Rainbow Over Sunnydale Chapter 13
by Joseph Black
Disclaimer: Red Storm and Tom Clancy own Rainbow and Characters. Joss Whedon owns Buffy and Characters. Anyone else belongs to me. I make no profit of the following except to have a little fun.
Spoilers: Buffy to present. Rainbow to Bear and the Dragon.
Authors note 1: I am adjusting the Buffy time line slightly, this fic starts just after "Never Leave Me", moving things back about a month.
Authors note 2: I can't seem to get Fanfic to except my special formatting. So anytime you see this '*' anything inside is in a foreign language. And if you see this '[*]' it's some ones thoughts.
Authors note 3: The muse is still cooperating so I am taking advantage of it. Enjoy.
Notes to reviewers
LMiC2001: Thanks, I hope she does too.
denaumo: Here!
J A Baker, Jen & X-Lander, Thanks for the reviews.
Harriet: Your welcome. I have to take care of my first reviewer.
Dorothy: Having the press in Sunnydale would not necessarily. I chose Bob Holtzman with malice afor thought.
fastpilot: Yeah there was a lot of food in that last chapter wasn't there? I guess I should only write on a full stomach. As far as the Forest Ranger goes, I did mention this was an AU fic right?
Ack: Sorry but something is coming up. But since you are the second person who want's to see that I'll have to work it into a later chapter.
SpOOT: I'm glad you are enjoying the story. You can be a nitpicker only if I can be one back. You were right about Maryland, (Would it be a ROS chapter if I didn't have to go back and change something?) But MA is Massachusetts, Maine is ME.
Thanks to all that reviewed. Constructive criticisms always welcomed. Flames cheerfully ignored.
1630 Revello Drive
Sunnydale Ca.
26Oct2003
0810 hours
Buffy looked the tall ranger on her porch over; he was taller than Clark, and proportionately wider. He was wearing a forest rangers uniform complete with smoky the bear hat. She couldn't see his eye color because he was wearing sunglasses. He must have had his hair cut short or shaved off because she could not see any of it from under his hat. Finally he was wearing one of those cop gun belts with an absolutely huge pistol in its holster. She asked him, "If I was The Slayer what would you need one for?"
"I have a family treed outside of town. My normal crew is fighting a forest fire down toward LA, and O'Connell and his troops are off investigating something."
Not knowing who those people are Buffy decided to leave who they were for a minute, "Okay, I still don't understand why you would need a slayer to deal with a bear or something."
"What ever has this family treed is invisible," The Ranger told her.
"I does kind of sound like something up your alley Buffy," Dawn commented.
Buffy glared at her sister for giving information away to a stranger, but she stepped out of the doorway to let the ranger enter. The rangers seem to recognize a non-invatation invite and entered the house. He saw about what he had been told to expect. The Slayer, her sister, the red head that was coming in from the kitchen must be the witch, the older guy, and the younger guy; who was a little older than he was expecting. And who was the kid tied up on the couch?
"Do you have any ID?" The older guy asked. [Wasn't he supposed to be English?] The ranger thought.
The Ranger carefully took out his ID wallet and handed it to him.
"Thanks," Clark said as he took the wallet and started toward the kitchen.
"Hey!" The ranger called, starting after him.
"Relax," the younger guy said, stopping him from following Clark by putting a hand on his chest. "Here I'll trade you till he gets back," Ding said as he took a leather wallet that was hanging around his neck on a chain and handed it to him.
The ranger took the wallet and opened it. The ID card inside said, 'Chavez, Domingo, and indicated that he was a major in the US Army, and was stationed at some place called Hemstead, in England. "Army?" He asked.
"Yep, now how bout you introduce yourself."
Clark went right through the kitchen; he ignored Riley who was up against the cellar door with his desert eagle out. He stopped at the back door and checked around to see if anyone was hiding out in the back yard. Seeing no one he carefully went out onto the back porch. Once there he took out his cell phone and hit Murray's number.
"Murray," came the answer after the first ring.
"Dan, It's John I need you to run an ID for me NOW." Clark quickly told the head of the FBI emphasizing the last word.
"Okay, shoot," Murray, told him as he reached for a tablet.
Clark opened the wallet and looked at The Forestry ID that he held, "Robert Broadman," He began, "According to this he is stationed in the Central California District."
"Okay, wait one," Murray told Clark. "Maria? Get a hold of personal over at Interior. I need to verify one of their people stat." He then gave her the info to check out.
Then returning to the phone, "Okay John I have Maria working on it. It's good thing you called. Have you checked in with the local Army base yet?"
"No I thought I'd do that on Monday, after we are settled in," John told him.
"Don't," Dan told him firmly. "Tony was going over some stuff and it looks like that the whole senior cadre of that base was hand picked by Billingsly."
"Damn there went some backup," John said with feeling.
"Right into the other camp," Dan agreed.
"What's the story on the SEAL's? It looks like we may need them." Clark asked Murray.
"We're cutting orders for them to go on standby right now. We can have them headed your way tomorrow if we had too." Dan assured him. "We are looking at another possibility though, I'll let you know if we finalize it."
Clark wasn't real happy about being left in the dark but didn't say anything.
"One other thing John," Dan said.
"Yes?"
"Jack has decided that after you defending the Hellmouth your top priority is to gain Buffy and her people's trust. Do what ever it takes; he trusts your judgement. Also he told me that if Ms. Summers requests a raise, give it too her, don't dicker."
"Okay," Clark told Murray. Like he would have.
Back in the front hallway Buffy asked, "So Ranger Broadman, exactly how do you know who I am?"
Broadman shrugged, "O'Connell told me, I had some vamp problems about six months ago and he couldn't help. He gave me your name in case I ran into something I couldn't handle but I managed on my own."
"Who?" Buffy asked getting annoyed.
"Lt. Jonathan O'Connell? The head of the SPD's night shift?" The Ranger told the Slayer. Realization hit him, "He never talked to you did he?"
Buffy just shook her head; she had a 'I am not happy' expression on her face.
"Do me one favor, when you talk to him please don't tell him you got this info from me," The Ranger requested.
Maria handed Murray a print out that included Robert Broadman's vital statistics. Murray repeated them to Clark.
"Sounds like him. Did they give you his pager number?" He said to Murray.
"Yeah, here it is," The head of the FBI gave him the number.
Clark came back inside, ignoring Riley, who was still up against the door. Clark went to Buffy's phone and dialed Broadman's pager number. A minute later he heard the pager go off.
He returned to the front hall. "It seems that he is who he says he is." As he handed him back his ID.
The ranger regarded the older man with interest. It took a lot of clout to come up with that number that quick. He sighed; he would probably be getting a call from his boss over this.
As he returned Ding's ID he asked, "Do I even want to know what is going on?"
"Nope," Willow said and returned to the kitchen.
Riley came into the hallway; he had put his gun away.
"What's the situation?" Buffy asked.
"I have a single mother with two kids up a tree in the Mesa Alto Park. I was down with my crew around LA when I got the call. Apparently last night some guy ran into their campsite and got them up trees. He almost made it too, but something took him off the tree that he had started to climb. Dr. Sanchez, the mother said that there was nothing there but it carried him away."
"Okay, I'll go get changed," Buffy said.
"I'll get ready too," Riley said turning toward where his stuff was.
"You're not going anywhere Riley," Clark ordered.
"With respect sir, I think that Buffy could use some backup," Riley said, the tone was not quite disrespectful.
"We're up against something that is a master of misdirection and psyche-warfare. I'm not letting my only expert on this town go wondering off into a trap." Clark told the younger man.
"Are you going to order me not to go too?" Buffy asked her temper starting to rise.
"If you were part of my chain of command I would. But since you aren't, all I can do is suggest is that you consider what you are doing. This could be a trap, or it could just be that The First wants you out of town for a couple of hours."
"Or it could be exactly what the ranger says it is," Buffy told the general, "I'm probably the only chance that family has. I have to go." She then started up the stairs.
"I'll go," Ding said, "Buffy needs someone at her back that she trusts."
Buffy turned on the stairs and looked at Ding, "Since when do I trust you?"
Ding shrugged, "I was in your house all last night and didn't murder you in your sleep. That's got to count for something."
Buffy didn't say anything, just gave him a look. She then continued up the stairs.
Ding went and started getting his things together. "Did you hear what I said about this maybe being a trap?" Clark asked his son-in-law.
"Yep," Ding said as he got his camo's and headed up behind Buffy, " doesn't change the fact that she should have backup and I agree with why it can't be Riley. Cuts down on who we can send don't it?"
"Be careful, if anything happens to you Patty will have my hide." Clark told him quietly.
Ding just nodded.
Willow came back in with her laptop, "Ranger Broadman could you to tell Dawn and Anya anything that you can remember from you conversations with Dr. Sanchez. General Clark, do you read any foreign languages?"
"Russian," Clark said.
"Oh good!" Willow said happily. We haven't had anybody who could read Russian since Giles left. General Clark, Riley I need your help down in the basement for a sec."
As Willow led the two men away Dawn led the ranger into the dinning room.
"I'd like to help," Andrew said.
"You can help by sitting there and being quiet," Anya told him. She went into living room and gave him the remote to the TV.
Downstairs Willow led Clark and Riley over to a large trunk that had a large hammer shaped object on top of it. "This trunk has some of the research tomes we use. Buffy leaves the troll hammer on top as an anti-tamper device," she explained.
"Okay, what do you need us for?" Clark asked.
"It's kind of heavy. I could move it by magic, but I am trying to cut down." Willow explained.
"Yeah good idea Wills," Riley told her.
Clark and Riley took opposite sides of the hammer and started to lift carefully. "Lord you weren't kidding," Clark panted. Pushing themselves they were able to lift the hammer and dropped it beside the trunk. It landed with a thump that shook the house. "Buffy uses that thing in combat?" Clark asked, holding his back.
"She used it against Glory and really whumped her with it, Xander helped with the wrecking ball of course," Willow told them as she sorted books in the trunk. She handed four of them to Clark, "These are Russian, you should be able to read them."
Clark examined them, "What are they on?" He asked.
"Demons and things. We need to figure out what Buffy will be taking on." Willow told him.
She then headed back up stairs with the two men in tow. "Don't you want to put the hammer back?" Riley asked.
"Let Buffy do it when she gets back," Willow told him, "That's what we usually do."
"Thank you Lord," Clark said to himself quietly.
When they got upstairs Ding and Buffy were back down and were getting ready to go. Buffy had her crossbow and Ding was picking up the case containing his MPK. Broadman looked at the case and asked, "What do you have in there."
"An MPK," Ding told him as he started out the door.
"Do you have anything bigger?" The Ranger asked.
"No, why?" Ding responded.
"Those are 9mm right?" Broadman asked.
"Yeah," Ding said turning to the ranger.
"A little light, I would plan on taking something that could deal with a bear if you had too." The Ranger explained.
"What are you using?" Ding questioned.
" M-14," The ranger told him.
"Got anything else?" The commando asked him.
"Sure back at the ranger station, which is forty minutes in the wrong direction. We'll have to stop at Gerry's on the way out of town."
"Gerry's?" Ding asked.
"A hunting supply store on the edge of town. He loans guns in emergencies. He'll have something you can use." Broadman said as he headed for his car. Buffy was already waiting for them looking impatient.
Once they had pulled away the remaining people sat down at the table and started going through the various tomes that where piled on the table.
Once they had been reading for awhile Dawn glanced up at Clark as he read through the first book. "General Clark?" She asked.
"Yes?" He asked looking at the younger girl.
"Welcome to the Scoobies," She said.
The Washington Post
1150 15th Street N.W.
Washington DC.
26Oct2002
1245 hours
Bob Holtzman's call was answered on the second ring, "Conrad Raynes," The rich cultured voice said.
"Conrad, Bob Holtzman," the reporter informed the man.
"Robert! How good to hear from you!" Came the reply, "To what do I owe this call? Finally have a screenplay to sell?" Conrad asked. Conrad Raynes was one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood today. He had won 4 Academy Awards in the last fifteen years. After the last one he entered into semi-retirement. Producers used him if their project was having script problems. He also acted as den mother to aspiring screenwriters that seemed to show promise.
Couple this with an eidetic memory for names and stories and an insatiable appetite for gossip and he was the best Hollywood source that Holtzman had.
"Have a question about something that happened a couple of years back," Holtzman asked.
"Is there the possibility of a script in it?" Conrad asked.
"Everything else that this guy has been involved with would make a good one, I don't see why this should be any different." Holtzman replied.
"Well then I would be delighted to help. Providing you don't forget me when you farm out the script." Was the taciturn reply.
"Conrad have I ever forgotten you?" Bob admonished.
"I just want to make sure that there isn't a first time," the screenwriter told him, "Who are looking for?"
"What do you remember about Samantha Weber?" Holtzman asked.
"She got married to a handsome soldier, her name is Finn now," Conrad told him, sniffing.
"You're following that story?" Holtzman asked surprised.
"One of my friends wanted to do a docu-drama on the event so I have seen a lot of the background information," was the reply.
"Would he speak to me?" Holtzman asked getting excited.
"If you can find him I would think that he would be more than happy to speak to you. Unfortunatly he vanished about a year ago." Conrad said sadly.
"He was a friend?" Holtzman asked sympathetically.
"Yes, it was Eric Shallots," Conrad told him.
"Wasn't he going to be the next Michele Moore?" Holtzman queried, remembering the name.
"That is him."
Holtzman had wondered why he hadn't heard anything from him in a while. "Was he working on the Weber story when he vanished?"
"Yes, he went down to Mexico to check out the story. Ms. Weber had hired Doubios & Straton as agents and had placed a rider on signing the rights to the story away that she could withdraw those rights at anytime if she felt that the story was taking to much dramatic license with what happened. If the story was going to be told she wanted it to be as close to what happened as possible. At about the same time she put this rider up the bio-attack took place. When it was over blood thirsty drug lords were out, blood thirsty terrorists were in, and everyone lost interest in her."
"What made Eric go after it then?" Holtzman asked.
"Alas he admired her spunk, and that she was prepared to stand up for her rights no matter what. Eric respected that. He also took it as a challenge. To do a story that she would approve of." The writer explained.
"Did he disappear in Mexico when he was checking out the story?" Holtzman asked, beginning to take notes.
"No, he had no problems in Mexico," Raynes replied, "He did find some very interesting things down there though."
"Like?"
"Are you at your desk?" Raynes asked.
"Yes," Holtzman said.
"I'll send you an email." Raynes replied.
They exchanged other news while they waited for the email to arrive. When it did Holtzman opened it and found three pictures. Or rather one picture with two blow-ups of the upper left hand corner of it. Holtzman examined the pictures. It was obviously the picture that had appeared in papers of Ms. Weber being wheeled into the hospital. Only the picture that had made it into print had been cropped. In the full photo there where three men standing in the upper left of the picture. All where wearing camouflage uniforms. Holtzman wasn't sure, but he thought that it was the uniform of the Mexican Army Special Forces. One of the figures was much taller than his two companions; he also had blond hair. While tall blondes where not unknown in Mexico, they were vanishingly rare. Looking at the blow-ups though showed that the blond was Riley Finn.
"Okay I got them," Holtzman said into the receiver. "I have to say that the blow ups are interesting."
"Indeed. You know who that is don't you?" Conrad asked.
"Yeah," Holtzman assured him.
"Eric also went out to the site of the village," Raynes continued.
"The Mexican Government let him?" Holtzman asked surprised.
"They advised him that the area still might be dangerous, but they did not block him. He did have problems getting a guide though. They all told him the area was infested with monsters. He finally got one to lead him out to the village site. When he got there he found that the government had gone through the area with a fine tooth comb. All of the rubble was in neat piles, sorted by type. He said that they had even dug out the cellar holes of all of the buildings that had them." Conrad talked on.
"Where they looking for something? Or where they covering up?" Holtzman asked.
"Eric didn't know. He was beginning to suspect that maybe that the local drug lords weren't as crazy as they were portrayed in the stories. He was starting to believe that maybe there had been a spy in that village that they took out."
"Samantha Finn?" Holtzman asked.
"It could explain how she got out when everyone else was killed. Perhaps I should mention also that Eric had a hard time getting in contact with Mrs. Finn. Almost like she was out of the country a lot," Conrad stated.
"If Eric didn't disappear in Mexico then where did he vanish?" Holtzman asked.
"Eric was entertaining a friend," Conrad said, perhaps a hint of jealousy in his voice. "He was showing him what he had done on the film when the friend identified the blond in the photo as Riley Finn. He said that Finn had been a teaching assistant at The University of California at Sunnydale. So he went down to Sunnydale to see if he could find anyone who could confirm this. I didn't want him to go. Sunnydale has a nasty rep. But he went. He promised me that he would call every night. He called me when he got there and told me he was going to hit the college hot spots. I never heard from him again. I called the police in Sunnydale and he had the nerve to sing at me! They called back the next day and told me that he had checked into a local motel but that they had not seen him since he left around six the previous evening. No one has seen him since," Conrad finished sadly.
"I'm checking this story out Conrad, if I find anything I'll let you know," He promises his friend.
"Please don't go to Sunnydale Robert, please. If something happened to you I don't know if I could live with myself. There is something hungry in that town; hungry and evil."
"I'll be careful Conrad, I promise," He reassured the other man.
"God go with you then Robert," Conrad finished resignedly.
"You too Conrad. Thanks for the info," Holtzman finished.
They exchanged good-byes and hung up.
Holtzman sat and thought. It almost sounded like Columbia again. Ryan wouldn't be the first politician that got caught in the 'Okay the last guy really FUBARed this idea, but I can make it work!' trap. On the other hand the timing was seriously wrong for this to have been Ryan's op. The planning for this would have had to happen during the Durling administration. Still Ryan was Durling's National Security Advisor. It had been that office that the Columbia op had come from. Maybe this was history repeating itself. His wife had some good contacts in the Mexican Government. Maybe she could find someone who would be willing to say what happened.
While he was working the problem in his mind Tom Messinger the IT guy knocked on Holtzman's office door, "Matilda spit something out," He said handing the printout over.
Holtzman took it and read, "Doogie Howzer fanfiction?" He asked surprised.
Tom shrugged, "You do not question the offerings of Matilda," he intoned solemnly. He then shrugged, "I moved the process over to a secondary system, she's chunking her way through bulletin boards now. It'll take awhile but I think we'll get something. By the way I'm hungry, you owe me a pizza." So saying he turned and walked away. Holtzman chuckled to himself and called the local pizza joint and put in an order for two pies. After hanging up he looked the paper that Tom had dropped off and laughed. He was about to circular file it when something caught his eye. The email address for llltlredWtch was 'wrosenberg@UCSunnydale.edu'. Now that was a little too much coincidence for his peace of mind. UCS was a school that before today he had never even heard of. Now two seemingly independent stories led there.
Well only one way to find out, turning to his computer he fired off an email to wrosenberg explaining who he was and asking if she were the same llltlredWtch that had posted the message about the Watchers Council on Bernie's site.
Since he was already on line he decided he would do a Nexus search on Sunnydale just to see what was there. He typed in the search perimeters and waited while the computer ran it's search routine. When results started showing up he began scanning headlines. Before he was half finished he said, "What the hell is going on in that town!"