"So, Dawn, what'd you get out of the Commander Takashima experience?" Xander asked the young woman, whose cheekbones seemed the tiniest bit accentuated since the Reset.
"Perspective, mainly," Dawn replied, "Laurel'd been in Earth Force for quite some time, had made it through the Martian Riots with Jeff and Michael, and was an ambitious officer that gave her all. Her ambition was channeled into excellent work, not politics, and she had balanced self-discipline. I guess I'm glad about this Reset; the others all kinda fit into me better because of it. And I'm glad we've taken off the last few to just relax and maybe kill a couple dozen vamps. So, what's on tonight's schedule when we Reset?"
"I'm thinking of finally giving in to your and Willow's costume list," Xander replied as Doyle and Willow wandered over, "But I'm still thinking we keep with our week of cross-training and integration."
"That's probably for the best, Xan," Doyle remarked, "And I've pretty much read up on the aspects of our situation as we know it, about vampires and what little Rupert has on necromancy, reality warping and even about a group of demons called vengeance demons that grant wishes. So more time to rest and study might not be a bad idea."
"Any leads on what we could dress as to do the rehumanize thing?" Xander asked, "Spike and Drusilla a couple times now have only turned back when the spell was over, one time if you recall, Spike left a body and not dust behind."
"Maybe we need a necromancer to kinda guide everything, a gypsy to do a better version of the curse," Dawn thought out loud, "and an exorcist to chase out the demon."
"Then enough power tapping ability to make it stick," Doyle said, "Kinda like the Ripper spell on us."
"Yeah, but now all we need is a lead on the appropriate people and costumes," Willow added, "Maybe ask Ms. Calendar or even Angel about the name of the curser, or whoever is considered the best in the field."
"Maybe even Willy," Xander considered, "Or that Lorne guy in Los Angeles. I'm thinking field trips after the next few Resets, then see about redressing this last year's losses. Especially if we can figure out a way to ensure they come back healthy and whole."
"Other than, uh, Jesse," Willow softly spoke, "Who would you bring back?"
"Morgan, umm, Dave and Fritz, maybe Ampata," Xander considered, "I don't know who else."
"Morgan I can see, but the others?" Willow asked, Dawn nodding along, "Why them?"
"Dave and Fritz were corrupted by Moloch, Will, just like you nearly were," Xander responded, "And the mummy not only would be a good test case, she deserves at least as much consideration as a vampire. And no, the two girls I'm interested in have nothing to worry about in that regard."
"Hmm, I guess so," Willow replied, head on his shoulder, and if it works, maybe we can use it as a big area spell?"
"Probably not," Dawn considered, "But who knows how much we can eventually figure it. Too bad our costume 'realities' don't always overlap, or we'd be able to draw on some real resources after this is all over."
Elsewhere, Elsewhen
"Mr. Hughes, Team One is here," the young Mormon secretary informed his reclusive boss, "Shall I send them in."
"Yes, go ahead and let them through," the 'deceased' billionaire-turned-vanquisher-of-evil replied as he ceased his work out. The mohra demon extract seemed to be working as well. As the men entered the room, he greeted them, "Gentlemen, please come in."
"Thank you, Howard," the leader of his very Las Vegas-Southern California demon hunting team responded as he looked over at Bruce, Jim and Jimi, "Thank you very much."
Elsewhere, Elsewhen
Ammonet felt woozy, for a moment unsure of her situation as she punched in the coordinates given her by her mate, Apophis. 'Soon we will be off this doomed vessel orbiting the Tauri homeworld,' the goa'uld gloated as the three of them raced up into the event horizon. The three Tau'ri officers, O'Neill, Ferretti and Kowalski would pay for their insolence and watch their teams die first by her own hand. She wondered and began to ready a shock to her host, outraged but curious as to the mental laughter it assailed her with until they stepped out before a big stone Asgard artifact. Then a blue beam and…
Elsewhere, Elsewhen
Marcus, Franklin, Takashima and Ivanova met with Ambassador D'Lenn, Sinclair and Garibaldi in private. They'd explained how after their 'weird' experience, they'd remembered everything but as they'd been slightly out of sync with each other, the universe decided to make sure they were at the same time here, which meant earlier.
"So how long do we have to prevent President Santiago's assassination?" Jeff asked, "Because it seems if we can do that, it will smooth things out for the next couple of years, even if I still have to go back and become D'Lenn's grandpa…" He turned to the Vorlon Ambassador in the room, sitting next to D'Lenn, "So what do you say…friend? You are the Vorlon we can trust, and we want your individual support, even if you cannot commit the others. If John Sheridan could use one of these White Stars to really stall the Enemy, maybe we could burn the planet and most of the Shadows and minions before they can get a grip on the Centauri and others this go-around. And if the Vorlons showed up with Minbari ships…we might save Santiago and keep Earth from falling to the Darkness."
The figure loomed in silence, then lowered its head as though to nod, "Yes…….."
Methos looked at his 'brothers' as they sought his answer. He smiled his smile devious smle they'd come to know when he was planning a particularly evil way of achieving their ends.
"Of course, brothers," Methos smiled, watching as they let their guards down slowly, "What're the Horsemen without Death?" Hands in pockets, he pushed the secreted button, causing the area behind them to explode. Picking himself up, he challenged the stunned and mauled men verbally, then lunged to decapitate them in about all of seven seconds. Three massive quickenings began tox mist the area, 'This'll hurt…I hope Darius and Tessa have the car ready…'
Elsewhere, Elsewhen
"Hello, Professor Jones," the Tomb Raider greeted the man, surprised at his apparent youth, looking fortyish but knowing him to be in around ninety if she read correctly, "You're looking…spry for an older man I won't even meet for a couple weeks."
"Well Lara, as out of character as it was for me," Indiana began, "I found myself back in time further than expected, and this time I actually decided to drink from that Fountain before the temple subsided."
"Ponce de Leon's?" she asked, intrigued, "And why this time?"
"Yeah, his," the older archaeologist replied, then blushed slightly, "And because I met some one worth waiting a few decades to meet again."
"You mean?"
"I think so, but no pun intended, I think it's worth exploring."
"Doctor Jones," Lara Croft replied, "If we're to expedite a mounting, or rather mount an expedition, it should wait until we can talk to Rupert in a couple of weeks…But I do seem to have a lead on Opar, taken from the diary of a Watcher, John Clayton, interested?"
"And not just in the expedition leader…"
"Hmm, no one's looking…" Whistler contemplated just after dawn, "Woo Hoo!" as he charged into the surf, wearing stylish black swim trunks as he gripped his board…