Here we are again. You've seen what Xander has been up to. You've met back up with Oz. And now we're taking the road back into Giles' more serious world. It's full of torments only a man with a midlife crisis (which is pretty good, since he's ripe for it) may take in a place where he's reminded of "Ripper". And it's in the first person.
I only have two more chapters of this planned. As I mentioned in another ficlet, I am fully aware and knowledgable that the sequels I have been planning for so long are now underway. Literally. "Epiphany" is out and about. And the titleless sequel to the crossover this story sends from is only a week away. I just need to find a bleeding title.
So stay tuned... at the end of this rather short chapter is a bit and piece from the new sequel.
No questions to answer today... probably because my beta was so involved reading everything else I've thrown at her to care very much!
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Chapter 3
He Said, She Said
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The heavy clock in the crowded office chimed 5 pm, but no one seemed to notice as a chill had spread throughout the office. I glanced around, noting the looks of fear in the eyes of my newer coworkers.
I felt that same fear myself.
They had just been informed of the dead Slayer. And every last one of them realized that no matter how brilliant this mixed international army was, they were bound to stumble.
"I knew that girl from the very beginning," I said softly to any witch or wizard that would ask me how I was coping with the situation. "I will be fine."
It made it seem more real this way.
It reminded me of why I was here, and where I had to go to get past what had happened last year, when so many more good Slayers had died.
They weren't a dream team of invulnerable strength. They were just girls. Girls with superpowers. Surely, wizards and witches would understand, because that is what they were; men and women with superpowers.
But it wasn't so.
After the tenth summon to a separate office, I decided not to return to my own cubicle and decided to check on Xander. He wasn't in his office. With a sigh, I retreated to the coffee room, eager to break out of the dark cloud which had set right over the Ministry and was refusing to budge.
Wesley was inside, stirring tea, a look of sheer disappointment written across his face.
"You too?" I asked.
He nodded. "Doesn't seem possible, does it?"
"It makes me realize that this is just like last year," I said softly. "Only it isn't. That's just part of the illusion. This is nothing like last year. This is just facing down one evil person and his evil army. We've done this before. We've beaten worse. We've faced worse. We've been defeated by worse."
"And yet something like this happens that always makes it seem so... surreal."
"Exactly," I grumbled, setting down a cup and adding hot water. "But why? Why is this so real?"
A completely different voice, a somewhat familiar female's, spoke up from the entrance. "And maybe it's because sometimes, things happen, and you just have to deal."
"Hello, Cordelia."
"Hey, Giles, Wesley."
Wesley nodded toward her, his hands wrapping around the tea as the three took a seat at one of the tables near the corner.
"Things were so much simpler in the old days," I commented.
"Things were better when Angelus was around and I was infested with demon offspring," Cordelia agreed with a nod.
"What are you doing here?" I finally asked, coming to my senses. "Doesn't Buffy--"
"She's making a speech in the morning," Cordelia said after a brief pause, her voice trembling slightly. "I think you should go... because... sh-she is taking the fight to them. She's had enough. A boy at the school was attacked. And then Amanda was killed. And now... I don't know what's going to happen. All I know is that there are kids at that school freaking out. And I know what it feels like to be them. I haven't felt that way in so long, I'd almost forgotten."
"It'd be wise to forget," Wesley muttered, removing his glasses and staring at the dregs remaining in the scalding tea he'd just drunk. "And yet prudent to remember."
"There's Wes, always saying the contradictions," Cordelia replied, yawning. "I don't know if I can do this. I'm not sure..."
"You can, and you will, Cordelia. You are just as much a part of this as I am, or as Wesley here. You can't allow just one death to affect you."
"You're right," she said, her vision becoming even more glazed over. "But what if enough is enough? What are we? Just mercenaries bounding out, risking life over stake? Maybe this time, the price is too high."
"You're also forgetting our original mission," Wesley piped up. "We're not here to destroy evil. We came here to find a Slayer. And in a situation like this, one is bound to turn up."
Cordelia sighed, dropping her head onto her arms. "Or die trying."
I just shook my head. "So what are we going to do about it?"
"Buffy asked that we all go tonight. She wants us there when she.. when she tells them what she is going to do. I think that... that's a good idea. Because... I don't know what's going to happen next. We may all die and our legacy will be lost because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"If it comes down to that," Wesley pointed out.
"I can't do this anymore," she finally said, standing up. "I'm just going back to that school and praying that all of this is gone tomorrow. I want to go home."
Wesley and I exchanged a dark glance as she left.
Cordelia was one of the most positive fighters in her youth. Because of her added demon strength, it made her a formidable opponent.
But if she had given up the fight out of principle, what hope was there for the rest of us?
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Chapter 4 -- Giles & Xander deal with the aftermath of Buffy's speech (ala Chapter 27) while Andrew gets down and dirty with the technical side of things.
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Sneak peek at the aformentioned and yet untitled sequel to "Harry Potter and the Slayer's Crusade"... from "Badda Bing Badda Bang". (edited to include new material)
It's been two years and three months since their last meeting. Now Xander is getting married to a Hogwarts witch, and the Wizards crew is on their way to the U.S.A. But not all is well in wonderland, for Dawn returned from England alone and in a trance, her memory obliterated. Willow is in turmoil about which girl she really loves, and Buffy is having a hell of a time choosing the vampire who really owns her heart. Harry and his friends have finished Hogwarts and the Dark Lord has fallen at last.
Even heroes fall in this new tale, with a chilling villain no one will suspect, a wedding written in the stars, and love that will last potentially forever, if they can survive the upcoming battle.
Join the Slayer gang one last time as they prepare for Xander's wedding, the death of a close colleague and their discovery that Dawn's final year at Hogwarts was not what it seemed. Join the Wizards one last time as they visit the United States for the first time to salute one of their own. And join the Ministry and Order one last time as a chilling new evil is uncovered that no one had ever expected.
*** Author's Note: So this is what it'll look like. The first few chapters are just about written. Being sent to beta this week. Hopefully will be posted after the Oscar's next Sunday night. Or something like that. I just need to find a title, so any suggestions? I'll even offer an award... like an extra special walk-on role thing in one of the chapters! Or something equally dazzling. I just can't figure out a title! Argh! ***
