Well, not one review on the last chapter. Maybe I'll do better this time.
Big reveal-ie things here. Stuff most of you have probably figured out, but
let me say that we still aren't at the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unattainable
Zeek hung up the phone behind the glass counter and turned to help another customer. He'd been making calls to family for a few hours now, putting out the word that someone from 'home' might be involved with the convergence.
Messages were floating from family to family, and everyone was on standby.
He was almost relived when the blue haired teenage boy asked for an application. Anything to take his mind off impending endings of his somewhat normal life. An interview for a completely unlikely prospect helped.
Just when the boy was done with the application, something that took most 15 minutes to fill out, but had for some reason taken this particular 'wanna be man' an hour to complete, the phone rang.
The punk shop keeper gave the kid an exasperated sigh and walked to the phone. "Body Shop. You got the body, we got the gear." He said.
Tokur. Mon ere non param eftal cor." The guttural voice on the phone rambled.
Zeek threw back a nervous smile to the kid waiting at the counter then shielded the mouth piece with his palm, trying to muffle his words so on looking humans might not hear his words, then spun so his back was to the prospective employee. "Tor narc so jee? Oft mor sal memore?"
"Zeek nodded when his mother spoke. He listened. Then his eyes grew wide. "Are you sure?" He said accidentally in English.
His mother, seemingly uninterested in tradition at the moment, didn't even chastise him for the slip up. Another sign that she was scared.
She insisted his father become fluent in her native tongue before she'd accept his proposal, and unless they were in a gathering of humans, insisted the D'stol face and language be shown.
But even his mother knew, this was no time to be picky. "I'm sure Z'iek. He is only third generation, pure, and in your area. His mother found an amazing recipe for roast several centuries ago, and our line and his have traded recipes ever since. E-mail. It is an amazing invention, for humans." His mother finished, as though that explained it all.
"And he is Multor?" Zeek clarified.
"Yes." His mother's voice confirmed over the line. "Apparently his own mother believed he was exploring parts of Africa, but a special Unit spotted a demon matching his description in your area several months ago."
Now Zeek was confused. The slayer, although well know and had a group behind her, he never heard of them referred to as a unit. "Who? What Unit?"
"I'm not sure. It was your grandmother. You know haw she is with those scanners, listening at all hours, and she loves decoding."
"But he's here?" Zeek interrupted.
"Well. Yes."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Giles paced the large area of his office and imagined the group that would show up any minute. Then he flung the door open and looked over at the secretary. "I'll need extra chairs in here immediately. And a table or two as well." He stated simply.
The secretary was on the phone in seconds, then waved her hand in the air before Giles could turn to go. He saw the tiny papers clutched in her hands and took them.
He shuffled through them quickly, then stopped. "They may have found something?" He whispered to himself.
He went back in his office and closed the door softly behind him still staring at the slip of paper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy dropped down into the manhole without a second though this time. The manhole lid sat ajar, just enough for illumination to the candle's store.
"Ashton?" Sam called and felt along the broken shelves for the candles and matches.
Buffy walked in easily to see Spike shuffle some items and him reach into his duster's pocket. "Your not looking a for a cigarette are you?" She asked making an 'ewe' face.
He couldn't help but laugh a little. "No love, just checking what I 'ave on me." He sat back in his seat and watched Sam sidle up next to Ashton on the arm of the chair. "What brings you lovelies here so early?"
Buffy sat on the couch. "Sam got some mail."
In very little time the four had gathered random crates to form a makeshift table, the contents of the manila envelope covering it's top. Buffy shared the couch with Spike, and Sam switched between pacing and sitting on the arm of Ashton's chair.
Both men began going through the papers, and in no time at all, the coincidence was understood.
"Thought this one out, didn't 'e luv?" Spike said and read over Emerson's notes. "Handed the order what they needed, and got us stuck back 'ere ta boot."
Ashton flipped through the pages. "It seems fairly clear then. We need to find them before."
Sam looked over to Buffy. "There's only one problem. It'll have to be me or Buffy only. You two can't go anywhere near them."
Buffy looked from Sam to Spike. "She's right. If Dru's there, she'll be able to tell you're here." She looked to Ashton, "And she already had a peek into your head. If she gets another look-"
Ashton raised a hand to halt her words. "I understand." He gazed towards the again pacing Sam. "How will you find them?"
"That really shouldn't be too hard." Buffy answered him and looked back at Spike. "The order wouldn't want to be too far from the ally the vortex is supposed to open in,"
Spike nodded. "'Ave to agree with that much."
"Right." Sam said and sat back down on the arm of the chair. "If Buffy and I patrol the area we might be able to spot them."
"Or sense them." Buffy added.
Ashton looked over at Spike. "Seems they have a plan."
Spike smiled back and looked up at Buffy. "There's only one thing that doesn't make sense." He said and pulled out on of the sheets of paper. "What's this sketch supposed to be?"
Buffy cocked her head and studied the diagram. A simple one with what looked like a hall and two crystals sitting at either end. "That doesn't make any sense."
Sam got up and took the paper Buffy offered her. "It looks like a representation of the vortex, but why are there two-?"
Ashton pointed towards the ink notes at the bottom. "I think Emerson just made this situation more complicated."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow picked up the phone Anya had left setting on the counter. "Hello?"
"Uh, hi. It's Zeek."
"Oh, hey. Did you find something out?" Willow asked excitedly.
"Yeah. Looks like one of the demon's lines are pure. And the youngest one is in town."
Willow's eyes grew large. "Oh."
"It gets worse." Zeek added.
Willow looked over to the small group at the table still researching. "Why, what else?" She asked into the phone.
"He's the leader. Or at least is now. And from what I could find out he may know the location of the crystal."
Willow nodded. "Yeah. That's worse."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles dialed the phone again. It had been busy a few minutes ago, and he fervently prayed that the line was free now. As he held the phone, the wait to hear the tone voicing that the call was going through was excruciating. Soon the familiar chiming voice of Willow answered a bit awkwardly. "Hi. I mean- Magic Box?"
Giles couldn't help but smile before he began. "Willow, it's Giles."
"Giles!" The red head exclaimed then covered the mouthpiece and whispered to the group at the research table. "It's Giles."
"We kinda figured that part out sweetie." Tara said smiling.
"Oh. Yeah." Willow smiled back at the group and took her hand from the mouthpiece before bringing the phone back to her ear. "Did you get the messages?"
"Yes. What have you found?"
In a rambled train of words Willow quickly explained everything they'd found out last night, and described their newest friend.
While she explained, Anya went about store business, helping the woman whom had an interest in the candle selection once again. Dawn and Tara were checking off possible locations, while Christian and Michelle went through the demon list. Richard did continual checks on the net and Xander grabbed books and read for other hints as to how to stop the Tomar.
"D'stol? How intriguing." Giles finally said. "And you say he knows of the demon who could complete the ritual?"
"Not just that. He thinks they might know where to find the crystal."
"The crystal?" Giles paused, then spoke with force. "Willow, you must allow them to open the vortex if they find the crystal."
"What?" Willow couldn't believe her ears. "Let them open it? Why?"
Anya's smile faded when the woman she was helping walked from the shelves towards the counter. "Excuse me?" The shop-keeper called trying to get the dark haired woman's attention when the woman walked away.
Willow turned at Anya's exclamation and watched the woman stop between the counter and the filled research table, causing her to miss Giles's answer.
The red head shook her head and stared at the older woman who was obviously interested in the conversation taking place. "Hello?" Willow asked the lady.
"Willow, did you hear me?" Giles called through the line.
"What.. I'm sorry Giles. What did you say?"
"It's the only way for her to get home." Giles said, and Willow heard in stereo as the strange woman spoke the same phrase.
Samantha watched as all eyes turned towards her, several sets of orbs had nearly doubled in size.
Willow somehow managed to absorb the information. She kept her eyes on the woman and asked one question into the phone. "What do you mean?"
"They must open it. When they do, it will create a direct path from the time Buffy was sent to, back to this time." Giles explained quickly.
"But Giles, we aren't even sure when that is." Willow explained, still trying to figure out who the woman was in front of her.
"She's in 1943, Willow." Both Giles and the strange woman said.
The next thing Giles heard was a large clunk. Willow dropped the phone.
Tara jumped up and ran behind the counter to find Willow on her back, passed out. She patted each side of the fainted hacker's face and called to her quietly. "Willow?"
Xander moved second, to pick up the phone and watch the strange woman pear behind the counter. "Giles. Something weird is going on here. Can we get back to you?"
"Xander? What is going on?"
"Not sure yet. But Wills or I will call you back in a few. Okay?"
Giles sighed. "Very well, but you'd better let me call you back. We may have more information for you very shortly. At the very least, to confirm yours. But remember, the vortex must be opened."
"Yeah," The brunette looked back at the woman with black hair neatly secured in a bun. Wisps of white streaked the pitch of her hair. "That message we all got." And he hung up.
Just as the phone was placed in its cradle, Willow woke up and looked into Tara's eyes. "What happened?"
Xander looked down at his friend, then to the older lady. "Who are you? And how do you know what's going on."
"Yeah."
Sam turned to see Dawn, arms crossed, staring her down.
One by one she looked over the young faces. Each there for a purpose. The woman pulled her shoulders back and reached into her purse. "I believe I have something you need." She said and pulled out a brown cloth and unwrapped the object held inside.
She palmed the crystal and held out her fist. "I'm Samantha," She unclenched her fingers and revealed the stone. "The Vampire Slayer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unattainable?" Buffy asked. "What does that mean?"
Spike opened his mouth to answer, but Buffy spun in her seat and pointed at him. "And don't be a smart ass." She looked back at Ashton. "What's unattainable?"
Ashton studied the picture more closely, and ran his hand over the lines connecting two sketched crystals. Then a light seemed to turn on in his head and he reached over to Spike. "Let me see the drawing of your crystal."
Spike shuffled the papers and handed one to the vampire.
Ashton compared the drawings and smiled. "I think I understand." He declared.
Sam looked back between the pages and her face lightened. "But how would it be possible?"
"What?" Buffy asked both of them.
Sam stood and walked the pages back then set them in the blonde slayer's hands. "Look at the crystals on both sides. What do you see?"
Spike gave her a confused look, and peered over Buffy's shoulders to take a look himself.
"Nothing. They look the same." Buffy stated simply with a shrug, then took another look to prove her point. Her eye's narrowed and she looked more closely. "They look exactly the same."
Spike grinned. "Exactly."
Sam looked back at Ashton who stared for a second, before giving her a nod. The dark slayer looked back at the blonde couple. "I think I know how you can get home, but we're going to have to change the plan."
Ashton nodded again, this time for them all to see. "We'll have to make sure the vortex opens when it's supposed to. Tomorrow night, and the next time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The chairs had been brought up quickly by several of the green uniformed guards, and before he knew it Giles's office looked like a miniature meeting room. The only blessing was that the room was far too large in the first place, and had the space for such a meeting.
When the last table was set up the Watchers and children started filing in. It didn't take long to gather the children, and the Watchers that had been working on Buffy's disappearance. Soon everyone was settled at one of the tables that had been pushed together to form one long table seating 12 easily.
Giles took the head of the table, a small book and several papers sitting in front of him.
The anxious people in the room were quiet and waiting, so Giles started. "Could someone here tell me the history of the Slayer from the years 1938 to 1943?"
One of the elder watchers stood slowly. "Sir, Samantha the Vampire Slayer. Raised by Crawford Emerson, called on her 18th birthday and died after her 23rd. She halted at least 5 apocalypse on record, although several of her records were lost due to the confusion surrounding her death."
Giles nodded to the man and the Watcher seated himself again smiling.
"That is an accurate, although brief, account of what we have been taught. Thank you Wallace."
Again the watcher smiled and nodded.
"Unfortunately, it is a complete fabrication. Samantha did not die after her 23rd birthday." Giles said, letting the confusion steep into the minds of his peers.
He looked over the faces of the children, soon to be watchers in their own right. Then to the ones he had attended classes with. "In fact, she is still alive."
And then all hell broke loose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unattainable
Zeek hung up the phone behind the glass counter and turned to help another customer. He'd been making calls to family for a few hours now, putting out the word that someone from 'home' might be involved with the convergence.
Messages were floating from family to family, and everyone was on standby.
He was almost relived when the blue haired teenage boy asked for an application. Anything to take his mind off impending endings of his somewhat normal life. An interview for a completely unlikely prospect helped.
Just when the boy was done with the application, something that took most 15 minutes to fill out, but had for some reason taken this particular 'wanna be man' an hour to complete, the phone rang.
The punk shop keeper gave the kid an exasperated sigh and walked to the phone. "Body Shop. You got the body, we got the gear." He said.
Tokur. Mon ere non param eftal cor." The guttural voice on the phone rambled.
Zeek threw back a nervous smile to the kid waiting at the counter then shielded the mouth piece with his palm, trying to muffle his words so on looking humans might not hear his words, then spun so his back was to the prospective employee. "Tor narc so jee? Oft mor sal memore?"
"Zeek nodded when his mother spoke. He listened. Then his eyes grew wide. "Are you sure?" He said accidentally in English.
His mother, seemingly uninterested in tradition at the moment, didn't even chastise him for the slip up. Another sign that she was scared.
She insisted his father become fluent in her native tongue before she'd accept his proposal, and unless they were in a gathering of humans, insisted the D'stol face and language be shown.
But even his mother knew, this was no time to be picky. "I'm sure Z'iek. He is only third generation, pure, and in your area. His mother found an amazing recipe for roast several centuries ago, and our line and his have traded recipes ever since. E-mail. It is an amazing invention, for humans." His mother finished, as though that explained it all.
"And he is Multor?" Zeek clarified.
"Yes." His mother's voice confirmed over the line. "Apparently his own mother believed he was exploring parts of Africa, but a special Unit spotted a demon matching his description in your area several months ago."
Now Zeek was confused. The slayer, although well know and had a group behind her, he never heard of them referred to as a unit. "Who? What Unit?"
"I'm not sure. It was your grandmother. You know haw she is with those scanners, listening at all hours, and she loves decoding."
"But he's here?" Zeek interrupted.
"Well. Yes."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Giles paced the large area of his office and imagined the group that would show up any minute. Then he flung the door open and looked over at the secretary. "I'll need extra chairs in here immediately. And a table or two as well." He stated simply.
The secretary was on the phone in seconds, then waved her hand in the air before Giles could turn to go. He saw the tiny papers clutched in her hands and took them.
He shuffled through them quickly, then stopped. "They may have found something?" He whispered to himself.
He went back in his office and closed the door softly behind him still staring at the slip of paper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy dropped down into the manhole without a second though this time. The manhole lid sat ajar, just enough for illumination to the candle's store.
"Ashton?" Sam called and felt along the broken shelves for the candles and matches.
Buffy walked in easily to see Spike shuffle some items and him reach into his duster's pocket. "Your not looking a for a cigarette are you?" She asked making an 'ewe' face.
He couldn't help but laugh a little. "No love, just checking what I 'ave on me." He sat back in his seat and watched Sam sidle up next to Ashton on the arm of the chair. "What brings you lovelies here so early?"
Buffy sat on the couch. "Sam got some mail."
In very little time the four had gathered random crates to form a makeshift table, the contents of the manila envelope covering it's top. Buffy shared the couch with Spike, and Sam switched between pacing and sitting on the arm of Ashton's chair.
Both men began going through the papers, and in no time at all, the coincidence was understood.
"Thought this one out, didn't 'e luv?" Spike said and read over Emerson's notes. "Handed the order what they needed, and got us stuck back 'ere ta boot."
Ashton flipped through the pages. "It seems fairly clear then. We need to find them before."
Sam looked over to Buffy. "There's only one problem. It'll have to be me or Buffy only. You two can't go anywhere near them."
Buffy looked from Sam to Spike. "She's right. If Dru's there, she'll be able to tell you're here." She looked to Ashton, "And she already had a peek into your head. If she gets another look-"
Ashton raised a hand to halt her words. "I understand." He gazed towards the again pacing Sam. "How will you find them?"
"That really shouldn't be too hard." Buffy answered him and looked back at Spike. "The order wouldn't want to be too far from the ally the vortex is supposed to open in,"
Spike nodded. "'Ave to agree with that much."
"Right." Sam said and sat back down on the arm of the chair. "If Buffy and I patrol the area we might be able to spot them."
"Or sense them." Buffy added.
Ashton looked over at Spike. "Seems they have a plan."
Spike smiled back and looked up at Buffy. "There's only one thing that doesn't make sense." He said and pulled out on of the sheets of paper. "What's this sketch supposed to be?"
Buffy cocked her head and studied the diagram. A simple one with what looked like a hall and two crystals sitting at either end. "That doesn't make any sense."
Sam got up and took the paper Buffy offered her. "It looks like a representation of the vortex, but why are there two-?"
Ashton pointed towards the ink notes at the bottom. "I think Emerson just made this situation more complicated."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow picked up the phone Anya had left setting on the counter. "Hello?"
"Uh, hi. It's Zeek."
"Oh, hey. Did you find something out?" Willow asked excitedly.
"Yeah. Looks like one of the demon's lines are pure. And the youngest one is in town."
Willow's eyes grew large. "Oh."
"It gets worse." Zeek added.
Willow looked over to the small group at the table still researching. "Why, what else?" She asked into the phone.
"He's the leader. Or at least is now. And from what I could find out he may know the location of the crystal."
Willow nodded. "Yeah. That's worse."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles dialed the phone again. It had been busy a few minutes ago, and he fervently prayed that the line was free now. As he held the phone, the wait to hear the tone voicing that the call was going through was excruciating. Soon the familiar chiming voice of Willow answered a bit awkwardly. "Hi. I mean- Magic Box?"
Giles couldn't help but smile before he began. "Willow, it's Giles."
"Giles!" The red head exclaimed then covered the mouthpiece and whispered to the group at the research table. "It's Giles."
"We kinda figured that part out sweetie." Tara said smiling.
"Oh. Yeah." Willow smiled back at the group and took her hand from the mouthpiece before bringing the phone back to her ear. "Did you get the messages?"
"Yes. What have you found?"
In a rambled train of words Willow quickly explained everything they'd found out last night, and described their newest friend.
While she explained, Anya went about store business, helping the woman whom had an interest in the candle selection once again. Dawn and Tara were checking off possible locations, while Christian and Michelle went through the demon list. Richard did continual checks on the net and Xander grabbed books and read for other hints as to how to stop the Tomar.
"D'stol? How intriguing." Giles finally said. "And you say he knows of the demon who could complete the ritual?"
"Not just that. He thinks they might know where to find the crystal."
"The crystal?" Giles paused, then spoke with force. "Willow, you must allow them to open the vortex if they find the crystal."
"What?" Willow couldn't believe her ears. "Let them open it? Why?"
Anya's smile faded when the woman she was helping walked from the shelves towards the counter. "Excuse me?" The shop-keeper called trying to get the dark haired woman's attention when the woman walked away.
Willow turned at Anya's exclamation and watched the woman stop between the counter and the filled research table, causing her to miss Giles's answer.
The red head shook her head and stared at the older woman who was obviously interested in the conversation taking place. "Hello?" Willow asked the lady.
"Willow, did you hear me?" Giles called through the line.
"What.. I'm sorry Giles. What did you say?"
"It's the only way for her to get home." Giles said, and Willow heard in stereo as the strange woman spoke the same phrase.
Samantha watched as all eyes turned towards her, several sets of orbs had nearly doubled in size.
Willow somehow managed to absorb the information. She kept her eyes on the woman and asked one question into the phone. "What do you mean?"
"They must open it. When they do, it will create a direct path from the time Buffy was sent to, back to this time." Giles explained quickly.
"But Giles, we aren't even sure when that is." Willow explained, still trying to figure out who the woman was in front of her.
"She's in 1943, Willow." Both Giles and the strange woman said.
The next thing Giles heard was a large clunk. Willow dropped the phone.
Tara jumped up and ran behind the counter to find Willow on her back, passed out. She patted each side of the fainted hacker's face and called to her quietly. "Willow?"
Xander moved second, to pick up the phone and watch the strange woman pear behind the counter. "Giles. Something weird is going on here. Can we get back to you?"
"Xander? What is going on?"
"Not sure yet. But Wills or I will call you back in a few. Okay?"
Giles sighed. "Very well, but you'd better let me call you back. We may have more information for you very shortly. At the very least, to confirm yours. But remember, the vortex must be opened."
"Yeah," The brunette looked back at the woman with black hair neatly secured in a bun. Wisps of white streaked the pitch of her hair. "That message we all got." And he hung up.
Just as the phone was placed in its cradle, Willow woke up and looked into Tara's eyes. "What happened?"
Xander looked down at his friend, then to the older lady. "Who are you? And how do you know what's going on."
"Yeah."
Sam turned to see Dawn, arms crossed, staring her down.
One by one she looked over the young faces. Each there for a purpose. The woman pulled her shoulders back and reached into her purse. "I believe I have something you need." She said and pulled out a brown cloth and unwrapped the object held inside.
She palmed the crystal and held out her fist. "I'm Samantha," She unclenched her fingers and revealed the stone. "The Vampire Slayer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unattainable?" Buffy asked. "What does that mean?"
Spike opened his mouth to answer, but Buffy spun in her seat and pointed at him. "And don't be a smart ass." She looked back at Ashton. "What's unattainable?"
Ashton studied the picture more closely, and ran his hand over the lines connecting two sketched crystals. Then a light seemed to turn on in his head and he reached over to Spike. "Let me see the drawing of your crystal."
Spike shuffled the papers and handed one to the vampire.
Ashton compared the drawings and smiled. "I think I understand." He declared.
Sam looked back between the pages and her face lightened. "But how would it be possible?"
"What?" Buffy asked both of them.
Sam stood and walked the pages back then set them in the blonde slayer's hands. "Look at the crystals on both sides. What do you see?"
Spike gave her a confused look, and peered over Buffy's shoulders to take a look himself.
"Nothing. They look the same." Buffy stated simply with a shrug, then took another look to prove her point. Her eye's narrowed and she looked more closely. "They look exactly the same."
Spike grinned. "Exactly."
Sam looked back at Ashton who stared for a second, before giving her a nod. The dark slayer looked back at the blonde couple. "I think I know how you can get home, but we're going to have to change the plan."
Ashton nodded again, this time for them all to see. "We'll have to make sure the vortex opens when it's supposed to. Tomorrow night, and the next time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The chairs had been brought up quickly by several of the green uniformed guards, and before he knew it Giles's office looked like a miniature meeting room. The only blessing was that the room was far too large in the first place, and had the space for such a meeting.
When the last table was set up the Watchers and children started filing in. It didn't take long to gather the children, and the Watchers that had been working on Buffy's disappearance. Soon everyone was settled at one of the tables that had been pushed together to form one long table seating 12 easily.
Giles took the head of the table, a small book and several papers sitting in front of him.
The anxious people in the room were quiet and waiting, so Giles started. "Could someone here tell me the history of the Slayer from the years 1938 to 1943?"
One of the elder watchers stood slowly. "Sir, Samantha the Vampire Slayer. Raised by Crawford Emerson, called on her 18th birthday and died after her 23rd. She halted at least 5 apocalypse on record, although several of her records were lost due to the confusion surrounding her death."
Giles nodded to the man and the Watcher seated himself again smiling.
"That is an accurate, although brief, account of what we have been taught. Thank you Wallace."
Again the watcher smiled and nodded.
"Unfortunately, it is a complete fabrication. Samantha did not die after her 23rd birthday." Giles said, letting the confusion steep into the minds of his peers.
He looked over the faces of the children, soon to be watchers in their own right. Then to the ones he had attended classes with. "In fact, she is still alive."
And then all hell broke loose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC
