Author's note:  This story is part of a larger crossover saga archived here at fanfic.net.  This is set directly after the events of Firestarter 2, but also about 20-odd years before BtVS season one and the X-Men movies.  Also a few other Stephen King references...just to keep it interesting.

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Chapter One:

            "Hey, Jay!" Ethan Raine called across the room, "I think you should take a look at this, mate!"

            Jeremiah Malloy, known as Jay to most of his friends, glanced up from the text he had been studying with annoyance.

            "What is it, Ethan?" he asked, "I'm in the middle of reading the Golthian chants and..."

            "Sod the bloody chants and come here!" Ethan replied, an amused tone in his voice.

            Jay Malloy rolled his eyes and stood up from his desk.  They were in one of the Council of Watchers' immense libraries, but luckily at this time of night, there were very few other students around to be bothered by Ethan's shouts.

            As Jay wandered over to him, Ethan glanced backward over his chair and grinned.

            "D'you watch the news tonight?" he asked and Jay shook his head.

            "No, why?" he replied and then smirked, "Did that anchor woman swear again or something?"

            Ethan chuckled, "No, sorry to say not.  But you may find this as entertaining..."

            He was sitting in front of a large screen, below which was a variety of accessories, including a keyboard and a VCR.  Ethan held a remote control in front of him, and wound the tape he had been watching back for a while before hitting play again.

            The scene that suddenly appeared on the screen was chaotic.  A small town was smoldering, and the surviving residents were wandering around in a daze as clusters of reporters tried to speak with them.

            Taking up most of the camera's view was a playboy-style journalist, who seemed more interested in having his face on television than capturing the story around him.  Jay frowned as the reporter began to speak.

            "...as the tragedy struck.  Unfortunately, the people of River Mead were completely unprepared for the unexplained explosions that rocked their small town.  Eye witness accounts are varied, and the possible death toll is still being counted.  What most residents do agree on, however, is that most of the casualties were not caused by the fires..."

            Jay was frowning deeply when Ethan glanced up at him again. 

            "Bloody weird, eh?" Ethan asked.  His face did not reflect the concerned tone of his voice.

            "Yeah," Jay mumbled, and pulled up a chair next to his classmate, "Where is this town?"

            "Colorado," Ethan replied, "They said the fires started night before last, but no one is sure how.  The buildings just started blowin' up."

            Jay sat back in his seat and folded his arms.

            "So, mysterious destruction in some small town and you're all over it, right?" he said with a smirk, "Did anybody from the Council say anything about it yet?"

            Ethan shook his head, "Nah, just caught my eye on the news is all."

            "And you're just wishing for demons," Jay replied, "Any excuse to get into the field with the Watchers..."

            "Better than sittin' here among the books," Ethan said with a sigh, "Even Ripper's been buckling down lately with his studying.  This place is becoming too sodding dull.  At least in the States we wouldn't have the Council elders keeping an eye on us all the time.  I mean, you're a bloody American...don't you miss it there at all?"

            Jay shrugged, "You haven't seen dull until you see where I'm from.  Nebraska really isn't the most exciting place.  Why don't you put in a transfer to the New York chapter or something if you find us so boring..."

            Ethan laughed, "The Council doesn't trust me going to London for a day, let alone New York.  Oh, well...I've still got those spells I'm working on..."

            "And you wonder why they keep an eye on you?" Jay said, and then glanced at the screen again, "Do you really think they'll send a team out there?  Seems like something worth looking into..."

            Ethan shrugged, "Who knows.  Anyway, Jay, I'm gonna head out.  The stacks are starting to close in on me.  G'night."

            "Yeah, you too," Jay said and gave Ethan one quick wave as he left.  He sat forward and rewound the tape.  He hit play but ignored the chattering reporter.  Jay watched the people in the background carefully.  They looked dazed, as if nothing around them was real anymore.

            Jay watched the tape again.  Behind the reporter's left elbow, he noticed one man being lead down the street by two others.  The first man kept pointing to the air in front of him and shouting, and though Jay could not hear his words, the look of fear on his face spoke volumes.

            At another camera angle, a fire fighter was kneeling in front of a woman who had collapsed on the street.  Her eyes were blank, and as the reporter walked passed them, Jay could make out a brief part of her words.

            "Some say the world will end in fire," she was saying, "Some say in ice...some say in fire... some say in ice..."

            Robert Frost, Jay thought, recognizing the words as a verse of poetry he had read once.

            He rewound the tape once more, and when he hit play, he watched the video in a different way...through another set of eyes...

            Jeremiah Malloy had always been gifted with a second sight.  He was able to see and sense ghosts and other beings...a talent valued by the Council, but one he was always hesitant to use.

            As he stared at the screen, other images began to appear among the survivors...images of the dead...

            "Jeremiah?" a voice suddenly called to him, and Jay blinked in surprise.

            He glanced over and saw Quintin Travers standing nearby with his hands behind his back.  Travers was one of the Council elders (rumor had it he was vying for the head chair), and he smiled at Jay Malloy politely.

            "Mr. Travers," Jay replied, "I'm sorry...I didn't see you standing there..."

            "That's quite alright," Travers replied, "I have not been here long."

            Travers walked around the desk and frowned at the monitor curiously.

            "Well," he said, "It seems Mr. Raine has been following the media again.  Luckily, this incident in Colorado is what I'm here to speak to you about."

            Jay looked surprised, "The Council is aware of this then...of what happened in that town..."

            "My boy," Travers said, "There is little we are not aware of.  And, it has been decided that intervention by the Council may be warranted in this situation."

            "So they have some idea of what happened?" Jay asked, sounding a little more anxious than he would have liked, but Travers simply smiled again.

            "Purhaps..." he replied, "We would like you to come to the Council chamber tomorrow, Jeremiah.  There may be a need to investigate the events in that town...and we may have several students to accompany the Watcher team.  It would be very good experience for those who are chosen to go.  I suppose you would be interested in such an opportunity?"

            "Yes," Jay replied quickly, "Yes, sir, of course."

            "Excellent," Travers said, "Be there by nine o'clock.  Travel plans will be decided quickly, so don't be late."

            "No, sir," Jay said, grinning slightly as the elder man exited the library.

            Out of all the training Watchers, Jay Malloy was one of the youngest, barely twenty-three years old, but his family had a long history with the Council and many of his ancestors had been successful Watchers.  In fact, his little brother Sebastian was already being looked at to begin training.  Most students of the Council began their schooling when they were very young, though not typically with field assignments.

            If he did get to accompany the team to Colorado, his friends (Ethan being the first) would never let him live it down. 

            River Mead, Colorado, Jay thought, grinning as he packed up his books, Hope you're more interesting than my little town of Gatlin...