"As well as Mr. Johnson, I believe that someone is either amassing an army to defeat the slayers, or it is some sort of mutual truce between all the not so good supernatural being in the world to get rid of the Slayer problem for them once and for all. I also believe that the, now detained, Vampire in the Middle East is either a divertive tactic, or a test…a weapons test for an elite group of vampires actually training vampires in the ways of combat…and nothing else.
"Now this serves as a great threat to us as well as the rest of the world. However, I intend, with the help of all those willing, to stop this, as soon as possible."
I sat there in my chair, almost unable to understand the perfect grammar of Duncun. Growing up in Kansas, as I did, you get used to everyone talking in a strong southern draw, and very relaxed speech habits. But I managed.
Duncun pulled a video tape out of his jacket and held it up for everyone to see, "This is a recording of the video feed from the desert," he promptly reached behind the bar and popped the tape into the VCR on the television, "You'll all notice the pair of goggles worn by the vampire."
Duncun gave everyone a moment to study the video. Her fighting technique was incredible, as well as her strength and speed. The feed was originally an Iraqi news station doing a report on American soldiers in the Gulf. But out of the background she came, rushing the soldiers with impressive fury.
Before they got their guns ready, two of them were already dead, their necks broken. They started unloading clips from their M4 and M16 assault rifles, but to no avail. First she grabbed the barrel of a firing gun and pointed it towards another soldier, so fast the first man didn't have time to stop firing. Then she karate chopped the barrel, leaving the gun useless, and spin kicked knocking the gun out of another soldiers hand, across the small courtyard into the wall.
This continued for at least thirty seconds, until she had either killed, or incapacitated all six of the soldiers. She was going for the cameraman next, and she was assaulted by a barrage of fully automatic gunfire from the other side of the courtyard. They must have pumped six hundred rounds into her before she went down. They then walked over, seeing that she was still moving they looked at each other, baffled. Then the video ended and Duncun turned back around.
Sid turned back around toward the table and gasped, "If I'm not mistaken those are Hawk-Eye Goggles. But I thought those were all destroyed during the Second Crusades. It would take a witch or warlock of immense power to produce that particular device."
Ganon leaned back in his chair, his feet propped up on the table, "Well lets hope they just found one in a pawn shop or something," he looked back and forth from Sid to Duncun, "What are these 'Hawk-Eye' goggles anyway?"
Duncun looked at Ganon, "Good question," he went back to addressing the entire party, "Hawk-Eye Goggles aren't a very complex magical devices," he took a breath, "They read information that the host visualizes and transmit that information back to the original device."
Everyone blinked.
Jung decided to speak up, "So, that means it shows someone what the girl sees…"
I shook my head, "So, I still don't see why this is important, why're we lookin' at this?"
Duncun turned his attention toward me, "If we can get those goggles, in laymen's terms, we can see what the goggles saw, before the vampire attacked, and possibly figure out where, and even more importantly who these assailants are."
"But those goggles are all the way in Iraq, that's pretty far away," Ganon just left the sentence hanging.
Duncun just stared at him for a minute and sighed, "I will volunteer to travel to the Middle East and extract the artifact, but the people remaining here, that are willing, shall get information needed from the local population."
Everyone just sat there for a minute, soaking up all the information, and making a very hard decision. It was hard for them; they didn't have to do it. It was a simple decision for me; it was my job, my calling.
As if on queue, Scot stood up, "Well, I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll help, however I can," he looked down at his feet, "This super army will affect everyone anyway, right? Besides I'm tired of just sitting on the sidelines."
Duncun nodded approvingly, and then looked out across the table to everyone else, questioningly.
"Well, you got me," I said quietly, "I mean…it's m'job right?"
Sid didn't even look up. He knew I was going to volunteer. He just continued to stare at his drink, "I go where she goes."
Ganon took a swig of his beer, "Should be fun, we only live once right? Might as well kick some ass before we die."
All eyes found their way to the same place. The only person who had not spoken up yet, Jung. He seemed to be deep in thought. Finally he spoke up, "I…I just don't know guys. I hate to be the guy that backs out…" he let it hang for a while, "Ah why the hell not, we need a base of operations anyway right?" He looked at everyone and then around the room, "looks like a good a place as any."
Everyone smiled approvingly.
"I must take my leave now, to get some things and set off towards Iraq," with that, Duncun turned around and walked away, towards the back of the club. Sid set off after him and followed him into a back room.
"So, anyone else feel like they made a big mistake coming to the club last night?" Scot said just loud enough for everyone to hear. Taking the last big draw out of his Coke, cringing a little.
Jung grinned, "Well, I live here, so it's not much of a choice on my part, but still," he looked around the room, "it was defiantly a stroke of bad luck."
I just stayed quiet, barely paying attention to the conversation, staring into the back where Sid went, a million questions going through my head.
I followed Duncun into the back room. I wasn't sure what I was going to say, but I had to know.
We turned a few corners and when I was sure everyone was out of earshot I reached out, as if it stop him. He turned around before my hand reached his back.
"What?" he asked coldly.
I stopped, paralyzed, "I w-was just wondering, sir," I looked around once more to make sure no one was watching, "I think I've heard of you before."
He just smiled, "Is that so?" he said, obviously toying with me at this point.
"Yes, and I, " I stopped for a second to take a deep breath and collect myself, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to go. I hear it is very sunny in the desert."
"I'll be fine," he said looking away, "It wouldn't be the first time I've been there."
Now that we were on the same page, it was the perfect time to ask, "You're The Duncun, aren't you? The same one who worked for the Watcher's council all those years…ago?"
He just looked strait into my eyes, "What do you think?"
He looked just like the pictures in all the books. He was average size, about five-foot, eight, with a light, almost frail looking build with long, flowing black hair. Dressed in all black, with an overcoat, his chest stuck out unnaturally far, and you barely see a leather strap holding up what was most defiantly a hard leather chest armor, underneath his shirt.
I glanced down and saw his trademark, his sword; an ancient samurai's katana. The stories said he spent over a hundred years in Japan mastering his, already, excellent swordsmanship. I looked back up to his face and gave a satisfied look. He just gave a half smile and turned away, and walked down the hall.
I stood there, and watched him disappear into the darkness…