As the Asgard battleship left Ka, Daniel felt ill remembering the rows and rows of embryos. The idea that each one could become an adult Goa'uld, even a System Lord, terrified him.
SG-1 followed Kali into the secret facility after she swept away the opposition. They fought the Jaffa on the edges, but Kali handled the brunt of the battle. Watching her fight from a distance and being next to her were worlds apart in experience. A shout from Teal'c saved them from impending danger, forcing them back to the matter at hand.
Kali led them into the nursery, where she wiped out every embryo. Goa'uld and Jaffa raced to stop her, but were no match for Hell's Guardian. She ended the carefully guarded breeding program with one final sweep of her scythe. When Kali led them back to the ship, not one living soul remained on Ka.
Daniel wandered along the passageways, trying to come to terms with what he had done. He couldn't help but feel that the brutality displayed was unnecessary. His unguided steps led him to an unoccupied area. He sat down at a table, where his fingers automatically picked up the book that lay there. Daniel started reading the bold, looping letters when a voice spoke from the darkness, frightening him into dropping the book.
"It isn't polite to read other people's private thoughts." Kali stepped into the light; the shadows grudgingly releasing their hold.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize this was your room. It looked abandoned."
She watched him blush like a naughty schoolboy. "Why are you here, Daniel?"
"Just thinking." His shoulders shrugged as he tried to push away his troubled thoughts, but found he couldn't. "May I ask you a question about Ka?" She nodded, waiting for him to continue. "Why didn't you save anyone?"
Kali sighed, having known he'd confront her about this. "No one could be saved. They were handpicked for that reason. The Goa'uld took years molding them from the cruelest creatures that they could find among the Jaffa. Do you think that I would utterly destroy them otherwise?"
Daniel thought over her actions since he had met her. "No, you wouldn't."
"No, I wouldn't. Even as I am now, I won't destroy unchecked."
"Before, when that strange man was here, you talked about someone sleeping inside you, who is it?" His large blue eyes searched her face, trying to see the person hidden there.
She walked closer to pick up the book from the table, flipping to the first page and looking at the writing as if seeing it for the first time before closing the book again. Kali slid the book back over to him.
"Read her words to understand and get your questions answered. Her name is Buffy Summers. Perhaps, you should stay here with Thor until you feel more grounded. He can answer your questions while we are gone. This System Lord is not strong. She has only been here a short time." Kali faded back into the shadows leaving a bewildered Daniel staring at a slender book he realized was a personal journal.
Kali, with the ever-present Bra'tac by her side, set up camp. Sith-87, a desert planet with a few scattered oases, reminded Jack of Abydos. He was suddenly glad that Daniel didn't come with them for this trip. He looked at their 'leader' for orders. She turned to look at him, and Jack couldn't stop the shiver those cold green eyes caused whenever they landed on him.
"Daniel will find his answers and have new questions when we return. This trip is not for him, it is for you. You helped me destroy life, now you can help me restore it." She motioned for Bra'tac to follow her.
Jack turned to Sam and Teal'c. "How does she do that? It's like she read my mind or something. That woman is just plain scary."
"I find her an admirable ally, Jack O'Neill."
Sam's eyes followed Kali as she walked among the ever-growing army. Although, she didn't speak to many, her presence provided an air of stability, courage and duty. Every head turned when Kali walked by; hands reached out to touch her in reassurance. Sam realized that Kali didn't encourage this but seemed to understand it.
"Teal'c, what did it feel like when you supported Kali?" Sam asked not taking her eyes off the dark haired woman.
"It is difficult to describe, Samantha Carter. Kali's sacrifice seemed more than an offering of her blood. It felt like she took all their pain into herself before changing it into hope and freedom, then gave it back to them."
"Look at them; they are devoted to her, even though she doesn't want them to be." Sam signaled towards Kali.
"She's eating that up, who wouldn't want to be the conquering hero?" Jack scoffed at Sam.
"You're wrong, Jack O'Neill, but you will have to learn this for yourself." Teal'c went to join Bra'tac, leaving his commander confused and frustrated.
Jack turned to Sam. "What about you? Are you a converted Kali fan too?"
Sam tried to find words to describe how she perceived the woman who had turned their world upside down. "Maybe we should give her a chance, sir. Kali hasn't done anything wrong. She does things differently, but that doesn't mean they are wrong. The question is, why you are acting so differently. What is it about Kali that gets you so upset?"
He didn't answer her because he wasn't sure himself; there was something about Kali that grated on his nerves. Sam waited for an answer. "Something inside me seems to go crazy whenever she's around."
"Are you attracted to her?" She blinked back the sudden tears that filled her large blue eyes.
"I am not creating the confusion, the Ancients tampered with your mind. You should free yourself of them soon if you want to, the choice is yours, they would love to keep you at their beck and call." Kali stared into his dark brown eyes like she could see straight to the hidden messages from the Ancients.
"What do I have to do?"
"Choose to reclaim you life, accept the past and move on, then decide what you want and fight for it, regardless of the rules." Her eyes glanced from him to Sam. "Don't waste the time you have only to look back later with regret."
Jack returned to the ship a changed man. Kali asked him to help during the ceremony to free the Jaffas. Standing behind her and feeling the power humming under her skin, watching her push herself until everyone was taken care of, changed his perception of her.
Sam kept her distance from him. She fought alongside Teal'c, helped with the wounded and kept to herself. Kali's words had opened their eyes, and neither could close them again.
Jack accepted what Kali was doing and joined her; if not whole-heartedly, at least with a growing respect. The antagonism and resentment were scarcely more than a glimmer anymore. Sam's respect was only tempered with concern for her father. Little did she know both Carters had a tough road ahead, each would find comfort if they would only have the courage to reach out and take it.
Daniel greeted his friends on their return. He was quieter than normal, and his eyes followed Kali wherever she went. She disappeared like she always did. He went back to the room, hoping that she would be there. He wasn't disappointed.
Kali stood bathed in the faint glowing light from a small window. "Have you ever wondered why there are so many stars and so few planets? Who decided which would be planets, and which stars, moons, or any other heavenly bodies?"
"They all started as stars that gathered in mass over millions of years."
"Yes, Daniel, that is the science, but what's the reason behind it all? Forget my musings, what did you learn from your studies? Were your questions answered, or did you think up new ones?"
He smiled at her, causing her to notice his blue eyes once more. "Thank you for allowing me to read her journal. Do you mind talking about her? I didn't want to talk to ask Thor."
She tilted her head to look at his face in confusion. "Why not? I thought you trusted him."
"Buffy's thoughts are private, and Thor didn't need insight into them. I trust you to tell me the truth. What's she like?"
Kali looked away from his hopeful expression. Buffy Summers stirred, turning over to blink in the dark. Kali didn't push her to sleep or to wake. She simply let her choose. "Choice is a word that was taken from her when she turned fifteen," Kali said, turning back to look at the stars. Daniel didn't say a word knowing he may never get this opportunity again. "She fought for the ones she loved and gave everything she had, but they wanted more. They always wanted more, and took because she was willing to give. Buffy is far from perfect, but no one deserves to face those things at such an early age. It ate away at her until there was nothing left for to give. All that was left was me, and I gave her what she prayed for most - peace."
The room fell into a comfortable quiet. Kali traced a lazy pattern on the window. Daniel noticed her movements seemed more relaxed, less predatory. She turned to look at him, acknowledging that he was still in the room. He slowly got up from his chair to join her by the window. They stared at each other for several moments, neither saying a word. Looking into Daniel Jackson's trusting blue eyes stirred something inside Kali. It shook the slumbering Buffy Summers who slept not so peacefully. She stretched, yawned, then looked around her mystical bedchamber, her peaceful palace of forgetfulness. A tendril of warmth snuck its way into the cold, empty place she hid her heart. Kali knew this time would come that the end was drawing near. She only hoped Buffy didn't regret waking to be a part of it.
"Daniel, things will be changing quickly. You and your friends need to be ready. There are still things that you don't know, things you won't accept until you see them for yourself. It won't be easy, but it can't be helped. You can choose to continue here or return to Earth until the final battle."
"What's the matter? What aren't you telling me?"
"I can't until it's time, because you won't believe me."
"What if I told you I would? What if I said that no matter what I'd believe you?" Daniel's jaw went out at a stubborn angle.
"I wouldn't believe you." Kali moved quickly towards the door only stopping when Daniel called out.
"Kali, I would believe you no matter what you think!"
Kali, SG-1, and her army traveled from planet to planet, wherever Goa'uld ruled. They rested while they set up camp or waited for the freed Jaffa to recover their strength. She pulled her vanishing routine, but could be found occasionally talking with Daniel. Each time they returned to the ship, the army grew in numbers.
They returned to the ship, but didn't leave for another planet like they normally did. The atmosphere on the ship was tense. Each person that stepped aboard felt it, except Kali. She walked through the corridor towards Thor's rooms. The Asgard that passed her wouldn't meet her eye. She fought the urge to roll her eyes at them. For beings so intelligent and ageless, they weren't good at confrontation. Kali knocked on his door, entering when the door slid open for her.
Thor sat in a large chair, waiting for her, knowing she would come. "Please sit."
"No, I won't be here that long. I want to know if you want to talk to her, or do you want me to." She crossed her arms waiting for an answer.
"The Tok'ra are our allies, Kali. They no longer pose a threat to Earth or anyone else. You have eliminated the Goa'uld, released the Jaffa and freed the slaves."
"STOP!" Kali advanced on him like a striking cobra. "Stop hiding from what you know. This ends here and now. Forget it , I'll find her and tell her what to expect. We will be leaving in one hour." The door slid shut behind her.
Thor put his head in his hands knowing this last bit of information would change everything - forever.
Kali left a shaken Samantha Carter. She didn't want to hurt the other woman, far from it, but she had to know the truth. Now, she had to find the person she hoped would help the Major make some tough choices.
She knocked on a door, before entering Jack's quarters. He looked at her, if not with a friendly smile, at least without the previous hostilities. She wondered how long that would last after he heard what she had to say.
"Sam heard some news that upset her. She needs you, Jack."
He grabbed Kali's arms, a deep grumble erupting from his chest. "What did you do to her?"
"Take your hands off me," her voice a soft whisper.
Jack backed away but his eyes held hers. "If you've hurt her, I will find a way to make you pay."
"I told her the truth, Jack. I didn't create the problem, I'm here to solve it. Sam will have to tell you herself." Kali turned to leave the room, but said over her shoulder. "Jack, forget the rules for once in your life. You and Sam have something, if you are willing to fight for it. Fight for her, Jack."
Kali stood looking down on Revanna, the Tok'ra's homeland. She waited for Jacob Carter to come abroad the ship to greet his daughter and her team. She didn't anticipate seeing the doubt and pain in Sam's eyes, but it couldn't be helped. It didn't go unnoticed by anyone that Sam and Jack entered talking quietly with their hands clasped together. A half-smile lifted the corners of Kali's mouth.
"Hello Samantha," Jacob Carter greeted as he appeared on the deck. Sam flung herself into his arms surprising everyone by her show of affection. "That's the nicest hello I've had in a long time."
"I'm just happy to see you, dad." Sam said, blinking back the tears that threatened to begin again.
Jacob hugged his daughter again greeting the others. When he noticed Kali, he stopped. "Who are you?"
"Kali." She saw Sam tense when she walked closer, but she didn't withdraw. "I want to speak to Selmac."
Jacob started to protest, but heard Selmac agree to the request. His eyes flashed gold and Selmac's deep voice inquired. "Why do you desire to speak to me?"
Kali stepped closer to the Tok'ra ambassador. "Egeria's Secret," she whispered.
Selmac shrunk away like she'd been physically struck. It told Sam everything she needed to know, Kali told her the truth.
Kali advanced on Jacob/Selmac. "Tell them the truth Selmac and Jacob too, open the pathway for real this time." Her words echoed off the walls.
The timber of Selmac's voice changed from the smooth ambassador to that of a System Lord. "We have bided our time, knowing the humans would take care of the Goa'uld. They did not understand the beings they acquired as hosts. They underestimated their ability to adapt and overcome adversity. We realized to kill them, we had to love them."
Those words resonated in Kali's mind, going straight to the already waking Buffy Summers. They were Angelus' words to Spike.
"What are you saying?" Daniel asked.
"The Tok'ra do not have a partnership with their host. The host believe it knows what the Tok'ra is doing, but that isn't true."
"How can that be? Jacob is living proof that isn't so, even Sam knows better." Daniel argued, then stopped when he saw Kali's face.
"Explain it to them," Kali commanded.
Selmac jerked back before she started talking again. This strange woman terrified her; she found she had no choice but to obey her. "They don't know because we seal off their minds. We feed them the thoughts and memories we desire them to have."
"You're no better than the Goa'uld," Jack snarled. He drew Sam further away from her father. He wrapped his arms around her in comfort, unmindful of the way it looked to the others.
"I want to speak to Jacob Carter. You allowed him to listen to everything you told us." It was a statement, not a question.
Jacob took control, his voice shook from the information he just learned. "Everything that I've done and stood for these last few years had been a lie."
"Yes," Kali said.
"You don't have to be so harsh," Jack cried out.
"Is there an easy way to tell someone a harsh truth?" Kali looked at him with eyes that held limitless knowledge wrapped in endless pain. Buffy Summers' pain bled through, coming awake and it showed in Kali's eyes.
"Dad, Kali, can help you," Sam said, finally coming to terms with everything - herself, Jack, her father and the Tok'ra.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want control of your body - yes or no?" Kali's emerald eyes bore into him.
"Yes."
Thor stepped in after witnessing the inter-play, expecting the others would protest. He underestimated Kali once more. "Kali, think about what you're doing. Are you positive that this needs to be done?"
She stalked over to him as a cloud of fury surrounded her. "You and them," she jerked a finger up at the sky, "can stop right there. I am going to end this, all of it, and that includes the Tok'ra. Show yourselves, NOW!" The ship shook with her voice's power.
The others held their hands over their ears. They watched in awe as Lya and Oma appeared on the deck beside Thor. There before them stood the remaining representatives of the Great Alliance. Lya gestured to Kali, who returned it, the two women communicated without words. Oma appeared decidedly unhappy to be called on the carpet.
"Why did you call us here?" Oma demanded.
"To hold you accountable."
"You dare."
"I more than dare, I demand. You created me to clean up the mess you permitted to grow because you were too afraid to interfere."
"We tried to right the wrongs we saw. Our intervention only produced more problems, that is why we created you," Oma clarified.
"No, you created me because you were too afraid to do anything yourself. I am the instrument to take care of the evil, then you intend to put me back in the box, but it won't work."
Lya's sweet face looked sad at the open hostility. She walked up to Kali and laid a palm on the dark-haired warrior's temple. The Nox representative's hand glowed as she awakened Buffy Summers from her light slumber.
Kali felt the hazel eyes blink open as the young woman who carried the weight of the world awakened. She stood up shaking the last bit of slumber away to step into the forefront. The emerald eyes changed, small touches of browns and blues could be seen. Kali stood straighter, her back stiffening. She turned to look at Daniel who understood what was occurring.
"Take your hand off me, Lya," Buffy ordered.
The others looked confused at the change in Kali's voice. Lya removed her hand, but didn't move. "Do not judge us so harshly, we each have to live with our choices."
"What about the ones you made for others? Who judges you for those?"
"We had to consider the welfare of multitudes." Lya went to push the hair away from Buffy's face.
"Don't."
Lya stepped away shocked at the harshness in Buffy's voice. "We…"
"Stop it. You are going to help with the Tok'ra, whether you like it or not." She twirled in a circle taking in everyone in the room. Her eyes caught Daniel's, they exchanged a small smile.
Oma spoke up. "What do you mean? We will do no such thing."
"Yes, you will! It is time for you to get off your collective asses and get your hands dirty."
Jack whispered in Sam's ear. "Don't know what's got into Kali, but I like it."
Sam snuggled closer to Jack's large chest, taking the comfort he offered.
Jacob Carter returned to Ravenna's surface a changed man. He held all Selmac's memories, thanks to Kali. Jacob understood how important his role was in the coming days.
"We must call everyone together at once. I have news of the one that we seek." His voice resonated like Selmac's perfectly, with Thor's help.
The Tok'ra High Council sent out word quickly assembling the masses. The capitol was over-flowing as each Tok'ra arrived. When the last one stepped into the crowded area, Selmac started to speak. "Our lives are about to change..." The minute the words left his mouth time stopped.
Kali accompanied by the Great Alliance members and SG-1 landed on the planet.
"That's a pretty neat trick. When we're finished here ya wanna hit Vegas?" Jack winked at her.
The air was tense and silent. Kali motioned for Teal'c to follow her. She left Bra'tac behind, knowing he didn't need to see this many Goa'uld. No matter how the mighty Alliance wanted to argue about it, that was what they were and always would be. They weren't trying to live in harmony with their human hosts. They were trying to lull them and the rest of the world into a false sense of security.
They moved through town towards the front podium where the High Council stood with Jacob at their center.
"Kali, just how long can you, you know…" Jack waved his hands in the air, puffing his cheeks out to create a strange whistling noise.
"Longer than you can joke. Would you like me to test it out on you?"
Sam looked between the two then reached over and smacked Jack on the back of the head. "Respectfully sir, shut up." Her blue eyes twinkled at him as he stuck his tongue out at her.
Daniel and Teal'c shared knowing looks. They were happy their friends finally accepted their feelings for each other, regardless of the circumstances.
Kali took her place center stage. Daniel quietly stepped behind her, extending his arms out at his side. She leaned against him before gesturing to Teal'c to administer the necessary cuts. Time returned to normal at the exact moment the scythe sliced into her skin. Daniel whispered encouraging words in her ear. He knew this time would be different from anything she'd faced before, and wanted to help. Black blood streamed from the deep gashes.
The Tok'ra awakened to witness their worst fears realized. They couldn't move to stop it, all eyes watched the black haired goddess that held their future in the palm of her hand.
Kali's voice rang out in the square. "You can hide no longer. There will be no time for you - ever."
They started to protest, but it was too late. The black blood hit the air, calling the Goa'uld hidden deep inside them. They erupted from their mouths in a show that light up the evening sky. Each Goa'uld hit Kali's body, latching onto her rich blood. They tried to burrow to the center to overpower the host and control the owner. Daniel found himself gritting his teeth. It took everything he had to keep his knees from buckling.
Thor, Oma and Lya stood waiting to do their part. They finally resigned themselves to aiding Kali. The Tok'ra's Goa'uld burst into dust. The Alliance members worked together to gather it before it could hit the ground. Their job was to ensure that each host received its own altered Tok'ra back. This way they would retain all the memories, knowledge and most of their strength.
While Thor and the others administered to the masses, Daniel caught Kali before her body collapsed to the ground. He picked her up in his arms surprised at how light she was. "Teal'c, get Sam and Jack. We need to take Kali back to the ship."
"Is she all right, Daniel Jackson?"
"I'm not sure. She's lost a lot of blood and she's not waking up." He looked at her skin's pale color and tried not to panic.
"Kali is a formidable warrior, Daniel Jackson. She will not fall this way."
"What's the matter Daniel?" Sam raced up with Jack and her father close behind.
His eyes never left Kali's face as he cradled her close to his chest. The wounds were slowly closing, but still dripped black blood. She was a picture in black and white, since all color leeched from her skin.
"Oh," Sam answered her own question.
Lya appeared next to Daniel. She reached out to touch Kali, but Daniel swung the small body away. Lya looked at him with confusion and hurt.
"They don't want you to touch them. They trusted you, Lya, but you thought you knew better. Buffy was already waking up, you had no right to do what you did."
"Daniel, what are you talking about?" Sam looked between them.
"I can't explain; it's not my place, but Lya understands. We have to get Kali back so that she can recover."
The other Alliance members appeared. "We will do as you request, Daniel." Thor sounded very old and weary. It saddened him to see the distrust in his young friend's eyes. The worst part was, he had only himself to blame.
Buffy swam through the dark towards a light. She blinked her eyes open to look around, only to realize that she was in LA. Emotions battered her psyche like blows from an enemy. Roars, screams, flesh hitting flesh and steel clashing sounded from a dark alley. Buffy walked in the direction of an obvious battle, as she turned a corner she came face to face with a scene from Hell. It looked like all the Hordes of Hell poured out on LA's streets. People were fighting and losing.
She shot up in the bed knowing what she had to do. Buffy was surprised to find herself in Daniel's room. He slept in a chair beside the bed. Sitting there quietly listening to him breath, she felt Kali at her inner core. Kali gave her strength to return and face her inner demons. The two were one being about to return to their birthplace and needed what the other provided.
Daniel opened his eyes to see two large hazel eyes watching him. "Hello." He smiled at her, happy she was awake. "You look better."
"Thanks," she returned his smile. "You didn't have to give up your bed for me."
"Buffy?" Daniel's eyes widened with understanding.
"The one and only."
"Where's Kali?"
"Here," Buffy placed a hand over her heart, "and here,'" then a finger to her temple. "We always agreed that I would decide when to take control."
"Why is now the right time? Why not when Lya and the others wanted you to?"
"They wanted Kali gone, but it doesn't work that way. She isn't a separate person; that's what they didn't understand. Kali is the darkness that's always been inside me. She accepted what I couldn't ."
Buffy moved over on the bed, her hand patting the mattress. "You look tired and there is room for two if you promise not to snore."
He lay down beside her. Buffy put her head on his shoulder, cuddling next to his side. Daniel wrapped an arm around her slender waist, enjoying the feel of her small body. His eyes grew heavy and his breath slowed as he returned to a peaceful sleep, with Buffy not far behind him.