June 4. 2014. Location: Sunnydale
California.
10.34.am
The Gathering (Well, the slayerette way, anyway)
"Mom!! Where is my fishing equipment, Peter says there's a lake stacked with trout only a kilometre from their cabin."
"And Dad!!! Where did you lay my laptop? I can't find it, and Peter's parents are coming any minute now!!!"
Joyce and Rupert Giles came through the door and into the hall, where their fourteen-year old son was roaming around like a confused chicken.
"Calm down Ashley, Joyce said and hugged her son, who was beaming with excitement. "The fishing equipment and the laptop are already packed, although I almost had to wrestle the laptop from your father.
"He is turning into quite a computer nerd," she said jokingly as Giles started cleaning his glasses in an annoyed manner. He was about to return the insult as he saw it, when Jack and Vera Taleniekov came in the door.
The parents of Ashley's best friend Peter, were the best neighbours one could think of, and a strong friendship had grown between the families over the years. It had become a tradition that they took turns every other year, taking the kids to summer vacation.
This year it was the Taleniekovs' turn, and they were heading for the wilderness. But neither Joyce nor Rupert worried, knowing that Jack and Vera were experienced survivors in the wild.
"OH NO! I forgot my knife," Ashley said and disappeared upstairs. Ten minutes later he came down with the knife Auntie Faith had given him a year earlier.
Finally everything was okay and Ashley could go on the trip that he had been looking forwards to for months. After short goodbyes to his parents he practically flew out the door, followed by the Taleniekovs.
"Puh, I never thought that he would be finished packing in time," Giles said as he kissed Joyce on her cheek.
"Yeah, he is almost as hopeless packing as Buffy was," Joyce said and hugged her husband fiercely as the memories of her daughter flooded her mind. Even today, so many years later it still was painful to think about what happened to her.
Seventeen years ago, it happened what nobody thought to be possible. Buffy, The Slayer, got turned by Spike. And in the next half a year, she had wreaked havoc in a way that made Angelus seem nice.
For months she had tortured them in any way possible, and tried to kill them numerous times. It was only thanks to Angel and Rupert that they had survived.
They had tried to stop the vampire that called herself The Invulnerable. But they quickly learned that she fitted the name. No matter how many times they tried to lay the soulcurse upon her, it didn't work. And their attempts at giving Buffy rest by killing her demon, were just as fruitless. None of that which normally hurt vampires, worked on her. Crosses, Holly water, or other religious icons, did not harm her at all.
And Angel had proven that a wooden stake through the hart, only served to enrage her. He had even tried with a Molotov Coctail, but to no avail. He just barely survived after that. And even worse, she could walk out during the day. Even on the sunniest of days.
Joyce shivered by the thought of all the horror, and sorrow. Cause to watch this creature do so much evil, while wearing the face of her beloved daughter, were a sorrow so deep, she wouldn't have been abled to cope with it, if it hadn't been for Rupert, and the youngsters. Yeah, Rupert had been like a steady rock in a otherwise crumbling universe for her. He had always been there for her, even though he had his own griefe to deal with. And she had tried to do the same for him.
And then the slayer vampire had just disappeared. Leaving them to wonder where she would pop upp next time. Fearing what she might do then. But she never came back. And to not know what had happened added even more pain to their burden even though they could stopp hiding, and start to live a "normal" life again.
Normal? Nothing would ever be normal again, she had thought. But thinking back, life had gone on, and bit-by-bit everything had gone back to a somewhat normal state. Only, the pain remained in their harts like a deep wound that never fully healed. Even today it affected their lives.
Suddenly she became aware that she was still hugging Rupert fiercely. With an effort she forced the sadness away, stepped back, and smiled wickedly.
"At last! The house is empty. Just you and me. We can do anything we want. Anywhere we want."
She kissed Giles passionately, and laughed when she saw him turn bright red. But then she saw that wicked glint in his eyes that she had learned to fear. And love!!. Before she knew it he had stepped behind her, with his hands under her T-shirt. Caressing her breasts.
Joyce was already beginning to feel weak in her knees when the doorbell rang. With a giggle more fit for a teenager, than for a woman in her early fifties, she tore herself free and went to open the door. A few moments later she came back, pale as a ghost, with two telegrams in her hands.
"What is it," Rupert asked. Is any of the gang I'll, or what?!"
Joyce gave him the telegram addressed to him. And with unsteady voice she told him what he read. We have just been summoned before the leader of the Watchers Council. The Council you stopped serving under after Buffy's death. There appears to have been an attack on the tower by a Slayer Vampire."
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4 June. 2014. Location: San Fransisco
The Concert Hall
23.24.p.m.
The crowd was clapping and whistling like mad, crying for more as the members of the famous rock group Spellbound left the stage. Suddenly the scene turned pitch black, and the audience cheered even more in hope of getting an extra number. And they were rewarded for their effort.
A single spotlight lit up. And they saw the beautiful red-haired vocalist walking towards them, seemingly floating on air like a fairy. Then a second spotlight lit up, and the lead guitarist, her husband, appeared beside her. "Dear audience," she said with amazingly strong voice to come from such a slender frame. "We are sorry for having such a short concert. But today is a day of grief for us." The audience could see tears running down her face, her body shaking with suppressed sobs.
Oz, the ever so calm and reflective, was visibly shaken. But he managed to continue for her. "Seventeen years ago, on this day, our world was shattered. We watched our best friend die in the most terrible way possible. Tortured to death by a sick bastard, while we were unable to help her. This psychopath had captured us and all of our friends. He played games with our heads, while hurting us in every way he could think of. Still, we got off easier, because our friend sacrificed herself. Made him concentrate on her. Buffy survived through torture that would have killed most other people. But finally she died. By then she was unrecognisable.
"It is, by God, the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. Seventeen years ago, she sacrificed herself so that we could escape. Like she always did. She was always helping somebody. We used to call her the defender of the earth. This song is dedicated to our dear friend Buffy Anne Summers. The light of our lives."
Heroes comes in many shapes
Heroes comes in many shades
Heroes of mind and heroes of steelShe was both. But most of all
She was a hero of the heart.
Such a precious treasure
A hero of the heart
Shades of darkness was her life
Trying to kill her light.
But true heroes can't be silenced
They never fade completely
She was a hero, and she didn't know it.
I can't be she said. cause I'm afraid.
But its easy to be brave when you feel no fear
The true hero, keeps fighting, despite the fearAnd she did, and won for us.
And with that she lost for herself.
Our Buffy
As the last tones of the acoustic guitar and Willow's spellbinding voice died away, there was an almost unnatural silence in the concert hall. But then one by one lighters were lit, and from the audience came as with one voice.
Shades of darkness was her life
Trying to kill her light.
But true heroes can't be silenced
They never fade completely
Willow and Oz looked out at the audience and saw the deep-felt condolences. "Thank you folks," Willow shouted. "Thank you. You have been a terrific audience. And somehow you have made this day a little easier to get through." With that they left the stage empty again. Still, five minutes passed before the audience started to leave.
As soon as they arrived backstage, Willow collapsed on a sofa. Physically and emotionally drained. Oz took her in his arms and rocked her gently, being comforted as much as he gave comfort. They sat there for half an hour, perhaps more. Then, a knocking at the door. Willow opened and found an extremely tired looking telegram Messenger.
"Telegram for Mr and Mrs Osborne. Just sign here, and let me get outa here, he said. "Gee!! Your security here is insane. I have tried all day to deliver these messages. Talk about paranoia," he said as he hastened away.
Willow gave Oz his telegram. They opened them simultaneously, and had to sit down in deep shock.
Dear member of The Slayerettes
It is with great sorrow I write this letter. I wish the circumstances were different. But I see no other choice than to summon you in the fight for future human existence. A Slayer Vampire recently attacked the Council's tower. This one, named Enya, has been wreaking havoc all over Britain for two years now. Now, she has decided to become the ruler of the world. And according to an old prophesy, she will achieve that if the Council is eliminated. Therefore it is of the outmost urgency to find the rest of the Council members and get them to safety. Since I myself am badly injured, I am not capable of doing this on my own. Therefore I beg for your help.
The decision to come or not to come, is of such grave importance, that everyone wil get their own letter. No husband or wife can make the decision for his or her significant other. If you should choose to come, this letter contains plane tickets. You will be met at the airport and driven to my mansion.
Yours hopefully
Christopher Giles
Head, Council of Watchers
Neither of them said anything. They just started to pack. And their faces had the expression of warriors about to face battle.
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4 June. 2014. Location: FBI Headquarter
New York Section.
15.05.p.m.
Xander looked down on the telegram. His mind felt like exploding from all the memories that were attacking him. Not again!!! His mind screamed in agony. "NOT AGAIN!!!" This time he had said it out loud. And his colleagues looked shocked at him. Pure rage seemed to radiate from him as he went for the Bosses office. Special Agent Harris notified his boss about his indefinite leave of absence, effective immediately, before he stormed through the office landscape.
"What's the matter, Xander?" Carol O`Connor looked concerned at her long time partner and friend.
"Nothing," he said and walked for the elevator.
"I'll be back Cameron, she said to her husband, who was just telling of his latest run in with Eithne, or the "Celtic Witch" as he called her. She rushed after Xander and reached him just as the doors started to close.
When they were between two floors she pushed the stop button. "Now tell me Xandman. What is wrong? Is it something with Willow?" He just gave her the telegram.
After reading it, she hissed like a cat and slammed her hand hard into the elevator wall, leaving a dent shaped as a fist. "Damit," she said. "So your past is back to haunt you. Do you want me and Cameron to go with you?"
He smiled weakly, and stroked her cheek. "No, thank you. I have to do this on my own. You may have strength and reflexes that rival a slayer, but you don't have the training or experience. And Cameron wouldn't stand a chance. You don't know what a Slayer Vampire is like. If you thought Warlock was tough, You'd better think again. He's a summer's breeze compared to a Slayer Vampire. I couldn't let you face that. But thank you for the offer." He started the elevator again.
"Are you okay with this, Xander." Her cat's eyes fixed on his eyes. "No," he said and shook his head. "I'm not. But I just have to deal with it. Armageddon doesn't wait for anyone."
In a rare display of emotion, she hugged him. "Well then, Xander. Good luck. And remember, if you should change your mind, just pick up the phone, and we'll be on the first flight."
"Thank you again," he said. "And just in case I won't see you again. You are the best partner a Fed can have. Even though you're a pain in the ass sometimes, and beat the crap out of me in training." His eyes glinted of that typical Xanderly humour that she loved so. "And tell Cameron that he needs to stop ticking off Eithne. He should know better than irritating N`Goahr."
With that he walked out of the elevator and went straight for his Harley, with a last wave to Carol.
As he gave full throttle down the road, Alexander Lavelle Harris found him self again painfully walking down the path of war.
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4. June. 2014. Location: Angel Investigations Headquarter
Los Angeles
17.50.p.m.
Angel and Cordelia had just come back from investigating a haunted house that showed to be a sales fraud. "I can't believe that slimeball," Cordy shouted. "He sold these nice old people this house and made them sell it back for a small sum, by pretending to be a ghost. And he has done it for years, without any one getting suspicious. If Cathie O`Brien hadn't been such a smart old lady, he could have continued for ever."
"Well I'm glad we nailed him," Angel said. "But you should have seen him when I put on my game face for a moment. I swear he peed his pants, when I said that the dead didn't like his games."
"No! You didn't?!" Cordy turned towards him and grabbed his collar. "Tell me you didn't!! What are you trying to do to me! What if the wrong people find out? I don't want no stakehappy Slayer to seek you up and kill you. Next time you might not be able to talk her into reason before she kills you, as you did with Tamara. Don't you get it, you dorkhead? I don't want to lose you. I love you!"
Angel took his by now almost crying wife in his arms and hugged her tightly. "Relax Queenie, I'm here with you. And its gonna stay that way until we die together, when we're old and wrinkled. I'm never gonna leave you. I swear on my soul, and heart." He placed her hand over his heart so that she could feel his heartbeats. The beautiful feeling of them calmed her down, as they always did.
She hugged him and kissed him deeply. And sent a silent thanks to the Gypsy clan Calderash that restored his life ten years ago. He had kept his powers, but the demon was gone. She remembered with a smile how difficult he had had to get used to sleeping at night and be up in the day.
Unfortunatelly, to a slayer he still gave of the feeling of a powerfull vampire. And that had caused him a few problems over the last years. Not every slayer was willing to listen to a vampire.
She was shaken out of her memories by the doorbell. She opened the door and found a telegram messenger. She signed and took the telegrams and opened the one addressed to her as she closed the door.
Dear member of the Slayerettes It is with great sorrow I write this letter. I wish…………. As she read, her brain screamed NO!!! Not again!!! Mechanically she gave Angel his telegram, then Cordelia Chase O`Rourke, burst into tears as memories flooded her brain. Memories that no amount of therapy had been able to help her overcome. It was only with the support and love of Angel she had been able to build up her life again. But she remembered. By God, she remembered!And so did Angel. She could only imagine the pain he felt now. After all, Buffy had been his first real love. And now it had happened again. A slayer had been turned. And it fell upon the survivors of The Invulnerable to fight her.