Summary: This is a spin-off of my Into the Void: SG-1 (Formerly Stargate: Into the Void). The story will follow Dawn and Cassie as they make their way through the newly built Starfleet Academy.

A/U: Set after Into the Void chapter 51

Pairings: Dawn/Cassandra

Disclaimer: BTVS owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Stargate owned by MGM.

Chapter 1: Cutting Class

Cassandra Frasier was not in a good mood.

She grit her teeth as she remembered her morning. First, she couldn't find her comm badge. Then she had to crawl between her bed and desk to retrieve a dropped data chip for her morning History of Disease class. On top of that, the professor assigned more homework than anyone expected and held the class over by five minutes.

And now she was trying to quickly eat her lunch in the cafeteria before her next class—while staring wide-eyed at her roommate and best friend, Dawn Rosenberg-Summers.

"You want to what?" Cassie managed to ask between bites of food.

"I said let's skip class," said Dawn.

Cassie shook her head in disbelief. She stopped eating and stared at Dawn. "Skip class?"

"Skip class," Dawn echoed, nodding. "But it's for a good cause."

"Good cause?"

"Cassie, you're repeating everything I say," she said, tilting her head in frustration. "Remember their excavating your home town, on the edge of the Academy campus?" Cassie nodded trying not to think back on what Nirti had done to her people. "I talked to an Srrkarran upperclassman who's helping with the dig. They're opening part of the exposed section of the cave-in today—and it's a hospital!"

"Hospital?" Cassie said, she knew that meant bodies. Bodies of people she might have known.

"Cassie, you're doing it again."

They stopped talking as one of the Colonial cadets from New Caprica neared their table. Cassie waited until he walked by. "Dawn, we just can't skip class," she continued, whispering desperately to her roommate, "especially human anatomy. We're reviewing for the next test, remember?"

Dawn pushed back a lock of her long, strawberry-blonde hair that strayed to her forehead. She leaned closer to Cassie. "Yes, I know. But, Cassie, you and I know the human skeleton. We both have the top marks in the class. This is for our education," Dawn pleaded, "and, Cassie, it's a hospital, not just some old, moldy stone house."

"I think old, moldy stone houses are pretty interesting," she retorted, Smirking at her roommate.

Cassie began to eat her lunch again. "You're crazy, Dawn. Why don't you just ask me to steal a shuttle and fly to Alpha Centauri instead?"

Dawn took a bite of pasta from her plate, then pointed her fork at Cassie. "That's tomorrow. Really, Cassie, it won't tarnish your reputation at Starfleet to skip one class. I'm sure even the great cadets of Starfleet probably skipped a class now and then."

Cassie sniffed. "I doubt either of your mothers would have done such a thing."

"Want to bet?" Dawn retorted. "Just what are you really afraid of, Cassie? That your mother will find out?"

"No," Cassie replied. "I'm afraid of what I'll see."

"There could be no one in the ruins that you knew," Dawn said emphatically. "And even if there is, the only way you will be able to put it behind you is to see them and say goodbye."

Cassie knew Dawn was right as they finished their lunch and moved to the recylator and put their trays in. Dawn leaned toward Cassie. "Well, Cassie," she whispered, "are you with me?"

Cassie absently pulled on her lower lip, deep in thought. She knew they shouldn't skip class. But Dawn was right: They had studied human anatomy for the past three days and knew all the bones in the human body. Actually because she knew she wanted to follow in her mother, Janet Frasier's, footsteps and study medicine Cassie had learned all the bones of the human skeleton years ago—on her own.

She also liked the idea of being one of the first to view the latest artifacts of her own people in archaeological dig. Plus, they were skipping class to further their education.

"Oh, all right," Cassiey said with a tight smile. "If I don't go with you, you'll probably get into trouble."

"That's the Cassie know," responded Dawn. She put her arm around Cassie's shoulders as they started walking out of the cafeteria.

Cassie swallowed hard and hoped her afternoon would be better than her morning.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Neither Cassie nor Dawn ever grew tired of walking through the Academy grounds. The Srrkarran's when they had made her home planet their home had restored some of the planet's natural beauty. They remembered the orientation lecture their first week at the Academy. The Srrkarran who guided them around the campus explained what had happened to the original civilization and how the Srrkarrans had been rebuilding it.

The campus grounds added to the natural wonders of the area.

Cassie while having access to DS9 and its technology had lived, unlike Dawn, on Earth. She wasn't used to being surrounded by the leading edge of Federation and Srrkarran science. She was becoming comfortable with the many gadgets, transporters, and shuttles.

Cassie was particularly fascinated by the south-facing white solar collectors that capped the campus buildings. The Srrkarran explained that microcells within the collectors gathered energy from the sun for lighting, heating and cooling, replicator power throughout the buildings, and of course the climate was controlled. Finding enough sunlight to run the solar collecting microcells was not a problem.

Cutting between the buildings were a crisscross of walkways lined with tall trees and gardens of colorful flowers. The hardy plants were not only from Earth, but also from other planets that had already joined the Federation, such as Modaran.

In order to get to the archaeological dig, Cassie and Dawn walked across a wide path to the southeast end of the Academy. They watched as people dressed in light blue coveralls walked in and out of the area of the dig, many carrying artifacts to set on long tables on the edge of the area. "Look, Cassie," said Dawn, grabbing Cassie's shirtsleeve and pulling her close to a nearby table. "That looks like a … a stethoscope!"

Cassie leaned closer to the corroded disk. "You're right," she whispered almost too low for Dawn to hear.

"And there's a hypodermic needle," Dawn added. She pointed to a dirty tube with a needle at one end.

Cassie remembered the last time her mother had used a needle on her. It had been before the SGC had started using Federation technology and her mother had given her a vaccination shot.

"Can I help you?" said a voice. Cassie turned and straightened. A colonel wearing an SGC BDU stood behind her and Dawn, a quizzical look on his face.

"Oh, yes. I'm Cadet Dawn Rosenberg-Summers, Starfleet Engineering," Dawn said smoothly. She held her hand out to the officer. "And this is Cadet Cassandra Frasier, Starfleet Medical." She motioned to her Cassie.

"I'm Colonel Ty Barnes, SG-6," he said with a smile. He shook both their hands.

"We heard the hospital was being opened up today," Dawn continued. "We just wanted to—well, be here for the excitement."

Cassie thought the officer looked slightly nervous as he quickly scanned the dig. "I know what you mean. I didn't sleep a wink last night thinking about today's dig. Are you both here to help?"

Before Cassie could say anything, Dawn answered, "Sure." Cassie tried to smile, but it was more like a grimace. She knew how Dawn had talked her into coming to the dig. Now she wondered how her best friend had talked her into joining the dig.

"Good. There's a replicator over there. Just order some coveralls and gloves. Believe me, you'll need them," he said, holding up his dirty gloves to show the cadets.

Cassie glared at Dawn as they ordered, and then struggled into the coveralls. She wanted to tell Dawn that she had gone too far this time. But before she could comment, a Srrkarran waved them into the entrance of the hospital. As they put on their gloves, they stepped inside.

Cassie looked at the interior and sighed as it brought back memories long buried. As Dawn and Cassie walked to the far end of the roomy lobby, they saw artifacts everywhere.

Ty was already there and led them through the building and down a set of stairs. "Welcome to the dungeon," he said, smiling. "We're working down here in the basement of the hospital. He led them over to a table of artifacts. Here we have what I think is a box of tongue depressors, not sure the writing is pretty faded. ."

"Tongue depressors," muttered Beverly. "I'm skipping class for tongue depressors?" Dawn smiled and nodded. Beverly grinned back sarcastically at her friend. But she was soon fascinated by all the artifacts.

"Heads up! Out! Now!"

They looked around and Major Samantha Carter. They hadn't even known Sam was even on New Srrkarra let alone working in the dig. They quickly noticed that one of the walls was quickly collapsing—and just as fast, a containment field shimmered into view to hold back the dust and debris.

But the containment field was not fast enough. A strong, pungent odor quickly filled the area.

Even though the air filters were activated, several people coughed violently as they ran away from the cave-in.

The red and white emergency lights turned on as the bright lights flickered and went out. "Come on!" Ty yelled, quickly turning and pushing the Dawn and Cassie toward the stairs.

Dawn tripped once and grabbed Cassie for support. Cassie was wishing for a strong flashlight when she finally saw the light of the hospital entrance.

Cassie was the first to reach the outside. She turned around and braced herself against the outside wall. Reaching out, she pulled people out as fast as possible.

Several times, she felt as if her arm would be pulled out of its socket. Some workers were coughing as she pulled them out; others were covering their mouths and noses with a cloth or their shirtsleeves.

In a few minutes, everyone was out of the cave. Cassie leaned back and let out a sigh of relief—and tried to stop her heart from racing.

The news of the latest cave-in traveled fast. Cassie jumped when she heard the hum of transporters, and suddenly Srrkarran medical and emergency personnel were everywhere. Cassie watched as a doctor checked her with a medical tricorder. As she looked around the crowd at the entrance of the hospital, she spotted Dawn.

~You all right?~ Cassie asked telepathically.

~I'm fine, Cassie,~ Dawn replied.

"Cassandra! Dawn!" came Sam's voice and she motioned for the two girls to join her.

"What are you two doing here?" Sam asked and

Dawn and Cassie stiffened.

"I do believe you two have a class, right now?" she continued.

"Well, we—" Cassie started to say.

"You what, Cassie?" pressed Sam. She leaned closer. Cassie resisted the urge to lean back. "You aren't in class. You are here. You skipped class. Am I right?"

Cassie nodded and Dawn looked down at the ground.

"Which class?"

"Human anatomy, Sam," answered Cassie, feeling her face flush.

"This is unbecoming a Starfleet cadet," Sam said sternly. Cassie cringed as he added, "Both of you—come with me. We're going to pay the Commanding Officer of Starfleet Academy a visit."

Cassie realized her afternoon was turning out to be worse than her morning.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Dawn and Cassie remained silent as they walked behind Sam. They sat down outside the Commanding Officer's office and waited as Sam walked in. Neither of them spoke for a while. In a way, Cassie was mad at Dawn for convincing her to go to the dig, but she was madder at herself for saying yes. Finally, Dawn sighed, leaned her head back, and stared at the ceiling. "Does it seem like we've been here for hours?"

"Days," answered Cassie. She crossed her legs and looked at the chronoclock on the wall. "But it's only been ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" asked Dawn. She frowned and shook her head. "It only takes two nanoseconds to press the computer authorization to throw us out of Starfleet Academy."

"I doubt they will you out," Cassie said. "Your moms would throw a fit. You have to remember that Buffy is considered not just by the Asgard, but the Srrkarrans as well, as the mother of their race. They won't do anything to anger Buffy."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Dawn replied. "Mama Buffy told them not to get me any special treatment just because I'm hers and mama Willow's daughter or because I'm half-Srrkarran. You are more likely to get off easier than I because of your mom and Sam."

Cassie felt Dawn jump as Sam walked briskly out of the C.O.'s office. She frowned at both of them. Without a word, he walked out the door.

"Sam's pissed," Dawn said.

They both stood up as a woman entered the room. "Admiral Muti will see you now. Please follow me."

Admiral Muti's office was one of the most neat, spacious—and beautiful—either Dawn or Cassie had ever seen. Spotlights shined on works of art along several of the walls. Dawn recognized Modaran symbols on a bronze statue and Abydonian script on two separate stone sculptures. There were also framed prints by Earth artists, including Claude Monet and Leonardo da Vinci, hanging on the wall in the far corner.

Along one wall, a mural sparkled with color. It hummed a pleasant tone as she walked to the middle of the room. Cassie noticed that Dawn was staring at the wall, too—almost as if she were spellbound by the shimmering artwork.

"Do you know what that is, Cadet?" came the admiral's low, resonant voice.

Cassie was instantly aware of the admiral. The officer stood next to a tall chair behind a large wooden desk. Her short, curly white hair contrasted with her dark, thin face. And even though she was of medium height, she suddenly seemed to dominate the entire room.

"Yes," responded Dawn with a slight smile. "It's an art-harp from Tollana. One of the artifacts recovered after the Goa'uld bombed the Tollan homeworld"

The admiral nodded once. Her face seemed to soften slightly, then became stern again. "I am Admiral Muti, the Commanding Officer at Starfleet Academy," she told them. Her gaze never wavered from Dawn or Cassie. "And you are both first-year Starfleet cadets?"

Dawn and Cassies came to stiff attention. "Yes, sir," they replied in unison.

"Cadets Dawn Rosenberg-Summers and Cassandra Frasier." She looked down at a small data padd in her hand. "Cadet Rosenberg-Summers, daughter of Colonels Buffy and Willow Rosenbeg-Summers and born on DS9 a year and a half ago via cloning. Cadet Cassandra Frasier born right here on New Srrkarra before the Goa'uld Nirti wiped out the population and the only survivor of that incident. And you are the adopted daughter of DS9's Co-Chief Medical Officer Major Janet Frasier."

Cassie tried to stop her heart from beating so fast. She shifted her feet and stared straight ahead at the wall behind the admiral. The statements didn't seem to need an answer.

"Cassandra Frasier. First-year Starfleet Medical cadet. On tests, you qualified as an honors student before you entered Starfleet Academy." She pressed another template on the padd. "Dawn Rosenberg-Summers. A first-year Starfleet Engineering cadet. And an honors student, too."

Muti cleared her throat and snapped the padd shut. "I also understand, from what Major Carter told me, that you both were at the archaeological dig this afternoon instead of attending human anatomy class. Is this correct?"

"Yes, sir," they replied, still at attention.

Muti walked past the desk and stood in front of the girls. "Do you know why you were both chosen to attend Starfleet Academy? I'm sure you do," she said, before either cadet could reply. "You both have influential families and friends. Cadet Frasier, you asked for this from Colonel Summers and she approved. You on the other hand Cadet Rosenberg-Summers had an aptitude for engineering rivaled by only a select few, two of them your own mothers."

She paused and walked around the cadets.

"And perhaps I should reinforce the philosophy of Starfleet Academy. It stresses the responsibility of Starfleet to the protection of all worlds from the Goa'uld," she emphasized. "But you know that, too, don't you? Now let me reinforce your responsibility to Starfleet: Be the best you can be for the people you will be protecting. And that means being responsible by attending all your classes and understanding what is taught to you in those classes. Am I making myself clear?"

Dawn and Cassie nodded and murmured, "Yes, sir."

"You may not believe that the class you skipped was important. But every class at the Academy is important. Let me give you an example," she said, as she again stood in front of the cadets. "Say you're on the planet Epsilon Five and a person needs your help. She has a certain medical condition that you can't identify. Why? Because maybe the class you skipped had that one piece of information you needed to understand the patient's condition. Maybe it was something the professor said or a question another cadet asked that day. Maybe that one bit of information was the piece of the medical puzzle you were looking for—so you could save the patient's life," Muti stressed. "But you don't know the answer because you weren't in class."

Cassie tried to concentrate on the wall behind the admiral, but the officer's dark eyes seemed to draw her in.

"I've seen your records," continued Muti, lowering her voice. "You're both exemplary students. You both have a wonderful sense of duty to other people. And by being here, you have impressed upon us that you really want to become Starfleet officers. Here at the Academy, we'll help you become some of the best officers in the Federation. But you also have to give something back—by following the rules so we can help you become the best officers in the Federation."

The room was so quiet Cassie could hear Dawn swallow. She knew her Dawn was scared, too. This is it, Cassie thought. This is where we get kicked out of the Academy.

Muti walked toward the huge window overlooking the Academy, her hands clasped behind her back. It was a few minutes before she spoke again. "And how was it?" Muti asked over her shoulder.

"Sir?" Cassie and Dawn responded. They weren't sure what the admiral was asking.

"The dig, Cadets," Muti responded. She turned around to face them cadets. "Did you see anything interesting?"

"Yes, sir," Cassie said. "For me it helped me to in some small regard to say goodbye. At least until it collapsed."

"Yes, we were lucky no one was seriously hurt." Muti sighed, then looked at the stack of computer disks on her desk. "I, too, was contemplating leaving work early today to see how the hospital dig was progressing," she said, then looked back at the cadets. "Now I don't condone what you both did. But I must add that I am pleased that you were trying to improve your knowledge by learning about the past—especially you Cadet Frasier. You're both dismissed."

Cassie froze for a second, not believing her ears. She noticed Dawn was just as astounded.

Both of them had expected the admiral to throw them out of the Academy or at least put them on probation.

Muti took her seat behind the desk and opened the small data padd. Cassie murmured her thanks

and gently pushed Dawn toward the door.

"And, cadets," said the admiral, looking up from her computer, "another slip and you're both on probation."