Chapter Two
Builders Pt. 2
- BTVS -
Location: High School - Halloween, Event In-Game
They briefly spotted Buffy, but she ignored their calls and ran pell-mell as if something with teeth were after her. The bus was flying and the lights were on and it was all a little new and terrifying for them too, so perhaps she had reason for the panic; especially if that wasn't really Buffy in that brain at the moment. But it did mean that the Team Leader had to make the hard choice.
Though it went against his every grain and urge to let one of his friends flee into the night alone, Xander let her go; even as he realized she was probably more vulnerable now than she'd ever been. However, he had his team, the kids, a few other refugees and Ms. Frizzle to take care of. The bus had rapidly filled as they'd stopped for the other non-transformed people (and a few of the saner transformed ones) that they'd discovered enroute.
Despite the chaos of the town, the area around the High School was oddly quiet. An overturned car and a wrecked street lamp indicated some sort of ruckus, but it was apparent that most of the damage was occurring outside the school zone. Plenty of space was left to park the bus and Ms. Frizzle took full advantage of it. Xander, meanwhile, realized he might need to delegate, especially since he was beginning to have a grand and glorious plan.
Sort of.
"Ms. Frizzle? Would you be willing to get the kids into the school and see if you can find any of the parents. The parking lot is looking pretty empty, but hopefully that's because everyone was smart enough to take the fun indoors."
"Xander, it would be my pleasure. Do you intend to try to go find more people? I'd offer to lend my bus, but usually she only lets one person drive her."
He smiled at the kindness. "No, thank you. We've got other priorities at this point. I'd like to say we could rescue everyone, but I think we might need to consider that others are just going to have to find us first."
The science teacher nodded and then opened the bus doors. "Okay everyone, time to head to school!"
For some reason, everyone was a lot more enthusiastic about that idea than usual and there were actual cheers.
Xander turned to Willow, while keeping a careful eye on those who were exiting, "I think we need to talk once we're off the bus; you, Dawn and me."
Willow's eyes held a gleam of anticipation, even as she nodded. "I agree. I can feel potential here. And not just because of the Hellmouth."
"Have you looked at it yet?" Even as he asked the question, he allowed himself to see, scanning his eyes over the territory of the school with a gaze filled with rapidly adjusting information. The High School measured and labeled itself for him, and then, when he blinked became oddly transparent, tipping over in such a way that he could see the rooms and dots within, which were individuals in motion, not yet identified and only indicated. He tried to feel odd about what he was observing, but by then his mind had adjusted and it was just a normal scan now. His gaze rested a moment on the library, where the number of books (38,154, not including Giles's special collection, which was about average for a highschool like theirs), tables, chairs and sundry information appeared beside a cautionary message related to a dimensional portal. Would he like to know more? Yes.
The portal labeled and measured itself and provided energy evaluations, size, general disposition, and color which was not quite what he was expecting, as he thought it would appear black, but it's actual composition was multicolored; streaked with reds, blues, yellows, and complimentary colors, including white. How odd. He'd expected pure evil, but got nothing like that. It was as if the portal were just a portal; with lots of dark, yeah but with potential for other things too. Not that he doubted that there were those who would love to use it to open things that were anathema to this world. He shook his head lightly and the messages disappeared and he returned to the conversation. This all happened within a matter of seconds.
"I've been looking at everything. But I don't think that's what has caused all this."
"Oh?"
"I've finally figured out how to translate the energy signatures to something useful, give or take. Is it me or are you having difficulty settling in since we awakened? Usually there's no adjustment necessary; that is, if I'm remembering right. Oh, back to topic, the Hellmouth is very interesting indeed, but there is a huge globe of chaotic power emanating out from that direction. It is what is doing the damage, but only to things that are already vulnerable to its energy." She pointed west from the school.
Before she could explain more, Dawn, who had found a seat in the back, finally joined them as the last few passengers debarked. "We getting off this fancy rig?"
"Yeah. I think it's time to do something proactive." Xander nodded and stood up.
Willow said, as she also got ready to debark. "Ooh, and while we're at it...
"We should try to contact Buffy. Or at least send a message." Dawn finished the shared thought and liberated her walkie-talkie from her belt. "Maybe she won't run from a non-moving object, right?"
Once they stepped off the bus, it transformed, becoming toy-sized and then it buzzed itself away towards the High School, obviously looking for Ms. Frizzle. Somehow, none of the three teammates were surprised.
- BTVS -
The noblewoman stopped to catch her breath. She'd run far and long, avoiding danger with every footfall. Now she hid in the shadows of a house, squeezing close in order not to be seen.
Then, she caught her breath in a muffled scream as she heard a tiny voice, but couldn't find where it was coming from. It did not respond at all to her demand to show itself. What it did do was repeat itself. "If you seek safety, find the High School. Right off of Main Street. Repeat. Buffy, we know you're out there. Come to the High School." Then, after three more times, the message stopped.
Safety. The voice was offering safety. She had no idea who this Buffy person was or whether the message was meant to be temptation, but she also earnestly desired not to be on these hard, dangerous roads; especially as she was without her sword and pistol. Her will firmed. She would find this High School and see if it really was a refuge. And if it was a trap, she would teach the villains a lesson, somehow.
It was then she noticed the handbag hanging off of her wrist. When she opened it, she was happy to discover she was not as unarmed as she believed herself to be.
Well. That changed things. She thought this with a smile. No more running.
- BTVS -
"Giles! What are you doing here?"
The Watcher slash Librarian gave each of them a bit of a stare. "I work at this school and this was a school event. I was obligated to attend. Everything was going along quite nicely earlier. In fact, once all the formal duties of seeing the children off had concluded, and once Principal Snyder departed, I felt it was appropriate to spend time on other responsibilities while waiting for the return session of our evening's events."
"Oh, so Snyder roped you in too. Right. That makes sense." Xander nodded.
"It's probably a good thing you didn't dress up tonight," breathed Willow. "It's all sorts of crazy out there right now."
"So the remaining faculty and staff has been informed, by a rather enthusiastic fictional member of the educational community. Although, she really is quite observant… and…and helpful."
"Yeah. Ms. Frizzle rocks. Did she mention that most of the kids aren't just kids any more?"
"I gathered as much, when one of the children dressed as a fairy spoke about her friend and how she became a real one. She seemed to indicate, with some small amount of envy and worry, that her friend bought her costume from someplace other than usual." He took off his glasses and pressed a cloth to them, cleaning absently. "I don't suppose you could share any insight?"
Xander, Willow and Dawn exchanged looks and each offered a form of a shrug. Xander spoke on their behalf. "Not really. Though we noticed something hinky going on west from the school, energy-wise, but nothing we could out and out name; other than it being, you know, Chaotic." As the Watcher hummed a response, Xander continued with the obvious, "None of us are wearing costumes and we're all ourselves. I vaguely recall some arts and crafts, but I guess nothing really worked out and we decided not to go as anything today."
Rupert Giles compressed his lips and his glasses creaked a bit with the scrubbing. He carefully did not mention the plywood on sawhorses that now occupied a small portion of the campus sidewalk, nor the rather enlarged handy-person's implements leaning against it, nor the fact they all had hardhats and steel-toed boots on, or, that Dawn Summers appeared to be several years older than she should be. "I see. Well, I suppose I shall have to do this the old fashioned way and try the phone book or, at least, a spot of driving." He offered a rather weak smile and put his glasses back on.
Willow spoke up. "The internet may be helpful. You could try Google. I mean, I bet Ms. Calendar would assist you. If you asked nicely."
"And maybe the newspapers. There might have been, you know, advertisements," commented Dawn. She then said, "You want us to do some research kinds of things? We can put this off for a bit."
"No no. That's quite alright. I am sure I shall discover what should be known, one way or another. Please… carry on, but…" He glanced about, as if noticing for the first time how dark it really was outside. "Do be careful. Perhaps you should continue your efforts indoors."
"Nah. We got it. We're almost done figuring out what this school needs."
"Oh dear," Giles mumbled, but he realized he had to let this one go and trust them. They were, after all, not going to do anything entirely extreme. Certainly not within the timeframe of less than an hour, if that long. He did, after all plan on having this all solved as rapidly as possible. "Try not to do too much damage."
"No damage. Only improvements." Xander patted his toolbelt and tried, unsuccessfully, to appear reassuring.
Willow grinned suddenly, "Yeah. More power!"
The trio laughed a little madly and Giles made his escape with as much dignity and rapidity as he could muster.
- BTVS -
As soon as Giles was out of sight, Xander turned back to the table Dawn had summoned. He dropped his hand into one of this jacket pockets and dug around a bit, before bringing it back out, holding a large roll of blueprints. "So." He began, as he unrolled the documents. He stuck in a few pins to keep them from rolling back and manifested a white pencil from his shirt pocket. "I was thinking about a few things, but let's start with a Game Call. Willow, Dawn, are we agreed that Principal Snyder, the local authority of this fine institution, essentially declared that on the night of Halloween the High School shall act as a base, for people to arrive and depart from, which places it under our jurisdiction as Builders in a Time of Emergency?"
"I say, Aye," Willow confirmed.
"Aye, Also," Dawn seconded.
"Then, with that in mind, I, Xander Harris, Team Leader of this Builders' Team, (and really, guys, we need a name at some point, so think about it), formally decree the High School, its grounds and environs Claimed by the Right and Rite of Builders in a Time of Emergency, and thus subject to the Needs of the Builders. Any opposed?"
"Nay," Willow declared.
"Nay," Dawn agreed.
"Furthermore, given the state of emergency, I must call upon the team to contribute materials and substance to the cause, since I expect our ability to draw upon local stuff may be limited at the start and until we find differently, we must plan ahead. Therefore, we will utilize the communal pool for the betterment of the project. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" They said at the same time already feeling the buzz that would be their first real work as a team.
"Finally, as Team Leader, I issue permission to utilize all tools and options necessary to further the good of our project, including the summoning of minions and the communing of the present Builders. Any opposed?"
"Nay!"
"Formalities concluded, we shall begin. Firstly, we note," the journeyman Team Leader began to write and draw very accurately and speedily upon the blue parchment; so fast that his hand was a blur, "that the High School has been in need of repair and reconstitution in several areas for at least a year if not more. Moreover, the grounds and the environs can not be truly safe as it stands this Halloween; not least of which is because the school itself is situated upon a Hellmouth, more appropriately called a Dark Portal, but we'll waive the quibbles of what-is-it and names for the moment. Moreover, said Hellmouth, while currently closed, in technicality, though not really substance as the energy signatures indicate, is not formally guarded nor has it been for some time now; despite the valiant efforts of the Watcher. Therefore, we have a responsibility to institute such repairs and fortifications as we may; including, for this night, at the very least, places of rest, refreshment and recreation." He didn't wait for their agreement as he sketched out several new images upon the planning paper.
"Wait," Willow said, "Recreation?"
"We have twenty-odd kids, their parents and quite a few other people in there and, despite Giles being on the mission to correct the situation, who knows how long this will really last." he began to explain.
"I withdraw the query," the redhead grimaced. "Please continue."
He stepped back and propped his hands on his hips. "Actually that was pretty much it. Take a gander and throw in your two cents. But we do need to decide on whether we're going with a water well or tower."
"Why?"
"We're providing fresh food, through a renovated cafeteria at the very least, but the water supply is suspect. If we build a well or tower, it will always draw fresh, but there would be a percentage of risk for contamination by…"
"...the Hellmouth," Dawn supplied.
"Correctamundo. And a water-tower would be great, because it's easier to integrate with a pipe system, but…"
"...not as pretty as a well, unless we decide to go with a theme. High Schools do tend to be rather utilitarian. Hmm." Willow nodded, as she added in her own sketches and notations.
"Am I reading this right?" Dawn pointed at the sketch. " Given space parameters, we're definitely going to have to wall things and then build up, I think. Though we can stretch space once we claim the perimeter, via the walls, so maybe across would be okay too. Traditional stone?"
"Wait? A wall? You know in Modern Ages they don't necessarily use walls as part of their fortification for a reason. Large missiles tend to make them less fort-like in a big hurry." Willow reminded them.
Xander grinned. "Yet all the most exclusive homes have one. Fences still work to keep the riff-raff out. Besides, it'll be fun. We'll put in slides and firemen poles and squishy ball pools. So yes; at least five feet thick, though more if we can afford it. I've got a pretty good store, so I'm feeling pretty confident."
"Okay. You win. Opposition retracted. One of these days I'm going to be right and say I told you so."
"Which is almost every day, Willow, as you are a genius, but…"
"This is now. And a building thing. Plus, who can resist the ball pool. I certainly can't. We better put a slide directly into one and then stairs for out. Unless it's a prison ball pool, in which case, it should be a greased up slide and one of those dungeon doors with five trigger locks."
"And the balls should be very pointy." Dawn agreed.
"And I will bow gracefully to the told, as per usual. See that's the spirit. Oh, and this does include guard towers. Four corners, one to each side and one on the back and two at the front. So nine guard positions. Oh, and we will have a back exit, for safety reasons and delivery when needed, but you know, why advertise?." Xander added.
"I like it. Too bad we can't do this to the Junior High." Dawn sighed. "But this could be very fun."
Willow handed the pencil to the younger, but no longer childish girl. "Your turn."
"Excellent!"
- BTVS -
About five minutes after Giles had gone back into the building, the team had mostly finalized their ideas. Certainly it was enough to get started. The blueprints, the table and even the giant tools disappeared, leaving only three determined Builders. They stood together, forming a tight circle and facing out from each other. A tiny glow gathered around their figures, outlining them against the dark. Tension gathered in the air, until it seemed to vibrate around them.
Then they burst into motion, in a blur of speed. Xander headed out, past the parking lot and the football field, toward the outermost corner. Willow headed in, through the open double doors. Dawn circled around, heading toward the other side of the building, but still outside of it.
The whir-buzz of power tools disturbed the relative quiet of the high school, while outside, the sound of stone grinding filled the night. The building had begun.