Into Every Generation: Chapter 4
Helga blinked. There was a pause made of static. She knew what she was hearing was definitely English but she didn't understand the words.
"I know…" said this new, strange, blonde woman. "It's not making any sense right now, but it will".
Helga arched an eyebrow and resisted the urge to laugh. "Making sense of things isn't quite where I'm at. Could repeat that please?"
"You're a vampire slayer" Buffy obliged.
For less than a second Helga's recent nightmares flashed before her eyes, but then she grinned. A slightly giddy snort of laughter – nerves mixed with a protective derision – punctuated her response "I'm sorry blondie, but I don't know what that is, but it sounds ridiculous".
"It does, doesn't it?" Buffy sighed. "We really need to work on the intro. Think of it like a full-time job that you can't tell anyone about, has real unsociable hours and no dental".
Helga's irritation spiked "Ooookay, you know what, I've had a really long day and talking to crazy strangers on my doorstep is not doing anything for my calm, so if you'll excuse me, Bitzy…"
"It's Buffy"
"Whatever. I'm going to head in now". As Helga turned to go inside, what Buffy said next stopped her in her tracks, her hand hovering just over the door handle.
"Have you been having the dreams?"
Helga didn't turn but was alarmed to find she couldn't move forward either, "What?" was all she managed.
"Every new Slayer who is called is visited by her", said Buffy gently. "She was the first. An ancient warrior that began the line…our line. She's pretty intense. She means well…" Buffy's face crinkles in thought for a second "at least, I'm pretty sure she does. The conversation is usually kind of one note".
Overriding the sudden rush of fear she felt, Helga turned an marched back down the steps of her stoop until she was facing Buffy, nose to nose, her breath rapid and her blue eyes flaring "Who the hell are you?" The question came from somewhere at the back of her throat, guttural and trapped.
"I told you already. I'm Buffy Summers, your new boss", she smirked.
"Lady, you should know, I am not above socking another chick", Helga growled, raising a threatening fist.
"Good, that's a start", Buffy laughed. "Look, Helga, I know this is going to sound crazy – of course it does – but the things you've been experiencing, the dreams, the launching of your 100 pound friend across the lunch room…"
"How did you…?"
"The power I know you can feel" Buffy continued "in your bones. Building inside you, like it's changing your DNA".
Helga felt a lightening crack of understanding and her irritation started to dissolve into an intense apprehension and ravenous curiosity.
"What's happening to me?" It barely escaped Helga's mouth.
Buffy's features softened with compassion as she looked at her new charge, moving forward slightly to place what she hoped was a comforting hand on Helga's shoulder. Uncharacteristically, Helga didn't flinch.
"I'm really sorry, Helga. But everything is about to change. Do you have time to talk?" Buffy asked.
Forgetting her exhaustion, her thrill about the gift from Arnold, that she was meant to be home an hour ago, Helga complied and allowed Buffy to take her on a walk through the streets of Hillwood, dusk following heavily on their heels. By the time they reached the city park, Buffy was concluding the most preposterous yet highly absorbing story Helga had ever heard.
"So in order to defeat the first evil, my bestie Willow and I – you remember her from earlier in the story, the super powerful witch – well, she and I came up with the plan to use the scythe as a conduit for a spell to counter the magic used to create the slayer line. The result being that one slayer doesn't have to die for the next to be called. Instead, any girl with the potential inside them could, and probably will be, awakened. It's kind of whole coming of age deal now, a sweet sixteenth with a side of gore and inevitable destiny. Which leads us to you and why we're even having this conversation".
"So let me get this straight" Helga began "You're telling me…that I'm a superhero?"
Buffy appeared to consider this for a moment "One of many…but yes! In theory, you are, but without all the lame costumes". Buffy flashed a bright smile, seeming to enjoy that conclusion.
"That would be insanely cool if it weren't for the fact that it can't possibly be true", said Helga.
"Can and is, sister", replied Buffy, inspecting a nail.
Helga crossed her arms and eyed her companion dryly, willing to play along a little further "OK then…prove it".
Buffy's face split into a grin "I thought you'd never ask". Grabbing Helga suddenly by the arm, she dragged her purposefully into the park.
"If I knew this would end with me being dragged into the bushes by a stranger with some pretty detailed delusions I might have thought twice about coming with you", quipped Helga.
"This is nothing, wait until you get trapped in an underground tomb or brought back from the dead", countered Buffy.
"Wait, what?" at that, Helga stopped, just long enough to be whacked in the face by a branch Buffy had been holding. They had started navigating their way through a denser part of the park.
"OK, nearly there", said Buffy.
"Nearly where?" hissed Helga, growing increasingly more annoyed.
"Ssh!" Buffy stopped suddenly, alert like an animal that has become conscious of a nearby predator. Her body taut, her hand moved swiftly to the utility belt around her waist and she deftly removed a wooden stake from its holster. Helga realised that Buffy wasn't the animal, she was the predator. After a moment, where nothing seemed to be happening other than Buffy listening intently to the bushes, Helga became acutely aware of the absurdity of her situation. What the hell was she doing creeping around the bushes, after dark, with an armed maniac she had just met? She decided to call time on this charade.
"Bunny…" Helga began
"Buffy!" corrected the slayer, turning to face Helga with an irritable look on her face.
"Right. Sure. Look, this has been a real slice and all, educational even, but I make it personal rule not to hang out with escaped mental patients, at night, in secluded parkland so why don't we shake hands and call it a night".
Helga's snarky diatribe was muted by the sudden realisation that they had arrived in an unfamiliar clearing. Helga was disturbed. She had been exploring this park her whole life, it was part of her childhood geography, why didn't she know this bit? What made matters worse was noticing the look of stoic focus drawn on Buffy's face, her gaze directed just behind Helga's right shoulder.
"You had better turn around, newbie".
