Buffy sighed as she made her way into the Initiative. She vaguely toyed with the idea of getting some sort of keypad system set up but then, the First could get in regardless, couldn't it? Then again, it might stop – or at least slow down – the Bringers. Of course, if a Potential… or say Dawn, decided to sneak out and was attacked, they might forget the code and not be able to get back in. Better to forget the keypad.
It had been another long, boring couple of hours of Patrol with nothing happening – apparently every evil thing in town had already fled or was laying low with the intention of doing so in the not-too-distant future. Either way, it meant that Buffy had been bored out of her mind, walking around looking for people to save and finding no one.
Given that there was so little going on, there didn't even seem much point bringing anyone with her so she had even left Spike behind so that he could do some training with the Potentials, helping them get into the mindset of vampires.
Right now, all she wanted was a hot bath – of course, being that they were in the Initiative, she would have to settle for a slightly warm shower instead but beggars couldn't be choosers, could they?
The Slayer just about managed to suppress a groan as she saw Quentin Travers and an unfortunately-named Female Watcher called Gwendoline Post who now went by the name of Olivia (Olivia was the woman's middle name but given what had happened with the other Gwendoline, apparently she hadn't wished to remind anyone of THAT incident. Buffy thought that the decision just made the woman stranger than she already was but who was she to judge?) heading purposefully in her direction.
Buffy idly wondered if it was too late to just duck through the nearby door, pretending not to have seen them but a furtive glance to her side told her that the door in question led to a supplies cupboard so they would undoubtedly just follow her in anyway. Damnit.
Travers stopped as he stood in front of Buffy. "Ah good, you're back. Just in time. It seems that the young women are getting restless. Perhaps you can talk to them and calm them down."
Buffy blinked. "Me? You want me to calm them down?" Had the man gone mad?
Travers spared her his usual disapproving glance, looking down his nose at her. "Yes well, you wouldn't be my first choice either but they don't want to hear what either I or any of the Watchers have to say – we're not good enough apparently. They don't want to listen to Faith or your witches either – only you."
eieio
Buffy stood at the front of the meeting room and looked around at the different Potentials and Watchers who littered the massive room. She didn't know all their names this time around but she knew around half of them – so far. She at least recognised the faces of each of the girls and had spent time training with each of them. So that was definite progress.
She sighed as the room fell silent suddenly, all eyes fixed on her. "Hey guys… uh…" How did she address the Head Watcher? Wasn't Travers just a bit rude? She shrugged and fudged it. She gestured with a nod in the old man's direction. "I'm told you had a few questions for me?"
Buffy had expected it to be chaos but apparently they were on their best behaviour – not just asking questions one at a time but raising their hands to do so. Wow, she felt like a teacher. That was actually kinda creepy. She pointed to a green haired woman whose name eluded her. "Yes?"
"Hi Buffy. I'm Chloe."
Buffy nodded in recognition. "Right. Sorry. What's your question, Chloe?"
Chloe scratched her head for a moment as she worked out how to put her question. "I was just wondering… I know that we're in a lot of danger and all, and being trained up for whatever this big evil that devours us from beneath or whatever is but, do we get any time off?"
From the murmurings that had started up around them, Buffy had to assume a lot of them had been thinking the same thing. "Time to relax, I'm sure we can arrange something. If you mean, will you get time to go and visit your families and suchlike, no. Sorry. Not even sure how we would arrange that because you'd have to go in big groups of thirty or so to ensure that you were safe." She frowned and looked at Quentin who merely shrugged, had no better answer apparently. "Anyway, given that things are falling silent – in relation to vampire and demon attacks, I have to assume that the First is preparing to make his move."
Buffy couldn't really think of anything else to add to that so fell silent. Chloe, whilst not looking thrilled, seemed content with the answer. After a moment, Buffy looked around. "Uh… Jane, right?"
Jane (an almost ridiculously tall blonde - in Buffy's opinion, at least. How could anyone need to be that tall?) nodded. Her Texan accent made Buffy smile for whatever reason. "If we can't see our family again, can we at least leave this building to call them? I doubt you want us all running up a bill on your cell and a lot of ours don't have reception in here."
Buffy smiled. "No need. I called in a couple of favours today with the former residents and they're going to be switching the power back on again for us. The telephone systems should be back up and running again by tomorrow morning." Well, probably within the next few hours but they would DEFINITELY be ready by morning.
Jane tilted her head to the side. "Wasn't this place run by the government? Can I ask what the other favour was, Ma'am?"
Buffy paled a little. "Ma'am? I'm not old enough to be a Ma'am just yet." She looked over at Willow. "Do I look old enough?" She relaxed a little as Willow shook her head reassuringly.
Moving to stand beside her, Giles coughed discreetly to bring her back to the now. "Oh. Right. Sorry." She frowned as she tried to remember the question. "Oh right. Just… a favour about stuff around here, Jane! Nothing major." She looked around for Spike. Right. (Nothing major. Just asking them to remove the Chip. It'd better damn well go right this time too!)
A red-haired girl even shorter than Buffy and with an obscure accent that might be English but very different to Giles' stood at the front and raised her hand – good job that she was standing a little apart from the rest or she would have gotten lost in the sea of bodies. "What's to say that we won't all die like Kennedy?"
Buffy sagged a little. "Kennedy's death was cruel and unfair and well before her time. Unfortunately, that's the way it is for Slayers. I can't guarantee you that you won't die. I have already died twice after all! All we can do is train you up, give you every possible tool at our disposal and hope that when the time comes, you will make it through. Both Faith and I will do what we can to keep you alive – and the Watchers, Willow, Tara and other witches here of course."
Off to the side, Dawn pouted. Why didn't she get a personal mention? She played her part here too, after all. She might only be a researcher but she was a damned fine researcher! She sighed and shook her head. (Get over it already)
A young redheaded woman with a strong Irish accent in front spoke up: "But we're not Slayers, Buffy – we didn't choose this... we weren't even chosen!"
Buffy nodded solemnly. "That's true Alicia. You didn't. Then again, no Slayer has ever chosen this life either. In the great scheme of things, it seems to be all entirely random. Sometimes even a Potential who would have made a great Slayer is passed over or becomes just a little too old to be Chosen as the Slayer before her, despite all odds, survives just that little bit too long." She frowned as her thoughts came back to Kennedy once more – and to Faith, the only Slayer whose death could actually activate another.
She never thought there would be such a bittersweet moment – if Faith were dead, perhaps Kennedy would still be alive. She could have been activated as the next Slayer, after all! A shiver went through her however, at the thought that Faith would actually have had to be dead for that to happen. No, she didn't want to do this alone. None of the other Slayers – when they became – could understand what the two older women had both been through already.
Pushing the thought aside, and forcing herself to deal with the current situation, her gaze shifted over the group in front of her. "My life was pretty good, before I was Called. I was ridiculously popular and I was a cheerleader." She smiled a little as she noted the look on some of the girl's faces. "Yeah, I'm sure you all had a 'Buffy' in your school so you know how it goes." She shrugged. "I was happy. Even dating the star Quarterback too... then it all went wrong!"
The blonde smiled a little as memories washed over her. "My first Watcher arrived, told me about vampires and demons and about how it was my duty, as the only Slayer in the world, to kill them all." She snorted. "That was a bundle of laughs. Took me forever to actually be able to get a stake through a vampire's heart for the first time. Still, it wasn't too bad – being the Slayer meant I had an advantage over the creatures of the night. Being a cheerleader had also kept me fit so I was doing okay... but everything quickly turned rotten. It ended with Merrick's death and the burning down of the gym. My parents even dumped me into an asylum for a couple of weeks because they couldn't believe in vampires. They split up - I still think it was my fault, Mum moved us to Sunnydale..."
Spike moved up behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back from dark thoughts. "Right. Sorry... anyway, we came here and I tried to be normal. That worked. For about half a day! Not even half a day, actually – then Giles found me." She smiled at the man standing off to her side then shrugged slightly.
"Since then, I've fought Vampires and Master Vampires, Demons, Souled vampires who lost their souls and went evil, evil experiments by the Government, fear demons, a Hellgod, an evil group of three former classmates who decided that the world would be better off without me and even one of my friends when things went South." She looked over at Willow who smiled wryly.
The Slayer sighed and shook her head. "Those are just a few highlights - it's hard. It's always hard. That's just the way it is. Is it worth it? Of course it is! I get to keep people safe, I've had wonderful people come into my life too." Her gaze wandered over the members of the Scooby Gang that she could see and she smiled brightly.
"Sure, sometimes I would love a normal life but if I was to be offered it tomorrow, I'd turn it down flat. You'll understand someday."
Alicia interrupted Buffy's musings: "But we won't, Buffy. That's the point. Not to go all Highlander on you or anything but, there can be only one, remember?" Buffy smiled a little as she heard Andrew whimper something about a 'perfect woman'. She ignored him. "Or in your case, two I guess... but still, even if Faith were to die tomorrow – though touch wood, she doesn't... that would only call one of us. Then unless the person called that very day, we'd all be pretty much too old to be called… and there'd still only be that one and you. Because that's the way it is, right?"
Buffy considered. "Honestly, I'm not even talking about being a Slayer. I'm talking about being human – and about the fact that while you're not as strong as a Slayer, you're still all stronger than a regular human. You can make a difference and help."
Buffy sighed softly as she realised how far this conversation had veered off course – she wasn't giving a speech, she was giving a pep talk. Ugh!
Her sigh turned into a groan however when a voice spoke up then, wishing to pull her to task – as usual.
"How exactly do you and Faith plan to keep us all alive, Buffy? You're really not as good as you think you are and I know for a fact that the First isn't quaking in its boots at the thought of you two and the woeful little group you've built up."
As she searched for the speaker in the crowd, Buffy frowned at the last part of the sentence but answered anyway. "Like I said - we can't possibly keep you all safe. I wish we could but that's impossible. That's the reason that we've spent so long training you all, teaching you basic magic too. We're giving you every tool we can to fight and live for as long as you possibly ca…" Her voice trailed off as it finally registered just who was talking.
Her gaze finally settled on Kennedy, right in the middle of the group. "You don't belong here. Certainly not in that body! Get out!"
Kennedy chuckled. "Aw, what's wrong Buff? You don't like me pointing out the obvious, huh? Don't like me pointing out that you're doomed even before you begin to try and fight back? It's really all rather pathetic, don'tcha think? I don't even know why you even pretend that you can fight back never mind actually win." Her grin widened. "It's laughable really – to think that you can defeat me!
Buffy growled. "Get out!"
Kennedy's only response was to laugh again. "What are you going to do to me Buffy, huh? Can't touch me – I'm not corporeal. There's nothing you can do to hurt me... but there's plenty that I can do to hurt you!" She looked around at the assembled group. "You know, I'm going to really enjoy each one of your deaths." Her gaze turned to Willow. "Yours will certainly be fun, I think, Red. Definitely yours!" Her eyes narrowed.
Buffy's hands clenched into fists at her side. Her instincts screamed at her to pummel the opponent but she couldn't. She forced herself to relax though as its malevolent gaze returned to her. "I will enjoy your final death most of all though – third time's the charm, right?" She had the audacity to wink at Buffy then.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Is that really the best you've got? That you'll get to see me die for a third time? That's kind of a given if you're eternal as you claim, isn't it? Of course you will get to see my death – but it won't ever be at your hand, will it? Being nothing but hot air, after all…"
Kennedy looked angry then, glared. "You'll be laughing out of the other side of your face when Caleb gets here!"
Buffy sighed. "Just leave already." Fortunately, the First listened and departed just as quickly as it had first materialised.
eieio
It had taken an hour to calm everyone down after that.
Buffy would have to be a lot denser than she had been last time around to not realise that the Potentials – and everyone else – were more than a little demoralised after the death of Kennedy followed so quickly by the First's appearance.
She had briefly entertained the notion of giving a calming speech but that was being silly. Anyway, she couldn't face another long drawn-out speech that wouldn't change a thing at the end of the day.
While Buffy and Faith lived they were 'safe'! They would be the last to die, as the First had chosen to remove every last Potential before dealing with them. She frowned and looked around at the Scooby Gang as they sat together in the main office. "I've been thinking – if the First's aim is to wipe out the Potentials, Faith and then me, it must be something… do you think it's possible that there's a Prophecy just laying around somewhere stating that the Slayer – or her line – will wipe it out?"
That seemed to intrigue Dawn, Giles and Willow at least. It was Giles who spoke up first. "I haven't heard of anything but that doesn't mean that there isn't. It would certainly explain its behaviour if you're right." He pulled his glasses off and gave them a quick clean. "Is it something you think we should try and find?"
Buffy considered it for a moment then shook her head. "Not really any point. It's more an observation really – seems to be consider us a threat."
As one, the group looked up as Faith came into the room. The blonde smiled at the other Slayer. "Glad to see you up and about again. You okay?"
Faith smiled faintly. "Five by five, B. Hear I missed a party." She grimaced a little as she sat down in a nearby vacant chair, ribs protesting just a little.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yup, First showed up to make its presence felt, dressed as Kennedy."
Faith's expression darkened. "Bastard."
Xander sighed. "I think we're all in agreement with you on that."
Buffy sagged a little as she looked around the group – they all looked so defeated. Probably just as defeated as she felt. And she'd seen that they could win this – WOULD win this! She pondered on what to do for a moment then looked at Giles. It was time to take a leaf out of Faith's book. "Giles, can you get Travers to come in here."
Giles looked rather taken aback and no wonder – Buffy spending time willingly with the Watcher was unheard of. He did what she asked though, pulled out his walkie-talkie that at present allowed communication around the building. Travers showed up in ten minutes.
eieio
Quentin Travers wasn't exactly thrilled at being summoned by the Slayer as if he was her servant but what choice did he have but to show up? She might take umbrage and throw him out and the First had shown no problem with killing them all to remove a threat. Best to stay on the Slayer's good side.
He did his best to look pleasant as Buffy laid out her plan – for the Slayers to take a couple of days off and apparently go party! That really was in bad taste though. "Miss Summers, I hardly think that now is the time to be taking it easy – if Patrol has gotten quiet, that means the evil doers are on the run and that means…"
"…that it is the perfect time to take a breather!" Buffy quickly cut across him, eyeing him fiercely to cut off any further objections. The older man was the first to look away.
Of course Travers didn't like it. It would leave the girls vulnerable and what about the Watchers and their work, restoring as much of the Library as they could remember? What about him?
Sensing that she had won this time, Buffy relaxed in her posture and tone. "Look, I'm not suggesting that they should leave town or get drunk or anything daft – just that for a couple of days, we all relax. Maybe even go out to the Bronze …that is nearly completely deserted… to do something normal as a group. At the end of the day, Quentin, they're young women who are going to, at the very least, risk their lives to save the world. I think we can afford to let them have a couple of days to relax beforehand, don't you?"
Travers knew when he was defeated. "You make a good point, Buffy. However, I must insist that not everyone goes to the Bronze – perhaps half one day, half the other," he paused, "and no alcohol. They need to keep their wits about them."
Buffy looked around the group and shrugged. "Seems fair." It was no more than she had been thinking herself, after all. "One Slayer will go to the Bronze, one will stay here." She looked at Faith. "You could do with a night of dancing first, by the looks of it."
Faith grinned. "Oh hell yeah!"