And now, the story continues.
An Eternal War
Chapter One
By IceWing (icewing@one.net)
Chapter One
'Thrust. Parry. Riposte. Spin. Oh shit this is going to....' The thought was cut off by Giles' sudden impact with a nearby bookshelf. "Well," he said from his inverted and rather uncomfortable position, "I think perhaps we should call it a day."
His youthful charge offered her hand, helping the Watcher back to his feet. "You sure Giles? I mean, I would hate to get you in trouble with your boss for letting me skimp on valuable training time...." She flashed him a quick smile and he grimaced slightly.
"No, no. Quite all right I assure you. I believe that you have displayed an adequate level of skill in the use of the Bo staff for today's session." He hated cutting training short, but there were good days and there were bad days. Today fell into the second category. It did not help to be trained to the top of a myriad of martial arts when your sparring opponent and student possessed reflexes a cougar would envy and the strength of a grizzly. But he had a duty and so he would persevere. Tomorrow. Maybe Wednesday.
"Go along, I am certain that you do not want to fall behind in your studies, nor miss time for, how do you put it, 'hangin' with your buds', before tonight's patrol."
The Slayer tossed him her staff, which he had to fumble to catch in the bulky pads. "Major thanks Giles. Catch ya on the morrow then." And with that she sauntered out of the library, ready to do some heavy relaxing before the weight of protecting the world was back on her shoulders.
Giles began peeling away his protective garments, making a mental note to order
another case of Tiger Balm before the end of the week. He was almost out and
it would not do at all for the school librarian to be coming in to work in the
mornings walking and moaning as if he had received a severe beating. Even though
he did. Daily. From a student. As he was walking back from the cage, having
deposited the weapons in their secure location, the hairs on the back of his
neck stood on end, as if someone, or
something were watching him. He kept moving, not letting on that anything was
amiss, walked
into his office and slid open the side drawer of his desk, his hand dropping
inside it as he turned around
calmly to look out across the library and see...
Nothing. Not a blessed thing. He sighed. Living in California, and on the Hellmouth to boot, he wasn't quite sure which was the source of more oddities, was starting to affect him. Maybe it was time to consider taking some time off. Summer was approaching. Perhaps he should head home to the hills and vales of his ancestral home. Gazing out over the heath always calmed him so.
He slid the drawer shut and turned off his office lights. 'Let's see,' he thought
as he headed towards the main library doors. 'Lights out in the office, check.
Office locked, check. Weapons secured and cage locked up, check. No doomsday
prophecies coming up this week, that's good. All questionable books on the shelves
and therefore away from the prying eyes of students, check. Well,' he thought
as he turned off
the library lights and walked out. 'It may be a calm night after all.' And with
that, the tweed attired individual departed the Slayerette HQ for the evening.
Behind him in the darkened room, a small observer watched, and a few minutes later departed, unseen, unheard and unsuspected.
**********
Time: Late Tomorrow Afternoon
Outskirts of SunnyDale.
The Mach One Interceptor rolled across the city limits sounding like an oncoming
thunderstorm. The sound of Detroit's classic engineering echoed through the
air. As it pulled into the first gas station, the car purred like the world's
largest mountain cat. Behind the darkly tinted windows, the driver killed the
engine. He looked out across the city, and was pleased by what he saw. Typical
small city layout. You
could lift it off the map and drop it just about anyplace in the country and
it would fit right in.
"Looks like a nice place. But I wouldn't want to live here...." He chuckled, "Hell, I don't even want to visit this place. But here I am, so I might as well make the best of it."
The stranger then closed his eyes and Looked at his surroundings. The Power
flowed here like it did almost nowhere else in the world. He opened up his body
to it and felt it wash over him, through him. It was like high voltage and a
lover's embrace rolled into one, and then amplified. The Power. It felt so good.
So right. "Damn, I am not going to want to leave this town. I had almost
forgotten what it felt like to be able to walk all the Paths. Feels damn good."
He flexed his arm, and felt a tingle as talents which
had lain dormant for years responded, able to draw enough power to be used without
almost killing him with strain.
Enjoying the sensations which had been naught but memories for years, he stepped out of the car and proceeded to fill it up with high test. Topping it off, he walked into the station and proceeded to gather a supply of munchies and beverages before heading to the cashier. Pulling out his credit card, he watched as the clerk rang up his purchases, gas, and then declined the offer of a car wash. As the gentleman was walking to the door, the clerk commented "Nice wheels."
"You don't know the half of it," came the smiled reply.
As the old V-8 engine cranked to life, the clerk turned back to his magazine. 'You don't see too many classics like that anymore." As the Mach One pulled out of the lot, the clerk glanced up just in time to see the New York vanity plate on the video monitor.
"LSTKNGHT"
"Weird...." And then he turned back to the article on the new space station. Swing shift always sucked....
**********
"And so now do either of you have any more questions about the Maginot
Line?"
Xander yawned. "Nope, we got it Will. Big wall o' guns, guaranteed to stop anything. Kinda useless if the enemy pulls an end around. And speaking of end around, would my two favorite ladies in the room be interested in a bit of dancing and relaxin' at the Bronze?
"Xander," replied Buffy. "Willow and I are the only to ladies in the room"
The tousle hairdo teen gave one of those distinctively Xander-esque grins. "My point indeed" He offered his arms to his friends, and laughing, they headed out to party the night away.
The Bronze was already in full swing by the time they arrived. The bouncer waved them in, greeting the girls by name and nodding to Xander as he paid the cover for their entry. Inside, the music washed over them as they headed for an open table near their usual spot. Willow volunteered for drink duty, heading over to get a water for herself, no caffeine after that last incident, and pops for her friends She wished Oz was here, but the Dingo's had a gig a couple of towns over. A soft giggle escaped her lips, she wondered how a town could end up being named Angel Grove this close to the Hellmouth. Oh well, at least he'll be back for our date tomorrow night. She thanked the barkeep as she handed him the money, then careful wove her way back to the table, where she carefully deposited the drinks. Xander was staring out over the dance floor, practically drooling at the sight of some of the sexily clad girls on the floor "Later ladies, my fan club awaits" he mumbled and practically teleported himself to the dance floor. Willow slid Buffy's drink in front of her, noticing that the Slayer was seemingly preoccupied with something.
"Buffy, are you all right?"
"What? Oh sorry Will, just kinda got a minor case of, well, not quite the wiggins, and not quite my slayer-sense, but something, feels, well odd I guess Not really sure how to describe it Its like I know this feeling, but I don't That kinda tip of the tongue sort of thing." Buffy paused to look at her now confused friend. "Sorry I am just not really sure of what it is." She sighed loudly. "Its kinda irritating, I know I am feeling something but not sure what and now I'm repeating myself and babbling too "
Willow considered this for a moment, then put forth the idea that maybe they should ask Giles Maybe he would be of some help. Buffy opened her mouth to answer when the conversation was violently ended by the conclusion of Xander's attempt to fly. His apparent launch point was the drunken football player who seemed to take personal offense that Xander was dancing with his girlfriend.
From his rather unique viewpoint on the ground, Xander realized that this was not a good situation. The football player was approaching and seemed to be intent on stomping Xander into a meaty red paste. He tried to roll to his feet, but an intense fiery pain in his side immediately convinced him that moving quickly, or at all for that matter, would be even worse than the imminent beating approaching. He closed his eyes, attempting to convince himself he would take the beating well, and not grovel for mercy, something he was extremely close to doing.
And he waited. The sound of his own heart echoed through his ears Immediately followed by the sound of a large mass impacting into the far wall. He opened his eyes in time to see one of his least favorite individuals, commonly know as DeadBoy, offering him a hand up. Gingerly he accepted, almost immediately regretting it, but gritted his teeth and made it over to the table where he and Angel both sat down.
"Got to watch who you dance with Best way to avoid really bad landings like that is to make sure to stay away from drunk Neanderthals. Capische?"
Xander wanted to make a smart-ass come back, but his side was awash in pain. "Thanks" was all he was able to get out. Buffy gave Angel a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to her friend. "Xander, are you ok?"
"It's ok," he responded. "The table broke my fall" His face was as white as a sheet. "Maybe we should call it a night," suggested Willow. Everyone agreed, except for Xander, who felt as if he was ruining everyone's evening. But the girls would not acquiesce and soon the entire group was walking home. In front of Xander's place, they all agreed to meet in the library after first bell, then went their separate ways for the night.
Angel and Buffy were walking through the park, hand in hand. They had decided to make a quick circuit, patrolling for vamps before retiring for the evening. "Buffy, are you ok? You seem kind of distracted. Want to talk about it?"
Buffy was silent for a moment, then stopped and leaned against a convenient tree. "Angel, do you ever get the feeling that something is going on, but you can't quite put your finger on it? Like its on the tip of your tongue?" He nodded silently. "All night, I have been kinda on edge. Like there is something out there, just outside of what I can see, and its bugging me. Maybe I'm going crazy, but I know, without a doubt, that something is going on, but there is nothing there." She sighed. "Maybe I just need some sleep."
Angel was silent for a moment, then told her that she should not discount anything that she felt. She was the Slayer, and as such, was more in tune with things around her than most people. Just because she could not see something didn't mean it was not there. Her intuition had saved her life in the past and would most assuredly would do so again in the future. He kissed he gently and began to walk her home.
As they happily walked to her house, neither of them heard the almost silent chuckle from the unseen observer who was quite pleased with the way things were shaping up.
The Day After Tomorrow
The library doors swung open as Xander was in the process of pulling his shirt back on. Buffy and Willow both winced as they saw the tape encircling their fellow Slayerette's torso. Giles was in the process of putting away the med-kit.
"Xander, how do your ribs feel now?" asked the Watcher.
"Better. Its only like being stabbed with a short knife now, as opposed to being skewered by a sword which is then hooked up to a power drill." But his face and the strained sound of his voice told the truth about how he felt.
"Also," continued Giles. "I feel I must advise you not to exert yourself overly, nor add to the problem by allowing further damage to your ribs until they have had time to heal. Six weeks or thereabouts."
Xander grimaced. "You're right Giles, I will restrain myself from playing in traffic or getting beat by football players again, for a while at least " He turned and saw the girls standing there. "Hey ladies. Can you believe it? I'm actually here, not only on time, but early in fact Go me!"
"Xander, are you ok?" asked Willow, the concern visibly evident in her voice.
"Yep. Just a few ribs which the G-man"
"I have asked you not to call me that please."
" was so kind as to tape up for me so I would not have to go through the long tedious and possibly self-incriminating visit to the emergency room. Anyway, anything going on which could spell the end of the world as we know it? Or are we in for a boring night here in SunnyDale?"
"Well, as far as I have been able to tell, there are no prophecies, nor earth shattering events scheduled for the upcoming week. But as always, it is impossible to be sure, as the forces of evil have free will, just as we do, to do whatever they want"
"So, what you are actually saying," interjected Buffy. "Is that we can relax for a couple of days at least, without the world definitely being on the edge of destruction!" She smiled, a smile which usually boded ill for Giles sensibilities... "And since my mom is in New York for the week at some art event, that means..."
Giles winced...
"Party at my place!"
Giles winced again , remembering the last fiasco involving a party and a mask....
"Don't worry Giles," said Buffy as the Watcher was in the process of cleaning his glasses at a feverish pace. "Scooby gang only. Nobody else... I mean come on, just us, some movies and popcorn. What could go wrong..."
Everybody laughed, but Giles had a hunch...
And he reached for his glasses again...
*End Chapter One*