Chapter 1
Sir Rupert Giles
Some people see the full picture when it comes to the future of the world and some can't see past their arse when they see something as wrong and the end result can be a hell of a problem if and when the two viewpoints ever meet up- when and if this happened explosions would happen.
That's precisely what happened to Alexander Harris the day his few and only true friends found out his terrible secret.
Now its been a good many years since the disbanding of the Infamous Scooby gang and the scattering of it's various members to all corners of the world and to all occupations- one of the most admired and respected was Mr Alexander Lavelle Harris the first of the 'Scoobies' to pledge their selves to the fight against the darkness centred in Sunnydale. Very little is known about the life of 'Xander' Harris or the reasons behind his assistance in the fight that came close to destroying the world, his recent death has brought to light several files pertaining to his life before and after the massacre of much of Sunnydale's public and infrastructure in the summer of 1999.
The public knowledge of the 'underworld' of the demonic sections of the Earth's surface has also allowed many to personally get involved with the battles against the enemy, this has also allowed groups such as the United States 'initiative' and the United Kingdom Commonwealth's Watchers Council other groups across the world also came to light but most were absorbed into the already established groups such as those previously mentioned allowing a comprehensive network of combat stations to be built with the intention of fighting 'Hostile Sub terrestrials' or more simply 'Demons'. This disclosure allowed many files on personnel from both sides of the fight to be used by both military minds and historians to map the immediate timeline culminating into the closure of several Hellmouths during recent years.
The files of the watchers council were found to be the most comprehensive when it came to information about the stranger phenomena of the later 20th and earliest years of the 21st centuries and of course about those whom fought the battles, however even then the actual Information about certain members of the 'White Hats' was still scarce even with the access to both files and the Watcher's Diaries of Rupert Giles and Wesley Wyndham Pryce the actual information revolving around the exploits of Alexander Harris and his immediate allies both in the months prior and much of the years post Sunnydale. However with the recent memorial marking thirty years since the destruction of Sunnydale and the public revelation about Demons several members of the former 'Scooby Gang' have come forward to give their views on the man once hailed as a 'White Knight' or sometimes 'Paladin' by the people he had saved, two conflicting versions of the man are held by the group and it is hoped that the use of both first hand information from the combatants and allies of Mr Harris and secondary information from older files and interviews with people who knew him and the very rare interviews he gave during his last years.
The primary Information given to us is directly from the former Head of the Watcher's Council Sir Rupert Giles, Earl of Westminster and creator of the current incarnation of the Watcher's Council and is directly responsible for the creation of the unilateral rules and regulations of Human/Demon co-operation against the more 'Evil' of both races.
World News: Good Evening Sir Giles.
Rupert Giles: Good Evening.
WN: It has been Thirty years since the destruction of Sunnydale and the full disclosure worldwide of the existence of the Demonic presence across the planet, you and those you have taught have been directly responsible for the continued war against the enemy. Many people look up to you and your people as a paradigm of good for humanity, how difficult is it to live up to your profile.
RG: The biggest problem has been people belief that we are more than human and more than who we are, I agree that because of who and what we were, we were in fact more than the sum of our parts but we were all still basically just human. Buffy's Power as the slayer, Willow's as a Top level Wicca amongst others were still based in little more than a basic human body the loss of use of any part of their bodies could still cripple or even kill them. Some people do not realise that and put each of us up on a pedestal as a potential demi-god.
WN: Since the revelation thousands of troops have swelled the ranks of the Watcher's council and many more hundreds of thousands have joined the war effort against the Demonic hordes, there are also those whom believe that the normal humans should not get involved in what is a job for those whom can take the enemy on one on one.
RG: The original watchers council had indoctrinated many of their members into believing that only some such as slayers, Wicca's and some allied demon kinds should fight and leave the 'civilians' on the sidelines removing them from any kind of danger. The rebuilt Council disagreed with these rules and allowed combat groups to form under their auspices- I had written those rules into the new doctrine because I myself had seen the myriad peoples of the world freely fight of their own accord no matter how much some people may have tried to force them to concede from the fight, My own slayer Buffy summers was the strongest voice opposed to the inclusion of the 'normal' humans in the war perhaps due to the problems that she had had with several humans whom had fought with the forces of light.
WN: I assume you are talking about the 'Paladin'?
RG: And You would be right.
WN: For those readers unsure about the reference, the Paladin was a name used to describe Alexander Harris one of the world's foremost Demon hunters and one of the first of the 'human resistance' against demonkind.
Sir Giles in the many years since Alexander Harris Joined the fight very little is anything is known about him, you own diaries are sparse and his files with the Council of Watchers, the Initiative and the Library of Heroes are lacking in much of his exploits yet he is well known and respected by most of the fighting peoples of the world.
RG: Xander Harris was once best described as a Bull headed, Infantile, child. However as I got to know the boy I found him to be much more- In my time as a watcher I have met few men as truly loyal and dedicated as Alexander Harris. His love for his friends, respect for both allies and the power of his enemies and lastly his outright refusal to stop his participation on the war made him quite possibly one of the true heroes of his time. I have fought beside many whom have been dubbed thus but Xander was one of a kind a human that refused to quit when things became difficult.
WN: It is said that the reason he no longer fought the fight alongside the Council and it's immediate allies was due to his refusal to conform to the rules.
RG: Bollocks!
WN: Excuse me.
RG: Excuse me, I'm an old man and my ability to hold my temper has diminished with the years, Xander Harris is directly responsible for what is currently written as Council doctrine. There is much that is unwritten about the last few months of Sunnydale's existence and the resulting schism that resulted in the problems that arose. But needless for me to say Alexander Harris is not totally blameless but his also in no way responsible for all that happened at that time- the few items written about him from the point of view of the traditionalists skew his true character completely, for thirty years I have kept the secrets of Xander Harris I am not long for this life and with Xander's passing it is time for this information to come out. The unspoken agreement between all parties that this would not be mentioned has already been broken by the actions of Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenburg with their condemnation of Xander's actions in recent years and his refusal to join the network.
WN: I know that I as well as many others wish to know more of the man whom fought the war without any powers or support bar that he could acquire from allies and enemies alike.
RG: Then it's time that the world knew.
Los AngelesNovember 1999
Warehouse Six- Cyberdyne systems LA
A massive explosion ripped through the warehouses lining two sides of a long concourse, the entire row came apart in a fireball to rival that of a small nuclear weapon. The holes in the warehouse's walls peer directly into the centre where the stored munitions were kept, many were destroyed instantly by the thermo baric blast however those far enough away cooked off destroying more and more boxes of supplies and weapons and wiping out the entire factory's stockpile. A group of secondary explosions crippled the factory's production lines and transport equipment.
With all the commotion and fire from the explosions no one saw three of the factory's trucks pull away packed to the gills with arms, ammunition and supplies- all with what seemed to be teenagers at the wheels of each, if anyone had seen them odds on they would have been terrified. The three trucks pulled up outside an old decrepit warehouse where another group were awaiting their arrival, within minutes the stores had been stripped from the vehicles and the trucks hidden out of sight the first group making their way back to the hideout.
"How'd it go?" A slightly built young man asked.
The leader of the secondary group removed his black balaclava and ran his hands through his hair scruffing it up and making him more comfortable.
"We got a hell of a lot of food and medical supplies some ammo for the weapons as well as a bunch of prototypes I've heard about but not used. What's going on around here John?"
"Gunn's taken out a group to hit the nest up on 33rd."
"What he take."
"Flamer, a few grenades and some of the magnesium flares."
"Should be enough."
"Get some sleep Xander You look like you need it."
"K, Separate the equipment and supplies and get it to the other groups and stashes, we had to pull a load of shit out of the one underneath the church up at Marlowe Hills."
"Got It, off with ya."
"Night Conner."
"Night Harris."
Residence of Rupert GilesJuly 2029
WN: So Xander Harris had been looting and destroying supply caches and warehouses belonging to Military technology sources as well as the actual military themselves.
RG: Xander didn't follow the rules at the best of time, he discredited thousands of years of prophecies on one night- created the second slayer line, broke into a Army base and stole weapons. He knew when and where rules stopped and he could break the lot if he believed it would help, his assistance to the street kids of LA helped many of them survive the coming war.
WN: Several companies claimed that these terrorist actions by Alexander Harris and his cohorts were directly responsible for the downfall of their LA branches and the loss of billions on Military contracts.
RG: It is well known that some of these companies were involved in projects to subjugate large areas of the human populace or worse destroy others man were fronts for the demon population of Los Angeles including several Computer system manufacturers and weapons research companies, it was more of a blessing than anything that Alexander's Innate viewpoint allowed him to see who was on the side of the demons and who were not.
Lost Boys BlockhouseNovember 1999
"Ladies and gentlemen this is the GUJ-5, the latest in ordinance from Cyberdyne industries. The Weapon fires electrified pellets of lightweight metallic composites which explode on impact like this."
Xander had picked up the weapon- one that looked suspiciously like a streamlined lighter version of the MP-5, the weapon looked relatively easy to use the only difference to the original design being a small red light on the end of the rifle's magazine, Xander flicked off the safety and fired down the range directly at a demon shape on the far wall, each of the 'bullets' flared red as they left the gun's barrel and exploded on impact with the wall- the concrete was undamaged however the bullets were no more.
"Each bullet can knock out a human for approximately one to two minutes depending on the person's size, more than one will keep them down longer. The Magazine holds sixty rounds the same as the Mp5s were have been using against demons, the red light on the bottom of the magazine reports that the weapon is powered, armed and there are rounds in the magazine. Once the light has disappeared it means that a wither a new magazine or energy cell is needed."
He field stripped the weapon to its basic components
"From what I've gathered from the manuals and my own testing the range is about six hundred metres with an effective range of around three fifty, sixty rounds with one in the pipe and an infrared scope. The Shell's capability should allow us to take down most demons with a half mag or so- however I have no idea if it'll work on a vampire so we'll have to test it sometime in the next few days."
John chirped in "We want two of every six man team to be fully qualified and capable in the use of this weapon, three magazines per man per weapon. Infrared sights will be used as basic, suppressors and field kits will be supplied if and when needed. Xander and I already know the abilities of these weapons and so will be training teams as they return, in turn they will be transferred to other groups around LA to train them in the weapons use."
Xander once again took up the slack, "I know that we are not an army, hell maybe half a dozen of us know how to really use the kit we have- I know some of you really don't like this put we're better off organised and running as a group of mutual assist gangs than alone allowing the enemy to pick us off."
The assembled demon hunters mumbled agreements, each of them owed each other in the group their lives many times over- not something that can be thought of lightly, few groups outside of full blown military units had the brother (and sister) hood that the lost boys had. But it had taken people like Xander Harris, Charles Gunn and John Conner to keep them together and fighting a trait few if any really had.
"Gunn's back." Shouted one of the younger members of the assembled group of warriors, a tall and slim but well built Dark skinned teenager walked into the room his entourage of warriors behind him, he walked straight over to his nearest bucket and threw up what remained of his dinner straight in.
"What happened?"
"Vamp gang initiation bunch of idiots trying to get themselves turned." A young Hispanic kid spoke up, "We took out the vamps but the humans tried to get us- Gunn was forced to blow a hole in one guy's stomach- dumb fucker's still alive but Gunn's Not taking it well."
"No shit. Did I look like that after I did that the first time?"
"You were worse after you killed a human."
Rupert Giles Residence2029
WN: So he had killed someone at that time?
RG: Much as I regret he was forced to, yes he did kill a human around the end of 1999. He once told me that the old urban myth about it getting easier with each one was true- but he never killed an innocent or anyone that didn't deserve it but he hated the fact he was forced into it by the people he fought.
WN: What about the rumours about his involvement with the apparent murder of ranking Network officials shortly after he survived several assassination attempts from the Tarakan Brotherhood.
RG: Very little is known to the watchers council or even to those that remained close to Xander before his recent demise, If Xander did have anything to do with the Assassination of Quentin Travers or any of his 'associates' then he would have had his reasons behind what he did, he never told me that he had killed Travers but considering his view of the world he may have done it to protect those who could not protect themselves- just like he always did.
WN: Several members of the ruling council have expressed their views that even though Xander Harris may have been doing what he thought was right, he was still a danger and should have been taken out of the picture many years ago in one way or another.
RG: Yes during that time the council was split completely down the middle, it had been well over a decade since Xander Had left Sunnydale and begun hunting solo or with his allies- he had become well known by the Network for his uncompromising behaviour against both Demons and humans that actively worked for them- the detonation of a Thermobaric explosive inside the offices of Wolfram and Hart now known to have been a centre for demon activity in the United States, brought the wrath of the council down upon him. The two sides debated and fought against each other about what to do with the young man if they could find him, one side acknowledged the fact he was doing what was necessary the other side still held that a human should not be getting involved in 'Slayer' territory. snort Ten years and they still believed he couldn't fight demonkind.
WN: But some of that was still rooted in the conflict between Alexander and his former compatriots in Sunnydale.
RG: Xander's actions were directly responsible for the continued existence of the human race as we know it, the continued friction between Xander and his former friends shattered the Scooby Gang into it's components even with the return of the Vampire Angel after several months did nothing to seal the rift even with the Vampire's own belief that Alexander did the right thing. It was the wholesale refusal to try and see the other side of the argument that ended up ostracizing Buffy and Willow from most of their allies.
WN: You are speaking of, Daniel Osbourne, Faith Williams, Wesley Wyndham Pryce, Cordelia Chase, Liam O'Connell and yourself.
RG: Each of the members whom agreed with what Xander had done were also those whom had one reason or another to dislike him due to differing reasons, it seemed to me then and even now that those whom called him their friend were those whom were in fact his greatest detractors. I am saddened to know that even after thirty years and his death that the two of them would still not acknowledge that his reasons for what he did was as right as he believed, fortunately he no longer cared what the others thought about him. He believed more than anything that normal men and women of humankind had the right to make the choices that would affect them directly, Xander used his given right of free will to make a decision that decision saved many lives over the years and proved that a human can and will fight to live and to help save those who need it.
That is not to say that we agreed with everything Alexander did, he made mistakes and made them often both before and after the incident in Sunnydale- but again he proved he was only human.
Sunnydale high SchoolMarch 1999
Four months, two weeks-Pre- incident
"I disagree."
One voice piped up from the massive argument that was encompassing the library, Daniel Osbourne best known to his friends as Oz brought the entire conflict to an abrupt halt. The argument had been raging between two sides for well over three hours, the members of the group turned to the werewolf as if they expected him to say more.
"Oz?" an angry redhead asked.
"I said I disagree."
"He lied about the retrying of the soul curse to Buffy, he's responsible for Angel's being sent to hell, Buffy's pain for months afterwards and mine because he didn't believe I could do it."
"I also do not believe that Alexander would purposely try to hurt anyone, from time to time he has made mistakes your own indiscretions uncounted Willow." The Redhead flushed at the words delivered by the librarian, "Xander may be many things but he is not a traitor nor is he deliberately cruel to anyone, he made a choice and I stand by that choice I also disagree that he was motivated by personal feelings about Angelus or anything he had done."
"Your partly right Giles." A voice piped up from the swinging doors of the library's main entrance, Xander stood there looking completely unrepentant about what had happened, he knew the argument was bound to happen sooner or later- he had lied about the curse and he knew if it came around again he would still make the same decision, again and again if need be, but a part of him still questioned how much of what he did was purely self serving and how much was for the good of all. "A good part of it was trying to stop Acathla being opened and keeping the world turning, but I was terrified as well, some of it was my own fear and I'll admit that hell there may be more to it than that. But I made my choice."
"You Bastard." Screamed Buffy as she tried to launch herself at Xander only to be held back by a grip that rivalled her own, her sister Slayer Faith held her arm stopping her attack on the young man, "What the hell are you doing."
"Boy saved my life B, just returning the favour."
"You know what he did."
"I've only heard you rant about it for the last three hours so hell yeah I know what he did and I know others would have done it too, I would have killed Angelus before hand anyway."
"I'm sorry I lied to you Buffy but I had to make a choice and I think I chose the right one, Angel was dead, gone and Angelus wasn't him. You loved Angel and once I would have thought badly of him but he helped me save your life, I didn't like Angel but I respected him- I hated Angelus and it was him that needed to die."
"YOU KILLED ANGEL."
"ANGEL WAS DEAD, no heartbeat, no pulse, no breath, no reflection get your head out of your arse and look, Angelus killed god knows how many people because you fucked him."
"You were jealous."
"Oh here we go."
"You were jealous I slept with him that I love him not you."
"G you owe me ten bucks." Said Faith.
"Damn."
"What?..." asked Willow
"I bet Jeeves that Buffy would try the old jealousy route when she started screaming at him, I bet him that she would go on about loving Angel etc. I'd never believe her he wouldn't sleep with me when I almost begged him to why does she think she's special."
"I thought she might be a bit more grown up?"
The entire repose was interrupted by the sound of meat slamming together and a crash of metal against skin as Xander flew into the weapons cage closely followed by Buffy.
"Guess I was wrong." Giles finished.
Buffy stalked to the cage and picked Xander up and threw him across the room and into the counted cracking the surface and ripping a scream from Xander's throat as his spine was bent close to breaking, scrambling around him he grasped the only thing close enough to defend himself with h - a broomstick. As Buffy attempted to get closer she was knocked off her feet by the brush end slamming into her stomach throwing her across the room and into the table, shaking her head she tried to attack Xander again this time getting the broken handle across the face launching her into the air and breaking her jaw and cheekbone from the impact of the broom. Xander his adrenaline spent dropped to the floor in immense pain, he knew his ribs were cracked and had possible spinal damage and didn't move in case he was right."
"I never, never tried to hurt anyone Buffy but you; you chose a vampire- a dead body animated by evil over humans and especially those who have given everything to keep you alive. You've now made your decision Buffy and you have to live with it but understand this is you choose a vampire or demon over the lives of your friends and family and the life of one man over the entire world I will Kill the pair of you no matter what."
The rest of the scoobies were frozen by the whispered words of Xander- his voice was low and soft but the pure steel behind them chilled everyone of them through to the Marrow, even Giles with his years as ripper behind him was terrified of the young man at that point. Each of them had to make the decision there and then who they would follow now, the group would be torn asunder as it was would they choose one of the other.
The first to move were Faith and Oz One on each side, Oz caught Xander's eye and Xander just nodded- he knew Willow would go directly to Buffy's side and while he may have made a mistake when he got between Oz and Willow he refused to try to make the Wolf choose between them again, Willow may go against him but over twelve years of friendship had left their mark- Oz was a good man.
"Faith?"
"I'm here."
"Tell Giles to stay here when I'm gone, there will be need of some sort of sanity when I'm no longer around."
"We need to get you to a hospital."
"No I'm ok, my back's calming down now I don't have any damage to my spine."
"No Xander we're going to the Hospital, you looked after me now it's my turn ok."
Rupert Giles ResidenceSeptember 2029
WN: That was the point that the slayer line completely left the auspices of the Watcher's council.
RG: With the departure of Faith that night we lost control of the line, but it did not in fact matter particularly as Faith survived for a long time afterwards, Faith refused to return to the Scooby Gang and in her own words said 'If she can do that to X- the one guy who saved her life and was willing to die to save her and the others, what the hell would she do to me If I got in the way?'
Faith had found it difficult to trust anyone or anything in her life and Xander was one of the few, It's possible it was her death that spurred him on over the years to continue the fight- that night was the second to last time the entire group were assembled in one place and a night I wish I could have changed, I lost a friend and a son that night but I was one of the fortunate few he kept in touch with.
WN: This interview with Rupert Giles was interrupted here by a request from the council for Sir Giles to return to Council Headquarters as quickly as possible; the interview was never completed as a result of Sir Giles' death one week later on his ninetieth birthday.