Part 29: Spotlight on Vi
Selected items from UNS Q&A session with Violet Knowles, known as Hero-Knowles to the Councils Honoria and Educationary and known as Knowles-sen to all Slayers whatever their beliefs, circa September 2003. Camlin Tikri reporting.
In the annals of Slayer ethics, Violet Knowles has long been held up as an example of everything a Slayer should aspire to: bravery, loyalty, self-sacrifice, friendship, esprit de crops…the list goes on.
Quite often, she is pictured as a tough-as-nails woman with a heart of gold. Muscular, beautiful, smart, and wise beyond her years, these characteristics are what fuel her reputation in our time. Journal entries after her death in 2007, where she single-handedly saved the city of Cleveland by exploding a bomb in the city's sewers to wipe out a band of armed Kracs intent on starting a chain reaction in the Cleveland Hellmouth, are the sources of this belief.
Rona Goodkind-Alvarez, famous for her pointed observations about early life in Cleveland and residents of the Taran United Watchers Council building, was partnered with Hero-Knowles in her early years under the tutelage of Faith Lanoire-rah and Alexander Harris-rah. In later years, Ms. Goodkind-Alvarez went on to become one of the leading Slayers in Cleveland before retiring at age 86 to spend more time with her great-grandchildren and to write about her experiences. She had this to say about her dear friend: "The first time I realized that Vi had a spine of steel when we were in that bus escaping Sunnydale. I was wounded and all I wanted to do was just give it up, bleed to death right there on the seats. Vi's standing over me shouting, 'This is nothing! Do you hear me! Nothing!' It was her way of ordering me to keep fighting, to keep living, no matter how much it hurt. I'm hurting and bleeding, maybe even more than I was when I was on that stupid bus, and I can still hear her yelling at me, 'This is nothing!' But it's something, even if Vi might not think so. Still, I know an order when I hear it. There's nothing for it but to keep going, knowing that Vi's somewhere out there grinning her fool head off at me every time I do something stupid." [TouchInfor Reference: Goodkind-Alvarez, R., Journal Entry 5409 circa 2007.]
Lanoire-rah had this to say of her student: "We should've been here instead of chasing off after a Slayer gone bonkers in Columbia. That's what I keep telling myself, even though I know it's a load of crap. I had to be the one to go, which meant Buffy had to stay. Xander refused to let me go alone and no matter what I said he was going with, end of story. Thank god he did, given what happened down there. We left Rona and Vi behind because we wanted to protect them from, well, a ghost I guess. We didn't want them to see what happens when a Slayer really loses it. So we took Kennedy instead, which while we were there turned out to be a smart move, but to come back and find— Buffy was there, but she was tied up in keeping the Kracs' above ground forces from eating people. Rona was getting the human sacrifices held captive in the sewers to safety. The second Rona hits the street with her payload she hears this boom and— I can't even think about this now. Christ. It's not like it's the first time we lost someone, but this is the first time the loss is personal." [TouchInfor Reference: Lanoire, F., Journal Entry 5844 circa 2007.]
Harris-rah offered this in the memory of his charge: "Everyone says there's nothing I could've done. Rona Lisa's especially pushing that point, probably because she wants to blame herself and can't really come around to blaming me. But if I didn't fail Vi, who did? I keep going over that battle and it kills me that I just can't see the alternative, except for someone taking Vi's place in that sewer. This is beyond hard. I saw Vi go from a girl who really wasn't sure about the whole Slayer deal to someone who saw being Slayer as not just a calling, but also a responsibility to save human life, even at the cost of her own. She truly believed she was on a mission from God, not in an annoying smug way, but in the kind of way that gives a good name to people who believe in such things. She once said about being a Slayer: 'When we count up our riches at the end of our lives, it shouldn't be about money, or about fame. It should be about whether we made the world a better place for us being in it.' If that's the case, than Vi is the richest of us all." [TouchInfor Reference: Harris, A., Journal Entry 5705 circa 2007.]
For all that others have written about her, Hero-Knowles is not as easy to spot in the crowd as you might think. Finding her was a challenge, made more of a challenge because her sister-in-arms was absent from the house for personal reasons. But upon seeing her, one is struck by the fact that there's very little extraordinary about her. She doesn't stand out. Her disposition is sweet, her voice halting. Every once in a while, you might see a flash of something else, something made of sterner stuff.
Once you begin talking to her, one discovers that deceptive physical appearance aside; legend got the deeper truth exactly right.
[Moment of silence while UNS brings her expression under control.]
And now Violet Knowles, truly one of the best and brightest, in her own words in an exclusive interview with UNS.
UNS: I have to say, I'm very happy you're taking the time to talk to me.
VK: [smiles] Probably because I'm not a huge icon that's intimidating, right?
UNS: That's not…umm…what I'm trying to say is that it's great to be talking to someone who is a veteran of the First Battle of Sun'dayl and was there at Ground Zero.
VK: You don't know the half of it.
UNS: I'm sure preparing and planning for the First Battle of Sun'dayl was stressful.
VK: There was planning? {giggle} Sorry. Couldn't resist. It's just that it was a pretty confusing time for everyone, you know?
UNS: So I understand from people I've talked to. Actually, tell me more about you.
VK: Well, I'm Violet Knowles, but you knew that. I'm originally from Witchita, which is in Kansas, which is a state in the United States, which is part of North America, in the Western Hemisphere, on planet earth, I mean Tara, in the Milky Way Galaxy.
UNS: Everyone on my team is from the Milky Way, too.
VK: Oh. Ummm, anyway, I have two brothers, my parents are still married, and I was raised Methodist. When I was 15 this man showed up on my doorstep and said that he was a Watcher and that I was 'in line' for maybe becoming a Slayer one day.
UNS: How did you react?
VK: I completely freaked out. I mean, at first I thought he was one of those perverts you hear about, you know? But he was standing in my front yard in full view of the street, like he knew I'd be thinking the worst. So anyway, I was really, really scared. He left, came back the next day—by this time I told my parents what happened—only this time he had a woman with him. They explained the whole thing again to me, this time with my parents sitting there. They showed us a lot of books and pictures and really took the time to tell me and my parents about me being a Potential and what that actually meant. Then they offered to train me.
UNS: What happened?
VK: Well, my parents are really religious. So they told them to come back after Sunday service because they wanted to think and pray on the whole thing. Anyway, Sunday comes, and I'm still thinking about it because I'm really not too sure that it's even real. I mean, how can it be? I'm just Violet, I get straight Bs, I'm not the prettiest girl in my class, or the most athletic. I don't look all that special, you know? I'm just me. Anyway, we go to church and…you ever notice how sometimes when you're looking for an answer God just hands you one?
UNS: I…guess.
VK: So the Gospel reading that day is the parable about The Talents. And the minister in his sermon points out that the more you have, the more responsibility you've got to your community. It's not enough just to have it, but you have to share it. I remember what he said to this day: 'Our riches cannot be measured in money, our riches cannot be measured in fame. Our riches can only be measured in how we make the world a better place.'
UNS: That's…that's…[checks MemePad for Council Honoria's Coat of Arms] Lovely. I've heard something like it before.
VK: [quietly] Yeah. [louder] Anyway after that it was a lock. I was going to train, although my Watcher, Kimberly, told me that I might never get called because Buffy and Faith were very good about staying alive.
UNS: How'd you feel about that?
VK: Relieved! I mean, the way I figured it I should train just in case, but I was really hoping I'd never need it. [laughs] Funny how it all works out in the end.
UNS: Yes, yes it is. So, how'd you get to Sun'dayl?
VK: My Watcher had to go back to London for a big meeting. Next thing I know, Giles shows up on my doorstep with a couple of other Potentials and tells me that I have to get going to Sunnydale right now because there's Bringers on my tail and they'd kill anyone who tried to stop them, including my parents.
UNS: And you went? Just like that?
VK: Look, I would've let myself drown in slaughterhouse dung if I thought it would keep my parents safe. I was scared out of my mind, but I went. On the way to Sunnydale Giles told me that Kim and all the other Watchers were killed. Then there was Sunnydale and then Sunnydale was gone. Now we're here and I'm what I never thought I'd be: a Slayer.
UNS: Do you feel differently now? About being a Slayer.
VK: [squirms] Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If it wasn't for Rona—she's my bestest friend ever—I'd come down more on the no side. But having a friend like her makes it a lot easier because she's going through the same thing I'm going through and we can talk to each other. I have to admit, meeting Ruda and knowing about Slayers in the future and how they get a choice instead of "Tag! You're it!" has pushed me more to "yes." Oh, and I can't forget, Xander makes it easier because he's always there to listen when it just gets too much to take. I don't know how he knows when you're ready to fall over, but he just does and he's right there even before you realize you need him to lean on and it's like, I don't know, like he can read your mind or something because he manages to tell you what you need to hear so you can take that next step. And much as I sometimes really hate Robin, he makes it easier too because I know he's making sure we're getting the best training possible so we'll be able to stay alive that much longer.
UNS: What about everyone else?
VK: You know? It's funny, but I really don't…well, I know the other new Slayers, of course. But I really don't know Buffy, Faith, or…I guess if I were being completely honest, the only person in the inner circle I really know is Xander, and that's only because he's made the effort to try and get to know me, well, all of us really. I'm still trying to figure out everyone else.
UNS: One thing I'm interested in hearing is maybe some anecdotes about how you see yourself and the other people in the house.
VK: [smiling] Because they're the important people your readers really want to know about?
UNS: Unh, no, I mean, don't think you haven't been forgotten because you haven't. I mean…
VK: Hey! It's okay. It's not about the fame, remember? [peers at MemePad] Although it's kind of nice I'm mentioned somewhere. But it's not the important thing. [leans back thoughtfully] I don't know…let me think…let me think…Oh! I got it! I got one that involves everyone. I think your readers will really like it.
UNS: [settles back with a smile] Let's hear it.
VK: This was June? No. July. I think the middle of July, because it was after the Fourth. We'd been in this house a week at most. I know because Xander was dealing with contractors and painters and we were still living out of boxes. Anyway, a couple of us noticed that Xander and Willow were hanging out in corners talking, I mean, they were doing it all the time. Whenever one of us would get close enough to hear, they'd clam up. So one or two people start thinking that Willow's got something going on the side with Xander and we were wondering how Kennedy was going to take it if she found out. I mean, she's dating Willow, but she likes Xander because he saved her life back in Sunnydale.
UNS: Sounds like the beginning of a soap opera.
VK: Yeah. Very One Life to Live. Anyway, one day Willow and Xander disappear. [snaps fingers] Just like that they're gone. All we've got is a note saying that they're taking off for a few days and that they'll be back. So some of us figure, 'Oh-oh, Kennedy's gonna blow a gasket.'
UNS: Did she?
VK: Well, that should've tipped us off that something was up, because she's totally cool with it. I'd even say smug, like she knew something none of us did. A week goes by, no word. You can see Giles is really worried and Robin's really annoyed. I heard Buffy in Giles's room telling Giles how we had to do something to find them because something bad might've happened. Andrew's so worried that he burned an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies. Even Kennedy started getting nervous because she hadn't heard anything either. So the house was a little tense.
UNS: I can imagine.
VK: Anyway, nine days after they disappear, there's a knock on the door. Kennedy looks out the window, starts laughing, and says that she'll get it. She walks over the door and opens it like 'Taa-Daa!' And who's standing there? Xander and Willow, dressed completely in black, wearing black skullcaps with their hair all tucked up underneath, and their faces all greased black. They come marching in like conquering heroes and place this really long box on the living room floor.
UNS: [starts giggling in anticipation] What did they bring home? A vampire in his casket?
VK: I'm getting to that. Anyway, they won't let anyone near the box until the whole house is there and Xander gets a crowbar. Now, everyone's trying to figure out what happened, so you can bet everyone was in that room in less than five minutes. So there's Xander, with the crowbar, and there's Willow trying not to laugh while she hugs Kennedy. Once we're ready, he pries open the box and reveals all. [pauses dramatically]
UNS: Come on!
VK: And what to our wondering eyes see? A rocket launcher! {guffaw} Buffy starts laughing, and clapping, and jumping up and down like it's all her birthdays rolled into one going, 'I can't you believe you did this! I can't believe it! How did you do it? C'mon spill! I want detail-y details!' Giles is trying to look stern and you can see he's trying not to smile while he's all, 'What foolish stunt have you two pulled?' Faith's looking at this thing and she's like, 'What the hell?' Robin's inspecting the rocket launcher ummming and ahhhhing like he's about to wet his pants he's so impressed. Dawn just runs across the room and throws her arms around Xander's neck going, 'That's sooooo cooooool!' The rest of us don't know what to make of it because this is a rocket launcher.
UNS: [laughs] I bet there's a story behind the story.
VK: Oh, yeah. Once things calmed down, it turned out that they had even more. They'd been hauling rocket launcher, ammunition, plastic explosives, electronic gear to set it off, grenades, I mean, a full military selection of all the things that go 'boom!' in this rented SUV they had.
UNS: [shifts in seat uncomfortably] I, unh…
VK: They'd been driving like bats out of hell all day and night with the cargo to get it home as quickly as possible. What was really funny is how the whole thing started.
UNS: [edge of seat] Go on.
VK: I guess Willow and Xander grew up together and they used to have this game: "How would you…" Mostly it was kid stuff, like, how would you rob a bank, or how would you pull off the perfect crime, or how would you become a superhero, you know, the kind of thing you do when you're bored and you want to be someone else. Well anyway, this one day while we're still living in a Cleveland motel, they start playing, "How would you…" It's the first time they've done it in years. So Willow brings up, 'How would you break into a military installation in a post-9/11 world?' And Xander's like, 'Oh! That's easy!' and tells Willow how he did it the first time.
UNS: Wait! Alexander had done this before?
VK: Yeah. Buffy told us that she was once up against nasty demon called The Judge that couldn't be killed by a sword, so Xander, Willow, and some friends broke into this military base and stole a rocket launcher. She had to kill this Judge in a shopping mall full of people! Can you imagine that? Standing in a mall holding this big thing and setting it off?
UNS: Didn't she get into trouble?
VK: No. Turns out that in the aftermath the news reports somehow turned Buffy into a Chinese terrorist acrobat named Soon-Li who was making a statement about the capitalist nature of America and had fired the rocket launcher in a mall to protest Western imperialism. {laughs} Go figure. Anyway, back to the second rocket launcher. Willow figures Xander's methods for getting into a military base aren't going to work what with all the increased security on military bases and tells him so and they kind of let it drop. About a week later, Xander and Willow are talking again and he says, right out of the blue, 'What would happen if we needed military hardware?' Willow points out that they only needed a rocket launcher the once, and he points out that she's right, a rocket launcher isn't normal Slayer weaponry, but when you really need it, you really, really need it. Willow thinks about it and they kind of start playing "How would you…" again, only this time it's to see if they could do it if they needed to.
UNS: That's when they started planning.
VK: No, it was still a game at that point. Willow'd go do some research stuff and Xander'd be like, 'Well, we'd need to do this, this, and this.' Eventually they kind of figure out that there's no way they could pull off what they did in Sunnydale on just the spur of the moment, so they drop it. For about a day. Then Willow's like, 'Well, why don't we just go get it right now, just in case.' That's when they started planning it for real.
UNS: Why not tell anyone else?
VK: Well, Willow told Kennedy, but only because she didn't want her to worry. Other than that they figured it was best if they didn't tell anyone because if they got caught, they didn't want to get us in trouble. The only magic they were using was minor glamour spells so that anyone who saw them wouldn't actually see them, just notice that something might be there. If someone had to notice them, it was only enough for them to rent cars or hotel rooms using these prepaid credit cards and driver's licenses with fake names that Willow managed to finagle. But anyone who did business with them wouldn't actually be able to remember what they looked like or even the fake names. Anyway, they wind up breaking into the Army's Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois and making out like bandits. The reason why it took them so long is because they had to case the base before pulling it off.
UNS: Was there any fallout from that?
VK: Not. A. Thing. I'm pretty sure something happened on the base and I'm pretty sure that someone is still looking for all the missing gear, but that's all a guess. I figure if we don't use it, they can't trace it to us. I mean, c'mon, do Xander and Willow look like terrorists who'd steal any property of the U.S. Government that might explode?
UNS: [softly] What do you plan to do with it?
VK: Emergency stash only, you know, in case we've got an unkillable demon or something like that running around. It's nice to know we'll have something on hand that'll at least slow it down if not blow it completely to bits.
UNS: Aren't you afraid someone, say, you…or…or innocent civilians might get killed?
VK: Which is why we're going to read up on using them. Can you see it now? Someone goes down there and pulls the wrong pin and it's lights out for everyone. But, yeah, the innocent people thing is a problem. I know Rona and I talked about, you know, maybe adding shotguns or something to repertoire, but then we realized that you take a chance of hitting bystanders if you use them. A vampire can go from zero to 120 in no time flat, so there's no guarantee you'd be able to hit it, let alone shoot it in the kneecaps so you can stake at your leisure. We're still talking about though to see if we can't find a way around it.
UNS: That's…that's a pretty good story.
VK: Yeah. [thinks a bit] You know, it's kinda funny, but I think…it's stupid.
UNS: No it's not.
VK: You don't know what I'm going to say.
UNS: I want to hear it anyway.
VK: Promise you'll erase it if what I say if it sounds stupid?
UNS: [crosses fingers behind MemePad] Of course!
VK: Okay. When I think the stunt, I dunno. Xander was just this sweet guy with the moral support, kinda like a big brother, you know? After that, he became the cool big brother. And Willow, who's like this really scary powerful witch, she became a little less scary and a little more, I dunno, human I guess. And you could see that Giles who is always this mysterious, proper guy, if you really squinted, maybe wasn't as proper English as we thought. And I think it's the only time I ever saw Buffy laugh, I mean, really laugh like she was fit to bust a gut and hug Willow and Xander like they were her best friends ever. You could see Robin just strategizing how all these new toys might be used, which was pretty cool to see. And for the first time ever Faith was shocked speechless, like she couldn't believe what just happened. She was just like the rest of us with all the questions and curiosity and she didn't care who saw her like that either.
UNS: So what are you saying?
VK: I guess what I'm trying to say is…well…for a moment, just a moment, I saw something in all of them. Something I'd never seen before. But it's like when you see it you can't help but notice that it's there all the time. Maybe it's who they were. Maybe it's who they're going to be. I dunno. It's like for this one night they weren't these people who were dictating our lives, or who'd changed our lives and the whole world forever, or who were taking care of us until we were ready to fight out there on our own. They were…they were all…
UNS: Yes?
VK: They were all people just like me.
TBC…