Disclaimer: See chapter 1 (Spoiler, I own nothing in this story)
Tuesday, May 30th, Summers Residence, Sunnydale, California, USA
Xander woke up feeling more refreshed and at the same time more tired than he had ever felt before. The sun was streaming through the east windows of the living room, and he noticed he had fallen asleep with Faith on the couch. Someone, probably Joyce, had placed a blanket on the two of them at some point, ensuring that they would stay warm throughout the night. He glanced down at the geometric diamond in his hand, which he now knew the purpose of and its history.
He was not expecting to have his first session of training with his mother last night, but he guessed Faith or Joyce had placed it in his hands when he fell asleep. It was a strange experience having the holocron inside his dream. He could sense the magic and potential that it held, just outside his senses.
In his dreamscape, he was wandering through a strange building when he arrived at what appeared to be an electronic library. There in the center of the rotunda filled with bookshelves was the same timeless figure of his mother, the same that appeared above the Holocron when he first held it. Hesitantly, they approached each other, and then she embraced him. It was a bit awkward at first, but he soon gave in to the flood of love he felt from her, and embraced his mother back.
They shortly sat down and talked for what seemed like hours. Satele talked about her life growing up, the war she fought, this Holocron, and her life before coming to this planet. She answered questions about traveling the stars and spaceships and learning about the Force. It was a tale that left him enraptured and more than a little envious. Then, it was his turn.
He talked about his life so far, high school, the hellmouth, the war against the Demonic and the various forces of Evil he was currently fighting, and everything he found out about after the death of the mayor. Satele listened with respectful silence as her son related the events of his life. But as he spoke he couldn't help but notice the corners of her mouth slowly morph into a smile that grew ever brighter as time went on. They talked for what seemed like days, answering questions the other had and opening up about how they each felt. She pushed the questions Xander had about her life in England away, saying she would explain it more another day. Xander suspected that even for an artificial intelligence, dealing with a lost husband was too painful.
"So, Satele…Mom. I've never opened up like this to anyone. I have little reason to trust you with even half of my secrets, but I have been spilling them ever since I got here. What's up with that?" Xander asked casually. He knew the question wouldn't offend her, and he was curious why he wasn't more cautious.
"That is an effect of projecting into the Holocron. This artifact has a concentration of Force energy, like a wellspring. The Force permeates everything, and allows those of us who are sensitive to its power an innate empathic ability to detect and recognize truth. Being in this place gives you an unfocused concentration of the Force, which makes it easier to train you in using it. What you consider your 'odd behavior' is a reflection of that. Because instinctively you can feel when I'm telling you the truth...and the Force is telling you that you can trust me. " Satele explained. It made sense, which Xander supposed was confirmation of what she was saying.
"OK, so now what?" He figured they had been talking long enough, somehow knowing was time to wake up soon.
"I have to introduce you to someone. He will aid in your training at a later point, a much later point. He was the one to craft this holocron, but you will learn more about him soon enough. Revan, want to come out to say hello?" Her invitation had a sarcastic tone to it, the same one Xander had heard between Willow, Jessie, and himself, the tone used only for close family. Evidently being stuck in an artificial Force world for decades will bring people together.
A dark cloud gathered a dozen yards away, seemingly devouring the light around it. Some lightning flashed, and a hooded figure strode out of the shadow. His cloak was the color of tar, while his armored chest plate was a mix of red and gold and his face was covered by a metal mask. Narrow around the chin and having a slot for the eyes, the figure spoke with a voice that filled Xander with dread.
"I am Darth Revan, Dark Lord of the Sith. Those who use the Dark Side are also bound to serve it. To understand this is to understand the underlying philosophy of the Sith. The dark side of the Force…"
"Oh do come off it Great-Grandfather, you're making a bad impression on my son." Satele's interrupting rebuke broke the entrancing spell over Xander. In an instant, the dark cloud, lighting, and menace evaporated. Revan took off the mask with an annoyed flourish and a trade mark lopsided grin that was eerily similar to Xander's own.
"Aww, a terrible shame that. I was having some fun with the boy. I had my whole speech prepared, it would have been epic. Now the whole mood is ruined," Revan sighed melodramatically. The contrast between the two personalities caused Xander to chuckle a little.
"Xander, this is mine and your ancestor, Revan. His history is...unique, but he has much that he can and will teach you about the Force, especially how to keep your soul when confronted with the Dark Side. Revan, meet my son, Xander."
Revan's demeanor changed in a flash. The Jovial attitude disappearing to be replaced by something far more somber and grim. He took several long moments to inspect Xander with eyes that seemed to peer into his soul. Much to the younger man's discomfort.
"The Force is strong with you young one. I have not felt such strength in a long time. Even your mother did not resonate with such strength even at her height."
He shared a brief glance with Satale who had been hanging back but with a clearly worried look on her face.
Then Revan's grin returned and he extended his hand to Xander. "But it matters not. You are of my blood and the Force comes naturally to us. Under your mothers tutelage, it won't be long before you become something truly formidable."
The two males shook hands in the dreamscape, and Xander could see a little of himself in his progenitor. Some in the face, and others in the personality and smirk.
"Xander, for some reason your mother doesn't want me to 'corrupt' you with my ways. In my early life I would have protested, but I know things and have done things that a padawan should never know or do. Because of this, I will concede to not training you until your mother grants approval. Besides, I got to practice my whole speech to your friend Faith."
The look on Satele's face turned murderous and Revan blanched a bit.
"Look, do not be alarmed. I felt a presence and I started my speech. Even when I realized it wasn't your son, I figured I could at least practice giving it, and so I continued. Afterwards, she decided to try and…what was the term she used? Slay me? Yes...that was it. She decided to slay me for being a, and I quote, '80s cliché dork lord reject' and then attacked with the ferocity of an angry mother Nexu. It took some convincing to calm her down and we reconciled, and then we got to talking. The Force told me to help her, so we worked through some of her issues with her new responsibilities as Mayor. I didn't teach her anything she didn't already know, just helped her believe it. So I may have given a little bit advice, after all I was plugged into the Sith Emperor for a while, I did pick up some tricks on being in charge, but nothing Dark, I swear." If it wasn't for the Truthiness Field, as Xander began to call it in his head, Revan might have been pummeled by his upset mother. As it was, she was merely irate at Revan, but she nodded in acceptance of his excuse.
"Anyway, I got to get going. I will be seeing you soon, my Descendant." With that, Revan, Prodigal Jedi Knight and Dark Lord of the Sith, ran away not unlike a child fleeing from a swarm of wasps. Satele simply shook her head in frustration.
"I have one more thing to teach to you tonight, the first Jedi exercise that you must master. It is a meditation technique that allows you to touch and become one with the Force...
His mother had taught him how to meditate, but he would have to practice almost all day. Shifting slightly, he noticed that Faith was also starting to wake. It looks like they had some things to talk about before the others woke up, namely her meeting his ancestor from many generations ago. Too late, he heard the thundering of hooves as Buffy and Willow came storming down the stairs. Luckily he could also smell coffee, so at least he would have that before their interrogation began.
Wednesday, May 31st, Azkaban Prison Mail Receiving Zone, 11:45 AM
Francine considered herself lucky. For 55 years, she had been sorting mail, first for the Daily Prophet and then for the Ministry of Magic. It was long hours, checking for all sorts of things on thousands of letters and howlers. The strain was getting to her, and she barely had time to see her grandchildren. Then, she was transferred to Azkaban and her first thought was that she was being punished. Turns out, it was a promotion, of sorts. Now, she only dealt with a dozen letter every week. Sure, she had to triple check every letter, but with so few letters she rarely spent more than an hour or two on the island, well away from the actual prison and dementors.
Today was no different from the previous thousand days she had been here. Throwing her jacket on her coat rack, she walked into her office. It wasn't large, but it was hers and she enjoyed the personal touches that she was allowed to have. She set the tea on to boil and looked at the incoming mail box, sizing up the number of letters she had to go through today. Luckily it was only 3 or 4 envelopes thick. She busied herself while waiting for the tea, watering her plants and dusting away the cobwebs that would never appear because of her diligence. Once her cup was prepared, she turned to the letters.
She started with the standard seven detection spells that every mailed letter goes through: Curses, Potions, Poisons, Enchantments, Transfigurations, Teleportation, and Charms. Once that was finished, there were up to 32 other spells that she could do if she thought it necessary. Since she had plenty of time and it was, after all, prison mail, she did the full sweep just to make sure. One did have a privacy charm, which she dispelled with a flick of her practiced wrist since by law prisoners had no privacy.
Once that was finished, Francine started to open, read, and note what was being said, plus checking any additional attachments, for each of the letters in her box. Warner Nettles, three weeks into a two month sentence for selling magical items to muggles, received a fan letter, sixth one so far. He was the popular one with the ladies. Gretel Hornby, day five in a three week sentence for breeding Lobalugs without a permit, received an update from her family about the Lobalugs and a job offer with a potions company. It seems prison would be profitable for Gretel, with an offer like that.
The last letter was a bit odd for two reasons. First, it was addressed to Bellatrix Lestrange, who had never received any mail in all her time here. It was rare for any of the Maximum Security prisoners to get anything, maybe once every other month. Second, it was from Gringotts. She had twelve other identification spells to do on this letter, half to verify that it was actually from Gringotts, and the other half to make sure it was safe to go to the Maximum Security section, both of which the letter passed. The few Gringotts letters she has reviewed here had always met every stringent requirement, but it never hurt to double check. Carefully, Francine opened the extremely official letter.
It seemed straightforward enough. There was a change in status to the House of Black, of which Bellatrix still belonged per the marriage contract since she never had any children. There would be a reading of a will, which she would not be required to attend, but had to be informed of. She was also required to meet with the Head of the Black family within one year. Surprisingly, the Head could require the meeting to take place in neutral territory, goblin code for Gringotts bank, which the Ministry could not deny without inciting another rebellion or war. That would be a headache for the aurors, transporting Bellatrix to the bank and back. Hopefully the Ministry could negotiate to avoid that. She made sure to make the notation in the ledger, for her superiors to look through after they finish their rounds. The rest of the letter contained the usual formalities of all Gringotts letters.
While she waited for her escort to get to her office so they could deliver the letters to the prisoners, Francine wondered what the status change was. She wondered if it had anything to do with Sirius Black, for whom she got mail the first year or so she was stationed here. He had seemed polite enough when she delivered the few letters he got, but he didn't get into the maximum security ward because he liked to feed puppies and cuddle kittens.