Chapter Eight
Early July 2003 ad
Los Angels, California Sol III
Angel was a busy vampire. In addition to all the planning with Buffy and the Slayers, he'd had to deal with the mounting concerns of being the new Ceo and President of Evil Incorporated. Minions of said corporation hadn't even waited for him and his people to move into their new offices before getting them involved in legal matters. He'd delayed moving to Wolfram and Hart because of the pow wows with the Slayers, but still the lawyers had came to the Hyperion and gotten him involved in the Corbin Fries case. They had been able to delay the trial for awhile, but they still didn't have an antidote for the virus their scumbag client had planted inside the heart of his own kid. Then Gunn, with the aid of implanted memories, had made a startling transformation into an eloquent lawyer and gotten a mistrial declared. That would give them time to find an antidote, remove it from the child, and then sit back and let Fries get want he deserved.
A couple of days ago Buffy had pulled Angel aside and given him a little talking to about getting involved with Wolfram and Hart. He'd reminded her that said lawfirm had created a new identity for Faith and would shortly have Andrew's record cleared. He told her that it was a powerful weapon and that he just needed to learn how to wield it. She reminded him about the amulet the lawfirm had given him and said that his powerful weapon might just end up killing him. He didn't have any response to that, so she just walked away.
A lot had happened since he left Sunnydale, but Angel still felt for Buffy. He didn't know how he was ever going to deal with it in the long term. At least in the short term she would be in Europe and he would be busy running Wolfram and Hart. Now he was finally installed in his new offices and using the "powerful weapon" metaphor again-this time to rally his troops. He picked up an envelope addressed to him and opened it to have something to do with his hands while he was motivating his troops. The amulet and then the recorporalized form of Spike were the last things he had expected to emerge from the package. Things had just gotten a lot more complicated.
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Spike was still reeling from his fiery, painful non-death. When he had looked into Buffy's eyes that last time, he had known his whole life had lead up to that moment. He would go to his grave happy. Now he was reborn, but as a bloody ghost. And he was stuck in this unfamiliar place among strangers, except for two of the handful of the beings in this world who could still push his buttons. To top it all off, he was having the fading spells. What a grand exit for the mighty champion, pissing away into nothingness.
Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he saw Andrew and Anya get off the elevator and head towards Angel's office and him. He considered walking through the wall and escaping for the moment, but it wasn't in his nature to run, and these people had stood in battle with him after all. Andrew caught sight of Spike, hesitated a moment and then ran to and then through the vampire and bumped his knees against Angel's desk.
"Oh Spike, what has happened to you?"
"I've come back as a bleedin' ghost or something, that's what."
"You're like... you're like Gandalf the White, resurrected from the pit of the Balrog, just not in your old touchable, beautiful form," Andrew said. He then turned to Anya and said, "Ohh... he's alive, Frodo. He's alive."
"Why you are calling me Frodo?" Anya asked.
"Its just an allusion," Andrew said. "The important thing is that we have him and his Viggo Mortensen pectorals back."
"It sounds like you are happier to see him back than Buffy will be. Especially since she won't be able to have sweaty vampire sex with him now," said Anya.
Spike bristled at the thought of Buffy. He desperately wanted to talk with her, but not in his present impotent form. The brooding poof said she had just left for Europe, so he wouldn't have to worry about it for awhile.
"Spike, you need to talk with her," Andrew said as he pulled some kind of electronic gizmo out of his overcoat and spoke into it. "AID, connect me to Buffy Summers if you please."
"Wait, I don't want to talk with her when I'm like this," Spike protested. But then he heard her voice.
"Yes, this is Buffy, what's going on?"
"It's the most incredible thing, he's alive-well at least he's here," said Andrew said as he pointed the gizmo at Spike.
"What are you talking about--oh goodness," Buffy said as her image was shown on the view-screen of the gizmo. "But you died."
"I did luv, but now I'm back," said Spike. "You should understand how that works."
"I don't know what to say, I'll get the pilot to turn the plane around. I can be back to you in a few hours."
"Don't put yourself out, Buffy. Tall, dark and forehead told me a little about the plans you've made. Continue with your trip, you need to find those girls and help them."
"No I need to see you-to feel you," Buffy said.
Spike looked at Andrew and Anya and said, "Could you give us some privacy please?" Andrew set the gizmo down on Angel's desk and walked out the office with Anya.
"That's the rub, you can't feel me, I'm some kind of ghost," Spike said as he ran his arm through Angel's desk.
"There must be some reason for this," Buffy said.
"Bugger if I can figure what. The mob over here all think that I must be considered the property of Wolfram and Hart since I popped out of their amulet. Can't hit anything, can't fight anything, so I'm no use to anyone."
"That's not true," said Buffy. "You can still see and talk. You can be my eyes and ears over at Wolfram and Hart. I'm afraid that Angel may get corrupted by them, but I know you won't. Please watch over them until I get back."
"Haunting Angel might give me some pleasure. And if he's going to get corrupted, that's a show I won't want to miss." Spike decided not to tell Buffy that he would probably fade to nothingness before he could get the job done.
"Ok," said Buffy. "But I hope it won't happen that way. We're going to need him in the coming fight. And we're going to need you too. Spike, your going to have all the resources of two powerful corporations and one army doing all they can to get your body back. In the meantime, let me catch you up on what's been happening."
He and Buffy talked for a couple more hours. Spike felt like he was living in a brand new world. He didn't know what he and Buffy had anymore, but at least she was in this world. That was good enough for now.
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Early July, 2003 ad
Over the Mediterranean Ocean Sol III
Xander stretched out on the roomy airplane seat and listened to the "Conan the Barbarian" soundtrack through headphones. He was in David Nabbit's private jet with Casca and Rona and they were flying to Algeria. The music was coming from a device about the size of a gameboy. Xander mused it was more like a gameboy on steroids. His AID (or Artificial Intelligence Device) was a doo-hickey made by the Darhel. Nabbit had gotten ahold of some of the devices and given one to each of the recruiting teams.
Basically the AID was a portable supercomputer that was connected to much of the earth's and even the Galactics' digital resources. If you asked the AID a question, it would answer intelligently. It could do a wide range of things, including instantly translate any spoken or written human or alien language. That would be a big help in recruiting and research. So far Xander had used it to play 'Jedi Outcast.' In order to play the game, he had to tilt his head to one side because of his missing eye. However, after they came back from the recruiting trip, he would go into the regen tanks and grow a new eye. It was one blessing among the many curses of the coming of the aliens. He had also downloaded some of his favorite music. It was like Napster had never been busted. Finally he'd found out the AID could somehow get free cable porn AND free satellite porn.
This thing was so cool-he had to talk with Willow on it. Nabbit's private jet had earlier dropped off Willow and Kennedy in New York and Buffy, Dawn, Giles, and Chao-Ahn in London. Buffy and Dawn would visit with Giles for awhile before he took care of some affairs from the old Watcher's Council. Then Buffy and Dawn would head to the Continent for recruiting and Giles and Chao-Ahn would go to China and India. Willow and Kennedy would be heading to South America, but they would be flying in Kennedy's family private jet.
"AID, show me where Willow is right now, please." Xander said.
"I am unable to comply with that request," the machine said in an unusually machine like voice.
"Look don't get stubborn with me, just show her to me."
"Under whose authorization?" the machine asked.
"Under the authorization of a senior Scooby member," Xander said. The AID finally relented and something showed up on the view screen. Xander had expected some map showing Willow's present location in New York where she and Kennedy were visiting the Slayer's parents. But the screen showed a bedroom. Two figures moved into the picture and got on the bed. They began taking their clothes off and he could hear loud moaning and kissing. "Crom," Xander muttered as he realized it must actually be showing what Willow and Kennedy were doing at that exact moment.. He had no idea the AID would record images and conversations of everything around it. He needed to tell the others about his discovery.
But first he needed to get rid of the feed from the bedroom. Xander hesitated for long seconds and finally said, "AID, show me some kind of English language television channel." The almost fully disrobed figures of Willow and Kennedy disappeared from the screen to be replaced by a news program. Saying those words was one of the hardest things Xander had done in his life.
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Early July, 2003 ad
Habersham County, Georgia Sol III
"It looks like we've finally found the right house," Brian Todhunter said.
"Thank goodness," Faith said. "I thought we were going to be stuck in this hot car all day."
The Slayer locating spell was tricky, although this Slayer's spoor was extremely strong. It took several days of practice to really get a feel for direction and distance. Luckily it was easier to hone in on Slayers than it had been on Potentials, but it was still a process of trial and error. The coven in England was enormously helpful in locating the general area of a Slayer, but finding the exact location required a bit of work, although it got easier the nearer you got to the Slayer. As a further refinement of the spell, Giles had told them how to have the locator orb stop a given distance before it actually touched the Slayer they were looking for. Therefore they could have the orb stop outside a house and then they could get invited inside and talk to the occupants.
The first day they had visited two houses, sure that they had been reading the energy trail correctly. But the people living in the houses didn't have children, much less daughters. Still it gave them a bit of practice dealing with potential Slayer families. Todhunter had made first contact with two other Slayers before. The first one had been from a rural area in Sweden and had readily accepted her new Watcher. Over three years he had trained his Potential and come to love her as a daughter. Then she had been called. She felt she was ready, so they went vampire hunting in Stockholm. They found an old and unusually ferocious vampire. Within minutes, Ani had been thrown to the ground, her neck broken. The vampire had taken time to gloat over his victory and Todhunter used the opportunity to pick himself off the ground, collect Ani's stake and drive it to the bastard's heart by way of its back.
Then in the mid-eighties he had been assigned to a Potential in Savannah. It had been much harder to gain the trust of her and her family and when he finally did, he didn't let himself get too close to her. But when Debbie had been called, she had done him proud. Savannah wasn't a Hellmouth, but it did have many old and dangerous inhabitants. He and Debbie had taken care of all they could find and then started traveling to other parts of the country and even Europe to take care of threats. They had used Debbie's golf hobby as a cover. Whenever someone asked where they were going, it was always to some amateur tournament or to some really good course they wanted to play. Debbie had one of the more notable careers among twentieth century Slayers. But in the end, she had died. And the night it happened, she had insisted he stay in his hotel room and nurse his cold.
He had never stopped blaming himself as he became fed up with the whole viscous cycle. So he quit the Council and settled in Savannah. And told them he was gay. That had assured that they wouldn't bother him. He had kept in quiet, occasional contact with a couple of Watchers. Todhunter had gotten worried when he had lost contact with them earlier this year. When he saw the news about Sunnydale, he was sure something had happened. So he had dug up his old contacts in England until one of them was able to connect him with Rupert Giles.
His sudden renewal of interest in the Watchers had surprised him. He had led a satisfying life in Savannah and had a partner for many years, but a part of him had always missed it. There was a whole army of Slayers out there now and they needed assistance. Seeing Faith expertly take care of the green-eyed creature had made him realize that. The new Slayers didn't have her experience and would have trouble dealing with their first threats. That's why he had volunteered to help her and Robin find new Slayers and also join their new army to help train them.
Robin and Faith were an interesting couple. The son of a Slayer and an ex-rogue Slayer. Of course he was a gay ex-Watcher himself. He thought they really had something, despite the formidable barriers they both put up to keep other people out.
It looked like their Slayer lived in a big farm-type house. As they walked to the front door, he saw a girl's tricycle in the front yard. A striking raven-haired woman answered the door.
"Mrs. O'Neil, my name is Brain Todhunter, and these are my associates Robin Wood and Faith. We represent an organization called the Watcher's Council. You've never heard of us before, but there's a good reason for that." They had decided on this approach after finding out from their AID that her husband worked on some secret government project. They had also decided it would be best to let Todhunter do most of the talking at first.
"How did you know my name and what are you here about?" she asked.
"We got your name from public records and we are here because we have information about your daughter."
"Which daughter and what kind of information?" she asked.
"We're not sure which of your daughters yet, but we can easily find out. It is very important information about her future, but please do not be alarmed. I know this all sounds rather odd, but please believe me when I say its vital we talk to you and your family. If you prefer, we can come back when your husband or some other trusted party is here with you."
"I'll talk with you. This has got to be the most cryptic conservation I've ever had. Please come in," Mrs. O'Neil said.
They walked into the house. It had classic southern high ceilings. Mrs. O'Neil offered them something to eat or drink. Robin and Todhunter declined, but Faith asked for some lemonade. They sat down in the living room and Todhunter said, "If you will allow me to ask a few questions, Mrs. O'Neil, I think things will become much more clear."
"Ok and call me Sharon."
"Fine Sharon. Now around the middle of May did one of your daughters get far stronger than she used to be?"
"In fact one of them has," Sharon answered.
"Good, now has this daughter also started having dreams about monsters and girls who fight them?"
"Yes, Cally has. How did you know that?"
"Because that is what happens when a girl with your daughter's power is called. Faith also has the strength and the dreams. We have a video that will demonstrate this power for you."
Robin took out their AID, gave it to Sharon and asked the machine to play the "Chosen Demonstration Video Number One." Todhunter couldn't see the screen, but knew it would show Vi sparring with a group of ten high level karate students in their dojo. Vi still had a lot to learn about technique, but she taken care of all ten opponents as fast as Steven Seagal did with the aikido students in the opening montage of "Above the Law." Lord he'd had such a crush on that man at one time. Andrew had filmed the Slayer video and Robin had uploaded it to their AIDs.
Sharon looked up from the AID and said, "My husband has one of these. From what he's told me, you can do just about anything you want with them."
"We thought you might believe it was some kind of special effect, so Faith will provide an additional demonstration," Todhunter said. He and Robin sat up and then bent their knees while standing in front of Faith. She put one palm under each of their rear ends and easily lifted them up in the air like a circus strongman.
"Oh my goodness," Sharon gasped.
"The Watcher's Council has been around for a very long time. Our purpose is to locate and help train girls with power like your daughter and Faith have. As one final piece of proof, we have a locating device that hones in on the power of one of the Chosen. If you will allow us to use it, it will go directly to her. It won't harm her in any way and it you warn her about it before hand, it shouldn't startle here."
"She's playing in her room. Let me go talk with her."
Todhunter, Faith, and Robin exchanged nervous looks that seemed to convey the meaning of "so far, so good."
"Ok, do it," Sharon said from the hallway outside the child's room.
Todhunter summoned the locator orb in a low voice. It hung in the air for a few seconds and then went into the child's room. It must have went straight to Cally, because they heard a young voice say, "Pretty light." Sharon cupped her hand over her mouth and choked back tears as she went into the room to hug her daughter.
A few minutes later Sharon came out and said, "Was that GalTech?"
"We're not sure of its exact origins, but as far as we know it didn't come from the Galactics," Robin said.
"There is a secret world here on Earth and now your daughter is a part of it," Todhunter said.
"What's she supposed to do with this power?" asked Sharon.
"Fight evil and protect the innocent."
"But she's only four years old!"