August 22: A Cascade of Echoes: Tau'ri
Title: A Cascade of Echoes, Chapter 07: Tau'ri
Author: 3am_moonlight (MirroredIllusions on TtH)
Crossover: BtVS / Stargate SG-1: Continuum
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 984
Timeline: BtVS: Post-Chosen & Post-Stargate SG-1: Continuum
Disclaimer: Nothing copyrighted belongs to yours truly.
Summary: In which there is even more news the Tau'ri did not expect.
Author's Note: Written for Day 22 of the 2022 August Fic-A-Day.
Previous: Back To Start . Try Again . Tok'ra . Stargate Command . Interlude . Specialized Vacation Destination .
"Let's get back to the part where you were explaining how you have been visiting Earth without anyone noticing."
General O'Neill's glare was impressive for someone who normally pretended he wasn't that smart. Coolidge and the rest of the annoying politicians were smart enough to follow his lead as the real man was peeking out. Although, it could also be because they, too, wanted to know the answer to that question.
"How did you get to Earth after the Stargate made it to America? And when was the first time afterward?"
*Do you want to take over? I think he likes you better than me, at least when it comes to answering these kinds of questions.*
Buffy could feel the symbiote's amusement, but all she replied was, *Certainly.* Buffy bowed her head and when they answered it was with the dual voice of the symbiote rather than a normal human voice.
"We had journeyed to the Tau'ri homeworld several times when the Chappa'ai was placed under strict guard on the American continent. We traveled both by Chappa'ai and by ship. On one of these occasions, we left a cloaked Al'kesh in orbit above this world. After Ba'al arrived onboard the Achilles and the alternate Cameron Mitchell killed him, we chose to remain here for some time.
"We used long-distance communication and were able to coordinate the arrival of a small group of Tok'ra and a larger group of Jaffa. This world has many, many people, and we had decided to give a few of them the option to join our cause."
"WHAT?!" Coolidge rose in anger at the calm statement. "You can't come to Earth and force our people to become your slaves!"
"Coolidge." It was said in a much calmer but deadlier voice, by General O'Neill. "Sit down. If you're incapable of keeping your temper in check, you're going to have to leave. Understood?"
The seething man gritted his teeth but sat down unwillingly. "Understood."
"Good," O'Neill commented before turning to Egeria again. "Please elaborate about taking hosts on Earth."
*He's a lot angrier about that than I expected.*
*Use your senses. Perhaps he is a former host to a Goa'uld. It would explain his reaction.*
Buffy stretched out her senses. She had long since realized she could 'feel' the echo of the Naquada in someone's blood. She blinked. O'Neill was a former host, but so was Colonel Carter.
*That is quite odd, but not unheard of. They have quite deliberately been traveling to many worlds and ended up in captivity many times. It would have been more surprising if none of them had run afoul of our cousins. After all, taking one of them as a host would not only gain them large amounts of knowledge of your homeworld, but also information about Stargate Command and its operations.*
*Very true. But Carter seems to be withholding judgment, at least for the time being. O'Neill hasn't really hidden his lack of trust.*
In lieu of answering her host, Egeria chose to reply to the head of Stargate Command. "As I am sure you are aware, the Tok'ra only take willing hosts. These hosts are often sick with an illness their people cannot cure. When we arrived here, we oriented ourselves and looked for hospitals and similar places where your people are often left to die alone if they do not have a family. We carefully approached a few in different areas to see if they would be willing to join us in exchange for being healed of their illness. Most of them rejected the offer and preferred to die as they believed their time was done.
"However, there were those who chose to join us and then became hosts to our children. We did not force anyone to do this, nor did we lie about the consequences. Such as they would not be allowed to contact their family or friends. We made sure they were declared deceased."
A female politician spoke up into the silence. "Are these hosts still on Earth or have you taken them off-world?"
"Some of them are still here, either working to help us pay for the things we buy and take off-world, or they are looking for more potential hosts. Others have chosen to leave and are helping us in other capacities."
General O'Neill was kind of just staring at them at that point. "The Tok'ra have JOBS on Earth?" He placed his face in his hand for a few seconds. "Every time you say something it just sounds crazier."
Egeria gave him a soothing smile, "We have realized this world has many things our organization may benefit from, but in order to acquire them, we need currency. In order to acquire that we need to work."
"What about Buffy Summers, the one from this reality. She runs a very wealthy organization with a huge cash flow. Can't she give you money?"
Everyone merely stared at Coolidge. "No, James Coolidge, we can not do that. The Defender's Council has its own expenses and cannot be expected to pay our expenses."
"But you work with them, don't you? They have given you hosts and people to help with your fights?"
Egeria shook her head. "We have helped them, but it has been decided not to take them away from the Tau'ri homeworld. We have our fights and they have theirs."
"But they have volunteered hosts," the man insisted.
Egeria bowed her head and Buffy took over. "No, Mr. Coolidge. The Defender's Council has not volunteered any hosts. But his is getting us nowhere, and it's getting late. How about we call it a night and pick this up in the morning?"
There were grumbles from most people, but they also didn't object. "Excellent. Think about what's been said, and I'm sure you'll have more questions for tomorrow."
General ONeill rose, "You heard the ladies. We're adjourned for tonight. Shoo."
Author: 3am_moonlight (MirroredIllusions on TtH)
Crossover: BtVS / Stargate SG-1: Continuum
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 984
Timeline: BtVS: Post-Chosen & Post-Stargate SG-1: Continuum
Disclaimer: Nothing copyrighted belongs to yours truly.
Summary: In which there is even more news the Tau'ri did not expect.
Author's Note: Written for Day 22 of the 2022 August Fic-A-Day.
Previous: Back To Start . Try Again . Tok'ra . Stargate Command . Interlude . Specialized Vacation Destination .
"Let's get back to the part where you were explaining how you have been visiting Earth without anyone noticing."
General O'Neill's glare was impressive for someone who normally pretended he wasn't that smart. Coolidge and the rest of the annoying politicians were smart enough to follow his lead as the real man was peeking out. Although, it could also be because they, too, wanted to know the answer to that question.
"How did you get to Earth after the Stargate made it to America? And when was the first time afterward?"
*Do you want to take over? I think he likes you better than me, at least when it comes to answering these kinds of questions.*
Buffy could feel the symbiote's amusement, but all she replied was, *Certainly.* Buffy bowed her head and when they answered it was with the dual voice of the symbiote rather than a normal human voice.
"We had journeyed to the Tau'ri homeworld several times when the Chappa'ai was placed under strict guard on the American continent. We traveled both by Chappa'ai and by ship. On one of these occasions, we left a cloaked Al'kesh in orbit above this world. After Ba'al arrived onboard the Achilles and the alternate Cameron Mitchell killed him, we chose to remain here for some time.
"We used long-distance communication and were able to coordinate the arrival of a small group of Tok'ra and a larger group of Jaffa. This world has many, many people, and we had decided to give a few of them the option to join our cause."
"WHAT?!" Coolidge rose in anger at the calm statement. "You can't come to Earth and force our people to become your slaves!"
"Coolidge." It was said in a much calmer but deadlier voice, by General O'Neill. "Sit down. If you're incapable of keeping your temper in check, you're going to have to leave. Understood?"
The seething man gritted his teeth but sat down unwillingly. "Understood."
"Good," O'Neill commented before turning to Egeria again. "Please elaborate about taking hosts on Earth."
*He's a lot angrier about that than I expected.*
*Use your senses. Perhaps he is a former host to a Goa'uld. It would explain his reaction.*
Buffy stretched out her senses. She had long since realized she could 'feel' the echo of the Naquada in someone's blood. She blinked. O'Neill was a former host, but so was Colonel Carter.
*That is quite odd, but not unheard of. They have quite deliberately been traveling to many worlds and ended up in captivity many times. It would have been more surprising if none of them had run afoul of our cousins. After all, taking one of them as a host would not only gain them large amounts of knowledge of your homeworld, but also information about Stargate Command and its operations.*
*Very true. But Carter seems to be withholding judgment, at least for the time being. O'Neill hasn't really hidden his lack of trust.*
In lieu of answering her host, Egeria chose to reply to the head of Stargate Command. "As I am sure you are aware, the Tok'ra only take willing hosts. These hosts are often sick with an illness their people cannot cure. When we arrived here, we oriented ourselves and looked for hospitals and similar places where your people are often left to die alone if they do not have a family. We carefully approached a few in different areas to see if they would be willing to join us in exchange for being healed of their illness. Most of them rejected the offer and preferred to die as they believed their time was done.
"However, there were those who chose to join us and then became hosts to our children. We did not force anyone to do this, nor did we lie about the consequences. Such as they would not be allowed to contact their family or friends. We made sure they were declared deceased."
A female politician spoke up into the silence. "Are these hosts still on Earth or have you taken them off-world?"
"Some of them are still here, either working to help us pay for the things we buy and take off-world, or they are looking for more potential hosts. Others have chosen to leave and are helping us in other capacities."
General O'Neill was kind of just staring at them at that point. "The Tok'ra have JOBS on Earth?" He placed his face in his hand for a few seconds. "Every time you say something it just sounds crazier."
Egeria gave him a soothing smile, "We have realized this world has many things our organization may benefit from, but in order to acquire them, we need currency. In order to acquire that we need to work."
"What about Buffy Summers, the one from this reality. She runs a very wealthy organization with a huge cash flow. Can't she give you money?"
Everyone merely stared at Coolidge. "No, James Coolidge, we can not do that. The Defender's Council has its own expenses and cannot be expected to pay our expenses."
"But you work with them, don't you? They have given you hosts and people to help with your fights?"
Egeria shook her head. "We have helped them, but it has been decided not to take them away from the Tau'ri homeworld. We have our fights and they have theirs."
"But they have volunteered hosts," the man insisted.
Egeria bowed her head and Buffy took over. "No, Mr. Coolidge. The Defender's Council has not volunteered any hosts. But his is getting us nowhere, and it's getting late. How about we call it a night and pick this up in the morning?"
There were grumbles from most people, but they also didn't object. "Excellent. Think about what's been said, and I'm sure you'll have more questions for tomorrow."
General ONeill rose, "You heard the ladies. We're adjourned for tonight. Shoo."