The Buffy Effect: Jumps I to VIII

by regertz

-With the reluctant assist of a certain malevolent geek, Buffy is out to put things right...Whatever the cost. A series of tales rather like my Immortal Beloveds but a bit more connected as with the SPL tales...I drop you in the middle at start so beware

2. Chapter 2

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi-Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart,
others just a few lines...

Part A…

"Uh, pardon us..." Buffy blinked at the rather slight and unprepossessing dark-haired man in gorgeous purple robes seated on what she took to be a kind of rather colossal...And thus creating a
somewhat comic contrast...throne…Who stared back at her and her two twins now flat on the marble...Hey, nice...Uh, gee, Mom would know what these...Oh, right...

"Nice mosaics..." she noted...Suddenly aware that not only was the man on the throne and the two fellas she took for guards or something not shouting in English…she was not speaking English…Though she seemed to be speaking whatever it was quite well…

Say...What's that goose doing in here?...She eyed the white goose regarding her…And now that I count them, I count four of us...And one a brunette Buffy, in rather skimpy...But nice silk...Like the
guy's...costume...

Oh, not another one...But hey, damn…

Two of us missing…Mears, natch…And…

Nope…She sensed an unmistakable vamp presence…Though Anne seemed rather peacefully sweet in unconscious state…

She felt…Phew…Controller still with her…And Previous the third of the party to arrive, by her dress…She eyed the unconscious Previous…So we have the emitter…

So what was Mears up to in separating them?...Unless he really screwed things and this fellow…

No, not Mears in new package…In fact…She smiled at the man who was clearly calling now for his guards to move in on them…

Maybe this was brunette world, she reflected…Eyeing the brunette Buffy in silk robes…

Still she doesn't seem likely to be another one hopping round the multiverse, looking for her...

"GUARDS!" the man on the throne cried, leaping up..."Guards!...The Empress has been attacked by demons!" He held a short sword which he'd pulled from under his robes...And what looked
to be a...

"The power of Christ and his ViceGerent on Earth compels you, demon harlots!" the man waved his Bible?... But not a title she'd ever...Is that Greek?...Wait...I can read it now...Holy Testaments...It's "Holy
Testaments"...In Greek…

Hey, watch who you're calling a 'demon harlot'…Unless…She looked at Anne…

After all, he might be able to sense…Though clearly no demon in him…

But it is Greek I'm reading…And I guess, hearin'...Hmmn, nice...My Will would be pleased…Course, I was able to read Shakespearian English within a few seconds...Side benefit of interdimensional travel where I
have counterparts...Pick up the lingo from their minds like that...

Say, did he call my latest twin...The brunette unconscious over there in the purple harem costume...Empress?...

Hmmn...Whoa, wait...She looked at the man now carefully advancing on her and the others, his sword extended in one hand, Bible or whatever extended in the other...

"William?..." Previous had come to a groggy semi-consciousness...

"Get away from my wife, you fiends!..." the man moved toward the unconscious brunette...Buffy raising hands and backing away slowly, carefully keeping between him and the other blonde Buffies...The two
guards nervously maintaining distance…

No doubt about it, though he's pure human…Buffy stared...Dye the hair and lose twenty-five...Maybe thirty-five pounds...And it's...

"Augustus!..." A group of guards in outfits much like movie Romans had entered the hall where she and her sisters stood or lay...

"The Empress Theodora has been attacked, men...Seize or kill these minions of Hell who've tried to take her lovely form..." he pointed at Buffy and the now somewhat blearily standing Previous...

Hmmn...If old Procopius is right, I guess that would mean we take them all out, including the Augustus... one guard thought...

Still, an imperial command is an imperial command...

"What's that goose doing here...?" one younger fellow hissed to his officer beside him as the guards cautiously pulled swords and prepared to charge the lovely young fiends from Hell in rather bizarre
outfits...

Not that the thing our glorious and blessed Empress seemed to be wearing for her little late supper with the hubs was exactly regal issue...

"Never mind about the goose..." the officer, a tribune, sighed...Lord, she's not doing the goose routine..Again?...I thought she dropped that one from her act years ago...And looky at her dress...Geesh, she is our most exalted, imperial Christian Augusta, Theodora, wife of God's ViceGerent, the Augustus Justinian...

She could show a little class...

Though it was their private supper...Even the August pair sent by God Almighty to rescue the Empire from the barbarians (or hand it over to the forces of Hell, depending on your political/religious viewpoint)
have to relax sometimes, I guess...

"Get a blanket or something for the Augusta!..." the tribune hissed to one of the men staring...As much at the rather exposed Augusta as her two standing and one unconscious blonde-haired copies...Previous
following Buffy's lead in falling back from the unconscious Empress...

"Hah, back, fiends...Avant!...Justinian, divinely appointed ViceGerent of God and Augustus of the Roman Empire commands you!" Justinian, now beside his unconscious mate, waved the Holy Scriptures
at the…Admittedly rather attractive…fiends...

"Beloved?...Theodora?..." he called to the Empress who was now beginning to stir a bit, kneeling at her side... "Oh, you creatures..." he gave Buffy a dark look... "If you have harmed a single hair..."

That's our guy…She and Previous couldn't help thinking…

The brunette Augusta suddenly rolling up to a defensive crouch, pulling the Augustus back behind her, a gold-gilt...dagger?...Nope, stake...Buffy noted...In her hand...

Guess if you're Empress you can dress up your favorite version of Mr. Imperial Pointy...

Buffy?...Justinian whispered to the grimly, furiously staring Empress, eyes locked on the blonde sisters facing her...

Nobody, not even rather hot demonic copies of me, ruins Our Imperial quality time...And my private show for my honey...

Especially hot demonic copies of me...she thought, glancing back at Justinian...

"Buffy?..." the young soldier asked his tribune...

"Shut up...And you heard nothing..." the tribune replied...

"What's up…?" Anne sat up suddenly…Theodora giving her a narrow stare…"Hey…" Anne grinned…

Three, eh?...This one with the right hair color…Stinking of the demon within…Must be the one they'd planned to take my place…

"You thinking she looks like Cicely...?" Previous whispered to Buffy...

"We are Cicely...All of us…" Buffy replied... "And she's …"

"That one's the lead demon of the pride, I think…We'd best kill all three and be sure…" Theodora noted to Justinian, nodding at Anne…

Well, 'bout time I got my proper place in the pecking order…Anne thought…

"Hey, where's Mearsy?..." she asked…Whoa…She blinked…

"Am I speakin' Greek?..." she beamed…

"Look, this is just a mistake…" Buffy tried…

"Human, eh?..." Theodora frowned… "Slaves of the demon queen, created in my image, eh?..."

"Demon queen…I like that…" Anne beamed… "But you're not our fourth girl…Where's Willow's would-be flesh suit?...And Mears?..." she asked Buffy…Who shrugged…

"I tole you to let me put him in thrall…Though I gotta commend bitch-sis for having the brains to screw us all…"

"You think…?" Previous eyed Buffy…

"We still got all the cards in hand…I don't know…" Buffy replied…

"Silence!..." Theodora cried, stake trained on Anne now…

"Hold, men…Leave her to the Empress…Only sanctified or wooden weapons will work on the fiend…" Justinian noted…

Well, he ougta know…A young guard, friend to court historian Procopius, thought…

"The others are human…You can kill them…" Theodora noted…

Thanks…Previous frowned…

"It may have been a legit screw-up…" Buffy noted to her and Anne… "The system was expecting five…Humans…Maybe a demon essence overloaded it…"

"Right…Blame it on me, your demonic punching bag…So they're still back home?…My home?…Watch it, sis…" Anne frowned at the approaching Theodora… "Don't make me hurt you…"

"Take care, darling…" Justinian came to Theodora's side… "Men, the others…"

"Hey, he's a William…" Anne noted… "Will, you look good with a few pounds…" she beamed at Justinian…

"What's with that goose…?" Previous asked…

***
"Mears…"

"Mears…You little…" Third Buffy shook Warren awake…

"Huh?..."

"Where are they, you little piece of…?" she glared at the blinking Mears…

"Where are we?..." he asked, looking round…

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi-Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part B...

"Look..." Buffy tried sweet reason on the imperial couple as the guards carefully moved from protection to assault mode... "You can sense we're human...And Anne here, well she's..."

"Utterly unique..." Anne, proud beam...

Ummn...

"Actually..." Thinking quick... "I'm a souled vampire..."

Oh...Please...Buffy, Previous...Theodora...

"What?..." Anne stared...

"Ridiculous..." Theodora snorted... "You stink of pure demon...And I've dealt with enough such to know..."

"Really?..." Anne stared... Buffy and Previous as well...

"You've met...Other...Souled vampires...?"

"Certainly...Tis my Christian duty to rescue those who truly seek redemption, fiend..." Theodora grimly pronounced...She gave Buffy and Previous a stare, motioning for the guards to hold...

"Are they truly human...Your miserably enslaved wretches?..." she addressed Anne... "If they can be saved, speak..."

Hmmn...Ok..."Girls?...Kneel before me, thrall clones...?" Anne tried...

She eyed the Buffies, who frowned back, shrugged... "Fine..They are strong, they are Women..."

"Thanks..." Buffy glared...

"Hey sis, I tried to help out..."

"Perhaps we should summon Procopious…" Justinian suggested, moving up to Theodora…

"That old fool…" Theodora frowned…

"Dear, he is your Watcher since old Sinan passed on…And might know something about these creatures…"

"Miserable wretched old hypocrite…He hates me…And I already have the best Watcher in the Lord's most glorious world…" she beamed…"Now step back, love, and watch me do my thing..."

"Darling… But he might have a good idea about them…"

"I know the sort of idea the old lech will have…"

"Sweet…"

"Say, did you guys kill Julius Caesar yet?..." Anne asked. trying to
interrupt politely… "Always wanted to meet…"

"What?..." Theodora stared… "Caesar is dead six hundred years…You knew him?..."

"600?..." Anne blinked… "Now wait…There's something wrong…Girls, didn't Rome fall or whatever…"

"The Eternal City merely awaits our return, demon…" Justinian glared fiercely…

"Yeah…" Theodora, spiritually squarely behind him…Though careful to keep physically in front of him... "So tell your hosts of Hell that whatever barriers they may…"

"So this isn't Rome?..." Buffy asked…

"Well, at least they're as stupid as the usual demon's minions…" Theodora noted…"I don't think we need bother trying to save their souls...Probably just flesh receptacles for the demon..."

"Hey, guys...You gotta new nickname..." Anne beamed...

"Excuse me?..." Previous frowned...

"Dear…" Justinian put up a hand … "Nea Roma…New Rome…" he tried a touch of diplomatic politeness… "Were you in league with the worthless Goths to stop our holy quest?..."

"Hah!...I tole you that bitch Goth queen couldn't be trusted…" Theodora, insistently… "But no, you said lets try negotiation…And now, see what the worthless harlot's brought forth upon us…"

"Now, dear…" Justinian…

Good to know our worthless harlot's cleverer than their worthless harlot…One young guard thought…

"If so…" Theodora grinned… "You sure took a wrong turn from Hell…Fortunately for us…"

"Oh…" Previous caught on… "Guys, we're in Constantinople…Byzantium…"

"The other Roman Empire…" she explained to the puzzled faces…

"And the Holy City of New Rome will be your fiend queen's grave!…" Theodora, grimly… "Prepare to return to Hell, you wretched devil's spawn!..." she turned to Anne…Who sighed…

"Here I am, tryin' to do the right thing…But hey, dumped on is my middle name now…" she shook her head…

"Girls, you better hold her off or I may have to hurt her…" she turned to the human Buffies…

"Oh, no…" Theodora, now staring down at her slightly torn, stained outfit… "My new costume…" she looked at Justinian, stricken expression… "It's ruined…Weeks of spinning…Ohhh…" Sob, followed
immediately by grimly furious narrow look at the Buffies… "Kill them!..."

"Oh, my poor Buffy…All that work…My dearest sweet funny face…Tribune Flavius, off with their heads!..." Justinian howled…

Lord, I hate having to kill nice young women…Ah, well…Just another day at the office, the tribune sighed, wielding sword, nodding to the others who closed in…Showing appropriate caution after the Augustus'
previous warning…Previous and Buffy quickly occupied with four soldiers apiece…

"And you, demon…Are all mine…" Theodora sneered, unlimbering her gold-gilt stake…

"Right…Fine…" Anne sighed… "You guys are witnesses that I tried to be a good girl…" Grin… "I keep tryin' to get out and they keep pullin' me back in…" sorrowful look…

Whoa…She gasped as Theodora lept into the air and spinning round, landed a vicious kick which tossed her back against the nearest wall…Several luminously beautiful icons on the wall falling to the floor…

"God almighty is my strength!…Christ is my shield!…" the Empress cried, triumphantly…

"Great…Buffy the religious fanatic…" Anne sighed…Rising…

"Say guys?..." she called to the sisters, now heavily engaged…Look, I don't wanna hurt you…Buffy desperately trying to reason with the soldiers now slashing at her as Previous tossed one young fellow back into his mates…

"Are we Catholics or what?...I can never remember now…"

"OW!..." Anne howled, feeling a slash to her arm...She dropped back against the wall as Theodora pulled out of her move and took position...

"Say, sister...You're good...No one's laid a hand on me since two undead Slayers two years ago...On my world..." Anne noted...

"Thank you..." Theodora nodded... "By the power of Christ..." she raised a crucifix from the folds of her gown...Anne backing away...Damn...

"Hey, no fair..." she glared...

"Soul, indeed..." Theodora sneered... "Feel the power of almighty God, when wielded by his faithful servant, you demonic slut...!"

:"Flavius...Finish them!..." Justinian called to Flavius, now rather occupied with Buffy...

God...Buffy sighed...I don't know which I hate more...Guns or these pointy things...She dodged the tribune's thrust by the barest minimum...

"Flavius!..." Whoa...Justinian whirled as Previous grabbed him...Having sensed it best to go for the king in this match...

"Hold it!..." she cried... "Or William the Emperor bites the big one!..."

Interesting how even Buffy and Anne look horrified...God, we love that guy...Previous thought...Holding the squirming emperor...

"Justinian!...You whore!..." Theodora screamed, turning from Anne and moving to charge...Anne grabbing her...As Flavius, with near-equal speed, grabbed Buffy as she turned to look at Previous and
Justinian...Sword to her throat...

Hmmn...The young guard friendly to Procopius eyed the captured imperials...

Looks like regime change may be imminent...And in the usual manner...

"Unhand the Augustus and Augusta!..." Flavius cried... "We surrender...I'll release your friend...Men, put down..."

Michael...Run like hell for more guards at first chance...He hissed to the soldier beside him...

"What do you want, you hell-spawn?..." he addressed Anne as Buffy tensed for a break...And Previous dragged Justinian to Anne…Releasing him but keeping sword on him...

"Hell, far as I'm concerned you point me to Africa…" Anne shrugged…"And let me have a coupla things from my sisters and you can have these two for harem slaves or their heads for bookends…Though I
suppose my restored soul would object…" she sighed… "So you better let'em go…"

Theodora said nothing…Grimly struggling…

"Let her go…Flavius, release the other…" Justinian called…

"That's more like it…" Anne nodded…Throwing Theodora back..

The Empress immediately regaining stance and taking up a defensive posture…Frowning to Justinian as Flavius released Buffy… "I would have had her in a trice…"

"I know, love…But, as they didn't kill us, lets hear them out…" Justinian nodded…Putting up a hand…

"This is not faith in me, O, Emperor…" she continued, fuming now…

"You want another round?..." Anne smiled… "I'm up for it…"

"Anne…Enough…" Buffy, warning look… "Look, this is really just a mistake…We don't intend any harm…" Previous nodding…

"Empress, eh…?" Anne eyed Theodora…"Nice…Now there's the job for us…" she grinned to the other Buffies… "How come our soul wusses out in the twenty-first century…?"

"Twenty-first?..." Justinian stared…

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi-Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part C…

"God, Mears…If I find out you did this…" Third Buffy glared…

"Give me credit for enough brains not to leave myself stranded in a dump of a world like this…" Warren, fuming as they passed the partially looted ruins of a temple…What's that painted on the wall?...Greek?...Too bad the transfer doesn't leave us able to read as well as speak the lingo... "Lets remember who the kidnapped and constantly abused party is here…"

"Oh, please…" she frowned at him… "I only got as far as April and the Buffy-bot with you and even I had no problem believing the others 'bout you being a scum-sucking Big Bad in training…"

A rather successful…Big Bad…If what I overheard the others telling her was right, he thought…Nearly nailed her, eh?...

Probably a lie about my killing Kat…Though I'd better make a mental note to use that "cerebral depressor" at maximum when I find it…

Ow…He looked at the spot from where Third Buffy had thrown the pebble that struck his shoulder…

"But why us…?" Third Buffy was frowning at him… "Mears, would you stop dreamin' about getting to be global emperor and pay attention?...Why us from the others?..."

"It's obvious we diverted together 'cause we came from the same world…" he sighed, looking down at his blistered feet in shoes rapidly decaying on the stone road…

"But who cares about that now…I'm starving and ready to fall down and we got nothing to pay for anything, even if I dared eat what passes for food here…You gotta do something, Slayer…"

"I'm a Slayer, not a magician, Warren…I can't make cash or food appear…I'm hungry and tired, too, you know…Lets just keep going till we find a town or something…They might have a shelter or something…"

"Those guys who tried to jump us when we asked for directions were Romans or something like it…And all we've seen today is them and a cart and this damned stone torture path, not even a decent road…We're in the wrong era, I'm sure…"

"I though you said they were speakin' Greek…Though I got what they were saying...The bastards…"

Yeah?...I kinda think I shoulda taken that offer of 20 gold coins for you…He eyed her…

"Rome was part Greek, though this could be ancient Greece…It's just their stuff looked more Roman…And one of them called on Christ when you clobbered him…" he noted… "Look, we gotta stop…I gotta get something to eat and a place to sleep…And it'll be dark soon…"

"How could be we in the wrong era?...Maybe this is just a different Earth…With Rome still running...?"

A Slayer expert in quantum physics, I see…he sneered to himself…

"It is a different Earth, lady…As to whether we shifted in time, we can check the stars tonight…A shift in constellations'll tell us if we got temporal movement, though your sisters said it happened before and
it's certainly possible…And we better know it before we jump again…Not that we're going anywhere without the emitter and control units…Look, what are you gonna do?..."

God, what a week…Yanked from Heaven, found out I'm Spike's wife, possessed by Willow the half-Vamp…And now Warren Mears as my escort on Roman world…

"I don't know, Warren…Just stop complainin', keep going, and keep your eyes open…

Found out I'm William's beloved Cicely...Guess it's not all bad...Slight smile...

"I can't keep going…I gotta stop…" shake of weary head… "Wake me when I'm dead…" Mears sat down stiffly…

"I see something ahead…" she replied…He looked up…

"If it's more soldiers, take whatever they got…Or sell me to 'em…I don't care so long as they feed me…"

"I think it's the sea…"

"Oh, great…Salt water…" he rose… "You any good at fishin'?..."

"We'll learn…Anyway, we may find someone at the beach or a ship or something…Lets go…"

The Imperial throne room, palace of the Caesars, Constantinople…

"So let me see if I understand this…" Theodora, now properly reattired in purple robes and golden crown, perched on edge of her throne…Justinian engaged in placing cushion behind her…Thank you, baby…She beamed at him, then returned to her standard icy imperial frown at Buffy standing before her throne, about one foot below her…Clad thankfully now in decent attire of white (hmmn, girl doesn't quite
seem a virgin to me) robe over her intriguing if shameful other garments, Previous beside her, likewise attired…

Buffy eyeing the middle-aged man identified by the imperials as "Procopius", now standing by the newly reseated emperor, out of the corner of her eye as he stared at her…Giving her…And Previous…A rather
thorough lookover, actually…

The Watcher, William...er Justinian...Had said before...

Doesn't look too Gilesish...Though something about him I have seen...Somewhere, someone...

"You two claim to be my human counterparts from a future existence, not necessarily but possibly mine own…The demon is our counterpart from another such existence where, obviously, her light failed…"
Theodora, eyeing Anne...

"I wouldn't put it that way…" Anne frowned…

"And yet another is with you, also human, but separated from you…"

"Sounds like Spock in that Star Trek episode where his Vulcan betrothed tried to stiff him…" Anne noted…

"What…?" she eyed the human Buffies… "You know a vamp watches a load of TV during the day…"

"Travel through time and space…Fascinating…Still, I recommend we kill them at once, Augustus…" Procopius insisted to Justinian… "Though perhaps it would be best to let me interrogate them first…"

Theodora rolling eyes…Like the way he 'interrogated' those 'heretic' girls from my old hangout at the Hippodrome?...They'd be better off dead…

Though I suppose it depends on method of execution…

"As I was saying…" she cut off Procopius, ignoring his glare… "You…Ladies…Say your fourth counterpart is lost, with a male companion?...Your craftsman?..."

"Tech guy…" Previous nodded… "Though Lord knows we'd never keep him round unless we needed him…"

"He must be taken, Augustus…Augusta…" Procopius noted, rather eagerly…"If he truly commands such knowledge…"

"Would be something to spring into Rome that way, eh girl?..." Justinian grinned to Theodora…

"You say he has your 'machinery' for your travels…Your device?..." Theodora eyed Buffy…

Ummn… "Yeah…" Buffy nodded…

"I see…" brittle smile…

Let me do the lying from now on…Anne hissed to Previous… She knows what's up, Buf can't lie for beans…

"And you came here by accident?..." Justinian asked…Encouraging manner…Both Imperials clearly a bit calmer properly seated on their thrones and with a throne room full of well-armed guards led still by Tribune Flavius…

"Just some fluke…Maybe to do with our additional traveler, we don't know yet…" Buffy nodded…

Theodora, quick glance to Justinian…Probably true…Her impassive expression told him…

"And your goal is to…Rescue…The Augustus' counterpart in your world…?" Theodora continued… "By altering events that led to his death?..."

"Worlds…" Previous and Anne chimed…Insistently…

"Nonsense…" Procopius snorted… "All for love of…"

Ummn…? He caught the Imperials' stern look his way…

"…A demon from hell, a vampire…" he hastily made the save…

"William is no demon…" Previous glared… "His soul is as human as his…" she nodded at Justinian…

Debatable point in that case…Procopius did not say…

"But he was a vampire…?" Theodora cut in…Somewhat nervous look…

"Yeah, a fantastic one…" Anne enthused… "Spike was a killer par excellence…If you coulda seen him in his glory days…"

She shrugged off the glares from the Buffies… "Well, he was…Till his noble soul found its way to influencing him back to me…Us…"

"We lost him…We love him…We're gonna get him back…" Buffy summarized… "We're sorry to have crashed your world and century, but if you'll just help us find the other Buffy and Warren, we'll be on our way, no trouble to you…"

"How…?" Theodora asked, a strained expression…

"I'm not a physicist…" Buffy began… "But I think the system…"

"No, girl…" Imperious wave of hand…Cold look… "How was…William…Transformed?…And how did you lose him?...Speak…While you still can…"

"A century before our time a vampiress got him…" Buffy explained…

"A century before…?" Procopius eyed her… "Augustus, the woman is lying…"

"Then how…?" Theodora asked…Waving Procopius silent…

"I was married to him then…"

"We were…" Anne cut in…

"My name…Our name…Was Cicely…We were Slayer then, too…In England…Britain…" Buffy continued… "But…"

"Britain…" Justinian sighed… "Our final goal…"

"You lost him to a vampiress…?" Theodora stared…

"I…We…Tried to save him…Sent him away…" Buffy eyed Justinian… "But she was there, waiting…Drusilla…"

"Have all Drusillas in the realm put to death immediately, Flavius!..." Theodora bellowed, rising suddenly, harshly grim… "Human or not, all must die within the hour of receipt of this order…"

Flavius nodded, turning to an aide…

"What?..." Buffy stared… "Wait!...You can't do that!..."

"You can't…But I can…" Theodora, grimly…

"Love, it is a bit harsh…" Justinian noted… "Flavius…"

"Sounds like a good idea to me…" Anne beamed… "Just make sure you get 'em all…"

"We will…Flavius!..."

"Dru won't be born for hundreds of years…And it wasn't her soul's fault…" Previous said quietly… "You won't save him that way…"

"Perhaps not…" Theodora, grim… "But one less potential avenue of destruction closed…"

"Dear…I appreciate the concern…" Justinian smiled… "But the people are angry enough over taxes for the reconquest and our building program…Mass slaughter of young women isn't a good idea just now…"

"We'll do it in secret…Flavius!..."

"Sweetheart…You'll protect me…As always…"

"I say croke 'em…" Anne cut in… "She's good but so were we…Best to be safe…"

"Shut up…" Previous frowned…

"What?...You wouldn't hunt down human Dru if you could get back to 1840 or whenever on your world?..." Anne, cool stare… "She'd be better off anyway…"

"Be quiet…" Buffy, sternly…

"Fine…With this attitude no wonder you two keep failing…" Anne, sulking look…

"Augusta, the Emperor is correct…The people will not stand for such a slaughter…" Procopius spoke up… "And these women may be lying for their demon ruler…Trying to bring ruin upon the Empire…" he eyed Anne…

"Let me question them in private…I'll discover the truth of their words…"

"I'm tempted to…They'd flay you in nothing flat…" Theodora sneered…

"Not at all…I like screwing old farts…Then ripping their fool heads off…" Anne beamed… "Lets go see your torture chamber…"

So is the mass slaughter of Drusillas on…Or off?...Flavius' aide hissed to him… "Wait a bit…" Flavius replied…

The Golden Horn, grand and beautiful harbor of Constantinople…

Seven young women fearfully eyeing Third Buffy…And the dead body of their former owner, Marianus…Warren busily scooping all he could from the little tavern's till…And the deceased tavern owner's body…

"I'm sorry, he attacked me…I didn't want to…" Third Buffy tried…

"You killed Marianus…"

"You're all free now…You were his slaves, right?..."

"Free?..." One tall brunette stared at her, swiftly recovering courage after seeing a Buffy in action… "Where the hell are we to go?...And what kinder master could we find, may God protect his dear soul…"

"Marianus…" a redhead sobbed, running over to the body… "You fiend from Hell!..." she screamed at Buffy...

"Call the city guard…!" a third girl, chubby and blonde began…Third Buffy's glare cutting off her cry…

"He was going to kill me!..." Third Buffy frowned… "He was slapping you guys around…"

"As a good father schools his children, so Marianus dealt with us…He was always fair and just…Tyrana had stolen from the till…As you stole food…" the tall brunette eyed her… "And now you fiends rob his poor corpse…" she eyed Warren, busily engaged in said activity…

"Warren!..." Third Buffy fumed… "Put it back!..."

"Hey, we need money…And clothes…" he replied…But reluctantly returned what he'd stripped from the dead man…

"Ow!..." Third Buffy howled as a piece of broken pottery, flung at her by one of the girls hiding in a back corner of the tavern, struck her arm…

A sound of tramping feet…Cries…

"That's it!...Roxana's slipped out and got the guards…!" the brunette called… "Kill the bitch, girls!..."

"Come on, Mears!..." Third Buffy pulled him away, racing out the door as the ladies began throwing everything loose at hand in the shop at her…

"The blonde witch!...Kill her!..." "She's killed Marianus!..." cries behind them as Third Buffy dragged Warren along down the narrow street, shoving aside everything in her path…

Finally on a side street, dived into a large building…Hurrying past people engaged in various activities…Buying, selling, drinking, eating… Being rubbed down with what looked like oil…Several attended by crowds of relatively poorly dressed followers…Though some as well-dressed as
those they waited on…

Third Buffy ducked into the darkest corner she could find, dragging Mears…

"We've gotta get in costume…Get out of your clothes…" she hissed…Throwing some of the filthy clothes she'd grabbed in the tavern at him…Pulling on a brunette wig she'd grabbed from one of the girls'
chambers before the late Marianus had found her…

"Congrats on your consciousness-raising, Slayer...Those girls were really empowered..."

Arrgh... "You want me to wear this?..." Warren held off a piece of what here apparently passed for clothing...

"Shut up and get changed..."

"Ok, so I'm your…" Warren tugged at his…God, the stench…Robes…

"…brother…" she glared…Wrapping a hooded cloak about her head…

"Right…" he sighed…

Oh, well…It'll be "Yes, Master…" if and when I find that depressor thing…

"I didn't mean to kill him…" she eyed him… "He kept slashing at me…I just threw him back, I didn't know there was a knife on that table..."

Hmmn...

"Sure..." he nodded...

Hey, nothing like establishin' a little emotional bond...And she is from my neck of the woods...And still in recovery from that resurrection thing...

If I keep any of 'em alive for a harem girl later, it oughta be the home girl...

"You were just doin' what you had to..." he continued... Smile, idiot...Like with Kat...

Friendly smile...

"Come on...Lets get outta of here..." she turned...

"Right...Sis...And Buffy...Thanks for saving me back there..." sincere look of appreciation...

"Yeah, whatever...Come on..."

Yeah, I will have this one in the sack within two days...he thought...

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi-Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part D…

On the one hand, Buffy reflected…Eyeing the bars of the cells of the imperial dungeon into which she, Previous, and Anne had been escorted for…Hopefully…Just the night's rest…

It surely beats an evening with that guy Procopius in the torture chamber…

On the other…Ms. Empress Theodora, their latest sis, had clearly not got the knack of hospitality…

"Food!..." cried a voice…A guard appearing round the corner of the hallway a moment later, pulling a cart on which a large kettle was set… "For the…" yeah, right… "Guests of her Imperial Majesty!..."
Tribune Flavius following him barked at the start of cries for "Food!...Water!..." coming now from the other cells lining the hallway…

At least from some of them…In several, a stark, staring figure or two simply appeared at the bars, blankly looking at the passing kettle or devouring it with burning, rather mad, eyes…

"Flavius!..." a cry, female, from a cell… "Has her Majesty heard my petition?..."

"No petitions processed today, be quiet!..." Flavius banged the bars…

"Water, for the love of Christ!..." a cry…Weary, feeble…

Flavius paused, peering…

"Water, there!..." he turned to the guard…Who called back…

"May God bless you!..." the voice returned…

"Amen…" Flavius nodded, continuing on…Another guard, bearing a bucket and ladle, appearing a moment later…

Flavius and the guard pulling the kettle cart reached the Buffies' cell…

"Supper, ladies…" Flavius announced… "Her Imperial Majesty sends her compliments and will see you in the morning…"

"Het-hem…" Anne coughed, moving to the bars of her own private cell…

"Bring the animal!..." Flavius called back…Buffy and Previous staring as the bleating sound of a sheep was heard…

"Now there's a thoughtful sis…" Anne beamed… "Though, with all the slaves and prisoners, she coulda spared some human…"

"May God have mercy on us…" Flavius grimly, raising a large cross at Anne… Waving to a third guard who now appeared, tugging a medium-sized, rather nervous-looking sheep, to open the door of Anne's cell…

"Must you…?" Anne, averting eyes from the cross… "I been good all day…Ask the girls…"

"Just be quick and spare the poor thing pain…" Flavius replied, lowering cross…Motioning the now equally nervous guard to shove the increasingly anxious sheep into the cell…

"If you'd care to make the sacrifice, the 'poor thing' can go back to its pasture…" she smiled sweetly, an appraising look at Flavius… "We could have a lot of fun, you know…I don't have to take all a big,
strong Roman like you got…I bet you never had a twenty-first century girl…And related to your Empress…" grin at Flavius who frowned…Raising cross again…

Sounds like a relative of our Empress…The nervous guard, closing door on the now-bleating wildly sheep, noted to himself…

Twenty-first…?

"Anne…" Buffy called… "Take what they gave you and let it be…Sorry…" She eyed Flavius…

"Tell the fiend to behave herself…" he growled… "We have dealt with her kind many a time…Particularly the empress…"

"Fine, fine…" Anne waved a hand… "I give a guy the chance of a millennium…He throws it away…Your tough luck, pal…"

"This how you love William…?" Previous had come over to the bars between her and Buffy's cell and Anne's…

"Riley…Angel…And a host of lusty young masturbatory fantasies, including one Alexander Harris and one Rupert Giles…Don't pull the shocked virgin with me, Buffy…" Anne grinned… "Besides, Spike and I
had an open, common-law arrangement…Though I destroyed every vamp he showed interest in, natch…And you know as well as I do, I'll never get William in the sack…It's be souly girl by then and I'll be off to Hell, noble and selfless creature that I am…"

So let a girl have her fun while she can…She concluded… "So long as they're willing and I don't kill em…Who cares…?"

"It's our body…More or less…We care…" Previous frowned… "And your soul will care, I guarantee…"

"Much more bothered by the mass killings, I should say…" Anne noted, attempting to pat the frantic sheep…

I'm just not good with animals, she sighed…Suddenly taking face and sinking fangs with a sudden motion…

A hideous squeal, Buffy, Previous, Flavius, and the three guards turning away as one…Then silence…

"What was that?..." a cry from a cell down the hall…"Flavius?...Who's been killed?..."

"No priest!..." another cry… "Have you no shame?..."

"Quiet!..." Flavius bellowed, at full Roman lung capacity…

Even Anne staring…

"No one has been killed!...Just a sheep…"

"And he's not dead…" Anne called…

Yet…

"Mutton for supper?..." a voice called, hopefully…

"Rather late to stay at the baths…" a tall, gaunt middle-aged man addressed Warren and Third Buffy as they sat, occasionally munching at the loaf of rather good, if occasionally speckled with bits of pebble
or stone, bread they'd managed to purchase from a vendor in the vast hall...Ancient mall?, Third Buffy guessed…Earlier…

"Are they closing?..." Third Buffy asked…

What…Bath?... Warren looked round…

"They never close…" the man smiled… Apparently attempting warmth but somehow not quite succeeding… "But it's not safe to stay so late…Robbers and worse abound at night…You're new to the City, I see…"

"Just in from the country…" Third Buffy nodded…"My brother…um…Cicero… And me…"

"A fine and famous name…" the man eyed Warren… "Do you write?...Cicero?..."

"I can…" Warren replied…

"He means…Write things…" Third Buffy hissed…

"My brother's a bit slow…" she explained, hastily…

"Indeed…"

"Hey…" Warren glared… "I'm no drooling feeb… 'We hold these truths to be self-evident…That all men are created equal…That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights…That among these rights…'…"

Several bystanders eyeing them now…

One of those radical monks from the Balkans, no doubt…

"Impressive…" the man nodded…Folding arms in his robes… "Your own work?..."

"A little foray into politics…" Warren nodded in turn…Third Buffy rolling eyes…

"Rather radical…But interesting...But it sounds more like a sermon…Or a bit of nostalgia for the old Republic…"

"However you like…" Warren shrugged…

"You've no rooms for the evening…?"

"Like we said, just got to town…" Third Buffy noted…

"Come home with me…As my guests…I should like to hear of the country…And more of your brother's interesting work…" the man clapped, summoning several attendants…

"Lord Procopius…" one bowed…

"We're fine, thanks…" Third Buffy put up a hand…

"Please…" Procopius smiled again…Rather reptilian, actually she noted…

"I have a small house but it is pleasant and safe…It's my Christian duty to offer shelter…And my pleasure to do so to two such charming visitors to New Rome…"

"Sounds great to me…Thanks…" Warren, eagerly…

"Settled then…Ruffo, go to the house and see the guest rooms are prepared…Tell Mariana we have two guests for a late supper…"

"It's really too much…" Third Buffy tried…

"Please an old man, my dear…" Procopius beamed… "I may be of service to you in other ways…I should explain that I am court councilor to their Imperial majesties…If you're here in the capitol for a petition
or the like I may be of use to you…Or simply as a guide if you're visiting for pleasure…Benvo, Crispus…The chair…" clap of hands…The two addressed scurried off and returned immediately…

A team of large slaves entered, bearing a large, ornate sedan chair…

"First-rate, thanks…" Warren was inside before Third Buffy could try to refuse again…

"Again…My pleasure…" Procopius…Smile to Third Buffy, offering assist in…

Careful eye and nod to Benvo, the slave who'd alerted him via slave messenger to the hue-and-cry after a mysterious, slight girl and her male companion and then followed them to the baths…The girl bearing
the startling resemblance to the Empress that master Procopius had ordered all his people to look out for…He boarded…

I know I know this guy from…Somewhere…Third Buffy sighed as the chair, lifted, slowly moved out…Narrow glance at the cheerful Warren, now comfortably leaning back against cushions…

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi-Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part E…

Having been shown to small adjoining rooms in the rather grand townhouse Procopius had referred to as his family's humble abode in the City, Third Buffy and her "brother Cicero" were attempting to take
stock of the situation in his room...

Or at least Third Buffy was..."Cicero" being far too interested in the prospect of "...a light repast shortly in the master's dining room..." as slave Benvo had informed them on their arrival at the rooms...

"Something's up here, Warren...This guy is a little too quick to make friends...And there's something about him, I don't like..."

"Yeah, yeah...Probably a perv...But you can handle some Roman creep...Lets eat first..."

"Mears..." she frowned...

Still, point taken...She was starving herself, despite the bread earlier...And exhausted after a busy past days including resurrection, possession, and several interdimensional jumps...

Maybe it could wait till dessert...

"They have slaves...Maybe he wants me for his harem...?"

Sold...Warren thought... Just gotta negotiate a little after she hits the sack...And make sure those chains are strong...

"Or maybe both of us since he seemed more interested in you, frankly..." she eyed him...

Ummn...

He rather did at that...

But hey, the needs of the Mears...Outweighs all other considerations...At least while I have a Buffy protectress...

Whom I will sell though if the price is right...And she don't find out or a good mind-numbing drug exists round here...

On the other hand...Self-preservation instinct kicking in a bit...Perhaps not a good idea to rush to give up my sole protection too quickly...

"Look, you can handle them...Lets eat and find out what's what..."

She frowned but was silent as Benvo appeared at the door...

"The master summons you to sup...Unless you prefer to rest now...?"

"Oh, no..." Warren, hastily... "We wouldn't want to offend your master...Lets go...Come on, sis..." he moved to the door, waving Buffy on...

"After you..." he urged her out to the hallway...

"Thanks...Bro..." she glared, but stepped out...

An old woman scrubbed the floor in front of them...Drying each section as she cleaned in...Several other women busy in the hall, dusting, adjusting tables...One lugged a large head bust down the hall past
them...

"Hope this isn't for us..." Third Buffy noted... "We don't want to be a bother..."

"A great house must be properly maintained...And we live to serve..." Benvo, quietly... "The master likes to know we are kept busy by visible signs of our efforts..."

"A little make-work to keep the boss happy, eh?..." Warren grinned...

"A busy slave is a worthy one...This way..." Benvo directed them to a side hallway which lead to a large open room in the center of the house...

Open to the night sky, Third Buffy noted...A large courtyard, lined with columns, filled with greenery...A running fountain splashing away in the center...Men and women, presumably more slaves, bearing
torches lining the way and in every nook and cranny...

A harpist?...playing away at a rather lovely quiet air in one corner...Slaves entered bearing large platters of what seemed to be food...Cooked birds of some sort impaled on sticks, steaming bowls of...Something...Porridge, Warren guessed, looking...Bowls of fruits, platters with bread...

"My friends..." Procopius stepped forward... "Welcome...I know you must be hungry, so please, take your couches..." he indicated two long benches of wood among others, covered in cushions and fur drapings...
Two men lying on other like-draped benches, staring at them, one, dark-haired, young, with head rested on hand, the other, a balding man, nearer to Procopius in age, head rested on pillow... Both in long
robes, decorated with gold and colored embroidery, sipping from goblets...A girl pouring what appeared to be wine into each man's cup as fast as they drank from theirs...

Orgy, eh?...I can definitely get into this...Warren beamed, quickly taking a couch and lying down...

Third Buffy more hesitantly sitting on hers...Slaves moving to both her and Warren, offering small dishes of food which Mears grabbed at and she took, again hesitantly...

"My dear friends, Balto..." Procopius indicated the balding man...Who nodded, staring at Third Buffy... "And Philip the Antiochene..."

"Buffy...The Summers..." Third Buffy nodded... "And my brother Cicero..."

"...The Sunnydale..." Warren cut in...Pausing in stuffing something wrapped in grape leaves...Feta?...Cheese...Not bad...Into his face...

"A pleasure..." Philip nodded politely to 'Cicero' but kept his eyes on Buffy...

Exactly like the others...He glanced over at Procopius, nodding slightly...

Alto sitting up suddenly, swinging legs... "Summers, eh...Appropriate...Come from the country, I understand?..." he addressed Third Buffy...

"Yeah..." she nodded... Cautiously picking at the same grape leaves-and-cheese dish Warren was presently scarfing down at his bench...

"And your father?..."

"Uh...Hank...Of Sunnydale..."

"Sounds like a very pleasant place..." Philip noted... "A long ways off, I would guess...?"

"Oh, yeah..." Third Buffy nodded...Eyeing the roasted bird offered to her...

Must they leave the heads on?...

"This is great..." 'Cicero' noted...Chewing happily...

"Procopius' Mehta does the best dormouse in New Rome..." Alto agreed...

Mghhh...

"Marcian!..." Procopius called...

"Sorry...Cicero's not used to haute cuisine..." Third Buffy noted, a bit archly as Marcian, a young fellow of about twenty, rushed over to Warren with a basin...

"Of course..." Procopius nodded kindly, waving hand...

Warren spitting desperately into the proffered basin...

"So...?" Previous eyed Buffy as they sat on the rough wood bench of their "accommodation"...Relieved, to be sure, of a degree of roughness by the rather fine cushions the guards had brought...Personal
needlework of the Empress, Flavius had noted...

"We bust out or...?"

"Until we figure out if Buffy and Warren are still with us on this world...We've gotta stay..." Buffy noted... "And so long as our host and hostess don't seem quite ready to kill us...I could use a night's sleep..."

"Don't expect me to keep watch, you know..." Anne called from her cell... "I'm the one who's spent the last three months as a desiccated fossil...I'm hitting the hay..."

"We may as well all get some sleep...If they wanted to kill us, they'd've tried by now...'Sides we've got the best alarm system in the world with all these jumpy types about..." Buffy noted...

"Fine..." Anne waved a hand vaguely... "Just remember if you girls welch on me and run, I'll make this world a wasteland..."

"I dunno...Theodora seemed to be doing pretty well with you before..." Previous grinned...

"Go to Hell..." Anne stretched out on some cushions... "Hey, guys!..." she called down the hall... "How's the mutton, courtesy yours truly?..."

"Praise be to God, lady!..." a voice called back... "Bit tough but not too bad..." another, somewhat rougher in tone...

"Just forty million more to go and you'll've won redemption..." Previous noted...

"Hey, I saved my world a lot as Buffy..." Anne yawned... "I'm still in the black... 'Night, Buf-girl... 'night Buf-boy...Don't spend all night wondering which of you I meant...Hey, folks...Hope we don't disturb you too much!...We masturbate very loudly!..."

"So do I...!" a voice called back...

"That's a sweet one..." Third Buffy noted, sipping at the cup of wine in her hand...

"Falernian grapes...Imported by Constantine himself from Italy's finest vineyards..." Procopius smiled... "I recommend though you cut it with water...Falco..." he waved a handsome young slave over with a
cup of water...

"And are you...Someone important here?..." Warren asked...Sipping from his own cup...Held to his lips by a pleasant-looking young lady...

"Court historian..." Procopius smiled... "I do my best to record the glorious events of our dear sovereigns' mutual reign..."

"Oh..." Third Buffy nodded... A trifle heavy-lidded... "Sounds like a cushy job..."

"It has its rewards..."

"And you...'Cicero'..." Philip addressed Warren... "Our dear Procopius tells us you are a writer of merit, like your namesake..."

"Eh, a few columns now and then for the papers...Or crier...Whatever..." Warren noted...

"Yeah...For a too-faced...Two-faced...Little rat, he's a good...Writer..." Third Buffy agreed...Swaying a bit...

"I wouldn't overdo it, sis..." Mears called to her...

"Sure..." she put up a hand... "Balto...That mean 'billard ball' in Greek?..."

"'Billard'?..." Balto tried the unfamiliar word...

"Too much...Sis..." Warren tried, rising from his couch and moving to hers...

"Yeah?..." she stared at him...

"Yeah..." he nodded...

"I'm ok..." she shook her head...

"Where do you and your sister plan to watch the triumph from, Cicero?..." Alto asked...

"Triumph?..." Warren blinked...

"You should watch with us from here tomorrow...No better view in New Rome..." Alto continued...

"Sure...Maybe...Hafta see what sis..."

"You ever die, Mears...?" she asked him as the others stared at her...Swaying visibly...

"Pet name..." he smiled at them... "Sis, not a time to discuss religion...I think you need to go to bed now..." he urged, turning back to her...

"God, no...Not with you...You lil' creep..." she frowned, pushing him off... "I'll tell my husband Spike and he'll eat your..."

"Sis needs to go to bed now...Long day..." he noted...Rising off the coach and trying to take her arm...

"Certainly..." Procopius nodded... "Falco!...Marian!...Our guest needs a little help returning to her room..."

The two slaves came to the couch and gently pulled Third Buffy...Now with wobbling head, eyes increasingly closed even as she struggled to her feet at their urging...

"But dear Cicero will perhaps stay a bit longer..." Procopius urged, gently...

"Yes...I'm eager to hear from his works..." Philip smiled...

Warren eyed both men...Looking anxiously after Third Buffy, now being led out of the room...

"I best look to my sis..."

"She's in very good hands, Cicero..." Procopius, friendly smile..."Don't deprive us of a chance to hear new literary work...Especially when we have such a prominent guest coming to us shortly..."

Hmmn?...

"Angel!..." Third Buffy's cry in the hall...

"Belisarius does get that sort of thing all the time from his fans..." Balto noted...

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG 13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part F

The Imperial bedroom...Night...

A surprising lack of guards in the immediate area which might have suggested the start of a palace coup for other Roman imperators but for this one, protected as he was by the best of all possible guards,
being simply the fringe benefit of a supremely wise matrimonial choice...

Where, although the Emperor Justinian had persuaded his dear Empress to defer the mass execution of young Drusillas across the empire, potential executions were yet being discussed...

Five, as a matter of fact...Assuming the three blonde versions of the Empress weren't lying and two more members of their party still roamed the empire, likely even the streets of New Rome itself...

Yet, though long and painful experience had taught the Augustus the benefits of decisive and quick action against potential opponents...Preferably before they'd even had chance to consider rebellion...For surely it was more Christian as well as politically astute to eliminate a man before he'd had the opportunity to sin...He found himself somewhat hesitant to kill...

Or, given their display earlier, attempt to kill...The three young women...Yes, certainly in part for sentimental reasons, he'd agreed to his frowning wife...They were, after all, your spitting image, in
blonde...And youn...Older...

But in no small part as well for the practical...If their story was true they were in themselves, harmless...When not wiping the imperial palace floor with guards...While holding potentially limitless
knowledge of the future and power that could restore Roma to her full and Christianly divine glory...

"I doubt they've much power beyond their pretty faces and so-so Slaying skills...Excepting that demon..." the imperial eyes narrowed... "She is simply Evil incarnate..."

"I mean, isn't she?..." Theodora went on... "Exactly as I described I might be were I ever capable of being turned..."

"Not a chance, love..." Justinian shook his regal head... "But yes, I do see that light of Evil in her eyes...Though it is rather touching...I mean even she being on a quest for that poor fellow..."

"You, you mean...Not hard to sympathize with four beauties defying Time and God to save your own counterpart, eh?..."

"Is that what they're about?...Dear me, this will surely give me the swelled head Procopius dreams of seeing upon my shoulders... so that he might shout 'Behold the demon king!'...Minus the horns and scales, perhaps…"

"Procopius..." Theodora, grimly... "I'd not mind including him in the axman's list…"

"Sweetheart…What would people say?...That we feared his nonsense?...Besides, he's one of our ablest administrators when not pottering about in history and Belisarius is deeply attached to him…And he's scared so sh...less of us, he's been a first-rate source in Belisarius' entourage...Not that I have any doubts of our general..."

"Your good buddy…" she fumed… "Who thinks it's time for you to go…"

"Now, that's not proven…He behaved very well in Africa…C'mon, Theo…So he engaged in some loose talk in Persia during the year I got sick…He's an impatient fellow…He didn't rally the troops and march on New Rome, you know…"

"He doesn't like me…If anything happened to you…"

"Sweet, no offense…But a lot of our people don't like you…Too many toes stepped on in the course of the mission, dearest…" he put up a hand…What a relief to get those damned rings off at the end of the
day… "I'm not exactly Mr. Popularity either, I know…"

"Procopius feeds us nonsense about Belisarius' entire loyalty...And you swallow it whole..." leaning back on cushions...Pout of imperial lips... "And yet the minute our young hero general thought you might
die that year...Plotting to kick me out..."

"He was sounding out about a successor...Understandable under the circumstances, a stable transition would be vital to hold the reconquered lands..."

"He'd move against me in a moment if you were gone…" she pouted…

"So would the Senate, the Blues, the Greens, the army…Darling, Roma is not fond of female leadership, there's the sad truth…And there are some legit complaints as to some aspects of our rule…Some of whom are currently rotting in our dungeons…"

"For the glory of Christ and the good of the Empire…" she noted indignantly… "And in at least one or two cases, the safety of Humanity…"

"Not everyone sees our vision so clearly, love…"

"Idiots…"

"Well, anyway, getting back to Beli…He's loyal, I'm sure of it…Just young and impatient, but he shares our dream, love…"

"He'd just like to put himself in the starring role…I know ambition when I see it…I've been an actress, you know…"

"New Rome's finest…" fond pat…

"No one even remembers, thanks to that bastard Procopius…Focusing on my burlesque…Though it was damned good burlesque…"

"Your geese dance remains a classic, dear…And I remember you in Sophocles'…"

"Exactly…I did drama…Geesh…" impatient wave of hand…

"And still do every day on the throne…Played before your greatest fan…"

She beamed…

"Did you really like that letter to that Goth idiot today?..."

"A masterpiece of diplomacy, medear…I rather pity his poor cousin the Queen…Between him and her fool son…She hasn't a chance…"

Hmmn…Kinda hate to dwell on that aspect of the matter…Not having a chance in this kind meaning literally that…But God's will be done…No doubt He'll make it up to the poor lady in Heaven…And it's not like we're bumping her off personally…

Unless of course the greater good…

"But we'll give her safe haven if she has the good sense to give up the throne to that fool and accept our offers of protection…" Justinian noted, sensing the Missus' discomfort with the harsher side of power politics…

Here?...The beautiful Queen of the Goths?...Helpless and pathetic, pleading to the great and merciful Augustus for justice…Beautifully…

Hmmn…She frowned…

Not that I wouldn't trust Justy with my life and soul…

But these pretty royals have a way about them…

And there's no room in New Rome for two leading ladies…The greater good, after all, requiring that the Chosen One win out…

"Regarding the… The 'Buffies'?…I really think we ought spare them for the moment…" Justinian resumed…

"Perhaps…For the moment…" Theodora nodded, absently…Bigger royal fish to fry in oil just now…

"Though we must locate and secure the remaining members of their party…"

"Yes…" Theodora snapped to focus…Right, rogue members wandering with potentially god-like abilities…Not good…

"I'd say we'd best let one escape…She'll lead us to the others…"

"My girl, you cut the knot with one sweep…"

She eyed his grinning face…Shrewd shake of head… "You've already given the orders…" she noted… "You scheming genius…I can barely keep up with you sometimes…"

Well…He gave a modest shrug… "You can always outrun me during Slayer watch…"

Hmmn…She pondered a moment…I wonder…If certain ambitious types were to learn such a powerful piece were wandering loose about the board…And were foolishly inclined, with a little persuasion from well-placed agents, to try and secure that piece for their own ambitions…

Perhaps this might offer a chance to kill two dangers with one stone…

Hmmn…But what we really need here is a chance to expose that brooding dork of a would-be Caesar…For the good of the state…And my peace of mind…

"But Belisarius…? You know Procopius must be off telling him all about our guests and their wandering sister…" she noted… "Just the thing he'd need to start his coup…And it's the perfect time what with
this stupid triumph tomorrow…"

"Perhaps…But I doubt Beli even believes in Slayers…And hardly a stupid triumph, love…The people have had a rough few decades, they want to celebrate a win like this…Africa back in our hands, next stop, Rome…"

She lifted head, glaring at him as he scrunched over to her...Pulling away...

"And me?...Whilst you're being eulogized post-bloody coup by your weeping friend as Rome's best since the big A himself?...How sad he couldn't save you from the mob this time…I get a one way ticket to an
unsanctified grave?..."

"Girl...He'd never harm you...He wouldn't dare..."

"You mean he shouldn't and damned right...But 'wouldn't dare'...I think not..."

"Sweetheart..." fond pat...Rejected with violent pull away...

"Don't talk to me..." grim tone... "Go and see if your good buddy the triumphant general wants to screw around..."

"Theo..."

"How many times did I save your life?..."

"Buffy..." winning tone... "Isn't it amazing how such a nickname persists?...Now, my sweetest girl…"

"Eh…Try one of the replacements downstairs..." grimmer tone..."Especially the demon...She's no doubt very friendly to counterparts of her lost boyfriend..."

"For a comic actress, you've a poor sense of humor, love..."

"Guards!..." she rose up in the bed... A dozen well-formed guards filled the room...Justinian blinking at them...

"The Augustus needs an escort...He wants to make an inspection tour..."

"Theo..." Justinian sighed as the guards eyed each other...

Not in front of the staff…

"An all-night inspection tour..." she continued...

"Fine..." Justinian rose from the bed with sigh, gesturing to the guards to follow him as he left the room...

Theodora, after watching him leave, guards nervously and uncertainly following him, got up, pulling sandals on after waving away several silent slave girls who'd instantly approached from the room's corners on seeing their Imperial mistress rise from the royal bed...She demanded and received a warm but unadorned cloak, wrapped it round her, and started to leave the room...Hurrying back to the imperial bed to search a moment and then pull up her gold-plated stake which she concealed under the folds of her gown...The closest slave girl eyeing her from where she stood...

"If the Emperor returns before me..."

"Patrol..." the slave nodded...

Of a kind...Theodora thought, frowning...Hurrying through the bedroom door...Waving the remaining guards in the halls outside away...

Twelve guards should keep him safe a little while...Unless some traitor in their midst...

Oh...She quickened her pace...Rushing through the palace doors...The door and outer courtyard guards, easily recognizing her but under the usual orders from the Augustus to fail to penetrate whatever the
Augusta's excellent disguise might be...

Damn him...Already gone…

That was not a wish!...She thought as loudly in her mind as possible...

"Lord Jesus forgive me... "Thou knowest any harms I do to others is but for thine glory and the good of the state…Let me not be led into temptation and wickedness for mere spite and keep my dearest safe..."
she prayed...

"And away from any strange counterpart identical visitors from other worlds..."

***
"Angel?..." Third Buffy repeated, swaying a bit…Staring at the rather startled tall figure before her…

"Say…You back with Darla…Again?..." she managed a glare at the frowning blonde in regal dress and flowing robe next to the tall, rather commanding in manner, figure…

"Lady?..." the addressed man eyed her… "I fear you've mistaken me…"

Oh…Third Buffy with groan, heaved on the man's rather well-worked sandals…He staring down at her, the blonde woman beside him staring as well…A bit grimly…

Lord, not another groupie…From the moment we got off the boat from Africa…

And when not primed with wine…To face New Rome's greatest hero, no doubt…This one's disturbingly attractive…

"Antonia…?" the man looked at the blonde woman, clearly at a loss as to what to do…

"If she's a guest, give her your autograph and lets damned well get inside…" she hissed… "If a slave, I want her flogged…"

"Belisarius…My lord…" Procopius emerged from the dining room…Balto, Philip, and somewhat more cautiously, Warren, following…

"Procopius?...One of your girls?..." Belisarius indicated Third Buffy…Now on her knees, groaning a bit…

"A guest from the country…The lady Buffy…Her brother, Cicero…" wave to Warren… "A brilliant young writer whom we hope to hear more of…His excellency, the general Belisarius and his dear wife, Antonia…" he nodded to Warren…

Damn, no flogging…Antonia sighed…

"Sorry to see your sister's indisposed…" Belisarius noted, offering a hand…Eyeing Warren with practiced eye…Definitely not a military man…Undoubtedly of Procopius' literary circle…

Still, such men have their uses…

"Not used to our New Rome vintages, I'm sure…" Procopius smiled…"Falco, assist the lady to her room…And inform Benvo that I want her properly attended in her illness…Gentlemen and dear lady…" nod to Antonia… "Shall we retire to the dining room?..."

"You know where to bring her…" he hissed to Falco as the others made for the dining room… Third Buffy now raised from the floor with slave Marcian's gentle support…She staring vaguely round…Eyes barely open…

"Master…" Falco nodded…Waving to Marcian to bring the girl along…

"I think I'd better see to sis…" Warren had turned to Philip as Procopius appeared at the dining room doorway with his new guests…

"Oh, she's quite well settled…" Procopius noted, coming to him… "But give my ladies a chance to help her a moment…" he took Warren by the arm…

"I'm sure you'd like a chance to hear the great Belisarius tell us of his tremendous victory in Africa…"

"Oh…? Oh, right…The big win…Africa…" Warren nodded after a second's hesitation…

Clearly something up but best not to press the guy just yet…Anyway, Summers can take of herself…

"Please…The story grows old, Procopius…" Belisarius waved a hand…

"Must I hear it again?..." Antonia smiled, taking a couch… "After all, we three were all there…"

***
Damn…Pardon, Lord…Theodora sighed…Looking round…

Those weren't any of the ones…She eyed the four guards marching past the front gate…Where by the soul of the Blessed Virgin did that idiot and twelve guards get off to…?

Hell, this is embarrassing…First that bitch demon nearly beats me, now I can't keep track of my human husband…My hunting skills must be fading from too little Patrol…she frowned…

Oh…She frowned more deeply… I get it…She looked back at the gate…

They never even left…One group of guards looking as stupid as another, they pulled a switch…He's gone to personally arrange the escape of one of those blonde…

And he knew I'd be right after him out here…Dang…Figured he'd be perfectly safe with them since they all love his…

Holy Mother of God!...She put hand to mouth…What if one decides…He'll do…

No, he'd never…

But, if they really are my counterparts…They might…She turned and ran for the gate…Pulling down her cloak to coldly eye the head of the night guard who moved to confront her…

Ooops… "A very good night, beloved Augusta…" he saluted, waving for the door to be opened…She not waiting but smashing the great door back…

Belisarius will needs wait a bit longer…More time for him and his pet historian/biographer to incriminate themselves anyway…

Though Warren's fear of losing the protection of his dear "sis" had been somewhat mitigated by his relief that the arrival of the chief guest of the evening, some tall, dark yutz, a whatits general, clearly flavor of the month here, had deflected the pressure to begin a recitation of his 'work'…An hour of listening to the said guest describe his latest victory, apparently the cause for tomorrow's big parade and hoe down, had made him rather wish for a chance to take the podium…Reciting some poem from junior high, the 2003 Sunnydale phone book, anything…

"So then...Gelmer sent in his cavalry..." Belisarius noted expansively...Moving several large nuts on the small table next to the couch on which he reclined...

"So he did..." Procopius nodded solemnly...

Right...Warren sighed from his couch...Several of the others showing likewise unmistakable signs of overwhelming boredom...Antonia most openly…

"But my Huns made short work of them..." moved in a few grapes to surround and shove off the nuts…

As they so often do...Warren thought...Yeah, yeah, get to the point...And what your friends want with me being the only real point I'm interested in...

Hey there…He caught sight of Antonia's calm stare at him…Natch, Studily Future Man Genius trumps Blowhard General Husband…

Ooops…He also caught Belisarius' glare…

Make that jealous Blowhard General Husband…

Perhaps time to consider my own strategic withdrawl… "I oughta check in on my sister..." he suggested... "Just be a moment..."

"She's in quite capable hands, Cicero..." Procopius said, rather firmly... "No need for you to leave us..."

Hmmn...That didn't sound open to interpretation...

"And to make the matter short…" Belisarius continued…

God, yes…Warren noted to himself…

"The main battle was joined…On the left flank…" pieces of bread lain out and pushed forward…

"Master!..." shrill cry…

What is wrong with that eunuch steward?…Procopius frowned…Rising as several frightened servants raced into the room, the said steward, the slave Benvo in the lead…

"Ya betta kep ya hands off me this time…" a loud cry from outside the open door… "Hey, you guys…Where's whatshisname…" Third Buffy staggered in, shoving a large guard aside…

"Here, Mearsie…" she waved a hand to beckon him… "We's gonna go…"

Can't be…Antonia eyed her…

Theo would never go blond…Besides, she's not that good at playing a drunk…

The Slayer to the rescue, Mears sighed inwardly with relief…

"Don't you gimme any trouble, you…" she wagged a finger at another guard…Waving the stake she'd pulled from her robes… "Hey…" she swayed… "I think…Somebody slippered…Slid me a Mickey…" she stumbled, falling onto the couch from which Belisarius had been eyeing her with a shocked look…

In the middle of my description of the defeat of the Vandals?...He stared…

"Holy Mary, mother and wisdom of God…She does look like that b…Ummn, our dear Augusta…" he looked over to Procopius…Who glared at her, then Mears…Struggling to recover composure…Antonia glaring, rising from couch to join her beleaguered husband…

"Sis' a bit under the weather…" Mears tried, sheepishly… Augusta?...Relative of the host, I guess…Unless…God, no…Yet another Summers showed up here…

"Of course…" Procopius noted brittley… "Benvo?...Benvo, come out from under that table and 'assist' our guest back to her room…"

Benvo, under the table with one of the female slaves, pondered the dilemma…A whipping for opposing the master's order…Versus facing that Amazon…A brief glance back out the door to the hall where poor Marcian lay groaning settled the matter…He chose the safer course and remained where he was, not replying…

"Angel…Knew it was you when those guys drug me off b'fore…Why didn't ya tell me straight out ya didn't really love me?..." she looked up at Belisarius… "I mighta found Will right away when Spike came to
Sunnydale…Now I got all dis comet..compet..Dese other girls…"

Urrph…Sorry…She put hand to mouth…

Found the Will when spiked?...He pondered, eyeing her…

A metaphor for our Lord's crucifixion?...

And could be, though God knows many such have referred to me as an Angel…I'm sure I would have remembered screwing a girl who looked like the Empress in blond…

Certainly Antonia would never let me forget it… He looked to Antonia, now firmly at his side…

"She isn't…?" Antonia whispered…

"No…" he hissed… "But she is why we came…"

"The Buffy Effect..." VIII...

PG 13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's.

Spoilers for Angel to this week...Flee at once!...

Summary: Similar to my Immortal Beloved series of sketches, and my Semi Parallel Lives bits mostly just short brainstorming ideas for other tales...As with both of those, some bits may be multipart, others just a few lines...

Part G

"It's kinda nice, seeing a few pounds on you…" Anne grinned at the Augustus now standing by her cell…Five of his bodyguard at his side…

"I don't get as much exercise as I should…Theo gets after me about that…" Justinian nodded, smiling…

"So?..." Anne eyed him…Glancing to the cell where Previous and Buffy slept soundly…

Lord, do I snore like that?...

"To what do I owe the pleasure…And for one of the rare times in my exist, I ain't lying…Of my honey's counterpart's company…I take it you expected to find me up and the humans out…?"

"I thought it likely…Given the sleep elixir used only works well on humans…"

"I thought they were sleeping pretty soundly, even for me…And Mrs. Empress?...She in on this visit?..."

"I would guess she'll guess what I'm about soon enough but not at this moment…"

"And…?"

"Do you mean what you say about simply wishing to get out of here?...To continue your…Quest, of sorts…?"

"Cross my dead heart, lover…" she smiled…Crossing… "But you're sure as Hell not gonna simply take my word for it…"

"No…" Justinian nodded…The guards eyeing the blonde "woman"(?) with a mixture of cautious curiosity and outright fear…

One never knows, the demon story could be smoke and mirrors and those rumors about the Augusta and Augustus having a split could be true…And this would be the place an ex-empress would be residing…

"Boo…" Anne took demon face at one guard staring at her…Who backed off in terror, the others as well…

"Pull yourselves together, idiots…You've been on Patrol with me and the Augusta before…" Justinian frowned at the men…

"So, you go apatrolin' with your Buf…" Anne smiled… "That's how my William and I reconnected…"

"Whenever she'll let me or I can manage to follow her…" he nodded…

"That's sweet…Tell her I said you're doomed if you go out again…She's nuts to let you wander round alone after her…"

"William?..." he asked…

"Yeah…Though it was Spike after he transformed…"

"I take it he wasn't a political leader in your world or the others'?...They seemed rather surprised by my Theo's place in the nature of things here…"

"Poet…"

"Really?...I was always fond of Vergil…" he smiled… "Was he any good?..."

"Well…The girls say they found out he was Shakespeare in one past at least…"

"Excuse me?..."

"Sorry, future reference…Anyway, my Will was…Good…"

"That bad…?" smile… "Sounds like he was indeed my counterpart…"

"Pal, I've killed for much less than my honey's talents being disparaged…Even by his counterpart…"

"No offense intended…So…Anne…"

"Justy?...What do you want?...I'm sure the Roman emperor doesn't come calling on every political prisoner.."

"I would note you ladies are guests, not prisoners but there's no point in denying our desire to keep you all under our control…While you're here…"

"Which might be longer than we'd like, eh?..."

"Security of the Empire may demand it, dear heart…But we might be able to see our way to letting you go, at least…"

"You'll hurt my feelings, hon…What, am I less attractive?...Stupider?...More willing to kill everyone in sight?..."

"If you knew the secret of their ability to travel among worlds I doubt you'd have extra passengers with you…" he smiled…

She returned the smile… "You are good, babe…And quite right, I don't have it…But where does that bit of info leave us, besides making me a bit less marketable?..."

"I think the others are telling the truth and the secret lies with the two remaining members of your party…"

"Ok…Lets concede the point for fun…"

"So, if I were to allow you to leave…You would seek them…"

"Wanting to get the hell outta this lovely little empire of yours, yeah…It would make sense…"

"Let us follow…Take your friends…"

"…And their secret of traveling among worlds?..."

"After of course you've made use of it…"

Mmmn… "One shot deal, eh?...No, thanks…'Sides, contrary to your thinking, I keep my word…As my hubbie's demon always did…There is honor among demons, kiddo…" she eyed him carefully…

"You're disappointed in me…" he nodded… "It's fine, Theo was too, a few times when we were first going together…It comes with the Imperial title, sweet…One has to consider the greater good of an empire and people who've been through some rough times in the past two centuries…"

"Odd, ain't it…" Anne smiled, sincerely… "The mad killer a bit down at finding her boy's counterpart not quite at the top of the moral heap…I get what you're saying, but something in me…" slight note of something like wonder…

"It wasn't until she saw how many were out to kill me…And how desperately the people needed stability and peace…And hope, above all…That she accepted that sometimes regrettable things must be done…" he sighed… "And the worst of it is, for me…I've pulled her into it with me…I fear sometimes, I never should have married her…"

"Frankly, judgin' by what I've seen of her, she'd've probably been the same no matter what…I actually do…My soul, I mean…Have a hard streak in there…Along with my incredible compassion, etc, etc…"

"She has that…The compassion, I mean…" Justinian smiled wanly… "But, thanks to me…A compassion forced into the box too often in recent years…"

"She seems happy…" Anne noted… "There are worse things than what life and your cause force you to, you know…Slayers have to make some pretty hard choices all the time…Unlike me, who has no problem at all sleepin' at day…" airy wave of hand…

"Yes…" he nodded… "I've learned that by experience as to Slayers…"

"I can't help you, Will…Sorry, I can't resist…" she grinned… "Even if I were willing to betray the girls, I couldn't take the risk that the next jump wouldn't be the right one…"

"I see…And I appreciate the honor of being joined with my counterparts…Suppose I offer a different choice…I'll let all of you go to your next destination…With your device…With one exception…"

Anne cocked her head at him…

I think I can guess our Mearsian exception…

Hmmn…Amusing as it might be to think of Warren under the lash trying to reinvent 21st century technology here…His only hope of getting out, adding a desperate enthusiasm to his efforts…

"Nah…We need him…Plus, I gotta tell ya…Our guy is a pretty slippery little bastard…Even you two might find yourselves in trouble with him around…"

"Clever schemer, eh?..." Justinian, thoughtfully… "I think we've dealt with the type…"

She shrugged… "Yeah, I can guess…All the same, Will…Sorry, the answer's no…"

He nodded, sighing a bit… "Well, then…I suppose we'll have to do it the other way…Hello, darling…" he turned to where a frowning Theodora was standing in her cloak, guards deferentially bowing to her glares… "Just in time…"

Belisarius having…Finally, Mears and several others noted with relief to themselves…Come to the end of his epic struggle against the Vandal kingdom of Africa…Procopius had suggested the men retire to his courtyard to discuss serious matters…

Antonia, grimacing to Belisarius…You better damned well keep me informed, lover…He, a sheepish look of apology…Whacha you gonna do?...Can't remake society overnight, dearest…Bowed and watched the men leave…

If nothing else, a chance to go and have a closer look at our prize…

Slaves dismissed from the courtyard with a wave and a few minutes spent in a quiet stroll…Procopius pointing out the various interesting bits of sculpture and art work while Mears' glance about caught the others clearing looking round for any intruders…The group halted in the far end from where they'd entered, next to a large, playing fountain…Several nodding to Procopius and Belisarus…

All clear, Warren noted…

So…?

"So, shall we now speak frankly…?" Procopius eyed the group about him… "Friend Cicero?..." polite smile to Warren who stared at him…

What the hell is up?...

"We are quite aware of who you are…And who your companions are…" Procopius smiled more broadly…Belisarius and the other gentlemen eyeing Warren intently…

"And we would like to make a proposal to you…"

"You might have told me…" Theodora was fuming a bit now…

"If the demon had agreed, the fewer who knew the safer…Though I would have expected you to guess my intent, love…" Justinian noted…

"And now that she's refused…You need my help, as usual…"

"As always…" he corrected, smiling fondly…

"Thank you…" she nodded regally…

"Are we ready, Flavius?..." Justianian turned to his newly arrived chief of guards who bore a grim and reluctant look…

"The man is here, brought by me, Lord…" Flavius shook his head… "But I ask you to reconsider your plan…God does not approve such use of the black arts…"

"God leaves the work of the world to Caesar, Flavius…You should as well…" Justinian frowned at him… "But…" relenting look… "It's only our souls we risk, old friend…" he patted the soldier's arm… "And it is vital for our great cause…"

"Yes, Lord…" Flavius nodded, standing at attention…

"Don't you think I'm a good enough actress, Flavius?..." Theo said, eyeing him with smile…

"I hope so, Augusta…But it's your soul I fear for…"

"You're a noble one, Flavius…But Christ knows the purity of our intentions and will protect me…" she insisted…

"May it be so, Augusta…"

Anne frowned at the group from her cell…Something definitely up here…

"Amen…" Justinian agreed… "Bring the wizard forth…"

Flavius signaled to a guard and a man in robe was waved forward, stumbling a bit as he was urged along by his guards on both sides…

"Giles?..." Anne came to the bars…The man stared at her in no little fear…Giles, but a wizened, fearful Giles, in threadbare robe and sans a deal of his hair…Then at the imperial couple now facing him…

He knelt… "Lord Augustus, take pity on a poor man…I've done no harm…Why have I been brought from my study?…You gave me sanction…"

"Wizard…God might not look kindly on your works, but if you've kept to my instructions, you have nothing to fear…We have need of you this night…" Justinian said, grimly…A rather projecting tone, one taught him by his actress wife…

"I live only to serve you, Lord…" the wizard, eagerly…

"What's up here?..." Anne called…

"You have completely your studies on transmigration of souls?...Their recovery in the cursed?..." Theodora asked the wizard, in the same projected tone…

"Ay, Augusta…As I told my Lord Flavius, it can be done…Under special circumstances, with subjects of great spiritual strength…"

"Good…" she beamed…Looking at Justinian… "I've a test subject who should suit perfectly…"

Uh-oh…Anne blinked…

A thud on the bars awoke the sleeping Slayers… "Up!..." Flavius cried…

Justinian on the outside of the cell eyeing them…

Buffy groggily pulled herself up to sitting position…Damn…

Might've known they'd slip something into the food or water…

Unless?...She paused…Trying to do a full inventory of all vitals…No, just the hangover…

After all, not likely there's FDA inspection of food or water in this era…

Previous now sitting as well… "God…" she groaned, peering out of the cell…

"Ladies…" Justinian, quietly…

"You had us drugged…" Buffy rose, glaring… "And when we're feeling a little better…"

"Your demon unfortunately wasn't affected…And has already done what I think you were about to threaten to do…" he indicated the empty cell Anne had occupied, its door ajar…

"From the future?..." Warren chuckled nervously… "Guys, come on…"

"Friend Cicero…While it pleases me no end that your people remain aware of our greatest orator…Whoever you really are, you are not of our world…" Procopius frowned… "And should be pleased to be…Given we would have no interest in sparing you from any of the grim fates certainly awaiting you were you not…"

Belisarus and the others frowning in agreement…

Ummn…