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 11

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.

Dedication: All the people who like my stories.

Continuity: General season 5 (Dawn) Also, I might go back and write a chapter where Buffy is recovering from her little trip. But I couldn't think of anything to write for it, so I skipped ahead, lest Writers block be permanent.

Notes: Rogue1615, the Jedi… well… you'll have to find out. Kristy Marie, the reason the clones were evil in the comics and earlier ideas was that the accelerated growth process made them kind of… insane. Like Joruus C'Baoth (is that spelt right? Can't find the book) in the 'Empire' Trilogy. Also, the clones were based on a Jedi in the initial ideas, rather than Jango Fett. Just some trivia there… [big grin]

Finally, no, Wolfram and Hart have no idea how much pain they are bringing down on themselves…

Crossover: Buffy / Star Wars. Old Republic.

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Another general announcement. I now have a webpage! The link is in my bio. Click on my name above. It includes some stuff I've never posted, and some stuff that never WILL be posted on ff.net. Most of its WIP, but the page itself works (most of the time) make sure to fill out my guest book if you do visit! I'd like to know what you think!

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I am afraid that this is just a filler-in chapter really. I now (as of today) have three weeks of wonderful University exams to worry about. In fact, by the time people in the States are reading this, I have already done one… The next two chapters will be a few weeks away then. But to make up for it, you will have the full Jedi Battle, and Xander's meeting with Wolfram and Hart. Expect fireworks, 5-6k words per chapter (if I can, and I'm trying), and explosions…

*

"Xander, you are not walking into an obvious trap like that! Not for one girl!" Buffy was incensed that Xander would even consider that course of action. She should have known better.

Xander's conscience spoke into his mind: She isn't just a girl; she is the…a… new Slayer…

Xander, however, was calm and centred, as the Force required him to be in times of crisis. His earlier outburst had just proved to him how far he had strayed from the Jedi Path, and he was trying to remain objective.

He was failing.

Buffy's outright order was slowly getting on his nerves to the point where he would do it just to prove he could. Buffy might not disclose everything that happened to her in hell, but Xander was damned if he was going to tell her everything that had happened to him in the time she had been 'dead'. If she acted like this now, how would she react to discover that Xander got taken to a place beyond his control, and taught to control a power that no one on earth had ever seen.

It would just make her go on one of her 'I am the chosen one, yadda yadda yadda…' crusades again.

"Buffy, I am not in the mood for an argument. I am going to get Crystal back. She helped us a lot while you were…" Xander trailed off as he realised what he was about to say.

Buffy snarled at him, and then got a pained look on her face. "You can say it Xander… while I was dead!" a sniff followed the final word.

Xander shook his head slowly, knowing what was coming. "Oh, Buffy… I'm sorry… I wasn't thinking…"

The next thing he knew, Xander had his arms full of a sobbing blonde, as she practically bawled her eyes out. "Xander… it's not your fault… I just… it hurts so much…"

Xander hugged her, and patted one hand on her back. "Shh… I know… I know…" the comforting noises continued for a while, before Buffy managed to compose herself and pull away.

Deep inside of her heart, a little voice spoke: How can you know? Do you realise that you sucked me out of Heaven? Haven't I suffered enough? Instead, you had to pull me back here for another tour of duty? Didn't I save the world enough? Is a little rest too much to ask?

*

In Dawn's room, the Holocron of Aruno Baas stared into space above Dawn's sleeping form. He thought quietly to himself, if a… him it really was, anymore.

Slayer… it has been generations since one was Called such as you. Do not begrudge the path that has been decided for you… but aid the Arii'Marr, for he is far and away the most important playing piece…

It paused for a second to consider. Yes, Slayer. Your soul might have been removed from its Oneness with the Force, but your body was most certainly in what you call Hell…and the Force would not have allowed you back unless you were needed…

Realising the futility of speaking when no one was there to listen, Aruno Baas fell into silence, watching the girl who slept so peacefully in front of him.

Dark times are ahead for you, too, little one. What has passed is nothing compared to what could… and what may if your 'brother' fails…

*

Crystal whimpered quietly as Spike stalked around her. The vampire had tortured her endlessly for the past few hours, and seemed only to stop when she finally succumbed to the pain and passed out.

When she came to, he started all over again.

"W…why are you doing this?" Crystal managed to whisper, without her voice cracking.

Spike smiled at her. "This, pet? This is just a diversion until Harris arrives. Then the real fun begins."

Crystal closed her eyes and prayed to anything that would listen. Please… please let Xander be alright…

*

Angel walked through the corridors to one of the back rooms in the Hyperion hotel. His coat 'swished' quietly as he walked, and his hands and mind were full of a book. It had just been rescued from Wolfram and Hart a few days before and seemed to have a lot of prophecies in relating to him. In numerous places it mentioned 'the one with the Angelic face' the name he had used when evil, and in others it had vague mentions of a vampire with a soul.

As far as he knew, he was the only vampire that fit that particular mould, and was particularly interested in why Wolfram and Hart would need a book on him.

Flicking over a page gently, as the book was very old and fragile, Angel found what he had been looking for. It told of his loosing his soul, and described in detail all that would happen if it were gone for a second time.

Then his keen vampire hearing caught the phone ringing in the office, and listened as Cordelia answered…

*

"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless… how can I help you?" Cordelia's bright voice cut down the line, and made Xander wince.

~Hi, Cordy. This is gonna seem like a big surprise, but we've got a problem…~

Cordelia smiled despite herself. "So what else is new? Want us to gather the forces, and ride to the rescue again?"

~Uh… no. We've got a problem, and it's in LA. I just called to ask if it would be alright to crash at your Hotel while we sorted it out…~

Cordelia was a little taken aback. "Um… yeah, sure! OK. Just don't make a mess, and don't give us any more enemies. We have enough here already with Wolfram and Hart."

Xander laughed and coughed into his hand. ~Yeah, Cordy. Well, you needn't worry on the more enemies' front. My problem is with Wolfram and Hart. They need to be taught that Kidnapping isn't polite.~

Before Cordelia could reply, she heard the phone click as it was hung up, and the dial tone.

"Oh, Xander…" moaned Cordelia. "What have you gotten yourself into now?"

Angel's voice cut through her thoughts. "And how is he going to teach Wolfram and Hart anything?"

Cordelia looked up. "Y'know… that's a very good point…"

*

Xander had all that he needed packed. He was in his usual clothes, but with slightly more subdued colours than normal. An incredibly baggy shirt was left out of his jeans and covered the twin light-saber's in his belt. He had still not shown them to Buffy, and had sworn Dawn and Crystal, at least before she went missing, to silence. He would tell her when the time was right. Not before.

He had no one to worry about except for himself. Willow and Tara were well out of range, being in New York, and Giles was back in merry olde England, where the only thing he had to worry about was the weather. Xander, admittedly was taking Buffy and Dawn with him to LA, but they would stay safe with Angel and Cordelia, while he went to find Crystal.

"Dawn!" he called up the stairs. "Dawn, we're ready to go!"

No response.

"Dawn! Buffy's waiting in the car… Dawn?"

Still no response.

Xander ran up the stairs and stopped as he reached her door. It was shut, but not locked, so he just pushed it open with his hand and entered, while saying, "Dawn? You alright?"

As he entered, Dawn looked up from what she had been doing. In her lap sat a Holocron.

"Oh, hi, Xan…" Dawn said as he opened the door wide. "This is sooo cool…"

Xander just stared. He blinked several times, and then tore his eyes away from the thing that couldn't be what he thought it was.

Xander phrased the question carefully, anxious not to sound too freaked out. "Dawn… where did you get a Holocron?"

"Is that what this is? Weird, isn't it?"

"Where?" Xander's voice became more insistant.

"Oh… yeah… sorry. It fell out of a portal that I opened. You know, just after I froze the neighbourhood."

Xander nodded, indicating he did indeed remember. "But that doesn't tell me an awful lot, Dawnie. How did you find it?"

Dawn shook her head. "I'm… not sure. It just kind of… plopped out."

"OK, Dawn. Just pick it up and let's go…"

Dawn stood up and put the Holocron into her rucksack. Xander aimed a thought at the Holocron, and was surprised when he received a mental shrug in response.

The question he asked was: Where did you come from?

*

Buffy, Dawn and Xander were in Xander's 'it has seen better days' car. Unfortunately, with the regularity he had had to take days off of work because of the latest apocalypse, he barely had enough for a car at all, let alone a good one.

Xander was driving, because he had seen Buffy's driving, and frankly, he didn't want to ever have to experience that again. Buffy's driving ability scared him more that any Sith did. And that was saying a lot, because Dooku and his Master had terrified him.

Fear leads to the Dark Side… Fear for Crystal…

"I know…" whispered Xander, and forgot that a Slayer with ultra sensitive hearing was sitting next to him.

"What was that, Xan?" Buffy looked over in interest.

"Nothing, Buff… nothing…"

"There is something you are not telling me, Xander. And I will find out what it is. How do you plan to get Crystal back? It's not like we can just march in and ask politely, 'excuse me, but do you happen to know where Hart is keeping a Slayer captive?'"

Xander smirked, and took the off ramp to LA. "Actually, Buffy, that was exactly what I was planning to do…"

Buffy gave him a 'come again?' look but returned her attention to the road ahead. The route to Angel Investigations was not easy to remember.

In the back of the car, Dawn made a gagging motion with her hand, but remained silent. In her pack, the Holocron glowed briefly before becoming once more silent…

*