Note: I've gone through and revamped this entire story – added some new chapters, changed existing ones, yadda yadda – so if you're going through this and things look different, that's why J. Plus, if you've already read the "old version" you may want to go back and scan through the chapters just to be sure you've got all the info – the chapters are short so it's no biggie people!
Summary: It's been six years since Willow left Sunnydale on terms that were anything but friendly: her friends had placed a great deal of blame upon the redhead's shoulders. Now, the once-upon-a-time nerdy hacker is an employee of the Watcher's Council working in one of it's "special departments" with two unlikely friends. Under orders Willow is sent back to Sunnydale to help out her old friends – will it be a happy reunion or will old wounds be opened anew?
Disclaimer: All BtVS characters belong to Joss and his brilliant mind – which I just love so much.
Rating: Oh hell, I don't know. PG, I guess, for a little language here and there.
Author's Note: This story is set roughly 6 years after Season 3 (so, like, the year 2005 give or take a few months). Events leading up to, let's say, "Revelations" still hold relatively true – though, of course, I've twisted them to fit my needs J. A few character's, however, don't exist in this story: Faith, Anya, Wesley and, obviously, any new players that came in after Season 3. Oh, and one final note: I've added a bit of a, well, kink between Willow and Angelus so be prepared.
Chapter One
Winter's in northern Scotland are bitter cold and that dark January morning showed no mercy to the young woman crouching amidst damp weeds three miles outside of Aberdeen, her eyes locked to the guards pacing an abandoned warehouse's roof. Dawn was still hours off and the young woman had kneeled motionless for over four hours, surveying in utter silence and filing to memory all observations, even the most mundane.
Checking her watch the young woman nodded and glanced up at the rooftop. After two weeks of surveillance she knew that every morning, at precisely, three o'clock the guards changed shift. From her position the woman was able to see one of the guards check his own watch before glimpsing, quickly, over his shoulder.
Ten 'til three.
A harsh, static voice broke the early morning stillness and hissed into the young woman's ear, "Queen Command to Pioneer, is your team is position?"
Pressing the piece in her ear, eliciting a gentle 'click' from the device, the young woman – also the Team Commander – spoke into an unseen walkie-talkie, "Night Hawk, is your squad in position?"
A moment later another woman's voice responded, "Roger that, Pioneer."
"Show Boy?"
"Ready and waiting, Pioneer," a male voice answered.
Signaling to her own squad – a "sub-team" composed of a dozen well-armed and well-trained men – the young woman pressed the communication device again and said, "Pioneer to Queen Command, Team Songbird is in position and awaiting your orders."
"Copy that Pioneer," the static voice replied. "You're cleared to proceed."
Cupping her hands over her mouth the young woman mimicked a robin's call, the soft whisper drifting across the breeze, and was answered by two different calls: that of a sparrow and of a blue jay.
"Alright Songbirds," the young woman grinned. "Let's kick some demon ass."
Pioneer and her Team had been assigned to "take down" the UK command center of a notorious anti-humanity organization known as the Demon Alliance. Within the seemingly run-down warehouse lay a vast labyrinth of demonic technology in medical, scientific, psychological and supernatural fields all designed for the sole purpose of human extermination. In most recent years the Alliance had become increasingly active and bold in their actions against the Watcher's Council, which has always been its greatest foe, and after the destruction of a Council training facility in southern Brazil the Watcher's decided retaliation must ensue swiftly.
It was no surprise, then, that when the orders came in Team Songbird was chosen for the mission. Since her arrival at the Council Pioneer had been one of its top agents and it didn't take her Team long to become the most successful Team in operation. Other than rising quickly up the ranks Pioneer was vastly known throughout the Council, and their world-wide affiliates, for her extensive knowledge of demons, dimensions and magic.
In less than an hour the Alliance operation facility was under compete lockdown, all Alliance agents, seeing as they were demons, were all tagged and bound and placed into the custody of Council Inquiry to be properly interrogated. All research and data was quickly confiscated by Watcher Intelligence to be reviewed and categorized while the machinery and weaponry was packed up in crates to be taken to A&D (Analysis and Design).
After a brief exchange of words with the lead agent from Intelligence Pioneer and her Team were in flight, heading back to the Council Special-Operations Division (CSOD) – a sub-agency of the Watcher's Council and located three miles outside of Portsmouth. Dawn was sitting just below the horizon when Team Songbird arrived at Infantry Headquarters, a Gothic-styled mansion dated to the late 14th century and filled with stained glass, pointed spires and arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, towering columns and ornate edifices. Marching through the chilled corridor's Pioneer lead her Team to the offices of Watcher Bruckheim, the head of CI (Council Infantry).
Pioneer, as Team Commander, was asked to a private council with Bruckheim to further discuss the mission and dawn was well passed when she was dismissed.
"Pioneer," the head of CI called to the Commander just as she stepped to close his office doors.
Facing her ranking agent Pioneer asked, "Sir?"
Watcher Bruckheim was a handsome man of early forties, tall and lean, dressed, as is his British nature, in tweed. His warm hazel eyes often peered from behind oval, silver-framed glasses and around his temples gray highlights were advancing deeper into his dusty-brown hair which, Pioneer often observed, only added to his bookish appeal.
Smiling at the young woman Bruckheim extended his hand, which she took. "Damn fine job, agent Rosenberg."
Despite herself Willow returned the smile. "Thank you, sir."
"The same goes for your Team," Bruckheim added. "Where have Show Boy and Night Hawk gone off to?"
"Oh, you know those two, sir." Opening the door to his office Willow gave Bruckheim another smile before finishing, "They love to watch the sun rise."
Stretching her arms over her head Willow walked slowly through Infantry Headquarters, chatting with various individuals and making a brief stop at A&D to see the Gadget Man and catch up on all his latest, well, gadgets. Finally, though agent Rosenberg arrived at her destination: the eastern terrace.
"What the bloody hell took you so long?" Show Boy asked, never taking his eyes from the distant horizon.
Smirking, and knowing he wasn't paying the least bit of attention to her, Willow responded, "Bruckheim and I had a quick shag."
"Right, well – What!" Spinning around to face her Show Boy's eyes had nearly bulged out of his head and his jaw was close to reaching the ground.
"Thought that'd get you're attention."
Beside Willow, Night Hawk was struggling to contain her laughter. "I'm surprised he even noticed you were gone."
Shaking her head and sighing dramatically Willow said, "Dru's right, Spike. You and your damn sun rise. It's really not a healthy relationship. Maybe you should see a councilor."
Rolling his eyes Spike glared at the two women. "Are you through?"
Both Drusilla and Willow thought for a moment. "Yup," they answered in unison.
"Now," Willow continued, snaking her arm around Spike's waist. "I'm starved. Let's head over to Dante's for a bite to eat."
Draping his arm over the redhead's shoulder Spike smiled, "Whatever you want, love."