In the Space of a Journey
Chapter Fourteen
Sunnydale -- The Condo
Angel approached the condo with trepidation. He now knew better than to assume he would be the first one there, and he soon discovered the assumption was right. He was the last to arrive. He slipped in and paused in the hallway between the living room and the library to watch.
Amy and Terrance were sitting on the couch, whispering to each other. Rio and Nicole were on the other side of the room. Angel thought he saw Rio snickering at Amy and Terrance, but he wasn't sure. Before he could make up his mind, Angel saw Faith. She and Jenny were by the window looking at the newspaper. A demonology book lay open on the small table next to them. Angel walked over and examined the drawing of the Kun'gi on the open page of the book.
Jenny looked up at him seriously. "This new threat must take precedence over the feral vampires, don't you agree, Angel?" Before Angel could say anything, Jenny kept going. "Faith, here, is of the opinion that we should divide our forces, but a Kun'gi is serious. The feral vamps are easily taken out by any one of you, but the Kun'gi has a tack horn that can suck the life-force out of any living thing. And they're exceptionally strong. Angel, I don't know if even you could take it out by yourself."
"Which is why we will go out in teams," Faith inserted. Angel looked at her, but she was staring at Jenny. Faith was in full command-mode. "But we have to contain both of these threats as soon as possible. They are both taking innocent lives! Who's to say which innocent lives are the ones to spare?"
"Angel?" Jenny asked pointedly. "What do you think?"
The vampire looked at Faith. She still wouldn't meet his eyes. She stared at the book while waiting to hear what he had to say.
"I agree with Faith," Angel finally said.
Jenny cocked an eyebrow at him. "Do you?" She looked from him to Faith meaningfully. "I wonder why..."
For a second, Angel wondered what she was thinking, and if it were anything close to the truth. Then he went on with his explanation. "Because she's talking sense. We aren't just responsible for the worst demon running around town -- we're responsible for all of them, and for making sure they don't kill again."
Picking up the newspaper, Jenny waved the Kun'gi article in front of his face. Then she flipped to page three, showing him an article about three more "wild dog" attacks. "Well, it doesn't look like we are doing a good job on either front." She looked pointedly at Angel and Faith. "I would suggest, if you two are dividing the forces again tonight, that you *don't* take off early."
Her irritated speech was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Jenny turned and walked toward the library where she could take it in private. "I'll get that. I'm expecting a call from England."
"Anything I need to know?" Angel called as she walked away. "Or that I can help with?"
"Luckily, no," Jenny replied. "This is something only I can do." Then she walked into the library and shut the door, only a little more loudly than necessary.
Angel sighed and then turned to Faith, wondering how she would react to him now. "You left pretty..."
"I'm going with Nicole tonight," Faith interrupted him. She finally met his eyes, and when she did, Angel didn't see anything remotely personal in them.
"All right," Angel replied, "but why?"
"Because it's better that way," Faith replied. "And she needs some pointers than only I can give her. You can patrol with Terrance."
Angel had hoped patrolling with Faith would give them a much-needed chance to talk, but with this new all-business attitude, he couldn't figure out a way to bring up their post-dawn activities. And he felt a twinge of resentment that she didn't even seem to care enough to want to talk about it. "Fine!" he answered after a minute, "but Terrance and I will track the Kun'gi. You and Nicole can keep looking for the ferals."
That order made Faith's fiery personality evident again, though not in the way he had hoped. She stood at her full height and put her hands on her hips. "And what gives you the right to..."
It was Angel's turn to interrupt. "I am the strongest person on this team. Kun'gi demons are very powerful. We already know you and Nicole can handle ferals..."
"Are you doubting my abilities?" Faith demanded angrily. "I'll have you know that I can..."
"I'm sure you can," Angel retorted, "but the facts remain that vampires are stronger than humans, no matter how well trained the human." He shrugged. "It's the one benefit of the demon that lives inside me."
Faith stared at him for a minute, but Angel didn't give way under her fierce gaze. Finally, Faith acquiesced. "All right, we'll track the ferals. But if we happen to run across that Kun'gi, don't think we won't challenge it." Then she turned around to tell her troops of the changes in plans, leaving Angel staring after her, more confused than before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Scooby Gang's Hotel
Giles looked around the empty hotel room. Satisfied that the others would be at breakfast for a few more minutes, he picked up the phone and dialed his home number.
"Hello?"
When he heard Jenny's voice, Giles breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to stall anyone, or make anything up. He said, "It's me."
"Good. I thought it would be. How are things going over there?"
Giles could hear the underlying tension in her voice. He wondered vaguely if Angel and Faith were still not getting along, and if that were the cause of her tension, but he had more important things to address. "Are you done with the spell?"
"Very close, but not quite done," Jenny replied briskly. "Amy and I got a good start on it last night, but we had to make sure Rio went out on patrol. And we'll have to do that again tonight."
"True," Giles agreed. "We don't know how far we can trust Faith and her squad. And my trust in the upper echelons of the Council is waning as well."
"I knew you had suspicions before," Jenny said, worry overlaying the tension in her tone. "Has something new happened to confirm them besides the kidnapping?"
Quickly, Giles explained about the note Buffy had received, and the information she'd gotten from Spike. "All the information points to the Council. And so, as much as I am loath to admit complete corruption, something untoward is going on at the Compound. I hope to discern how much of the Council is involved, but at this point I can't risk anyone associated with the Council."
"That's what you have us for," Jenny said, trying for a bright tone. On a more serious note, she added, "Have you told Buffy and the others yet?"
"No." Giles shook his head even though she couldn't see him on the other end of the line. "I don't want to worry them. They have enough to worry about, and this will only make it worse."
"But you need them to pull this off..."
"I know, and I will tell them soon. When the spell is ready, and we can commence the rescue operation."
Jenny sighed. "Whatever you think is best. Amy and I should get it done tonight, as long as we can get Rio out of the way. I'm sure he will want to go patrolling, I just don't know if Faith will agree or not."
"Did you have any thoughts on the other thing?" Giles asked. "The tribunal starts tomorrow, so I haven't had a chance to look into it. And most of my contacts are too old to do much good, as well as being connected to the Council themselves..."
"I see," Jenny agreed. "Well, you are definitely right. For this to work, Oz's broken leg will have to be healed. Healing spells are just so temperamental, and they take a lot out of both healer and the healed. A healing spell for his leg could leave him ill for days, which wouldn't suit your purposes at all."
"But if the healing were done in conjunction with the other spell..." Giles suggested.
"That was my conclusion as well," Jenny agreed. "I contacted some people I know in the UK over the Internet, and I've got a name and phone number for you. His practice is pretty low profile, so you shouldn't have to worry about the Council hearing."
Giles copied down the information she gave him, and then stuck the scrap of paper in his wallet. "Thank you. I will call him as soon as I can."
"And I will call you at the hotel when I have the derivation you need," Jenny replied.
"Good luck," Giles said, and then, hearing the others coming down the hall, he quickly said, "I will talk to you tomorrow." And they both hung up. Neither heard the soft click of a third party hanging up as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sunnydale -- The Condo
When the library door opened, Amy watched Jenny come out and tried to read the inscrutable look on her face.
"What do you think is going on with her?" Terrance asked, stretching out comfortably on the couch and slinging an arm around Amy's shoulders.
Amy shrugged. "I don't know. She looks tense." She watched Jenny look in the living room, and then, realizing that Amy and Terrance were the only two in there, Jenny left as well. "I guess she has to talk to Angel and Faith about that phone call she just got."
"Maybe so." Terrance paused for a minute, and then said, "So, did you hear about this new demon loose in Sunnydale? They're saying it's a Kun'gi."
"No, I've never heard of that," Amy answered, looking to Terrance to fill her in.
He did, seemingly glad for the chance to explain. "They're a really vicious breed of demon. They have this tack horn in the middle of their foreheads, and they use it to drain the life force out of any living thing. Apparently they're no slouch in the fighting department either. I'm quite looking forward to tonight, actually."
Amy had to smile at Terrance's exuberance. He'd been that way all day, and it looked good on him. (Who am I kidding?) she asked herself wryly. (Sackcloth and ashes would look good on him!)
As if he could gauge her thoughts from the expression on her face, Terrance suddenly sat up and brought his lips down to hers. Amy sighed into the kiss -- their first real kiss, even though they'd spent most of the past two days together. He deepened the kiss, and she acquiesced willingly. His strong arms pulled her closer. Amy buried her fingers in his short hair, not thinking about how such a display, especially when anyone could walk in see them, was not something she usually did. Instead, she lost herself in the moment, and his enthralling kiss.
A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she held on to him tighter. The thought (I thought this kind of thing only happened in fiction) flittered through her mind, but coherent thought was soon gone again. Then Terrance moved his hand under her top and touched the bare skin of her stomach. Shocked, Amy jerked back out of his arms. He looked at her in confusion.
"I... I'm sorry," Amy stammered. "I didn't mean to lead you on. I just... that's just... not me. I don't go so fast..." She felt exposed under his odd stare.
Then, suddenly, his strange look melted away and the Terrance she'd come to know was smiling back at her. "I'm sorry, Amy. It was just... rather... er... the heat of the moment?"
"Heat, yes, good excuse," Amy replied, feeling the blush in her cheeks even now.
The sound of someone clearing their throat in the hallway made the amorous teens look up to see Nicole frowning at them. "Terrance," she said sharply, "I must speak with you. Now."
Terrance smiled at Amy apologetically. "I'm sorry, but I have to..."
"I understand," Amy replied. "Go on."
"I'll see you later? Or tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Amy agreed, returning his smile. "Call me." She sat back on the couch and watched Terrance go, the smile still lingering on her lips.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By the time Terrance followed Nicole to the landing between the first and second floors, where they were out of earshot from both those upstairs and those downstairs, the besotted smile had left his face and in its place was a business-like expression.
"What's wrong, Nicole, that you had to drag me away?" He kept his voice low, just as a precaution. He'd been taught well.
As had Nicole, who whispered back, "Drag you away from your torrid affair down there? Well, don't worry, I wouldn't have if it weren't important."
"What I do with Amy is..."
"I do not care about that!" Nicole replied harshly. "That is for you to determine. What I do care about is that Angel and Faith have decided to split up the teams tonight, and Ms. Calendar is insisting that Rio patrol as well."
Terrance thought about that for a second. "Well, I can see why you don't like that, but things are still workable. And it will help you to have Rio along... I assume that you, Rio and Faith will be together?"
"Yes," Nicole affirmed. "You know our exalted leader so well."
"Well, don't worry," Terrance told her. "Faith may be a potential Slayer, but when we get back to England and tell the Council how she acted, someone more... trustworthy... will be appointed to lead the team, I'm sure."
Nicole looked at Terrance with narrowed eyes. "You mean yourself."
Terrance shrugged. "We won't know until it happens, Nicole. Just play nice with the necrophiliac until this assignment is over. You don't want to jeopardize your position. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to prepare to patrol with our favorite pet vampire."
"What about...?" Nicole didn't finish her sentence, but Terrance knew just what she meant.
"It's taken care of." With that he walked upstairs to find his new patrolling partner. Nicole followed a few steps behind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Scooby Gang's Hotel
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz sighed, trying yet again to get comfortable in his chair.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz glanced at Cordelia. She held the remote control in her hand and continued to flip through the channels at an insane rate. The TV screen flickered as sitcoms, infomercials, weather reports and soap operas flashed by.
"Can you even see what's on the channels when you're flipping through them so fast?" Oz asked.
Cordelia shrugged. "I can see enough."
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz looked back at the television, watching with a hint of annoyance in his blue eyes as the channels whizzed by at a slightly alarming rate. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of something familiar before Cordelia's thumb pressed down yet again on the channel button and the stations continued to blur together. "Stop!" he cried belatedly. "Go back. I thought I saw something good."
"What channel?" Cordelia asked, slanting her gaze over to him.
"MTV, I think."
Cordelia shrugged her slender shoulders. "I've gone too far. We're already over half way through the numbers. It'll be faster to keep going forward, work my way back around to the beginning again."
Oz groaned and sunk down into his chair. A whole afternoon alone with Cordelia Chase was enough to strain even his easy-going nature. And this was the second one he'd had to endure.
Cordelia resisted a smile at his sulking countenance. (Men are such babies!) she mused, turning her gaze back to the television.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
"Here we go... MTV," Cordelia announced with a triumphant grin as she finally reached the elusive TV station. Moving her thumb to another area of the remote, she turned up the volume.
/...because I want it that way. You are my fire. My one desire.../
The Backstreet Boys were dancing on the screen, crooning to a group of awe-struck young girls. Cordelia looked over at Oz and raised one delicate eyebrow. "This was what you wanted to watch? I never took you for a Backstreet Boys fan, Oz."
Oz glared at her. "I am *not* a Backstreet Boys fan!"
Cordelia's grin grew wider at Oz's obvious discomfort. "Of course, you're not."
"Really, I'm not!" he sputtered. "I just thought that... um... well... that there was actually a good band playing."
"Like who?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Oz blurted out, "Um... Four Star Mary!"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Uh huh, because Four Star Mary looks and sounds *so* much like the Backstreet Boys," she replied sarcastically.
Oz frowned and slouched down in his seat, not even bothering to respond. Cordelia watched him for a moment, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. Then she turned back to the TV and frowned, giving a melodramatic sigh as the band continued to shimmy and shake their way across the television screen. "You know, I don't really like the Backstreet Boys all that much. I mean, they're okay, but N'Sync is much better. They have stronger harmony lines, better rhythm, and they're way cuter." She watched Oz squirm in his seat for a second before adding, "Though neither of them can even compare to 98 degrees. Now *there's* a band!"
Oz's eyes shot up to meet hers, disbelief filling them. "What?!?! How can you even possibly think that N'Sync is better than the Backstreet Boys? N'Sync is just an over-rated bunch of copy cats! And don't even get me started on 98..." he paused in his diatribe, looking over at Cordelia's barely suppressed laughter. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
Finally, Cordelia couldn't hold back any longer. Between peals of laughter, she gasped out, "Yeah, you sure did!"
Oz tried to keep a stern, disapproving look on his face, but he couldn't manage it. Soon, he was laughing right along with Cordelia Chase, something he'd never thought he'd see happen in his life. It was an odd experience, but surprisingly not a bad one.
Cordelia finally managed to regain control of wits and took a few deep breaths to calm down. Then, meeting Oz's gaze briefly, she gave him a small smile and said, "You know, you're not half bad to be around, Oz."
Oz shrugged. "I could say the same thing about you."
Cordelia shrugged, flipping her long, brown hair over her shoulder. "Well, duh!" she exclaimed with a grin. "But if you ever tell me that you also like to listen to Brittany Spears in your spare time, then I don't know you, got it?"
Oz smiled. "Got it. I guess that means I'll have to throw out my single of 'Genie in a Bottle' though. What a shame. I kinda liked that song."
Cordelia frowned, raising up a hand. "Hey, that's not a Brittany Spears song, that's by Christina Ag..." She trailed off, slowly realizing what she'd just said. Looking up at Oz, she sighed. "I fell right into that trap, didn't I?"
Oz smiled. "Yup."
Cordelia grinned at him and then turned back around in her seat. As she began to flip through the channels at a slightly slower rate this time, Oz sat back in his chair. A comfortable silence now rested between them. After a moment, Cordelia looked over her shoulder at him and grinned, flipping the television off. "So," she began, standing up slowly and stretching out the kinks in her muscles that came from sitting in front of the TV for too long before walking over to stand next to Oz. "Have you ever played Truth or Dare?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sunnydale -- The Streets
When he saw the familiar neon sign and rickety building up ahead, Angel felt a surge of relief. It had taken them long enough to get here. Terrance had insisted on checking out each and every bit of underbrush in each and every graveyard and park they passed. Of course, on one hand, Angel could admire the kid's thoroughness, but what annoyed Angel was that they were on Kun'gi patrol, not feral patrol, and there was only one place in town where they might be able to get a lead on Sunnydale's newest threat.
"Why are we here?" Terrance demanded when Angel moved to open the door of the unassuming building.
"We're looking for a lead on the Kun'gi," Angel replied patiently. He had to be careful that patient didn't slip into patronizing. He was very tempted. Terrance and his by-the-book methods were quickly becoming more tiresome than anything Faith had done.
"Yes, I know," Terrance replied with a scowl. "But do you really think we'll find it in a bar? A Kun'gi won't blend in with humans, unless it's Halloween, so it wouldn't be in here, making this whole exercise rather pointless..."
Stepping slightly away from the door, Angel explained, "This place is owned by Willy the Snitch. He caters to a rather demonic crowd. If the Kun'gi isn't here in the back room, then Willy's probably heard about it. Trust me, Willy has his ear on the pulse of the demonic community -- so to speak. This is our best chance." Then Angel turned and walked inside the bar. Terrance followed, but obviously very reluctantly.
Ignoring the commando for the moment, Angel strode confidently into the building and stopped across the bar from Willy. "Hello."
Willy looked up, a hint of panic in his weasely eyes. "Hey, Angel... It's been awhile. How's it handgun'?" He lowered his squeaky voice. "You ain't... you ain't gonna rough me up again, is ya? Because I'm tellin' the truth when I say I ain't dealin' in stolen blood no more. No more stolen blood for Willy, I swear Angel!"
"I'm not here about blood this time, Willy," Angel replied, grabbing the shorter man's shirt by the collar and effectively stopping his monologue. He accentuated his next words with a few rough shakes, making Willy feel slightly nauseous. "We're looking for someone. And something tells me you're gonna know something useful."
The barkeep looked around, but the last customer had just skedaddled out the door. He was alone with the white hats, which meant time to spill his guts. "Who ya lookin' for, Angel?"
"A Kun'gi demon," Angel replied, letting go of Willy's shirt and letting the guy stand on his own two feet. "Big brute of a demon, kind of green, a little slimy and it has a tack horn in the middle of its forehead that can drain the life-force out of any living thing. It's already killed some people in town. Know anything about it?"
"D...d...drain life force?" Willy stammered, his eyes going wide. "Uh, yeah, I know the guy. He stopped in here last night. Said he was stayin' in the industrial part of town. But he didn't seem vicious..."
"Probably because he'd already eaten," Angel replied, assuming that the point of draining life force was so the demon could feed, but he didn't know for sure. The writer of the demonology book hadn't known for sure. Kun'gi were rare demons.
Willy looked pale, but he kept a hold of himself. "That all, Angel, cuz I've got a business to run..."
Angel gave Willy a dark look, and then turned and headed out of the bar. Terrance followed.
"You see?" Angel said once they'd gotten out the door. "Now we have an area to search. It must've set down a lair in one of the abandoned factories..."
"How do you know you can trust that little slime?" Terrance asked incredulously. "Personally, I wouldn't trust anything that came out of his mouth. He just wants to save his own sorry little arse."
Angel gave Terrance a cold smile. "Willy knows what happens when he lies to me. He doesn't do it anymore."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Compound
The second time they pulled up to the Compound, it looked much less imposing to Buffy. Or, it still looked imposing, but in a different way now that she knew what to expect. It was no longer the huge building and extensive grounds that intimidated her. Now she was worried about Sonya.
Leaning up toward the front seat, Buffy asked, "Are you *sure* you guys know what to do?"
Joyce looked back and gave her daughter a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Xander and I are ready to do our part."
"I still wish I could do it," Buffy muttered, sitting back as Giles parked the car.
Xander reached over and took her hand. "I know you do, but there isn't any other way. You and Giles will be the ones in the spotlight, not us -- especially not your mom."
Turning off the motor, Giles said, "They will have ample opportunity to slip away during the proceedings. And if they find a lead as to where Sonya and Doyle are being kept, if the Council really is behind this and Spike wasn't making things up to get rid of you, then we will be prepared to do something."
"But we still don't have a plan for getting them back if we find them," Buffy protested.
Giles met her eyes seriously. "I have a plan, Buffy, and I will tell you about it when and if we need to utilize it. But right now, I need the three of you not to know, just in case you are asked."
Realizing that Giles wasn't taking this as lightly as she'd thought, Buffy nodded. "All right, Giles. I trust you."
"Thank you, Buffy," Giles replied, a spark of emotion in his eyes. "That means a lot."
"Hey, G-Man!" Xander broke in on the moment. "We all trust you. You're the respectable, dutiful, honorable Watcher. Why would anyone not trust you? Except maybe these anal, tweedy freaks."
Giles gave Xander a sharp look. "As much as I appreciate the support, Xander, please don't say anything like that where people can hear you." With that, Giles got out of the car. The others followed, and they walked into the building. Marcus was waiting to show them to the room where the tribunal was going to take place.
Buffy looked around with wide eyes when he led them into a huge chamber towards the back of the mansion. It looked kind of like the courtrooms she'd seen on TV. There were rows of seating in the back. The wooden benches looked hard and uncomfortable, quite a contrast from the luxury of the rest of the mansion. In front of the benches, was a railing, separating the benches from two tables -- one for the defense and one for the prosecution. Following the aisle up the room, Buffy's eyes finally landed on the huge podium on a raised dais. This, the dominating feature of the room, was made of thick mahogany that gleamed with polish. On the front had been carved the seal of the Watchers' Council. The carving shone with white and golden paint. Next to the podium, and lower down, was a small boxed in area that seemed like a witness stand. The podium itself was divided into three parts, presumably for the three judges who would oversee the tribunal.
Thus far the room was empty, except for the four of them. Marcus had left soon after guiding them there, claiming he had business to attend to. Giles slowly walked down the aisle and through the gate. He put his briefcase on the defense table. He looked back at Buffy.
"You'll sit there, on the bench behind me."
Buffy nodded quietly.
Giles looked at Joyce and Xander. "And you'll be..."
"In the back," Joyce replied.
Xander suddenly burst into a coughing and gasping fit. After a moment or two, he gasped, "I have this asthma... I have to be able to get out quickly."
"And I'll be there to help him," Joyce added, keeping her face composed and calm.
"Good," Giles replied.
Buffy was still staring at the desk in the front of the room. "Giles, who's going to sit up there? You said three Watchers' will be the judges in your case. How do they decide who it is?"
"Proconsul Chamberlain will sit in the middle," Giles explained. "As the head of the Council, it is his right and duty. Vice Proconsul Post will most likely sit for the case as well. The third spot is a wild card. It is supposed to be filled by someone representative of the Council members not a part of the Proconsul's Advisors. I can't even begin to guess who will have been appointed."
"I'm a little worried about this testing thing," Buffy said, suddenly changing the subject. "All those people will be watching me... it makes me pretty nervous. I don't like being the center of attention. But I want to be a credit to you and your training, Giles. I mean, we've had our ups and downs, I know that, but you've been a good Watcher. I don't think I'd have made it this long as the Slayer without you."
Giles reached over the railing and put a gentle hand on the girls' shoulder. "Don't worry, Buffy. The testing will be a breeze for you. They'll put you through your paces, yes, but it's nothing you can't handle. You're very resourceful, and I have full confidence in you."
"Really?" Buffy met his eyes hopefully. "You think so? I mean, I'm sure Sonya would be better, but..." She bit that comment off quickly, both because it hurt to mention her name while she was missing and because she hadn't wanted Giles to know of her insecurities about being compared to the other girl.
"I've trained two Slayers in my day," Giles answered, "something no one else can claim. Yes, Sonya was a wonderful Slayer, she knew all the rules and she worked well within them. But, you, Buffy are Slayer in your own right. You go beyond the rules. You have good instincts, and a core of inner strength that will pull you through. I know you will shine in the arena today."
Buffy smiled shakily at him, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Wait a minute!" Xander said suddenly. "There's an arena here, too? How big is this place?"
The women burst into laughter as Giles scowled at Xander. But the older man's voice wasn't angry as he explained, "I used arena as a figure of speech, Xander."
"Oh..." Xander replied, giving them a sheepish smile and stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the room's double doors being thrown open to admit a crowd of Watchers, ready to observe the day's proceedings. Wesley was at the head of the group, and he hurried over to his seat at the table next to Giles.
"Well, Rupert, I suppose it's time. Are you ready?" Wesley looked nervous, but he seemed to be trying to project a mask of confidence.
"As I'll ever be," Giles replied, turning away from his support group and sitting down in his chair.
Buffy quietly took her place on the bench behind the defense table. Her oversized purse -- filled with both extra stakes and other weapons and a change of clothes into something more athletic -- sat on the bench beside her. She had to tell herself not to twist around in her seat to find Xander and her mother in the back of the room. She had to act like everything was perfectly normal.
The gate in the railing squeaked as Barrows walked through it to the prosecution's table. He glanced over at Giles with an expression that gave Buffy the creeps. He looked almost happy, in that understated British type of way. Then his eyes moved from the defense table over to her. He seemed surprised for an instant to catch her staring at him, but he covered it well. Buffy felt chilled, but she refused to cower and look away. After a minute, Barrows nodded at her and then turned away. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little.
Then a door in the front of the room opened, and Marcus walked out wearing a golden robe ((Kind of like a graduation gown) Buffy thought. (Or like a prettier version of the robe Judge Wapner wears.)) and a powdered wig.
"All rise," Marcus intoned grandly.
There was a loud rustling as everyone did as he bid. Buffy watched as the door opened again and a tall thin man walked out. He was old, at least sixty, but he bore the age well. He wore thin, gold-rimmed glasses, and a deep golden robe like the one Marcus had on. His hair was hidden underneath another powdered wig.
"Proconsul Sidney Chamberlain," Marcus announced. The man walked up to the seat of honor in the middle of the podium and took his seat.
"Vice Proconsul Gwendolyn Post," Marcus said a few seconds later.
On the heels of the announcement, Gwendolyn walked out. She, too, wore a golden robe. It flowed around her willowy body as she walked confidently to her place at the proconsul's right hand. Perhaps because she was a woman, Gwendolyn wasn't wearing a powdered wig, but her blonde hair was pulled back tightly in a ponytail and tied with a golden ribbon, just like the tails of the men's wigs.
The door opened again, and another robed, wigged figure walked out. Before Marcus could even say his name, a rush of surprised gasps and whispers hissed around the room. The man looked nervous, but he walked to his spot by the proconsul's left hand with as much regal bearing as he could muster.
His face inscrutable, Marcus waited until the room was quiet, and then announced the name of the third sitting judge. "Aidan O'Shea."
Chapter Fourteen
Sunnydale -- The Condo
Angel approached the condo with trepidation. He now knew better than to assume he would be the first one there, and he soon discovered the assumption was right. He was the last to arrive. He slipped in and paused in the hallway between the living room and the library to watch.
Amy and Terrance were sitting on the couch, whispering to each other. Rio and Nicole were on the other side of the room. Angel thought he saw Rio snickering at Amy and Terrance, but he wasn't sure. Before he could make up his mind, Angel saw Faith. She and Jenny were by the window looking at the newspaper. A demonology book lay open on the small table next to them. Angel walked over and examined the drawing of the Kun'gi on the open page of the book.
Jenny looked up at him seriously. "This new threat must take precedence over the feral vampires, don't you agree, Angel?" Before Angel could say anything, Jenny kept going. "Faith, here, is of the opinion that we should divide our forces, but a Kun'gi is serious. The feral vamps are easily taken out by any one of you, but the Kun'gi has a tack horn that can suck the life-force out of any living thing. And they're exceptionally strong. Angel, I don't know if even you could take it out by yourself."
"Which is why we will go out in teams," Faith inserted. Angel looked at her, but she was staring at Jenny. Faith was in full command-mode. "But we have to contain both of these threats as soon as possible. They are both taking innocent lives! Who's to say which innocent lives are the ones to spare?"
"Angel?" Jenny asked pointedly. "What do you think?"
The vampire looked at Faith. She still wouldn't meet his eyes. She stared at the book while waiting to hear what he had to say.
"I agree with Faith," Angel finally said.
Jenny cocked an eyebrow at him. "Do you?" She looked from him to Faith meaningfully. "I wonder why..."
For a second, Angel wondered what she was thinking, and if it were anything close to the truth. Then he went on with his explanation. "Because she's talking sense. We aren't just responsible for the worst demon running around town -- we're responsible for all of them, and for making sure they don't kill again."
Picking up the newspaper, Jenny waved the Kun'gi article in front of his face. Then she flipped to page three, showing him an article about three more "wild dog" attacks. "Well, it doesn't look like we are doing a good job on either front." She looked pointedly at Angel and Faith. "I would suggest, if you two are dividing the forces again tonight, that you *don't* take off early."
Her irritated speech was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Jenny turned and walked toward the library where she could take it in private. "I'll get that. I'm expecting a call from England."
"Anything I need to know?" Angel called as she walked away. "Or that I can help with?"
"Luckily, no," Jenny replied. "This is something only I can do." Then she walked into the library and shut the door, only a little more loudly than necessary.
Angel sighed and then turned to Faith, wondering how she would react to him now. "You left pretty..."
"I'm going with Nicole tonight," Faith interrupted him. She finally met his eyes, and when she did, Angel didn't see anything remotely personal in them.
"All right," Angel replied, "but why?"
"Because it's better that way," Faith replied. "And she needs some pointers than only I can give her. You can patrol with Terrance."
Angel had hoped patrolling with Faith would give them a much-needed chance to talk, but with this new all-business attitude, he couldn't figure out a way to bring up their post-dawn activities. And he felt a twinge of resentment that she didn't even seem to care enough to want to talk about it. "Fine!" he answered after a minute, "but Terrance and I will track the Kun'gi. You and Nicole can keep looking for the ferals."
That order made Faith's fiery personality evident again, though not in the way he had hoped. She stood at her full height and put her hands on her hips. "And what gives you the right to..."
It was Angel's turn to interrupt. "I am the strongest person on this team. Kun'gi demons are very powerful. We already know you and Nicole can handle ferals..."
"Are you doubting my abilities?" Faith demanded angrily. "I'll have you know that I can..."
"I'm sure you can," Angel retorted, "but the facts remain that vampires are stronger than humans, no matter how well trained the human." He shrugged. "It's the one benefit of the demon that lives inside me."
Faith stared at him for a minute, but Angel didn't give way under her fierce gaze. Finally, Faith acquiesced. "All right, we'll track the ferals. But if we happen to run across that Kun'gi, don't think we won't challenge it." Then she turned around to tell her troops of the changes in plans, leaving Angel staring after her, more confused than before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Scooby Gang's Hotel
Giles looked around the empty hotel room. Satisfied that the others would be at breakfast for a few more minutes, he picked up the phone and dialed his home number.
"Hello?"
When he heard Jenny's voice, Giles breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to stall anyone, or make anything up. He said, "It's me."
"Good. I thought it would be. How are things going over there?"
Giles could hear the underlying tension in her voice. He wondered vaguely if Angel and Faith were still not getting along, and if that were the cause of her tension, but he had more important things to address. "Are you done with the spell?"
"Very close, but not quite done," Jenny replied briskly. "Amy and I got a good start on it last night, but we had to make sure Rio went out on patrol. And we'll have to do that again tonight."
"True," Giles agreed. "We don't know how far we can trust Faith and her squad. And my trust in the upper echelons of the Council is waning as well."
"I knew you had suspicions before," Jenny said, worry overlaying the tension in her tone. "Has something new happened to confirm them besides the kidnapping?"
Quickly, Giles explained about the note Buffy had received, and the information she'd gotten from Spike. "All the information points to the Council. And so, as much as I am loath to admit complete corruption, something untoward is going on at the Compound. I hope to discern how much of the Council is involved, but at this point I can't risk anyone associated with the Council."
"That's what you have us for," Jenny said, trying for a bright tone. On a more serious note, she added, "Have you told Buffy and the others yet?"
"No." Giles shook his head even though she couldn't see him on the other end of the line. "I don't want to worry them. They have enough to worry about, and this will only make it worse."
"But you need them to pull this off..."
"I know, and I will tell them soon. When the spell is ready, and we can commence the rescue operation."
Jenny sighed. "Whatever you think is best. Amy and I should get it done tonight, as long as we can get Rio out of the way. I'm sure he will want to go patrolling, I just don't know if Faith will agree or not."
"Did you have any thoughts on the other thing?" Giles asked. "The tribunal starts tomorrow, so I haven't had a chance to look into it. And most of my contacts are too old to do much good, as well as being connected to the Council themselves..."
"I see," Jenny agreed. "Well, you are definitely right. For this to work, Oz's broken leg will have to be healed. Healing spells are just so temperamental, and they take a lot out of both healer and the healed. A healing spell for his leg could leave him ill for days, which wouldn't suit your purposes at all."
"But if the healing were done in conjunction with the other spell..." Giles suggested.
"That was my conclusion as well," Jenny agreed. "I contacted some people I know in the UK over the Internet, and I've got a name and phone number for you. His practice is pretty low profile, so you shouldn't have to worry about the Council hearing."
Giles copied down the information she gave him, and then stuck the scrap of paper in his wallet. "Thank you. I will call him as soon as I can."
"And I will call you at the hotel when I have the derivation you need," Jenny replied.
"Good luck," Giles said, and then, hearing the others coming down the hall, he quickly said, "I will talk to you tomorrow." And they both hung up. Neither heard the soft click of a third party hanging up as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sunnydale -- The Condo
When the library door opened, Amy watched Jenny come out and tried to read the inscrutable look on her face.
"What do you think is going on with her?" Terrance asked, stretching out comfortably on the couch and slinging an arm around Amy's shoulders.
Amy shrugged. "I don't know. She looks tense." She watched Jenny look in the living room, and then, realizing that Amy and Terrance were the only two in there, Jenny left as well. "I guess she has to talk to Angel and Faith about that phone call she just got."
"Maybe so." Terrance paused for a minute, and then said, "So, did you hear about this new demon loose in Sunnydale? They're saying it's a Kun'gi."
"No, I've never heard of that," Amy answered, looking to Terrance to fill her in.
He did, seemingly glad for the chance to explain. "They're a really vicious breed of demon. They have this tack horn in the middle of their foreheads, and they use it to drain the life force out of any living thing. Apparently they're no slouch in the fighting department either. I'm quite looking forward to tonight, actually."
Amy had to smile at Terrance's exuberance. He'd been that way all day, and it looked good on him. (Who am I kidding?) she asked herself wryly. (Sackcloth and ashes would look good on him!)
As if he could gauge her thoughts from the expression on her face, Terrance suddenly sat up and brought his lips down to hers. Amy sighed into the kiss -- their first real kiss, even though they'd spent most of the past two days together. He deepened the kiss, and she acquiesced willingly. His strong arms pulled her closer. Amy buried her fingers in his short hair, not thinking about how such a display, especially when anyone could walk in see them, was not something she usually did. Instead, she lost herself in the moment, and his enthralling kiss.
A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she held on to him tighter. The thought (I thought this kind of thing only happened in fiction) flittered through her mind, but coherent thought was soon gone again. Then Terrance moved his hand under her top and touched the bare skin of her stomach. Shocked, Amy jerked back out of his arms. He looked at her in confusion.
"I... I'm sorry," Amy stammered. "I didn't mean to lead you on. I just... that's just... not me. I don't go so fast..." She felt exposed under his odd stare.
Then, suddenly, his strange look melted away and the Terrance she'd come to know was smiling back at her. "I'm sorry, Amy. It was just... rather... er... the heat of the moment?"
"Heat, yes, good excuse," Amy replied, feeling the blush in her cheeks even now.
The sound of someone clearing their throat in the hallway made the amorous teens look up to see Nicole frowning at them. "Terrance," she said sharply, "I must speak with you. Now."
Terrance smiled at Amy apologetically. "I'm sorry, but I have to..."
"I understand," Amy replied. "Go on."
"I'll see you later? Or tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Amy agreed, returning his smile. "Call me." She sat back on the couch and watched Terrance go, the smile still lingering on her lips.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By the time Terrance followed Nicole to the landing between the first and second floors, where they were out of earshot from both those upstairs and those downstairs, the besotted smile had left his face and in its place was a business-like expression.
"What's wrong, Nicole, that you had to drag me away?" He kept his voice low, just as a precaution. He'd been taught well.
As had Nicole, who whispered back, "Drag you away from your torrid affair down there? Well, don't worry, I wouldn't have if it weren't important."
"What I do with Amy is..."
"I do not care about that!" Nicole replied harshly. "That is for you to determine. What I do care about is that Angel and Faith have decided to split up the teams tonight, and Ms. Calendar is insisting that Rio patrol as well."
Terrance thought about that for a second. "Well, I can see why you don't like that, but things are still workable. And it will help you to have Rio along... I assume that you, Rio and Faith will be together?"
"Yes," Nicole affirmed. "You know our exalted leader so well."
"Well, don't worry," Terrance told her. "Faith may be a potential Slayer, but when we get back to England and tell the Council how she acted, someone more... trustworthy... will be appointed to lead the team, I'm sure."
Nicole looked at Terrance with narrowed eyes. "You mean yourself."
Terrance shrugged. "We won't know until it happens, Nicole. Just play nice with the necrophiliac until this assignment is over. You don't want to jeopardize your position. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to prepare to patrol with our favorite pet vampire."
"What about...?" Nicole didn't finish her sentence, but Terrance knew just what she meant.
"It's taken care of." With that he walked upstairs to find his new patrolling partner. Nicole followed a few steps behind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Scooby Gang's Hotel
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz sighed, trying yet again to get comfortable in his chair.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz glanced at Cordelia. She held the remote control in her hand and continued to flip through the channels at an insane rate. The TV screen flickered as sitcoms, infomercials, weather reports and soap operas flashed by.
"Can you even see what's on the channels when you're flipping through them so fast?" Oz asked.
Cordelia shrugged. "I can see enough."
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Oz looked back at the television, watching with a hint of annoyance in his blue eyes as the channels whizzed by at a slightly alarming rate. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of something familiar before Cordelia's thumb pressed down yet again on the channel button and the stations continued to blur together. "Stop!" he cried belatedly. "Go back. I thought I saw something good."
"What channel?" Cordelia asked, slanting her gaze over to him.
"MTV, I think."
Cordelia shrugged her slender shoulders. "I've gone too far. We're already over half way through the numbers. It'll be faster to keep going forward, work my way back around to the beginning again."
Oz groaned and sunk down into his chair. A whole afternoon alone with Cordelia Chase was enough to strain even his easy-going nature. And this was the second one he'd had to endure.
Cordelia resisted a smile at his sulking countenance. (Men are such babies!) she mused, turning her gaze back to the television.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
"Here we go... MTV," Cordelia announced with a triumphant grin as she finally reached the elusive TV station. Moving her thumb to another area of the remote, she turned up the volume.
/...because I want it that way. You are my fire. My one desire.../
The Backstreet Boys were dancing on the screen, crooning to a group of awe-struck young girls. Cordelia looked over at Oz and raised one delicate eyebrow. "This was what you wanted to watch? I never took you for a Backstreet Boys fan, Oz."
Oz glared at her. "I am *not* a Backstreet Boys fan!"
Cordelia's grin grew wider at Oz's obvious discomfort. "Of course, you're not."
"Really, I'm not!" he sputtered. "I just thought that... um... well... that there was actually a good band playing."
"Like who?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Oz blurted out, "Um... Four Star Mary!"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Uh huh, because Four Star Mary looks and sounds *so* much like the Backstreet Boys," she replied sarcastically.
Oz frowned and slouched down in his seat, not even bothering to respond. Cordelia watched him for a moment, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. Then she turned back to the TV and frowned, giving a melodramatic sigh as the band continued to shimmy and shake their way across the television screen. "You know, I don't really like the Backstreet Boys all that much. I mean, they're okay, but N'Sync is much better. They have stronger harmony lines, better rhythm, and they're way cuter." She watched Oz squirm in his seat for a second before adding, "Though neither of them can even compare to 98 degrees. Now *there's* a band!"
Oz's eyes shot up to meet hers, disbelief filling them. "What?!?! How can you even possibly think that N'Sync is better than the Backstreet Boys? N'Sync is just an over-rated bunch of copy cats! And don't even get me started on 98..." he paused in his diatribe, looking over at Cordelia's barely suppressed laughter. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
Finally, Cordelia couldn't hold back any longer. Between peals of laughter, she gasped out, "Yeah, you sure did!"
Oz tried to keep a stern, disapproving look on his face, but he couldn't manage it. Soon, he was laughing right along with Cordelia Chase, something he'd never thought he'd see happen in his life. It was an odd experience, but surprisingly not a bad one.
Cordelia finally managed to regain control of wits and took a few deep breaths to calm down. Then, meeting Oz's gaze briefly, she gave him a small smile and said, "You know, you're not half bad to be around, Oz."
Oz shrugged. "I could say the same thing about you."
Cordelia shrugged, flipping her long, brown hair over her shoulder. "Well, duh!" she exclaimed with a grin. "But if you ever tell me that you also like to listen to Brittany Spears in your spare time, then I don't know you, got it?"
Oz smiled. "Got it. I guess that means I'll have to throw out my single of 'Genie in a Bottle' though. What a shame. I kinda liked that song."
Cordelia frowned, raising up a hand. "Hey, that's not a Brittany Spears song, that's by Christina Ag..." She trailed off, slowly realizing what she'd just said. Looking up at Oz, she sighed. "I fell right into that trap, didn't I?"
Oz smiled. "Yup."
Cordelia grinned at him and then turned back around in her seat. As she began to flip through the channels at a slightly slower rate this time, Oz sat back in his chair. A comfortable silence now rested between them. After a moment, Cordelia looked over her shoulder at him and grinned, flipping the television off. "So," she began, standing up slowly and stretching out the kinks in her muscles that came from sitting in front of the TV for too long before walking over to stand next to Oz. "Have you ever played Truth or Dare?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sunnydale -- The Streets
When he saw the familiar neon sign and rickety building up ahead, Angel felt a surge of relief. It had taken them long enough to get here. Terrance had insisted on checking out each and every bit of underbrush in each and every graveyard and park they passed. Of course, on one hand, Angel could admire the kid's thoroughness, but what annoyed Angel was that they were on Kun'gi patrol, not feral patrol, and there was only one place in town where they might be able to get a lead on Sunnydale's newest threat.
"Why are we here?" Terrance demanded when Angel moved to open the door of the unassuming building.
"We're looking for a lead on the Kun'gi," Angel replied patiently. He had to be careful that patient didn't slip into patronizing. He was very tempted. Terrance and his by-the-book methods were quickly becoming more tiresome than anything Faith had done.
"Yes, I know," Terrance replied with a scowl. "But do you really think we'll find it in a bar? A Kun'gi won't blend in with humans, unless it's Halloween, so it wouldn't be in here, making this whole exercise rather pointless..."
Stepping slightly away from the door, Angel explained, "This place is owned by Willy the Snitch. He caters to a rather demonic crowd. If the Kun'gi isn't here in the back room, then Willy's probably heard about it. Trust me, Willy has his ear on the pulse of the demonic community -- so to speak. This is our best chance." Then Angel turned and walked inside the bar. Terrance followed, but obviously very reluctantly.
Ignoring the commando for the moment, Angel strode confidently into the building and stopped across the bar from Willy. "Hello."
Willy looked up, a hint of panic in his weasely eyes. "Hey, Angel... It's been awhile. How's it handgun'?" He lowered his squeaky voice. "You ain't... you ain't gonna rough me up again, is ya? Because I'm tellin' the truth when I say I ain't dealin' in stolen blood no more. No more stolen blood for Willy, I swear Angel!"
"I'm not here about blood this time, Willy," Angel replied, grabbing the shorter man's shirt by the collar and effectively stopping his monologue. He accentuated his next words with a few rough shakes, making Willy feel slightly nauseous. "We're looking for someone. And something tells me you're gonna know something useful."
The barkeep looked around, but the last customer had just skedaddled out the door. He was alone with the white hats, which meant time to spill his guts. "Who ya lookin' for, Angel?"
"A Kun'gi demon," Angel replied, letting go of Willy's shirt and letting the guy stand on his own two feet. "Big brute of a demon, kind of green, a little slimy and it has a tack horn in the middle of its forehead that can drain the life-force out of any living thing. It's already killed some people in town. Know anything about it?"
"D...d...drain life force?" Willy stammered, his eyes going wide. "Uh, yeah, I know the guy. He stopped in here last night. Said he was stayin' in the industrial part of town. But he didn't seem vicious..."
"Probably because he'd already eaten," Angel replied, assuming that the point of draining life force was so the demon could feed, but he didn't know for sure. The writer of the demonology book hadn't known for sure. Kun'gi were rare demons.
Willy looked pale, but he kept a hold of himself. "That all, Angel, cuz I've got a business to run..."
Angel gave Willy a dark look, and then turned and headed out of the bar. Terrance followed.
"You see?" Angel said once they'd gotten out the door. "Now we have an area to search. It must've set down a lair in one of the abandoned factories..."
"How do you know you can trust that little slime?" Terrance asked incredulously. "Personally, I wouldn't trust anything that came out of his mouth. He just wants to save his own sorry little arse."
Angel gave Terrance a cold smile. "Willy knows what happens when he lies to me. He doesn't do it anymore."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
England -- The Compound
The second time they pulled up to the Compound, it looked much less imposing to Buffy. Or, it still looked imposing, but in a different way now that she knew what to expect. It was no longer the huge building and extensive grounds that intimidated her. Now she was worried about Sonya.
Leaning up toward the front seat, Buffy asked, "Are you *sure* you guys know what to do?"
Joyce looked back and gave her daughter a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Xander and I are ready to do our part."
"I still wish I could do it," Buffy muttered, sitting back as Giles parked the car.
Xander reached over and took her hand. "I know you do, but there isn't any other way. You and Giles will be the ones in the spotlight, not us -- especially not your mom."
Turning off the motor, Giles said, "They will have ample opportunity to slip away during the proceedings. And if they find a lead as to where Sonya and Doyle are being kept, if the Council really is behind this and Spike wasn't making things up to get rid of you, then we will be prepared to do something."
"But we still don't have a plan for getting them back if we find them," Buffy protested.
Giles met her eyes seriously. "I have a plan, Buffy, and I will tell you about it when and if we need to utilize it. But right now, I need the three of you not to know, just in case you are asked."
Realizing that Giles wasn't taking this as lightly as she'd thought, Buffy nodded. "All right, Giles. I trust you."
"Thank you, Buffy," Giles replied, a spark of emotion in his eyes. "That means a lot."
"Hey, G-Man!" Xander broke in on the moment. "We all trust you. You're the respectable, dutiful, honorable Watcher. Why would anyone not trust you? Except maybe these anal, tweedy freaks."
Giles gave Xander a sharp look. "As much as I appreciate the support, Xander, please don't say anything like that where people can hear you." With that, Giles got out of the car. The others followed, and they walked into the building. Marcus was waiting to show them to the room where the tribunal was going to take place.
Buffy looked around with wide eyes when he led them into a huge chamber towards the back of the mansion. It looked kind of like the courtrooms she'd seen on TV. There were rows of seating in the back. The wooden benches looked hard and uncomfortable, quite a contrast from the luxury of the rest of the mansion. In front of the benches, was a railing, separating the benches from two tables -- one for the defense and one for the prosecution. Following the aisle up the room, Buffy's eyes finally landed on the huge podium on a raised dais. This, the dominating feature of the room, was made of thick mahogany that gleamed with polish. On the front had been carved the seal of the Watchers' Council. The carving shone with white and golden paint. Next to the podium, and lower down, was a small boxed in area that seemed like a witness stand. The podium itself was divided into three parts, presumably for the three judges who would oversee the tribunal.
Thus far the room was empty, except for the four of them. Marcus had left soon after guiding them there, claiming he had business to attend to. Giles slowly walked down the aisle and through the gate. He put his briefcase on the defense table. He looked back at Buffy.
"You'll sit there, on the bench behind me."
Buffy nodded quietly.
Giles looked at Joyce and Xander. "And you'll be..."
"In the back," Joyce replied.
Xander suddenly burst into a coughing and gasping fit. After a moment or two, he gasped, "I have this asthma... I have to be able to get out quickly."
"And I'll be there to help him," Joyce added, keeping her face composed and calm.
"Good," Giles replied.
Buffy was still staring at the desk in the front of the room. "Giles, who's going to sit up there? You said three Watchers' will be the judges in your case. How do they decide who it is?"
"Proconsul Chamberlain will sit in the middle," Giles explained. "As the head of the Council, it is his right and duty. Vice Proconsul Post will most likely sit for the case as well. The third spot is a wild card. It is supposed to be filled by someone representative of the Council members not a part of the Proconsul's Advisors. I can't even begin to guess who will have been appointed."
"I'm a little worried about this testing thing," Buffy said, suddenly changing the subject. "All those people will be watching me... it makes me pretty nervous. I don't like being the center of attention. But I want to be a credit to you and your training, Giles. I mean, we've had our ups and downs, I know that, but you've been a good Watcher. I don't think I'd have made it this long as the Slayer without you."
Giles reached over the railing and put a gentle hand on the girls' shoulder. "Don't worry, Buffy. The testing will be a breeze for you. They'll put you through your paces, yes, but it's nothing you can't handle. You're very resourceful, and I have full confidence in you."
"Really?" Buffy met his eyes hopefully. "You think so? I mean, I'm sure Sonya would be better, but..." She bit that comment off quickly, both because it hurt to mention her name while she was missing and because she hadn't wanted Giles to know of her insecurities about being compared to the other girl.
"I've trained two Slayers in my day," Giles answered, "something no one else can claim. Yes, Sonya was a wonderful Slayer, she knew all the rules and she worked well within them. But, you, Buffy are Slayer in your own right. You go beyond the rules. You have good instincts, and a core of inner strength that will pull you through. I know you will shine in the arena today."
Buffy smiled shakily at him, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Wait a minute!" Xander said suddenly. "There's an arena here, too? How big is this place?"
The women burst into laughter as Giles scowled at Xander. But the older man's voice wasn't angry as he explained, "I used arena as a figure of speech, Xander."
"Oh..." Xander replied, giving them a sheepish smile and stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the room's double doors being thrown open to admit a crowd of Watchers, ready to observe the day's proceedings. Wesley was at the head of the group, and he hurried over to his seat at the table next to Giles.
"Well, Rupert, I suppose it's time. Are you ready?" Wesley looked nervous, but he seemed to be trying to project a mask of confidence.
"As I'll ever be," Giles replied, turning away from his support group and sitting down in his chair.
Buffy quietly took her place on the bench behind the defense table. Her oversized purse -- filled with both extra stakes and other weapons and a change of clothes into something more athletic -- sat on the bench beside her. She had to tell herself not to twist around in her seat to find Xander and her mother in the back of the room. She had to act like everything was perfectly normal.
The gate in the railing squeaked as Barrows walked through it to the prosecution's table. He glanced over at Giles with an expression that gave Buffy the creeps. He looked almost happy, in that understated British type of way. Then his eyes moved from the defense table over to her. He seemed surprised for an instant to catch her staring at him, but he covered it well. Buffy felt chilled, but she refused to cower and look away. After a minute, Barrows nodded at her and then turned away. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little.
Then a door in the front of the room opened, and Marcus walked out wearing a golden robe ((Kind of like a graduation gown) Buffy thought. (Or like a prettier version of the robe Judge Wapner wears.)) and a powdered wig.
"All rise," Marcus intoned grandly.
There was a loud rustling as everyone did as he bid. Buffy watched as the door opened again and a tall thin man walked out. He was old, at least sixty, but he bore the age well. He wore thin, gold-rimmed glasses, and a deep golden robe like the one Marcus had on. His hair was hidden underneath another powdered wig.
"Proconsul Sidney Chamberlain," Marcus announced. The man walked up to the seat of honor in the middle of the podium and took his seat.
"Vice Proconsul Gwendolyn Post," Marcus said a few seconds later.
On the heels of the announcement, Gwendolyn walked out. She, too, wore a golden robe. It flowed around her willowy body as she walked confidently to her place at the proconsul's right hand. Perhaps because she was a woman, Gwendolyn wasn't wearing a powdered wig, but her blonde hair was pulled back tightly in a ponytail and tied with a golden ribbon, just like the tails of the men's wigs.
The door opened again, and another robed, wigged figure walked out. Before Marcus could even say his name, a rush of surprised gasps and whispers hissed around the room. The man looked nervous, but he walked to his spot by the proconsul's left hand with as much regal bearing as he could muster.
His face inscrutable, Marcus waited until the room was quiet, and then announced the name of the third sitting judge. "Aidan O'Shea."