Author's Note: I'd be very happy if anyone can come up with the name for
any secrety government mutant organization from the X-men world. Provided
that there is one - I'm not sure if there is. I'd like to give our bad
guys a name beyond "bad guys". It'd be much appreciated!
"Erik! Erik!" Willow wandered through the lodge. Just when she actually needed a guide, Pyro had decided she was freaky even by his standards and had gone off to play Nintendo with Avalanche. Stupid fire boy.
"Magneto!"
"Looking for someone?"
Crap. Scaly blue lady, what's her name, Mystique, had just popped out of nowhere. This was just swell.
"Yes, I'm looking for my cousin."
"He's busy right now, little girl." Pause for smirk. "Can I help you?"
Willow's eyes narrowed. She doubted that Mystique intended to offer any real help at all. Evil mutant lady. If people were basing their views of mutants off someone like Mystique, Willow wasn't surprised they had issues.
"No," Willow responded coolly, "I'll just find him myself."
"I said that Magneto is busy. He does not need to be concerned with your trivial problems."
Willow cocked her head to the side. Wait. Mystique hadn't popped out of nowhere. She stood in front of a door. A door that blended very nicely with the wall, but a door. I wonder....
Willow took a step towards the door. Mystique countered. Aha! The door had to be to an important place. One possibly containing her elusive cousin. She considered her options. (A) Lure Mystique away and come back. No, Mystique seemed too sneaky smart for that. (B) Attempt to dart around Mystique and open door. Also bad, the woman would probably have some super speed power, given her luck. (C) Hope that telekinesis works long enough to reach and enter door. Yes! Hopefully will come off as mild irritation and not an attack, and safely allows access. Actually, come to think of it, B + C would be best.
A moment of concentration, a quick dart around, a push against the door, and SUCCESS!
"Mystique, I thought I told you I was not to be disturbed!"
"Sorry Erik, it's just me."
Magneto looked up from his desk. The room was filled with all sorts of technology. Most of it seemed communication based. Video feeds from various news stations played mutely in one corner while another revealed what appeared to be satellite images of certain areas. It looked like standard set #21, lair of powerful bad guy, technology class. Not the most comforting. Especially when she noticed some parts scattered a table tucked to the side that looked like they began as some nasty devices.
If the effect was to be intimidating, it was working. For the first time Willow realized exactly how dangerously unorthodox her cousin was. If this was for any other reason, she would have left, babbling multiple apologies. But this was about Tara. And everyone back in Sunnydale. No Scoob worth the title would back out now.
Willow set her shoulders and took a deep breath, preparing for the fight.
Mystique burst into the room.
"I'm sorry, but this little Witch did something which stopped me from blocking her."
"It's all right, Mystique. If it is so important to Willow she had to interfere with one of my people, we might as well hear her out."
Willow tried very hard not to gulp at the "interfere" part. This was so not starting off on the right foot. She doubted she was even close to the left foot, and that made absolutely no sense, and -
You're doing this for Tara. And Buffy. Xander. Giles. Hell, even Anya. Therefore, remember you're entitled to some respect. Innocent victim of circumstances here!
"I was able to cast the spell to speak with Tara." That's it, go for the calm recitation of facts. "She told me that a demon called a Sl'kanith has risen in Sunnydale. The research my friends have says that the Sl'kanith is a very powerful and old demon. It affects humans' and demons' emotions and tries to cause as much chaos as possible, feeding off the deaths. There's a prophecy on defeating it, but until we understand what it means I'm needed to cast a spell that can stop the Sl'kanith from doing as much damage."
Willow paused, marshalling her forces.
"Tara says that children have already died as sacrifices to raise the demon. Erik, I have to go back. A whole lot of people could die if I don't. I belong there. And I will be going, with or without your help. It would just be easier with it." End argument. Wait for rebuttal.
Magneto considered Willow's words. As much as he did NOT want to risk capture, which Willow's departure would undoubtedly increase, his own sense of morality, which despite popular opinion was fully functional, told him that Willow was right. She had to return to Sunnydale.
It's not fun being proven wrong.
"I understand your position, Willow. I'll start making arrangements for your return."
Mystique seemed upset over this. "Magneto, you cannot honestly allow this slip of a girl to endanger us all over some problem she claims to be the only answer to."
Willow turned to glare at the woman. "People will die if I don't help! Innocents!"
"So? People die all the time. Human. Mutant. It doesn't matter."
Before this escalated into a full blown debate, Magneto intervened. "I am aware of the risks undertaken if Willow is free to be captured. That is why," he continued, "we will accompany her to Sunnydale."
Mystique looked, if possible, even less pleased with this suggestion. But she held her tongue, her respect for her leader stopping her from arguing outright. At least in front of the little witch. In her opinion, he was according the human far too much respect.
"Mystique, I would like you to inform the others of this new course of action." The blue mutant turned to leave, inwardly fuming. "And Willow, would you please stay a moment. I would like you to give me a FULL and COMPLETE description of the situation in your hometown. If we come with you, I do not want any secrets surprising me."
Mystique gave herself a smirk at that as she saw herself out the door. ***
Willow was left in the office? communications? room alone with her cousin now. She knew why he was being pushy about having the full lowdown now - she would do the same in his situation - but there were some things that she wasn't even sure that she had the right to talk about.
Okay, Will, just start with the basics. He knows about vampires and demons and magic and Hellmouths; now give it some detail.
"Um...remember how I said my friends and I fight demons and stuff? Actually, most of us are like the helpers. My friend Buffy, the one who told me about vampires? It's her job to fight vampires. She's someone called the Slayer. It's a whole big mystic destiny Chosen One deal."
Magneto nodded. So far, so good.
"The saying is something like 'Into every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness.' There's only supposed to be one Slayer, when one dies another is chosen. She has special powers, like super strength and reflexes and demony detectors and innate fighting skills. So, that's Buffy's thing. She's like our leader."
"Have Slayers ever been persecuted for their abilities?"
Of course that would be what he zeroed in on.
"Besides being the ultimate target for just about every demon in existence? Yeah, there are some accounts, especially during the Middle Ages and stuff where Slayers were burned at the stake or something. I have a funny story about that, actually, but I'll leave it for another time."
Magneto what could be remotely funny about being burned at the stake and expressed that opinion.
"Hellmouth humor, sorry. Anyway, Slayers get help from their Watcher, who is like a teacher mentor guy. Giles is Buffy's Watcher. He knows all about arcane books and random demon facts. When we get there, he'll be the one to go to about the prophecies and stuff.
Let see, what else. My best friend Xander helps out too. He doesn't have magic or anything, but he's really good at helping. His girlfriend is Anya, she used to be a vengeance demon - "
"Used to be?"
"Long story. Come to think of it, most of the back stuff goes under 'long story'. Uh, you already know about Tara. We call ourselves the Scooby Gang - "
"Not exactly striking fear into the hearts of your enemies with that name."
"Hey! I'm proud to be a Scooby."
Magneto personally thought a person would have to be disturbed to think the "Scooby Gang" was a proud name. It sounded like a group of children in elementary school. He wisely did not express that opinion.
"And that's about it. Oh! We might get help from a vampire, Spike. He's got this thing that keeps him from hurting people. Since he can't hunt, he sometimes helps us for money. Or blood, which is an icky way to be paid.
Well, that's it. Sunnydale in a nutshell."
And no mention of anyone else's secrets, Willow whispered to herself. Hopefully, all that is Initiative related would not come up during this lovely adventure.
Magneto didn't realize that Willow was still keeping some information back. Satisfied that she had clued him in on the situation, he nodded his thanks.
"I'm sure that my people will be able to offer some aid, now that I understand the circumstances. As soon as Mystique assembles the Brotherhood, we will prepare to leave."
Yeah! Going home now. But it was really sucky that it took a disaster to convince Erik to send her home. Now that was a joy dampener.
But soon she would be reunited with Tara. Once she was, there wouldn't be anything that they couldn't handle.
"Erik! Erik!" Willow wandered through the lodge. Just when she actually needed a guide, Pyro had decided she was freaky even by his standards and had gone off to play Nintendo with Avalanche. Stupid fire boy.
"Magneto!"
"Looking for someone?"
Crap. Scaly blue lady, what's her name, Mystique, had just popped out of nowhere. This was just swell.
"Yes, I'm looking for my cousin."
"He's busy right now, little girl." Pause for smirk. "Can I help you?"
Willow's eyes narrowed. She doubted that Mystique intended to offer any real help at all. Evil mutant lady. If people were basing their views of mutants off someone like Mystique, Willow wasn't surprised they had issues.
"No," Willow responded coolly, "I'll just find him myself."
"I said that Magneto is busy. He does not need to be concerned with your trivial problems."
Willow cocked her head to the side. Wait. Mystique hadn't popped out of nowhere. She stood in front of a door. A door that blended very nicely with the wall, but a door. I wonder....
Willow took a step towards the door. Mystique countered. Aha! The door had to be to an important place. One possibly containing her elusive cousin. She considered her options. (A) Lure Mystique away and come back. No, Mystique seemed too sneaky smart for that. (B) Attempt to dart around Mystique and open door. Also bad, the woman would probably have some super speed power, given her luck. (C) Hope that telekinesis works long enough to reach and enter door. Yes! Hopefully will come off as mild irritation and not an attack, and safely allows access. Actually, come to think of it, B + C would be best.
A moment of concentration, a quick dart around, a push against the door, and SUCCESS!
"Mystique, I thought I told you I was not to be disturbed!"
"Sorry Erik, it's just me."
Magneto looked up from his desk. The room was filled with all sorts of technology. Most of it seemed communication based. Video feeds from various news stations played mutely in one corner while another revealed what appeared to be satellite images of certain areas. It looked like standard set #21, lair of powerful bad guy, technology class. Not the most comforting. Especially when she noticed some parts scattered a table tucked to the side that looked like they began as some nasty devices.
If the effect was to be intimidating, it was working. For the first time Willow realized exactly how dangerously unorthodox her cousin was. If this was for any other reason, she would have left, babbling multiple apologies. But this was about Tara. And everyone back in Sunnydale. No Scoob worth the title would back out now.
Willow set her shoulders and took a deep breath, preparing for the fight.
Mystique burst into the room.
"I'm sorry, but this little Witch did something which stopped me from blocking her."
"It's all right, Mystique. If it is so important to Willow she had to interfere with one of my people, we might as well hear her out."
Willow tried very hard not to gulp at the "interfere" part. This was so not starting off on the right foot. She doubted she was even close to the left foot, and that made absolutely no sense, and -
You're doing this for Tara. And Buffy. Xander. Giles. Hell, even Anya. Therefore, remember you're entitled to some respect. Innocent victim of circumstances here!
"I was able to cast the spell to speak with Tara." That's it, go for the calm recitation of facts. "She told me that a demon called a Sl'kanith has risen in Sunnydale. The research my friends have says that the Sl'kanith is a very powerful and old demon. It affects humans' and demons' emotions and tries to cause as much chaos as possible, feeding off the deaths. There's a prophecy on defeating it, but until we understand what it means I'm needed to cast a spell that can stop the Sl'kanith from doing as much damage."
Willow paused, marshalling her forces.
"Tara says that children have already died as sacrifices to raise the demon. Erik, I have to go back. A whole lot of people could die if I don't. I belong there. And I will be going, with or without your help. It would just be easier with it." End argument. Wait for rebuttal.
Magneto considered Willow's words. As much as he did NOT want to risk capture, which Willow's departure would undoubtedly increase, his own sense of morality, which despite popular opinion was fully functional, told him that Willow was right. She had to return to Sunnydale.
It's not fun being proven wrong.
"I understand your position, Willow. I'll start making arrangements for your return."
Mystique seemed upset over this. "Magneto, you cannot honestly allow this slip of a girl to endanger us all over some problem she claims to be the only answer to."
Willow turned to glare at the woman. "People will die if I don't help! Innocents!"
"So? People die all the time. Human. Mutant. It doesn't matter."
Before this escalated into a full blown debate, Magneto intervened. "I am aware of the risks undertaken if Willow is free to be captured. That is why," he continued, "we will accompany her to Sunnydale."
Mystique looked, if possible, even less pleased with this suggestion. But she held her tongue, her respect for her leader stopping her from arguing outright. At least in front of the little witch. In her opinion, he was according the human far too much respect.
"Mystique, I would like you to inform the others of this new course of action." The blue mutant turned to leave, inwardly fuming. "And Willow, would you please stay a moment. I would like you to give me a FULL and COMPLETE description of the situation in your hometown. If we come with you, I do not want any secrets surprising me."
Mystique gave herself a smirk at that as she saw herself out the door. ***
Willow was left in the office? communications? room alone with her cousin now. She knew why he was being pushy about having the full lowdown now - she would do the same in his situation - but there were some things that she wasn't even sure that she had the right to talk about.
Okay, Will, just start with the basics. He knows about vampires and demons and magic and Hellmouths; now give it some detail.
"Um...remember how I said my friends and I fight demons and stuff? Actually, most of us are like the helpers. My friend Buffy, the one who told me about vampires? It's her job to fight vampires. She's someone called the Slayer. It's a whole big mystic destiny Chosen One deal."
Magneto nodded. So far, so good.
"The saying is something like 'Into every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness.' There's only supposed to be one Slayer, when one dies another is chosen. She has special powers, like super strength and reflexes and demony detectors and innate fighting skills. So, that's Buffy's thing. She's like our leader."
"Have Slayers ever been persecuted for their abilities?"
Of course that would be what he zeroed in on.
"Besides being the ultimate target for just about every demon in existence? Yeah, there are some accounts, especially during the Middle Ages and stuff where Slayers were burned at the stake or something. I have a funny story about that, actually, but I'll leave it for another time."
Magneto what could be remotely funny about being burned at the stake and expressed that opinion.
"Hellmouth humor, sorry. Anyway, Slayers get help from their Watcher, who is like a teacher mentor guy. Giles is Buffy's Watcher. He knows all about arcane books and random demon facts. When we get there, he'll be the one to go to about the prophecies and stuff.
Let see, what else. My best friend Xander helps out too. He doesn't have magic or anything, but he's really good at helping. His girlfriend is Anya, she used to be a vengeance demon - "
"Used to be?"
"Long story. Come to think of it, most of the back stuff goes under 'long story'. Uh, you already know about Tara. We call ourselves the Scooby Gang - "
"Not exactly striking fear into the hearts of your enemies with that name."
"Hey! I'm proud to be a Scooby."
Magneto personally thought a person would have to be disturbed to think the "Scooby Gang" was a proud name. It sounded like a group of children in elementary school. He wisely did not express that opinion.
"And that's about it. Oh! We might get help from a vampire, Spike. He's got this thing that keeps him from hurting people. Since he can't hunt, he sometimes helps us for money. Or blood, which is an icky way to be paid.
Well, that's it. Sunnydale in a nutshell."
And no mention of anyone else's secrets, Willow whispered to herself. Hopefully, all that is Initiative related would not come up during this lovely adventure.
Magneto didn't realize that Willow was still keeping some information back. Satisfied that she had clued him in on the situation, he nodded his thanks.
"I'm sure that my people will be able to offer some aid, now that I understand the circumstances. As soon as Mystique assembles the Brotherhood, we will prepare to leave."
Yeah! Going home now. But it was really sucky that it took a disaster to convince Erik to send her home. Now that was a joy dampener.
But soon she would be reunited with Tara. Once she was, there wouldn't be anything that they couldn't handle.