Chapter One

Rupert Giles paces in front of a long window in the lobby of the hotel that is being transformed into the new Watchers' Council headquarters. The drapes are wide open; allowing the sunrise to creep it was up the walls, casting shadows across the walls. He glances at his watch and glares at Andrew Wells, his personal assistant. "Where the bloody hell are they?"

"Relax, Giles, I sent Faith after them," Andrew says, rolling his eyes as he flops into one of the easy chairs near the elevator. They hear the "ding" of the elevator arriving on their floor. "See?"

It isn't Buffy Summers and her gang of Scoobies, however, that step out of the elevator. It's Roger Ashford, a grumpy looking older man with graying hair and deeply shadowed eyes. He looks at Giles and frowns. "Good evening, Rupert."

"Mr. Ashford," Giles says formally. He sighs. "Glad you could make it."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Ashford replies. He sits down in the armchair opposite from Andrew. "Seems my Slayer is running behind."

"She'll be here," Giles says, belying his initial irritation at Buffy's absence. He forces himself not to glance at his watch as they wait for the next elevator to arrive.

And arrive it does, with Buffy Summers leading a ragtag team of twenty-somethings into the lobby. Buffy, despite having spent the night battling a vampire known as Jack the Ripper, looks none the worse for wear, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail suited for combat and clothes that years ago she never would have considered, chosen for their comfort and durability rather than style or color. She has a serious expression on her face. "You rang, Giles?"

Behind Buffy is Faith Lehane. Faith is considered Buffy's polar opposite: long brown hair worn wavy around her shoulders and clothes designed to reveal more than they covered, their appearance isn't the only thing that keeps Faith the Yang to Buffy's Yin. Faith is wild, unbridled energy and excitement, thrilled by the chase and the fight of being a Slayer. All of this is portrayed by her attitude and outlook on their task.

Being a Slayer is seen as something different to all those who are chosen. Not that it's much of a choice. If a young woman is strong, smart, and able, she can potentially be a Slayer: a woman with mystical abilities to battle the forces of evil. First there had been one in the form of Buffy Anne Summers but with her death at a young age, she had opened the gates for another to exist at the same time. Kendra Young had been the first but her death had caused Faith to be called.

Now, there are more Slayers than anyone knows what to do with. A spell Willow Roseburg had cast two years ago had allowed anyone capable of being a Slayer to become one. The resulting army was able to defeat the First, literally the first incarnation of evil. They'd returned it to its dormant state and are now struggling to deal with flux of having so many powerful young women in the world.

At Buffy's side are her two best friends in the world, Alexander "Xander" Harris and Willow Rosenburg. The pair have been at Buffy's side since she moved to Sunnydale California their sophomore year of high school. Since their teenage years, Xander has matured into the rock of the group, always there for the group to rely on no matter what. Willow's abilities as a witch have grown by leaps and bounds, making her one of the most powerful women in the world.

In the group is Dawn Summers, Buffy's younger sister. Standing taller than her sister with light brown hair and similar eyes, Dawn has been the Buffy's familial root since their mother passed away several years ago. Originally Dawn had been planted into Buffy's family, the gang's memories altered to adjust for her arrival, to be protected by a maddened goddess called Glory. Buffy had sacrificed her life, knowing full well that Dawn isn't her flesh and blood sister. Now they are practically inseparable, usually to each other's chagrin, as though they really have lived together since birth.

"Right on schedule," Giles says, looking at Ashford pointedly. "I trust that I'm not interrupting anything important?"

Dawn looks at her watch. "Only the only free time we ever get. No biggie."

Buffy looks reproachfully at Dawn. "We just got Kennedy to bed. And she's fine. No vampirism for her."

"Thank goodness, I don't think I could take her biting my neck any more than she already does," Willow says without thinking. She stops when she sees everyone looking at her. "Um, let's strike that from the record, okay?"

"Anyway," Giles says, shaking his head as though trying to erase that image from his mind's eye. "After an all too brief investigation, I am unable to determine the source of the traitor. However, I am confident that we will root out the individual or individuals and bring them to justice. In the meantime, I'm afraid that I have rather bad news."

"Because we could always use more bad news," Xander quips grumpily. "What now?"

Andrew stands with a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. "Mr. James Rigby, the guy who was funding us, pulled out after not making the first 'cuts'. He's leaving and taking all of his money with him."

Faith snorts in disgust. "So what? We don't need him. We've got this hotel and about a zillion Slayers and Watcher wannabes. The spoilsport can keep his cash."

"It's not that easy, Faith," Buffy replies. "Normally I'd agree with you but after Mom died, I had to take care of everything she'd left behind. It's not enough just to have housing. We need food, electricity, water, weapons--"

"Buffy's right," Giles says. "Fortunately, we've come up with a plan."

Ashford stands suddenly. "My plan. My brother told me, a long time ago, about a treasure deep underneath the former location of the Council's Headquarters. Buffy, you and I are to go underground and retrieve it."

"What?" Buffy asks, looking at Giles. "Who died and made him queen?"

Ashford's jaw drops and he prepares to retort. Giles steps between him and Buffy. "It's true. There might be something below the old Council's surface. However, we're not sure."

"My brother would never lie about something like that!" Ashford snaps.

"Your brother should not have been telling you Council secrets, Mr. Ashford," Giles says. "In any case, I need Buffy here to help me conduct more interviews. So you will not be accompanying Xander, Willow, and Caridad into the lower levels."

Willow's eyes widen. "Us? But, I can't go down there. What if Kennedy needs me?"

"Don't you worry, Witchy-poo," Faith says, grinning at Willow. "I'll keep an eye on your neck-nibbling sweetie."

"Ew, guys, can we not talk about stuff like that?" Andrew pleads, shaking his head in disgust.

"Kennedy will be fine, Will," Buffy says. "If Giles wants you down there, he has a reason. That's why he's head of the new Watcher's Council," with the last statement, she glances at Ashford, who is fuming.

Willow sighs. "Oh, all right. But I won't be having any fun."

Xander smiles at Willow, winking with his good left eye. With the patch over his right eye, it looks as though he's blinking but no one mentions it. "Aw, come on, Willow. It'll be like a treasure hunt. Remember how we used to go on treasure hunts in your sand box?"

Willow smiles. "And Dad used to put the chocolate coins in there for us to find," she frowns at the memory. "You used to eat them anyway."

"Gross," Dawn sticks her tongue out.

Giles shakes his head, a bemused smile on his face. This is his chosen family. And despite their idiosyncrasies, he loves every one of them. Without them, he doesn't know if he would have much of a life at all. "Well, then, that settled, let's get to work. Dawn, you and Rona have patrol tonight. I've already mapped out your route."

"Oh man…." Dawn groans, slapping her palm against her forehead. "I'd rather be my sister's Watcher…"

"Be careful what you wish for," Buffy says. She looks at Ashford. "No one's place is secure here."

Ashford says nothing as he storms into the elevator. It closes with everyone able to see the unbridled fury in his eyes. Buffy looks at Giles. "Looks like we've got a real winner on our hands."

"Indeed," Giles replies.