Chapter Eleven
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who reviewed! Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the new part!
Janus's Realm....
Janus sat in his chair doing something that anyone who thought they knew him would swear he never did. He was thinking. None of the lesser gods, hell none of the gods period, thought he made plans. They all believed he played his part without any thought, that it was all just what seemed fun at the moment. Right now he was trying to solve a problem that he had been thinking about for quite a while. The First's champion.
If Xander faced the Master soon, as it seemed to be the most logical end to his current activities, then the Master would be able to overpower Xander and kill him, or worse. The only way he could think of to delay such a unfavorable end was to intervene himself and that was forbidden. Hence, the thinking. His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Athena.
"Hello Thena," He told her "What can I do for you today?"
"My name is Athena, not Thena." She answered "And I came to see a sight no other god has ever seen, the lord of chaos thinking."
"Very funny. I am trying to come up with a plan to delay the First's new chosen one from combating my son. Without breaking any of the laws I had agreed to." he answered
"Delay?" she asked. "Why just delay when you can take him out of the mortal plane and remove your darker brother permanently?"
"That is not possible." Janus said " The First Evil is eternal, as am I and The First Good. Even if we were not I have made agreements with both my brothers that I will not attempt to discover a way to terminate either one of them."
"Ah," Athena held up one finger "You are a master of taking advantage of loopholes in agreements. You never sought the way out. I, as a 'lesser' goddess, discovered the way. You are all three eternal unless you leave yourselves open, which the First Evil has done. This is, however, a downside."
"I should have known." Janus sighed "What is it?"
Athena made a gesture and a large book, leather bound with a large owl engraved upon it, appeared on the table. Janus reached for the book while Athena continued to explain. "The downside is that, since the First is the embodiment of evil, someone must take his place."
Janus, being one of the three eternals, only had to touch the book to absorb the knowledge within. After he heard what Athena was describing his eyes became as big as saucers. "You want to replace The First? With what, a talking toad?"
"No, Janus. You see its like this......" The talks between Janus and Athena continued for years in their time frame. For us mortals it would only seem to take seconds.
Outside Xander's house......
The strange wolf-like creature sat in the shade of the house across the street of Xander's home. He had followed the magical call to this house before it had ceased. Now he watched and waited, looking for the one whose blood was rich with the energy he had tasted yesterday. Until he discovered that person he would change. The wolf's body gave a harsh sounding crunch and its skin shifted. Bulging and contracting a high pitched howl escaped the wolf's mouth. After a few minutes the changes ended and the wolf was no longer a wolf. Sitting on the sidewalk was a humanoid creature, with two arms and two legs but the similarities ended there. The creature was smaller then a human with a flat face, broad nose, pointed ears, wide mouth and small sharp fangs. One of the key differences between this creature and a human, besides its height, was that the creature's arms hung almost to its knees.
The goblin, as anyone who had read Lord of the Rings could tell you, sat upon the grass, naked. Looking around he dashed under the nearby bushes and into the backyard of the neighbor's house. Laying upon the line drying was several pieces of clothing. Picking out some of the drying laundry off the line the goblin dressed in a shirt and pair of pants that were a little baggy on him but otherwise fit. As he was changing the goblin missed Willow entering Xander's house but was back on watch soon after wards.
Xander's Basement.....
'Yes a blink dog,' Sara's voice sounded bored. 'I'm sure that someone with your level of intelligence, and your library, should be able to find out all his little secrets. Now, on to more important things such as food. Can you get me some?'
Xander was spared answering the petite dragon's question by Willow's arrival.
"Hey Xander, what ya up to?" She asked, coming down the stairs. Spotting the dog Willow let out a squeal of happiness, knelt and held out her hand. "When did you get a dog?"
Sirius slowly walked over to the young woman and gave her palm a small sniff. Sirius's tail began to wag and he proceeded to give Willow a face washing. What was really weird, at lest to Xander, was the approval he felt flowing from the small part of his mind that was connected to the blink dog. 'Okay,' he thought 'have to get that under control.'
Slightly shaking his head to regain his senses Xander answered her. "I didn't. I did a small ritual to summon a familiar last night and I ended up with these two guys."
"Two?" It took Willow a moment to spot Sara, her scales having shifted to the same color as the floor, but when she did she gave another squeal and, rushing over to Sara, picked her up. "Isn't she cute? Shes the most cutest thing I have ever seen."
As Willow admired Sara, her voice came though to Xander. 'Now her, I like.' She said 'Could you ask her to feed me?'
Smiling slightly Xander asked "Wills, could you take these two upstairs and feed them for me? I am going to talk to the voice inside my head for a minute."
Willow nodded and walked upstairs, Sirius following her. Though his bond with the dog Xander could feel the small resentment that Sirius was feeling toward Sara at the moment as well as the feeling of enjoyment that Sara was getting out of both Willow's praise and Sirius's resentment. Putting the matter aside for the moment and fell into the cross-legged form he used for meditation. Pushing aside all stray thoughts he delved deep into his mind.
Mental library......
The library slowly formed around Xander. When it had completely formed the first sight he beheld was Xantos sitting at the large table reading a book. The second thing he noticed was the two blurry forms hanging around in the background. Taking a seat across from the dragon Xander stared at the two forms.
"These," Xantos waved to the two forms behind him without looking up from his book. "are the connections that you share with Saratendra and Sirius. At the moment you can only feel their feelings but, in time, you will be able to do so much more."
"Alright I get that," Xander told him "But why do I have two of them? And why did the ritual only take half a day when you told me it would take a whole day?"
"You know," Xantos said with a sigh "I may be your teacher and instructor in the ways of magic but I tire of you asking questions you already posses the answers to. Answer your question for yourself."
Xander spent several moments doing his world famous fish impression before he snapped. "What do you mean?" he asked angrily "How can I possibly answer this question for myself? The only way I could is to do some massive research."
Xantos finely looked up from his book. A look of anger passed over his face. "You have all the knowledge of one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, mages on Eberron in your mind yet you refuse to use it." Xantos got up, walked over to Xander and shoved two clawed fingers into his chest. "If you are unwilling to use all the tools that you have at your disposal, wither they be memories or items, then you will never fully embrace your potential. You have a quick mind, as evidenced by your quick progress in the arcane arts, as well as a strong body. Use them both to their full advantage and stop relying so much on others. Friends are good, hell friends make the world go around, but if all you do is take without giving they will turn on you for your own good. Do you understand me?"
Xander rubbed his chest where Xantos had poked him, those claws hurt! Luckily they didn't draw blood. Thinking on what the dragon had just told him, he realized that he had been coming to the dragon to answer every little question that popped into his head. While the dragon may have more knowledge then he currently did, Xantos was right. Everything that Alexander had known and experienced in his very long life was trapped in his memory and he had not once looked into it for answers. It was far too easier to ask Xantos then it was to face the memories once again.
Setting his mind to it, Xander decided that he would do whatever it takes to become a mage such as Alexander was. Closing his eyes Xander reached into his mind while Xantos took his seat, a small smile upon his face. He had told Xander everything that the teen needed to know and that he needed to face. Up to this point in his life he had relied on Willow's brains and Buffy's strength. Hopefully after this he would try to be more forward and progressive then he had been in the past.
Xander watched as the world that he knew only though Alexander's memories flew past him. It was both the most exhilarating and terrifying event he had ever experienced. As he watched he saw Alexander grow, age, accept Xantos from the dragons of Argonnessen, the training he went though, his many, many adventures and, finally, his exploits during the last war. Along with the experiences came knowledge, lots of it. He could tell you for a fact exactly what happened to Alexander in any given day of his life but the frustrating part was that, while he could remember Alexander reading books, he couldn't remember anything that the books had said. When he tried all he could see was blurry pages. The only knowledge he could use, or least he thought he could, was the crafting skills that house Cannith had taught him.
As Xander opened his eyes Xantos spoke." I will teach you a spell that will allow you to use the crafting skills you remember although," And he looked Xander deep in his eye at this point "You should not use it as a everyday spell. If you enjoy a craft enough then you should learn to use it the right way. Magic is not a short cut. After all anything worth doing is worth doing right. After you have learned the craft spell, and you have had enough time to settle down from your familiar ritual, we will begin work on a new lesson. This one will be on how to scribe spells down on paper. This will allow you to create your spellbook and is the last lesson I will be teaching you."
"What, your just going to ignore me from now on?" Xander asked, opening his eyes.
"No, I will be taking a nap soon and that is why I will not be teaching you anymore lessons. You are still young and you must be able allowed to progress in your career on your own. "
"Wait, what do you mean your going to be going to sleep? I can't handle this whole wizard thing on my own." Xander protested.
"That, right there, is the very reason why I must slumber." Xantos told him "If I stay awake you will always have me to fall back on. You must learn that you are a talented and capable young man. I have had very few students in my life who could learn as fast as you have. Not only will you be able to handle learning to become a mage on your own but you will also have your friends to discuss problems with as well. Anyway, its only going to be a nap, say forty or fifty years."
"A nap???" Xander was slack-jawed. "That's what you call a nap!!! What are you, Rip Van Wrinkle?"
Getting the meaning from Xander's mind Xantos laughed. "My race enjoys sleep almost as much as the other pleasures of life. Now, did you discover the answer to your questions?"
Running over the knowledge in his mind Xander answered. "Yes. There are a few different things that could have happened. The one I think most likely though is that my ritual was somehow empowered by a outside source. That would explain why my ritual only lasted twelve hours instead of twenty-four. I still can't explain why I was able to call two familiars though."
"Since you have tried I will tell you why," Xantos told him "because of your dual personalities your ritual was conflicted. When the power was poured into the spell matrix it allowed your ritual to solve that problem by calling two suitable familiars instead of just the one. The blink dog, Sirius, represents the part of you that is a guardian. Sara represents your frivolous nature, your inner clown if you will. They both have more in common with you than that but those are the reasons that these two were chosen and called."
"OK," Xander thought about it a moment "are you sure Sara didn't come here because of my link with you?"
"That might be another reason." Xantos agreed "You might want to be thinking about getting back to your world though. In case you can't feel it Sirius is up to something that is causing Sara to become angry. There is one more thing, though," Xantos stopped Xander from leaving. "The knowledge you have acquired from Alexander will not carry over to your waking mind. If you have need to answer a question, and you don't have time to research the answer, just return here and the knowledge will await you. Remember that this is only to be a method of last resort. Do Not use it for every little question you have. Understood?" With a nod Xander drifted away from the mental library.
Xander opened his eyes to a rather amusing sight. Sara was chasing Sirius around the room while Sirius blinked around the room with a dish of meat in his jaws. In the corner was another, empty, dish that Xander figured was Sirius's. Willow, apparently, had fled the basement when this had started and was nowhere to be seen. As Xander was getting up to deal with the two of them, however, Willow came back downstairs with a opened can of Spam in hand.
'She must have thought that the entire fight was over food,' Xander thought. 'So she went to get more.' With what he could feel from the two animals though, he could tell it was part jealousy and part natural annoyance of Sirius's.
"Alright," She said, putting the spam into the empty dish "Here is some more for you boy, now leave the teeny dragon alone."
Sara and Sirius continued to ignore her and chase each other around the basement. Xander was getting up to try and break up the little fight they had going on when Sara, having watched Sirius's pattern as he blinked around the room, broke off and headed for the far side of the room. Just as Sirius appeared in the corner Sara dived bombed him, tail stinger out.
'That stinger,' Xantos told Xander as the young man went to head off the two 'Contains a sleeping poison capable of knocking out even a large animal.'
Luckily Sirius was quick. Dropping the dish he ducked as Sara's tail flew past. He growled and attempted to catch her tail with his mouth. Xander reached them at that point, feeling the satisfaction at the mischief he was causing turn to anger as Sara tried to sting him spurned him on, and he grabbed Sirius's haunches.
"Sara, land now!" He told her. After a few moments she complied and Xander continued. "Now, we all have to get along with each other so whatever problems you two have with each other, deal with them. As of this moment we are all friends."
He turned to Willow and asked "Well, you wanna know where these two came from?" At Willow's nod they both took seats and Xander launched into his story.
While the two best friends were talking Sara decided that Xander was right. Reaching out to the dog mentally she tried to speak to him.
'Listen, we both know that our mage is young.' she told him 'What he doesn't need is us fighting each other like we were both young once again. What we really need to do is try to guide him on his path. Truce?' Sirius's only answer was a small bark and nod.
SGC...
Daniel knocked on the door to Sam's lab. It was quite early, he was here two hours early, but he had no doubt that he would find Sam in her lab. After a few seconds without an answer Daniel quietly opened the door and walked in. Inside he found exactly what he thought he would, Sam asleep at her computer. Peeking at her monitor he saw all kinds of data on Sunnydale California. Everything from the high death rates to the low property values was listed on the monitor and it looked as if she was trying to find anything to connect Sunnydale to the strange events that have been occurring recently.
Setting his folder down on the desk Daniel gently shook Sam's shoulder. Sam awoke with a jerk, quickly throwing glances left and right. When she saw it was just Daniel, she didn't need Jack coming down on her for working though the night once again, she settled down.
"Doing a little homework?" Daniel asked with a smile and a gesture toward the computer.
"Yes," Sam quickly minimized all the windows on her computer "I was trying to find something that General Hammond can use to get permission to investigate Sunnydale. Despite our orders I can't let it go. Every time I close my eyes I see flashes, images of a life I never lived. Its the exact same as when I was blended with Jolinar. Most of the memories involve a blonde girl, Buffy, fighting night after night against vampires."
"It sounds like a interesting idea for a TV show." Jack chipped in from the door. "And I am here two hours early today, how long have you two been here?"
"I know how it sounds, Sir." Sam told him, avoiding his question "But it seems to real for me to believe that I am just making it all up."
"Well," Daniel broke it "General Hammond asked me to find anything I could to back you up." Daniel picked up his folder and started to leaf through it. "Sunnydale was originally Boca del Infierno, translated to The mouth of Hell. The modern town was founded in 1899 by Richard Wilkins the first who held the position of Mayor for the majority of his life. His son, Richard Wilkins the second, held a position as deputy mayor for the majority of his life and the current Mayor is a descendent of theirs, a Richard Wilkins the third."
"In the 1930's," he continued "the town was rocked by two major quakes, one of which buried most of the small town. Mayor Wilkins managed to rebuild the town in short enough order and people move to the town almost on a daily basis, despite the high death rate. Other than that there is little more in the recent history of the town."
"What about the more distant past?" Sam asked, while Jack threw his hands up and left.
"There are tales, most of them Spanish but some from the writings of the Navajo and Chumash tribes that lived in the area, of creatures that had the strength of several men. Most of the tales seem to be the same as other culture's monster tales of the time. That is all I have so far but I do have a few friends looking into the more recent history." he replied.
"Well, that helps." Sam glanced at the clock "We have a briefing for our mission on PXY-887 in a few minutes so lets go." The two of them left the room, Daniel leaving his folder on Sam's table.
Another World....
Two jaffa marched Doom into the throne room of Nirrti. Once they were before her they bowed while Doom remained standing. Nirrti looked at him in anger.
"Who have you brought before me?" She asked.
"My lord," One of the Jaffa, her first prime, said "This vermin was caught on your royal grounds. When we sought to capture him in your name he killed two patrols and then told the survivors that you were a false god."
"What!!!?" Nirrti yelled "How dare you come to my world speaking such blasphemy. Bow to your god!" Nirrti stretched out her hand and her ribbon device glowed.
Doom felt a powerful force pushing him downward. It was strong enough to force most people to their knees, unless they had Doom's armor. Silently engaging his servos Doom stood proud before the Goa'uld.
"Doom bows before no one." he told her "Cease this now."
"Force him to bow before me!" She commanded.
The two Jaffa stood and attacked, one going for the back of Doom's knees while the other moved to grab his shoulders. Doom reacted almost instantly, leaping over the staff of the Jaffa attacking his knees. Upon landing Doom lashed out, his hand grabbing Nirrti's first prime by the neck. With a sharp jerk he snapped the Jaffa's neck and let the body drop to the floor. Nirrti gave a loud yell for more guards. As the jaffa's body fell to the floor, Doom used his other hand to launch a very strong bolt of lighting into the door control panel. With a loud snap the door came down just in front of the jaffa coming in response to Nirrti's call. Turning his attention to the remaining body guards Doom killed each one, one at a time by using a combination of martial arts and his lighting blasts . Several of the guards staff blasts manged to hit him but his armor proved to be stronger. As the body of the last jaffa hit the ground Doom slowly made his way to Nirrti, who had her personal shield raised.
"For your attack on me you shall suffer," Doom told her "You shall lose your planets, truly the only thing you care about, as I take them one by one." His hand launched out and grabbed Nirrti by the chin. Forcing her face upwards, the rest of her body held still by the electric field his armor emitted. As her eyes met his Doom used his body swap technique and just as quickly reversed it. He now knew everything that the host, and therefore Nirrti, knew.
"You shall rue the day you crossed me. For now, however," Doom threw Nirrti across the room. "I shall be leaving." He triggered the hidden ring transport in the throne and was transported to a waiting cargo ship. Slightly smiling Doom punched in his flight plan and engaged the ship's cloaking device.
"The only thing that brings down this victory" Warren told Doom "Is the blast damage that those staff weapons caused to the armor."
"My armor will be repaired," came Doom's answer "And it will be upgraded even further. I have several, interesting, upgrades in mind for my new armor. Now, on to the coming campaign. After all, my new kingdom is at hand."
Sunnydale, that evening.....
The goblin was getting irritated and hungry. He had waited outside the home until two teenagers left, a boy and a girl. When he tasted the air behind them he discovered that they both contained a large about of suppressed power. From the auras of the two he could tell that the boy's power, while largely out of control, was more focused and channeled while the power that the girl had was completely uncontrolled. The boy's energy, when he took a moment to taste its residue, was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted and he was sure that the boy's soul would taste much the same. They only thing stopping him from attacking now, other then the indications that the boy was in control of his power, were the two vicious creatures that followed the boy. At the moment the boy could cause more trouble then his was worth. The girl, on the other hand, showed no signs of either using her power or of defenders and might just be worth the effort of attacking her.
As the goblin mused his attack a vampyre, Eric, slammed his fist into the creature's skull. The goblin fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Picking up the sleeping creature Eric gracefully left, leaving no trace that he had ever been there.
The Master's Warehouse, a hour later....
The world was blurry as the barghest slowly regained his senses. The first thing that he noticed, besides his blurry vision and aching skull, was that he was bound hand and foot to a chair. As his vision cleared he noticed two people. One was wearing a deep black hooded robe, while the other was a vampyre wearing a full plate armor with no helmet.
"Ah," Came the Master's deep voice "Its about time you awoke. You have been asleep for nearly an hour."
"What do the likes of you want with me?" The goblin's voice was small and squeaky.
"I have a job for you. The boy you were watching is someone I am interested in. I want you to attack him and lure him into a trap."
"Oh? And whats in it for me?" The goblin asked.
"If you do this I will have human mages delivered to you by the dozen for a week. You will reach your full growth a lot sooner if you go along with my plan. Otherwise I will let my dear vassal Eric here play with you a bit." Came the answer. Eric added to the effect by pulling out a knife that had a hooked tip and a serrated edge. Wearing a smile Eric waited for the answer.
"Alright," Came the goblins answer "Ill do it. I am going to need two meals before we do this though, to regain my strength."
"We will bring them to you. Now rest." With a gesture the ropes snapped, freeing the beast. "Don't even try to flee. Eric can track just as well, if not better, than you can."
Turning the Master and Eric left. The two of them retreated to the Master's private study. The Master moved to his desk where a strange book, a large leather bound book with a owl on the cover, lay .
"Whats this?" the Master asked "I didn't ask for this book." Picking it up he thumbed though it, his unseen eyes widening as they took in the information contained within. "Eric, bring the beast his meal and tell the others to leave me alone until tonight. I have some reading to do." As Eric left the Master sat down and started to read the book from the very first page.