Chapter 3
[McDonalds, London]
Wesley brought over the tray of food.
"That's one quarter pounder with cheese. One milk. And the coffee for me. We could have chosen a better place to eat ..."
Amy glugged the milk. "Hey, it's my mission. So, what's our first step?"
Wesley shook his head. After several hours in line, and Amy's incessant chattering, he had a bit of a headache. "I know of a coffee/magic shop in the East End. Basically a public library of all things supernatural. It's not exactly the Watcher's Council archives, but it's a start."
Amy clapped in celebration. "Goodie! When can we go!" She bit into her burger. "It needs more cheese."
"Hold on a second," Wesley interrupted. "This shop is in a rough part of town. Just follow my lead. Their policy is 'no questions asked' – so don't volunteer any more information than is needed."
He stirred in some sugar and was about to pour in the last cream. Amy squirmed. "Could I have that last cream? Ever since I left the rodent species, I've been having these insane dairy cravings!" Wesley handed over the last cream, which she slurped quickly.
"Okay, Wesley, let's go, no time to waste! We don't have, like, forever. The Slayer's counting on us. Actually, can we swing by the market first? I have a hankering for cheddar right about now."
Wesley sighed. I think Rupert Giles is more suited to this sort of project. What's he up to these days?
[Watcher's Council, Scottish castle]
Roland paced around the hall. He saw Giles down the hall – still in the ceremonial red tunic.
"Awfully formal, don't you think, Rupert?" Roland shook his hand.
"Duty called. I was part of the procession to Westminster Hall. At least I was able to catch a flight with the RAF. Why the urgency?"
"The chairman's done it," Roland groaned. "Trying to drag the Watcher's Council into the political affairs of the country!"
Giles laughed. He heard all of this before. "What – he wants to donate money to the Tories again?! I wouldn't be too concerned."
"It's serious this time! He's pulling out all the stops. There's even talk of starting a brand new party from scratch to challenge Blair's Labour."
No, Giles thought, he's finally going to do it. The council would be divided between the so-called 'traditionalists' who prefer things the way they are – and are content to leave the Queen alone. Then there's the chairman's group of radicals, who want the Council to meddle in worldly affairs – starting with this nutty scheme to make Britain a republic.
Well, it would be nutty, except the Watcher's Council had a financial reserve worth billions of pounds. And tremendous knowledge of the supernatural. If anyone could turn this republican fantasy into reality, it's the Watcher's Council.
"He's got a dozen Watchers on his side. What are we going to do?"
Giles looked out the window, over the green highlands. "We're going to put a stop to this. It's utter nonsense. Watchers are supposed to be guardians of the spiritual realm, not plotters and schemers bent on power! We stop this. Call the others. We've got to be ready."
After Giles and Roland left, a lone raven soared off the ramparts. He just learned some interesting things from Mr. Giles.
[Sunnydale, CA]
Buffy walked into Willow's room. "What's the latest on our girl in London?"
Willow clicked her mouse. "Look. We have mail! She found an Internet cafe near the hotel." Buffy looked over her shoulder and read aloud: "... a bit cold here ... bought a brick of cheddar ... Wesley's helping ... "
"With Wesley's brain-smarts, Amy should find out tons about Spike in no time!" Willow exclaimed.
Buffy nodded. I would have preferred that Wesley wasn't involved. He's too close to Angel. Still, two heads are better than one. Especially one as cheese-obsessed as Amy Madison.
"Buffy," Willow mumbled as Buffy left the room, "I'm sorry. About Dawn."
"I know," Buffy said. I'm going to send Dawn away on a trip, if – I mean, when – I finally make that decision. No need to get her involved. If Spike is to die, it will be by my hand. Mine alone.
She left the house for a night of patrols.
[McDonalds, London]
Wesley brought over the tray of food.
"That's one quarter pounder with cheese. One milk. And the coffee for me. We could have chosen a better place to eat ..."
Amy glugged the milk. "Hey, it's my mission. So, what's our first step?"
Wesley shook his head. After several hours in line, and Amy's incessant chattering, he had a bit of a headache. "I know of a coffee/magic shop in the East End. Basically a public library of all things supernatural. It's not exactly the Watcher's Council archives, but it's a start."
Amy clapped in celebration. "Goodie! When can we go!" She bit into her burger. "It needs more cheese."
"Hold on a second," Wesley interrupted. "This shop is in a rough part of town. Just follow my lead. Their policy is 'no questions asked' – so don't volunteer any more information than is needed."
He stirred in some sugar and was about to pour in the last cream. Amy squirmed. "Could I have that last cream? Ever since I left the rodent species, I've been having these insane dairy cravings!" Wesley handed over the last cream, which she slurped quickly.
"Okay, Wesley, let's go, no time to waste! We don't have, like, forever. The Slayer's counting on us. Actually, can we swing by the market first? I have a hankering for cheddar right about now."
Wesley sighed. I think Rupert Giles is more suited to this sort of project. What's he up to these days?
[Watcher's Council, Scottish castle]
Roland paced around the hall. He saw Giles down the hall – still in the ceremonial red tunic.
"Awfully formal, don't you think, Rupert?" Roland shook his hand.
"Duty called. I was part of the procession to Westminster Hall. At least I was able to catch a flight with the RAF. Why the urgency?"
"The chairman's done it," Roland groaned. "Trying to drag the Watcher's Council into the political affairs of the country!"
Giles laughed. He heard all of this before. "What – he wants to donate money to the Tories again?! I wouldn't be too concerned."
"It's serious this time! He's pulling out all the stops. There's even talk of starting a brand new party from scratch to challenge Blair's Labour."
No, Giles thought, he's finally going to do it. The council would be divided between the so-called 'traditionalists' who prefer things the way they are – and are content to leave the Queen alone. Then there's the chairman's group of radicals, who want the Council to meddle in worldly affairs – starting with this nutty scheme to make Britain a republic.
Well, it would be nutty, except the Watcher's Council had a financial reserve worth billions of pounds. And tremendous knowledge of the supernatural. If anyone could turn this republican fantasy into reality, it's the Watcher's Council.
"He's got a dozen Watchers on his side. What are we going to do?"
Giles looked out the window, over the green highlands. "We're going to put a stop to this. It's utter nonsense. Watchers are supposed to be guardians of the spiritual realm, not plotters and schemers bent on power! We stop this. Call the others. We've got to be ready."
After Giles and Roland left, a lone raven soared off the ramparts. He just learned some interesting things from Mr. Giles.
[Sunnydale, CA]
Buffy walked into Willow's room. "What's the latest on our girl in London?"
Willow clicked her mouse. "Look. We have mail! She found an Internet cafe near the hotel." Buffy looked over her shoulder and read aloud: "... a bit cold here ... bought a brick of cheddar ... Wesley's helping ... "
"With Wesley's brain-smarts, Amy should find out tons about Spike in no time!" Willow exclaimed.
Buffy nodded. I would have preferred that Wesley wasn't involved. He's too close to Angel. Still, two heads are better than one. Especially one as cheese-obsessed as Amy Madison.
"Buffy," Willow mumbled as Buffy left the room, "I'm sorry. About Dawn."
"I know," Buffy said. I'm going to send Dawn away on a trip, if – I mean, when – I finally make that decision. No need to get her involved. If Spike is to die, it will be by my hand. Mine alone.
She left the house for a night of patrols.