Watch the World Die:
Chapter Two
by GylzGirl
------------------------------------------------------------
Warrick sat back down next to his son. "That Post woman was, it seems, not alone. We've got quite an evil little underground breeding."
"Imagine that. Watchers are such an understanding lot. Hard to believe anyone being mistreated or embittered."
"That's enough of that," Warrick snapped. Rupert's glare bored through his father. "You always were an insufferable smart-ass."
"The one trait of yours I managed to pick up," the younger Giles retorted.
"Look if you don't want to listen, those two girls you profess to care about are going to die." Rupert fell quiet. "Good. As I was saying, Post wanted the Glove of Milligan to empower her little group, to lead them in their glorious cause."
"Which is?"
"They are all misfits of some sort. Some left us of their own will, crushed when they were passed over for Slayer duty. Some, like Post, were booted for meddling in the dark arts. According to our reports, they have formed an alliance with several powerful and ancient master vampires."
"An alliance?"
"In exchange for lost dark magicks, they eliminate the present Slayers and prevent future ones. This gives the vampires their payment and concurrently gives them what they really want, to eliminate the Watchers."
"I'm confused. They will try for Faith and Buffy. We know that now and we can prepare for it. How will they stop the future ones?"
"As you know, we have meticulous records of the already existing Slayers-in-waiting and books of astrological charts for the ones yet to be born. Very accurate, although your girl Buffy was one of the few to slip through."
"Yes?"
"That's who they're going after. They've already killed two. Melissa Creek of Sussex and Alice Bain of Baltimore." Warrick produced two photos from inside his jacket.
Rupert took them and swallowed a lump in his throat. Melissa, a little blonde, looked to be about 3, Alice a brunette, 2, and they reminded him of how Buffy and Faith might have looked at that age. "My God," Rupert breathed, "they're just babies."
"Babies who would have grown to be fine warriors, and were killed before they could make their names."
"For God's sake Father, children are dead. Could you look past the war for one second and see that much?"
Warrick spoke sadly. "I have Rupert. What do you think your mother would have done if we'd lost you at that age? What would I have done?"
Rupert snorted. "Mother would have been a wreck. You would simply have insisted you try for another child to ensure the continuation of the line." He looked up and faintly registered genuine hurt behind his Father's eyes. "I'm sorry. That was incredibly cruel and uncalled for."
"The point is, many more *babies* are going to die if we don't stop these fanatics."
"All right. What's the plan?"
"We need to lure the whole group here and take them out."
"What? Kill them? They are still human beings Father."
"No, not kill them. We need them incapacitated. They will then be taken back and tried before the Council Tribunal. They will decide their ultimate fates."
"Whole group is how many?"
"Twenty, well nineteen now that your Slayers eliminated that Post woman."
"So how do we get them here?"
"Five are already on their way to town, coming after your girls. The rest will follow them soon."
"Why's that?"
"We've rounded up as many of the future Slayers as we could and brought them here. The group will see this as a chance to deliver a huge blow against us."
"Putting all those children in danger."
"They are already in danger Rupert."
"But they are still bait."
"Can't be helped."
Rupert sighed. "I realize. But it still doesn't make it all right. They are going to lose their childhood and innocence to this awful, dark, unending battle soon enough. It just saddens me that we're taking even more time away from them." If he'd been looking for it, or willing to see, Rupert would have seen something resembling pride in his father's eyes at that moment.
Warrick stood and handed Giles a slip of paper. "My hotel, and the number. I'll leave you to explain the situation to your girls. I think they'd rather hear it from you. That Buffy was staring daggers my way."
"Yes, one trait she seems to have picked up from me." They shared a small smile at that.
"I'll see you tomorrow my Boy. Uh, get some sleep won't you? You'll need it."
"Good-night." As his father exited, Giles studied the photographs, burning the faces into his memory. A few minutes later, he heard his Slayers enter the room. "Ah, Buffy, Faith, patrol is suspended for the rest of the night. Sit down, I'll go put on some tea."
"Gee tea, it really must be the end of the world," Buffy quipped. Giles turned to her with an expression so dire, she felt a shiver pass through her system. She looked again and could swear she saw the start of tears glittering in his eyes. "Giles?" He moved into his office without another word and started to brew a pot. Faith and Buffy sat down quietly.
Chapter Two
by GylzGirl
------------------------------------------------------------
Warrick sat back down next to his son. "That Post woman was, it seems, not alone. We've got quite an evil little underground breeding."
"Imagine that. Watchers are such an understanding lot. Hard to believe anyone being mistreated or embittered."
"That's enough of that," Warrick snapped. Rupert's glare bored through his father. "You always were an insufferable smart-ass."
"The one trait of yours I managed to pick up," the younger Giles retorted.
"Look if you don't want to listen, those two girls you profess to care about are going to die." Rupert fell quiet. "Good. As I was saying, Post wanted the Glove of Milligan to empower her little group, to lead them in their glorious cause."
"Which is?"
"They are all misfits of some sort. Some left us of their own will, crushed when they were passed over for Slayer duty. Some, like Post, were booted for meddling in the dark arts. According to our reports, they have formed an alliance with several powerful and ancient master vampires."
"An alliance?"
"In exchange for lost dark magicks, they eliminate the present Slayers and prevent future ones. This gives the vampires their payment and concurrently gives them what they really want, to eliminate the Watchers."
"I'm confused. They will try for Faith and Buffy. We know that now and we can prepare for it. How will they stop the future ones?"
"As you know, we have meticulous records of the already existing Slayers-in-waiting and books of astrological charts for the ones yet to be born. Very accurate, although your girl Buffy was one of the few to slip through."
"Yes?"
"That's who they're going after. They've already killed two. Melissa Creek of Sussex and Alice Bain of Baltimore." Warrick produced two photos from inside his jacket.
Rupert took them and swallowed a lump in his throat. Melissa, a little blonde, looked to be about 3, Alice a brunette, 2, and they reminded him of how Buffy and Faith might have looked at that age. "My God," Rupert breathed, "they're just babies."
"Babies who would have grown to be fine warriors, and were killed before they could make their names."
"For God's sake Father, children are dead. Could you look past the war for one second and see that much?"
Warrick spoke sadly. "I have Rupert. What do you think your mother would have done if we'd lost you at that age? What would I have done?"
Rupert snorted. "Mother would have been a wreck. You would simply have insisted you try for another child to ensure the continuation of the line." He looked up and faintly registered genuine hurt behind his Father's eyes. "I'm sorry. That was incredibly cruel and uncalled for."
"The point is, many more *babies* are going to die if we don't stop these fanatics."
"All right. What's the plan?"
"We need to lure the whole group here and take them out."
"What? Kill them? They are still human beings Father."
"No, not kill them. We need them incapacitated. They will then be taken back and tried before the Council Tribunal. They will decide their ultimate fates."
"Whole group is how many?"
"Twenty, well nineteen now that your Slayers eliminated that Post woman."
"So how do we get them here?"
"Five are already on their way to town, coming after your girls. The rest will follow them soon."
"Why's that?"
"We've rounded up as many of the future Slayers as we could and brought them here. The group will see this as a chance to deliver a huge blow against us."
"Putting all those children in danger."
"They are already in danger Rupert."
"But they are still bait."
"Can't be helped."
Rupert sighed. "I realize. But it still doesn't make it all right. They are going to lose their childhood and innocence to this awful, dark, unending battle soon enough. It just saddens me that we're taking even more time away from them." If he'd been looking for it, or willing to see, Rupert would have seen something resembling pride in his father's eyes at that moment.
Warrick stood and handed Giles a slip of paper. "My hotel, and the number. I'll leave you to explain the situation to your girls. I think they'd rather hear it from you. That Buffy was staring daggers my way."
"Yes, one trait she seems to have picked up from me." They shared a small smile at that.
"I'll see you tomorrow my Boy. Uh, get some sleep won't you? You'll need it."
"Good-night." As his father exited, Giles studied the photographs, burning the faces into his memory. A few minutes later, he heard his Slayers enter the room. "Ah, Buffy, Faith, patrol is suspended for the rest of the night. Sit down, I'll go put on some tea."
"Gee tea, it really must be the end of the world," Buffy quipped. Giles turned to her with an expression so dire, she felt a shiver pass through her system. She looked again and could swear she saw the start of tears glittering in his eyes. "Giles?" He moved into his office without another word and started to brew a pot. Faith and Buffy sat down quietly.