Act II - Zeppo Reloaded
Part 1: Peek-a-boo
******
"The prophecy has passed, though I cannot say it has been thwarted. Slayer Buffy faced the Master and she died, as it had been previously foretold. Yet, she lived and subsequently killed the Master. That is not to say that I am not happy with the turn of events. Slayer Buffy alive is a good thing, of course. It is just that the Codex has never been wrong even in the slightest. The prophecies were always very clear and precise, always cut and dry. I am going to have pay attention to all the factors involved in this occurrence, though, I am not exactly sure what I am looking for. Or whom."
From the Journal of Sir Rupert Giles,
Field Watcher to Slayer Buffy
Watchers Council Archives
May 27, 1996
******
Late-January. Cave off Sewer Tunnels. Night
"Tip top, really." Xander stood a bit unsteady atop the trash pile. He dusted himself off some more, thanking any deity listening that there was nothing sticky, wet, stinky or alive in there with him. "If anyone sees my spine lying around, please try not to step on it."
Buffy glared, with that peculiar mix of concern and condescension that was so her. "Xander, one of these days you're gonna get yourself hurt."
"Or killed." He could hear the extra venom Faith put on that. Damn, he'd forgotten how much she hated it when he played stupid. He tried to send her a slightly apologetic look.
"Or both," Buff spoke again. He raised an eyebrow. "You know, with the pain and the death." He just tilted his head and nodded, well-versed in Buffyspeak. She was beginning to rally anyway. "You shouldn't be leaping into the fray like that. You should be. fray-adjacent." He noticed Giles slightly rolling his eyes at her use of English.
"Excuse me?" He even managed to look offended. "Who, at the crucial moment, distracted the lead demon by allowing her to pummel him about the head?"
"Yeah, that was really manly," Faith said, again with the venom. "The way you shrieked and all." He smirked.
"I'll think you'll find that it was more of a bellow." Her mouth did that sexy twitch it did when she was trying to fight a smile. He winked slightly. She redoubled her effort, forcing it into a smirk. Apology offered and accepted, though it was kinda funny that they could have a sorta mini-argument in front of people without anyone noticing. *Yeah, funny in a sad way.*
He could hear Buffy, Willow and Giles continuing their discussion about demon disposal, tabling the Bitch-at-Xander session for the moment. He sighed. There were times he was genuinely tired of being the butt- monkey of the group. But, it was a choice he made some time ago, and he was going to have to stick to it, for now.
They began leaving the cave, Buffy and Willow in front, Faith slightly trailing them, he and Giles bringing up the rear. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Giles turning toward him.
"Xander," he began. "I do think it's best if you keep to the rear of the battle in the future." Giles stared at him, serious for a moment. "For your own sake."
Xander being Xander, decided this was a proper moment to be flip. "But gee, Mr. White. If Clark and Lois get all the big stories, I'll never be a real reporter." Giles raised his eyebrows. "Jimmy Olson jokes are pretty much gonna be lost on you huh."
Giles turned to the front once more. "Sorry." He did get some sincerity in his voice.
"It's okay," Xander replied. Giles nodded.
***********
"Buffy, Willow, I would like to discuss something with you both for a moment." The girls slowed some, allowing Giles to catch up. Faith took the opening to drop back to X. She lightly jabbed his shoulder, not enough to hurt, but enough to make him stumble. He grimaced, fighting to keep the others from noticing, which, of course, they didn't. Xander glared at her.
"I told you that every time you played stupid I was gonna pop you one, you brought this on yourself." He rolled his eyes.
"I thought you forgave me earlier." He batted his eyes in a mock pout that made her chuckle.
"I might've, doesn't mean I have to like it." She turned to him. "Dammit, X. You and me both know you could've done a lot of damage if you were the you I know in there. But no, you had to let that big demon bitch- slap you all over creation just 'cause you 'can't fight.'" She exhaled. He laid a hand on her shoulder; it calmed her, though she refused to think of why a simple gesture like that from him had that effect. She was quite happy in her Egyptian river, thank you.
"Believe me, Faith, it looked far worse than it felt. I just had to make it look bad." She scoffed, he sighed. "I wouldn't mind cutting loose every once in awhile." He looked at her, the serious look she was used to getting from Commander-Xander, as she thought of him. "But there's a bigger picture here that I'm not aware of just yet." He shrugged. "Until I am, it's better to play the fool, the weakling, because it's what everybody expects." He dropped his hand from her shoulder; she ignored the slight ache it's absence caused.
She could understand his reasoning, although what he might be hinting at was beyond her guess. Unlike B, she realized people had a right to some privacy and she trusted him, a rarity for her. She didn't tell him everything. She knew that he'd tell her when he was ready. She just hoped he wasn't gonna betray her, like what Jeeves did to B. Speaking of the Slayer-Princess.
"I just don't like how she treats you." That was a major part of it for her, at least. B didn't know how lucky she was to have the friends she did. And to have a close friend like him and treat him how she did. It was spitting in the face of blessing, in Faith's view. That was just compounded by the fact that X would risk his life for B without question.
He shrugged. "That's just par for the course," dismissing it simply. He grinned at her boyishly. "Besides, gives me a chance to play at acting." He tilted his nose up into the air, peering down at her out of the corners of his eyes. "After all, I am a man of many hidden talents." He intoned in a very snooty-sounding voice.
She snorted, raising an eyebrow. " Oh, really," she really enjoyed her time with him. "Like what, stud."
He cocked his head, smirked. "How the hell should I know?" He shrugged. 'They're all hidden." He winked, grinned again.
Her laugh echoed, carrying up to the other group. They all turned around, curious. B and Jeeves shook their heads, B added her little eye- roll, but Red glared at her for a little longer than necessary, before turning with her usual self-righteous pout.
"Hmph," Red said, sulking even more.
Faith laughed harder.
***********
Sunnydale High School Library, 45 minutes later.
"I have some news," A voice intoned from the shadows. They had been in the middle of the post-battle briefing. G-Man was in the middle of a lecture when Deadboy just lurked in from the stacks.
"Angel," Buffy breathed Deadboy's name like it was all Hope itself. Xander fought the urge to scowl. He wasn't jealous, not anymore, not after everything that happened. It just reminded him how Buffy saw the world in cute little boxes. Demons = Bad, Souled = Good. The world was never quite that simple; his parents taught him that.
"Buffy," his response was guarded, yet some emotion still leaked out.
"Angel, you have some information." G-Man interrupted them before they could start reenacting Shakespeare. He looked annoyed in his normal British way; he always looked annoyed when interrupted in the middle of his speech. It didn't help that it was Angel who did the interrupting.
Angel cleared his throat. "I'd heard some rumors," he avoided Giles' eyes. "About a new element in town." He seemed to steady himself. "There was a. massacre during a big secret meeting at a nest a few days back ago. About 25 vampires were killed."
"Doesn't sound like bad news to me." Faith spoke up for the first time in awhile. He realized she was trying to protect him; it was kinda sweet.
"I would have to agree with Faith." Giles stated.
"So would I, normally. 25 vampires does mean less for us to have to deal with." Angel gathered his thoughts before continuing. "But this might not be a normal case."
"Why, Angel?" Buffy asked, still looking a little like Lois Lane looking at Superman. Ever since that Christmas snow thing, she acted like last year never happened and they were still happy together. Xander grimaced.
"The rumors I am hearing point in two directions, and both aren't really good news." Deadboy responded. "One, a few sources said there was some kind of note left at the scene. The hunters knew about the secret meeting in advance. They believe that some competitor hired a hit, from maybe the Tarakan Order." Everyone, except Faith, was silent in memory of their last encounter. Faith raised her hand.
"Um, for those of us who wasn't around and didn't get the crib notes, what are Tarakans." Giles straightened for the moment.
"They are an Order of Demonic Assassins, dating back to King Solomon. Cold, vicious, relentless killers." G-Man turned to look at Buffy. "Spike sent them after Buffy last year in an attempt to distract us, at the least, while he empowered his mate Drusilla. We had many. " He paused, trying to find the words. "Close calls, as you would say." Faith seemed to absorb that, before turning to Buffy.
"Wicked Bad, huh B?"
Buffy shuddered involuntarily. "The wickedest."
Xander felt this was a good moment to speak. "But if the Tarakans are assassins, then who is the mar. target supposed to be?" He caught himself before slipping into military jargon. "And last time there were, like, droves of them, right?" He wanted to throw them off that Tarakan "bad guy" track; last thing he needed is to be asked to help Buffy track himself.
"Yeah, he's, um, right." Willow piped up. "They seemed to be coming from all over the place after Buffy." Giles and Angel looked pensive.
"Yes, that is a good point," Giles said. He turned to Angel. "You did tell Buffy before that you'd noted some rumors of a potential independent, hunting vampires in town some time ago. Do your sources have any idea who the independent is or whom his target might be, if we are in fact dealing with the Order."
Angel shook his head. "No, that's what had them confused. It's been just random before. This was the first attack of real consequence in the power structure." He sighed. "Nobody knows who the hunter is. The only thing they even know now, thanks to that taunt, is that he calls himself Nemo."
"Oh, that's funny." Willow scoffed. "Our hunter guy's name is Latin for nobody." She rolled her eyes and giggled. "How cute."
Xander saw Faith turn sharply to him out of the corner of his eye. He sighed internally. When she'd asked about the name before, he'd told her it was kinda like a nickname his father called him. Which was true, one of his father's favorite things was calling him names. He requested it when he joined up, to remind himself of where he came from, what he'd been through. And, as Kodiak told him, sometimes the best heroes are the ones you don't see.
"Doesn't sound like much of an assassin to me." Xander said, trying to nudge the discussion along so he could hear the second rumor. He saw Faith's eyes soften, before she sighed, letting it go, for the moment at least.
***********
"I would agree, Xander," Giles cleaned one of his lenses. "The actions do not really match the Order's history that well. We could be mistaken, however, as it could be some kind of misdirection or feint. I will do some research just to be certain, in any case." She watched Jeeves look to Fang, albeit reluctantly. She hoped X had nothing to do with that Order, for both their sakes. "What about the second rumor, Angel?"
Angel took a deep breath, the action was surprising because, for one thing, he didn't need it, and for another, Fang stalling normally meant bad news. "The other rumor is that the hunter might be a member of the Ten." His answer drew blanks around the table, though X's blank face was a little false, and a hearty gasp for Giles. Everyone looked at Giles in surprise.
"You are not joking, are you?" The shaken intensity of Giles' voice served to help unnerve the rest of the group.
"I only wish I was, Giles." The nervousness in Angel's voice racketed the tension up even furthur. Buffy found her voice first.
"Uh, Hello, guys, um. What are 'The Ten,' and, like, why are you two so totally wigged?"
Fang deferred to Jeeves, who answered, after cleaning his glasses thoroughly. "The Ten are legend, Buffy." The seriousness of his voice was matched only by the awe in the undertone. "An alliance of Warrior Elite, the 'ten best' as it were. Extremely ruthless, dangerous; incomparable beings capable of displays of martial prowess like this world has never seen." He paused, collecting himself.
"What kind of Demons are they?" Faith asked. She watched X carefully out of the corner of her eyes. He was looking at Giles inquisitively, a little too inquisitively.
"No one is sure exactly what they are, Faith." Jeeves responded.
"So, what, like no witnesses?" Willow asked. "Whose side are they on?"
"Well," Jeeves paused. "They've been known to attack Demons, mostly. One old myth said it was one of them who originally slayed Acathala and dismembered the Judge."
"So, they are good guys then." X said, looking like an eager student. Maybe he's just a fan? It was kinda funny; she'd gotten used to reading him, and yet, in other ways, he was an absolute mystery.
"Hmm, they have fought evil creatures, but they've been also known to take out humans as well. There was even an old council myth that they were responsible for the Battle of Midnight."
"I think I speak for every one when I say, huh?" She congratulated herself for her restraint in not kicking his foot under the table; she hated his "dumb act."
"The Battle of Midnight was a pitched battle in the early medieval era between the Council and an unknown adversary. All that is known today is that the Council was completely destroyed for a time and the Slayers of the period went missing. That's why they call it the Battle of Midnight, because the Council's light went out for over half a century." He shook himself for a beat. "No one knows exactly who the opponents were; after all, almost everything was destroyed, but many council historians believe it was the Ten."
"I've known some demons in my time who heard things, told scary 'ghost' stories." Fang said solemnly, leaning on the back of a chair. "To demons, the Ten are even bigger boogymen then even the Slayer." He took another deep breath. "All that's really known is that they are silent, fast and incredibly deadly, and no demon wants to cross paths with them. If this town does have one here, and its confirmed, only the hardcases won't clear out in a hurry."
"They don't sound so bad to me. I wish we did have a couple around, make life easier." Faith said.
"But they killed Watchers. " Willow's eyes were bugged out. X just shrugged.
"After that whole Chrysanthemum thing, watchers ain't looking all that saintly to me anymore, except our favorite Brit." Nice shot, X.
"Yeah, and double on the favorite Brit part." B interjected.
Jeeves snorted, "Well, thank you, and that is Cruciamentum." He peered over the group. "In any case, the fact remains that in either case, we can't be sure what side this hunter will fall on. I will begin doing some research, and you can go home for the evening. Maybe, I may have something new by the morning." Everyone started to gather up their stuff while Angel began moving toward the stacks.
"Hey Angel, walk Will and me home?" B asked. Fang nodded, fighting a slight half-smile. B turned to Jeeves. "Well, whoever he is, he's killing vamps right? Can't be all bad, huh?"
"Quite right, Buffy, but you can never be too careful. You never really know what someone might be capable of." Jeeves headed toward his office. Faith wondered exactly what he meant by that. She noticed X trying to catch her eye on the way out; he flashed a quick hand signal. She nodded in agreement. He'd meet her at the diner in about an hour, so they could do a East-side sweep. *After all, he had a new shiny rep to maintain.* She laughed under her breath.
***********
Almost Midnight, Same evening
"May I speak to M, please?"
"Certainly 013, hold a moment, I will connect you."
".silence."
"Good evening, 013."
"Top of the morning to you, M. You received my last report."
"Yes, I did, 013, and I must say that not too many of us were pleased with the outcome."
"I didn't really have a choice in the manner, M. If I had not acted in the manner I did, the scenario likely would have been far worse and far more damaging."
"I will admit that there was a distinct possibility of that, 013, however you did take a majorly big risk. You've lost a large number of your contacts inside."
"I realize that, M, and I am attempting to account for that, but the alternative was no better than murderous betrayal."
"Yes, and she still almost died, from what I gathered."
".sigh." "I did the best that I could, and she is more than just an asset to me."
"I do understand, 013, that is one of your virtues. She is as loyal to you as you are to her. We do appreciate that, and realize it makes the other factor somewhat negligible."
"Still, I was told when I mentioned just this scenario occurring, that we were going to be able to neutralize that possibility before it even became an issue."
"And that was in the plans, however things did not work out that way."
". scoff ." "Well, that was just bloody obvious, wasn't it?"
"Don't be snide, 013. It doesn't become you."
". chuckle ." "Of course not, M. You know that I leave any behavior of that sort to your precious double-0."
". sigh ." "Even though it is night where you are, 013, over here, it is still a little too early in the morning for your brand of wit."
"I know that, M, that's why I enjoy sharing this special time with you."
". snort ." "Quite. Well, anyway, I want to congratulate you on your efforts thus far, 013. Good show."
"Thank you, M. That is all I wanted to provide after all. Is there anything else?"
"No, not at the moment."
"Well, if you do not mind, M, I'll take my leave then. As you mentioned, it is rather late on this side of the Atlantic."
"Of course, Mr. Giles. Good day, or rather good night."
"Good day, M."
Giles hung up the secured line in his office, cut off the lights and headed for the door. He finished researching for now. As he'd thought, the situation did not match the normal Tarakan M.O. It looks like the second guess is far more likely. Things must be coming to a head then, he thought ruefully, for one of Them to make an appearance. As soon as he reached home, he was going straight to bed. Something told him tomorrow was going to be a long day.
************
East Side After Midnight.
"Catch ya later, Stud." She waved, yawning as she opened her room door
"See you tomorrow, Faith." He ignited the V-Max's engine, enjoying the purr.
His large bike rode smoothly out of the motel lot. It had been an interesting night. After meeting up, they rode to a couple hot spots on Eastside. Wasn't much in the way of vamp activity, but there were some situations that asked for their brand of attention.
It was a nice workout for him, after playing the patsy all night. She was kinda tired, though who wouldn't be after playing with those Jhe demons earlier. They decided to cut it short, feeling they made a solid dent for one night. They killed enough vamps that the demons would notice a difference.
She teased him about his "rep" but didn't really ask much. He was surprised, maybe he schooled his reaction enough to the mention of the Ten that she didn't notice. Or maybe she was giving him a pass. That was most likely it. Even though they hadn't really known each other long, they did have mutual trust.
They both had a habit of keeping secrets, he noted; they were very much alike that way. And they respected each other. She gave him his privacy, like he did for her. Neither of them felt obligated to share, so anything that was shared was seen as a gift.
Still, he would love to bring her in. He wasn't really aware of the respect the Ten had going for them. Kodiak came to lowly, little old Xander Harris after all. Kodiak respected him, befriended him, then made him an offer he knew Xander couldn't refuse. He smirked. He pictured that bear of a man starring in The Godfather.
Xander knew that he wanted to help, to do the right thing. The Ten was a way he could do that on a scale he never really considered before, but they wanted him and it felt right.
And he wanted to share that with Faith. He knew, like himself, she never really belonged anywhere before. The closest he came to belonging was with Jesse and Wills, the three musketeers. After that, maybe when Buff first came to the Sunnydale but he'd been on the outside in for awhile now, probably since Angelus. The fluking thing didn't help either.
He sighed, hitting the accelerator. He cruised, still keeping his eyes peeled for something before he headed for home. They were debating the possibility, a Slayer double agent. He just wanted his partner to be full-time. It'd only been a few weeks, but they worked great together. And she was just as good a friend.
"CRASH!"
Sounds of a struggle from his left interrupted his internal monologue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fight happening in an alley as he passed by. He whipped the bike around, pointing toward the battle. He idled at the alley entrance to briefly recon. He wished he had Faith with him, for a moment, but quickly dismissed the thought as irrelevant.
Not very wide area, still, just enough room to operate. Xander noticed a grocery bag near the edge of the entryway. Shrugging, he turned his attention toward the battle. He could make out several growling sounds and pained whimpers; from the looks of it, a pack of eight vampires were attacking three people, 2 guys and a girl. They had the humans pinned to the rear of the alley.
The younger man, about Xander's age, seemed freaked in the back. It didn't matter much though. The older man, wearing a long trench, seemed to be holding them off pretty easily, though, curiously. The hostiles couldn't even get close to him before he moved, attacking swiftly with more skill and grace then Buffy or Faith on their best day, countering anything they could've tried. He had no weapons though, which meant he was pretty much stuck on defense, keeping the vampires away from the younger pair.
Xander revved his engine. Everyone turned to him.
"Is this a private party?" He asked jovially.
A familiar voice responded. "Oh, no, please feel free to crash." The vampires were a little stunned by the whole idea of food having a conversation.
He grinned in his helmet. "I was hoping you'd say something like that." He revved the bike, hit the gas and raced down the alley. He quickly whipped the bike sideways, pulling to a sliding stop that smashed into a handful of them who couldn't evade. He killed the engine, letting the bike fall, as he stepped away, stake in hand.
He quickly staked one fallen vamp as another moved in his direction. Xander greeted him with a stomp to the nerve cluster in his foot and a swift, short hook to the jaw with his brand-new, blessed brass-knuckled gloves. The vamp reeled, giving him enough time to stake him. Man, I do love working the Ten, Xander chuckled internally.
He staked a prone hostile whose leg was broken earlier when Xander's rear wheel smashed through it. Turning, he looked for more targets, but was greeted by a very pleasant, yet shocking, surprise.
The man who was able to provoke a holding action earlier, now had went on the attack. Somehow, Mystery Guy had pulled a sword from nowhere and simply began to decimate any hostile in his path. He couldn't make out his identity yet, the shadows and the man's fluid yet fast movements prevented that. There were only two vamps left. Xander just stopped and watched, he even felt tempted to take notes.
The last vamp growled low, moved to lunge at Mystery Guy from behind while he was busy slashing one almost to pieces. Before Xander could think to shout a warning, Mystery Guy beheaded the one in front of him, turned right, whirled the blade in one motion and sliced the hostile's left leg off at the thigh clean. He then continued the blade's momentum around and slashed upward viciously, quickly beheading the vampire as he fell. To Xander, it was like mystery guy made Zorro's signature in 3-D, and then decided to kill two vampires while he was at it. Xander clapped slowly, in genuine appreciation.
"Nice work, Obi-Wan."
The man looked at him, the shadows still covered his face, but Xander could see him grin and shake his head ruefully, as he put the blade away into his trench? Huh? As Xander thought to ask how, the man stepped more into the light. Xander gaped.
"Uncle Rory?" How in the hell was that possible? His jaw dropped.
"Hello, Alexander." Rory greeted him with that controlled cool that was always so him. "You might catch some dust in your mouth if you don't close it." Rory paused, acknowledging Xander's silent question. "Let's get this couple on their way, first."
Reflexively, Xander closed his mouth and listened, used to following Rory's requests without question. Whenever he was around, Uncle Rory was the guy that taught him how to be a man. From just talking to playing sports to learning to shave to learning to drive. Hell, Uncle Rory was the one who even explained about wet dreams to a worried 11-year old. And now, to find out the man Xander basically idolized, was a swash-buckling action hero, was a bit much.
Rory handled the couple easily, who were scared out of their wits. Xander didn't say much, he was still in too much shock. He picked up his bike, checking for damages, which were none. He looked up and realized they were alone. They walked out of the alley in silence.
Rory leaned over to pick up the bag of groceries, hefting them easily. He turned to face Xander, whose face still formed a silent question.
"You have questions, it would be best if I answer them at my home." Xander nodded, still not trusting himself to speak. Rory sighed. They reached his car, Xander still walking his bike along.
"Alexander, I will tell you everything you need to know," Rory paused, checking his surroundings again very subtly. He smirked coolly. "Or should I call you Nemo?"
******
Part 1: Peek-a-boo
******
"The prophecy has passed, though I cannot say it has been thwarted. Slayer Buffy faced the Master and she died, as it had been previously foretold. Yet, she lived and subsequently killed the Master. That is not to say that I am not happy with the turn of events. Slayer Buffy alive is a good thing, of course. It is just that the Codex has never been wrong even in the slightest. The prophecies were always very clear and precise, always cut and dry. I am going to have pay attention to all the factors involved in this occurrence, though, I am not exactly sure what I am looking for. Or whom."
From the Journal of Sir Rupert Giles,
Field Watcher to Slayer Buffy
Watchers Council Archives
May 27, 1996
******
Late-January. Cave off Sewer Tunnels. Night
"Tip top, really." Xander stood a bit unsteady atop the trash pile. He dusted himself off some more, thanking any deity listening that there was nothing sticky, wet, stinky or alive in there with him. "If anyone sees my spine lying around, please try not to step on it."
Buffy glared, with that peculiar mix of concern and condescension that was so her. "Xander, one of these days you're gonna get yourself hurt."
"Or killed." He could hear the extra venom Faith put on that. Damn, he'd forgotten how much she hated it when he played stupid. He tried to send her a slightly apologetic look.
"Or both," Buff spoke again. He raised an eyebrow. "You know, with the pain and the death." He just tilted his head and nodded, well-versed in Buffyspeak. She was beginning to rally anyway. "You shouldn't be leaping into the fray like that. You should be. fray-adjacent." He noticed Giles slightly rolling his eyes at her use of English.
"Excuse me?" He even managed to look offended. "Who, at the crucial moment, distracted the lead demon by allowing her to pummel him about the head?"
"Yeah, that was really manly," Faith said, again with the venom. "The way you shrieked and all." He smirked.
"I'll think you'll find that it was more of a bellow." Her mouth did that sexy twitch it did when she was trying to fight a smile. He winked slightly. She redoubled her effort, forcing it into a smirk. Apology offered and accepted, though it was kinda funny that they could have a sorta mini-argument in front of people without anyone noticing. *Yeah, funny in a sad way.*
He could hear Buffy, Willow and Giles continuing their discussion about demon disposal, tabling the Bitch-at-Xander session for the moment. He sighed. There were times he was genuinely tired of being the butt- monkey of the group. But, it was a choice he made some time ago, and he was going to have to stick to it, for now.
They began leaving the cave, Buffy and Willow in front, Faith slightly trailing them, he and Giles bringing up the rear. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Giles turning toward him.
"Xander," he began. "I do think it's best if you keep to the rear of the battle in the future." Giles stared at him, serious for a moment. "For your own sake."
Xander being Xander, decided this was a proper moment to be flip. "But gee, Mr. White. If Clark and Lois get all the big stories, I'll never be a real reporter." Giles raised his eyebrows. "Jimmy Olson jokes are pretty much gonna be lost on you huh."
Giles turned to the front once more. "Sorry." He did get some sincerity in his voice.
"It's okay," Xander replied. Giles nodded.
***********
"Buffy, Willow, I would like to discuss something with you both for a moment." The girls slowed some, allowing Giles to catch up. Faith took the opening to drop back to X. She lightly jabbed his shoulder, not enough to hurt, but enough to make him stumble. He grimaced, fighting to keep the others from noticing, which, of course, they didn't. Xander glared at her.
"I told you that every time you played stupid I was gonna pop you one, you brought this on yourself." He rolled his eyes.
"I thought you forgave me earlier." He batted his eyes in a mock pout that made her chuckle.
"I might've, doesn't mean I have to like it." She turned to him. "Dammit, X. You and me both know you could've done a lot of damage if you were the you I know in there. But no, you had to let that big demon bitch- slap you all over creation just 'cause you 'can't fight.'" She exhaled. He laid a hand on her shoulder; it calmed her, though she refused to think of why a simple gesture like that from him had that effect. She was quite happy in her Egyptian river, thank you.
"Believe me, Faith, it looked far worse than it felt. I just had to make it look bad." She scoffed, he sighed. "I wouldn't mind cutting loose every once in awhile." He looked at her, the serious look she was used to getting from Commander-Xander, as she thought of him. "But there's a bigger picture here that I'm not aware of just yet." He shrugged. "Until I am, it's better to play the fool, the weakling, because it's what everybody expects." He dropped his hand from her shoulder; she ignored the slight ache it's absence caused.
She could understand his reasoning, although what he might be hinting at was beyond her guess. Unlike B, she realized people had a right to some privacy and she trusted him, a rarity for her. She didn't tell him everything. She knew that he'd tell her when he was ready. She just hoped he wasn't gonna betray her, like what Jeeves did to B. Speaking of the Slayer-Princess.
"I just don't like how she treats you." That was a major part of it for her, at least. B didn't know how lucky she was to have the friends she did. And to have a close friend like him and treat him how she did. It was spitting in the face of blessing, in Faith's view. That was just compounded by the fact that X would risk his life for B without question.
He shrugged. "That's just par for the course," dismissing it simply. He grinned at her boyishly. "Besides, gives me a chance to play at acting." He tilted his nose up into the air, peering down at her out of the corners of his eyes. "After all, I am a man of many hidden talents." He intoned in a very snooty-sounding voice.
She snorted, raising an eyebrow. " Oh, really," she really enjoyed her time with him. "Like what, stud."
He cocked his head, smirked. "How the hell should I know?" He shrugged. 'They're all hidden." He winked, grinned again.
Her laugh echoed, carrying up to the other group. They all turned around, curious. B and Jeeves shook their heads, B added her little eye- roll, but Red glared at her for a little longer than necessary, before turning with her usual self-righteous pout.
"Hmph," Red said, sulking even more.
Faith laughed harder.
***********
Sunnydale High School Library, 45 minutes later.
"I have some news," A voice intoned from the shadows. They had been in the middle of the post-battle briefing. G-Man was in the middle of a lecture when Deadboy just lurked in from the stacks.
"Angel," Buffy breathed Deadboy's name like it was all Hope itself. Xander fought the urge to scowl. He wasn't jealous, not anymore, not after everything that happened. It just reminded him how Buffy saw the world in cute little boxes. Demons = Bad, Souled = Good. The world was never quite that simple; his parents taught him that.
"Buffy," his response was guarded, yet some emotion still leaked out.
"Angel, you have some information." G-Man interrupted them before they could start reenacting Shakespeare. He looked annoyed in his normal British way; he always looked annoyed when interrupted in the middle of his speech. It didn't help that it was Angel who did the interrupting.
Angel cleared his throat. "I'd heard some rumors," he avoided Giles' eyes. "About a new element in town." He seemed to steady himself. "There was a. massacre during a big secret meeting at a nest a few days back ago. About 25 vampires were killed."
"Doesn't sound like bad news to me." Faith spoke up for the first time in awhile. He realized she was trying to protect him; it was kinda sweet.
"I would have to agree with Faith." Giles stated.
"So would I, normally. 25 vampires does mean less for us to have to deal with." Angel gathered his thoughts before continuing. "But this might not be a normal case."
"Why, Angel?" Buffy asked, still looking a little like Lois Lane looking at Superman. Ever since that Christmas snow thing, she acted like last year never happened and they were still happy together. Xander grimaced.
"The rumors I am hearing point in two directions, and both aren't really good news." Deadboy responded. "One, a few sources said there was some kind of note left at the scene. The hunters knew about the secret meeting in advance. They believe that some competitor hired a hit, from maybe the Tarakan Order." Everyone, except Faith, was silent in memory of their last encounter. Faith raised her hand.
"Um, for those of us who wasn't around and didn't get the crib notes, what are Tarakans." Giles straightened for the moment.
"They are an Order of Demonic Assassins, dating back to King Solomon. Cold, vicious, relentless killers." G-Man turned to look at Buffy. "Spike sent them after Buffy last year in an attempt to distract us, at the least, while he empowered his mate Drusilla. We had many. " He paused, trying to find the words. "Close calls, as you would say." Faith seemed to absorb that, before turning to Buffy.
"Wicked Bad, huh B?"
Buffy shuddered involuntarily. "The wickedest."
Xander felt this was a good moment to speak. "But if the Tarakans are assassins, then who is the mar. target supposed to be?" He caught himself before slipping into military jargon. "And last time there were, like, droves of them, right?" He wanted to throw them off that Tarakan "bad guy" track; last thing he needed is to be asked to help Buffy track himself.
"Yeah, he's, um, right." Willow piped up. "They seemed to be coming from all over the place after Buffy." Giles and Angel looked pensive.
"Yes, that is a good point," Giles said. He turned to Angel. "You did tell Buffy before that you'd noted some rumors of a potential independent, hunting vampires in town some time ago. Do your sources have any idea who the independent is or whom his target might be, if we are in fact dealing with the Order."
Angel shook his head. "No, that's what had them confused. It's been just random before. This was the first attack of real consequence in the power structure." He sighed. "Nobody knows who the hunter is. The only thing they even know now, thanks to that taunt, is that he calls himself Nemo."
"Oh, that's funny." Willow scoffed. "Our hunter guy's name is Latin for nobody." She rolled her eyes and giggled. "How cute."
Xander saw Faith turn sharply to him out of the corner of his eye. He sighed internally. When she'd asked about the name before, he'd told her it was kinda like a nickname his father called him. Which was true, one of his father's favorite things was calling him names. He requested it when he joined up, to remind himself of where he came from, what he'd been through. And, as Kodiak told him, sometimes the best heroes are the ones you don't see.
"Doesn't sound like much of an assassin to me." Xander said, trying to nudge the discussion along so he could hear the second rumor. He saw Faith's eyes soften, before she sighed, letting it go, for the moment at least.
***********
"I would agree, Xander," Giles cleaned one of his lenses. "The actions do not really match the Order's history that well. We could be mistaken, however, as it could be some kind of misdirection or feint. I will do some research just to be certain, in any case." She watched Jeeves look to Fang, albeit reluctantly. She hoped X had nothing to do with that Order, for both their sakes. "What about the second rumor, Angel?"
Angel took a deep breath, the action was surprising because, for one thing, he didn't need it, and for another, Fang stalling normally meant bad news. "The other rumor is that the hunter might be a member of the Ten." His answer drew blanks around the table, though X's blank face was a little false, and a hearty gasp for Giles. Everyone looked at Giles in surprise.
"You are not joking, are you?" The shaken intensity of Giles' voice served to help unnerve the rest of the group.
"I only wish I was, Giles." The nervousness in Angel's voice racketed the tension up even furthur. Buffy found her voice first.
"Uh, Hello, guys, um. What are 'The Ten,' and, like, why are you two so totally wigged?"
Fang deferred to Jeeves, who answered, after cleaning his glasses thoroughly. "The Ten are legend, Buffy." The seriousness of his voice was matched only by the awe in the undertone. "An alliance of Warrior Elite, the 'ten best' as it were. Extremely ruthless, dangerous; incomparable beings capable of displays of martial prowess like this world has never seen." He paused, collecting himself.
"What kind of Demons are they?" Faith asked. She watched X carefully out of the corner of her eyes. He was looking at Giles inquisitively, a little too inquisitively.
"No one is sure exactly what they are, Faith." Jeeves responded.
"So, what, like no witnesses?" Willow asked. "Whose side are they on?"
"Well," Jeeves paused. "They've been known to attack Demons, mostly. One old myth said it was one of them who originally slayed Acathala and dismembered the Judge."
"So, they are good guys then." X said, looking like an eager student. Maybe he's just a fan? It was kinda funny; she'd gotten used to reading him, and yet, in other ways, he was an absolute mystery.
"Hmm, they have fought evil creatures, but they've been also known to take out humans as well. There was even an old council myth that they were responsible for the Battle of Midnight."
"I think I speak for every one when I say, huh?" She congratulated herself for her restraint in not kicking his foot under the table; she hated his "dumb act."
"The Battle of Midnight was a pitched battle in the early medieval era between the Council and an unknown adversary. All that is known today is that the Council was completely destroyed for a time and the Slayers of the period went missing. That's why they call it the Battle of Midnight, because the Council's light went out for over half a century." He shook himself for a beat. "No one knows exactly who the opponents were; after all, almost everything was destroyed, but many council historians believe it was the Ten."
"I've known some demons in my time who heard things, told scary 'ghost' stories." Fang said solemnly, leaning on the back of a chair. "To demons, the Ten are even bigger boogymen then even the Slayer." He took another deep breath. "All that's really known is that they are silent, fast and incredibly deadly, and no demon wants to cross paths with them. If this town does have one here, and its confirmed, only the hardcases won't clear out in a hurry."
"They don't sound so bad to me. I wish we did have a couple around, make life easier." Faith said.
"But they killed Watchers. " Willow's eyes were bugged out. X just shrugged.
"After that whole Chrysanthemum thing, watchers ain't looking all that saintly to me anymore, except our favorite Brit." Nice shot, X.
"Yeah, and double on the favorite Brit part." B interjected.
Jeeves snorted, "Well, thank you, and that is Cruciamentum." He peered over the group. "In any case, the fact remains that in either case, we can't be sure what side this hunter will fall on. I will begin doing some research, and you can go home for the evening. Maybe, I may have something new by the morning." Everyone started to gather up their stuff while Angel began moving toward the stacks.
"Hey Angel, walk Will and me home?" B asked. Fang nodded, fighting a slight half-smile. B turned to Jeeves. "Well, whoever he is, he's killing vamps right? Can't be all bad, huh?"
"Quite right, Buffy, but you can never be too careful. You never really know what someone might be capable of." Jeeves headed toward his office. Faith wondered exactly what he meant by that. She noticed X trying to catch her eye on the way out; he flashed a quick hand signal. She nodded in agreement. He'd meet her at the diner in about an hour, so they could do a East-side sweep. *After all, he had a new shiny rep to maintain.* She laughed under her breath.
***********
Almost Midnight, Same evening
"May I speak to M, please?"
"Certainly 013, hold a moment, I will connect you."
".silence."
"Good evening, 013."
"Top of the morning to you, M. You received my last report."
"Yes, I did, 013, and I must say that not too many of us were pleased with the outcome."
"I didn't really have a choice in the manner, M. If I had not acted in the manner I did, the scenario likely would have been far worse and far more damaging."
"I will admit that there was a distinct possibility of that, 013, however you did take a majorly big risk. You've lost a large number of your contacts inside."
"I realize that, M, and I am attempting to account for that, but the alternative was no better than murderous betrayal."
"Yes, and she still almost died, from what I gathered."
".sigh." "I did the best that I could, and she is more than just an asset to me."
"I do understand, 013, that is one of your virtues. She is as loyal to you as you are to her. We do appreciate that, and realize it makes the other factor somewhat negligible."
"Still, I was told when I mentioned just this scenario occurring, that we were going to be able to neutralize that possibility before it even became an issue."
"And that was in the plans, however things did not work out that way."
". scoff ." "Well, that was just bloody obvious, wasn't it?"
"Don't be snide, 013. It doesn't become you."
". chuckle ." "Of course not, M. You know that I leave any behavior of that sort to your precious double-0."
". sigh ." "Even though it is night where you are, 013, over here, it is still a little too early in the morning for your brand of wit."
"I know that, M, that's why I enjoy sharing this special time with you."
". snort ." "Quite. Well, anyway, I want to congratulate you on your efforts thus far, 013. Good show."
"Thank you, M. That is all I wanted to provide after all. Is there anything else?"
"No, not at the moment."
"Well, if you do not mind, M, I'll take my leave then. As you mentioned, it is rather late on this side of the Atlantic."
"Of course, Mr. Giles. Good day, or rather good night."
"Good day, M."
Giles hung up the secured line in his office, cut off the lights and headed for the door. He finished researching for now. As he'd thought, the situation did not match the normal Tarakan M.O. It looks like the second guess is far more likely. Things must be coming to a head then, he thought ruefully, for one of Them to make an appearance. As soon as he reached home, he was going straight to bed. Something told him tomorrow was going to be a long day.
************
East Side After Midnight.
"Catch ya later, Stud." She waved, yawning as she opened her room door
"See you tomorrow, Faith." He ignited the V-Max's engine, enjoying the purr.
His large bike rode smoothly out of the motel lot. It had been an interesting night. After meeting up, they rode to a couple hot spots on Eastside. Wasn't much in the way of vamp activity, but there were some situations that asked for their brand of attention.
It was a nice workout for him, after playing the patsy all night. She was kinda tired, though who wouldn't be after playing with those Jhe demons earlier. They decided to cut it short, feeling they made a solid dent for one night. They killed enough vamps that the demons would notice a difference.
She teased him about his "rep" but didn't really ask much. He was surprised, maybe he schooled his reaction enough to the mention of the Ten that she didn't notice. Or maybe she was giving him a pass. That was most likely it. Even though they hadn't really known each other long, they did have mutual trust.
They both had a habit of keeping secrets, he noted; they were very much alike that way. And they respected each other. She gave him his privacy, like he did for her. Neither of them felt obligated to share, so anything that was shared was seen as a gift.
Still, he would love to bring her in. He wasn't really aware of the respect the Ten had going for them. Kodiak came to lowly, little old Xander Harris after all. Kodiak respected him, befriended him, then made him an offer he knew Xander couldn't refuse. He smirked. He pictured that bear of a man starring in The Godfather.
Xander knew that he wanted to help, to do the right thing. The Ten was a way he could do that on a scale he never really considered before, but they wanted him and it felt right.
And he wanted to share that with Faith. He knew, like himself, she never really belonged anywhere before. The closest he came to belonging was with Jesse and Wills, the three musketeers. After that, maybe when Buff first came to the Sunnydale but he'd been on the outside in for awhile now, probably since Angelus. The fluking thing didn't help either.
He sighed, hitting the accelerator. He cruised, still keeping his eyes peeled for something before he headed for home. They were debating the possibility, a Slayer double agent. He just wanted his partner to be full-time. It'd only been a few weeks, but they worked great together. And she was just as good a friend.
"CRASH!"
Sounds of a struggle from his left interrupted his internal monologue. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fight happening in an alley as he passed by. He whipped the bike around, pointing toward the battle. He idled at the alley entrance to briefly recon. He wished he had Faith with him, for a moment, but quickly dismissed the thought as irrelevant.
Not very wide area, still, just enough room to operate. Xander noticed a grocery bag near the edge of the entryway. Shrugging, he turned his attention toward the battle. He could make out several growling sounds and pained whimpers; from the looks of it, a pack of eight vampires were attacking three people, 2 guys and a girl. They had the humans pinned to the rear of the alley.
The younger man, about Xander's age, seemed freaked in the back. It didn't matter much though. The older man, wearing a long trench, seemed to be holding them off pretty easily, though, curiously. The hostiles couldn't even get close to him before he moved, attacking swiftly with more skill and grace then Buffy or Faith on their best day, countering anything they could've tried. He had no weapons though, which meant he was pretty much stuck on defense, keeping the vampires away from the younger pair.
Xander revved his engine. Everyone turned to him.
"Is this a private party?" He asked jovially.
A familiar voice responded. "Oh, no, please feel free to crash." The vampires were a little stunned by the whole idea of food having a conversation.
He grinned in his helmet. "I was hoping you'd say something like that." He revved the bike, hit the gas and raced down the alley. He quickly whipped the bike sideways, pulling to a sliding stop that smashed into a handful of them who couldn't evade. He killed the engine, letting the bike fall, as he stepped away, stake in hand.
He quickly staked one fallen vamp as another moved in his direction. Xander greeted him with a stomp to the nerve cluster in his foot and a swift, short hook to the jaw with his brand-new, blessed brass-knuckled gloves. The vamp reeled, giving him enough time to stake him. Man, I do love working the Ten, Xander chuckled internally.
He staked a prone hostile whose leg was broken earlier when Xander's rear wheel smashed through it. Turning, he looked for more targets, but was greeted by a very pleasant, yet shocking, surprise.
The man who was able to provoke a holding action earlier, now had went on the attack. Somehow, Mystery Guy had pulled a sword from nowhere and simply began to decimate any hostile in his path. He couldn't make out his identity yet, the shadows and the man's fluid yet fast movements prevented that. There were only two vamps left. Xander just stopped and watched, he even felt tempted to take notes.
The last vamp growled low, moved to lunge at Mystery Guy from behind while he was busy slashing one almost to pieces. Before Xander could think to shout a warning, Mystery Guy beheaded the one in front of him, turned right, whirled the blade in one motion and sliced the hostile's left leg off at the thigh clean. He then continued the blade's momentum around and slashed upward viciously, quickly beheading the vampire as he fell. To Xander, it was like mystery guy made Zorro's signature in 3-D, and then decided to kill two vampires while he was at it. Xander clapped slowly, in genuine appreciation.
"Nice work, Obi-Wan."
The man looked at him, the shadows still covered his face, but Xander could see him grin and shake his head ruefully, as he put the blade away into his trench? Huh? As Xander thought to ask how, the man stepped more into the light. Xander gaped.
"Uncle Rory?" How in the hell was that possible? His jaw dropped.
"Hello, Alexander." Rory greeted him with that controlled cool that was always so him. "You might catch some dust in your mouth if you don't close it." Rory paused, acknowledging Xander's silent question. "Let's get this couple on their way, first."
Reflexively, Xander closed his mouth and listened, used to following Rory's requests without question. Whenever he was around, Uncle Rory was the guy that taught him how to be a man. From just talking to playing sports to learning to shave to learning to drive. Hell, Uncle Rory was the one who even explained about wet dreams to a worried 11-year old. And now, to find out the man Xander basically idolized, was a swash-buckling action hero, was a bit much.
Rory handled the couple easily, who were scared out of their wits. Xander didn't say much, he was still in too much shock. He picked up his bike, checking for damages, which were none. He looked up and realized they were alone. They walked out of the alley in silence.
Rory leaned over to pick up the bag of groceries, hefting them easily. He turned to face Xander, whose face still formed a silent question.
"You have questions, it would be best if I answer them at my home." Xander nodded, still not trusting himself to speak. Rory sighed. They reached his car, Xander still walking his bike along.
"Alexander, I will tell you everything you need to know," Rory paused, checking his surroundings again very subtly. He smirked coolly. "Or should I call you Nemo?"
******