Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
The Slayer Squad –Season Three: Turkey Day and Beyond
By
Celgress
The remainder of November 1998 passed quickly. Two eventful incidents occurred before Thanksgiving. The first involved an enchanted sword that contained the imprisoned spirits of an ancient Chinese vampire and an equally ancient Japanese mountain king who had been feuding for centuries. The spirits chose Xander and Willow as their respective hosts. The remainder of the Slayer Squad had quite the ordeal safely freeing the White Knight and Crimson With from possession. The combined efforts of Tara the Emerald Witch, Giles and Jenny accomplishing the feat mere moments before the entities were to kill their host bodies, after brutalizing the three slayers. The Slayer Squad next faced a group of evil imp like creatures called the Wild Hunt. These creatures were bent on stealing souls. In spite of being tricking into agreeing to a mystically binding nonaggression pact by the cunning leader of the Wild Hunt the Slayer Squad was able to break free of the spell, thanks in large part to the efforts of Giles, Jenny, Amy, Jonathan and Larry, and destroy the imps. After all the recent excitement the Giles Clan and their associates were hoping for a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving.
"How's the arm Buffy?" Xander asked as the group of teens sat in cafeteria three days before Thanksgiving.
"Good as new, almost its' still sore," Buffy replied wiggling the fingers of her left arm through the pink cast.
"Lucky you heal fast, huh." Larry said earning him a slap to the back of his head from Amy, "ouch, sorry." Amy glared at him by way of reply.
"Um guys we have incoming trouble." Faith said.
Principle Snyder waltzed up to the table his features locked in a perpetual sneer. "Hello ladies and gentlemen and I use the terms in their loosest possible sense." Principle Snyder said. "Tell me do the Giles girls plus one have any plans for the upcoming holiday?"
"We sure do, our parents are putting on a big 'ol fest." Faith said in exaggerated fashion. "I'd invite you but I doubt they'd approve."
"Funny," Principle Snyder replied dryly. "Cancel your plans I have a job for you, a task really. Think of it as a charitable donation."
"No way," Kendra spoke up surprising everyone. "You can't take away our holiday. It isn't fair."
"Are you questioning my authority Ms. Giles?" Principle Snyder snapped. Everyone in the cafeteria held their breath awaiting Kendra's response.
"Yes sir I am. You simply don't like us which is why you are constantly looking for an excuse to punish us." Kendra said getting out of her seat.
"Ms. Giles you are out of line!" Principle Snyder said. The two were practically nose to nose. "Need I remind you all I have the goods on you."
"Need I remind you Principle Snyder blackmail, especially of minors, is highly illegal in this state." Kendra said not backing down. "Put us in juvenile detention our parents put you in adult prison."
"She has a point." Buffy said sipping her drink through a bendy straw.
"Fine," Principle Snyder said. "This isn't over punks." Principle Snyder stormed out of the cafeteria the instant he was gone the students along with many of the staff gave Kendra a standing ovation.
"Way to go Ken." Faith said slapping her sister slayer on the back. "You put the troll back in his place under his bridge."
Kendra sat down a worried look on her face. "What have I done? I must apologize immediately for my rash actions."
"No you don't." Buffy said, she and Faith holding Kendra in her seat. "Let Snyder squirm."
City Hall two days before Thanksgiving, afternoon
"Interesting," The Mayor said jotting down information on a note pad as he sat with his legs crossed across from Darla. The blonde vampiress was secured by way of a complicated, magically reinforced straightjacket to a heavy wooden chair which was likewise secured to the floor by heavy silver chains. "Until now I've never encounter two vampires with such strong aversion to dining on humans, must be the human souls you carry. If your behavior continues you'll waste away, you know that right?"
"I'd rather die than take another innocent life." Darla mumbled.
"What about your friend Angel, don't you care if he lives?"
"Angel is a big boy he makes his own decisions."
"I could remove your pesky soul if you want? Take all the unnecessary pain away. Perhaps you aren't aware I'm an accomplished sorcerer." The Mayor said looking up from his notepad with a disarming smile. "Would you like that Darla? I could put an end to your inner turmoil."
"No please don't," Darla blurted out experiencing a sudden burst of energy. "I can't go back. If I do I am damned."
"Have it your way." The Mayor shrugged. "We're done here, take her away."
Four burly male vampires wearing heavy gloves undid the silver chairs and clasps anchoring Darla's straightjacket to the chair. They then left the room with her while the Mayor resumed writing his notes. The vampires shuffled Darla through the hall into an elevator, down and another hall before tossing her into a large room with no windows. Triple locking and dead bolting the silver lined steel door behind them throwing her roughly on floor the vampires left Darla alone with her only companion Angel.
"Did they hurt you?" Angel softly asked laying by Darla in his specially designed straightjacket.
"Only my pride," Darla whispered back.
"We'll get out of here, I promise you."
"Angel when will you learn, don't make promises you can't keep." Darla said a far way look on her face.
"I won't let them hurt you."
"I wish it were that easy, I truly do. Even if we get out of here I have no idea what to do with the rest of my life, or is it my unlife?"
"You can try your hand at being a champion."
"Maybe, I've never been good at anything expect seducing men. Seems my father was correct, I'll never be more than a dirty whore."
"Don't say that."
"Why it is true. Before the Master sired me I was a prostitute." Darla said the faraway look in her eyes grew more distant.
"You must have had your reasons."
"When I was a young girl growing up in England my family was wealthy, we had everything. By the time I turned eleven my father had lost most of the family fortune. On my twelve birthday I dreamed of getting a pony instead my father brought twenty gentlemen to our home, none of them under thirty, who took my virginity there on the dining room table. In return they paid my father handsomely, or so I was told never personally seeming so much as a red cent." Darla related her voice cracking with bottle up emotion. "I never told anyone the tale of my secret shame, not even the Master, until now."
Angel wished he could physically comfort her with a huge. Sadly their restraints prevented that. "You didn't deserve what happened. He had no right."
"I've felt dirty, worthless ever since." Darla confessed.
"The only people who should feel dirty or worthless are the rapists who defiled a girl on her birthday, not you." Angel said with a warm smile. "When this is over name anything you want to do we'll do it together."
"What about Buffy?" Darla said after a brief pause.
"I doubt she'll want to see me again." Angel said with a pained expression, "after what I did to her and her loved ones."
The Giles Residence one day before Thanksgiving 1998, evening
"Okay who wants to help me cook the Turkey?" Jenny asked the ensemble family in the living room.
"I'll do it." Faith said raising her hand surprising everyone.
"You sure, it can get rather messy and at times boring." Jenny said quirking an eyebrow.
"Yeah I'm sure." Faith said getting off the sofa. "I've never done it before. I'd like to learn how."
"Anyone else?" Jenny said eyeing the other girls. "Okay than you four can be on supply duty. Here is a list of last minute items we need."
"I'll drive," Buffy offered.
"You certainly will not." Giles countered looking up from his newspaper.
"Aw c'mon," Buffy pouted.
"Buffy you're a terrible driver, plus you've got a sore arm." Willow said.
"Willow take my keys." Giles said handing over the keys to his new car a dark blue sedan.
"Have fun girls, hurry back." Jenny said waving the four off.
Downtown Sunnydale
"I can't believe you wouldn't let me drive." Buffy grumbled.
"Buffy I couldn't I promised dad." Willow said as she slid the sedan into a parking sport.
"Don't the stores close early tonight?" Tara asked from the backseat.
"They do we better hurry." Kendra said from her positon beside Tara.
Getting out of the sedan the four girls went inside the crowded store. The place was a mad house. Who should they meet inside but a dour Spike and a chipper Harmony.
"Buying your turkey?" Buffy joked.
"What can I say I have a craving for turkey blood, maybe with a hunky human on the side." Harmony said licking her lips and staring at a muscular box boy.
"Gross," Tara said cringing.
"I hope you're joking." Kendra said.
"Haven't grown a sense of humor yet I see Kenny." Spike sulked.
"When it comes to vampires I'm humorless." Kendra snapped.
"Let's get are stuff." Tara said tugging on Kendra's shirtsleeve. "Spike, Harmony see you later," the four girls left the vampires behind.
"They weren't very nice." Harmony scowled.
"Ingrates," Spike muttered under his breath.
Finding what they needed the girls head home. Jenny and Faith, with some help from Giles, made a great turkey. The Giles Family, including Xander who happened by, had a wonderful Thanksgiving the next day blissfully unaware of the forces conspiring against them.
City Hall one week later, morning
"Greetings Mr. Wyndam-Pryce on behalf of the Town Council I Mayor Richard Wilkins III welcome you to Sunnydale. May your stay be a pleasant one." The Mayor said rising from behind his desk to shake hands with the young bespectacled Englishman.
"Thank you sir," Wesley said.
"I want to personally thank you as official representative of the illustrious Watchers Council for all your Slayer Squad has done for my town over the past two years. Golly destroying the Order of Aurelius alone was a feat worthy of praise in and of itself." The Mayor said smiling while sanitizing his hands.
"Thank you sir," Wesley said softly, "though honestly it is all in a day's work no need to thank me."
"Please don't be so modest, if there is anything I can do for you or your organization please let me know." The Mayor paused. "I hope you won't consider this an intrusion. Is it true each member of the Slayer Squad must pass a competency test upon attaining the age of eighteen and that Ms. Buffy Giles will be undergoing her test next month?"
"Yes such a trial is customary, but how…"
"I have my sources young man. What do these trials usually entitle?"
"Pitting the champion, usually a vampire slayer, in a weakened state against a worthy opponent often a vampire of advanced age and/or skill," Wesley explained. "The object being an evaluation of the champion's cognitive and problem solving abilities. Can they overcome the adversary in spite of their temporary impairment by relying on their brains rather than their brawn."
"Fascinating, vampires you say." The Mayor said his eyes suddenly lite up as he snapped his fingers. "Two notorious vampires, leaders of the infamous Whirlwind no less, Darla and Angelus have recently come into our possession. You can use them in your test, if you want?"
"Thank you sir what a generous offer," Wesley said shaking the Mayor's hand this time with much greater vigor.
"Don't mention it as the motto states out front, at Sunnydale City Hall 'we live to serve'."
To Be Continued