Million Miles from Yesterday
Chapter Ten

Jack swore and tried to catch up to his reluctant local guide, but the guy was just too fast. Once he was outside there was no chance of stopping him. They were practically a blur out the door. The long black trench coat helping them vanish into the shadows.

The General was just behind him, as was Jacob. 'Where they go?' he asked.

Jack waved in the general direction he last saw them. 'That way. They're fast, really fast.'

After a moment the three of them silently agreed trying to follow was pointless and went back inside the Town Hall. 'He won't get far. We, I have teams across town.' The General explained.

'I don't know.' Jack looked back over his shoulder. 'I'm guessing my new friend knows this place a lot better than we do.'

'Speaking of, what's with the sword.' Jacob asked carefully.

Jack glanced at the weapon he'd borrowed. 'I found it in Summer's house. General, your granddaughter has a whole collection of these things. I guess it must be a Sunnydale tradition. There were a whole load of dead people with them around where we found Buffy and her friends. When raided the target we found a couple of, well whatever they were wasn't human. They had them too.'

'Swords?' George asked, sounding nearly as confused as Jack was by the whole thing.

Jack reached into his jacket, pulling out a couple of the wooden stakes he had also picked up. 'And she had a load of these things too. Any ideas?'

Jacob froze at the sight of it. 'Damn.'

'What is it?' the General asked.

'Come on, not out here.' The Tok'Ra grabbed the stake from Jack's hand, holding it close. 'Not in the open. We need to talk, privately.'

Lorne came too feeling like he'd ejected from a fighter without a parachute. Broken arm, ribs, cracked skull at least. This wasn't his first concussion, but this was a bad one. His head felt two sizes too small and it was hard to stay awake. Lorne tried to get his brain working again. Trying to piece together what had happened.

'Major, you're awake.'

Fighting a wave of nausea Lorne focused on who it was that spoke. 'Major Carter? Where, what?' He asked.

'We were about to ask you.' said Dr Jackson. 'How are you feeling?'

'Ready to go sir.' He said automatically. 'Where am I needed?'

The archeologist shook his head. 'Right here I'm guessing. I don't think you can stand.'

Lorne used his good hand to check what he guessed to be a cut on his forehead. Wincing as he was proven correct. 'I don't need to stand sir.' He objected to the right most of the two Doctors he could see before turning to the other member of SG-1. 'Major Carter, I'm reporting for duty.'

The room he was in spun slightly. 'Is he serious?' A young woman he didn't recognise asked a dark haired young man in a bright shirt that hurt Lorne's eyes.

The young man laughed for a moment. 'He's US Special Forces Ahn. He could be shot, stabbed, dropped down a mineshaft and still expected to fight.'

'Sounds familiar.' She snarked back

Major Carter got his attention. ''Stand down Major and report.'

Nodding made the room spin again. Lorne swallowed hard before starting at the beginning. 'We got intelligence on the Goa'uld's location, and the girl. There were two unknowns at the site, but it had been cleared. They'd moved.' Lorne's head pounded as he tried to concentrate. 'The Colonel wanted to meet up with the General for a report. Sent us with the unknowns back to the hospital, for the Doc to look at them. See what they were.'

'Unknowns?' Dr Jackson asked.

Lorne tried to focus again. 'Things, creatures. Didn't look human.'

'Like these?' The young man pointed at the floor with a weapon.

There was something there. Half familiar and very dead. 'Yes.' he said after a moment. 'Like that.'

Major Carter hushed the boy. 'Finish your report Major.'

'My team were retracing our route back to the hospital when the L-tee saw something. A tower under construction.' Starting from the beginning like he had helped get all the pieces in place. 'Could have sworn it was there the first time. Thought we were lost for minute. It was like it had been put up in a hurry. Wouldn't pass code. I was frightened to go near it. I sent Lieutenant Kilburn with the bodies while I took the rest o my men to investigate.

The memories came back in a flash of pain and anger. 'It was an ambush. She was there. The Generals grand-kid, she looked terrified. Tried to warn us but it was too late. The Goa'uld jumped me, threw me through the air like I was a sack of potatoes. She was strong, too strong. Moved like lightning. Never seen anything like it. She got my team, did something to them. I barely got away.'

'Fingers, in the head?' the young woman asked knowingly.

'It was like sticks sliding into water, and there was this light…' He tried to explain. The image was stuck there but he couldn't find the words.

'Did she get you?'

'No.' Lorne shook his head and the room spun some more.

'Alright Major. I'm going to call for a medial evac.' Major Carter told him. 'Daniel keep an eye on him.'

'Major, tell the general I tried. I'm sorry, I couldn't reach the girl.'

'I know, I'll tell him.'

Dawn hugged her knees close and tried not to close her eyes too much. Once was bad enough, but that was the second time she'd seen Glory kill.

The worse thing wasn't the bones she could almost feel snapping. The screaming of that one guy she ripped the sanity from that echoed in her ears. The endless blood as she cried for Glory to stop. No, the worst thing was knowing there was nothing anyone could do about any of it.

Nothing she could do. Nothing her sister could do.

'Dawn? Dawn?' asked a familiar voice.

She looked up. 'Ben?' She asked, seeing the young doctor. It wasn't a surprise he was there. It should have been. There was something she was supposed to remember. She knew it was important, but it was like trying to remember a name of someone you met briefly years ago.

It was there, and not there at the same time. 'What did she do to you?' he asked, kneeling next to her.

'Ben. Glory, she… She…' Dawn swallowed and dashed the tears from her eyes. Something was wrong, she knew it. Dawn just couldn't tell what. 'Out there.' She managed.

Ben looked slightly sick. 'I saw. Who were they?'

'I don't know. Army, or someone I guess. We have to get out of here!' Shakily she got to her feet. 'There are those guys everywhere, how are we going to get out?'

'I have an idea.' Ben told her.

Janet looked at the young officer and then at the bodies he'd brought in. They might have been able to disguise themselves but there was no way they were human. 'Find Dr Williams, he should be on the third floor. Tell him to leave the orderlies too their jobs and make this top priority.' She told him, quickly scribbling her instructions on a notepad.

They still hadn't isolated the cause of this madness. If there were undocumented alien creatures running around it was entirely possible they were carriers of whatever was doing this. 'Tell him to take hazmat protocols and stay with them at all times.' she ordered. As the airman left she headed to a wash basin.

She didn't think it was necessary, but it was better to be safe. Last thing you wanted was to accidentally pick up, or worse still, transmit something. Until they knew what was causing this disaster it was better to be safe than sorry. Quickly cleaning off any contamination she might have picked up Janet checked her watch. it had been more than ten minutes.

Heading back to the room she'd left Buffy and Willow in she passed one of the emergency wards. The patients were being sedated by two members of her own staff she had brought with her. A short time ago the most advanced cases started trying to leave. It was as if they were all responding to some sort of stimulus at once.

Several had gotten out in the confusion, but luckily most had been rounded up. With near riots in the halls Janet had ordered everyone showing signs be sedated. It was already stretching there stocks and god only knew how many were still out there, wandering the streets helpless. Luckily the patrols were already out there and knew anyone showing symptoms should be escorted back.

Janet turned a corner, expecting to be lost in the maze that was Sunnydale Hospital, only to be surprised. Not only had she found the right corridor, but Teal'c was standing guard outside the room.

'I'm late. Sorry, there's a lot to oversee at the moment.'

Teal'c nodded slightly. 'It is understandable, Doctor Fraiser.'

Janet was one of the few people outside of SG-1 that had spent enough time around the Jaffa to recognise his expressions. This one was vaguely smug about something, but at the same time not as happy as he should have been 'What's wrong?' She asked.

Teal'c raised a signature eyebrow before knocking on the door he was guarding and opening it for her. Inside Janet was more than happily surprised to see not only Willow Rosenberg awake but Buffy Summers in the middle of puling back her hair into a tight ponytail. 'You're awake!'

'Yeah, thought I'd try it. You know, for the novelty of it.' Summers quipped quickly. For some reason Janet had expected some trace of a Texan accent, but Summers was Californian through and through. 'Who are you?'

'I'm Doctor Janet Fraiser, I work for your Grandfather.'

'She's one of the people that found us in the desert.' Rosenberg supplied helpfully.

Summers flashed Janet a brief smile that entirely failed to be ether friendly or happy. 'Well thanks for that, but I've got to be going. Things to do. You know.'

Janet wasn't fooled for an instant. 'You want to go after your sister. Miss Summers, Buffy, some of the best members of the US Military are out there, right now, looking for her. You need to stay here.'

'I need to be out there.' Summers said. Her accent might not be similar but her tone of authority could have come straight from the General.

Luckily Janet knew how to handle that. 'I understand you feel you should do something, but as of this evening I am your Doctor. At best you're suffering from extreme stress, malnutrition and even if you appear fully recovered I have strong concerns regarding your mental heath. If you were actually infected by whatever it is in this town you might very well have developed an immunity, which will help identify and combat it. In short you are going nowhere.' She pulled out her penlight. 'Now I am going to run some basic tests on you. Heart rate, blood pressure and the like. Once that's done I'm calling your grandfather.'

'And that's not happening.' Summers told her, the same note of an order expecting to be followed. 'Like I said; thanks, but bye.'

'But nothing.' Janet corrected, feeling like she was talking to her teenage daughter. 'Teal'c, can you come in please?' The hulking Jaffa came in and stood by the door. 'Teal'c here swore to protect you and as I, in my professional opinion, am convinced that your leaving will cause more harm than good I am asking him to make sure you don't leave.'

'Doctor Fraiser is often correct in such matters.' Teal'c rumbled in a voice that was pitched even deeper than usual.

Summers looked up at the giant of a man. Like Janet she was on the short side and Teal'c most certainly was not. He took up more than twice as much space in solid muscle alone. Still Summers smirked, glanced to Rosenberg and then moved.

Janet had spent a long time around the military and had taken more than a few classes in self defence. She knew how to fight, but even she was surprised at the sudden speed of Buffy Summers. The girl turned so fast that she was almost a blur, lashing out with a powerful spin kick that caught Teal'c in the diaphragm.

Now given her size and build even a kick like that shouldn't have done much more than stagger the former First Prime. Instead Teal'c was knocked clean off his feet and clear into the air. Destroying the door behind him and bouncing off the opposite wall. Leaving a crater in the plaster work there.

Summers looked back at Janet with a million watt smile that was anything but friendly. 'I'll be going now.' She announced and then almost bounced out of the door.

Janet could only blink in shock. There was no way the girl could be that strong. It was simple physics, she didn't have the muscle mass. She was about to call for an orderly, maybe two or three, but both girls were already half way down the hall.

'So where's Tara?'

'She's with Giles.'

'And he is…?' Summers asked.

Rosenberg pointed in the opposite direction to where they were going. 'Back there.' she told her friend.

Summers stopped visibly sighed and turned around.

Janet watched as the two of them passed her, both carefully stepping over the stunned Teal'c. 'I really hate this place.' Summers grumbled as the people that had gathered around made way for her

Sam radioed in, arranging for an emergency ambulance. A few quick orders and they were eventually dispatched. 'Is your friend going to be alright?' Anya Jenkins asked when she was finished.

'Should be. What was that about fingers in peoples heads?' Sam asked. It was one of the many things that had disturbed her over the last ten minutes and hopefully it was one of the few she'd get a straight answer about.

'Glory needs something. Something from inside people's brains. That's how she takes it and when she does what is left behind is madness.'

Sam tried to hide the shiver. 'That's what's causing the increase in the numbers of the mentally disturbed. They are having their sanity, quite literally, stolen?'

Jenkins gave a shrug. They'd tried to convince Sam magic was real with some fairly convincing tricks just before Lorne woke up. She hadn't bought it and not had enough time to find out how it had been done before the injured Major came around. This was probably more of the same.

According to the Major's report the Goa'uld in the town had something that enhanced their speed and strength. It was possible that needed some sort of organic fuel source, something that could be harvested from people but left them insane. If Lorne was injured before he saw what happened the obvious conclusion could have effected his perception.

It was ludicrous, but at least it was significantly more rational than real magic, or the idea that this Glory they were tracking down was an actual goddess. Sam decided to try again to understand it. 'Show me that trick again.' she asked.

Jenkins sighed and lent over the counter again. Pulling out a crystal and a pinch of powder. Putting the crystal in Sam's hand Jenkins sprinkled the power over it. Again it reacted, glowing a rainbow of different colours. After a few moments the light show stopped.

It was some sort of chemical reaction, but cold. Light like that would need to create a heat. Enough to burn her hand. Instead she felt nothing. Sam had seen some strange things off-world, but this was close to cold fusion. Perhaps Daniel's theory about magic being lost alien knowledge was closer that she thought.

When she got back to the SGC she was going to inspect both the crystal and a sample of the powder. Sam was going to ask for it when there was a banging on the shutters.

'Oi, it's me. Let me in!' shouted a cockney English accent.

'Spike?' Harris asked, pulling back the string on his crossbow.

'No, the bloody tooth fairy. Let me in.'

Harris shared a look with Jenkins. 'We might need him.' She told her friend. There was obviously a lack of trust there. After a moment Harris agreed and Jenkins opened the shutters over the door. They hadn't gone up all the way before the man ducked under and came inside.

Harris pointed his weapon at them for a moment before lowering it.

'Where's the Colonel?' Sam asked, recognising the man that had lead the strike team.

'Left him back with the General and some other old guy back at the town hall.' they shrugged.

'That would be her father.' Daniel pointed out.

The platinum blond man half shrugged as if he barely cared and waved a thumb at Lorne. 'What happened to him?'

'Stumbled into Glory. He found Dawn, only I don't think he's in any shape to tell us where they are.'

'I could track his scent. Follow it.'

'What good that's going to do?' Jenkins asked. 'We don't have Buffy. We don't know what Glory's doing to do with Dawn. We don't even know if we can stop her.'

'You not found anything yet?'

Harris grunted. 'Been a little busy, demon attack and explaining to the Air Force why you had a robot Buffy made.'

The man glanced at the android propped up by the counter and winced. 'Oh bugger, I thought you scraped that thing.' Sam realised this was the guy that had it made. She was going to have to talk with him later, find out how and where. Hopefully before Teal'c, or the Colonel, got hold of him. 'So nothing.'

'You want to help?' Harris offered, un-hooking the crossbow and putting it down. 'Pick a book and start reading.'

Spike looked at the pile of research material and shook his head. 'If I can't punch, kick or kill it it's not me.' he admitted. 'But I might know a guy. Well I say guy, more demon. He's got an ear to the ground and knows some stuff. Couldn't hurt.'

'I'll come with you.' Daniel offered.

'What?'

'I'd like to see more of this place.' He explained. 'And if there's more history like this I need to see it.'

Spike shrugged. 'Fine, but don't do, or say, anything stupid.'

It was then the phone rang.

George followed Jacob into the abandoned office of some deputy that had more than likely ran for the border as soon as they knew he was taking charge. 'This should do.' his old friend said.

'What's this about Jacob?' George asked

The Tok'Ra winced before shaking his head 'Alright, if you think it's best.' They muttered under their breath before stopping. George watched the retired General pause, the set of his shoulders changing as his eyes flashed with a white light.

'General Hammond, Colonel O'Neill.' Selmak said. Their voice the metallic, unearthly sound of a symbiote.

Despite everything George was still a little uncomfortable with the idea of Selmak. He trusted the Tok'Ra, even more than most of his kind. He had proven time and again to be a valuable ally. More than that, a good friend in their own right. That in mind he was still alien. The idea of sharing his body with a creature from another world didn't sit right. 'Selmak.' George nodded formally.

'My apologies. I convinced Jacob to let me be the one to explain, as I fear you may not believe this coming from him.'

Jack looked about as confused as George felt. 'Explain what?'

General, Colonel, Jacob is concerned that the reason this town is as bad as it appears is that it is under siege by creatures you would consider impossible.'

'Creatures?' The two of them asked at the same time.

Selmak gave them a serious look that spoke volumes, spinning the stake in his hand and testing it's weight. 'Creatures you would call demons. Specifically vampires.'

End Chapter Ten