Chapter 10: Checkpoint
January 23, 2001 – Tuesday
Summers Home
A little under two weeks had passed since Giles came back from England. This night he called the Scoobies to meet at the Summers home for a meeting.
"Thank you all for coming," he began when drink and snacks had been dealt out and everyone was sitting quietly around the living room. "I've had some rather, ... well, I've had some news. It seems that the Council of Watchers has found some information that may help us out."
"About Glory?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"Presumably," Giles replied. "We'll find that out when they arrive. Could be very important."
"Arrive?" Buffy echoed his word worriedly. "They're coming here? Now? Why do they have to come here?"
Dawn looked at her sister, she had heard the stories of the Watcher's Council, so she understood Buffy's worry that they were coming here.
"Yeah, don't they have phones?" Xander argued. "'Allo, Buffy, here's some stuff we know, pip pip," he added, affecting a very fake British accent.
"Yeah! Phones. See, I'd like them on phones," Buffy added.
"Well, what's so bad about them coming here?" Tara asked. "Aren't they good guys? I mean, Watchers, that's just like other Gileses, right?"
"From what Buffy has told me, no," Dawn answered.
"They, well, they can appear a bit well, uh, hard-nosed, but, uh, well, essentially, their agenda is the same as ours, they want to save the world and kill demons," Giles defended carefully.
"Kill the current demons, right?" Anya sought to confirm. "Current demons."
"Giles, I don't want them to come here," Buffy uttered softly. "I don't trust them. Make them not come here."
"They're probably already on their way," Giles informed her sadly. "Our old friend Quentin Travers is heading up the delegation."
"They put me through that test, and it almost killed me. Then, when I was Faith, they almost killed me again." Buffy remarked. "And with all the troubles the hellmouth has thrown at me and Dawn recently, honestly, I really can't handle almost being killed right now."
"I don't like the sound of this," Anya murmured. "They don't sound very ex-demon-compatible."
"Are you sure they're English?" Tara asked before looking at her girlfriend. "I thought English people were gentler than normal people."
"Maybe they won't be so bad this time," Willow offered. "I mean, Buffy, they did think you were Faith last time. Now that they know you're just you... maybe they won't care enough to kill you.
" It's not just that. They're going to screw everything up," Buffy replied. " Everything's kind of delicate right now. Then there's Dawn…"
"Yeah I don't want them to discover anything about me," Dawn agreed.
"And then there's Glory," Buffy finished. "I don't need the Council looking over my shoulder when I don't even know what Dawn and I are dealing with."
"Well, that's precisely why we need to talk to them," Giles reminded her. "If the Council knows something about Glory, her agenda or her origins, then maybe it will help us get a grip on what we're dealing with. Right now, I think we're a bit lost."
January 24, 2001 – Wednesday
The Magic Box
The Scoobies were at the Magic Box when the Watchers delegation they were waiting for arrived. Giles was engaged with a serious magic user over a certain purchase, when he was interrupted.
"Well, if you're serious about these matters, all right," he remarked to the customer as he handed her the book. "But you need to be very careful. Measure precisely, and, please don't step ahead."
"No, he's quite right," a voice said, and Giles looked up to see Travers along with six other watchers enter the shop.
Quentin Travers took one of the purchases from Giles and studied the leather-bound volume thoughtfully. "You wouldn't want to do anything dangerous. Turn the wrong person into a badger," he smiled and returned the book.
"Quentin," Giles greeted, "I didn't realize you were here."
"Well, evidently," Travers returned.
"Been a while," Giles continued. "I see you've, uh, brought some of our ... colleagues with you. Would you care to introduce us?"
"Well, first I thought we might catch up," Travers said pointedly.
Behind him, the watchers began exploring the store.
"Well, certainly," Giles agreed. "This is the shop, obviously. It's been an interesting transition into the retail world, but I think it's going rather well. I can give you the grand tour, if you'd like."
"No, that's all right," Travers replied, "I think I can see what you've been up to," he added disapprovingly.
Giles hesitated, slowly getting the message that Travers wasn't enthused about the shop. "Yes, well. I do limit my time here, of course. Buffy and I have been training a great deal these days," he added leaving out the fact that he had taken to training Dawn as well. "There's a back room that we've had fitted out…"
"Oh yes," Travers uttered. "I thought perhaps you were keeping that space for the really dangerous items that should be kept out of the public's hands. Or maybe you don't worry about that."
"I'm very careful," Giles added.
"Most of this stuff couldn't harm anyone," one of the male watchers remarked. "Incense, dime store trinkets ... but there are some things."
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Giles asked.
"There are some very potent elements here," one of the female watchers uttered, ignoring him. "Focusing crystals, runic artifacts, an amulet of Cauldis... Also, this statue. It's removal from Burma is a criminal offence and when triggered, it has the power to melt human eyeballs."
"In that case, I severely underpriced it," Giles remarked jokingly.
Travers looked at the ex-Watcher. "Giles...I'm sorry. This is just for the duration of our stay, but I think you see why..."
"What is just for the duration?" Giles asked.
The male watcher raised his voice. "Magic Box shoppers! We're going to have to ask you to leave. The store is, uh, closing early today."
"Terribly sorry for the inconvenience," uttered another as the customers scurried for the door leaving their unpurchased items behind.
"Hey! Giles, what are they doing?" Anya asked, concerned. "Customers! Please bring your money back."
Giles glared at Travers. "You knew you were going to do this before you even saw the place," he uttered.
"I'm sorry," Travers did not look in the least bit contrite. "It's just for the duration of the Council's review."
"Council?" Anya echoed. "You're the Council?" She dropped her annoyance. "Welcome to our store. We're closed now. I'll be in the back." She headed toward the door to the training room.
"What review, Quentin?" Giles queried, a pit of unease growing within his stomach. "Let's just stop a moment and talk about this."
Travers stopped Anya. "Miss, excuse me, you work here?"
"Yes, I do," Anya replied. "Ever since I moved here from south-eastern Indiana, where I was raised by both a mother and a father."
"You sell these... items? To whomever wishes to buy them?" Travers asked.
"No," Anya countered. "Only to people with money."
"Anya, just go," Giles advised Anya, who headed out of the room. "You don't have to talk to him." He looked back at Travers. "She works for me. Now tell me about this review. No one said anything to me about this."
"Let's sit down and talk about it over here," Travers directed.
They gathered around the large research table, Giles eyeing each one of the watchers. "You all stand around and look somber," he remarked to the others. "Good job," he added wryly when they obeyed.
"You used to respect us, Giles," Travers said. "You used to be one of us."
"You used to pay me," Giles replied. "If you recall, firing me was not my idea."
Travers smiled. "Touché." He sat down. "But you were on the inside once. You know what sort of resources we command. We've discovered information about this creature, your Glory. Some of it is clearly vital, the rest merely extremely disturbing. And it won't be handed over until we're convinced that you and your Slayer are prepared for it. Thus the review."
Giles put his hands on the table, his look about to match his soft, yet deadly, Ripper voice. "I'm not having you put her through another one of your insane tests."
"It's not a test," Travers replied. "It's a check of her methods. We need to know that this information is safe."
"You can trust her," Giles assured them. "Buffy's come very far recently. She's acquired a remarkable focus." Again, he didn't mention Dawn. He knew part of the reason for that focus was Dawn being a Power Ranger and fighting at Buffy's side.
U.C. Sunnydale
Buffy was applying some of that focus, to good use, in the history lecture.
"Now, Rasputin was associated with a certain obscure religious sect. They held the tenet that in order to be forgiven, one first had to sin. Rasputin embraced this doctrine and proceeded to sin impressively and repeatedly. The notion that he was in fact evil gained strength years later when the conspirators who set out to kill him found it nearly impossible to do so."
"Nearly impossible?" Buffy murmured.
The professor caught the sound. "I'm sorry, there's a question?" he sighed as the students all looked toward Buffy. "Miss Summers, of course."
"I, uh, about, you know, killing him," Buffy remarked. "You know, they, they poisoned him and, and they beat him and they shot him, and he didn't die."
The professor nodded. "Until they rolled his body in a carpet and drowned him in a canal," he added.
"But there are reported sightings of him as late as the 1930s, aren't there?" Buffy queried thoughtfully.
"I can assure you there is near consensus in the academic community regarding the death of Rasputin," the professor replied.
"There was also near consensus about Columbus, you know, until someone asked the Vikings what they were up to in the 1400s, and they're like, discovering this America-shaped continent," Buffy countered, much to the lecturer's annoyance. "I just ... I'm only saying, you know, it might be interesting, if we ... came at it from, you know, a different perspective, that's all."
"Well, I'm sorry if you find these facts so boring, Miss Summers." the professor replied. "Maybe you'd prefer I step aside, so that you can teach your own course. Speculation 101 perhaps? Intro to Flights of Fancy?"
Buffy scowled as the class laughed, deciding to ask Giles later. "I only meant-"
"What was it you were going on about last week? Mysterious sleeping patterns of the Prussian generals? Now, some of us are here to learn. Believe it or not, we're interested in finding out what actually happened. It's called studying history. You can sit down now. Unless you have something else to add, professor?"
Restfield Cemetery
"Young lady," Buffy said mocking her professor. "Miss Summers." She threw her vampire up against a backhoe as the White Zeo Ranger fought another next to her. "Take a bow, Miss Summers."
The White Zeo Ranger punched her vampire knocking him back against a crypt. "Buffy," she said. "I take it your teacher picked on you today?"
Buffy's vampire hit Buffy sending her staggering back.
"How could you tell?" Buffy snapped.
"White Zeo Power Stakes!" the Ranger called out as her Power Stakes was beamed into her hands. She shoved one into her vampire and he burst into flames before erupting into ash. She flipped the other stake in her hand and threw it. It shot right into the other vampire's heart and he too exploding into flames before erupting into ash.
"Dawn! Why did you do that?" Buffy said exasperated.
"Power Down!" the Ranger called out as she de-morphed into Dawn. "Because, Buffy. You've been complaining since we started patrolling. What happened?"
Buffy sighed. "You were right," she said. "I questioned my professor on a topic and he shot everything I said down. While I admit I don't know everything. I was asking some questions. Like about Rasputin being sighted after his supposed death and he's like the academic community believes conclusive of his death."
"That's the problem with history," Dawn said as she wrapped an arm around her sister. "It's written by the victors. It doesn't tell both sides. When it comes to teachers, they teach what was written ignoring the opposing view. Come on. Let's head over to the Magic Box and report to Giles, before we head home." She hit the teleport button on her wrist communicator and they disappeared in a beam of white light.
The Magic Box
Giles was finishing the tour of the training room, trying to muster some advantage over the Council delegation. "We've been developing sort of a, a hybrid fighting style ... let me outline her progress for you and I think you'll see that your review isn't strictly…" He was cut off as Buffy and Dawn appeared in a beam of white light.
"Oh, oh," Dawn said when she saw Giles, Travers and the other Watchers.
"What is going on?" Travers said looking straight at Giles.
"Well the cat is out of the bag I guess." She looked at her sister and Giles. "I might as well show them because they're not likely to stop asking till I do," Dawn said with a resigned sigh.
"It's up to you, Dawn," Giles said knowing she was right.
"He's right, Dawn," Buffy said with her own sigh of resignation. "But you are probably right."
Dawn reached around behind her back. "It's Morphin' Time!" she called out. "Zeo Ranger Six White!"
Travers and the rest of the Watchers watched as the morphing sequence transformed Dawn into the White Zeo Ranger.
"Hi," the White Zeo Ranger said. "Yes, I'm a Power Ranger, the White Zeo Ranger to be exact."
"And what is a Power Ranger doing here when there are threats to be dealt with in Angel Grove?" Travers asked as he glared at the Ranger.
"First, Power Down!" the Ranger said as she de-morphed. Dawn smiled a sickly-sweet smile. "Second, I'm Buffy's sister. I was chosen as a Ranger by Zordon while I lived with our father in Angel Grove. After living there through monster attack after monster attack our father decided to send me to live with our mom and Buffy. He didn't know I was a Ranger and doesn't know that Sunnydale is just as deadly as Angel Grove for different reasons. I handed my original powers to my successor. I was the original Pink Zeo Ranger. When Zordon learned of where I was moving to, he create a new set of powers expressly for me to use here."
"I see," Travers said. "And you use those powers to help your sister?"
"I do," Dawn replied.
Travers looked at Giles. "And you knew."
"I did," Giles replied. "I did omit things, I admit that. Buffy is not the only I have been training. When Dawn revealed herself to us, I took it upon myself to also train her. Since what we face here is different from what she faced in Angel Grove."
"Then the scope of our review has been expanded then," Travers stated, He looked back at Buffy and Dawn. "Giles was just telling us about your training regimen, which now apparently included you both. Perhaps you both will favor us with a demonstration while we're here."
Buffy and Dawn looked at each other. "You mean, like, right now?" Buffy frowned. "Because, Dawn and I already had our recommended daily dose of fights tonight."
"Did you then?" Giles asked as he smiled at them. "Very good! Very good. Tell us about it."
"I dusted both with my Power Stakes," Dawn replied with a shrug.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about doing anything for us tonight. No need to rush you both," Travers stated.
"They're staying a little longer than I'd anticipated," Giles informed the sisters.
"That said though I have a question for you Miss Summers," Travers said nodding towards Dawn. "You mention Power Stakes, I …"
"They're not made of wood," Dawn answered the unfinished question. "Zordon created weapons that when thrust into a vampire's heart will cause them to burst into flame before dusting."
"I see. Let us move on then. We've already laid out our project for Mr. Giles, which will now include you both." Travers turned to one of his delegation. "Nigel?"
"It's an exhaustive examination of both of your procedures and abilities," Nigel explained. "We'll observe your training, talk to your friends..."
"Talk to our friends?" Buffy queried.
"Yes, with the exception of your sister, we understand you're still taking civilians out on patrols," Travers added.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding," Buffy murmured with a glance at Dawn.
"He's not kidding," Nigel said. "He's a very serious man."
"Sorry," Dawn said as she glared at Nigel. "Who are you?"
"They're a little tight-lipped with the introductions," Giles admitted.
"Miss Summers…Dawn. I can sense yours and your sister's resistance, and I don't blame either of you," Travers said. "But I think your Watcher hasn't reminded either of you lately of the resolute status of the players in our little game. The Council fights evil. The Slayer is the instrument by which we fight. And now you Dawn are also our instrument."
"I think not," Dawn growled. "I'm not bowing to you. I can give up my powers. You can't control me. And there is no guarantee that Zordon would send another Ranger to Sunnydale to take over."
"Then let me be blunt," Travers said. "Glory is stronger than either you or your sister. She's a more powerful instrument, if you will. But we can help you both. We have information that will help. Pass the review and we give it to you both without reservation. Fail the review, either through incompetence or by resisting our recommendations—"
"Resisting your recommendations?" Giles growled. "They fail if we don't do whatever you say! How much under your thumb do you think we are?"
"How much do you want our help?" Travers countered.
Giles ignored him. "As Dawn pointed out. They are not your bloody instruments and you have no right to do any of this!"
"Giles!" Buffy cautioned as the watchers restrained him. He shook them off, glaring at every one of them.
"I understand you two think this is unfair," Travers remarked. "But there are factors which should motivate you both to go along with the review. Now, I don't want to do this, but obviously we could shut this place down permanently."
"You can't do that," Buffy remarked. "You don't have that kind of power."
"Of course, we do, and a great deal more," Travers countered. "In fact, if you insist on fighting us, we'll arrange to have Mr. Giles deported within the day. Never set foot in this country again. Now perhaps you both are used to idle threats and sloppy discipline, but you both are dealing with grownups now. Am I making myself clear?"
Dawn and Buffy folded their arms, inwardly pissed off. "Crystal," they replied.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles paced while Buffy and Dawn sat at the table in thought.
"It's a power play, that's what it is," Giles remarked. "It's about who has the power."
"I'm guessing they do?" Dawn remarked.
"I should have set you both loose on them, that's what I should have done," Giles realized.
"Giles, that Travers guy is like sixty. Dawn and I can't hit him," Buffy argued. "Can we?" she asked suddenly hopeful.
"I suppose not," Giles uttered. "Well, I could. I think I will."
"Can they really do the stuff they threatened?" Dawn asked him. "Kick you out the country?"
"In a heartbeat," Giles sighed as he took off his glasses to clean them. "See, the rough stuff, they're all right out there, a bit ham-handed, but they get it done, but, uh ... this stuff, the, uh, bureaucracy, the pulling of political strings, they're the best in the world. They can kill you with the stroke of a pen. Poncy buggers." He put his glasses aside before he broke them from the vigorous cleaning.
"Are we going to be able to get through this review?" Buffy asked softly.
Giles sat down opposite the sisters. "I suppose they'll make it as difficult as they want to. The physical stuff could be a bit of a challenge for you both."
"Personally, I'm not worried about that," Dawn said.
"Neither am I. It's the other stuff," Buffy confessed. "Examining decisions, we've made. I mean, I've gone up against Glory twice and Dawn once. And she's kicked both of our asses without even tensing a muscle. And we haven't been able to figure out ... what she is, or anything about her except that she wants the Key.
"Which I have," Dawn added.
"And I can't even figure out if it's okay for us to tell anyone that," Buffy concluded.
"Buffy…Dawn, no one could have done any better than the two of you," Giles assured the sisters.
"But no one else is going to be asked the questions that we can't answer," Dawn replied with a sigh of resignation.
"They're going to expect me to be like a Slayer," Buffy added. "And for Dawn to be like a Power Ranger. And they're going to expect us both to know stuff, but we're just us and we don't know anything, and they're going to go away, and they're not going to tell us how to fight Glory. To ensure my sister is safe."
"Calm down both of you," Giles replied. "The scandal here is not anything either of you have done wrong, it's the way they're behaving. Holding what they know hostage with a gun pointed at my bleeding green card, no less. It's humiliating."
"Also, smart," Buffy mused.
"Buffy's right," Dawn agreed. "They picked the perfect thing. We can't lose you."
Giles smiled at that. "Thank you, both of you."
"I guess we should be getting ready," Buffy stated. "What do you think it'll be like, I mean, how do you think they'll start?"
Brattin Home
Nigel stood, holding a clipboard, looking at Lynn. Lynn wondered briefly how the Watchers even knew about her and Dawn. "What do you want to know?" she asked.
"Well, I'd like to know a little bit more about the Slayer, her sister and about you," Nigel answered. "Your relationship, whatever you can tell me."
"Well I am, Dawn's girlfriend," Lynn answered. "And I am good friends with Buffy."
"Would you say that the Slayer and her sister needs help from you often?" Nigel asked.
"No," Lynn answered. She was lying through her teeth of course. Being the group's Whitelighter. She was in effect needed for help on occasion, just like when she had healed Xander's wrist after Olaf had broken it. "I do mainly research for them. Sometimes magic as needed."
"Interesting," Nigel said as he made a note of Lynn admitting to being a witch. "What level are you at?"
"Level?" Lynn questioned. She didn't know there was such a thing. She would have to ask her mom.
"Magical proficiency level," he stated.
"I have no idea to tell the truth," Lynn admitted. "I didn't know it was such a thing. I'll have to ask my mom about that."
"So, you are hereditary?" Nigel asked.
"Yes," Lynn answered. "But only on my mom's side. My dad is mortal."
Nigel made another notation. "I assume you will have to ask your mother. But do you know if you are registered as practicing witch under the names as you gave it to me?"
"Pretty much," Lynn admitted.
January 25, 2001 – Thursday
The Magic Box
"Agility, clarity, stamina and strength, these are the qualities that you two must possess to do your jobs," Travers recited as he paced around the training room.
"What came after agility?" Buffy said as she and Dawn both pretended to be confused.
Giles looked at them, puzzled. "If you want them to attack the dummy-"
Travers shook his head. "No, no. Philip will attack the dummy. Their job is to protect it." He looked at Buffy and Dawn. "Do you understand?"
Dawn nodded. "Protect the dummy."
"As if it were precious," Travers continued. "Now, getting the best of Philip will require agility. Listening to my instructions at the same time, that will demonstrate clarity. And stamina and strength will win the long fight. Good luck."
"Instructions?" Buffy queried.
Travers wrapped a blindfold around Buffy's head while Nigel wrapped another around Dawn's. "Yes, I'll be telling you both what to do, how to counter Philip's attack. We assume you both are familiar with the Japanese names for aikido and jiu-jitsu moves."
"Japanese?" Buffy and Dawn questioned.
"And, go!" A female watcher ordered, clicking the stopwatch.
"Just like that?" Buffy said. "Go? In America we work our way up to go."
As Phillip bowed before Buffy and Dawn Travers uttered an incomprehensible phrase.
"Huh?" Buffy and Dawn said.
"He wants you both to bow," Giles translated. "Take a bow."
"Oh." Buffy and Dawn said as they bowed, then Philip circled around them. He aimed a thrust at the dummy, and Buffy blocked it. Then Dawn kicked at him, but missed. Undeterred, the sisters spun round and Buffy blocked an overhead punch.
Travers uttered another phrase as Philip punched her.
"Punch him," Giles translated.
"Thanks, Giles," Buffy and Dawn replied.
"Sorry," he apologized. Travers uttered more phrases, causing him to add, "Buffy, Back kick. Dawn, elbow strike."
Buffy back kicked, as Dawn struck their attacker.
"How have you been training them?" Travers asked Giles.
"I've trained them to win," Giles replied.
Buffy stopped. "You know what? We're going to have to do it our way, guys."
"It's Morphin' Time!" Dawn called out. "Zeo Ranger Six White!" They watched as the morphing sequence transformed her into the White Zeo Ranger. "White Zeo Power Sword!" she then called out as the Power Sword was beamed into her hand.
The White Zeo Ranger spun the sword in an arc and blocked Phillip's attack.
"Hold up, Philip," Travers ordered. "Miss Summers, are you still blindfolder?"
"Yes," the White Zeo Ranger answered. "The morphing sequence doesn't actually change my clothes or anything. It creates my armor around me over what I am wearing."
"Alright, Philip," Travers said nodding at the watcher.
The White Zeo Ranger and Buffy waited for Philip's next attack. As he swung the axe, Buffy grabbed the handle just as the White Zeo Ranger kicked him in the stomach, forcing him back against the vaulting horse. Buffy then elbowed him in the face. He tumbled backwards over the horse, losing the weapon, the momentum pulling it from Buffy's hands landing in the dummy's chest, knocking it into Nigel.
Buffy took off her blindfold and surveyed the damage. "Uh-oh."
"Power Down!" The White Zeo Ranger said as she de-morphed. Then she took off the blindfold and she saw what Buffy had. "Shit."
"Dawn," Giles chastised.
"I think one of them broke my rib," Philips muttered as he was helped up.
"Yes, well," Travers muttered.
"I didn't mean to..." Buffy and Dawn said in unison.
"We can do better," Buffy pointed out. "I think both of us are getting this inner-ear infection and maybe if we get a note, we could try again later...?"
"That's all right. I don't think we need to see any more physical tests for a while," Travers remarked. "We can move on to the real review. Look into the strategies and plans you both utilize ... figure out what's going on in those heads."
Buffy held back a groan. "Good. Head stuff."
"We start at seven tonight," Travers added. "Give you both time to, uh, well, however you both prepare."
Summers Home
"Mom?" Buffy called out as she and Dawn appeared in a beam of white light in the foyer. They entered the living room. Suddenly they froze as they came face to face with Glory.
"Long day?" Glory grinned at the sisters. "So, this is where the Slayer eats, sleeps, and combs her hair?" she picked up a photo. "Oh, so cute. I can't even stand it. Personally? I need more space, but uh, this is good for you, it's so quaint, and..."
Buffy glanced at Dawn then she moved to the fireplace and picked up a poker behind her back. As she straightened up, she found Glory right behind her.
"Buffy." Glory took the weapon, "if I wanted to fight, you could tell by the being dead already. So, play nice, little girl."
"What do you want?" Buffy asked.
"The key," Glory replied. "Why else do you think I'd come here? See, I think you knew where it is. And that's a good thing."
"I'm glad you think so," Buffy murmured.
"Well, it's the only thing keeping you alive right now," Glory admitted. "Because you may be tiny queen in vampire world, but to me, you're a bug. You should get down on your knees and worship me! But oh, no, you still think it's neat having Slayer strength. Ooh, big deal! Stronger than humans! Who isn't? I could crush the life from you as easy as you'd break a nail." Buffy looked at Dawn and flickered with her eyes to indicate Dawn needed to go morph. "But I need the key," Glory said as she turned and looked at Dawn. "Kid! Come here a sec."
"Leave her out of this," Buffy ordered.
"Not asking twice," Glory remarked, as Dawn advanced.
"This is between you and me," Buffy remarked.
"No. This is between me and my key," Glory replied. "You just happen to be the thing in the way." She turned to Dawn. "And you are just the darlingest thing I ever did see in my life. What's your name, honey?"
"Dawn," Dawn replied.
"Dawn. Did you know your sister took my key, Dawn? And she won't give it back! I bet you know where she put it, don't you?"
"She doesn't know anything," Buffy remarked.
"Where's my key, Dawn?" Glory asked ignoring Buffy.
"You can go…" Dawn started and then shrugged. "If I knew what key you're looking for," she lied. "I still wouldn't tell you." She looked at Buffy. "I'm going to go get started on my homework, Buffy."
Glory grinned. "Ooh, I like her. She's sassy. And I'll kill her. I'll kill your mom," Glory told the Slayer as Dawn hurried up the stairs. "I'll kill your friends and I'll make you watch when I do."
Just at that moment the White Zeo Ranger beamed into the living room.
"Ah your savior," Glory said. "What about you. I bet you know where my key is."
"What if I do?" the Power Ranger replied. "I've faced the forces of the Machine Empire. If you think you can take me, you're welcome to try."
Glory spun looking at Buffy. "Just give me the key. You either have it or you know where to find it. Obviously, this is a one-time-only deal. Next time we meet, something you and your friend here love dies bloody. You both know you can't take me. You both know you can't stop me." she dropped the poker and left.
Buffy and the White Zeo Ranger watched her go, worried, so concerned in fact, that they both jumped when another voice broke the silence.
"Buffy…Dawn, who was that?" Joyce asked.
The White Zeo Ranger and Buffy turned to their mother. "That was Glory," the Ranger answered.
"Pack a bag," Buffy ordered.
Spike's Crypt
The White Zeo Ranger beamed in with Buffy and Joyce.
"So, what can I do you two for?" Spike asked as he looked at the trio.
Buffy and the Ranger took Spike aside, roughly, by the arm. "We need your help," Buffy said.
Spike smiled. "Great! I need your cash."
"We're serious," the White Zeo Ranger interjected. "You have to look after our mom."
"Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere," Spike admitted. "What's the matter? You two not feeling a hundred percent?"
"No," Buffy countered.
"They didn't put a chip in either of your heads, did they?" he questioned.
"No..." the White Zeo Ranger answered.
Spike chuckled. "Be funny if they did."
"We need an answer. Now. In or out, Spike?" Buffy said. "You're... the only one strong enough to protect her."
Spike narrowed his eyes. "What's in it for me? Mind, I've seen what your gratitude's like. I still prefer the Benjamins."
"We'll find the money," the White Zeo Ranger said. "We need your help. And believe me coming from us, that's saying something."
Hmm," Spike said. "Guess your right there. All right then." He looked at Joyce. "Well, come on in. Plenty of blood in the fridge, don't be shy."
"Mom," Buffy said. "Dawn and I'll be back soon as we can." She looked back at Spike. "I know I don't have to tell you this, but..."
Spike nodded. "Yeah, yeah...anything happens to her, I'll stake you good and proper." He rolled his eyes. "Sing me a new one sometime, eh? That bit's gone stale."
Buffy looked at her sister as she took the Ranger's gloved hand and they disappear in a beam of white light.
"I love what you've neglected to do with the place," Joyce said looking at the crypt.
"Just don't break anything and don't make a lot of noise -Passions is coming on," Spike told his guest.
Joyce smiled. "Passions? Ooh, do you think Timmy's really dead?"
"No, no," Spike answered as he turned on his TV. "She can just sew him back together. He's a doll, for God's sake."
"What about the wedding? There's no way they're going through with that," Joyce said as she and Spike made themselves comfortable.
The Magic Box
At the Magic Box, the Scoobies watched the Council delegation angrily, taking out their frustration at failing the review questions with death glares at them as they inspected the books.
"Look at them. Big tough Council members, picking on the books," Xander said from where he, Anya, Willow, Tara and Lynn all sat on the balcony.
"Fascists," Willow uttered.
"Why doesn't Mr. Giles just boot 'em all out of here?" Tara asked.
"From what Dawn has told me they would deport him," Lynn answered. "Of course, Dawn or I could easily sneak him back into the country if they did. But that's why he doesn't kick them out. They would not only be destroying his career but his life."
Travers looked at his pocket watch and frowned. "They are twenty minutes late and counting, Rupert."
"Buffy and Dawn will be here, I assure you," Giles said from where he and Travers sat at the table.
"When?" Travers asked.
Streets of Sunnydale
Buffy and Dawn made their way down the street. They had beamed back to the house to give them a little extra time to think of how to answer Travers questions. As they rounded a corner they were tackled to the ground.
Buffy and Dawn stood up just as their attackers did. The sisters were sent flying into a pile of garbage as they were backhanded. They rose once more, only to find two more warriors in armor joining the first two to circle around the sisters, waving their swords.
"Uh ... guys?" Buffy remarked. "Any way we could ... not do this?"
The first two knights swung their swords at the sisters, causing them to duck.
"It's Morphin' Time!" Dawn called out. "Zeo Ranger Six White!" When the morphing sequence had transformed her into the White Zeo Ranger she called out, "White Zeo Power Sword!"
As their attackers were distracted by Dawn morphing Buffy punched her attacker, before dodging a staff thrust.
Suddenly the sound of metal singing as swords clashed could be heard in the alley. The White Zeo Ranger than kicked an attacker.
Buffy punched her second attacker in his midsection. She ducked another swing, then kicked her first attacker twice.
The Ranger blocked another swing of the attacker's sword with her own. She blocked a punch from her second attacker, then punched him in the face.
Buffy grabbed her first attacker's sword arm. She kicked him, then grabbed one of the staffs and used the grip to push him away.
The White Zeo Ranger deflected another sword swing, then flipped herself over them before grabbing a staff and jabbing it into the knight's stomach. She dodged another thrust from a staff, kicking the attacker until he spun away.
Battling with the one she disarmed, she finally hit him in the face, sending him to the ground. She dropped her staff to block an overhead sword thrust, before punching him and sending him to the floor.
The White Zeo Ranger kicked her second attacker away, before facing off the first, knocking the sword out of his hand, pushing him to the ground, holding her weapon to his throat.
"Okay. Let's see what you are," the Ranger remarked, removing his chain mail mask to reveal an ordinary human with a symbol on his forehead. "Or who you are," she added.
"One soldier in a vast army," he replied.
"What army?" Buffy asked.
"The Knights of Byzantium, an ancient order," the knight replied. "And now your enemy."
The White Zeo Ranger pushed her sword point harder at his throat. "You work for Glory?"
"You think we align ourselves with the beast?" the knight scorned. "You must be mad."
"You're the ones trying to kill us," Buffy replied. "I think it's a reasonable suspicion."
"No, we were fools, four alone," the knight replied. "But if it takes a hundred men, we send a hundred men, and if it takes a thousand, we send a thousand."
"A thousand?" the White Zeo Ranger echoed looking at her sister.
"So long as you two protect the key, the brotherhood will never stop until we destroy it and you," the knight informed the sisters." He looked at Dawn. "You are the White Zeo Ranger." He looked at Buffy. "And you are the Slayer. We know what we must do. Now, be done with it. Kill us, and let legions follow."
The White Zeo Ranger stepped off him, letting him get up. As he rose to his feet, she put the sword to his throat again. "Go," she uttered. "And think twice before coming after us again."
The Magic Box
Buffy and Dawn were thoughtful when they entered the Magic Box sometime later. Buffy carried one of the knight's swords. The sisters' minds were still on what they had learned from the fight rather than the Council they were about to face.
"You two are late." Travers frowned at the sisters.
"Yeah," Buffy and Dawn agreed.
Giles eyed the sword. "Was there an attack?" he asked them.
"Yeah," Buffy and Dawn replied.
"We can begin the review at last," Travers continued pleased. "We'll, skip the more obvious questions..." he trailed off as Buffy put her weapon down on his papers.
"There isn't going to be a review," Dawn remarked.
"Sorry?" Travers queried.
"No review," Buffy said agreeing with her sister. "No interrogation. No questions you know Dawn and I can't answer. No hoops, no jumps and no interruptions," she added as Nigel tried to speak, glaring at him until he shut up.
Dawn turned to Travers. "See ... Buffy and I've had a lot of people talking at us the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell us how unimportant we are. And we've finally figured out why. Power. Buffy and I have it. They don't. This bothers them."
Buffy smiled at Travers. "Glory came to our home today."
Giles uttered a gasp of shock. "Buffy…Dawn, are you—"
"Just to talk," Buffy assured him. "She told us we're bugs, we're fleas, she could squash us in a second. Only she didn't. She came into our home, and we talked. We had what in her warped brain probably passes for a civilized conversation."
"Why? Because she needs something from me. Because Buffy and I have power over her," Dawn said her gaze moved over all the watchers. "You guys didn't come all the way from England to determine whether or not Buffy was good enough to be let back in. You came to beg her to let you back in. To give your jobs, your lives some semblance of meaning."
"This is beyond insolence—" Nigel began, before he jumped back as the slayer grabbed the sword from the table and threw it across the room to land point first into the wall directly in front of his nose.
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'm fairly certain I said no interruptions."
"That was excellent!" Xander whispered in awe.
"You're Watchers," Buffy continued. "Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watching Masterpiece Theatre. You can't stop Glory. You can't do anything with the information you have except maybe publish it in the 'Everyone Thinks We're Insane Home Journal.' So, here's how it's going to work. You're going to tell Dawn and I everything you know. Then you're going to go away. You'll contact us if and when you have any further information about Glory. The magic shop will remain open. Mr. Giles will stay here as both my sister and my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary..."
Giles coughed. "Retroactive and doubled."
Buffy continued without a slip. "To be paid retroactively from the month he was fired. And to be doubled since he is now the Watcher for both a Slayer and a Power Ranger. Dawn and I will continue our work with the help of our friends..."
"I ... don't want a sword thrown at me," a female watcher began, "but, civilians, I - we're talking about children."
"We're talking about two very powerful witches, one very powerful half witch half Whitelighter and a thousand-year-old ex-demon," Dawn replied as hers and Buffy's friends beamed down at her and Buffy with pride.
"The boy?" Philip queried of Xander. "No power there."
"The other boy has clocked more field time than all of you combined," Buffy replied. "Now. You all may be very good at your jobs. The only way we're going to find out is if you work with Dawn and I. You can all take your time thinking about that. But Dawn and I want an answer right now from Quentin, 'cause I think he's understanding us."
Travers cleared his throat. "Uh, your terms are acceptable." He turned to the sisters as the Scoobies broke into applause.
Buffy and Dawn smiled as they sat across from Travers. "See? No begging," Dawn said quietly.
"Rupert, when we inventoried your shop, we found a bottle of single malt scotch hidden behind the incense holders," Travers said.
"Well, it's not that, during working hours—" Giles interjected.
"I think I could use a glass," Travers admitted.
"I suppose a few of us wouldn't mind a—" Giles said as he started to retrieve the bottle.
"Just a minute," Buffy held up a hand. "Glory. We want to know."
"Well, there's a lot to go through," Travers started.
"Just tell us what kind of demon we're fighting," Dawn added.
"Well, that's the thing, you see," Travers replied. "Glory isn't a demon."
"What is she?" Buffy asked.
"She's a god," Travers replied.
"Oh," Buffy and Dawn replied as they looked at each other.
Author's Note: The next episode was Blood Ties; it was the reveal to Dawn that she had been the Key. Since Dawn in this story already knows about the Key, that episode can be skipped. Therefor the next episode to be featured in the story will be Crush.