Title: Illusion of Reality 4? Of mice and man
By: David A. Knapton
E-mail: Don't know let's go with 12A/PG-13 for now.
Disclaimer: I own neither the characters from Buffy or Voyager just the idea!
Feedback: If you want, I like it but it's not vital for me to continue my stories.
Notes: This is something that had been bouncing around in my head for several days; I needed to get it out before it did too much damage! I am now in a position to continue this story so I thought I'd repost the first three parts again.
Pairing: As the two shows.
Notes: Set after BtVS episode 'Into the woods' but before 'The Body'. Voyager is set after Starfleet have made contact with them. Oh I've decided that Dawn and the gang already know she's the 'Key'.
'' Though.
Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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"Doctor as you've just demonstrated your medical knowledge is more advanced than ours? Would the drugs you have work on Glory and this Varon?" asked Willow.
"I don't know, but it should work on Ben," mused the Doctor.
"Ben? What has Ben got to do with Glory?" asked Buffy.
"Ah this is going to be a problem?" frowned the Doctor looking at Tom, "How do you suggest we get by this?"
"I don't know," said Tom returning the frown, he looked at the others, "The program has you all under a special type of spell, it prevents all humans from remembering any connection between Ben and Glory, it doesn't matter how may times we tell you, you will all forget it almost instantly," he explained.
"So what about Ben? Does he know her?" asked Xander.
"No you dipstick they just told you, Ben is Glory, Glory's Ben got it?" said Spike from the easy chair he had his leg hooked over one arm.
"Spike do you mind," sighed Joyce, pointing at his leg.
"Oh yeah... sorry," he said, feeling properly chastised, Joyce always seemed to be able to make him behave.
"What do you mean Ben's Glory?" asked Giles, "Is he one of her followers?"
"Ah right, he has connections to Glory," said the Doctor, looking quickly at Spike who could see in the look he was giving him that he should drop it. "All we can tell you about Glory's human host is that we know who it is and because of a spell humans cannot remember who it is... Look you will have to trust me on this," he explained.
Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them, "Very well Doctor," he said replacing his glasses.
"Ah right someone said something about dinner!" smiled Spike.
"You weren't included Spike," growled Buffy.
"Buffy that will do," Joyce chastised Buffy, "If Spike wishes to stay for dinner he is welcome, although a little warning that you were bringing so many to dinner would have been nice dear."
"I'm sorry Joyce, I should have thought of that myself, if it's going to be a problem we could go out somewhere?" put in Giles.
Joyce smiled at the watcher, "No Rupert it's alright I'll manage," as she turned towards the kitchen she looked over at her daughters, "Buffy, Dawn see to our guests, I'm sure everyone could use a drink... oh there is a jar of pigs blood in the fridge."
"What! Why is there blood in the fridge?" asked an outraged slayer.
"For Spike of course," he mother called from the kitchen door.
Buffy turned to pin Spike with what could only be described as 'a death stare'. "Yeah I sometimes drop by when you're on patrol... Ah you know to make sure your mum's okay."
Buffy raised her eyebrow, "IF you even think of harming my mother or Dawn I'll rip your heart from your chest and hand it to you before you turn to dust," she said, the steel clearly in her voice. "Dawn you lay the table I'll fix the drinks, Will, Tara you wanna help me?" she finished turning and following after her mother.
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The dinner was pleasant; Spike thought it would be safer for him to sit as far from Buffy as possible and for once managed to keep his mouth shut.
To everyone's surprise Joyce seemed to take everything in her stride, "Mum you aren't wigging, why?" asked Buffy.
"Buffy I have been living in Sunnydale as long as you and since your junior year when I found out you were the slayer and it was your job to fight the monsters in this town, you have told me that the mayor was going to become a giant snake, you were dating a vampire." Joyce ignored the snort that came from Spike, she had seen the way he looked at her daughter, she was unsure how she felt about that!
"You told me last year that you fought a demon/human/machine hybrid monster by joining with Mr Giles, Xander and Willow to become some kind of super slayer and only a few weeks ago you told me my youngest daughter was the Key," she smiled at Dawn putting the love she felt into the look, Joyce turned back to Buffy. "So why should being told all this isn't real be any different?" She looked over at the Doctor who sat savouring his wine, "Though I am curious about one thing! What was my real name and did I have any children?"
The Doctor smiled at her, "You are real, you are Joyce Summers, the person who played you has been dead for centuries, but if you must know, her name was Kristine Sutherland and I believe she had one daughter," he explained. "I'm sorry I did not feel it necessary to download the actors and actresses details that played all of you."
"Buffy, Dawn help me clear up," said Joyce rising and beginning to collect everyone's plates.
Buffy and Dawn sighed as they began to help. Buffy looked meaningful at her friends, "We'll all help," said Xander getting up with the others.
"So shall we return to the living room where the Doctor can continue to explain everything?" asked Giles as he deposited his plate into the dishwasher.
"I'll bring in some drinks Rupert," smiled Joyce.
As they settled down on the couch, chairs and even the floor the Doctor stood next to the fireplace, "I think we should plan on moving as soon as possible against Glory, although we have a maximum of seven days if we leave it to long and something goes wrong it could be disastrous," he said.
"I tend to agreed," added Giles feeling rather strange not leading the discussion. "I assume you know exactly where Glory is and how she intends to open the portal and where?"
"Yes on all counts. She lives in an apartment complex on the far side of Weatherly Park, she used the other inhabitants to feed on, as for the ritual, it will involve the drawing of Dawn's blood," he looked sympathetically at the teenager who had gone very pale. "Which of course we know will not really work. The ritual will take place on top of a tower Glory's victims will feel compelled to build," the Doctor explained.
Buffy looked up at the Doctor from the couch where she was holding her sister, "That is not going to happen," she said somewhat angrily.
"If you remember I did tell you that you succeed in killing Glory and Dawn was saved. I think we should plan to attack after sunset tomorrow night, the longer we delay the more likelihood that with Lieutenants Paris and Torres and myself present the timeline, for want of a better term, could develop in unforeseen ways."
"Yes I see your point, yes tomorrow night then!" agreed Giles the others nodding their agreement. "Do you have any detailed plans of the apartment complex?"
"No I'm sorry but it should not be to hard for Willow to obtain them from the internet," said the Doctor smiling at the redheaded witch. He turned towards Joyce who had remained in the kitchen doorway after placing a tray of drinks on the table, "Mrs Summers it maybe advisable for you to take Dawn away for a few days, just in case."
"But what about school?" asked Joyce.
"Mum I think it would be best now we know what we are up against. Why don't you go visit Aunt Arleen for a few days? I mean you haven't seen her in ages... Actually, technically you have never seen her," Buffy giggled.
Joyce laughed lightly, "Yes very funny Buffy," she said, "Alright I'll take Dawn to visit your Aunt, I'll order the tickets now," she finished heading towards the hall phone.