Here's where things get a little hairy and then we're a chapter away from the GREAT BUFFY RETURNS scenario

Here's where things get a little hairy and then we're a chapter away from the GREAT BUFFY RETURNS scenario. Hope your Kentucky Fried Slayer is well done before its over.

Chapter 6: "Ma?…. What's cooking? (Or Cannibalism at its finest)"

Max felt his patience wear thin as they kept digging into the Watcher's many texts for clues in finding the remaining pieces. After a few hours more, he nearly gave in and called it a night until Giles found something of interest.

"See here," He showed them a passage in the book he held, indicating an artist's depiction of someone destroying the tablet with an ancient hammer. "According to this, the tablet was supposedly destroyed by the very same author or prophet that wrote it just after he received the visions the pertained to it. It was said that the visions themselves were so fantastic in nature that the prophet went mad right after writing it. Once his mind cleared, he broke it in three pieces renounced his faith."

"So what happened to him?" Willow asked after glancing at the book.

Giles rubbed his tired face and answered. "It seems he committed suicide the night after, ranting about wanting no part of it anymore."

"Must've been a real funny guy to have at parties." Faith half-joked, much to the dismay of those present. Xander just grinned.

"She's beginning to sound a bit like Buffy." Quaylen murmured in a sotto voice.

"Quaylen," Spike spoke up. "Just a thought about Xaranon. How strong is he?"

Max Quaylen replied in a voice that was nearly without inflection. "Stronger than Glorificus, my vampiric friend – a HELL of a lot stronger than any demigod you can ever imagine."

"And may God help us all." The Watcher rejoined. "Come, let's all call it a night and start fresh tomorrow."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meanwhile, Richard Todd had absolutely no idea of what he was doing. Yeah sure – he made it all sound simple to Spike. For one thing, it was easy to sound cool and confident so as not to make a complete jackass of oneself in front of someone else – and quite another - to become a gibbering mass of hysteria the moment out of company.

I'm just going to reintegrate her consciousness.

Sure.

I can do it.

"ONCE SOMEONE HANDS ME A DAMN INSTRUCTION MANUAL!!" He screamed in frustration at no one in particular.

If only he could that same thing he did when he saved his friend's life way back in the Grendel debacle. But then again, working on the dying was easier than working with someone who's been technically dead for over four months. Can anyone say "Mission: Impossible"? He could just imagine the blamed music blaring in the background as he contemplated this.

His friend's body was physically mangled and mentally tortured. And she was still alive when he got to her.

Buffy's mind and body were fried in attempting to close the multi-dimensional barrier. And she's been dead for over four months.

Even a two year old and anybody with the lowest IQ could tell the difference.

Then he had it! Why not get Buffy's essence and consciousness at the moment she jumped? It would be perfect! No muss, no fuss. Just a quick time jump and his problems were over. But it was dangerous; he'd have to do it in such a way that the natural flow of time wouldn't be too tangled. Plus the temptation to alter history would be too great – especially since he could do it. No, what's done is done – she would have to die again in the past, but live once more in the present.

Preparing himself for the time jump, he made sure her body would never be molested in any possible way until he got back.

The moment he entered the void between time and space, it seemed like clear sailing – but he wasn't prepared however, for the sight that greeted him there. At first, he thought he went too far and ended near the outskirts of another alternate universe – one that included comic book characters for real. He thought so because the being that greeted him at the crossroads sure as heck bore a resemblance to a certain X-Men of Marvel comics in his armor and white wings. Albeit without the blue skin the mutant had then come to.

"Cease and desist!" The figure demanded. "Turn back for you do not know the type of forces you have just begun toying with."

"Tell me about it." Richard answered, "But it can't be helped, I have to try for her sake and also for the world. She's still needed."

"Mayhap so." The figure continued, "But you will have to get past me first, Sirrah!"

With that, a flaming sword materialized beside the winged figure as its hands grasped the hilt and bore it forward. "Come then and let us see your determination."

Richard backpedaled in midair, barely dodging in time from the figure's lunge, yelling in surprise.

"Whoa!" Richard said in shock, "I don't want to be skewered by some comic book reject! What the hell are you doing?!"

The being's sword flared brighter, and the figure's eyes blazed in fury. "THEN DEFEND THYSELF!!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TBC

Is it me? - Or is it getting hotter in here? ;-)