Author's Note: The poem mentioned here is a parody of the Jabberwocky by
Lewis Carroll. The parody is called Jargontalk.
Giles and Magneto were now the only ones remaining in the apartment.
"I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to stay?"
Magneto looked the other man over. He was impressed with Giles' reaction to him. Of all these "Scoobies", Giles seemed most aware of precisely who and what Magneto was. And he had not been intimidated in the least, as evidenced by Giles' request.
"It had crossed my mind. Do you care to warn me to behave myself while in this little town?" Magneto looked him straight in the eye. "I can assure you, if I wanted to cause trouble there is little you could do to stop me."
"Quite right," Giles agreed calmly, taking Magneto aback. "But by the same token, should any - situations - arise, I have no doubt things could be made difficult for you, as well."
The mutant's eyes narrowed. Did this mere human dare to threaten him? He tensed, preparing to unleash enough power and ensure that Giles understood exactly who held the power.
Giles continued as if he did not notice the mutant's reaction. Inwardly, he was surprised he dared to challenge one of the most notorious people on the planet, but there were things that needed saying.
"Actually, I feel that Buffy has made clear our stance on the issue of your presence here. Given your," Giles paused as he sought the best words, "unique legal status, it is unlikely you will draw attention to yourself at the moment. My real question to you is, what are the odds your pursuers will be able to track you to this location?"
"Why do you care?"
"What do you know about recent events within Sunnydale?"
An interesting rebuttal. "A demon has been raised. Willow's services are needed in curtailing it; since I am here as well I have offered to help." Pause. "Is there more to it than that? A piece of information not mentioned?"
"To that? No, not at all. I was referring to events earlier this year. I'm not sure what Willow has told you about our activities."
Magneto shrugged. "She mentioned fighting a creature called Adam; beyond that all I've heard concerns the changes in her personal life. Is this where the dark secret comes out?" His voice grew dangerous at the last part. He had hoped Willow would know better than lie to him.
"Interesting. I am not surprised Willow did not go into more detail; it would be a sensitive topic to bring up."
"And what would that be?"
"An attempt made by the military to study and harness demons for their own purposes," Giles stated bluntly. "It failed rather spectacularly, since their vaunted creation of a demon human hybrid decided to kill them all. That was the Adam Willow mentioned. The Initiative, as the organization was called, has since been disbanded."
"And what does that have to do with my pursuers?" Magneto responded in icy tones. This was the sort of information he had specifically asked Willow for; he hated being at a disadvantage. But you were not honest with her, a particularly Charles like voice whispered. He told that voice to shut up. What Willow did not know would not hurt her. This was entirely different situation.
"Very simply, I do not want the military or any related organization to take an interest in Sunnydale again. They messed with forces they had no business dealing with and we paid the price. If they take interest again, it could very well mean a repeat of the Initiative. Do you understand me?"
Quite the backbone this Watcher had. Magneto could see where Willow was learning her habits from. He wondered if any of these Scoobies had the sense to back down when faced with a superior force.
"You want me to avoid getting recaptured?"
"I want the issue of your recapture not to come up at all."
"Then we are on the same page."
"Excellent."
Magneto turned to leave, having a strong desire to track down his cousin. Willow had some explaining to do about this "Initiative."
***
Willow and Tara sat on the couch in Tara's apartment. Bags from the Magic Box rested against the wall, containing the required items and a few extras. There'd been a sale on some very juicy items - she still couldn't believe the deal they got on the eye of newt - that was just too hard to pass up.
At the moment they were talking about the good parts of her trip.
"And then someone started quoting the funniest poem, it went like 'Twas Unix and the C++/Did compile and load upon the VAX:/All Ritchie was the Kernighan/And LISP ran in GNU EMACS.' Can you believe it? And then everyone started laughing, especially at the 'LISP ran in GNU EMACS' part, and - "
"WILLOW!"
The two girls looked up at who burst in the door. Willow grabbed Tara's hand as she prepared to cast a defensive spell. She had barely summoned enough power for the first syllable when she noticed the intruder was an extremely pissed off cousin of hers.
Uh-oh. What had set him off? Not good, not good, so not good.
"Um, hi Erik," Willow managed to squeak.
"I believe before I came here," he thundered, "I asked you to tell me WHAT HAPPENED HERE!"
"But I did!"
"Then why was Rupert Giles the one to tell me about the Initiative!"
Double, Triple, googolplex uh-oh.
"Did it not occur to you that it might be important. This organization sounds precisely like the sort of thing I need to know about!"
"But - "
"I've dealt with so-called Initiatives before. Going to a place where I have no knowledge that they operated there is tantamount to walking into a trap!"
"They don't exist anymore!"
"Do you honestly believe that? If they were here once, they could be again, and I have no intention of dealing with them in anything beyond a superior position."
"But - "
"I trusted you to keep me informed so my people and I would not be compromised! This could put my mission at risk!"
"Erik, it wasn't my secret to tell!"
"And it was Giles'?"
"YES! I didn't think it had anything to do with the Sl'kanith which was why you were coming here and - "
"I CAME here to make certain that you did not divulge any information about the Brotherhood to our enemies. Helping with the Sl'kanith is the side issue."
Willow gaped at her cousin. How could he say that? While she tried to form a reply, Magneto continued his rant.
"It doesn't matter if it wasn't 'your secret'. What matters is that I trusted you to give me the necessary information. Which you failed to do."
"You're wrong."
Magneto's head swiveled to note the other girl in the room. And so the mouse speaks.
"Really?"
"Y-yes," Tara suddenly felt very small and scared under Magneto's condescending stare, "Y-you are wr-wrong."
"And how, pray tell, am I wrong?"
Tara's eyes flicked over to see Willow. The redhead was still reeling from the blow about the importance of the "mission" over life- saving, her expression wounded.
"B-because," Tara's back straightened now as she spoke with conviction, "because Willow told you what you needed to know for this situation. She couldn't go around telling you other people's secrets when she wasn't sure if they applied. That would be an abuse of their trust." Here she set her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Her first allegiance is to them and not to someone she barely knows. And can you honestly tell her you told her everything?"
So the mouse was not such a mouse after all. Magneto was impressed with the shy girl who was meeting his eyes so calmly right now. He had met much "stronger" people before who backed down at the slightest hint of intimidation on his part. Not so for this one.
"That's different."
"It always is." Tara gathered her courage one last time. "I think you should go now. You've gotten the answers to your questions. We'll see you later tonight, anyway."
Magneto didn't want to leave, but he realized he had nothing left to say in his defense if he stayed. As he turned to go, he asked Willow one last question.
"The computers in the prison - where did you learn the systems?"
"Hacking into the Initiative last year," Willow responded quietly. "We sometimes had to cause a few breakouts of our own in their little prison."
He nodded and left. This little adventure was proving most uncomfortable for him. First witches, then demons, and now this. He felt as if someone was determinedly testing every one of his cherished beliefs in the world and how it worked.
Giles and Magneto were now the only ones remaining in the apartment.
"I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to stay?"
Magneto looked the other man over. He was impressed with Giles' reaction to him. Of all these "Scoobies", Giles seemed most aware of precisely who and what Magneto was. And he had not been intimidated in the least, as evidenced by Giles' request.
"It had crossed my mind. Do you care to warn me to behave myself while in this little town?" Magneto looked him straight in the eye. "I can assure you, if I wanted to cause trouble there is little you could do to stop me."
"Quite right," Giles agreed calmly, taking Magneto aback. "But by the same token, should any - situations - arise, I have no doubt things could be made difficult for you, as well."
The mutant's eyes narrowed. Did this mere human dare to threaten him? He tensed, preparing to unleash enough power and ensure that Giles understood exactly who held the power.
Giles continued as if he did not notice the mutant's reaction. Inwardly, he was surprised he dared to challenge one of the most notorious people on the planet, but there were things that needed saying.
"Actually, I feel that Buffy has made clear our stance on the issue of your presence here. Given your," Giles paused as he sought the best words, "unique legal status, it is unlikely you will draw attention to yourself at the moment. My real question to you is, what are the odds your pursuers will be able to track you to this location?"
"Why do you care?"
"What do you know about recent events within Sunnydale?"
An interesting rebuttal. "A demon has been raised. Willow's services are needed in curtailing it; since I am here as well I have offered to help." Pause. "Is there more to it than that? A piece of information not mentioned?"
"To that? No, not at all. I was referring to events earlier this year. I'm not sure what Willow has told you about our activities."
Magneto shrugged. "She mentioned fighting a creature called Adam; beyond that all I've heard concerns the changes in her personal life. Is this where the dark secret comes out?" His voice grew dangerous at the last part. He had hoped Willow would know better than lie to him.
"Interesting. I am not surprised Willow did not go into more detail; it would be a sensitive topic to bring up."
"And what would that be?"
"An attempt made by the military to study and harness demons for their own purposes," Giles stated bluntly. "It failed rather spectacularly, since their vaunted creation of a demon human hybrid decided to kill them all. That was the Adam Willow mentioned. The Initiative, as the organization was called, has since been disbanded."
"And what does that have to do with my pursuers?" Magneto responded in icy tones. This was the sort of information he had specifically asked Willow for; he hated being at a disadvantage. But you were not honest with her, a particularly Charles like voice whispered. He told that voice to shut up. What Willow did not know would not hurt her. This was entirely different situation.
"Very simply, I do not want the military or any related organization to take an interest in Sunnydale again. They messed with forces they had no business dealing with and we paid the price. If they take interest again, it could very well mean a repeat of the Initiative. Do you understand me?"
Quite the backbone this Watcher had. Magneto could see where Willow was learning her habits from. He wondered if any of these Scoobies had the sense to back down when faced with a superior force.
"You want me to avoid getting recaptured?"
"I want the issue of your recapture not to come up at all."
"Then we are on the same page."
"Excellent."
Magneto turned to leave, having a strong desire to track down his cousin. Willow had some explaining to do about this "Initiative."
***
Willow and Tara sat on the couch in Tara's apartment. Bags from the Magic Box rested against the wall, containing the required items and a few extras. There'd been a sale on some very juicy items - she still couldn't believe the deal they got on the eye of newt - that was just too hard to pass up.
At the moment they were talking about the good parts of her trip.
"And then someone started quoting the funniest poem, it went like 'Twas Unix and the C++/Did compile and load upon the VAX:/All Ritchie was the Kernighan/And LISP ran in GNU EMACS.' Can you believe it? And then everyone started laughing, especially at the 'LISP ran in GNU EMACS' part, and - "
"WILLOW!"
The two girls looked up at who burst in the door. Willow grabbed Tara's hand as she prepared to cast a defensive spell. She had barely summoned enough power for the first syllable when she noticed the intruder was an extremely pissed off cousin of hers.
Uh-oh. What had set him off? Not good, not good, so not good.
"Um, hi Erik," Willow managed to squeak.
"I believe before I came here," he thundered, "I asked you to tell me WHAT HAPPENED HERE!"
"But I did!"
"Then why was Rupert Giles the one to tell me about the Initiative!"
Double, Triple, googolplex uh-oh.
"Did it not occur to you that it might be important. This organization sounds precisely like the sort of thing I need to know about!"
"But - "
"I've dealt with so-called Initiatives before. Going to a place where I have no knowledge that they operated there is tantamount to walking into a trap!"
"They don't exist anymore!"
"Do you honestly believe that? If they were here once, they could be again, and I have no intention of dealing with them in anything beyond a superior position."
"But - "
"I trusted you to keep me informed so my people and I would not be compromised! This could put my mission at risk!"
"Erik, it wasn't my secret to tell!"
"And it was Giles'?"
"YES! I didn't think it had anything to do with the Sl'kanith which was why you were coming here and - "
"I CAME here to make certain that you did not divulge any information about the Brotherhood to our enemies. Helping with the Sl'kanith is the side issue."
Willow gaped at her cousin. How could he say that? While she tried to form a reply, Magneto continued his rant.
"It doesn't matter if it wasn't 'your secret'. What matters is that I trusted you to give me the necessary information. Which you failed to do."
"You're wrong."
Magneto's head swiveled to note the other girl in the room. And so the mouse speaks.
"Really?"
"Y-yes," Tara suddenly felt very small and scared under Magneto's condescending stare, "Y-you are wr-wrong."
"And how, pray tell, am I wrong?"
Tara's eyes flicked over to see Willow. The redhead was still reeling from the blow about the importance of the "mission" over life- saving, her expression wounded.
"B-because," Tara's back straightened now as she spoke with conviction, "because Willow told you what you needed to know for this situation. She couldn't go around telling you other people's secrets when she wasn't sure if they applied. That would be an abuse of their trust." Here she set her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Her first allegiance is to them and not to someone she barely knows. And can you honestly tell her you told her everything?"
So the mouse was not such a mouse after all. Magneto was impressed with the shy girl who was meeting his eyes so calmly right now. He had met much "stronger" people before who backed down at the slightest hint of intimidation on his part. Not so for this one.
"That's different."
"It always is." Tara gathered her courage one last time. "I think you should go now. You've gotten the answers to your questions. We'll see you later tonight, anyway."
Magneto didn't want to leave, but he realized he had nothing left to say in his defense if he stayed. As he turned to go, he asked Willow one last question.
"The computers in the prison - where did you learn the systems?"
"Hacking into the Initiative last year," Willow responded quietly. "We sometimes had to cause a few breakouts of our own in their little prison."
He nodded and left. This little adventure was proving most uncomfortable for him. First witches, then demons, and now this. He felt as if someone was determinedly testing every one of his cherished beliefs in the world and how it worked.