Again no answer.
Sighing to herself, she hung up the phone and gave some thought. She needed to make sure he was alright. Picking up the phone, she dialed another number.
"Hello?"
"Gunn, it's Buffy."
"Buffy? Where are you? Are you okay?"
Smiling from the concern from her friend, she quickly answered, "Gunn, I'm fine. But right now, go over to Eric's. See if he's okay."
"Why? What's going on, Buffy?"
"Eric and I were talking. He fainted. I need you to go over to him and make sure he's alright."
"But Buffy?"
"No time, Gunn. Go over to Eric's. He fainted after I talked to him. Whatever you do, don't ask him any questions. Just see if he's alright, hang up the phone, and I'll call back in thirty."
"What's going on, Buff?"
"No time. Just see if he's alright."
Nodding, he stated, "I'm on my way. Anything I need to know."
"I told him the truth about Faith and I. He knows about vampires. So, if he asks any questions about the supernatural, tell him the truth. But, that's it. Just stick with the information you already know."
Then the phone went dead.
Sighing, Gunn pulled out of his bed and stared at the wall, "Damn it, Buffy. Where are you?"
Shaking his head and chuckling to himself, "At least you got Xand with you. No more solo business for you."
Getting out of bed, he quickly grabbed a pair of jeans, slipped them on over and his boxers and took his red t-shirt. After getting dressed, he grabbed his car keys, left a note for his sister and gang explaining what happened, and left for Eric's.
*****
Gunn barged into Eric's apartment and sure enough found Eric laying on the floor. The phone was in his right hand, palm open.
Walking to him, he knelt down and hung up the phone. Slapping Eric's cheek, he said, "Hey, Matthews?"
His eyes fluttered open, "What happened?"
Gunn chuckled, "You fainted, Sleeping Beauty. Buffy called me and told me get over here."
The Philadelphian started to sit up when Gunn grabbed his arm, "Easy there. Buffy said she would be calling again soon."
Eric looked at him, "So it's true. Buffy and Faith are vampire slayers?"
He nodded, "Yeah. Buffy died first and was revived by Xander. Kendra came next, she died. Then Faith came."
Getting the information at a steady pace, he summarized, "So, in order to become a slayer, the one before her has to die."
"That's the way it works. That's why there currently are two. They were called by the Powers that Be. Now, they fight vampires every night. Xander, Ash, Kevin, Tim, Gabrielle, Wesley, myself, and my crew help every night."
"Me too."
"Listen, Eric. I don't know what's going on. We have to wait to Buffy calls again."
"How long will that be?"
Gunn glanced up at the clock that hung next to the door. "In about five minutes."
"What will we do till then?"
Just as Gunn was about to answer, the phone rang.
Taking a breath, Eric picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Good. You're awake." Buffy said into the receiver. "Put me on speaker phone so you both can hear me."
Eric looked at his friend for a second, and then pressed the button. Hanging up the phone, he said, "Speaker's on."
"Good. You there, Gunn?"
He nodded, "Sure am, Buffy. As you would say, 'What's the sitch?'"
"Well, I'm only aloud to say so much. I assure you, Xander, Kevin, Ash, and I are fine. We teleported somewhere. We met someone who told us about Faith's kidnapper. And now, we're going to rescue her. We'll be back after."
Eric sighed again, "Again with the 20 questions, Buffy. What about the military base you're at?"
Gunn asked, "Military base?"
They could hear Buffy depressed volume in breathing.
"I might as well tell you too, Gunn. But you can't tell the others. Alright?"
Receiving her answer, she continued, "Xander, Kevin, Ash, and I, along with SG-1 were teleported off-world. We ended up teleporting to a space ship and meeting Thor-an alien. He told us about Ninedinna-Faith's kidnapper and that we have to go defeat her and save Faith. Then we teleported to a secret military base. That's where we are right now, and we're going to go find Faith."
"So, you're saying aliens are real?" Eric asked.
Gunn nodded, "As well werewolves, deadites, vampires, and apparently aliens. To tell you the truth, I'm not totally surprised."
"Just promise me you won't tell the others, guys. The only reason I'm telling you is because I need to let you know I'm okay and that I thought Eric deserved to know the truth. Just tell the others we're okay, and not to worry."
"I guess we can do that." Gunn said agreeing with Buffy's decision.
"You betcha."
*****
She walked into the dark room, the only light emulating from the fire that shined on the top of a pillar by the far wall.
The goddess saw the light cascading on the elder god. His silvery long hair reflected the light onto the ground.
"Greetings, Aphrodite."
She said, "You got to teach me how to do that, Raiden."
He turns around, "It's one of my many gifts. What can I do for you?" The Thunder God asked as he went to a pair of chairs. He pulled one back, "Please sit."
The blond smiled, "Thanks. I need to ask you something."
Raiden sat down opposite her and said, "Thor contacted me, Aphrodite. He was able to find me after he talked to Hercules. I understand you need the Astral Rod."
She nodded, "I do. I need to find Faith. Hercules is allowing me to help this time, and I want to prove to him and me that I can be of some help."
"You do realize that Zeus will punish you if he ever finds out."
Aphrodite said in a lone tone, "I know. But I need to do this."
He nodded, "Good. The Astral Rod is at the Temple of Shao Khan. With Shao Khan dead from the tournament, it's a good resting place for it. Be warned, Aphrodite. You must do this alone. If you want, I can send you a guide."
"Well…"
"Yes?"
Chapter 10
"Well…"
"Yes?"
She said quietly, "I don't know who's around."
The elder god said, "In Outworld? There's not much. You spoke to Nightwolf. There are the members of the Lin Kuei. Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Ermac and Rain died recently."
The blond showed a confused look, "Didn't Sub-Zero die?"
He said, "The one you're thinking about is the older brother. He died during the last Mortal Kombat tournament. His brother also has the same abilities and skills the elder brother had."
"Oh," she said with realization. "I think I want him for my guide."
The Thunder God nodded, "Very well, Aphrodite. Go to the entrance of the South Tunnel and Sub-Zero will meet you there. He will take you to the Temple of Shao Kahn. There, you will find the Astral Rod." He got out of his chair and walked around it. Hugging his arms around his chest, Raiden said, "I would suggest you also find the gate address. That is the only way Hercules and his friends will be able to rescue their friend. I must say that I am impressed, Aphrodite."
"You are?"
"Hercules has told me about his family. And from the ones that I have met, you are full of surprises. Hercules is certainly fortunate to have you as a sister."
She couldn't help but smile, "Thank you, Raiden."
"You are very welcome. Now, better head out. I'll go get Sub-Zero."
Aphrodite got out her seat and headed for the door, "I wonder if I can melt his coldness and create some steam."
She heard the Thunder God chuckle as she left, "There's always a chance."
*****
"What now?" Buffy asked as she heard a knock coming from her door.
Getting out of bed, she approached the door, and held the knob in her hand. "Who is it?"
"Buffy, it's Sam."
Glancing at the clock, she returned to the door. Opening it, she said, "Morning."
Sam looked at her, "You ready for the meeting?"
Buffy said, "I will. Xander said he'd come by this morning so we could walk down together."
"Good." The captain said with her hands behind her back.
The younger blond looked at her strangely, "What do you have behind your back?"
Sam said, "I thought about what we talked about yesterday. About you having the short life span?"
The mention of the last part of the statement made her stare at the ground, "What about it?"
Noticing her low tone only made Sam regret using that as an opener. "Sorry, about that."
Buffy shrugged, "It's alright. I just have to get used to it. But thanks to my friends, I'm sure I'll survive longer then other slayers."
She smiled, "That's good." Taking her hands from her back, she appeared to holding a weapon of some kind, "Hopefully, this can help too. It's an axe I made out of tritanium."
Handing her the axe, Buffy looked at it. "Tritanium?"
Sam nodded, "It's a very strong metal. I thought you might be able to use it on patrols. "
Buffy grinned, "Thanks, Sam. You didn't have to do that."
"I know." Sam said. "But I wanted to, Buffy. I think its small size will be able to make it easy for use."
The Slayer gave the weapon a quick twirl at the staff. "It feels good. Thanks, Sam."
"No problem," Sam said with a smile, "Just doing my part."
A sudden knock at the door was heard.
"You decent, Buffy?"
Buffy answered, "Come on in, Xand."
Xander opened the door to see the two blonds. "Oh, hi, Captain."
She grinned, "Call me, Sam, Xander."
He nodded, "Not a problem, Sam. You want to come along? I was just taking Buffy down to the Debriefing Room."
"Sure. C'mon."
With that said, the three of them headed down the hall.
*****
"How are we doing, Faith?"
Faith got up from her laying position and stared at her captor, "Just five by five." Faith said with disgust.
"Well," Ninedinna said as she brought the book forward. "This book of mine has certainly gave your uncle some problems. Hasn't it?"
She stood to her feet and walked toward the field that held her. "You ruined his life, you bitch! But, why not take him. Why take me?"
Ninedinna waved her hand and the field dissipated. Walking inside, the system lord walked toward the east wall. "What do you know of this book, Faith? Oh, and don't try to escape. I can kill you where you stand."
She glared at her, "You're bluffing. You need me, you bitch."
Nonedinnna walked to her, "I do need you, Faith. But, I can always use the other Slayer. What's her name? Either way, I can get what I want."
"Xander won't let you touch her." Faith sneered.
"You mean that boy? He's nothing."
Faith snarled, "He can do a lot more than you think."
"I'm sure you're right." Ninedinna agreed. "Tell me," she said changing subjects, "do you know anything about the goa'uld? Or about jaffas?"
"Goa'uld? Jaffa?"
Ninedinna smiled, "Here's also something you might be interested in. It doesn't matter what gender you to become pregnant."
She yelled, "What?"
*****
Aphordite sighed as she leaned against the tunnel wall. She looked up into the sky and looked at the sun.
"Too dark. Wish Apollo had some contacts here." She said with a smirk.
Rubbing her arms to gather some warmth, she said, "I hope this isn't too hard."
"Hello, Aphrodite."
The goddess turned to the greeting, "Hi there, Studmuffin. Like the no mask look."
He grinned, "My brother was the one with the mask."
"About that. Sorry that he died. But that's what happens in Mortal Kombat."
The reformed assassin nodded, "That it does. Raiden tells me you need the Astral Rod."
"I do." Aphrodite stated. "How far is Khan's Temple?"
"Not too far. But we better get going. When we get there, you're going to have to go in yourself. Only people of the divine can handle the rod."
She ran her hand down her long blond hair. "Makes sense."
With that said, the two of them started down the path that was before them.
Glancing at him, she asked, "So anything new?"
He shook his head, "Not much. Just training for future tournaments. Planning to reform the Lin Kuei."
"Good. Hercules would be proud."
Sub-Zero agreed, "He helped me come to that decision. Do you know where Faith is?"
She shook her head, "No, I don't. I don't know where to look."
The member of the Lin Kuei suggested, "You could try Merlin."
The love goddess smiled, "Thanks, Subby."
"Not a problem. C'mon, we better get going."
Chapter 11
SGC
The three of them walked down the hall.
Xander thought back to the room and remembered Buffy holding a weapon. "Hey, Buff?" She looked at him, "What's with the axe? Where'd you'd get it?"
Sam answered for her, "It's an axe that I made for her. It's made from trinium."
He showed a confused look, "Trinium?"
Buffy recalled, "A very strong metal. Sam made it for me after we talked. It was a very thoughtful gift."
Xander agreed, "That it was. So, does anyone know how we're going to deal with this Faith situation. Ash must be feeling the worse of all of us."
Buffy stated, "I'd have to agree. Being her uncle and all. Ash already lost some people. He doesn't want to lose anyone else."
The boy nodded, "Nobody wants to go through that. But, it is part of life."
Sam said, "Definitely. I've lost some people over the years. All my boyfriends died on me."
Xander chimed in, "All mine tried to kill me. Well, except Cordy. But I have a feeling things aren't going to go well with her when we get back."
"If you don't mind me asking, why?"
He answered, "After Buffy ran to LA, I dropped everything and went after her. We've been away from Sunnydale for a month now."
Buffy sighed, "I can't believe it's been a month already."
"It's almost like every night was a Tuesday, huh?"
Sam showed a confused look, "Tuesday night?"
Buffy responded, "It just seems that everything dangerous happens on a Tuesday. It's like the Powers that Be have some weird fetish with Tuesday nights. If it was my choice, I'd have it on Mondays."
As Buffy said that last comment, the three of them opened the door to aready see Kevin, Ash, and the rest of SG-1 sitting inside.
*****
OutWorld
"Not a problem. C'mon, we better get going."
Sub-Zero and Aphrodite walked down the long path. Wind continued to hallow through the air. Branches of trees shifted slightly due to the lack of weight.
The sun that beamed darkly dropped from the horizon as the full moon started to rise. Stars started to puncture the calmness of the night sky. A true tranquil atmosphere erupted and it was only interrupted by the sounds of the wind and the conversation between two mortals.
Now holding a torch, Sub-Zero headed the way down the dirt path. Aphrodite followed shortly by him.
"All you have to do, Aphrodite is walk inside the temple. I cannot follow." Sub-Zero said breaking the silence.
She nodded, "All right. After that, I'll go back to Earthrealm and teleport to Merline, talk to him, go to wherever Faith is, and report back to Hercules."
"Sounds like a plan." Moving his hand forward, the light shined north to the opening of the temple. "This is my stop, Aphrodite. Before you go inside, you must know there will be some obstacles ahead of you. Even though you are mortal within this realm, you should be able to get by. I cannot go inside with you."
"I understand," the goddess said as she glanced at the entrance. "I just hope I can do this."
"I believe you will have some trouble, but that is expected. Good luck, Aphrodite. I will be here when you get back."
With that said, Aphrodite climbed up the steps. Taking a breath, she said to herself, "I can do this."
*****
Ninedinna's Ship
"You heard me, Faith. You don't need to be female to be pregnant. You could also be male."
Her eyes widened, "So you're making my uncle pregnant?"
She chuckled, "Not exactly, Faith."
With her eyes still wide, and her in shock, "You're going to impregnate me?"
Ninedinna walked back to the entrance and through it. With a wave of the hand, she lifted the force field and said to her, "I'll leave you with that thought."
Watching her exit the hall left Faith's mind reeling.
Pregnant.
Pregnant?
She couldn't become pregnant. She was a vampire slayer.
Vampire slayers can't become pregnant, could they?
Sighing to herself, "I don't want to be part of the new sitcom, 'My Two Moms.''
Glancing at the window from behind her, "Where are you guys?"
*****
Shao Khan's Temple
Aphrodite entered the temple. As soon as she stepped on the first stone tile, fire erupted from the torches that descended down the hallway on the walls. Light engulfed the once dark temple.
"I guess I go forward."
She slowly walked down, looking everywhere. Making sure she didn't miss a thing-anything that could help her get the Astral Rod.
Pictures decorated the wall. There was a definite impression from the pyramids of ancient Egypt.
Sighing, 'I wish I knew what they meant." Glancing allover them. "Kinda blocky though."
She continued to walk down the hall. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Where are these so-called obstacles?"
Uttering that question was a mistake, because as soon as she took one step forward, the stone tile began dropping. Immediately, she withdrew her foot, but it was too late.
Soon, more panels started to fall. A hole started to expand, and Aphrodite suddenly fell within it.
"Crap!"
*****
Shao Khans Temple
Aphrodite fell with a thud.
Glancing around her, she couldn't see anything.
Nothing.
Everything was in darkness. She couldn't see if her hand was in front of her face. Total blackness.
"Just great." She said to herself.
Dusting herself off, the goddess asked. "Now what do I do?"
Chapter 12
SGC
As Buffy said that last comment, the three of them opened the door to already see Kevin, Ash, and the rest of SG-1 sitting inside.
"How ya doing, Kid?"
Xander looked up to the scarred man, "Going so so. Faith keeps popping around in my mind though."
He sighed, "Mine too. Mine too. I don't know how to find her."
Xander looked at Hercules with a questioning look. He returned with a shake of the head and a sigh.
Slumping down to an open seat he placed his arms on the table, burying his head face down on top of them. "This isn't fair."
"No it isn't."
He soon felt his back being rubbed. Glancing up, he saw Buffy sitting next to him with a sad smile on her face. "Life isn't fair, Xand. We above all know that. But we will find her."
"Indeed we will, Ms. Summers."
The eight people within room noticed the general walking inside. "Good morning everyone. I hope Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Sorbo found their accommodations suitable. Now that that's said," he sat down in his chair at that moment, and continued, "Do we have any suggestions on how to rescue Ms. Wiliams. Either that, or anyway to contact and defeat Ninedinna."
Daniel spoke up, "According to Babylonian Mythology, Ninedinna was a goddess that created the books of the dead. Necronomicon Ex Mortis itself means 'Book of the Dead.' What we have to do is find someway to get to Faith. Get back the book and come back here."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Thanks for the recap, Daniel."
The former promised one looked at the young teenagers, "Could Lorne or Wesley know something?"
Xander sighed, "Doubt it. No one else knows about the goa'uld."
Then something hit him, "Kid, recently we fought vampires, deadites, saw an alien, met and fought a the demonic version of my niece."
"What's your point, Ash?" Buffy asked.
"My point is, if all this stuff is true. What are the chances that witches exist too? Or wizards? You yourself, Xander admitted there Willow was training to become a with. Couldn't they cast a spell and find Faith? We find where Faith is and Thor could teleport us there."
Xander looked at Ash, "I can't believe I never thought of that, Ash."
He grinned, "So who do we contact?"
Sam said, "We recently found out vampires existed partly because Daniel made a connection between them and the book Dracula. Any famous wizards out there that could help?"
Hercules immediately thought of someone. (Merlin.)
He was about to bring that up when he realized something, (Aphrodite is probably on her way there.) Then he remembered something. "Hey, Xander. Didn't you say that you were linked to Buffy and Faith?"
Buffy looked at her friend, "We're linked? Why didn't you tell me that before?"
He got up immediately and backed a few steps away. "That was a theory Giles had."
Ash said, "It was his theory that supported us to believe Faith coming to slayer status. You told us that he said there was supposed to be a person who would be close to the two slayers and be able to keep an eye out for them. Someone who the Powers that Be wanted as a protector of the two. If vampire slayers got visions, as well as Doyle. Couldn't you get some kind of vision in saying where to find Faith."
"That's a big what if." Sam said.
Jack asked, "Maybe Teal'c could help. He mediates. What do you call it, Teal'c?"
He said, "Kel'no'reem."
The colonel nodded, "Right. Kel'no'reem. He could help Xander meditate so we can figure out where Faith's location is."
Xander showed a confused look, "What?"
A pause was released.
"I don't even remember having any kind of dreams. I'm joe normal. The normal one of the group."
Ash said, "I got news for you, kid. Our so-called Scrappy Gang back in LA is all made up of normal people and that never stopped us before. Besides, I remember reading at one point that all people only used what was it, four percent of their brain? Couldn't the other ninety-six percent be used for telekinesis or something? Give it a try kid. This is Faith we're talking about."
Xander looked at his friend and saw his eyes pleading. "Alright, Ash. I'll give it a go."
*****
Aphrodite looked around her, trying to see any kind of light, anything that could help her see where she was.
Nothing.
There was nothing to help her.
"This is just great!" She yelled aloud.
Shaking her head, she said to herself, "Get a grip, girl. This is nothing you can't handle. You're a goddess. You're the goddess of love! Finding a way out of here should be a piece of cake."
Realizing what she said, "But I'm mortal now!"
"Dammit. I need help!"
Screaming into the void above her, "Raiden!"
Nothing.
"Sub-Zero!"
Again, nothing.
"Hercules!"
Starting to cry, she said to herself, "I'm in Outworld. I'm all alone!"
Falling to the ground, she crumbled and started to weep openly.
"I can't do this. I can't."
"What in Taraterus am I supposed to do?"
Getting up to her feet, she pulled her hair back. "No matter how much I don't like to admit it. I'm always alone!"
Trying to dry her eyes, she glanced forward, "Gods don't mix well with mortals. We just screw with their minds, and get them pregnant."
Shaking her head, "I already had some children with mortals."
"Dion…"
Sighing to herself, "He's dead now."
"I'm always alone!"
"Why did I volunteer to help?!"
Realizing the truth, she said to herself, "Because Hercules and Xander need me. Because Faith needs me. Because I need to prove myself to them and me. There's a lot more to being the goddess of love. There has to be."
A smile crossing her lips, "I needed that. Now…"
Looking all around her.
"How do I get out of here?"
Chapter 13
SGC
The former Promised One smiled his thanks as the Jaffa stated, "Kel'no'reem is a meditation technique I use, Xander. It requires much focus and time . We must be incomplete solitude for it to work properly. Since this is your first time, it will take some training before you can fully experience the whole effect of kel'no'reem. That means no interruption."
Xander took all that information in, "So, basically I get to kiss all my social time goodbye."
Teal'c nodded, "Indeed. However, it will be most beneficial in our search for Faith Williams and Ninedinna."
He glanced around the room and seeing all his friends giving him appreciated looks only made him decide to follow through with Teal'c's method. "I understand, Teal'c."
George addressed, "To make this move faster, I will clear Teal'c from all SG-1 missions until Mr. Harris receives the information we need."
"Thank you, General Hammond." Teal'c said. "I suggest we start immediately."
Hercules asked, "Can I talk to Xander privately for a moment? I need to ask him something about the connection he has with Faith and Buffy."
Buffy questioned, "What is this so-called connection, Xander? Why haven't I heard about it before?"
Xander answered, "It's like this, Buff. After I had dinner with Ash and Faith…"
She listened to his tale as well as the rest of SG-1.
"So, since I wasn't at my full slayer capability, and Faith wasn't ready to be called, the Powers that Be chose someone that was close to us, that person being you, and decided to make you our babysitter."
He chuckled, "Well not babysitter, Buffy. More like Mini-Watcher. Only I don't have the tweed outfit, British accent, or advanced demon knowledge. Y'know what? Just think of me as your best friend who always has your back."
"Oh," she said with realization, "so basically nothing's changed."
He grinned, "Exactly."
Hammond addressed the group, "I think this meeting is over. As for Mr. Sorbo's request to talk to Mr. Harris in private, I don't have a problem with that. Keep in mind guards are stationed outside this room at all times. With that said, meeting adjourned."
"General Hammond?"
George looked at the short blond, "Yes, Ms. Summers?"
"Where's the mess hall? I didn't get a chance to eat breakfast yet."
Xander turned to her, "How 'bout this, Buffy? After Kevin talks to me, I'll go down to your room, pick you up. We'll eat breakfast. Then I'll meet Teal'c for Kell 'no' reem." He turned to Teal'c, "is that alright?"
"I do not have a problem with that, Xander. The guards will direct you after."
"Good." Xander said with a grin.
"You're dismissed."
Hercules and Xander watched their friends leave the room. Closing the door behind them, the demigod noticed the security camera.
Giving a clap, the camera shut off.
"Good thing I came in here last night, huh?"
"What?"
"After we left for our rooms, I came by the debriefing room and placed a replaying loop that was set for after I gave a clap. Working at a television show has it advantages."
He grinned, "I see that."
Giving a moment's pause, he questioned, "So, what do you want to ask me?"
*****
Shao Khan's Temple
Looking all around her.
"How do I get out of here?"
Looking around the room, she tried to see any source of light. Unfortunately there was none.
"Think, girl. How can I get out of here?"
Her mind began to wonder as to how to figure out this problem. She needed some sort of light, some thing that would make all this darkness seem to fade away-or at least to temporarily shrink the void of nothingness.
Her mind kept bringing in what Sub-Zero told her. He told her that only the beings of the divine could handle the rod. Even though she was mortal in this realm, she still had her blood, the blood of the gods. Changing blood couldn't happen if a god entered another realm-any realm, like Outworld.
So that meant, even though she was mortal now, she still had some godliness within her. Maybe there was something she could use. Now, how could she use her godhood within this problem?
All gods and goddesses of love had something other deities didn't. Aphrodite had something Ares, Zeus, Hera, and even Apollo didn't have. She had the closest thing to a human soul. True, marriage and conflict are human characteristics like love, but there is one difference. While all can deal with the human soul, love is eternal. Marriage could end and conflict can be resolved. Sure, people fall out of love, but love doesn't always have to of the romantic type. It could also be part of the platonic. There is always some form of love within a human being. It's one of the strongest emotions, and that made her only more empathetic to humans.
And within a soul, there was always her inner light.
Her inner light?
Light!
As soon as she had that thought, light erupted within the room.
A smile crossed her lips, "Just as one god said, 'Let there be light."
Spying a door at the end of the room, Aphrodite started to walk towards it. The Astral Rod was within her grasp, she knew it.
"Don't worry, Faith. Aunt 'Dite is on her way."
Chapter 14
SGC
He grinned, "I see that."
Giving a moment's pause, he questioned, "So, what do you want to ask me?"
Hercules sat down in his previously used chair and said, "Well, I think Aphrodite is taking longer then we hoped. I was hoping that using Teal'c's Kel'no'reem would buy us some time for her to finish up."
He nodded slowly, "So you want me to stall?"
The demigod answered, "Exactly. I don't know how long Kel'no'reem will take, but it gives Aphrodite some time to find out where Faith is. She tells us, and then you tell Teal'c and the others saying that you got the answer in your meditation. That way, it seems like you did the work and all work done by Aphrodite would never of happened."
The boy said, "Makes sense."
Xander looked up at the clock and then back at his friend, "I got to go catch up with Buffy. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
The son of Zeus replied, "We're good. Might want to go. Have a good breakfast."
The young man smiled his thanks and exited the room.
*****
"Don't worry, Faith. Aunt 'Dite is on her way."
Aphrodite walked out of the big spacious white room and into another. She looked around, and it was a lot smaller then the previous one.
In the middle of the room was a small column lined in cobblestone. The top and bottom were built with limestone. On the top was a gold cradle that had a hole on the top of it. Through the hole was the Astral Rod. A beam of white light suspended from the top of the room. It shined down on the top of the rod.
The Astral Rod itself was only four inches tall, but it was made of trinium. It wasn't the usual white material that it normally was found in. It was a silvery triunium-a much more durable version. The ends of the rod were colored in brown. A yellow two-inch point grew from the top of the rod.
Taking a breath, the goddess approached the center of the room. She successfully got passed of spacious pitch black void that was the previous room, and now she was close to her goal.
Her hand reached for the rod, but paused before it reached it. This was a little too easy. She knew only the divine could handle the rod, and she already proved that she was of the divine or else she wouldn't of even passed the first room.
So, she shook her head to clear her thoughts of precaution, and placed her hand on the rod. Lifting up the rod, her other hand grabbed the top of it and she did a quick flip of the wrist allowing her hand to grab the middle of the rod.
"Flawless victory." A booming voice sounded as a door appeared.
A figure walked into the room as the words were spoken.
A smile crossed her lips, "Raiden?"
The Thunder God said with a grin, "I always wanted to say that. Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you, Aphrodite. You successfully acquired the Astral Rod. Now, I must warn you, Zeus isn't going to like you using that Ancient Artifact."
She nodded, "I know, Raiden. But, I needed to do this for myself. Had a little trouble back there in the other room."
"I would suspect so. That room is designed to provide the inner fear of everyone who enters it. With you, it was the isolation, the fear of being alone. But, as soon as you realized that your inner light was needed, the room opened up for you to see. Aphrodite, you have a beautiful inner light, and people are lucky to have a goddess like you, but don't be afraid to let people in.
"Being a god is a big responsibility. People rely on you for answers to their problems. In your case, people come to you who seek guidance in love. But, don't be afraid to let people see that there is more to you. You yourself proved that there is much more to you then just being the goddess of love. You already shown Hephaestus how beautiful you can be, both inside and out. Now, spread that lesson to others, and you'll only be happier with the outcome."
She couldn't help the grin appearing on her face, her eyes were getting a little moist, "Thank you, Raiden."
He grinned, "You are very welcome, Aphrodite. Now, go to the portal to Earthrealm and continue on your journey. Tell Hercules that he has one bueatiful sister, and to you, Aphrodite. If anything fails in the future, remember you have friends in Outworld."
"I won't forget, Raiden. Thank you."
That being said, she left Khan's temple and headed for the portal. The next stop already in mind. "I'm on my way, Merlin."
*****
"You ready, Buffy?" Xander asked as she opened the door for him.
She nodded, "I'm ready, Xander. C'mon, I'm hungry."
Buffy closed the door as they left the threshold. The two friends walked down the hallway toward the Mess Hall.
"What Kevin want to talk to you about?" Buffy asked him.
He replied, "Just wanted my imput on something. No big."
She showed a confused look, "Nothing?"
Xander sighed, "Alright, alright, Buff. He wanted to ask me if I wanted a guest spot on his show."
"And he couldn't ask you in front of us?" Buffy asked with bewilderment.
He chuckled, "Buffy, think about it. You ask someone to be on your show in front of everyone, everyone is going to ask if they could be on the show too."
Satisfied with his answer, his friend sated, "Good point."
When they entered the Mess Hall, they found the tables to be packed. They located Ash and Daniel sitting down by the far right.
"These seats taken?" Buffy asked as she and Xander approached them.
"Not at all," Daniel said with a grin. "Ash was just filling me in on some of his Necronomicon adventures."
Xander said, "We're just going to get some breakfast. We'll be right back."
The archeologist nodded, "Take your time."
Watching them leave, Daniel asked, "I find it interesting that you had to say, 'Clactu Veracta Nikto.'"
Ash showed a confused look, "How so?"
Daniel took a bite of scrambled eggs, "Because, Ash. Those words were used in the movie, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still."
"Weird," Was the scarred man's reply. "Were those the exact words?"
"I believe so, Ash." Daniel recapped.
"Weird," Ash repeated.
Ash took his fork with his gauntlet handed hand and took a piece of sausage. He looked at it strangely, "I hope this doesn't taste like rubber."
Daniel told him, "The food here isn't that bad, Ash. At least, I don't think so."
"Comforting." Ash said, "comforting."
He took a bite, and chewed slowly. Deciding it wasn't so bad, he swallowed it, and said, "It's not too bad."
Daniel grinned, "Good. Better watch for the ham though."
He choked briefly his ham, "What?"
Daniel chuckled, "Nevermind. It was a joke."
Ash smiled slightly, "Hardy har har."
"What's so funny?" Buffy asked as she sat down with her tray.
Xander did the same thing, and immediately went for the fork. He grabbed a piece of pancake, and shoved it in his mouth.
Buffy gave him a look.
"What? I'm hungry." Xander said honestly as he swallowed his piece.
"So, Buffy, how do you like the SGC so far?" Daniel asked.
She responded, "It's pretty big. But I'm handling myself pretty well. Sam gave me an axe for patrolling."
Daniel smiled, "Sam's good like that. She's a good friend to have." He said as he took a sip of his coffee. "I hear you met Admiral Calavicci last night."
Xander nodded, "Yeah, I did. Kevin and I were here having a snack when we met him. Nice guy."
Daniel stated, "He comes by when he can. A few years ago he started a project that dealt with quantum physics."
Buffy said, "That's something that Willow would like to do."
"That's our Wills for you. Her head's always stuck in a book." Xander summed up.
Changing the subject, Daniel asked, "So what's Sunnydale like?"
The Slayer answered honestly. "A small town that's built on top of a Hellmouth."
The archeologist remembered his previous research session with Sam, "Right, 'Boca Del Inferno.' Sam and were trying to find you and information about you. When we found out that you went to Hermery, we met one of your old teachers, Mrs. Kapowski-Morris."
Buffy commented, "She was my social studies teacher. Had a thing for giving stickers with smiley faces on her graded assignments. Her husband was cute."
Xander grinned slightly, "Cuter than me?"
She shook her head, "No, not really. He was your basic surfer dude type. Tall. Blond. Mrs. Kepowskil-Morris talked about his schemes he did in high school. Would've made a good Scooby Gang member. But, as for your question, I think you would win in the cute department."
Daniel asked in a quiet voice to Ash, "Are they always like that."
Buffy glared at him, "Are we always like what?"
He shrugged and answered honestly, "Together. You seem to always be talking about trivial things."
Xander said in his defense, "We are teenagers, and we do go to school. Weren't you like that in high school."
He shook his head, "No not really. Never had a full high school experience. I kept moving around and being placed in foster care."
"Oh," Buffy said in realization. "Sorry about that."
"Yeah," Ash agreed, "That's gotta be rough."
Daniel said, "Don't worry about it. I made my peace with it years ago."
"That's the important thing," Xander summed up for them. He glanced up at the clock, "I hate to do this, but I gotta go meet Teal'c." He got out of his seat, "I'll meet up with you guys later."
Buffy grinned, "Have fun."
With that said, Xander took his tray and headed toward the exit.
The blond watched him go, and sighed to herself. She didn't know what to do now. Turning back to Ash and Daniel, and asked, "So, how strong are these goa'uld?"
Chapter 15
Portal Cave
Aphrodite walked out of the portal that came from Outworld. Immediately, she felt a power surge go through her and golden sparks shot into the air briefly. She squealed to herself, "I'm a goddess again." Aphrodite said with pure joy.
Bringing her right hand to her face, she smiled as she saw the Astral Rod. "Can't wait to tell Hercules." She said to herself.
Now, her next goal was to contact Merlin. The last time anyone of her family saw him was back when Hercules taught Author the true ways of a king.
But now, Merlin wasn't in London. Rumor had it he was in Avalon.
Glancing down at the rod again, she knew she had to do this. Taking a deep breath, she teleported away from the portal room to Avalon.
*****
Teal'c's Room
Teal'c sat down in the center of his room with his eyes closed.
He heard a sudden knock.
Not moving from his Indian style position, he said, "Come in."
The door opened slightly at first, and then fully. "You ready, Teal'c?"
The Jaffa nodded, "Indeed, Xander. " He got up, opened his eyes, and turned around. "Kell'no'reem is a method of meditation that usually maintains work with my symbiot."
Xander nodded carefully, "Symbiot?"
Teal'c raised his shirt up to reveal an 'X' in the middle of his chest. It opened slightly, and out came the goa'uld. "This is my symbiot."
The boy's eyes widened, "Woah."
The goa'uld went back into its pouch as Teal'c lowered his shirt, "Yes. Kel'no'reem may be used for my symbiot, but it can also allow people to meditate and focus on the situation at hand."
"Uh huh."
He grinned, "In order to work this properly, I feel we must go through some exercises."
"Right." Xander said to get things moving. "What do I have to do?"
Teal'c said, "You need to clear your mind, and allow your sub-conscious to come forward. Breath slowly and systematically. Normally, I use Kell'No'Reem to help heal myself and my symbiot. But do to Faith Williams' circumstances and your connection to her, Kell'No'Reem will prove beneficial to you."
He approached him, "So, again I repeat. What do I have to do?"
Teal'c suggested, "I propose you sit down and close your eyes."
Xander asked, "Right here? On the floor? Couldn't I use a chair or something?"
The Jaffa replied, "Sitting on the floor is what I find useful. Sometimes I use a chair."
The Californian turned around and spotted a spare chair. Grabbing it, he brought it forward. Sitting down, he looked at his new friend. "Just close my eyes?"
Teal'c answered, "To begin with that is. Close your eyes, and take a deep breath."
Xander obeyed.
"Release it, and continue to breath in that manner. Now, imagine yourself somewhere calm. Somewhere you know that would put you at ease."
His mind began to wander on where he'd be most peaceful with. He thought about the beach. Nah. Too cliché. He then thought of an open meadow. The kind with the tall grass and open air. "Allow yourself to drift, Xander. Forget about this room, this base, and imagine yourself in a place where you're most relaxed."
He walked down the meadow that he was in and spotted a bed in the center of it. Allowing his fingers to feel the blades of grass, he walked to the bed. The soft wind hallowed briefly as he reached bed. He could feel the cushioned sheets under his palm as he bent down to inspect it.
Sitting down on the comforter, he swung his legs on to the bed. His feet reaching the end of the bed. Lying his head down on the pillow, his hands rested underneath his head as they crossed one another.
Looking into the sky, he could feel his eyes starting to get heavy.
"Where are you?"
Xander calmly replied, "In a bed, in a meadow."
"Do you see anything?"
"No. My eyes are closed."
"Good. Now, imagine yourself being protected and without fear. Place yourself in your that would put you at a state of bliss."
Soon, he felt a pair of arms wrapped around his chest. He felt someone kiss the side of his neck and hear soothing words from a feminine voice.
"Allow your dreams to resurface." The voice suggested.
He couldn't help the smile that crept on his face, "I don't remember my dreams."
"Try." The voice said again.
"I don't remember anything." Xander admitted.
Her hands caressed his forehead. She began to message it. "Please try. For me."
He sighed, "I can't remember anything."
"That's alright." The voice stated. "Just relax. Forget about the whole world. Just focus on my voice and the way you feel right now."
He grinned further when he felt his forehead being kissed. "Relax…"
"Relax…"
*****
Avalon
A fist collided across her chest as she came back from turning around. Her tail swung forward as she pushed the body away from her.
He landed on the ground, but quickly got back to his feet. "Nice moves, Ophelia."
She returned with a smile as she shot a roundhouse across her opponent's chest. Then came back with another roundhouse.
He staggered a few feet back, opened his wings wide trying to use them for balance, but it failed and he fell on the ground again. She offered him her hand.
He allowed her to help him up. "You have been practicing."
Ophelia nodded as her mate got to his feet. "I learn from the best." She closed the distance between her and him. As she got into his personal space, he wrapped his wings around her. He lifted his hand and caressed her hair.
"That you do." He said with a smile.
Her eyes were closed, and relished from his touch. His talons ran through her hair with such passion. "You want to do some more training?"
Ophelia shook her head, "I'm good. I'd like to stay right here."
He grinned, "I don't have a problem with that at all."
A sudden squeal could be heard. "You two are so perfect for each other."
The two enclosed fighters turned to face the new presence. "Hello, Aphrodite." They both said.
"Hi Gabriel. Hi Ophelia." The love goddess greeted. "How are you?"
Gabriel grinned, "We're good. You just came in during our training session."
Gabriel released his wings around Ophelia as he turned to face the goddess. "What brings you here?"
"I need to talk to Merlin. It's important."
Ophelia sighed from the loss of contact as she looked at the blond. "What do you need to ask him?"
The love goddess said, "I just came from Outworld and got the Astral Rod. I need Merlin to cast a spell so we can find someone. Hercules is waiting for me."
"Isn't Merlin in his study?" Ophelia asked her mate.
He nodded, "I believe so, Ophelia. I'll take Aphrodite to him." Gabriel said.
She ginned, "Tubular. You know, you two gargoyles are always willing to help me out."
Ophelia smiled, "You did help us come together, Aphrodite."
Chapter 16
Ninedinna's Ship
"We are approaching Haploxia, Goddess Ninedinna." Her first prime jaffa said as the planet came into view from the window.
"Excellent." She said with a smile. "I'm going to go see how Faith is doing, K'nic. Then we'll get my plan in motion."
*****
Avalon
She smiled, "And aren't you glad I did? Before you, Ophelia, Gabriel was dealing with some real Angela withdrawal problems."
He said, "She is our rookery sister, Aphrodite." Gabriel said.
"Even so, you were messed up, Sweet cheeks. Admit it." Aphrodite told him.
Gabriel sighed, "Indeed. At least Angela is with Goliath and finding out more about herself."
"Tubular." The goddess said with a grin, "Now Studmuffin, how 'bout we go meet up with Merlin. I hate to stop this conversation, but I really need to get back to Hercules. Him and his new friend are waiting for me."
"Very well," Gabriel said. Facing his mate again, he said as he caressed her hair, "I will only be a short while."
Ophelia said, "Hurry back, my love."
Then Gabriel and Aphrodite headed out of the room leaving a very happy gargoyle.
*****
Teal'c's Room
Xander opened his eyes within a few seconds. His eyes were blurry at first, but when it passed he was staring right into the eyes of Teal'c.
"Wow."
He paused momentarily.
"That was intense."
Teal'c nodded, "Kell'no'reem has the effect, Xander. Did you gather any information from your dreams?"
He sighed, "No, I didn't."
"That is alright. Perhaps next time you will have better luck. Kell'no'reem does not work all the time at first. What you went through was just a way to get your mind at ease when put in that relaxed state."
The boy showed a confused look, "Who was that voice I kept hearing. At first it was you, and then it was someone else?"
"I do not have control of who you see or hear in your Kell'no'reem sessions, but I believe it was someone you hold dear to you."
"Uh huh." Xander said in realization.
Teal'c said, "We shall try again tomorrow. Your mind has been through a lot today, and trying to do another session so soon will only make you more stressful and agitated. It is also damaging to a new person to perform an ancient style of meditation right after you did one previously."
"So tomorrow after breakfast?" He glanced at the clock for the first time, "it's already 4:00?"
The Jaffa nodded, "Kell'no'reem takes many hours to go through, Xander. It is a long progress, and must be treated with respect and honor. Disrupting the natural process is not a good idea."
Xander got back to his feet, "So what do I do till then? I'm pretty much stuck here at the SGC. I can't just go outside or anything."
Teal'c stood up as well, "You might want to try talking to Colonel O'Neill. Perhaps he can help you learn to fire a gun more efficiently."
He chuckled, "Or perhaps I could teach him a few things."
*****
Avalon
Gabriel and Aphrodite walked down the corridor toward Merlin's steady.
"There's something different about you, Aphrodite."
The goddess looked at her friend, "There is?"
The gargoyle nodded, "Indeed. You seem to be more happy."
She smiled, "Let's just say I finally did something productive and it didn't screw up."
He grinned, "Not screwing up would make you feel better."
Aphrodite nodded, "Yeah, and it's not like the time I made Joxer into a sexy swordsman. Not one of my better moments. That, or how I gave Ioulas the golden apple."
Gabriel looked at her, "You tried to help, Aphrodite. That is worth commending."
"Totally, Gabriel. Glad you think that."
"Well, I do." Gabriel said with a smile, "and how are things with my name sake?"
"You mean Gabrielle?" Aphrodite asked and he answered with a head nod. "She's good. Oh, I forgot to tell you. She finally came back to Earth!"
Ophelia's mate remarked, "That's good. So, I guess that means Joxer awoke too?"
She nodded, "He did. But it wasn't because of her returning. It was because the Necronomicon brought him back. And now the book is somewhere up there." The blond said pointing to the sky. "And now I have to talk to Merlin."
Gabriel looked up into the sky, "He's there." He pointed to the tower, "In that room. Teleport there and I'll glide over. We'll talk to Merlin together."
"Tubular." Aphrodite said with a grin. "First one there has to be Oberon's slave for 2 years."
"No fair!" Gabriel said to her, but before she could reply, she was already gone. Gabriel snorted, "Not going to happen." He then ran down the corridor which lead to a balcony. Climbing onto the railing, he jumped into the air. Within seconds, his wings expanded to their full span. Wind caught within them and he glided to the tower.
Reaching the tower, his right talon grabbed hold of the wall. Planting his left talon above it, he started to climb up the tower. His wings folded to his body as he continued to climb.
Nearing the window, he placed his right claw on the window ledge. He quickly placed his foot on the ledge. The other leg followed suit as he climbed inside. Seeing Aphrodite already inside, he said to her, "We never shook on it, Aphrodite. Deal's off."
*****
Merlin paced around his room with a book in his hands.
"No no no. This won't do." The sorcerer said with a sigh.
"Arthur's still traveling around the world with Griff." Merlin said as he plopped the book down at his desk.
He looked at the text that he had been reading for the past ten minutes. This wouldn't do, he knew.
"Hi there!"
Shocked, Merlin spun around to look at the sudden appearance of golden sparks.
"Who are you?" The wizard asked in surprise.
The love goddess approached him, "My name's Aphrodite. I believe you know my brother, Hercules."
He scratched the back of his head, "Hercules?"
She nodded, "Yeah, you sent Arthur to him centuries ago."
He snapped his fingers, "Right. Hercules. How is my friend?"
Aphrodite smiled, "He's good. He's keeping busy in California. Anyway, I need your help."
It suddenly hit him, "You're Aphrodite? As in the goddess of love?"
"Exactly, Studmuffin. I need a favor."
"We never shook on it, Aphrodite. Deal's off."
The two of them looked to the window as they saw a familiar gargoyle climbing inside.
She grinned, "Took you long enough, Gabriel."
He sighed, "I can't just teleport, Aphrodite. I had to glide over here and then climb."
"You two know each other?" Merlin asked.
She nodded, "I do. I'm the one that got Ophelia and Gabriel together, Merlin. I'm surprised he never told you."
He chuckled, "Well, I'm usually in here. I don't spend too much time outside the castle nowadays."
"We're always trying to get him outside of this room." Gabriel said to his friend.
"I find the outside world to be too distracting nowadays." Merlin said. "I want this room to be ready when Arthur and Griff return. And you know how the boats work. They don't let the person return until their missions are succeeded."
Aphrodite nodded, "Right." Placing her hand into her pocket, she quickly retrieved the artifact that she was holding. "I need your help, Merlin. I need you to cast a spell."
He showed a confused look, "What kind of spell?"
Gabriel said, "Locator spell if I am correct."
"Yeah, Hercules sent me to get the Astral Rod. I need your help to find a friend of his. She's somewhere on another planet. I need you to cast a spell to find her. Then I got to go their to get the gate address."
"Ah, I see." The wizard said as he went to the bookshelf by the north wall. Turning back to the goddess, "seeing as you're a sister to Hercules, I'm willing to help. Finding your friend is going to be more specific. What do I need to know about her?"
She showed a confused look, "Know about her?"
He nodded, "I need a description. I need something to go by when I cast the spell."
"Gotcha, Studmuffin. Faith is a vampire slayer, Merlin. She was taken by a goa'uld. That's why I got the Astral Rod so I can find her."
Merlin nodded, "You do realize that I'm going to have to call upon powers for help. Casting for a vampire slayer will make it more stressful on the powers I have to envoke."
Gabriel asked, "What kind of powers?"
Chapter 17
Merlin's Chamber
Merlin addressed his gargoyle friend, "Well, seeing as Faith is a vampire slayer, I'm going to have call forth the dark powers." Turning to the goddess next to him, "and I'm going to need something Faith owns. Something that the magic can connect with."
She showed a confused look, "Where am I going to find something like that?"
Gabriel reminded her, "What about her home? Just teleport there while Merlin gets the ingredients for the spell."
The sorcerer nodded, "That would be best, Aphrodite. I have to get the spell in one of my books. It will only take a short time to get ready, and by the time you get back with a personal object that Faith owns, the spell will be ready."
The blond goddess squealed, "Tubular. I'll be right back."
With that said, Aphrodite disappeared.
*****
Haploxia
The Event Horizon cleared as Ninedinna, a number of Jaffas, and Faith exited the Stargate.
Faith was unconscious hanging suspended from a strong staff. Her hands and feet were bounded together, forcing her to hang underneath with her head lolling back, and her hair hanging down.
The staff was carried by two Jaffa
Ninedinna and her jaffa carried the unconscious slayer down the ramp that was just in front of the Stargate to the dirt path that had been walked over a million times before.
They walked in their usual formation and headed to Ninedinna's temple, and to the destined room where Ninedinna's plan was going to take action.
Now, all she needed to was to find the correct ritual in the Necronomicon, and then finally make the chosen one, a prime jaffa. She grinned thinking, nobody would ever be able to cross her.
*****
Faith's Room
Aphrodite appeared with a ton of golden sparks as usual. She had to wait a good fifteen minutes to appear. The reason being that the room was occupied with a bald black man and a British man who were busy trying not to talk about Faith.
Giving the room a once look over, she noticed how bland it looked. There was really no personality to the room. No posters, no designer curtains, or anything truly fashionable. It just seemed ordinary.
"This place needs some real help." She said rolling her eyes. "When Hercules rescues you, you're going to have a long talk with your Aunt Dite about giving a room personality."
Seeing a desk by the right window, she decided that was the best place to look for something personal. She knew it was invading Faith's privacy, but it was necessary. Especially because it was the only way for them to find her.
Opening up a drawer, she noticed the usual material mortals had in their desks. Letting out a sigh, she closed the drawer carefully and quietly.
Going to the next drawer underneath, she pulled it out and shifted through it. "What can I use?"
She started searching through the drawer, and didn't realize she opened up a book that was inside.
Picking it up, she started to read the page. A wicked grin appeared on her face as she realized what she picked up, "Looks like this slayer has a diary. How cute."
Reading further, she said something with a shrug, "Figures baby bro would give her an autograph." Seeing how time was of the most evident, she placed the book back in the drawer and closed.
Giving the room another look over, she noticed a mirror by the other wall. Running her hand through her long blond hair, she said, "Even though I've been through Tartarus, I still look great."
Walking over to the mirror, she found a hair brush lying atop the nightstand. Picking it up, she said, "Girl has a bad case of split ends."
She was about to put it down when she realized something, "This'll work."
Making sure the room looked like nothing disturbed it, she disappeared with the brush with Avalon in mind.
*****
Xander's SGC Room
Xander slumped onto his bed with a sigh. It had been a long time since his departure from Sunnydale. It had been an incredible experience. Finding out many new things about him, Buffy, and creating amazing friendships.
One thing that he could conclude is that his life would no longer just fighting the good fight in Sunnydale, now it also included Los Angeles, Cheyenne, Colorado, and outer space itself.
Life was throwing something at him every day, and now it only seemed more dangerous and lethal.
A sudden knock was heard on his door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal one man who he felt could understand.
"Hiya, kiddo."
He grinned, "Hey, Ash."
Xander looked up at the scarred man and said, "C'mon in."
The former Promised One nodded as he walked inside and closed the door. "How'd your session go?"
The young man sat up on his bed, "It went alright, I suppose. Never really had an experience like that before. Well, at least I don't think I did."
Ash sat down next to him, "Good." Turning to face him, he said, "I want to thank you, Xander. You're really helping me out here."
He grinned, "Not a problem, Ash. Faith and I are good friends. I'd do anything for her to help her."
The clerk nodded, "And she'd do anything to help you."
"She did, Ash. She helped me find Buffy."
Ash responded, "We all did that. You, me, her, Kevin, Wes, and Gunn. We created a family. Adding Buffy was easy enough and we all love her."
He looked at him, "And Tim and Gabrielle?"
Ash shrugged, "Tim's alright. As for Gabrielle, I'm getting there. But, there's something strange about them."
Xander asked, "Other than her being a vampire?"
He chuckled, "Yeah, other than that. But when I look at them and Kevin, I get this feeling I know them from somewhere. It's like the four of us did something together."
The young man stated, "Well, life is weird. People who never met me before could've sworn they saw me in Halloween H20."
The former Promised One look at him, "I guess I can see that. But this is different. This isn't simple confusion, this is actually knowing people I never met before."
Xander didn't know how to react to Ash's comment. Hercules did tell him that Ash had the reincarnated soul of Autolycus. He needed something to distract Ash, something that would move onto a new subject.
Lucky for him, the a knock was sounded from the door.
Xander looked at Ash who replied with a shrug. Not seeing a problem, he said, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal the colonel of SG-1.
"Hey, Jack." Ash greeted.
Jack nodded, "Listen, since you two are pretty much stuck here, I thought you might want to go get some dinner."
Ash sighed as he got to his feet, "I guess we could go to the Mess Hall."
The colonel said, "Actually, I thought we'd go to O'Malley's. They have this killer 24 oz stake. Very good. I highly recommend it."
The man from Los Angeles grinned, "I can go for some stake."
Xander nodded, "I could too, but what about Buffy and Kevin?"
Jack answered, "Well, it seems Carter and Buffy went out. Kevin couldn't go out because he had some phone calls to make. But he said you wouldn't have to worry about it."
The boy nodded, "Oh, alright. I guess I can go for some stake."
O'Neill nodded, "Great. Let's get going."
*****
Avalon
Merlin and Gabriel watched the blond goddess teleport away.
"Now," Merlin began has he surveyed the bookshelf in front of him, "with Aphrodite searching for a personal object, we're going to have to find a spell that would locate her friend."
The gargoyle nodded, "Sounds like a plan." He then looked at the room around him, and said to the wizard, "You sure do have a lot of books, Merlin."
He chuckled, "Well, yes, I do suppose I do have a lot of books." Merlin then turned to his friend, "All part of being a sorcerer."
He then walked closer to the bookshelf, "The spell we need is in this book, I believe."
The gargoyle asked, "Which one?"
Merlin said with sheepishly, "It's on the top row. The blue one." He then headed for a ladder that was by the far wall.
Rolling it back to the shelf, he saw Gabriel holding the book in his hands. "I see you got it already."
Gabriel nodded, "You forget, friend. You spend too much time in this room, that you forget that you have friends that can help you."
The sorcerer remarked, "Very good point, Gabriel. Now," he said took the book that the gargoyle was holding and walked over to his desk, he opened it. Placing his hands palm faced down, Merlin closed his eyes and chanted a spell. As soon as he finished, the pages of the book flew from cover to cover.
The pages stopped when the desired spell was found.
"You got to teach me that spell, Merlin."
The wizard smirked, "An easy spell to learn, my friend. Now." He said as he returned to the book, "I need to read this spell, get the ingredients, include Faith's personal object, and finally we can perform the spell."
"Well, get the ingredients, Sweetcheeks. I got the personal object."
The two were suddenly greeted by the blond love goddess.
Chapter 18
O'Malley's
The three men walked into the restaurant and could see that it was quite busy. It was Friday night so that had something to do with it.
Ash looked at the sign that read, 'Please wait to be seated.' Glancing at his friends, he said, "I wonder how long a wait it's going to be."
Jack grinned, "Shouldn't be that long. Had Carter make reservations for us."
Xander looked at him, "And she didn't mind that she wasn't invited?"
He shrugged, "Thought about asking her, but she already said she had something planned with Buffy. So, I thought if the girls were doing something, maybe the guys night out on the town."
The scarred man asked with a grin, "And you didn't think to invite Murray and Danny Boy?"
Jack looked at them, "Well, there's only so much you can take. Daniel would probably wind up talking about some archeology or supernatural mumbo-jumbo, and Murray would be asking questions about things he hasn't quite understood yet."
Xander returned with, "Uh…Colonel O'Neill."
"Call me Jack, we're off base"
Ash smirked, "Besides, adding the 'Colonel' part of his name would take too long."
The young man said, "Calling him Colonel O'Neill is a nod of respect, to a man of intelligence and guile." "You've been spending too much time with Murray, Xan." said Ash
Jack shrugged, "Guys, Jack is fine. Daniel calls me by my name all the time, and I'm fine with it. I rather enjoy dinner and talk Simpsons tonight."
Ash grinned, "Good plan."
Xander added, "Good show."
"Good thing I got caught you before you sat down, Guys."
The three of them turned to see Kevin walking to them.
But as soon as he entered, a swarm of teenage girls crowded around him.
Xander sighed, "Good grief."
*****
Merlin's Chamber
Merlin looked at the goddess, "What did you bring?"
She handed the object to him, "It's her hair brush. I would've brought her diary, but I thought this would be better."
He nodded, "Good. The brush actually has Faith's DNA. The diary doesn't."
Gabriel looked at him, "What sort of ingredients do you need, Merlin?"
The sorcerer, "Well, according to this book, I need to make a potion. I have what is needed and with Faith's hairbrush, I can recite the spell. Then we'll get Faith's location."
Aphrodite squealed, "Tubular."
*****
O'Malley's
Kevin handed the menu to the waitress as she smiled, "Your food will be out shortly."
Jack nodded, "Take your time."
She turned around and left.
Hercules smiled, "Nice girl."
Xander sighed, "Oh, please. She was so into you."
He chuckled, "That's what happens when you're a celebrity."
Ash rolled his eyes, "You celebrities are all the same."
The demigod looked at him, "How so?"
"Money, looks, and women throwing themselves at you."
"It's not bad." Hercules said. "You get used to it."
Xander smirked, "I'd like to get used to it."
Ash returned, "Don't think it'll happen with us, Xand. We're not part of a show that has a big fan base like Hercules: the Legendary Journeys."
Hercules said with a sigh, "Hardy har har."
The rest of the night went on as most guys nights out do, with talk about women, sports, women, the Simpsons, women and of course beating things up. Each had their own stories based on the exploits with only Kevin's glossed over and changed to make it seem like he had trouble with gangs and relations during his formative years (not so much a lie as an omission as it were)
"Shit happens guys." Said a slightly tipsy Ash, the eight bottles of beer next to him gave payment to his condition.
"Too true." Said Xander, the only totally sober one as at only 16 he was no where close to old enough to drink.
"Bastards took my girl from me."
"Know that feeling." Said Herc.
"Don't have one." A very drunk Jack commented
"Mine's not interested."
"Bullshit, she's totally into you." Ash said. "Buffy's a good girl man, keep her if you can."
"Ash, she's just had a bad break up, it's too soon for anything."
"You might be surprised, Kid." Said Jack, "Never say die."
Trying to change the subject Xander took a drink from his coke and spoke up, "Jack remember when I told you about that entire soldier thing i went through, did you ever know a guy named Charles Kawalski?"
Jack spat his beer over the table.
*****
Merlin's Chamber
Aphrodite picked up the bowl that held some pink liquid within it. Looking at it, and smelling a strange odor from it, she asked, "Hey, Merlin? What's this thing?"
Merlin's eyes widened as he ran over to her. Grabbing it carefully, he said to her, "Be careful with that. That's a form of naptha."
Her eyes widened, "You mean Greek Fire?"
He nodded as he lowered the bowl, "Exactly."
Merlin turned around to see Gabriel carrying the remaining items for the spell. "Gabriel, be careful with those. Once you bring them to me, we can start the spell. Join me at the cauldron."
The three of them walked to the destined location, and Merlin said, "Drop the objects in the potion."
The gargoyle asked, "What about the hairbrush?"
The sorcerer turned his head to the right, "Aphrodite, go back and get the hairbrush."
She did as she was told and walked back to her friends. "Here you go, Merlin."
He grinned his thanks as he took it from her. Picking out a hair from the brush, he dropped it in the potion, and soon as it did, a gray mushroom cloud erupted from the potion.
"Wow." The goddess said in amazement.
The sorcerer smiled as he turned back to his book that lay just behind him on the table. Picking it up, he took a deep breath, and began to read the spell.
"Magnus imperium lumen ita aquilus. Inquam discerpo aetas ita tractus annuo comperio. Cum hac me peto erogo locus. Apud tractus invenio appono."
As soon as the words were chanted, a yellow light emerged from the potion and flew up into the air and went through the roof.
Merlin glanced to his friends, "Now, we wait…"
*****
A yellow light rose up into the atmosphere and flew further into the sky. It left the planet and headed to where the DNA from the strand of hair was located.
*****
Faith's Cell
Faith yawned briefly as she awoke from her slumber. Her eyes blinked a few times, adjusting to the new atmosphere of her current location.
Letting out a sigh, she pulled herself into a sitting position.
Seeing her new surroundings, she knew that whatever this Ninedinna lady was planning was happening soon. All she knew for sure that either her or her uncle was going to become pregnant?
That didn't make sense to her. Well, to her, it was okay. She was a girl and girls became pregnant, but men? She didn't think it was possible.
Shaking her head to clear the thought, she wondered how she was going to get out of here. Faith didn't even know where she was. All she knew was that she wasn't on the spaceship anymore. Now, she was on some planet, that wasn't Earth.
"What the fuck am I going to do?" Faith said to herself as she glanced at the ground.
Soon a spot of light danced around the floor. Looking at it strangely, the light turned yellow and began to fly around her. Waving at it with her hand, she uttered, "Stupid firefly."
The light soon disappeared leaving a very confused slayer.
A few seconds passed, and she realized focusing on the 'firefly' wasn't going to do any good.
Looking out the window that was behind her, she knew what she had to do. Try and find a way out of here. But the question was, how was she going to do it?
Chapter 19
Merlin's Chamber
Yellow light entered through the ceiling of the castle as it started to circulate around Merlin's head. His eyes closed as he gained the necessary information that the spell was designed to deliver.
Soon, his eyes opened, "Ah, I see."
Aphrodite looked at him, "What do you see, Merlin?"
He answered, "Your friend is on the planet, Haploxia."
Gabriel looked at him, "Is that where she is?"
The Sorcerer shot her an amused look, "According to the spell it is." Turning to the goddess, he said, "Go to chamber underneath the Great Sphinx and place the Astral Rod within the keyhole."
She said, "I know, Merlin. Place the Astral Rod in the column and then the rings comes down."
Gabriel added, "And how do you get to Haploxia?"
"Um…" Aphrodite said trying to figure it out.
"Allow me to help," Merlin said to them as he headed to his bookshelf. Pushing aside the books on the third shelf, he pulled out a thin gray object.
Bringing it over, he said to the goddess and gargoyle, "This is the Galactic Information Fact Transporter," he chuckled lightly, "GIFT for short. It holds the combinations to symbols that allow people to travel in the galaxy."
She showed a confused look, "How did you get that?"
He answered with a chuckled, "Well, I happen to be an Alteran."
Aphrodite smiled, "So, you're an Alteran?"
Merlin nodded, "Yes, I am. Using my invention, you can go to the Great Sphinx, place the rod in its location, and dial up the correct combination, and you'll go to Haploxia."
She smiled, "Tubular."
Gabriel turned to them, "How does she get back?"
Merlin nodded, "Using the room she teleports into, she has to twist the bottom half of the rod counterclockwise, and she'll return to her last location." A thoughtful expression crossed his face, "Unlike the Stargate, the Astral Rod teleports with the user so they can get back to their place of origin easily."
Gabriel glanced at the device, "Can you read the language on the GIFT?"
The blond looked at the device in question, "I am a goddess, Gabriel. I can read all languages. Kinda comes with the 'turf."
The blue gargoyle smiled, "Makes sense."
The Love Goddess smiled, "Now, I just have to go to the Great Sphinx. "
Merlin nodded, "Exactly, my friend. You'd better go if you want to save your friend in time. We have no idea what Faith's captor is planning."
Aphrodite said, "Don't worry about it, Merlin. Hercules trusted me with something, and I'm not going to let him down." She shot both of them a grateful smile. "Gabriel, Merlin, thanks for everything." She turned to the gargoyle, "And tell Ophelia that I give her the best."
"I will."
The Alteran said, "Remember, Aphrodite, in order to input the coordinates in the chamber, simply touch the symbols provided for you. Look up Haploxia using the GIFT, and chose the symbols. Once done, you and the Astral Rod will teleport to Haploxia."
The blond nodded, "Thanks for the help, Sweetcheeks. I'll tell Hercules you said, 'hi.'"
In response, Merlin smiled and Aphrodite teleported out of Avalon.
*****
O'Malley's
Jack looked at the beer he spat up, and immediately looked toward the kid that he had started to befriend. "Excuse me, did you say Kawalsky?!?"
Xander nodded and favored Jack with a half confused, half amused look. "Well, yeah."
"And you never thought of mentioning this before?"
Xander looked somewhat contrite. "I didn't know what to expect from these memories I gained. I mean, I don't remember his whole life or anything like that. I just remember some memories, parts of something bigger. I know how to use weapons and stuff like that, but I don't remember much about Kawalsky himself. I didn't know anything about the Goa'uld until you told me."
Ash added, "Maybe that session he had with Murray unlocked some memories."
The kid shrugged, "Possible. Don't really know what I went through. All I can tell is that I saw someone who was close to me, yet couldn't recognize who I was talking too."
Hercules looked at him, "Did you recognize the voice?"
Xander answered, "That's just it. Now that I think about it, even though I spoke the words, the person I was talking to was in my head, there wasn't anything special about it. It just had this neutral feminine voice. Kinda like the voice that was used on, y'know, I don't remember where I heard that kind of voice before, but there was something familiar yet not. Know what I mean?"
Ash replied, "No, not really, Xand. Sorry."
Jack said, "Maybe you'll get some more answers tomorrow, Xander."
He stated, "Maybe you're right." His voice seemed to be focused inwards.
Ash glanced at Xander, and then at his plate, "You going to finish that pickle?"
Xander looked at his plate, and then back at his friend, "Nah, you can have it."
"Thanks."
*****
Hidden Chamber underneath the Great Sphinx
Aphrodite appeared inside a spacious room. The walls were decorated with torches that gave the room its needed light.
Hieroglyphics decorated the walls. They weren't the normal Egyptian ones found throughout Egypt, but these scriptures, and rune symbols, depicted the language of the Alterans.
Glancing around the room, Aphrodite couldn't help but sigh in disgust with all the dust covering the surfaces of the chamber.
Smiling to herself, she snapped her fingers, and all the dust disappeared, "Being a goddess has its perks."
Looking at the furniture in front of her, she walked over to the island that was in the center of the room. On top of the island were a number of symbols, all embedded in white tiles. Placing her hand on those tiles, she could feel the cold material below her palm.
Glancing forward, she saw a column that had an open hole on top. Walking toward it, she recognized the shape to be the same as the Astral Rod. "Here goes nothing," she said to herself as she placed it within the slot. The column lit within seconds as the two objects connected. "Guess that means its working."
Turning back to the island, she took out the GIFT, and searched through the database for the needed information. Lucky enough for her, Haploxia was within the coding.
Starting with the first symbol, she then proceeded to press the following six. Every time she would press on a tile, an artificial light would emanate from behind the symbol.
As soon as she pressed the last one, she walked back to the column, and rings started to fall from the ceiling.
As the rings fell around her, a white flash of light appeared, and then Aphrodite and the Astral Rod disappeared.
*****
Xander's SGC Room
Xander sat on the bed in his room, eyes closed.
Dinner had come and gone, all of them had a good time, and now they were in for the night.
He thought about the day and his session with Teal'c. He kept wondering who the voice belonged to. He wanted to know why it sounded so familiar, yet it didn't at the same time.
Xander opened his eyes and stared at the wall in front of him. He couldn't fall to sleep. There was simply too much on his mind.
The last true sentence the voice had said in his mind kept repeating itself, 'Forget about the whole world. Just focus on my voice and the way you feel right now.'
Every time those words were repeated, he wondered who the voice was coming from. It surely wasn't Buffy or Faith. The voice sounded nothing like them. It wasn't Gabrielle either, although she wasn't really that close to him. Definitely wasn't Cordy, the voice didn't have that vibe like she had.
He tried to think back to the session, and how much he felt within it. There was this calming sensation--a calming yet familiar sensation, like something he had experience many times, so far, within his life.
Getting to his feet, he walked over to the mirror that hung above the desk that sat in front of the east wall. Placing his left hand over his face, he quickly messaged it and let it go. Looking in the mirror, he wondered who it could be.
Then it hit him.
But it couldn't be her, he never felt that way about her. She was his best friend, nothing more.
With Buffy and Faith, he admitted that he found them attractive, hell he even found Gabrielle to be attractive. Not to mention Cordelia was his girlfriend, but Willow? He never thought of her that way.
Pulling out the seat from the desk, he plopped down in his chair. Was Willow the voice?
As he thought about her voice, the voice from the session started to clear up. It truly started to sound like the voice of his best friend.
She was definitely someone he held close to his heart. Willow was the earliest person he knew that kept him sane. But he didn't find her attractive.
But…
Maybe finding her attractive wasn't what was needed. She was his best friend, and that did create a close bond. So, it was Willow who the voice belonged too.
Now, the question was, how did this link work and why was he just now discovering it now.
*****
Faith's Cell
Faith sat in her cell for what seemed like the umpteenth hour. She had seen numerous Jaffa as they walk by her cell, making sure that nothing had changed.
She sighed as she continued to stare out the force field that held her within this cell.
"Faith…"
Faith turned her head to see a person she hadn't seen before.
The person she was looking at appeared to be a young woman, maybe a little older than she was. She had long strawberry blond hair, green eyes, and was caucasian. She seemed to be wearing something of a leather variety. It was very much different from the people that she saw walking around.
The woman said, "I'm sorry, are you Faith?"
Uncertain, she nodded. She wanted to be on the defense, but something about this woman made her calm down. "Why aren't you with Ninedinna?"
The woman rolled her eyes, "Please. Ninedinna is nothing but a false god."
She showed a confused look, "False god?"
The blond nodded, "My name's Lysandra. I come with a message from your friends."
With confusion, she asked, "My friends?"
She nodded, "Xander and the others are coming."
Faith sighed in relief. "They are?"
Lysandra nodded, "Yeah, they are. So be patient."
The Slayer looked at the woman in front of her, "How do you know this?"
The woman heard some footsteps coming, "I must go Faith. But do not worry. Help is on the way."
And with that said, Lysandra headed down the corridor.
Faith wanted to call out for more information, but she knew someone was coming. At least she knew help was coming, but the question now was when.
Chapter 20
Ninedinna's Temple
Lysandra moved further and further down from Faith's cell. She steadily turned her head around to make sure nobody was coming. Every few seconds she followed the same procedure, and each time she was lucky that nobody was in sight. However, she did keep hearing the sounds of marching. It was only a matter of time before she was discovered to be within the temple.
Ahead of her were two entrances to two new rooms. To her right, was another corridor of cells. She found that out not that long ago when she headed to meet with the young slayer the first time. To her left, was the room that witheld the Stargate.
That was the room she needed to find. When she entered the room, she slowed down, and let things calm down, so she could think properly. Scanning the room, her eyes widened when she found two Jaffas guarding the Stargate.
"Just great." She uttered as she saw them.
"You there!" One of the Jaffas said allowed. He held up his staff weapon and the head of it seperated allowing plasma energy to be released.
Lysandra smirked, "Uh, you wouldn't know the address for the Stargate, would you?"
The other Jaffa shot a blast from his zat'ni'katel, which she succesfully dodged. He was about to call out for his system lord when Lysandra waved her hand. He dropped his weapon, and turned to the other Jaffa. "Ah, Kluzo. You have such bueatiful eyes."
Kluzo's eyes widened, "What are you doing?"
Lysandra noticed that nobody was going to come within the room at the moment. So, she immediately changed back to her normal form of the Love Goddess. "He's showing you your true potential, Big boy." She then waved her hand again, and Kluzo dropped his staff weapon.
Aphrodite walked over to them, and smiled, "Being the Love Goddess does has its perks." Taking her free palm, she opened it and a pad of paper appeared.
"Now, be a good Jaffa, and tell me the gate address."
But the two Jaffas were too involved with each other to notice.
"You do not want to ignore the Goddess of Love." Pulling Kluzo back, so she can get his attention. "Hold on, Kluzo. You can have your man back when you tell me the gate address."
Because he couldn't fight the hold Aphrodite had on him, he gave her the address like she wanted. "Tubular." She then let Kluzo go. "Oh, and tell Ninedinna I was never hear."
Aphrodite smiled with such relief. A few seconds later, she changed into another body with dark hair and blue eyes. " Now, they'll be looking for Lysandra, and not a Jaffa named Lulac." Within a few more seconds, 'Lulac' turned around and headed back to the room of origin where she first entered into Ninedinna's Temple.
*****
Xander's SGC Room
Xander sighed as he stared at the wall in front of him. After whipping his hands down his face, he suddenly was greeted by someone he didn't think he saw before.
"How ya doin, Xan?"
His eyes widened as he immediately stood to his feet. "Who's there?"
The voice replied, "If you have to, just turn on the lights."
Subconsciously, he nodded and went to the light switch. After flipping it on, his eyes grew even wider, "You're me?"
The man in question smirked, "I'm you?"
His eyes glared, "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
Xander growled, "Stop repeating what I'm saying, and tell me who you are." He then went placed himself into a fighting stance.
His apparent doubleganger replied, "Alright, alright. Jeeze, looks like I struck a nerve. The name's Alex."
Xander showed a confused look, "Alex?"
Alex nodded, "Got it in one, Xand. Can I call you, Xand?"
He looked at him, "Xander's fine. Who are you?"
Alex smirked, "I told you, I'm Alex. I'm with the Powers that Be." Seeing the perplexed look on his face, he stated, "Take a seat, an I'll explain."
Letting the information sink in, he sat down cautiously as this 'Alex' pulled out a chair that was by the east wall and sat down in front of him. "I'm here to help you understand your kell'no'reem session with Teal'c."
"How do you know that? And what the hell is going on?"
Alex grinned, "I'm trying to explain. My name's Alex, and I'm merely a pawn sent by the Powers that Be. But, I actually think of myself as just an agent. Someone who just works with the Powers that Be. And like I said before, I was set by the powers to help you understand your recent kell'no'reem vision."
Xander asked, "But why do you look like me?"
He shrugged, "Would you rather me look like, Buffy?" His form then turned into a smaller size that was surrounded by white light. It soon dissipated to reveal the body of Buffy Summers. "Hercules?" He then turned to the shape and form of the demigod, "Ash?
Within the few minutes, Alex continued to change appearances. Next was, Faith, Daniel, Sam, Joxer, Jack, Willow, Gabrielle, Cordelia, Giles, and…
"Alright, alright. Just go back to my form."
Alex grinned and changed from the form of his eldest friend to his form. "I just wanted to prove to you that I wasn't some clone or something. As for choosing your from? I just thought it would be easier to talk to yourself. You know, without sounding insane."
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, tell that to someone who barges into my room any second now."
"If someone comes in, just say that you're having an out of body experience."
Xander thought for a moment, "Aren't I actually having that kind of experience at the moment." The young man paused for the moment, "And how do you know about my friends?"
Alex grinned, "I'm like Doyle. I know everything about you and your friends. I know the roles you're playing, and that Faith is not in danger at the moment, but her time is running out."
As soon as he mentioned his friend, he decided to take a turn onto the offense, "Where's Faith?"
He grinned, "Don't worry, Xander. Aphrodite found her and is on her way back to you. As for you're kell'no'reem session, that voice you heard belonged to Willow."
Xander admitted, "I kinda figured that out after about, I don't know a thousand and one times with processing all the women I knew off my friend list."
Alex said, "Well, I'm glad you figured out who the voice belonged to, but what you're going to have to do is keep an eye out on her."
Xander stood to his feet, "Did something happen to Willow?"
His doubleganger shook his head, "No, nothing yet."
His eyes widened, "Yet?"
Alex answered, "I may know future events, but I don't control free will. Which is kinda weird to think about. If the future is already laid out, how can free will exist?"
"Huh?"
He chuckled, "Never mind, Xander. It's something that I've been toying around with. Anyway, I do know what's lined out for your friends in Sunnydale this coming year, and all I can tell you is to watch out for Willow. It's going to be at troubling year, and it is important that you hold onto your friends. Don't forget where your priorities are."
"My priorities?" Xander asked in surprise. "What's going to happen?"
Alex sighed, "I can't tell you what is going to happen, because I don't want you second guessing everything. Go on instinct, but be aware that what might not look troubling doesn't mean it isn't."
Xander's visitor then got back to his feet. "Listen, Xander. All I can tell you is be careful with your choices." He then smirked, "And by the way, don't throw your comic books away anytime soon."
Before Xander could respond, Alex disappeared. "What the hell was that about?" Xander asked himself.
*****
Hercules' SGC Room
"Hey, Baby bro."
Hercules shot up from his bed and saw the return of his half-sister. "Aphrodite?"
She grinned as she went over to his bed, "I know where Faith is, Hercules."
He looked at her, "You do?"
The blond nodded as she sat down beside. "I went to Haploxia. Seems what your dealing with is another false god."
Her nose scrunched as she said the last part of the sentence. "I hate that those stupid goa'ulds killed other gods."
He nodded, "Even though the gods aren't fond of mortals, they didn't deserve to die off."
"Hey!" 'Dite said aloud. "Goddess sitting right here." She then threw Herc's pillow at him.
Hercules chuckled as he blocked the hit, "You're one of the exceptions to the rule."
"Totally."
The demigod continued. "And anyway, the Asgard may have taken the Norse god roles, but they're helping still."
She nodded as she got to her feet. "You should've seen what I went through, Baby bro."
He smiled, "And we appreciate it."
She then opened her palm, and a piece of paper appeared within it. "Here you go. Faith's being held prisoner there."
Hercules looked at the paper and saw the needed symbols to reach the Stargate. "How'd you get it, Aphrodite? If Ninedinna saw you, she'd know we were on our way."
Aphrodite grinned, "Just did a little costume change. Went by the name of Lysandra, and later Lulac."
He actually chuckled, "Good way to get by. I'll go tell Xander in the morning, and we'll get going to Haploxia."
She smiled, "Awesome, Baby bro." Turning around she was about to teleport away, when she said, "Oh, and Merlin says hi. Same with Raiden."
The tall man said as he got to his feet, "Wish I could've gone, but I was stuck here. I'm just glad there's someone in my family that I can count on."
"Ah, Herc…" Aphrodite said with emotion. She turned back to him and pulled him into a hug. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
He hugged her back, "I mean, Aphrodite. You helped us allot just now." Pulling away from her, he said, "When Zeus finds out, I'll help you as best I can."
The love goddess grinned, "I appreciate that, Hercules. Now, get some sleep, and go rescue Faith for our friend."
Hercules went back to his bed, and then turned back to his sister, "You better go put the Astral Rod back."
"I'm on it, Hercules. Before I do that though, I'm going to go see how Hephy's doing."
That being said, the Love Goddess teleported away.
Chapter 21
Xander slumped back into consciousness when he heard a knocking sound coming from his door.
He pulled himself into a sitting position and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. After a yawn, he said, "Coming. I'm coming."
Sighing, he stood up and walked to the door. Xander opened the door to see the standing form of his divine friend. "Hey, Kev."
Sorbo smiled, "Morning, Xan."
He ran his hand roughly over his mouth, and took a step backward. "Come in."
Standing back, he watched as Hercules walked into the room. Once the door was closed, he clapped his hands.
Xander looked at him strangely, when Hercules said, "Cameras."
The young man nodded, "Right. Camera trick."
Hercules smiled as he took a seat that was located behind a desk. Sitting down, he said, "I met with Aphrodite last night."
The mention of the love goddess brought him to full attention. "She's back?"
He nodded as Xander sat down as well, but this time, he sat on his bed. "Aphrodite found Faith, Xander."
Xander grinned, "Great."
The demigod nodded as he placed his hand into his front jean pocket. Pulling out a piece of paper, he handed it to him. "That's the gate address. Show that to Colonel O'Neill, and we're good to go."
The mortal looked at the paper, and said, "Well, this is all Greek to me; actually wait, I actually know some Greek. Just what am I looking at?"
He replied, "Well, what you're looking are symbols to constellations found throughout the universe."
Xander chuckled, "And me without my telescope."
Hercules grinned, "You know, Xander. You remind me of Iolaus."
He smirked, "I do?"
Hercules nodded. "Yes, you do. Besides having the sense of humor thing, you show tremendous loyalty."
Xander stared at him, "Great, we're the human equivalent of dogs." Checking his arm, he asked, "I didn't get bitten by a werewolf, did I?"
Hercules answered, "That's not what I meant, Xander. You and Ioulas are always by the side of their friends. Ioulas stood by me since the beginning, and you stood by Buffy. You both went out of your way to make sure that their friend was safe, and be able to sit through another day."
The demigod paused for a moment, "You and Ioulas show unconditional love. You're there for your friend, and be their side. You don't care whether my father is the king of all gods, or you're called by the Powers that Be to be a slayer."
He got to his feet. "Xander, it's been a long time since I let anyone know who I truly was. Ioulas was the best. I've had two other friends who knew the truth, and they've died." Xander stood up as well.
Xander automatically said, "I'm sorry."
He grinned. "Thanks, but don't worry about it. What I'm saying is, is that I'm lucky to find another person who I can trust with the truth. I only let select people know, that is if I have a choice in the matter, and I'm glad that we're friends."
Xander couldn't help the smile from appearing on his face. "Thanks, Hercules."
The demigod said, "Don't mention it."
*****
Teal'c's Room
"You may enter."
The door opened to reveal the youngest male member of the Los Angeles crew entered the Jaffa's room. "Hey, Teal'c."
Teal'c clasped his hands together, and bowed his head briefly. "How was your lunch, Xander?"
The young man grinned, "Pretty good. Then again, anything's better than school food."
The bald man agreed, "That is what Colonel O'Neill said the first time we had lunch together." He then went to his new friend, "Are you prepared for your next kell'no'reem session?"
Xander looked at him. Truth be told, he already had the information, thanks to his earlier meeting with Hercules. But of course, nobody knew about that, and if he could, Xander would prefer that to stay the way it is.
Since that meeting, he spent sometime memorizing the symbols. He knew he couldn't show anyone the note that his friend gave him, so he had to memorize them. That way, after this session, he could just write them down as if he just figured out the session in the first place.
Xander nodded as he got to the floor, much like he did the previous day. "I'm ready, Teal'c."
Teal'c bowed his head again, and sat down across the young man. "Close your eyes, Xander. Allow yourself to concentrate solely on your breathing."
Again, Xander nodded as he closed his eyes. He soon started to breath slowly, allowing the natural system of carbon dioxide and oxygen to truly entwine. He wondered what he should think about. He needed to stall time, and this would be the perfect time to do it.
So, he thought back to the beginning of the summer. He thought about how he left for LA, with only one goal in mind. To find and bring home Buffy Summers. Little did he know that was only the beginning.
His plethora of friends dramatically improved. Which is amazing on how he always he thought of himself of a loser, someone who didn't deserve to live. He lost his sister at an early age, lost Jesse-the only man he ever considered a brother. He also lost a friend to Angelus, Ms. Calendar. While they weren't exactly close, he could tell that his mentor truly felt devastated and pained with so much loss.
But things changed. The first friend he made truly was actually Ralph Furely. Through him, he gained an apartment. And let him truly know, he was already doing better than his parents.
Even though he met and befriended Ralph, his true friend was Hercules. And now, Hercules thought that Xander was a good friend to have. That in itself, was a total mind blow. Then he meant another man who had an incredible journey to tell, Ashley Williams.
Don't let girlish name fool you he quickly learned. Ash was a very tough man to befriend. Actually, probably not, but when you have stories of vampires versus stories of deadites, you'd be surprised how close you'd get. Especially when you meet his niece, who was a surprise in itself. He later found out that she was in fact another vampire slayer. Which meant, she was called after Kendra died.
But she wasn't called as the normal way. Because Buffy was wounded mentally, she wasn't capable to fight another vampire with her fullest potential behind her. So the powers that be designated Xander to help move things along and heal her. While doing so, Faith gained more and more prowess to becoming the next vampire slayer.
With her at full status, Buffy had become a stronger person within herself. And between Hercules, Ash, Faith, her watcher, Wesley, and Buffy, a new group of friends was formed, the Scrappy Gang.
And since its creation, numerous allies were introduced. Among them being Gunn, Gabrielle, Joxer, Aphrodite, Lorne, and many others.
His circle of friends grew even larger with the addition of SG-1. He couldn't begin to fathom on where his adventures would take him. But the next place was a total mind numbing fact, another planet…Haploxia.
Thinking about this Haploxia made him wonder if anything would be the same again. Before this, his world included Sunnydale, and the rest of California. Little did he know about Colorado, and now the universe?
He actually found life beyond the rampant number of demons and vampires. Now, he knew about the true existence of aliens. Not to mention deadites. He wondered what else this world and universe would hold for him to experience.
Life certainly wasn't the boring fact he drew to conclude a number of years ago. And to think, it all began when he met Buffy.
Buffy Summers, the slayer of his heart. My god, what a bad pun that was. No wonder people thought he was a jerk sometimes. He was right that time when he and Buffy were at the funeral home. 'Oh no. My life's not too complicate.'
"Have enough going down memory?"
Xander immediately found himself within the field he was in the first time he did the kell'no'reem session. "Geez, Wills. Don't sneak up on me like that."
Willow smiled, "So you found out who I was?"
Xander nodded, "Yep. Thanks to that body snatcher last night."
Willow approached him. "Xander, that just was someone the Powers that Be sent you to understand what was going on."
He sighed, "I know, Willow. It's just, why did he have to use my form? And why couldn't they send someone like Whister? You remember Buffy talking about him?"
She nodded, "I do. But from what I understand, because of something Whistler did, a new guide was issued."
"And his name just happens to be Alex." Xander said solemnly.
"Actually, Xan." Willow said as the bed appeared. She sat down. "Alex is actually a nickname for him."
"It is?" He questioned as he sat down.
"Yep. His real name is Marvin. But don't tell him where you found that out. It's like the whole issue you have with your middle name."
He looked at her, "Don't say it, Wills."
She smiled, "Alright. I won't say LaVelle."
Xander sighed, "Wills."
The redhead grinned. "Sorry, Xan. Couldn't resist."
The young man smiled. "I miss you, Willow."
Willow edged closer to him. "We all miss you too, Xander. Even Cordelia."
The mention of his girlfriend made him look at her glaringly. "Sorry I had to leave like that. Buffy needed me."
She nodded. "I know, Xan. We all know. Mrs. Summers has been updating us on what you tell her. I just…we just wish we could be helping you."
He nodded. "I know, Willow. I know." He then pulled her into a hug. "I love you. But so many things are happening right now, Willow. I can't tell you where I am, Willow. But I can tell you that we're going home real soon."
Willow smiled as she pulled away from him. "Good. We want to know everything."
Xander grinned. "And I'll tell you what I know I can."
She nodded. "Good. But, now you have to wake up, Xander. It's time to go rescue Faith."
His eyes widened as she mentioned the name of his friend. "What?"
But before she could respond. His eyes opened, and he was gazing at Teal'c, who had opened eyes as well.
"I see you finally awoke, Xander."
Chapter 22
Debriefing Room
"Colonel O'Neill has come to me with some interesting news." General Hammond said to the group of eight people in front of him. "It seems that Mr. Harris has found the gate address to Haploxia."
Ash looked at him, "Haploxia?"
The general nodded, "Haploxia is the planet that Faith was taken to. Through the gate address that Mr. Harris has written down, we will be able to gate to the other planet."
Buffy said slowly, "Another planet? You mean we are actually going into Outer Space?"
Xander grinned, "That's generally where other planets hang out, Buff."
She gave him a look.
He smiled slightly, "Sorry, Buff. But you gave me a perfect opening."
"Anyway…" Ash said breaking the silence. "So now that we have the address, we can go rescue Faith."
Hercules grinned, "Uh, Ash. We can't just go without a plan."
Hammond nodded, "Mr. Sorbo is right, Mr. Williams. We will find your niece, but we need to make sure that we can do this safely."
A moment passed.
"While your niece's safety is important to issue, we also have to deal with Ninedinna." Looking at the four civilians who were dragged into this rescue by Thor, he stated, "I don't know why Thor brought you indo this, but I do believe that he brought you into this because you each have something important to bring to the table."
"General Hammond," Daniel spoke up. "Ash is the man that has been written about in the Necronomicon. Because of that, I'm sure Thor brought him into this. He's probably one of the only survivors from that book."
Ash nodded, "That book turned my life upside down. And now because of some insane fake goddess, my niece was taken, and I owe it to her and myself to bring her back home."
Hammond agreed, "I completely understand, Mr. Williams. But you don't have any training with firearms and know how to go against any goa'uld. I mean, the SGC has only recently been brought into being, and we're still new to this."
Jack added, "We are learning fast, Sir."
George nodded, "That we are, Colonel." Looking at his team and then at the four new comers, "I just want to be sure that you four can handle yourselves off-world."
Hercules said, "Sir, Buffy and Xander may appear young, but Sunnydale, California is on top of a Hellmouth. They've been fighting for their lives against vampires and other demons."
Hammond said, "Mr. Sorbo, I fully believe that Thor chose you all for the right reasons. I just wish I could fully believe that you were properly prepared."
Sam added, "Sir, SG-1 wasn't prepared either when we first met Apophis."
He agreed, "You have a good point, Captain."
Xander said, "General Hammond, thanks to last Halloween, I know a great deal about being a soldier."
Buffy commented, "Because of that Halloween, General Hammond, Xander has incredible army knowledge. He was possessed by a soldier who wore the fatigues Xander wore that night."
Jack added, "And apparently, Sir. Those fatigues he wore actually belonged to Major Kawalsky."
The mention of the lost SG member brought his attention to the young man. "Are you suggesting that your body was taken over by a member of the SGC?"
Xander looked at the table, and then back at the general, "Sir, I really don't know what happened that night last Halloween. Buffy, our friends, Sunnydale, and I were possessed by what we wore that night. This all happened because of some insane mystic. After that night, I had so many memories of your team member, but I never saw or remembered images about the goa'uld. To me, they were just parts of something bigger. But when I had my first session with Teal'c, my memories started to get incredibly clear." Turning to Jack, he added, "I remember 1983, Colenel. I remember that in East Germany, your comrade John was shot, and died after you took off his gas mask."
The members of SG-1 looked at the colonel to see if what the boy has said was true.
"I believe Xander is right, O'Neill. It was on PJ7-989 when you and I kept repeating the same memory." Teal'c brought into the conversation.
Jack nodded, "He's right, Sir. Major Kawalsky was there that day. I think Xander is telling the truth."
"I see." Hammond said taking in the information. Looking at the young man, "Now that you've had another session with Teal'c, have you remembered any other memories?"
Xander nodded. "I do, Sir. I'm actually getting memories now on the goa'uld. I remember how Major Kawalsky died. It's because his head was cut from the event horizon of the stargate."
The general sighed, "I guess that we're lucky that this happened to someone who I believe we can trust." Turning to the four non-SG team, he asked, "Do you know how to handle yourselves with firearms."
Ash nodded, "Yeah, we do. Before we took out Bad Faith, a former watcher, Sean Pierce trained us at his firing range."
Hammond nodded with the newfound information. "Alright, judging by the information that we learned here today, and the fact that Mr. Harris did in fact find the gate address, I don't see any reason why you can't go to Haploxia. And if Thor chose you for this mission, he obviously had a reason for doing so."
George looked at the clock, "Alright, its nine hundred hours right now. Be ready for a eleven hundred hour departure." Glancing at SG-1, he asked, "See if you can find uniforms for Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, Mr. Sorbo, and Mr. Williams. And make sure you give them proper weaponry."
The last part of the sentence made Buffy feel a little uncomfortable. Taking a breath, she asked, "You wouldn't have a Colt 1911, would you?"
The general looked at her, "Actually, no, Ms. Summers. Since we're going against a goa'uld, I'd suggest you using the P90."
When the general said that specific model of gun, Xander knew why Buffy wasn't too enthused. Looking at the elder man, he asked, "General Hammond. Using that type of gun isn't going to be a problem for Kevin, Ash, and myself. But, Buffy is a slayer. Vampire Slayers are more used to combat weapons, and not projectile. The Colt 1911 is a weapon she just started using, and is the only gun that she feels qualified to use."
Sam looked at the young woman. "You could use that Trinium Axe, Buffy."
Buffy smiled at that idea. "Thanks. I'd actually prefer using that."
Hammond nodded. "Seeing that the axe in question is made of trinium, I'd think that be adequate."
Hercules added, "And General, Buffy is the vampire slayer. Meaning she's stronger and faster than she appears to be."
George got to his feet. "Alright, people. Meet in the gate room at eleven hundred hours. You're dismissed."
*****
SG-1 and one half the Scrappies stood erect while gazing at the Stargate in front of them.
"So we go through that ring shaped thingy?" Buffy asked looking at the Stargate.
Sam nodded as she pointed to one of the chevrons. "See those triangular shaped pieces." Buffy nodded. "Below that, the stargate revolves and locks itself on a specified symbol from the Stargate."
Buffy looked at her eldest friend. "Those are the symbols you saw?"
Xander nodded. "Yeah, each one of the seven symbols is represented by the Stargate."
He looked to the demigod with questionable eyes, and smiled when Hercules grinned back as his answer.
The Stargate soon started to rotate, allowing the symbols to be placed in their correct locations.
"Better take a few steps back, Ash." Daniel said.
The former Promised One asked, "Why?"
Daniel grinned, "You'll see."
"Chevron 5 encoded."
Ash looked at his three friends and saw them take a step back. Believing what Daniel said, he took a step back."
"Chevron 6 encoded."
Xander looked at the P90 in his hands. "Who'd thought I actually have one of these babies in my hands?"
Jack smiled, "I wouldn't get used to it, Kid. Think of this as a loner. As soon as we get back here, we'll be taking them back."
Xander sighed, "That's what I thought." Looking at him, he smiled, "Can't blame a guy for trying."
"Chevron 7 locked!"
The Stargate stopped rotating, and blue crystallized energy shot out of the Stargate, and it soon returned back to its origin. This leaving a crystal-like blue watery substance in its wake.
Daniel pointed out. "That's why I told you to take a few steps back."
Ash nodded, "Good call."
"SG-1 you have a go."
The eight people nodded and Jack headed forward. "Let's move people."
They walked to the event horizon. Teal'c and Jack entered quickly.
"Wow." Buffy said as she stepped closer.
Xander nodded as he placed a finger on the material. "Right there with you, Buff."
Ash took a breath, and let it out. "We're coming Faith." He then went through.
Buffy and Xander soon felt two hands on their shoulders. "C'mon. Let's not keep Ninedinna waiting." Hercules said with a smile.
The teenagers nodded and headed through the gate. Kevin joined shortly after.
Finally, Sam and Daniel headed for the gate.
Daniel said to his friend. "I think this is going to be an interesting adventure."
Sam nodded. "I think you're right."
Then the two friends entered the event horizon.
Chapter 23
Two Jaffas walked down the corridor that lined the cell wall. Not that long ago, four Jaffas released the vampire slayer and took her to the Goa'uld Nursery. According to their goddess, that was the next step.
Two of the four that released her took her to the nursery while the other two headed further down the corridor.
A sudden loud noise was sounded. They edged closer and closer to the source, fully knowing where it was coming from.
Normally, they'd automatically go investigate the Gate Room, but Ninedinna advised otherwise. So, the two Jaffas found a dark corner, and placed themselves within the darkness, allowing the natural camouflage of darkness to overcome.
*****
Gate Room-Haploxia
Eight people stepped out of the Stargate as they reached the planet.
"This looks cozy." Jack said as he scanned the room.
Sam asked, "Cozy, Sir?"
He nodded. "Take a look, Carter. When's the last time you've seen a Stargate inside a small room."
Teal'c said, "He does have a point, Captain Carter."
A moment passed, and he added, "Having a Stargate located in a small room is not the best strategic place to leave one."
Jack nodded, "Right cozy."
Xander scanned the room. "This place looks like something out of pyramid."
Daniel responded, "As it turns out, Xander. Many influences about the Earth's mythology came from the goa'uld."
He looked at Hercules with questioning eyes.
The demigod nodded slowly, allowing Xander to understand his question was right.
He looked at them, "Guys, think about this. Nothing we ever knew to be the truth, was the truth."
Daniel grinned, "I know exactly how you feel. I was just telling Jack."
Jack let out a sigh, "Guys, focus. We have a goa'uld to find and a girl to save."
Ash looked at him. "Correction. We have a girl to save, and a goa'uld to kill."
Glancing at the scarred man, he said, "Listen, Ash. I know you want to save Faith, we all do. But who ever we come to first, we'll take care of. Okay?"
The clerk nodded, "Alright."
The colonel grinned. "Good. We better move."
Buffy asked, "Where do you suppose Faith is?"
Daniel replied, "I don't have the slightest idea. She could be anywhere."
Kevin saw an opening towards a hallway. "Well, there are two halls leading down from here."
Xander suggested, "We could split up and go both ways. Keep in contact, radio wise."
Jack said, "Alright. Xander, you, Buffy, Daniel, and Teal'c take one hallway. Carter, Kevin, Ash, and I'll go the other hallway."
Buffy nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
O'Neill nodded. "Let's move out."
That being said, the team exchanged radio frequencies and split up with a goal in mind. Find Faith before Ninedinna does anything drastic.
*****
Ninedinna's Lair
Ninedinna walked slowly to her window, and gazed outside it. She could see the calm tranquil environment that she justly created.
Even though she was a forceful and omnipotent goddess, she didn't want to see the labor of her slaves. Ninedinna never could stand the stench of beaten men.
"Goddess Ninedinna."
She turned around to face, K'nic. "Yes?"
K'nic nodded. "It seems that the chappa'ai has been activated. Fellow jaffas report eight Tauri have arrived."
The mention of the people that she recently visited made her smile. "Are you certain?"
"Yes, I am." Her first prime replied. "Nilto and Ulsis spotted them as four of them walked down the cell corridor."
Looking back at the window, she asked, "Was one of these Tauri with one hand?"
K'nic thought for a second, and responded. "Yes, he was. He was walking with three others."
Ninedinna questioned, "Is Faith where we left her still?"
K'nic replied, "Yes, my goddess. Faith was taken from her cell, and is waiting in the Nursery."
The goa'uld looked at her first prime again. "Clear the table, make room for our guest."
K'nic queried, "Anything else, my goddess?"
Ninedinna answered, "K'nic, keep an eye on our guests. Make sure they don't find anything. And be sure to stop them from finding Faith. I want the little family reunion to be special."
*****
Random Corridor
Xander and his team walked down what seemed to be the fifth hallway. His team and Jack's has been in little contact.
Truth be told, contact was something decided to be only done at minimal interaction. They didn't want Ninedinna to know just how many people were on this planet. The element of surprise was something that they greatly appreciated.
"Just how big is this place?" Buffy asked as they continued to walk down the corridor.
Daniel looked at her, "Just be glad that we seem to be in a temple that's on a planet."
The Slayer asked, "You mean there's been time when you came through to ships?"
"Indeed." Was the Jaffa's reply.
Xander stated, "I just wish we could find Faith and go home."
Buffy smiled at her friend, and was about to say something when they heard, "Daniel Jackson. I believe you will find this most informative."
The mention of Teal'c's words caused them to turn to their friend. They all headed for where he stood.
Daniel looked at what he was talking about it. "It's about Ninedinna."
"What's it say?" Buffy asked.
He took off his glasses and whipped them clean briefly with his shirt. Placing it back on, he said, "According to this, Ninedinna has been around for well over 10 million cycles."
Xander asked, "Cycles?"
Daniel looked closer at the written encryption, as Teal'c offered, "It is believed that cycle is equivalent to one Tauri year."
The archeologist continued, "Right. Anyway. It seems that Ninedinna isn't the regular run of the mill goa'uld. What we first expected is true. Ninedinna is a goa'uld that utilizes magic and technology. That's how she survived so many years while other goa'ulds haven't."
Xander asked, "Does it say anything that would help stop her?"
He looked at the young man, "I'll need time to read more information, Xander. There's allot here."
The resident male Scrappy said, "Daniel, I hate to rush this, but we need to find out better information than the basic description of Ninedinna."
Teal'c stated, "Xander, Daniel Jackson is just finding the needed information that would be most beneficial for us."
He nodded as he started to walk down further looking at the wall. "I just wish I knew what you were reading."
Buffy looked at the two SG members as they read further into the wall, and saw that they were engrossed. Understanding how her friend felt, she walked over to him. "I know you worried about her, Xand."
He said, "Buffy, it's more than that. She helped; they all helped me try to find you. I owe it to her, Ash, to everyone that we find her. And finding more 'information' about Ninedinna is always great, but I just want to find her and take her home."
Buffy smiled,"We'll find her. Don't worry."
Xander took his finger and traced over the encrypted wall. "I hope so, Buffy. I really do."
They continued to walk down the corridor when Xander noticed a opaque bright white title on the floor right in front of him. "Weird."
She asked, "What's weird?"
He looked at her, "There's a bight white title here. It's not like the rest of the floor."
"Daniel?" She asked.
The two SG members approached the young couple. "What did you find, guys?"
Xander meanwhile stepped onto the title very carefully and the tile suddenly brightened further.
Teal'c's eyes widened at what was happening. "Xander!" He called out and just as light engulfed the young man, the Jaffa grabbed hold of Xander's arm.
"Xander!" Buffy cried out.
"Teal'c!" Daniel called.
Suddenly, both disappeared.
Chapter 24
"What happened?" Xander asked as he surveyed his current surroundings.
The two of them looked around. They appeared to be in a large spacious room. The floor was made of stone, and numerous torches surrounded the room-all of which were blazing brightly.
The only sound swarming through the room was the low cackling sound of the flame.
"It appears that we are in a hidden temple, Xander." Teal'c offered as he continued to search his surroundings. Turning to his young friend, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Xander nodded quickly. "I think so." He then turned the Jaffa, "You?"
Teal'c replied, "I seem to be alright as well."
The young man smiled, "Good." He then returned to looking at the lab. "How do we get back?"
He was about to reply when a sudden noise was made. "Xander? You there?"
Xander raised his volume on the radio. "Yeah, we're here. Although we don't know exactly where here is?"
"Thank god you're alright."
"You there, Teal'c?"
Teal'c replied, "I am, Daniel Jackson. It appears that Xander and I are in some hidden temple."
Xander had to agree, "Now, that you say that, Teal'c. A temple would best describe this place."
"Do you see any way to get back?"
Xander sighed, "No."
"What Xander said seems to be my answer as well. This temple appears to have been undisturbed for quite some time."
"I tried to step on the tile," Buffy started, "But nothing happened. We don't know how to get you out of there."
Xander admitted, "We don't know how to get out either."
"Indeed." Teal'c said.
Daniel added, "We contacted Jack. They're on their way over here to try and help us."
"We're glad for the help and all, Daniel." Xander stated, "But how is he going to help? I mean, Buffy couldn't even get the title to take her here. Which leads me to another question."
The archeologist summed it up, "How did you two disappear, and Buffy didn't?"
Xander said, "Bingo."
*****
"How are we doing today, Faith?"
The Slayer sat up from the table, after being successfully taken away from. "Just peachy." She said snidely.
Ninedinna grinned, "It seems my plans are working accordingly. You lucked out. We won't impregnate you."
Faith smirked, "What make you change your mind? Couldn't deal with impregnating a minor?"
The goa'uld scoffed, "On the contrary, Faith. Your uncle has arrived. And now, we're going to use him."
"You're going to impregnate Uncle Ash?"
She nodded. "Exactly."
Faith tried to attack her, but Ninedinna waved her hand in a circular motion and said, "Adstringo."
Suddenly, the young vampire slayer's body bound together. Her arms fused to her body as well as her legs. She appeared to now look like a stiff doll. Faith tried to move, but couldn't.
Ninedinna said, "We might not want to impregnate you, but it doesn't mean that we can't use you."
She turned to K'nic. "Go find her uncle and the remaining seven Tauri."
Faith wanted to say something, but couldn't.
Her first prime said, "Yes, my goddess."
With that said, he left leaving his goddess with her slayer.
"You can try all you want, Faith. There is nothing you can do to escape. That's my tighten spell. And it seems to be working perfectly."
*****
Xander and Teal'c started to explore their current surroundings. While there were similarities to the rest of Ninedinna's temple, there were in fact differences as well.
To Xander, everything that he recently experienced was new to him, but to the Jaffa, it was similar. While he did see some slight goa'uld influence, there was mainly ancient influence. Yet, there was also something that he didn't experience before.
He sighed, "I'll tell you one thing, Teal'c."
Teal'c raised his eye brow, "What would that be?"
The young man smirked, "This temple definitely isn't Temple Beth Israel."
"Temple Beth Israel?"
"Xander smirked again, "Spaceballs reference."
Teal'c said, "I am not familiar with Spaceballs."
Xander looked at him, "You're kidding, right?"
"I do not kid." Teal'c replied.
"Well, if you like Star Wars, and if you like comedies, you'd definitely like that one. Remind me to show you it sometime."
"Indeed." Teal'c stated.
"Hey, Xand."
Xander smiled as he raised the volume on his radio. "Hey, Buff."
"Colonel O'Neill's here."
Xander was about to respond, when Jack said, "You had to step on the tile."
He said in his defense, "How was I supposed to know it would take me to some hidden temple?"
"You never touch something that you don't know what it."
Xander smirked, "You know, for someone who lives on a Hellmouth, I should've known that."
"Yeah, you should've." Jack said. "Now, are you and Teal'c okay?"
Teal'c replied, "We are fine, O'Neill. But we do require your assistance."
"And we'll figure out some way to get you out. Just stay put."
Xander nodded, "Consider it done."
"We'll let you know when something comes up. O'Neill out."
Xander said to his friend, "Well, at least we got Jack now."
"Indeed."
*****
"Did you enjoy that, murderer?"
The creature snarled, "Just be glad that I'm chained."
His prison guard smirked, "You're all talk, aren't you?"
In response, he yelled, "Unchain me, and find out."
The guard went over to his prisoner and smacked him across the face. "You're just begging for a beating, aren't you?"
His prisoner launched himself to his feet and went for his guard. "You're a pathetic excuse for a bounty hunter, aren't you? You're so bad, that they had to settle for prison guard just to get paid."
The guard growled, "You son of a-"
"Stop it, Buczun."
Buczan let his arm out of his partner's grasp. "Why'd you do that?"
"Because. He's just begging for a beating. Keep doing that, and you'll raise his temper."
Buczan glared at his captive. "Well, looks like you won't get that satisfaction."
He said, "I don't give a hez what you do. Just be lucky I'm chained up."
Buzcan grinned, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
His partner said, "Buz, just be careful with him. You don't want to put him in hyper rage."
Buz knew all too well about hyper rage. "Consider yourself lucky." He turned to his partner, "I'm okay now. Just go guard the Necronomicon, Gregor."
Chapter 25
Xander and Teal'c looked around the temple as a calm silence passed over them. They haven't had any luck or further conversation from their team above them. At least, they believed their friends and comrades were currently above them.
The young man looked at his friend, "Teal'c, this is all new to me. You've been around. Anything look familiar?"
The Jaffa replied, "I do recognize most of the architecture within this room. However, there is something quite unusual as well."
Xander nodded as he started to head for one of the walls. "What is on your mind, Xander?"
He answered, "This place definitely needs some exploring. Especially if we're going to find an exit. I'm simply taking one of the torches for more light."
"Are you sure taking a torch is such a good idea?"
Xander looked at him, "Teal'c, think about it. If we don't move or do anything, we're going to be stuck down here for the rest of our lives. I'm sorry. But, I'm only 18. I don't want to spend the rest of my life here."
Teal'c considered what he said, had to agree. "Indeed."
As the two neared the wall, the soft illumination provided by the flames seemed to dance along the wall. Looking at the wall closely, one could see writing carved into it.
The Californian placed his hand and was about to lift the torch, when he heard his friend say, "Xander, I know this scripture."
Xander looked at him, and then at the wall he was standing next to. "I have seen this before. According to Daniel Jackson, this scripture is that of The Ancients."
Xander raised his eyebrows. The term, and tone used, would seem to show Teal'c's respect for this race. Glancing at the markings, he turned back to his friend. "Do you have any idea what it says?"
Teal'c matched his gaze with a steady one of his own, and simply answered, "I do not."
Absorbing the information, he went to the base of the torch, and tried to lift it. However, it wouldn't budge. "Allot of good that does." He said with a low voice. Giving the base a twist, he was amazed to see a door open to his right. "Alright, this is new."
The Jaffa offered, "It is believed that many of the Ancients have placed hidden chambers to preserve their utmost respected artifacts."
Xander grinned. "Cool."
Looking into the room, they saw what looked to be the same motif as the previous one. Although, instead of lined torches, a calming white light expanded from the center of the room as it was recently re-opened.
They both entered the room as a podium started to rise from the ground.
Xander said, "Alright, this is a little too weird." He turned to his friend, "What do you think is supposed to happen here?"
Teal'c replied, "Of that, I am unaware, Xander."
He sighed, "Great." The young man started to walk around the room. As he did so the center of the podium started to sink, and a sword started to emerge from within the newly created hole.
"This seems a little too close to the sword in the stone."
As he uttered the last sentence, a bright light emerged and shortly disappeared.
"Who quests for the 'Bane of Possession?'"
Xander's eyes widened, "Huh?"
*****
The creature watched as the guard named Gregor stood in front of the Necronomicon. He knew that the book was created by Ninedinna, and that it wasn't a good idea for the book to be back with her.
If he could, he would escape, take the book and destroy it. He knew that nothing positive ever came from its pages.
Buczan looked at his prisoner as he watched the book. "Don't get any ideas."
The alien in question raised his head. "Oh, believe me. My race is more for action, but we do get the occasional idea."
Buczan responded, "Wait until Ninedinna gets here. When she does, we'll put you to real good use."
He got to his feet and glared at his guard. Recently, he had come up with an idea, and now was the perfect time to use it. "Are you full of dren or what?"
His guard smirked, "Figures you would say that."
"Say what?" He asked with a continuingly glaring face.
"Try to insult me." Buzcan stated. "That way, I get angry, you get angrier, and then enter hyper rage. No thank you."
He chuckled, "If I really wanted to escape, you would've been solar days ago."
Buczan smirked, "I don't think so. You're just trying to get a rise out of me."
He shrugged, "What can I say? When you're right, you're right."
Buczan smiled, "Of course I'm right. So just give it up."
He smiled, "But you're forgetting one thing."
The guard glared at him, "And what's that?"
"This." He then shot out his tongue at rapid speed. As soon as it recoiled, he said, "My tongue-sting."
Turning around, he grabbed the chain that attached him to the wall, and pulled with incredible strength. With a mighty roar, he pulled the chain out of the wall, and freed the rest of his body.
He looked down at his guard. "You are truly a pain in the eema."
"The luxan has escaped!"
The luxan turned around to see Gregor shouting the statement.
A loud noise surrounded the room.
"Ka D'argo has escaped!"
D'argo growled, "Frell!"
*****
Xander stared at the person in front of him.
The being looked at the young man in front of him. "Only people who are among the Altoran are granted allowance into this chamber."
Xander gulped, "Altoran?" He shook his head, "I'm not altoran. I don't think so." He then looked to his friend. "What's an ltoran?"
The being smiled, "I am ltoran." To pairs of eyes rested upon him. "Though, you."
Teal'c offered, "You are of the race who created the Stargates?"
He nodded, "We are." Looking back at the young man, he continued. "My name is Merlin."
Xander couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Wait. Wait. Wait. You're Merlin? As in THE Merlin?"
Merlin nodded, "I am the Merlin you are familiar with. I understand that on Earth, Merlin has had quite an interesting story to tell."
"So it's true? King Arthur? The Knights of the Round Table?"
He grinned, "I know Arthur Pendragon." He stepped forward. "But, I'm not here to reminisce about Avalon. When you entered this chamber, you proved you're of the altoran race."
"But I'm human!" Xander said in his defense. "And Teal'c is a jaffa."
Merlin said, "Teal'c is the one jaffa that the altorans have been interested in. Through Thor, we have learned about Teal'c's contributions and joining of SG-1. We allow his entrance through the barriers created by altoran technology."
Teal'c's eyebrow rose. With a quick nod of his head, he intoned, "Thank you."
Merlin nodded, "You're welcome, Teal'c. As for you…"
Clearing his throat, he slowly said , "Xander. My name is actually Alexander LaVelle Harris. But, please. Call me, Xander."
The sorcerer said, "Well, Xander. You may be human, but because of the history of other humans and altorans interbreeding, genes have spread. And now, humans have had the altoran gene. So, there you go. You have some ancestry with the antorans."
Xander grinned. "Wow."
Merlin said, "Wow indeed. Now, Xander. You must prove that you are worthy for the Bane of Pocession."
"What?"
Chapter 26
Merlin grinned at he turned to the podium behind him. Placing it his hands on the destined weapon, he pulled it out and returned back to the young man. "What I hold in my hands is the 'Bane Of Possession.'"
Xander turned to his friend, "Have you heard of this weapon before, Teal'c?"
He replied, "Only in myth, Xander. As I understand it though, this weapon uses a rare metal. Much different then trinium."
The sorcerer, "You're friend is right, Xander. This weapon's blade houses a rare element. Organium."
Xander's eyebrows raised, "Organium?"
Merlin nodded, "Organium is a living metal. While there are spaceships that are alive and use metals, this metal is purely alive. It would deal a great amount of damage to any being that has been processed. By possession, any goa'uld, vampire, or any other parasitic animal would meet its end.
"It is handled as a usual sword, and training is a must. This weapon has three blades as you can see. By gripping its handle and giving it a yank, the two side blades come together, expanding the blade. With this transformation complete, a four foot sword is made. It's pommel will adjust allowing this weapon to fulfill itself proportionately.
"Twisting the yanked handle, the two blades separate once again, and a hand guard is formed. The blade transforms into a nine-inch blade, and can be used as a knife, or as you may often find its use, a stake."
Xander raised his hand and attempted to grab hold of it. "Can I?"
He shook his head, "Before you do, we have to make sure that the Bane of Possession is truly yours. This weapon is only meant for a select number of altorans."
Turning back to the podium, he proceeded to where the sword was pulled out of. Going behind it, he pressed a combination of now three bright small tiles. Shortly, a drawer pulled out of the podium. Merlin went within it, and pulled out a crystal ball.
Bringing it to them, he said, "This is how we're going to decide to see whether you are worthy of the Bane of Possession. If the ball turns green, then it means that this weapon is yours."
He nodded slowly, "And if it doesn't turn green?"
Merlin sighed, "Well, you see that's the problem, Xander. If you're not one of the selected altorans, then you become one of the Bane of Possession's prisoners."
He gulped, "Prisoners?"
As he uttered the question, white light emerged from the floor, and soon dissipated. In it's wake, were seven stone people.
"I assume you know the story of Medusa, Xander?"
"So, you're saying if I'm not meant for this sword, I'll turn to stone?"
Merlin said sadly, "In a matter of speaking, yes. You become a relic of Haploxia."
He shook his head, "Nope. Not going to happen."
Teal'c immediately raised his zat. "I believe we should leave now, Xander."
Merlin looked at the Jaffa, "I know this is a drastic side-affect, but we must be sure that the Bane of Possession doesn't fall into the wrong hands. And if that means that the person has to be turned into stone, then so be it."
Xander said, "But I don't want to turn to stone."
Merlin lifted the crystal in his hands, and made sure Xander stared into it. "Xander, I know it sounds dangerous, but you have to realize something. Nothing comes free of charge. Everything has a price. The man, Sir. Isaac Newton was right, Xander. Every action has an equal or opposite reaction."
Xander stared at the crystal, then at Merlin, then back at Teal'c. "Even if I'm altoran, which according to Merlin, I am."
He let out a breath that he was holding in, "I just got Buffy back. I don't want to lose her-even if that weapon looks majorly cool."
Merlin grinned, "I understand, Xander. I know a few things about what's going on. But think about this. How much of a chance does a slayer have dying?"
He said weakly, "A very good one on her own."
"Right. But with this weapon, you might just be able to save her. A better one than you had before."
Xander said, "What you say makes sense."
Merlin brought the crystal forward. "I know this is a lot to take in, Xander. But, the Bane of Possession could be the very weapon that saves your friend's life. And I think that alone would be enough of a reason to take it."
Xander had to admit. The sorcerer was right. Letting a head nod happen, Xander said quietly, "Let me take a look at it."
Merlin handed over the crystal, and Xander held on to it with a deep breath.
The crystal began to shine with bright colors. Mixes of reds, blues, whites, greens, yellows, and so on began to shuffle through.
Xander's eyes appeared as headlights as he continued to gaze at the ball.
The colors began to slow down, and Xander couldn't help but fear the worse.
Shortly though, the crystal turned bright…
"It's now or never." He said.
The final color appeared.
Merlin said to him, "Well, Xander. The crystal ball has found its answer."
Taking the sword, he handed it to the young man. "You are worthy of processing the Bane of Possession."
The crystal turned bright green.
*****
"How the hell do we get them out of here?"
The five looked at the young women who was busy staring at the tile. "I mean, I don't get it. I step on it, and nothing happens. He does, and him and Teal'c both disappear."
Daniel looked at her, "I don't know, Buffy."
She sighed, "Allot of good that does them."
Hercules said to her, "We'll get find a way to get them out."
Buffy turned to the wall. "Does it say anything else?"
Daniel told her, "Actually, yes. Ninedinna isn't using a human host."
Jack looked at him, "What do you mean, not a human host? That's what goa'ulds do. They take over their bodies."
Sam said, "He's right. Sir. According to this, Ninedinna is using a sebecian host."
Ash asked, "What's a sebacian?"
Daniel stated, "I don't know either."
Buffy said, "It looks like you don't know allot of things, Daniel."
"Buffy," Hercules said in a calm voice. "Relax."
She was about to say something, when Hercules added, "Xander can take care of himself. Don't forget, he's been training with you lately."
That made her quiet.
Ash said to Herc in a quieter tone, "Nice one."
The demigod grinned back.
*****
D'Argo's eyes widened as he saw the remaining unas came charging toward him.
"Frell," he uttered under his breath.
His hand went for his quantum blade, but soon remembered that his weapon was back on Moya. After all, the luxan's stay on Haploxia was only temporary. As soon as Ninedinna did what she wanted to, he was supposed to go back to Moya, and go back to his chambers…chained up to the wall.
Looking around, he needed a weapon. But unfortunately, there were none. He was frelled, and he knew it.
He then spotted the Necronomicon, and wondered if that could help. No matter what he had to do, one thing was for sure, he had to get the book away from her. And he knew just the place.
Seeing an open space, he went for it with rapid speed. He charged for the book, but was soon intercepted by Gregor. Leaning into him, D'Argo grabbed the unas by the arm and flung him from his right to his left, knocking him against the wall.
Forcing his had into a fist, he broke through the glass shielding of the book. Letting the shattered pieces fall to the ground, he picked up the book and headed for the other wall. He had to get out of there, and fast.
*****
"Dammit."
Ninedinna said to herself as she felt her spell awaken.
The spell in question was one that she cast on the Ancient Chamber. It was designed to go off when any person was able to get through the white tile and get the chance of retrieving the 'Bane of Possession.'
That weapon was something that she was always trying to get, but because she wasn't of the Altorans, she couldn't get it. So, she cast a spell, and it would let her know if someone was able to actually get the weapon.
Surely enough, the Bane of Possession was now within someone's grasp.
The question though, was who would it be?
She shook her head, suddenly realizing who it would probably be. The eight Tauri. She hadn't seen them sine she left Earth, but knew they were on Haploxia, thanks to her first prime.
This had gone on long enough. The original plan was to make Ashley Williams her new first prime. The thought of having the promised one in her control for many years.
But that plan was becoming a distant second when she found out that the Bane of Possession was in someone's possession.
If she had that weapon, she'd be even more powerful. No other goa'uld would dare try to kill her. The organium was what was feared. Living metal was rare within the charted territories. Hell, it was rare within the uncharted territories.
And now, she was told that Ka D'Argo has escaped. Those stupid unas didn't know what they were up against. Which led her to question why did she trust them with him.
In truth, it was because she felt five unas would be good enough. Apparently, she was wrong.
She needed to get the Bane of Possession, allow Ash to become her first prime, and get Ka D'Argo back in chains.
But there were too many things to do, and so little time to do it.
So, with a wicked grin, she uttered another spell.
"Addo cunctus falsus Haploxians exorior, colloco penitus carcer."
Chapter 27
Faith's eyes squeezed tight when a sudden bright light emerged from nowhere. Shortly, it dissipated, and was rewarded with seeing nine people appear.
She tried to say something, but due to Ninedinna's spell, she still couldn't move. She still stood, still. The only feature of her body that moved was her hair.
"What happened?" Buffy asked she searched her new surroundings.
"Faith…"
The mention of the lost friend from Ash made everyone turn the current resident of the room they were in.
"Why isn't she moving?" Buffy asked.
Ash's eyes narrowed when he saw something. "Maybe because he has the Necronomicon."
They soon spotted someone they hadn't seen before.
"What the hell is that?" Ash yelled.
The creature in question snarled, "Peacekeepers."
Jack turned to Daniel, "Can you translate?"
He said, "I can't, Jack. I don't recognize any kind of dialect or similarity to any other language."
"Do you think he made her like that?" Xander asked.
Buffy looked at everyone and asked, "What I want to know is why are we all here?"
Hercules suggested, "Magic spell?"
"And him?" Ash asked as he pointed.
"An unnecessary set back," a voice said as she entered the room.
"Allow me to introduce myself," she smiled as she walked further. "As you may know, my name is…"
"Ninedinna." Xander said with disgust.
She smiled, "The boy is right." Now looking at the still slayer, she said, "And I bet you're wondering what happened to Faith?"
Hercules added, "Among other things."
She was about so say something further when D'Argo charged forward. "Talk is cheep."
Ninedinna smiled as she blasted him against the wall. "Foolish luxan."
Buffy asked, "Luxan?"
She nodded, "Oh, right. You humans never met luxans before. A powerful warrior race, but not to bright."
D'Argo snarled as he got back to his feet. "You just made a huge mistake."
She smiled, "You always know what to say, Luxan."
Daniel looked at her, "You know what he's saying?"
D'Argo looked at him, "Don't you?"
The sebacian shook her head, "Our friends here aren't from around here. They come from a planet called Earth."
D'Argo asked, "So they aren't peacekeepers?"
Ash interrupted, "I hate to interrupt, but I want you to release my niece right now!"
Ninedinna returned to him, "That's doable, Ash. But of course, you have to do something for me."
Xander brought his new weapon into view. "No fucking way."
"I was hoping one of you got that." Ninedinna said with joy.
Buffy asked, "Where'd you get that sword?"
Xander turned to her, "I'll tell you later." Looking at his enemy, he added, "But according to my source, organium is something that you goa'uld hate."
Ninedinna said, "Doesn't matter. As long as I got Faith here, I don't think you'd try and harm me." She laughed, "I don't think you could do anything. Even with that weapon."
Hercules grinned as he came forward, "Doesn't mean we can't do some damage."
The sebacian said, "Try as you will, none of you are capable of killing me."
Jack said, "Try telling that to, I dunno, another goa'uld named Ra."
She shook her head, "You humans don't know anything. I'm not using a human host like the other goa'ulds." She then turned to D'Argo, "and I'm not like the unases."
He snarled, "You don't think I frelling know that."
Buffy smirked, "Ignore her. She's all talk."
Ninedinna shot her a look, "All talk am I?" She opened her palm, and blasted the eldest slayer to the far wall.
Xander's eyes widened when he saw his friend get shoved to the wall…
"Buffy!"
He wanted to make sure she was all right, but knew that it wasn't the best solution. His hand tightened the pummel of his weapon, and he followed his instincts. Charging toward their enemy, he growled, "You bitch!"
She did a quick twirl, and shot out her free arm. Opening the palm, she shot a blast at him. "I don't have time for this."
Watching him fall to the ground, she said to her captives. "Before any more of you try to do something, I suggest you look at your friends who are laying motionless on the floor."
The remaining standing people from Earth and D'Argo looked up at Ninedinna as she approached the former promised one. "On your feet, Ash."
Ash glared at her as he stood up. "You…"
The sebecian raised her finger. "Don't say another word. I'm sure you know by now that I wrote the Necronomicon, and have tremendous power. What I want from you, Mr. Williams is to make a deal."
He snarled, "I don't make deals with people who kidnap my niece."
"Too bad," Ninedinna said with a slight smile. "I was going to offer you a chance to get Faith back home to Earth."
The mentioned last part gained his interest. "What do you want?"
She smiled, "Here's going to what happened, sacrifice yourself. Let me make you my first prime, and I'll release Faith." The sebecian headed toward the still slayer, "I'm sure that's to your liking."
Jack walked over. "Don't do it, Ash. You don't want to become a jaffa, trust me."
He looked at his friend, "You think I want to?"
A second later, she snapped her fingers. A thud hit the ground. They turned to see the falling action of Faith. "Don't think I'm too cruel. I do have morals. Talk amongst yourselves. Either Faith becomes my first prime, or Ash does. Either way. I win."
She headed for the door. "You have one arn to discuss your answer." Turning back to them, she added, "And don't try to leave. You're in my dungeon. Nobody can get out without my knowing."
With that, she left the Earthers and D'Argo to discuss the matter.
*****
A Short Time Later
A malfunctioning DRD crept into the dungeon. One of its brightly lit antenna-like eyes bent down while the other one kept swinging from right to left. It's outer yellow shell had broken pieces and gaping holes around its body.
It looked around, and noted three sebecians lying on the ground unconscious, one luxan arguing with six other sebecians. None of them seemed to be making sense. It could tell communicating was getting to be an issue. Especially, since no one was making any sense to one another.
It started to one of the unconscious sebecians. Lifting its arm, it pointed to one of their feet, and shot a translator microbe through her. It watched immediately as she snapped her eyes open and yelled out, "What the fuck was that?"
She stood up and looked around her. A disorientating appearance crossed her face. The young female looked at the floor, trying to figure out what happened. Lucky for it though, she didn't see it. Looking around her again, her eyes smiled when she saw someone else, "Uncle Ash?"
He was about to reply when he felt a shot going through his foot. "What the hell?" He hollered aloud.
The luxan looked at him, "That would be from a DRD."
Ash's eyes widened, "I can understand you?" He looked at the ground, and spotted it. "What did that thing do to me?"
"Youch!" Xander yelled as he awoke.
"Ow!"
"That hurt!"
"Somebody shoot that damn thing!" Jack cried, "Before it…dammit!"
Carter aimed her zat at the driving piece of metal. "I got it sir!"
D'Argo yelled, "Don't!"
Xander looked at the captain, "Is it me, or did D'Argo just say 'Don't'"
Jack turned to him, "I actually understand him too."
"Sir? She asked again, but suddenly yelled out, "Ouch."
"Uh oh."
"O'Neill?"
"Crap."
D'Argo looked at the nine people he was with in the cell, mostly were firing weapons at the ground. "Stop firing!"
Buffy looked at him, "Why can I understand you?"
He said simply, "Because all of you now have translator microbes."
Daniel looked at him, "Translator microbes?"
D'Argo explained, "Everyone in the uncharted territories are given translator microbes when they're born. That way everyone can talk without having to learn different languages."
Xander said, "So what does this mean?"
Teal'c assumed, "I believe it means that we can now understand numerous languages?"
The young Scooby said to his friend, "Guess that means we can finally understand what Senior Moran is screaming at us in Spanish."
Buffy said, "Oh, good. Now, I have to focus in Spanish Class."
Jack's head took a sharp turn to the luxan, "Wait. Are you saying that that thing?"
D'Argo simply clarified, "DRD."
He nodded, "Right, DRD implanted us with translating microbes?"
The alien growled, "You humans are getting to be really annoying. Yes, you have translator microbes at the base of your brain."
"Well, can they be taken out?"
D'Argo argued, "Why would you want them taken out?"
"I dunno, because I don't want to have anything foreign inside me that isn't naturally supposed to be there."
"O'Neill, perhaps these translator microbes will help us communicate with other races."
Jack was about to say something when Hercules spoke, "Guys, as much fun as we're having debating on what these translator microbes are doing, we have to figure some way to get out of here."
Faith looked at them, "Not to mention to get this Ninedinna lady off our backs."
Ash replied, "Which leads us back to our problem. If we don't figure out an answer soon, she's going to come back here expecting me to become her first prime or something."
Faith shook her head, "Not going to happen."
Xander said, "That goes without saying."
She nodded, "Right. Because I'll be the one to become the first prime."
Chapter 28
"Where are they?"
"Dite?" The smith god asked as he watched her pace.
She glanced at her husband. "Hercules? He should've come back by now. They all should've."
He saw the pained look on his wife's face. "He's on the other planet, 'Dite. You know that."
She sighed, "I know, Hephy."
Hephaestus limped over to his wife, and wrapped his arms around her chest. "Dite, you're just showing love for your brother. He's fine. He'll be back shortly."
She twisted around so that she was facing him. "I know, Hephy. You above all gods know that Hercules will be fine, but it's not only him."
He looked at her skeptically, "It's not?"
The blond shook her head, "Hercules is over on another planet facing a goa'uld. A false goddess, and you know he's hiding his identity. Especially when he's surrounded by so many mortals. I just."
He smiled when he saw her eyes getting a little wet. "Dite…"
She smiled slightly, "It's just that Hercules is finally accepting me as a valued family member. You know how hard a time he has with this family, and I don't want to lose what I have."
Throughout the centuries, Hephaestus knew his wife, and knew so many things about her. Hercules was always someone she held close to her heart, and knew how wanted to live within this world. "You do realize that Zeus will kill punish you if he finds out that you went off-world?"
She smiled, "I know, Daddy isn't going to like this. I'm already in trouble, and I accept that. But, I want to help."
He said, "You already returned the Astral Rod. How else are you going to get there? Dite, if Zeus finds out…"
Aphrodite said to him, "I know, I know. But, there's got to be another way to get there. And if there is a way that Daddy won't find out about, all the better."
Her husband detached himself from her, knowing there was an answer. But, because, it was something that other deities didn't want to resort to. After all, they were one of the great powers through the universe, and going to lesser beings for assistance wasn't a solution that gods liked to use.
"There is one way, Dite. One way to go to Haploxia without having to go back to Outworld."
She noted the tone in his voice. "What way, Hephy?"
He turned around, "You could go to the oracles. They'd be more than willing to help you. And, it's not like Zeus would find out. He doesn't pay that much attention to them anyway."
She scowled, "You want me to turn to the oracles? Why not just go to Delph?"
Hephaestus reminded her, "Aphrodite, you could go to Delphi, but you know if you do go there, Zeus would think that was an obvious contact for someone to go off-world. Especially when Delphi is in Greece. Trust me, going to the oracles would be the best answer."
Even though going to the oracles was something that she didn't like to do, she knew her husband was right. Bringing a smile to her face, she said, "Alright, Hephy. I'll do it. I'll go to them, they'll send me to Haploxia, and then I'll go and help Hercules."
He grinned, "Good. Then, when you come back, you and I can have some quality time."
She squealed, "Tubular."
*****
Ash shook his head, "Not going to happen, Kiddo. This is what's going down. You go back to Earth, go to Sunnydale with Buffy, Xander, and the others. I become this insane goa'uld's first prime. End of story."
Faith glared at him, "I'm not going to lose you, Uncle Ash. There's no chance in hell that that will happen."
Xander approached the two Williamses. "We'll find some way to stop her. We do that, and then no one has to make a sacrifice."
Hercules added, "Xander's right."
D'Argo grunted, "You don't have a frelling chance on stopping her."
"How can you be so sure?" Buffy asked.
He looked at her, "Just look at what happened. She nearly killed you just now. What makes you think you can stop her?"
Xander said, "For one thing, I have the Bane of Possession."
The mention of the weapon brought the luxan more curiosity. "So, you're one of the ancients?"
Teal'c replied, "Xander has a gene that is common among other Alterans."
Daniel questioned, "Altorans?"
He nodded, "When Xander and I were transported into the temple, we discovered a secret room. There, Merlin gave Xander a test to see if he was worthy of this weapon."
Hercules immediately recognized the name. He didn't know Merlin was Altoran, but it would easily explain quite a few things that he had experienced with the sorcerer. It would be one thing that he'd bring up the next time he was in Avalon.
Daniel asked, "You met up with Merlin?"
He nodded, "Didn't have much of a choice. We entered the room, he performed a test, I passed. Thank god. And now, I'm the owner of this incredible sword."
Buffy pouted, and wanted to know why he got the sword, and not her. She was the chosen one. The one who always had prophecies dealt with her, and always made her a target. She was about to say something at the moment when she saw something.
She looked at Faith. Another chosen one. Then she saw Faith's uncle, a former promised one. The term, '….one' didn't seem so important anymore. She already discovered this world to be more overwhelming then she recently felt.
What if she really wasn't although that important to the world? What if she wasn't the center of it? Then she looked at her best friend, and remembered their conversation back on Thor's ship. She remembered feeling small among the stars. She remembered feeling lonely, and insignificant
But then she remembered feeling comforted when Xander had his arms around her, and remembered feeling safe and secure. She remembered him calling her his hero, and she remembered her calling him her hero.
And what made her come to that realization was still true. So what if he had a special sword, or had an Altoran gene. He was Xander, her best friend. Her hero. If anyone deserved that weapon, it was him.
Her musings were cut-off when Faith asked, "Does Altoran mean alien?"
Xander chuckled, "Nope. I'm still one hundred percent human. Just that one of my genes apparently is Altoran."
Jack asked, "As much fun as we're having discussing how human our friend is here, we need to find a way to stop Ninedinna." Glancing at his team, he asked, "What kind of metal would hurt a goa'uld?"
Carter answered, "I believe she called it oganium, Sir."
Xander nodded, "Yeah, it's organium. A living metal." He turned to the luxan, "And I think that would help us kill her."
Faith went to her waist, "Not to mention my chakram." Her eyes widened when she remembered that her weapon was back in LA. "Which I don't have."
Hercules clarified, "Gabrielle has it, Faith. You'll get it back when we go home."
D'Argo said, "Organium will help, but you're going to need some other weapon. She's incredibly more powerful then any of you."
Buffy grinned finding an entrance into the conversation, "I think Faith and I have something. We're both vampire slayers."
He questioned, "What's a vampire slayer?"
Hercules smiled, "Think of it as a strong human." (Although, I think I might be stronger then them.)
D'Argo reminded them, "Even if they do have incredible strength, Ninedinna already threw them across the room. What's to say that we can take her down? I don't know where Earth is, or how come you all look like sebecians, but do you even know a sebecian's natural weakness."
Ash shrugged, "Figured mass fire power."
Daniel looked at him, "That's what you did when we fought bad Faith and what you did against bad Ash."
He nodded, "And it worked, didn't it?"
Hercules smiled, "He does have a point."
Jack looked at the luxan, "So how do we take down a sebecian."
D'Argo said simply, "Intense heat."
Ash looked at Daniel, "See, I'm right. Mass fire power is the same as intense heat."
Xander asked, "Where's a volcano when you need one?"
*****
Aphrodite appeared within a large white room. In front of her, stood large arcs that led to other rooms.
She smirked. Yet again. People were inspired from Greek architecture. "You mortals never change."
Dite shook her head, "Even if you are middle level beings."
Letting her head glance around the room, she asked, "Hello?"
"What do you want, lower…"
His sister cut him off, "Brother, what we have here is not a lower being."
He looked in front of him as he saw the goddess in front of him. "Oh my apologies, Aphrodite, great goddess of love."
She gazed at them, "Listen, I know us gods don't like to interact with you that much. It's not something that some of us our proud of."
The sister said, "We are most honored with your presence."
Aphrodite smiled, "Thank you. I knew you couldn't be all bad."
The brother added, "We are most respectful for our elders."
She glared at them, "Don't attack my age."
The sister said, "What is age if you are truly immortal?"
"Good point." Aphrodite said. "I need some help. My brother is off in Haploxia, and I want to help him. The problem is I recently used the Astral Rod, and I don't want to use it again, if I don't have to."
"You are aware that your father isn't fond of other gods using the Astral Rod."
She nodded, "I know. Believe me, I know. But, I'm not worried about him right now. I need to help him."
He added, "We know Hercules is on that planet, Aphrodite. But because of what he has done along with your friends, another foretold prophecy has been placed in jeopardy."
"How so?"
The sister said, "It actually concerns a luxan named Ka D'Argo and a human named John Chriton."
Chapter 29
The door to the dungeon snapped open with a monstrous sound. The sebecian narrowed her eyes when she saw the two Williams' within the center of a small grouping. She wanted to know what they were thinking.
Looking at the others, she said with a slight smile. Have you chosen your answer?"
Ash looked at her, angrily. And was about to say something, when his niece spoke up. "Take me."
Buffy shook her head, "Take me. I'm a slayer too."
Xander's eyes widened, "Buffy!"
She gave him a look. A strong, calm look. "This way both of them can go home, Xan."
He shook his head, "Not going to happen." Xander's hand tightened around his weapon. "I lost you once. I'm not going to lose you again."
Ninedinna said with jaunting smile, "How touching." She then walked forward. "But, doesn't matter. I have an answer that would solve all our problems. One that won't cause any more confusion."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I can't wait to hear this."
"I'm taking both of you."
Her hand rose up, and opened her palm. Bright light circulated it when suddenly she felt a sharp pain. She immediately turned her head to see the culprit. Her eyes burned into her culprit. "You really think cutting off my hand will do any good?"
Ash grinned, "Now, let's see how you like living with one hand."
Xander grinned, "Got to admit, this sword kicks major ass."
She smirked, "Reingenero."
Soon, light circled around her wrist, and a new hand grew out from the stump that was created from Xander's weapon.
Ash said calmly, "Before we kill you, can you give me my hand back?"
Ninedinna glared at him as she shot a blast at him. He flew through the air, and hit the wall. Getting to his feet, he said in a low voice, "I guess not."
*****
"Excuse me?"
The sister clarified, "It is foretold that John Chriton is the first human to be seen within the uncharted territories."
Her brother added, "And sine your brother brought seven other humans to Haploxia, Ka D'Argo will never fulfill his end of the prophecy."
"What do you want me to do?"
The sister continued, "You must find a way to solve this problem, Aphrodite. As my sister has revealed, John Chriton is the first human to be in the uncharted territories."
Her brother stated, "And with your brother, along with the other lower beings, they interrupted the prophecy."
The goddess sighed, "So what do you want me to do? Can you at least send me to Haploxia."
She replied, "We will send you. But, in return, we the prophecy must be reinstated."
The blond didn't know what to do. On one hand, she was definitely going to be able to get to Haploxia, and it was something that she really wanted to do. Hercules needed her help. She knew that.
But on the other hand, she didn't know how to handle this Ka D'Argo problem. She heard about luxans before. Briefly, but she had heard of them.
The question though, what was she going to do with this one?
She shook her head and glanced at the oracles, "What am I going to do? Erase his memory? Either that, or rotate the planet backwards until time turns back, and go back to the time before Hercules and the other ever met up with Ninedinna came to Earth."
The brother stated, "Rotating the planet isn't what needs to be done. Folding back time is something that we are accustomed too, but we are in no shape or form in able to target Haploxia from this far of a distance."
His sister added, "Changing time is quite drastic, but you're first choice would prove most beneficial. You're family has the ability, and it would be the easiest way to get the prophecy reinstated."
*****
"You can either stop this foolishness, give me both of them, and go home. Or you can all die."
Jack grinned, "I'm thinking not." He then pressed his finger on the trigger of his MP5. A spray of bullets rattled out its barrel and soared to its target. Ninedinna waved her hand, and the bullets fell to the ground.
"Crap." He said under his breath.
"Fine. If you don't want to take up on my offer, then you leave me no choice. Armo."
The walls of the dungeon soon shook. Dozens of holes opened, and circular long shafts shot out.
Daniel said, "This can't be good."
"I'm thinking you're right." Xabder said.
Hercules looked around the room. He needed a way to use his strength, and in a way, that was safe from bringing attention to himself. The demigod noted a circular formation of pillars around him. He needed to find a way to hide his strength, and use someway to cover himself.
"Xander?"
The boy looked toward his friend and noted him nodding his head to the direction of the pillar. Xander didn't know what the demigod was planning, but knew something had to provide time for his friend to move.
"I'm thinking we need to move." He said to his friend.
The long circular shafts began shooting numerous rounds of what appeared to be electrical outbursts.
"Don't have to tell me twice, kid!" Ash hollered as he ran for cover.
Hercules watched as his team ran for cover. Knowing that his time, he tackled one of the pillars. The pillar began to swerve.
Xander saw his friend's movement, and raised his MP5 that he had attached to his belt. Pressing it, bullets shot out and hit the pillar. He hoped the added force would help provide cover.
The pillar swayed further, and began a chain reaction. Pillar, after pillar created a parallel to a row of dominos.
Xander saw the opportunity, and got Buffy and Faith to see the only left freestanding pillar. "A little help here."
Buffy and Faith saw where he was headed, and noted the electrical outbursts. Taking their breaths, they sprinted for the pillar. The three of them pressed the pillar forward and another chain began.
Shortly, the circular patter of pillars collapsed.
While the pillars didn't land on their enemy, the pillars did block the holes that were newly appearing. Thus stopping the electrical charges.
"Looks like the great old goddess lost her firing range." Buffy sang as she walked out of the mess. "Now, we know you're going to come back firing, and that you're going to mess us all up. After all, we're human."
D'Argo coughed.
"And one luxan."
He grinned this thanks. "But you're forgetting one thing."
She growled, "What's that?"
D'Argo walked over to her, "The Necronomicon."
Chapter 30
Ninedinna's eyes widened in horror. She didn't expect hat she would forget them having the Necrononicom . After all, she didn't have that much time to keep the book in mind when everyone appeaered within her dungeon.
Then, she suddenly relaxed when she realized that no true damage could be dealt to her at that moment. "You really think the Necronomicon will do any goo stopping me?"
Jack said with a slight grin, "That's the general consensus."
The sebecian smirked, "I created the book. I empowered it. Any spell that you read will have no effect on me." She shook her head, "And anyway, do any of you understand Sumerian."
She looked at the former promised, "You can't even say a spell right to get home." Then turned to the younger slayer, "Or learn enough from your mistakes so it wouldn't happen again."
Buffy growled, "That's a low blow."
She barked her, "It's the truth. Ash and his family are all the same. Complete insanity."
Ash glared at her. He revved up his chainsaw. "You can call me insane all you like. But, never call my niece insane."
He raised his arm and charged the enemy. She glared at him. "How cute. The uncle is trying to protect his niece."
She raised her hand upward, and the single gesture forced Ash into the air. As he floated, he yelled, "What the?" Then she pushed her hand forward, and Ash sailed to the other side of the room.
D'Argo growled, "This has lasted frelling enough." He opened his mouth and shot out his tongue. She then grabbed his tongue with her other hand and flew him to the other side of the room. The Necronomicon flew from his hands and fell to the ground.
Ninedinna grinned at the action. She went to ground and picked up the book. As she did, a jolt shot through her and an engulfing blue light surrounded her. A wave of dizziness as she collapsed to the ground. She looked up at the group of people as they approached. "I don't understand."
Xander grinned, "You made it perfectly clear. The book can do no damage to you."
Hercules added, "But you be surprised what you can do to empower a book on your own."
"You don't understand Sumerian."
Jack grinned, "We do now." He said as he pointed to his head.
Her eyes widened, "Translator microbes."
Daniel said, "There not so bad when you think about it."
Xander stepped forward. He brought his weapon forward as he knelt down in front of her. "Now, we know it's stupid to sound so cocky in front of you, but seeing as you can't even get to your feet, I dunno if it isn't such a bad idea."
She glared at him. She gestured her hand in a circle.
"Frell."
Nothing happened.
Buffy smiled, "We nullified you."
Xander nodded as he got back to his feet. "That's why you're week. All your magic is gone."
SG-1 as well as the other members of their team brought out their weapons. SG-1 had their MP-5's. Xander has his Bane of Possession, Buffy with her trinium axe, Ash with his chainsaw, and Hercules by himself.
Faith grinned, "Doesn't this look familiar, Uncle Ash?"
"You mean by the fact that Ninedinna here looks exactly like how Bad Faith looked before she died."
Xander grinned, "Yep. The big bad is all but a messy stain on the ground."
She growled, "You really think this is how it's going to end?"
Ash asked, "Do you see anything anything that's helping in your favor?"
Ninedinna got to her feet slowly. "I may not have powers, but that doesn't mean you can stop me. I still am a goddess."
Hercules smirked. (Don't make me prove how wrong that theory is.)
Jack growled, "Stop deluding yourself. You're nothing but a snake. A snake who's been around way to long."
Xander said, "And what do goa'ulds hate?"
Sam commented, "I believe that's organium."
He twisted the handle of his weapon and approached her. Raising his arm, he lifted the blade. With a powerful thrust, he drove the blade down, slicing Ninedinna in half.
Before she could even try to say anything, her body split in two. From her head t to her crouch, both parts were closely symmetrical to one another.
Buffy gave him a look, "Interesting way of cutting her."
Xander told her, "Wanted to make sure I got the goa'uld."
Jack nodded, "I say we can safely assume Ninedinna won't be taking any more kidnapping."
D'Argo added, "Oh, I bet she won't be able to do more that that."
Teal'c added, "We are most appreciated of your assistance, Ka D'Argo."
"I'm just glad that Ninedinna is gone. She has been truly a pain throughout the uncharted territories."
He went to inspect the fallen body parts. D'Argo lifted up her right side of her head. "I believe I see the goa'uld."
Jack went to see what D'Argo was glancing at. "Yep, that's one half of a dead goa'uld."
Faith asked, "What about the book?"
Hercules went to the book, "I got the perfect place for it."
The colonel said, "A vault somewhere. Maybe around Area 51."
Faith said, "All I want to do is go home."
Ash grinned, "Not a bad idea."
"Hercules?"
The demigod eyes widened when he saw Aphrodite suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
"I was wondering..."
Her brother gave her a look that she knew all too well. "Why don't you go up to the Stargate? I was actually hoping to speak with Xander and D'Argo alone. We'll catch up in a second.
As soon as her brother metioned the name, she knew exactly what she had to do. Approaching the luxan, she was glad no one could see her, or hear her. "So, you're Ka D'Argo, huh?"
Hercules didn't like what was going on. "All we need is a few minutes."
Xander looked at him strangly, but knew him enough to know that something was going on. "Just hold the gate up."
Jack looked at his team and nodded, "Alright, people. Let's give these three a minute to talk."
Final salutations were said, and SG-1, Buffy, Ash, and Faith left the three of them alone. As soon as they did, Aphrodite appeared so that the others could see her.
"What the frell just happened?"
Aphrodite smiled, "I wanted to talk to you."
Xander immediately turned to his friend, "What's going on?"
Seeing his sister, he knew he couldn't explain what happened. Especially on something that just happened. Shaking his head, he glared at her, "Aphrodite."
She turned to him, "Relax, Herc. It's covered. Thanks to your adventure on rescuing Faith, you ruined a prophecy."
Xander rolled his eyes, "Great. Another prophecy."
D'Argo looked at the strangely, "Will someone tell me what's going on?"
The goddess said, "It's like this, D'Argo. Our friend Xander here isn't the first human your supposed to meet."
"What?"
Chapter 31
'Dite looked at the Luxan, "You heard me, D. Xander and the others aren't the first humans your supposed to meet."
Xander grinned, "Something tells me being sebecians would be a better race to be."
D'Argo looked at him, "Are you frelling insane?"
Xander shrugged, "Only joking." A moment passed, and then he said, "Somebody tell me what the world, 'frell' means?"
Hercules looked at him, "Do you really have to ask that question?"
Giving it a second, he admitted, "Probably no. Anyway," he turned to the goddess, "why did you appear in front of D'Argo? Me, I can understand. I'm X-babe, but him? He's-"
Aphrodite cut him off, "I went to the Oracles to try and find a way to get to Haploxia without having to use the Astral Rod. Once is enough, and twice would seriously force Daddy to take some serious action."
Hercules' eyes widened, "You met the Oracles?"
She nodded, "Hey, goddess trying to make a change here."
Ka D'Argo looked at her, "You're a goddess?"
The blond grinned, "Aphrodite. Goddess of love. At your service. But, anywho. I'm going to have to do something to help fix a prophecy that my brother put in jeopardy?"
Hercules asked, "What did I do?"
Xander remembered, "You were part of a team that rescued Faith."
He nodded, "Right." The demigod then turned to his sister, "What are you suggesting on doing?"
Aphrodite said slowly, "I'm going to have to erase his memory."
His eyes widened, "Why? There is no way I'm going back as a prisoner."
She sighed, "Fraid so, Sweetcheeks. But, you won't remember any of this. And in one year, you'll meet John Chriton. Then you'll escape and fulfill the prophecy."
D'Argo growled at her, "That is very unlikely."
The goddess shook her head, "Sorry, D. Or else I wouldn't be so open with this information."
Xander said, "It's only one year."
'Dite clarified, "Which is a cycle to you."
Hercules glanced at his sister. After giving it some thought. "I've had my share of breaking prophecies, so has Xander. And let me tell you, it' can be a real pain to fix. If it's simply a prophecy about you meeting another human that isn't Xander or Colonel O'Neill then fixing it isn't such a pain either."
He sighed, "But I wanted to find Jothee."
Aphrodite snapped her fingers and D'Argo soon saw a circulating yellow light around his forehead. It dissipated shortly, and then his mind went blank.
"How does he get back to where he came from?"
She answered her friend, "I talked to oracles as well about that. Apparently, he's part of a living spaceship named Moya. All we have to do is do is sprinkle this," her palm opened up and a small amount of brown powder appeared, "on D'Argo." She did, and then say the words, "Return to once has been."
Xander looked at them, "Damn. These translator microbes make everything sound English to me."
Hercules said, "To me, I'm actually listening to Greek."
The young man said, "Weird."
Aphrodite said, "I just spoke Latin, X-Babe." Then she snapped her fingers again, and D'Argo disappeared. "Now he won't remember you, Hercules, or anything that happened here today."
She then turned to her brother, "So, do you need any help stopping Ninedinna?"
Hercules grinned, "We took care of her, thanks."
Xander noted the book in his hands, "What about the book?"
The demigod suggested, "Remember the episode that dealt with parallel worlds?" He nodded, "well, I'm thinking the middle of that tunnel would be best. Being stuck in Limbo should do nicely."
Aphrodite said, "I can do it, Herc. The others would want to know what happened to it. Just say you gave it to D'Argo to look after. With Ninedinna gone, a Luxan would be its best protector."
Hercules thought for a moment, "Normally, I'd think no. But you certainly have been surprising me, Aphrodite. Go ahead."
"Tubular." She grinned, and then she and the book disappeared.
Xander said, "Can we really trust her with that book?"
"Xander, Aphrodite is just about the only god we can trust right now."
"If you say so."
"C'mon. Let's go home."
*****
"Unscheduled off-world activation!"
Red lights flashed and alarm klaxons sounded throughout the base.
The doors to the main computer room opened, and in walked a well-dressed man of command. General Hammond immediately rushed to the Gate Control Room and said, "Close the iris."
Sgt. Davis nodded, "Yes, Sir." Soon, he did the aforementioned action, and the iris closed.
When satisfied, Davis looked back at the computer, "Sir, it's SG-1."
General Hammond smiled, "Open the iris, and welcome them home."
The iris opened and shortly nine people walked out the Stargate. Hammond left the Gate Control Room and entered the Gate Room.
"Good to see you again, SG-1." He said as they stepped down the ramp. He iris closed behind them as they walked down.
He saw the young woman that they were attempting to rescue. "I assume that's Ms. Williams."
Ash grinned, "General Hammond, meet my niece, Faith. Faith, this is General Hammond. He's the one that helped us find you."
She smiled back, "Thank you, General Hammond."
He nodded, "You are quite welcome. Now, why don't you have Dr. Frasier take a look at you all, and then report to debriefing room at…" He then looked at his watch, 17 hundred hours." He then scanned them all, and with a smile, he asked, "I trust Ninedinna was taken care of."
Jack said, "Just add her to the list of dead snakes, Sir."
"Excellent. You're dismissed."
*****
"You wanted to see me, Dr. Fraiser?"
Janet Frasier nodded, "Apparently, General. SG-1 and the others all in good health."
He knew that tone, "But?"
She added, "But, they all seem to have some kind of implant at the base of their brain stems."
"Translator microbes, Doc." Jack clarified.
Hammond asked, "Translator microbes?"
Teal'c offered, "We were implanted them on Haploxia, General Hammond. Without them, I believe we wouldn't be able to stop Ninedinna."
Daniel spoke, "General. They allow us to understand any language that is spoken to us."
"Are they in anyway dangerous?"
The doctor said, "Actually, no. Everything in SG-1 as well as Mr. Williams, Mr. Harris, Ms. Summers, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Sorbo seem to be fully operational."
Buffy said as she approached him, "General, we know you're taking everything with caution, but we're fine. It seems everyone in the uncharted territories have them."
His brow lowered, "Uncharted territories?"
"Sir," Jack began, "We have a story to tell you."
Epilogue
It had been a very long and tiring six weeks for the members of the gang, slowly each had begun to realise that they had really made it through the hell that had been Ninedinna's domain.
Unknown to most of them as they relaxed and started to loosen up, the entire group were watched from the shadows by a scantily clad but heartbreakingly attractive blonde haired beauty.
None of the group had noticed her appearance in the room or her hiding in the shadows. She was capable of secluding herself from all but Godly senses--making sure that few if any in the room could see her or even sense her presence. She was physically there her powers could make most glance over her without acknowledging her existence.
A single voice spoke out, followed by another until each of them started to talk about their time on other planets and meeting those thought to be ancient or mythological. She watched them as one by one they started talking and laughing, some crying and in some cases snuggling up to their companions,
The smiles on their faces and the obvious closeness pulled at a few of her heartstrings- as the goddess of love she had a lot of them.
What had been lost in time and mythology is that Aphrodite herself is very much in tune with the love between people and sometimes she can feel it to her very soul, as a god she did actually have a soul but unlike many in her family hers was almost human in its capability to feel. She had to learn the hard way in Outwold while seeking for the Astral Rod.
Turning from them, she felt something she hadn't felt in almost five millennia as a single tear fell from her eye. Slowly she touched her face and felt the tears of a goddess…something most Olympians are incapable of and something that enemies of the gods would kill for.
She tried to edge away knowing any teleportation would alert several of them to her very presence something she didn't want, she chided herself for appearing in her mortal corporeal form and tried to escape from the room.
"Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people." Asked a voice from behind her, shocked she spun round coming face to face with one of Hercules mortal friends, the young man named Xander she knew, one of those to which her powers were all but useless as his own heart was as capable as her magic.
"Xander…"
"Come with me Aphrodite. We need to talk."
She was surprise to find her self-following him almost stunned into obedience by his actions and the command in his voice, the goddess of love felt her arm taken by a forceful but gentle hand, and guided to a chair outside on a balcony. She sat down with Xander in front of her.
She pressed her palms to her eyes attempting to remove the evidence of the tears, but even so, the red rims of her eyes put pain to that. They did not in the slightest way detract from her beauty, the redness of her cheeks made her look prettier and it was something she didn't realise.
"You gonna be ok?"
"Yeah, Sweetcheeks. Of course. I'll be fine. I am a goddess after all. Why wouldn't I be?"
His face turned incredulous at that, looking at him, she could sense the loneliness that had been his life for so long, his eyes showing her the truth of who he was and that he didn't believe a word she said.
"I asked you if you had ever felt alone for a reason. From what I know of the Greek gods and tales from Hercules, it's a busy place and a large family surrounding you, you may all be different but you're family."
"What's this got to…" Aphrodite began.
"I'm getting there. You need to listen to this, I'm no god, but I do understand how you feel."
Aphrodite snorted and stood up to walk off.
"Wait please." his grasp on her arm regained its purchase.
"Let go of me, X-babe. You never put your hands on me. I'm a goddess."
"You can get out if you want, Aphrodite. Use your power to get away from me. I've seen your powers. Use them."
"If you don't let me go, I will."
"No you won't." Xander paused and looked directly into the goddess' eyes, "Because you know I'm right. Please just listen to me and then you can go."
Aphrodite stopped struggling against the mortal boy…man, she knew that she could have removed him with a thought. But hadn't something in his voice had stayed her hand, a true note of peace and friendship, not the normal lust and lies that a man would pit against a woman, but a pure request to listen.
She sat back down and awaited his speech; the sooner she could get away the better. She had important things to do, her mind told her things to make her believe that she didn't want help…not after being alone so long.
"Twelve years ago, I started school. I was around a lot of people all the time. We all got along pretty well, but as we got older, things changed. Friends became enemies, and the few you got close to were your life, but sometimes, just sometimes, even they seemed to leave you out."
Aphrodite shifted in her seat as she listened.
"One of my oldest enemies is a girl called Cordelia Chase. I know you know who she is. I've seen her true face. Not the Queen C style one, but Cordelia-the real girl. I'm the only person who has ever seen that face- and I see it in you now."
"You don't know what you talk about! I have plenty of people that have been friends with me! I'm never alone. Now if you will excuse me I'm going home."
As she prepared to leave, his rejoinder penetrated the haze of teleportation, and as she left it echoed in her head. An echo that would ring throughout her soul…for a very, very long time.
"Believe in your heart, because nothing else is as true to you."
*****
Hercules' Home. Midnight
The entire Scrappy Gang plus the few allies that are still with them, all crashed out on the floor, beds, sofas etc. However, there was a single exception. Xander Harris sat outside on the balcony looking up at the stars. He wasn't surprised when he heard a shift of fabric behind him and a meek voice ask him something.
"Help me."
He turned to see Aphrodite, beautiful Olympian goddess of love, nigh immortal, as well as practically invulnerable and powerful beyond all humankind looking like a frightened girl.
He stared at her in surprise at her appearance. However, her blond hair was flopped against her face and her clothes looked a little bedraggled. Removing his coat he wrapped it around her shoulders. She didn't need it to keep warm but for both sides it seemed like the right thing to do.
She had obviously been crying again- her defences were low and the sniffling told Xander all he wanted to know.
"Tell me the rest." She asked him.
And he did.
He told her of the abandonment of his parents after the death of his sister- the fact they no longer cared for him hit home with Aphrodite in many ways, the almost loss of his friends over the years and the death of Jesse. His best friend made her realise so much about the fragility of human life. More so than the time she had spent with Joxer and Gabrielle had shown her.
The more she talked, the more she let go her tears. They soon began straining Xander's shirt and her own blonde locks as they ran down her face. Xander pulled the beautiful goddess closer and rocked her gently as she spilled the pain and anger in her very soul out for the first time in her long existence, and for the first time allowing her to really feel… Human!
She told Xander about how she had been brought up only to be one person and that she had no choice about what she was going to do. Aphrodite told him about how she had felt her own heart break only once and sworn never to let anyone close enough to do that again. How she had seen real love replaced by pleasures of the flesh and, how she hated that she could do nothing to stop the decline in people's love for each other.
Lastly, she told him of all the things she had tried to do and, how many had gone wrong when attempted- and the fact that all she had tried to do was help. However it had taken the recovery of one of the truly great loves she had witnessed to help her live again
Her life had shown her that like some humans, she had been alone and few had ever cared for her, this young human littler, more than a young human and powerless at that, had made her feel like she belonged. Made her feel safe and wanted--the feelings she had only felt from two others- Hephy and her friend, Joxer.
"Were all looking for the few people we can really care about. I'm lucky to have found most of mine in such a small amount of time, sometimes I do feel alone. Aphrodite, we are never always with people we love, but you have to remember some of us are always there for those we care for. You have Hercules, Hephaestus, and now…me. You don't need to ever feel alone again."
"No. She doesn't. We'll make sure of that." A voice peeped up from the doorway. Dite's head shot up from the comforting place on Xander's shoulder where she had shed her tears. Through her blurred eyes, she saw a lanky dark haired figure approach them.
"Joxer?"
"Hello, Aphrodite."
"What are you doing out here…" She tried once again to remove the evidence of tears from her eyes, she failed as Joxer approached. He had long been the shoulder for Gabrielle, Meg, and her girls and recently a few others much like his newfound friend Alexander had been for the women he knew.
He had long been sensitive to the troubles his friends had had and knew the signs of distress better than most, and Aphrodite was no different.
Moving away from the doorframe so their conversation didn't disturb their groggy compatriots in the other room, he approached the tired looking Xander and the trembling 'Dite and babbled out an almost apology.
"I heard voices so I came outside, I didn't mean to interrupt but I heard what you both said." He sat down opposite the two of them.
"I'm pretty sure the two of you know my past and my own family troubles…my triplet brothers, my father, my mother, we weren't close. The only real family and friends I've ever had were Xena and Gabrielle. I had sometimes friends like Herc, Auto and Salmonius but I was alone a lot of my life and I wouldn't wish that on anyone." He paused and took a deep breath.
"I almost lost the one person I truly loved because I never did anything about it, I lost my friends and my family, my time and my life to that loneliness. I won't let anyone else take that route."
Standing up, he then sat down next to Aphrodite and took her soft and delicate hand in his own rough ones.
"You've only ever tried to help me Aphrodite. Sometimes, well sometimes, it went awry, sometimes things got embarrassing. Like the three naked Gabrielles." She got a small soft laugh from Aphrodite making her spirits lift a little more,
"I know you never meant me harm. You are too much like your brother Hercules to try that, you are a good person Aphrodite, and I swear on my honour you will never be alone as long as I'm around."
"Why are you two doing this? You have your families here, your friends and now your true loved ones." Xander's head popped up at that nugget of information but let her continue. "I'm just a goddess one of a hundred gods that are no longer needed and rarely thought of."
"No. Dite, you're not one of a hundred, you are one in a million and one of a kind. You are Aphrodite--my friend, and we don't need you to be anything else." Joxer said from his heart.
That was the last straw for Aphrodite, untold millennia of self-doubt, loss and pain slammed out of her in waves of tears, clutching her to his chest. Joxer took Aphrodite and sat her down, he looked her in the eyes and she sat he crouched in front of her two sets of shining eyes staring at each other.
"You never have to turn your face from me. I am still yours to command as it has always been." He dropped to one knee and bowed his head to her in true warrior fashion.
One again the blonde goddess let her tears flow and grasped around the neck of her friend Joxer, the first true friend she had ever had and now one of two people that were willing to allow her to be who she really was, and not who she was thought to be both by history and by her family.
Xander left the two of them at it, or at least tried to, as he moved his hand was grabbed by the tearful blonde goddess and pulled into her arms replacing Joxer from inside her embrace.
"Thank you both, I wish I'd had people like you so long ago."
"You needed a friend Aphrodite, now you have two."
"Damn right." Responded Joxer.
The rest of the night was spent with the three of them talking and looking at the stars. Aphrodite had never felt safer or more at peace in her life- she was finally at a place she could call home.
Early next morning, the three of them cramped and looking a little on the scruffy side entered the main rooms of the apartment. The two white knights walked on when they noticed Aphrodite stay where she was, she looked apprehensive about returning to the room the others were staying in.
"What's wrong?" Asked Xander
"What if the rest of them don't want me around I couldn't no, I wouldn't get in the way. Herc might accept me around but the others might not."
"If they don't trust you then they will trust us. You more than proven your worth us. We need you to trust us- you have started, please allow us to help you with this."
With a little hesitation, she nodded and walked forward with the two dark haired men, heading in through the doors they saw the rest of the Scrappy's eyes widened at their appearance and the appearance of the beautiful Blonde between them. Gabrielle's eyes widened but she kept her mouth closed as she didn't want to give the game away quite yet.
"Guys this is a friend of mine, I met a few weeks ago when I was looking for Buffy."
*Damn Xander close but not the truth.* thought Joxer
"Tim helped her himself a few days ago, a darkness was after her we both helped her away from it. She's had a bit of a bad time last day or so you think you girls could help her?"
An amused and secret smile radiated from Dite. A smile that lifted the hearts of all in the room for no apparent reason.
Another blonde got up from her chair and approached the older woman, she put her hand out to shake the other woman's. The blonde' girls smile was genuine and friendly as she felt nothing but good vibes and friendliness from the goddess.
"Hi I'm Buffy. It's nice to meet you."
"Hi I'm,… Alex… Alexandra." She said looking at her saviour.
"Nice to meet you. Come on. We'll find something for you to wear and get you cleaned up Ok?" Both blondes smiled at each other as Buffy led the way. Faith followed and introduced herself.
This left the three men: Joxer, Herc, and Xander together with Gabrielle.
Herc was the first to speak up. "What happened?"
Xander and Joxer just shrugged.
"It's kinda private Herc. Needless to say she needed to hear something and we made sure she did. She'll be fine now."
"Just be careful, guys. She's the goddess of love. It wouldn't be too good to let her effect you that way.
Joxer responded, "I do love her though." Gabrielle looked about ready to burst into tears (or a homicidal rage). She was calmed down by Joxer taking her hand and looking into her eyes. "But like a family member. Hey Herc, do you mind sharing your sister with another brother?"
"Not at all Joxer, I think she'd be happy with that." Herc smiled at the lanky warrior. "Be good to have a real family again."
"Yeah, with a family like this, who needs enemies?" Mumbled Gabrielle before she received a cushion to the head from Xander.
"Who indeed?" Smirked Xander.
The End

 

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