Disclaimer: Joss, WB, UPN et al. own Buffy. George Lucas, Lucasfilm, LucasArts and others own Star Wars. Michael A Stackpole owns the X-Wing and I, Jedi novels. I do not.
Title: Sunnydale Jedi: Chapter 10
Author: Paradigm Shifter
Rating: PG-13 again, people.
Pairing: Err… Xander/ Buffy (finally here, folks)
Feedback: Please, I beg.
Thanks: All my reviewers. You know who you are. And especially the regulars: Teri, Kristy Marie, RobClark, VegaKeep, Remy, Steve and Luis. How could I forget Luis?
Dedication: VegaKeep. For making me laugh with the wookiee bit.
Notes: Any Spike lovers out there: if you liked the evil big bad, you wont be disappointed. If you like the neutered Buffy stalker, you wont like this. And, be warned: passing references to torture. But no descriptions. Nothing graphic. So it's still PG-13.
Crossover: Buffy / Star Wars. Old Republic.
*
"Ah… I see we have a visitor…" Hart looked to the bound form of the latest Slayer to be called, and one who was far too engrossed in matters of a material nature to pay attention to her calling. The seers had seen inside her deepest centre, saw the dark secrets the girl kept hidden from all, most of all herself.
Fortunately for Hart, Crystal was still unconscious. He was sure that she would be formidable when she was awake, and that it would take all of his bodyguards to keep her under control. Bonds work well, but mere leather cannot hold forever against an angry Slayer.
"Beautiful, ain't she?" asked Spike. He stood not far from the slayer, watching her. Hart sneered at the weak vampire, but refrained from any insulting comments.
"Indeed she is, vampire. And perfect bait…" Hart spun on his heel and stalked out of the room. Preparations needed to be made for his visitor.
Spike leaned toward the unconscious Crystal. "You know, I always wanted a blonde slayer. I thought I might make it with Buffy, but then… well, she went to hell. That does something to a chick, you know? And I want to find out if it's true… do blondes have more fun? I can guarantee you wont when all your blood is in my veins…"
He stood upright again. "But that Hart pisses me off. He's way too full of himself…"
Spike snarled at the bodyguard as he stiffed at the insult to his master.
*
Xander woke up the next morning with an uncomfortable ache in his shoulder. Buffy had monopolised it all night, and it had left his muscles aching and stiff. Coupled with a vision from the Force, Xander had not had a good night.
The first indication that Crystal had not made it home was when Dawn came downstairs to ask if he had seen her. When he replied that he hadn't, Dawn had merely nodded and walked off.
But not before Buffy moaned in her sleep and shifted. Xander saw something… jealousy? …rear up in Dawn's eyes before she turned away.
Xander quickly extricated himself from Buffy's unaware embrace, and went to talk to Dawn.
*
The Holocron gatekeeper, Aruno Baas, watched through the Force in solemn interest as the Arii'Marr went to comfort the Key.
Their greatest strength was always their compassion. Despite the use of the Dark Side, they never managed to fall the way Jedi often did. Nevertheless, this boy does not know what he is. Unless…
The ethereal head of the Insectoid Jedi shook in his cubic prison.
No… the Jedi would never have taught him that. If they even have the knowledge at all any more. It was too dangerous to reveal any more than the Jedi already have. He loves his friends too fiercely.
The Holocron began to float a short distance above the table, but no one was there to see it. When it was tipped with one point toward the table, it began to rotate slowly upon its axis.
The ghostly form of Aruno Baas was displayed in the air above the Holocron. A sad and lonely voice whispered to the room, "The Arii'Marr must find his own path… it is too dangerous for another to choose it for him…"
*
"Dawn, what's wrong?" Xander was confused by the quick exit Dawn had made. Sure, Crystal not making it home was bad, but it needed thought as to how to go about finding out where she was.
Dawn turned round as Xander entered the kitchen to hide her face. From the movements her shoulders were making, Xander knew that she was crying.
"Dawn, hon… why are you crying?"
Dawn's voice was choked and angry as she spoke, still refusing to turn round and face him. "Why? We spent months alone… and yet… when… when Buffy comes back, you let her… let her into your arms and your heart faster than anyone I've ever known you to…"
"Dawn… your fourteen…" Xander didn't know how to continue, "it's… it's… I don't know. I'm twenty. So is Buffy. We're adults. Heard the term 'jailbait' recently?" he tried to inject some humour in, but it didn't work.
Dawn shook her head. "I wasn't asking for anything like that, Xander. Just the chance to know you as you rather than some older brother figure…" Her voice turned wistful. "Always looking after poor defenceless little Dawn…"
"It's not like that at all…"
"Oh? It isn't? Since when? You have always seen me as someone to protect, never as your equal. I know I'm younger, I know that I'm the 'Key', whatever the hell that is…" Dawn sniffed suddenly, "you always treat me the exact way Buffy treated you, and you hated it, well; so do I!"
As she nearly shouted the sentence, she swung round, and Xander saw how red and puffy her eyes were. "Oh, Dawn… I'm sorry… I never thought…"
"No… you never thought…" Dawn seemed to loose the energy that had sustained her anger, and she rushed in for a hug, not as anything more than just emotional support for both parties.
Xander stroked her hair, and Dawn hugged him tighter. The comforting presence of the end of the confrontation was broken when Xander spoke. "Dawn. We need to find Crystal."
Dawn nodded into his shirt, and sniffed one last time.
*
Crystal woke, groggy and disoriented, almost completely unaware of where she was. Then a voice spoke.
"'Bout time you woke up, pet. I been looking after you real good."
"Where am I?" asked Crystal.
"Don't worry about that. Just worry about how you're gonna get out of here… cause there ain't no help coming from that 'arris kid."
"Xander?"
"Ah…yes… Xander. Always knew I hated that little snot."
"Who are you?"
"Me, pet? You don't have to worry your pretty little head about that. I'll tell you for free, my name's William."
"William?"
"Yes, love. William. Once named 'the bloody' but that's a bit passé now. I preferred 'Spike' anyhow. And I'll give you a front row screening of how I got that name…"
Crystal leaned her head up, and saw William… if that was his name, holding a large railway spike, and heating it in a brazier. She watched in fascination as it got hotter and hotter, glowing a dull red, then slowly, a ruddy blue.
Spike grinned as he approached with the spike, and as he neared, Crystal, for the first time in years…
…
…Screamed…
*
The car screamed round the corner at high speed, the rubber of the tyres complaining at the brutal treatment they were receiving. It slowed slightly outside the Summers house, and a brick was launched from the passenger door by a horned demon. It was wrapped in something, and flew through the air…
*
Xander shot into the front room as an almighty crash resounded. Sprinting through the door, he stopped dead as he surveyed the room. Dawn was two steps behind him.
"Dawn, get back… find Buffy… go upstairs."
She looked ready to argue, but Xander cut her off, "No arguments!"
Glass lay everywhere, and in the middle of it was a brick, wrapped in paper.
Removing the elastic band that held the note to the brick, Xander stared out of the window at the car outside. A demon grinned at him from behind darkened glass, and then the car tore off.
Looking down, he read the note:
Mr. Harris,
We have your new friend
Our employer wishes a meeting with you
In LA.
Come if you want, but if you don't…
SHE DIES…
Lindsey, W&H.
Xander read the note through several times, and then hefted the brick twice. He launched it at the window, sending it through the pane of glass next to the already broken one. Before it had landed, he was halfway up the stairs, already mentally preparing for his trip.
Four words slipped from his lips as the brick was flung back out. "Son… of… a… BITCH!"
*
