Greetings and salutations. Here's another chapter up for you, and it isn't the only one. Quick run down for what's going up. Aside from this, you have the first chapter for the sequel to Feral Discoveries, as well as the second chapter for Slaying in Digital (it has to be written eventually). I want to thank the people who volunteered to be my test readers. So, Catlimere, manticore gurl, James, Randolph and anyone who didn't name themselves, THANK YOU! I'll post one (or both) eventually. I'll just get some of the other stuff done first.
One last thing before we start, a quick reassurance to those awaiting the sequel to Dark Future; IT'S COMING! I've decided to drop the gang form Slayer's Knight in to help out, so please be patient.
Now that's done…
"Any word?" Quentin Travers asked.
"Mr Giles has reported that the injections continue." The Watcher said. "The Slayers remain oblivious."
"Good." Travers said. "I want an update every night." He looked out the nearby window. I wonder who the next Slayer will be after we kill these two, he thought. Hopefully some obedient young thing like, what was her name…Kendra. Yes, hopefully it will be her. Much better than the present two.
He sat down and poured himself a drink, not knowing that he was being watched.
"That bloody bastard." Dru hissed. "How dare he plan this? When I get my hands on him…"
"Dru, take it easy." Angel moved behind her, massaging her shoulders as he had seen Xander do with Buffy when her temper flared. "What did you see?"
"Travers." Dru said, anger in her eyes. "He plans to kill them both, no matter the outcome of the test." Angel tensed. Joyce clenched her fists, running through her Jedi calming exercises. Xander and Willow stiffened noticeably, looking over at their Slayers.
Doyle looked at Faith. Just when the girl gets her family, and some happiness, those jokers at the Council try this? I'm so going to enjoy the look on Travers' face when this bunch catches him.
Giles buries his face in a nearby book, trying to hide his own anger. He had never agreed with Travers, or the way he had run the Council, but this…
Sarah looked over at her son, who had taken a protective stance near Buffy. Why did they have to go through this?
Faith tried to run through her mother's exercises. They were helping to an extent. She looked over at Buffy.
The blonde Slayer wasn't handling it as well as her mother or sister, not because she was less adept at the exercises. No, her problem was her sensitivity. She was picking up on everyone else's anger, and she wasn't dealing with it too well. The temptation to go to Travers and rip his heart out was strong, and Buffy wasn't sure if she could take it.
"Make it stop." She whispered. "Please, someone make it stop." Faith could hear her, feel her, crying for help.
"Xander!" She hissed. The Protector nodded, placing a hand on his Slayer's shoulder. Faith grabbed the other. "Easy, sis. We're here."
"Faith?"
"Relax, Buff. I'm right here, I always am."
"Xander? Oh God, help me. I can't take this. Everyone's so angry, I feel it."
"It's okay, love. I'm here. Just relax. Let some of the anger go."
"I can't. I don't know where to put it."
"Let me take some." Faith volunteered.
"Me too. C'mon Buff. I didn't help you beat blondie so you could give in to this."
"Xander? Faith? But…there's too much."
"I'll take some." Willow said through Faith.
"Willow? But…"
"No arguments, B." Faith ordered. "Do it!" Buffy reluctantly agreed and let her anger flow.
Willow gasped, falling from her seat. This was only part of the anger Buffy was feeling? Gods, how could she handle that?
Xander clenched his other fist, careful not to put any pressure on Buffy's shoulder. How could Buffy handle this?
Faith snarled as Buffy's anger flowed through. She'd known her sister was sensitive, but not this sensitive. She felt Buffy pull it back. "B, no."
"But…"
"You need me to do this. I haven't been there to support you for near seventeen years. Now, listen to me. Let it flow." Buffy sobbed as she re-established the connection. Faith grit her teeth.
"Faith, enough." Joyce ordered. "You can't take this anymore."
"Neither can Buffy." Faith muttered. Xander looked at her, then at Buffy. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He bent down and, gently, lifted his Slayer into his arms.
"I'm getting her out of here." He said. "She can't take this." Sarah got up, keys in hand. "Not this time, mom. She needs as little people around as possible." Sarah nodded and handed him the keys. "I'll see you later." He left, holding her gently. The others watched.
"We have to be careful around her." Joyce said. "She's always been very sensitive to peoples feelings. She always knew when Hank and I were fighting. She's only getting more so, and unless we find a way to help her…"
"She needed me." Faith whispered. "She needed me and I let her down."
"Easy Faith." Doyle said to his young charge. "There was nothing you could do."
"I need to find a way to help her, Doyle." Faith said. "If I don't…I'm going to loose her. I only just found her!"
"I know, girl." Willow looked over at her Slayer.
"We'll find some way." She said reassuringly. "I'm positive. Maybe we can find someone when we go to check out that message."
"Yes." Dru said suddenly. "That's it. The old one."
"'Old one'?" A small grin spread over Joyce's face. "Who is the 'old one'?"
"Like you." Dru said, looking at her. "A Jedi. But older, stronger. I've seen him once. Short, with a walking stick. He radiated such power."
"Was he green?" Joyce's grin got wider.
"You know him?" Dru asked.
"All Jedi, padawan or otherwise, know Master Yoda." Joyce said, her grin transforming into a smile. "Looks like he survived the Emperor's culling. Should have known." Hold on, baby. You just need to hold on one month.
"Where am I?" Buffy asked, looking around. She was in a swamp. At least, that's what it looked like.
"My home, you are in." A voice said. Buffy spun to be greeted with the strangest sight; a short, green man with a walking stick. "Brought you here, I have, in mind at least."
"Why?" Buffy asked, ready to defend herself. "Who are you?" The creature chuckled.
"Inquisitive you are." He said. "Cautious as well. Good this is."
"The Hellmouth does that to you." She muttered. The creature nodded.
"I see." He said. "Yoda, my name is. Jedi Master I am. Brought you here to help you, I have."
"You're a Jedi?" Buffy asked. "Talk about looks being deceiving. Did you know my mom too?"
"Know her, I did." Yoda said. "Saved her from Vader, I did. Now, come. Come." He turned, walking away. "Begin, we must. Running out, time is." Buffy looked at his retreating back, before shrugging and following.
"Buffy?" Xander said quietly, brushing Buffy's hair from her face. "C'mon, girl. Wake up."
"There is no need for concern." A voice said. "She is receiving help for her…problem." Xander turned to see a transparent, blue man.
"Who- or what- are you?" Xander demanded. "And what do you mean 'help'?"
"Exactly what it sounded like." The ghost (for that was all Xander could think of that fit what he saw) said. "And as to who I am, Buffy has told you that already." Xander glared at the ghost, running his mind through the list of people Buffy knew who were dead until…
"You're that Wind Up guy, right?" Xander asked. Mace gave a rueful smile.
"Windu." He corrected.
"Yeah. Windu." Xander looked down at Buffy. "What'd you mean when you said she was getting help?" He asked. "Help from who?"
"The oldest and most powerful of our order." Mace told him. "Though, in truth, I didn't believe he was this powerful."
"What's that mean?" Xander asked.
"What it means is that he is reaching from our home galaxy to this one to help her." Mace looked down at the girl. "He will not be able to complete her training in this manner, however. As soon as you get to our galaxy, you must take her directly to Dagobah."
"Daggy…Barn?" Xander said, confused. Mace sighed.
"I don't know how Janelle puts up with any of you." Mace said ruefully. "Just remember, she must go to Dagobah if she is to stand a chance of survival."
"What about now?" Xander demanded. "Is she going to stay like this?" Mace shook his head as he faded away.
"Trust her, and Master Yoda." He said. "They can surprise you."
"You got one thing right." Xander muttered. "My girl's just full of surprises."
"Your girl?" Buffy asked, her voice almost a whisper. "This mean we're goin' steady?" Xander was at her side in an instant.
"You alright?" Buffy nodded.
"At risk of sounding like my sister, five by five." She said with a grin. Xander chuckled. "Where are we?"
"My place." Xander told her. "I thought it might be a good idea to get you out of there." Buffy nodded, sitting up.
"I'll be fine now." She said, reassuringly. "Master Yoda gave me some tips."
"I know." Xander said. "Windu showed up." Buffy's jaw dropped.
"You saw Master Windu?" Xander nodded.
"I got orders from him too." He said. "I take you to Dagobah, where Yoda's hiding out, the second we get to your mom's home galaxy. No excuses."
"That, I know." Buffy said. "Yoda already told me. No loop holes, no way out."
"If he's the only one who can help you, I don't want a way out." Xander said. Buffy nodded, sitting up. "Hey, whoa, waddaya doin'?"
"I still have to take the Cruciamentum injections, Xand." Buffy said. "Which means we have to head back."
"No way." Xander said firmly. "You need to recover."
"I'm fine." Buffy said just as firmly. "'Sides, everyone's calmed down, now."
"If you say so." Xander muttered.
"Hey." Buffy put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. I managed to learn enough from Master Yoda to be able to control myself if the situation rises again." Xander wrapped her in his arms, almost protectively. Buffy closed her eyes, just enjoying the closeness.
"If your sure."
"I'm sure." Buffy pulled away reluctantly. "Besides, someone has to stop mom from going after Travers and sticking her lightsaber up his ass when she finds out exactly how they administer the drug." Xander grinned.
"Good point." He said, escorting her to the door. "As long as you're sure." Buffy snorted indignantly.
"You're getting overprotective again, Xand."
"I'm not loosing you for any reason, remember?" Xander said as he locked the door. "You're stuck with me, for however long we've got."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way, my Protector."
Come on. You knew Yoda had to come in somewhere. And before anyone complains, I've asked the biggest Star Wars fanatic I know, and he assures me that Yoda would indeed be able to do this easily.
Stay tuned.
Doc