God Shuffled His Feet: An Alias/Buffy Crossover
By: Sam Lincoln

Rating PG-13

Summary: An ancient evil stalks Agent Sydney Bristow

Spoilers: General spoilers for the current seasons of Alias, and Buffy, but nothing specific to any storyline.

Disclaimer: All characters from Buffy and Angel are property of Mutant Enemy. All characters from Alias are property of Bad Robot and Touchstone Television. All characters are used without permission and no infringement is intended.

God Shuffled His Feet: Chapter Two

-Sunnydale-

"So you're saying the root of all evil has captured Sydney?" Will asked in disbelief.

"That's precisely what's happened. Why is everyone having such a hard time accepting that fact?" Anya wondered aloud.

"Well, on its face it is a ridiculous thing to claim," Giles admitted. They were seating around the dining room table. Books were piled high around them and Will had a cup of tea cooling in his hands.

"What can I do to help?" Will asked.

"Honestly Mr. Tippin there is not much you can do. There are already people en route to Sri Lanka to attempt a rescue. We were going to do some research on the location they think Ms. Bristow to possibly figure out why she was abducted."

"Research? I'm a reporter, research is what I do."

"You have no idea how refreshing it is to hear someone say that," Giles commented. "By any chance you wouldn't happen to be fluent in ancient Hindi?"

"Uh no, I'm afraid not, I slept through that class in college," Will replied.

"A pity, very well. Here you go," Giles handed Will a pair of books.

"What's this?" Will asked.

"One is a transcription taken during the British Raj of an ancient Hindi text. The other is a Hindi to English dictionary."

Will stared at the think books in disbelief. "Don't worry," Anya told him cheerfully. "Usually something bad comes along that makes you wish you just had to read all these old musty books."

"Giles!" Xander shouted as he ran into the house. "We've got a big problem."

"See, like that," Anya said, satisfied with herself.

-Colombo-

The four Americans had followed the fakir to a small storefront. For the entire trip Jack and Vaughn kept their pistols close by in case the old man lead them into an ambush.

The fakir turned and faced the group. "This is my nephew Janek's store. I maintain rooms in the upper story. Come, we can talk there."

The store was jammed full of a cornucopia of herbs, potions, vials, and other mystical artifacts. "Wow, does your nephew take credit cards?" Willow asked.

The fakir chuckled, "No, but I'm sure your American dollars will go a long way."

They followed the fakir up a flight of stairs and into a small, but neat, apartment. "Please, make yourselves at home. I will go make some tea." The fakir hurried into the kitchen.

"That won't be necessary," Vaughn said, but the fakir was already out of sight. "Does anyone else find this guy a little strange?" he asked the others.

Buffy shrugged, "He said he has second sight, that tends to make people a little nutty."

"Besides, he seems like a nice enough guy," Willow said.

"In my experience anything that seems to be one thing is usually the opposite," Jack said sternly.

"You would do well to listen to your elders Willow Rosenberg," the fakir said as he walked back into the sitting room. "They must be doing something right if they are still drawing breath. The kettle is heating now," he added.

"How?how did you know my name?" Willow asked.

"My dear girl, everyone who can sense the Power knows the name of the witch who nearly destroyed the world last spring."

"Oh, uh, sorry about that."

The fakir laughed, "What is important is that you did not succeed. As it is, what is that expression of yours? No harm no foul." The fakir saw Willow's downcast expression. "Forgive me, I am an old man, prone to speaking out of turn." The tea kettle in the kitchen began to shriek. "Ah, the tea, pardon me. I shall be right back." The fakir bustled into the kitchen and returned with a tray loaded down with a tea pot, cups, and other assorted tea drinking accessories.

"You really didn't have to do this," Vaughn said.

"Nonsense, all sensible discussions must be held over tea. Now, Mr. Bristow, what would you like?"

"Earl Gray please," Jack replied. He did not bat an eyelash at the fakir's mention of his name. He took the cup from the fakir and let the tea steep for a while. "Thank-you very much for your hospitality, but our time is short and you mentioned something about the First?"

The fakir leaned back in his chair. "Yes, the First Evil, very bad. I felt its presence enter the city several days ago."

"Is it still here?" Willow anxiously asked.

"Eh? No," the fakir sipped his tea. "No it is no longer in the city, still in Sri Lanka perhaps, but not in Colombo."

"We believe the First is located here," Jack produced a satellite photo of the temple. "Are you familiar with this place?"

"Yes, very familiar, this is a bad place with a dark and evil history. Human sacrifice was performed there. Some even say the temple foundation was consecrated with the blood of infants."

"Ok, major ewww," Buffy observed.

"Agreed, the temple is a treacherous place. It's said that all who enter are forever marked by its evil."

"Are we done listening to ghost stories?" Vaughn angrily asked. "We know where she is, let's go and get her out of there!" He stood up to emphasis his point.

"Please Mr. Vaughn, sit down," the fakir said. "Charging in recklessly will only result in your death. Do not worry, there is still time."

"What I would like to know is how you know so much about us," Jack asked over the top of his teacup.

"An excellent question Mr. Bristow. See, this is why I said listen to your elders. As I told Ms. Summers, I have the gift of second sight. I can se things that most cannot and in this case I know something of your quest. I cannot see everything, but based on what I have seen I can tell you need my help."

"And how do we know you're not the First trying to trick us?" Vaughn demanded.

"Relax Vaughn, the First couldn't have pulled that bed of nails stunt. Besides, he touched me," Buffy said.

Jack frowned, he could tell there was something the old man was not telling them, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Two questions, why do we need your help? We know where to look, we have supplies and maps. What else could we need?"

"The temple sits in the middle of a living jungle; you could reach the temple without a guide, but it would take time, more time than I think you are willing to spend."

"What about a helicopter? According to our reconnaissance there's enough room to land next to the temple," Vaughn protested.

"Choppers are out," Jack said. "We have no way of knowing how large an opposing force there is in there and a helicopter would only serve to announce our arrival. I had hoped there would be utility roads leading into the area that we could use. How far of a walk is it?"

"Several days, assuming the weather holds," the fakir replied.

Jack nodded, "Then that brings me to my second question. What's your name?"

The fakir laughed, "Oh how silly of me, sometimes I get what has been and what will be mixed up. My name is Sohil Gupta. I am pleased to make your acquaintance." Gupta bowed his head slightly.

"The pleasure is all ours Mr. Gupta," Jack replied. "Now how soon can you be ready to go?"

"I can go now Mr. Bristow, I travel lightly."

Jack nodded, "Good, we can go to the airport, collect our gear then drive out to the trailhead before night falls. We will of course provide compensation for your time."

"While not necessary that would be most welcome," Gupta set down his teacup. "Shall we?" They stood and walked to the door. Gupta paused to collect a small rucksack and walking stick.

"Alright, off we go to the Temple of Doom," Willow commented.

"Yeah, that's what this reminds me of," Buffy said. "I'm Indy, you're Short-Round, Vaughn's Kate Capshaw...Agent Bristow, do we have time to find a fedora and a bullwhip?" she asked.

"This is hardly the time for jokes," Vaughn snapped as he pushed past the Sunnydale pair and walked out of the apartment.

"Geez, what's up with him?" Willow asked Buffy as they left the apartment.

Buffy frowned, "I don't know, probably just stress." She stared at Vaughn's back. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him, just to be safe."

-Sunnydale-

"Okay Xander, one more time, tell me exactly what you saw," Giles told Xander. The four adults were seated around the dining room table while Xander explained what happened while he was out.

"I didn't so much see as I heard. I was at the lumber yard getting blanks to turn into stakes when I heard these two guys talking. They said something about creating a disaster while the Slayer was away."

"Did they go into any specifics?"

Xander shook his head, "One of them just said he couldn't wait to see the look on the Slayer's face when she saw what happened to Sunnydale."

"What do think it is?" Anya asked Giles.

"Nothing apocalyptic I would imagine. It sounds like these individuals are trying to take advantage of Buffy's absence to cause some manner of trouble," Giles mused. "We must inform Spike and the potentials to keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

"I bet the First is behind this," Anya said. "It knew that Buffy would go to Sri Lanka, and now it's going to make its move, and our only defense is a bunch of Slayer wanna-be's and a half-crazy vampire."

"I beg your pardon," Giles said indignantly.

"Yeah, he begs your pardon," Xander added.

"Oh please, like you tow are good for anything more than head trauma when the fighting starts," Anya snapped. "Face it, big bad is on its way and we don't have our two best weapons."

"Then we'll just have to make do without them," Giles calmly said. "Mr. Tippin, I'd suggest you return to Los Angeles now before you wind up stuck here."

Will glanced around the room. A small portion of his brain reminded him that Sydney wouldn't run away. He then reminded his brain that he wasn't Sydney and that he had the information he was looking for. "Sorry about running off like this, but I think Mr. Giles is right. I'm useless in a fight so I'd be more a hindrance than a help."

"You're rationalizing," Anya said. "You don't have to. If you run away like a scared little girl we won't hold it against you."

"Don't listen to Anya, we wouldn't think you were a little girl," Xander said.

"And that weighs so heavily in my decision making process," Will quipped. "I have what I need, good luck with your disaster and it was good to see you again Xander." Will stood up and walked out of the house.

"Pansy," Anya muttered under her breath.

"In any event we would do well to prepare ourselves for whatever is coming," Giles said. "Anya, Xander, wake up Spike. I'll go fetch the Potentials from their training."

"Should we call the Initiative guys?" Xander asked.

"Only if you want to deal with that prat of a commanding officer. Amateurs indeed, let's see her read the signs of an impending apocalypse," Giles muttered.

"Wow, you really hold a grudge don't you?" Anya said with admiration.

"I am not holding a grudge," Giles snapped, "Well, maybe a little," he admitted. "Any way now is not the time to debate grudges.

They all stood to complete their assigned tasks when they saw Will standing in the front hallway. "Oh look, the pansy's back," Anya commented. "Did you grow a spine sissy boy?"

"I was sitting in my car when I realized something. None of you are all that different from me, and you're staying. So what with this impending doom I figured you'd need all the help you could get?"

"Car won't start?" Xander asked.

"Dead as a doornail," Will confirmed.

"Serves you right, that's what happens to cowards," Anya said indignantly.

"Anya, as I recall you fled to the hills when the mayor's Ascension was at hand," Giles pointed out.

"That was different, the Ascension was certain doom. This is less certain doom...except Buffy's not here...Oh God, we are doomed! Damn you and your broken car!" Anya snapped.

Xander looked apologetically at Will, "Welcome to the Hellmouth buddy."

-Sri Lanka-

The door to Sydney's cells clanged open and the guards tossed the battered spy into it. Sydney hit the hard stone floor and did not even bother to look up when the door slammed shut. She bit back a sob and crawled onto her cot. It had been two days of unrelenting torture and she was still no closer to understanding what these people wanted, other than to see her suffer. She gingerly turned her head and stared out the window.

"Vaughn," she whispered. "Where are you?"

Her reverie was interrupted by a faint tapping sound. Concerned, Sydney sat up and looked around the room for the source of the tapping. She found that the noise was coming from beyond one of the cell walls. She pressed her hear to the wall and was pleasantly surprised to find that someone was tapping out Morse code. Sydney reached down for the wooden spoon lying in her food dish and hesitantly tapped out hello.

There was a long pause and for a moment Sydney thought she had scared off the other person. Then she heard the tapping resume. "Are you a prisoner too?" Sydney translated. She reached out and tapped "Yes." She paused and then resumed, "Who are you?"

"A local farmer," was the reply. "I saw lights on in the temple and went to investigate. The men in robes captured me. And you are?"

"An American," Sydney replied. "I was kidnapped in Colombo and brought here."

"An American? Then what worried do we have? Your Marines will rescue us I'm sure."

Despite herself Sydney smiled, "Let's hope you're right."

"I bet your countrymen are on their way even now."

This time Sydney did not reply, instead she returned her gaze to the window. "Get here soon Vaughn. I don't know how much longer I can hold out."

Jack Bristow pulled the rental SUV off the road and came to a stop in a small clearing at the foot of a vast jungle. "Is this the place?" He asked Gupta.

"Yes, yes it is, from here we go by foot."

The group got out of the Land Rover and began removing their gear. Gupta leaned on his staff and watched with amusement as the Americans shouldered their heavy packs.

"The problem with you Westerners is that you try to bring your notion of civilization with you wherever you go," he observed as Willow struggled with her pack.

"All I have in here is food, medicine, and magic supplies," Willow protested.

"My point exactly, you should let the land provide for you."

"Ms. Summers, Ms. Rosenberg, could you come here please?" Jack called out.

"What up Mr. B?" Buffy asked.

Jack stared at her balefully before speaking. "We're about to enter hostile territory so I want both of you to be armed. Here are pistols for the both of you." He handed Buffy and Willow holstered pistols. They silently accepted the firearms, though both of them knew they would never draw them. "Ms. Rosenburg I'd like you to take this," He handed Willow a compact rifle. "This is a Heckler and Koch MP-5 submachine gun. You should have no problem handling this weapon so long as you keep it on semi-automatic."

Willow took the MP-5. "Cool, it's like the guns in Die Hard."

"Now Ms. Summers?"

"Before you had me some death ray let me just say that guns and I don't get along," Buffy protested.

"That's too bad because I need you to use one." He reached into the Land Rover and pulled out a large machine gun. "This is a SAW, or Squad Automatic Weapon. With your strength you should have no trouble controlling it. I have no intention of fighting the First on its own terms. So we are going to attack hard and fast, and that means you have to use this weapon." Jack turned around and fired the SAW. He held the trigger down and sprayed the forest with bullets until the clip emptied.

Buffy stared at the saplings cut in half by the SAW. "Ok, that would impress most people, however?" Buffy punched a nearby tree, snapping the trunk cleanly in half. "I'm not most people."

"Ms. Summers you can take out the opposition one at a time. With this you can break the spine of any assault. If we get attacked while we're in that jungle I want to overwhelm the First's forces with superior firepower. We don't have the time or manpower to take them out one by one."

Buffy sighed, "Alright, give me the damn gun."

"Thank-you. Mr. Gupta?"

"If you want me to carry a weapon I must refuse, I am a pacifist."

Jack smiled, "I figured as much, that's why I was going to give you this radio." He handed Mr. Gupta a radio and a headset.

"Oh, thank-you very much."

"You're welcome and stay close to me. Somehow I doubt the First will respect a pacifist's ethos."

Mr. Gupta laughed ruefully, "No, probably not."

"Vaughn, are you ready?" Jack called out.

Vaughn stepped out from behind the Land Rover. He was dressed in camouflage and his face was covered in green and black paint. He carried a silenced MP-5 and had a sniper rifle slung across his back. "I'm set."

"Alright, you take point. Ms. Rosenberg, Mr. Gupta, stay between Ms. Summers and myself. Ms. Summers, follow Agent Vaughn." Jack pulled on a floppy camouflage bush and picked up an M16 with a grenade launcher mounted under the barrel. "Let's move out people." He ordered. Vaughn slipped into the jungle and the rest of the group followed shortly thereafter.

-Los Angeles-

Director Kendall paced in the operations center waiting for word from Jack Bristow about the progress of his mission. Kendall looked down at the report faxed to him by a man in Sunnydale named Rupert Giles. He grimaced as he read the report again. Jack was not going to like what it said.

"Sir?" Agent Weiss asked, interrupting Kendall's train of thought.

"What is it?" Kendall asked.

"We have Agent Bristow, the elder, on the sat-phone."

Kendall nodded, "Patch him throw," he ordered. Kendall walked over to a terminal and put on a headset. "Jack, is that you?"

"That's affirmative base," Jack replied.

"What's your status?"

"We're en route to the temple on foot. We've set up camp for the night and expect to reach our objective sometime tomorrow."

"That's good because we just recived word from Ms. Summers' associate, Rupert Giles, it seems he figured out what this First Evil wants Sydney for," Kendall paused.

"And that is?" Jack asked when Kendall did not continue.

"It wants to unleash hell on earth Jack and Sydney is its key to doing it."

"That's about what I figured," Jack sighed. "Are there any details I need to know about?"

"We'll fax the whole report over to you. Is there anything else you need to report?"

"No sir."

"Alright, get in touch when you have something to report." Kendall removed the headset. "Transmit that report now," he told Weiss.

Back in the Sri Lankan jungle Jack connected the satellite phone to the small computer he was carrying. He watched as the computer received the report. "Ms. Rosenberg, would you mind helping me with something?"

"Call me Willow," the young witch said.

"What?" Jack asked.

"Willow, that's my name. Use it. It makes me uncomfortable when you keep calling me Ms. Rosenberg."

"Yeah, and you don't have to keep calling me, Ms. Summers either," Buffy added.

Jack sighed, "Alright fine, Willow, would you mind helping me with this?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Information from your friend Mr. Giles. He apparently figured out what the First wants with Sydney.

"Which is?" Buffy asked.

Willow took the laptop from jack and read the contents of the screen. "According to this if the heart of a pure warrior is placed on the alter in the center of the temple then the goddess Kali will be unleashed upon the world."

"And that would be bad right?"

"It says here that Kali is the goddess of death so I think it's safe to say yeah."

"It's not Kali that will be unleashed," Mr. Gupta said.

"How can you be so sure?" Willow asked the elderly man.

"Because I know Kali, rather, I know my religion. Kali does not indiscriminately slaughter. The Hindu Gods are not evil. Do you happen to have a copy of the original text?"

"Uh yeah, right here," Willow showed the computer to Mr. Gupta.

The elderly man read the screen and his face paled. "This is very bad, I had no idea?" he murmured to himself. "Whoever did this translation made a mistake, it's very slight, but important. It is not Kali that will be unleashed. It is the essence of Kali."

"I'm not getting the distinction," Buffy said.

"The goddess Kali was born when Lord Siva's consort, the Goddess Parwati, drained the blood of an evil demon the Gods were battling. The evil power of the dmeon filled Parwati and she became Kali."

"And let me guess is this where vampires come from?" Buffy asked.

"What? No, not that I am aware of. Parwati drank the demon's blood because that was the only way to destroy it. For every drop of blood it shed another demon would rise."

"So what you're saying is that the essence of Kali is this demon," Jack concluded.

"That is it precisely Mr. Bristow."

"What is it with the First and raising demon?" Buffy asked. "That thing's got a one track mind."

"But why didn't the gods destroy the demon's corpse?" Willow asked.

Gupta sighed, "Because they could not. The demon's hide proved to be too strong, even in death."

"So they buried it beneath the temple," Willow concluded.

"Not quite, the temple came later. It was built by worshipers of the demon. The British thought it was a monument to Kali, but then the British were mistaken about many things in India and Sri Lanka."

"So, now we know what it wants with Sydney," Vaughn said.

"Yes, Mr. Bristow's daughter has a spirit so pure that her blood will be sufficient to revive the demon."

"That means we have an added bonus for rescuing Sydney," Jack said. But let's be clear, the purpose of this mission is to get my daughter back. I don't care about demons, gods, or spirits of evil. I just want Sydney back."

"Of course you do Mr. Bristow, and of course the best way to thwart this vile plan is to rescue your daughter safe and sound."

"Alright, we should be at the temple tomorrow right?" Jack asked Mr. Gupta.

"That is correct," Mr. Gupta agreed.

"Then we need our rest. I want one person standing watch at all times. Vaughn, you take the first shift, then Willow, Buffy and myself. We leave at dawn."

Vaughn nodded and walked a short distance away from their encampment. He slowly paced, keeping an eye out for anything unusual.

"Hello Michael," the voice of Vaughn's long-dead father said. "It's good to see you again.

Vaughn spun around and pointed his gun at the shade. "You're not real, go away."

"It's true, I might just be a ghost, but you can't tell me you haven't enjoyed our brief chats over the past day. A chance to talk to your dear old dad."

"You're not my father."

"And how do you know that? Because some blonde bimbo says so? Haven't I proven myself to you? Can't I explain how you go every scar on your body? Don't I know all the songs I sang to you when you were a baby?"

"You're the thing that's holding Sydney."

The First chuckled, "Oh yes, Ms. Bristow, let's talk about her. I wonder what Frued would say about being involved with the daughter of your father's killer."

"Sydney isn't Derevko," Vaughn insisted.

"No, she's just her daughter, but she can't be trusted either."

"That's nonsense," Vaughn protested.

"Is it?" She betrayed her colleagues at SD-6. some traits run true and deception is one of them."

"Those were completely different situations," Vaughn said, "You can't possibly compare them."

"Is she that good in bed that you can't see the truth in front of you? She is the daughter of two turncoats, she'll end up betraying you as well. It's in her blood."

Vaughn shook his hea,d "You're wrong about her. She's not like that at all."

"Go ahead and keep believing that if it makes you feel less guilty at night."

"What do I have to feel guilty about?" Vaughn demanded.

"You haven't avenged my death. You know where she is and you've done nothing!" The First shouted.

"I've done plenty," Vaughn shot back, "I've opposed every benefit they've given her."

"She's still drawing breath isn't she? You haven't done enough."

"That's not what you have wanted. I know my father, and he wouldn't want this."

"What I wanted was a son who wasn't a disappointment. Who could make the tough decisions and honestly I'm glad that I'm dead. It means that I didn't have to see what a disappointment you grew into," the First sneered.

Vaughn stood there in stunned silence trying to form a reply. For practically his entire life Vaughn had wanted to speak to his father again. And now that he was it was not going as he had planned.

The crack of gunfire brought Vaughn back to reality. He quickly realized that the shots were coming from the direction of their camp. The camp he was supposed to be guarding. Vaughn stifled a curse and ran back towards the camp.

-Sunnydale-

"...So that is what we know," Giles told the assembled Potentials. "With Buffy and Willow battling the First in Sri Lanka it falls to you to thwart this latest threat."

"You expect us to take on some unknown demonic threat?" Kennedy asked.

"Well...yes, that is what I said," Giles admitted.

"Cool."

"Now then, I expect all of you to patrol even more vigorously than before, and if you see anything even remotely out of the ordinary call us." Giles instructed.

"And what do you want me to do?" Spike asked.

"Ask around the local demon population, see if there are any portents for a demonic invasion."

"Right, because all of the demons just wag their tongues like puppy dogs around me," Spike groused.

"If you'd rather you could help the Potentials patrol," Giles pointed out.

"Right, I could use a pint," Spike stood up and walked out of the room.

"The rest of you have jobs to attend to as well don't you?" Giles asked the cluster of girls who quickly dispersed.

When Potentials had left Will looked over at Giles, "You're grand army is a group of teenaged girls?"

"They're not just any teenaged girls, they're all potential slayers," Giles explained.

"And that means what?"

"If Buffy dies one of them gets the power of the Slayer," Anya explained.

"And until then?"

"They're ordinary girls," She admitted.

"Great, and we aren't calling the Army why?"

"Because Giles has unresolved sexual tension with the base commander," Anya said.

"I do not," Giles protested.

"Oh please, it's blatently obvious to anyone whose spent the past millennia dealing with the fallout of relationships. The two of you have tension."

"Perhaps we could talk about this at some other time?" Giles tersely asked.

"You guys sure have a different way of doing things," Will observed.

"How so?" Xander asked.

"I'm used to CIA types who are all business and don't worry about who's got tension with who."

"There is no tension, she is a miserable officious woman who thinks her title gives her the power to lord over everyone," Giles insisted. "You're just trying to avoid doing some research."

"And what if I am?" Anya sweetly asked.

"Then I'd say if you don't want to research so badly you can help patrol with the Potentials."

"Now wait a minute, I never said anything about that."

Xander caught Anya by the arm. "Come on Anya, Giles needs some alone time, we can go patrol the Bronze, maybe the evil-doers are having a pre-slaughter drink. Hey Will, you in?" Xander asked the other man. "Giles is about to go uber-British which is only safe when viewed from a distance."

"You don't mind?" Will asked Giles.

"Not at all, you can keep a eye out for the Potentials and make sure they don't decide to patrol the Bronze as well," Giles said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Besides there really isn't much to do other than wait and see what happens."

"Ooh, are we going to the Bronze?" Dawn asked from the top of the stairs.

"We are, you have homework," Xander said.

"Come on Xander, there's impending doom," Dawn pleaded.

"And how silly are you going to look when the impending doom gets thwarted and you have to go to school tomorrow?"

"Xander, now is not the time to be scaring poor Dawn," Anya scolded. "Of course you can come along with us," she told Dawn. "It is your last night on earth after all."

Will stared at Anya, "Maybe I would have been better off walking back to LA," he mused.

-To be Continued-