Title: Xander Harris: Year One
Author: Randall Stone
Disclaimer: All characters are belong to someone else.
Summary: Some are born to destiny. Others make their own.
Notes:
Spoilers: S1-4
Continuity changes: Hopefully everything will be explained in the
text. One note- Veruca tragically stepped in front of a bus the
day before she was going to be turned into a werewolf, so Oz will
be hanging around.
Rating: PG-14- nothing worse than what's on the show.
*****
Oxnard, California: September '99
Xander blocked the punch aimed at his head, then used his
attacker's momentum to draw the man into a leg sweep. As the man
fell to the ground, he sensed another approaching from behind, and
instinctively ducked under a roundhouse kick as he turned around.
Standing up, Xander was able to catch the man in the kidneys with a
jab, and then drop an elbow on the back of his neck.
After the second attacker had collapsed to the ground, Xander
turned to face the first, who had gotten to his feet and now
approached cautiously. They circled each other slowly, exchanging
quick jabs and probing each others defenses. Xander finally sensed
a weakness and moved in with a left right combination, following up
with a knee to the gut. As the man staggered backwards, Xander
wound up and nailed him with a brutal ax kick with his left foot,
dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Observing that both men were now safely out of the fight, Xander
turned and bowed to his sensei, Master Li.
"Very impressive, Alexander. I must admit that I thought your
hopes were unrealistic when you first arrived here. But you have
progressed quickly, and you have now passed all tests required to
attain brown belt status in Shotokan Karate. Congratulations."
Xander kept his head bowed and his face impassive despite the
strong sense of accomplishment that he felt. He knew that sensei
wondered what had driven him to spend almost every waking minute
this summer in either the dojo or the gym. He also knew that
sensei would respect his wish for privacy.
Xander had seen the evil that lurked in the shadows. He had seen
it destroy his friends and his friends' families. He had seen
others fight the evil while he stood and watched.
Graduation from high school is a milestone in a person's life. It
is the time when a boy grows to become a man. Xander knew that
when his car broke down in front of the small martial arts studio,
it was a sign that it was time to get serious about his life, and
his fight.
He had his reasons for pushing himself hard this summer- and the
fact that his tips at the club went up as he spent time in the gym
was just a nice bonus.
It was time to return to Sunnydale. He just hoped that he would be
ready.
* * *
Sunnydale, CA: One week later
Riley Finn smiled as he stepped off the plane at the Sunnydale
airport. It was a beautiful day, like so many in southern
California. The sun was shining and there was hardly a cloud in
the sky. His superior had been pretty secretive about his
assignment out here, but he figured it was a thinly disguised- and
well earned- vacation.
As he was heading to the baggage claim, Riley was approached by a
young black man who carried himself like a soldier.
"Finn? Lieutenant Riley Finn?"
"Yeah."
"Names Forrest. Sergeant Forrest Grant. Commander sent me to make
sure you don't miss your appointment.
"Sleepy looking town, isn't it Lieutenant? You'd be surprised at
what goes down here at night."
"I don't like surprises."
Forrest laughed, "I bet not, with your record. They showed me the
declassified bits. This surprise isn't so bad though- life's
pretty good when you're part of the Initiative. Miller'll fill you
in on the details in your debriefing."
- - -
Xander shook his head as he drove past the WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE
sign. "Home sweet hellmouth".
Xander navigated the streets to his parents' house, observing the
people as he drove. While most people in Sunnydale would scoff at
the idea of the supernatural their subconscious minds did not share
in their skepticism. The sun had just set, and the people walking
on the sidewalks kept their pace quick and their gazes fixed
straight ahead. Prey animals will do anything they can to avoid
attracting the attention of their predators.
And the predators were out in force tonight. Standing just outside
of the light cast by the streetlights, looking at the pedestrians
like they were all part of some big buffet.
There was nothing Xander could do about it tonight. He made a
mental note to himself to talk to Buffy about patrolling the
non-graveyard areas of Sunnydale.
Finally arriving home, he got out of his car and knocked on the
door. His dad answered, attired in his usual bath robe and
slippers, and holding a beer in his hand.
"Hey dad."
"Son."
Xander didn't wait for an invitation before entering the house.
Even his folks knew better than that.
"How's things."
"Fine. The goddamned Dodgers are choking away the pennant again."
His father gestured towards the TV.
"Sorry to hear that." Xander headed towards his room.
"Alex!"
"Yeah?"
"Your things- they're in the basement. And we'll be expecting you
to help out with the expenses around here. You're not a child any
more."
Xander just nodded and filed the information away as one more
chapter of his home life. Tomorrow he would start looking for an
apartment. Tonight he just wanted to take a shower and hit the Bronze.
*****
And so it begins...
- Randy
Author: Randall Stone
Disclaimer: All characters are belong to someone else.
Summary: Some are born to destiny. Others make their own.
Notes:
Spoilers: S1-4
Continuity changes: Hopefully everything will be explained in the
text. One note- Veruca tragically stepped in front of a bus the
day before she was going to be turned into a werewolf, so Oz will
be hanging around.
Rating: PG-14- nothing worse than what's on the show.
*****
Oxnard, California: September '99
Xander blocked the punch aimed at his head, then used his
attacker's momentum to draw the man into a leg sweep. As the man
fell to the ground, he sensed another approaching from behind, and
instinctively ducked under a roundhouse kick as he turned around.
Standing up, Xander was able to catch the man in the kidneys with a
jab, and then drop an elbow on the back of his neck.
After the second attacker had collapsed to the ground, Xander
turned to face the first, who had gotten to his feet and now
approached cautiously. They circled each other slowly, exchanging
quick jabs and probing each others defenses. Xander finally sensed
a weakness and moved in with a left right combination, following up
with a knee to the gut. As the man staggered backwards, Xander
wound up and nailed him with a brutal ax kick with his left foot,
dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Observing that both men were now safely out of the fight, Xander
turned and bowed to his sensei, Master Li.
"Very impressive, Alexander. I must admit that I thought your
hopes were unrealistic when you first arrived here. But you have
progressed quickly, and you have now passed all tests required to
attain brown belt status in Shotokan Karate. Congratulations."
Xander kept his head bowed and his face impassive despite the
strong sense of accomplishment that he felt. He knew that sensei
wondered what had driven him to spend almost every waking minute
this summer in either the dojo or the gym. He also knew that
sensei would respect his wish for privacy.
Xander had seen the evil that lurked in the shadows. He had seen
it destroy his friends and his friends' families. He had seen
others fight the evil while he stood and watched.
Graduation from high school is a milestone in a person's life. It
is the time when a boy grows to become a man. Xander knew that
when his car broke down in front of the small martial arts studio,
it was a sign that it was time to get serious about his life, and
his fight.
He had his reasons for pushing himself hard this summer- and the
fact that his tips at the club went up as he spent time in the gym
was just a nice bonus.
It was time to return to Sunnydale. He just hoped that he would be
ready.
* * *
Sunnydale, CA: One week later
Riley Finn smiled as he stepped off the plane at the Sunnydale
airport. It was a beautiful day, like so many in southern
California. The sun was shining and there was hardly a cloud in
the sky. His superior had been pretty secretive about his
assignment out here, but he figured it was a thinly disguised- and
well earned- vacation.
As he was heading to the baggage claim, Riley was approached by a
young black man who carried himself like a soldier.
"Finn? Lieutenant Riley Finn?"
"Yeah."
"Names Forrest. Sergeant Forrest Grant. Commander sent me to make
sure you don't miss your appointment.
"Sleepy looking town, isn't it Lieutenant? You'd be surprised at
what goes down here at night."
"I don't like surprises."
Forrest laughed, "I bet not, with your record. They showed me the
declassified bits. This surprise isn't so bad though- life's
pretty good when you're part of the Initiative. Miller'll fill you
in on the details in your debriefing."
- - -
Xander shook his head as he drove past the WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE
sign. "Home sweet hellmouth".
Xander navigated the streets to his parents' house, observing the
people as he drove. While most people in Sunnydale would scoff at
the idea of the supernatural their subconscious minds did not share
in their skepticism. The sun had just set, and the people walking
on the sidewalks kept their pace quick and their gazes fixed
straight ahead. Prey animals will do anything they can to avoid
attracting the attention of their predators.
And the predators were out in force tonight. Standing just outside
of the light cast by the streetlights, looking at the pedestrians
like they were all part of some big buffet.
There was nothing Xander could do about it tonight. He made a
mental note to himself to talk to Buffy about patrolling the
non-graveyard areas of Sunnydale.
Finally arriving home, he got out of his car and knocked on the
door. His dad answered, attired in his usual bath robe and
slippers, and holding a beer in his hand.
"Hey dad."
"Son."
Xander didn't wait for an invitation before entering the house.
Even his folks knew better than that.
"How's things."
"Fine. The goddamned Dodgers are choking away the pennant again."
His father gestured towards the TV.
"Sorry to hear that." Xander headed towards his room.
"Alex!"
"Yeah?"
"Your things- they're in the basement. And we'll be expecting you
to help out with the expenses around here. You're not a child any
more."
Xander just nodded and filed the information away as one more
chapter of his home life. Tomorrow he would start looking for an
apartment. Tonight he just wanted to take a shower and hit the Bronze.
*****
And so it begins...
- Randy
