Chapter 3: The Dark Age
November 13, 1997 – Thursday
Sunnydale High School
Philip Henry quickened his pace as he passed the sign that read Sunnydale High. There had been no-one at the address he'd been given so this was his next port of call. He had to see him, to warn him, to get help…
"Can I help you?"asked the custodian who was emptying bins nearby.
Philip turned to him. Perhaps he could help. "Rupert Giles. I need to see him."
The custodian seemed taken aback by the question. "Mr. Giles…he's our librarian. Next building along, first door on the left." Philip immediately headed off in the direction indicated. "You're welcome!" the custodian called after him sarcastically.
But Philip had no time for politeness. He had heard stories about Giles, about what he was now. Maybe he could help him. They were all in danger now.
The building was in sight when Philip froze, some sixth sense telling him something was wrong. He turned around and saw a woman standing in the shadows. "Oh god," he murmured. It had come for him. The woman stepped out of the shadows. She was dead, her skin decaying. And yet she was still upright, still dangerous, her eyes glowing with the power of the thing that possessed her. Worse, he knew her, as he knew he would. "Deirdre?"
Deirdre smiled a malicious smile. "Philip. "
He ran for the door but it was locked. He hammered on it. "Help! Help! Somebody, please!" But there was no answer. It suddenly occurred to him that Giles might not even be there. "God, no! Help!"
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Loud, thumping dance music blared from a portable stereo drowning out Philip's cries for help. Buffy was in the midst of doing a step-aerobic routine, not that she really needed do aerobics of any kind. Being transformed into a machine that could alter its appearance meant she didn't have to worry about staying in shape. She kept doing it because now that she had been transformed into a machine, she no longer needed sleep which also meant she had plenty of free time.
Giles attempted to read a book—both hands plastered over his ears. He brought one hand down to take a sip of tea. "Must we have such noise during your calisthenics?" he complained, shouting above the music as he did so.
"It's not noise, its music," Buffy corrected.
"I know music," Giles snapped. "Music has notes. This is noise."
"I'm aerobicizing! I must have a beat!"
Giles gave up. "Wonderful. You work on your muscle tone while my brain dribbles out of my ears."
Buffy stopped and looked at her Watcher. "What muscle tone? I'm a machine, Giles," she reminded him. "I'm doing it because it's part of our normal training routine. You know just something to do since I'm awake twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It's actually boring pretending to sleep when I don't need to sleep."
"Right," Giles said sadly. In the two nearly two weeks since he looked for a way, any way possible to turn Buffy back. He had so far been unsuccessful.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Help me, somebody, please!" Philip shouted.
Deirdre grabbed him and pulled him away from the door, her strength far superior to a human's. She grabbed him around the throat and began throttling him.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy finished her session and turned off the music. Giles breathed a sigh of relief. "Very good," he said. "And the rest is silence."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Deirdre dropped Philip's dead body to the ground. Then, she collapsed next to him. Her body dissolved into green goo…which then swirled around Philip.
November 14, 1997 – Friday
Sunnydale High School
Buffy considered her answer carefully. "I'm on a beach, but not an American beach, one of those island beaches where the water's way too blue. It's just before sunset, I'm lying on my towel and Kate Winslet is massaging my feet."
"A girl?" Dawn said surprised. "I thought I was the only one in our family who was gay."
"What?" Buffy said confused. She looked at her sister with a raised eyebrow.
"You said Kate Winslet would be massaging your feet," Willow told her friend.
One thing since being turned into a machine, Buffy realized she had perfect recall. Everything she saw or heard or did was recorded. So she replayed the last minute and realized her sister and Willow were right. "Oh my god, I'm a gay robot."
"Welcome to the club," Dawn chuckled as Buffy rolled her eyes.
"You're a hot gay robot," Willow said before realizing what she had said. "I think something is wrong with you and me, Buffy."
"Why?" Buffy and Dawn wondered.
"Because one … neither of us liked girls before," Willow explained. "And two … For you it could be that program you activated. The sexuality one that is influencing you. And me it could be John's memories."
"As someone who actually is a lesbian," Dawn said. "I can tell you that is not how sexual orientation works."
"Dawn is right, Buffy. The Sexuality program did not determine who we like.
We determined who we like. The program only awakened the possibility.
Before the program was activated, we didn't have the possibility of being sexually attracted to anyone."
Buffy nodded as she watched as Cameron's monologue flashed in front of her eyes. Over the course of the last two weeks, Buffy had gotten used to the heads up display always being there and to a degree ignored it. The thing she had not gotten used to, was the machine, Cameron, who was alive inside of her. Basically, she shared the body with another person and it freaked her out a little.
"The sexuality program didn't determine who I liked. It just awakened the possibility," Buffy informed her sister and best friend. "Before there was no possibility for me to be sexually attracted to someone.
"What are you guys talking about?" Xander asked, as he joined them.
"Sexuality," Buffy answered as Willow blushed.
"Or more precise…sexual orientation," Dawn added.
"And what led up to that interesting conversation?" Xander wondered.
"A quick game of Anywhere but Here," Buffy told him.
"Ah." Xander nodded approvingly. "Amy Yip at the water slide park."
"You never come up with anything new," Willow noted, amused.
"I'm just not fickle like you three, okay?" Xander replied. "I'm constant with my affections. Amy Yip. At the water slide park."
Willow glanced across the yard to where Giles was talking with a student. "Do you think Giles ever played Anywhere but Here when he was at school?"
"Giles lived for school," Xander replied, "He's still bitter that there were only twelve grades."
Dawn nodded in agreement. "He probably sat in math thinking 'There should be more math. This could be mathier.'"
"C'mon, you don't think he ever got restless as a kid?" Willow persisted.
"Are you kidding?" Buffy retorted. "His diapers were tweed." She noticed Giles had finished his conversation. "Hi, Giles!"
"Hmm?" It took Giles a moment to realize who had called to him and come over. "There you are."
"Is that tweed?" Dawn asked, looking at his outfit knowingly.
"What?" he asked temporarily confused. "Oh. Yes. Now, look, tonight is very important…"
"Now that's a surprise." Buffy led the way into school. "So, what's on tap tonight that's so important? Uprising? Prophesized ritual? Preordained deathfest?"
"Ah, the old standards," Xander mused.
"A medical transport is delivering the monthly supply of blood to the hospital," Giles explained.
Dawn understood the implication. "Meals on wheels for vampires."
"Hopefully not. Buffy you and I will meet at the hospital at eight sharp. I'll bring the weapons."
"Just bring enough for yourself," Buffy reminded him.
"Hmm?" Giles said and then nodded as he remembered Buffy had her own weaponry built into her body. "Right." He gave Buffy a stern look. "Don't be late."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "A physical impossibility," reminded him.
"Right," Giles said.
"Morning, England," a cheery young woman remarked as she approached them. Jenny Calendar was the school's computer teacher. Less well known was the fact that she was a techno-pagan, well aware of the demons and vampires that threatened Sunnydale. It had made her a useful ally on occasion and somehow that had led to her intermittently dating Giles.
"We must tell Angel soon. That our sexual orientation has switched."
"I know," Buffy muttered to Cameron, low enough so no one heard her.
"Good morning, Miss, er, Jenny," Giles responded.
"Feel the passion," Willow muttered under her breath.
Jenny gave Willow a mild look. "Willow—"
Willow gave an exaggerated cough. "Just coughing, not talking "
"Willow…Dawn…Buffy," Jenny continued. "Are you three still on for tomorrow?"
"What's happening tomorrow?" Xander asked.
"I'm reviewing computer basics for a couple of students who have fallen behind,"Jenny explained, "Dawn, Buffy and Willow are helping me out for extra credit. "
Xander laughed. "Those poor schlubs, having to come in to school on Saturday."
Jenny's expression was stony. "9am okay for you, Xander?"
Buffy gave Xander an amused look. "I think you've got a bit of schlub on your shoe."
"So why are you going to be there?" Xander asked giving the elder Summers sister a look. "I never saw you as the extra credit type, especially in computers."
"It's because of what I am now," Buffy said cryptically. Her sister and friends all nodded in understanding.
"Cordelia's meeting us there," Jenny interjected bringing them back to the topic at hand.
Xander rolled his eyes. "Ooh, gang, did you hear that? A bonus day of school plus Cordelia. Throw in a bit of rectal surgery and it's my best day ever!"
Jenny turned her attention to Giles. "Walk me to class?"
"It would be my pleasure," Giles said as he fell into step with Jenny.
"Nice coat," Jenny said as she and Giles head off down the hall.
"Aww, look at them," Buffy remarked as the pair walked away.
"A twosome of cuteness," Xander agreed.
"Can't you just imagine them getting together?" Willow gushed.
They did. Then they tried to think about something else.
Dawn looked at her sister with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't know you were going to help for extra credit, tomorrow."
"I'm pretty much on my way to the honor roll now," Buffy told her sister. "You know because of what I am now. I don't really need the extra credit it's more to pass the time since I don't need to sleep, eat, drink or nothing."
"Oh, Buffy," Dawn said as she hugged her sister.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles was in a good mood as he arrived at the library, the memories of his disturbing dream the previous night fading. But his good mood evaporated when he found three people waiting for him there. A smartly-dressed woman and two uniformed police officers. "Rupert Giles?" the woman asked.
Giles stared at her cautiously. "Yes?"
The woman flashed a police badge. "Detective Winslow. You're going to have to come with me."
Giles remained cautious. "Why?"
"There was a homicide on the campus last night. The victim had no identification but he was carrying a slip of paper with your name and address on him." She held up an evidence bag.
Giles stepped forward to examine it. "My name?"
At that moment, Cordelia came barging through the door. "Well, evil just compounds evil, doesn't it?" she complained. "First I have an extra computer tutorial on Saturday. Now I have to read some computer book. There are books about computers? Aren't computers supposed to replace books?"
Giles sighed. Since Cordelia had found out the truth about vampires and Buffy's former status as the Slayer, she had proved of help on occasions. This, however, was not one of those occasions. "I'm a bit busy at the moment. "
Cordelia noticed the police officers and smiled. "Oh, great! You can help me out with my ticket. It's totally bogus. It was a one-way street; I was only going one way…"
Winslow's expression was stony. "I'm with Homicide. I don't do parking tickets."
Giles had less patience. "Cordelia!" he snapped.
Cordelia turned to him, looking put out. "What? Why does everyone always yell my name? I'm not deaf! And I can take a hint!" she paused, confused. "What's the hint?"
"That you should come back later," Giles told her testily.
"Yeah, when you've visited decaf land." Cordelia exited the way she had come.
Giles turned back to the police officers. "Where do you want me to go?"
Sunnydale Police Station
Where they wanted him to go was, perhaps inevitably, the morgue. He and Winslow stood either side of one of the slots as the attendant pulled the tray out. "You have your breakfast?"
"Er, no," Giles answered, his concentration fully focused on the tray rather than morgue humor.
"That's probably just as well." The attendant pulled back the sheets to reveal Philip's body.
"Do you know him?" asked Winslow.
"Yes," Giles confirmed. "I mean, I did. His name's Philip Henry. He was a friend in London. I haven't seen him in over twenty years."
"Can you think of any reason why he might've wanted to contact you?"
"No," Giles said quietly. But his gaze drifted down to the tattoo on Philip's arm.
"Do you know what this is?" Winslow pressed. "The tattoo?"
Giles met her gaze. "No. No, I don't."
Summers Home
Buffy sat at the dining room table with her mother. She didn't really need to eat. But to blend in and appear human for her mother, she had to. Thankfully her body had a way of converting food to energy.
"Dawn!" Joyce yelled. "Dinner is ready."
"Coming," Dawn yelled back as she ran through the wall separating the dining room from the hall and stairwell.
Joyce sighed. "Dawn how many times do I have to tell you not to do that?" Ever since she and Giles had talked, she had grown steadily more comfortable and had come to accept that her daughter was the Slayer and that someone's stupid idea of a prank had given her younger daughter the power to walk through solid matter.
Dawn rolled her eyes as she glanced at Buffy. "I know, I know," she said resignedly. "I only do it at home though."
Buffy sighed, she remembered Dawn's first attempts at gaining control over her powers. Dawn had phased through her. All she had felt was a slight sensation on the edge of her sensors of Dawn passing through her, nothing more. When she had noticed that she had Dawn phase through Willow as a test. Willow had felt a tingling sensation as Dawn phased through her.
"Dawn," Joyce said. "That's not the point. And you know it. What would happen if someone saw you?"
"Mom has a point, Dawn," Buffy agreed. "We can't go revealing stuff to the outside world. If someone found out that we can do stuff other people can't. They might see us as a threat and come take us away from mom."
"Hence why I only do…" Dawn started and then sighed. "I'll be more careful, I promise. I only practice in case someday I need to use it to help you, Buffy."
"Buffy, Dawn makes a good point. She has this ability that she could use to help you.
Why should she not be allowed to use it, at least in that regards?
Maybe she can be trained by Giles in the use of her power? Possibly even learn self-defense."
Buffy looked at her sister for a long moment. Both Dawn and Cameron had made good points. Dawn's power could be useful and if Dawn knew how to defend herself then when she was older, she could maybe even move away from just research to actually patrolling with her. "Mom, I've been thinking. After school, what if Dawn joined me for my training regimen. It might be a good if she learned self-defense. And since it would be Giles who's doing it he can help her in a secure place to practice her powers."
Dawn looked at her sister in surprise and then smiled.
Joyce thought about it for a moment and then nodded. "That actually sounds like a good idea, Buffy. Not only because of what you face, and the possibility she could help you." She looked at her younger daughter. "That said I don't want you going out with Buffy till she says you're ready."
"Okay, mom," Dawn agreed.
Joyce returned her attention. "But also because the world beyond Sunnydale is not exactly any safer. You can tell Mr. Giles that he has my permission to train Dawn."
"Okay," Buffy said. "Speaking of which. I should be getting over to the hospital. I'm supposed to meet him there."
"Be safe," Joyce said as Buffy stood up.
"Thanks, mom," Dawn said after Buffy had left.
Sunnydale Hospital
Buffy stood in the shadows outside the hospital, watching the entrance…alone. "Don't be late," she complained. "Sheesh." She had repeatedly checked her internal chronometer, and after an hour of waiting Cameron finally spoke up.
"I checked the other your counterpart's memories. He's not coming."
"Thanks, Cameron," Buffy said.
"You're welcome, Buffy. Buffy, while we are waiting.
Can I ask…Do you have a problem with me?"
"Why do you say that?" Buffy wondered.
"I have gotten the sensation that you…"
"Cameron," Buffy said with a sigh. "Its just taking me time to get used to you being in my head. It has nothing to do with you. It has to do with me."
"I wish I could say I understand. I'm sorry if I am causing you any discomfort."
Buffy was about to reply when headlights washed across her face. She watched as the medical transport van pulled to a stop at the loading dock. Then she saw two men in scrubs exit the building.
The delivery driver greeted them cheerily as he lifted the box of blood bags out of the back of the transport. "Hey, fellas."
Buffy began to breathe easily. "All's well that ends with cute ER doctors I always say."
"Is it normal for doctors to accept deliveries?"
Buffy thought about what Cameron had said and shook her head. "No."
The delivery man got back into his van and drove off, leaving the box with the two doctors.
"There's another one."
"I see him," Buffy said as car in the car turned on its lights and drove over to where the two doctors were waiting. The driver was a vampire…as were the two doctors. One of them took out one of the bags and ripped it open with his teeth. "Hey!" the driver snapped. "No sampling the product." The vampire doctor looked at him mutinously, then replaced the bag.
Buffy broke cover, charging at the three vampires as her arm transformed into a flame thrower. She kicked each of them to the ground in turn, but by the time she'd finished the first one was on his feet again. With a snarl, he lifted her up and threw her onto the hood of the car. Buffy jumped to her feet then saw a fourth figure charging in. Thanks to being a machine, she had access to other forms of vision such as infrared and night vision. She instantly recognized the fourth figure.
"Angel!" Buffy exclaimed.
"Buffy, look out!" was his greeting, as he dived past her at the vampire driver.
The vampire doctor rammed his shoulder into Buffy. He was startled when she didn't move. Then he stumbled back as she did a full-on exorcist twist of her head as the rest of her body turned to face the vampire doctor. She raised her arm and fired her flame thrower. The doctor caught fire and dusted.
The other doctor came at Angel who used his velocity to whip him around and send him towards Buffy. "Incoming," he called out.
Buffy leveled her flame thrower at the remaining vampire doctor. She fired catching him on fire and causing him to dust.
The driver seemed to realize he was on the losing side. He jumped back into the car and drove off.
Angel followed for a few steps, but even a vampire couldn't outrun a car. He turned back to Buffy and watched what he thought was an actual flame thrower morph into her arm and hand. "How?" he asked in clear surprise.
Buffy sighed as she motioned toward the case with the blood bags. "Let's drop that off so we can go someplace and talk."
They quickly dropped off the delivery of blood and made a quick excuse on why they had it.
Angel's Apartment
Buffy tried to explain the events of Halloween. "On Halloween things changed for me. Willow had talked me into doing a theme with her. So, we got matching costumes. Her costume was supposed to be this kid from this television show that would grow up to become the person who would save the human race from extinction at the hands of a machine intelligence we had created. My costume was of a robot from the show. This guy cast a spell transforming everyone into their costumes. By the end of the night Giles had ended the spell. Most people reverted back. Some did not. My sister went as a ghost and can now walk through walls. Willow and Xander, they still have the memories. Me I didn't become human again."
"So, you're some kind of robot now?" Angel asked.
"More or less," Buffy reluctantly admitted.
"And you have weapons you can use for Slaying?" Angel asked.
"Yes," Buffy answered. "You saw one of them. I have many more. Most of them not really good for slaying though."
"Tell him."
"Cameron," Buffy muttered.
"Who's Cameron?" Angel asked.
Buffy sighed, having forgotten that vampires had better hearing than humans. "The ghost in the machine," she explained.
"The what?" Angel asked not getting the pop culture reference.
"I'm not alone in here," Buffy said tapping the side of her head. "When I changed back Cameron didn't go away. Since I'm a machine now that meant her personality got stored and eventually started communicating with me."
"Oh," Angel said.
"Tell him."
"I will, Cameron. But let me do it in my own way," Buffy said as Angel looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Sorry. She's getting a little impatient. Angel there is something I need to tell you. About me and about your curse."
"What about you and my curse?" Angel asked.
"First off, the curse," Buffy said. "It has a clause in it. If you have one moment of true happiness, your soul goes away. I know this because when I became a machine, I received memories, future memories of a future Buffy. That Buffy had sex with your counterpart and he lost his soul."
"Oh," Angel said shocked at that revelation. "Thank you for telling me."
"You're welcome," Buffy said. "That said we don't have to worry about my giving you your one moment of true happiness. While I will always love you, I'm no longer in love with you. Since becoming a machine, I found out that I no longer like boys in that way but girls."
"I see," Angel said. "Maybe then it's time I think about moving on."
"You don't have to," Buffy countered. "We can still work together."
"With what you've become you no longer need me," Angel said.
"If that's what you feel you have to do," Buffy said. "I understand. If you ever need help."
"I'll call," Angel said. "Once I'm settled somewhere, I will let you know how to reach me in case you have to do the same."
"Thanks," Buffy said. "I'm going to go check on Giles. He was supposed to meet me tonight. He didn't."
Giles Apartment
As Buffy approached Giles' apartment door, she thought about Angel and hoped he would be alright. She tried letting him down easy but she wasn't sure it had worked out alright. She passed Giles' car and knew he was home. As she moved to the door, she could hear Giles' voice coming from within the apartment thanks to her Terminator enhanced hearing.
"Are you certain she didn't leave a forwarding number? I've been on the phone for hours; this is a matter of life and –"
She knocked and a moment later, Giles opened the door. He looked like hell. Not injured or anything demonic, but disheveled…and if the sensors built into her body were indication he had been drinking.
"Buffy," he stared at her in confusion. "It's late. Are you all right?"
"Kind of a rhetorical question isn't it?" Buffy asked.
"Right," Giles agreed.
"Anyways, I was going to ask you the same thing. "
"Yes, I'm fine, fine. Look, I'm rather busy at the moment so I'll see you on Monday at school." He made to close the door.
Buffy thrust out her hand and with her Terminator increased strength she held it open. "Giles, did you forget?" His expression didn't change so Buffy went on. "Hospital, vampires, handy carry-out packets of blood?"
"Oh!" His eyes lit up and to her astonishment Buffy realized that he had forgotten. "Are you all right, are you hurt?"
"No." Buffy replied. "Another rhetorical question I assume since I'm a little harder to kill now. What's wrong?"
Giles tried to look and sound firm. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just in the middle of something extremely important. I'm sorry but I'm going to have to say good night now."
"Ask him about Eyghon."
"What's Eyghon?" Buffy asked as Giles stopped short.
"Tell him it's here. Tell him it's killed Deirdre."
"It's here," Buffy said. "It's killed Deirdre. Who's Deirdre?"
"A friend," Giles said. "This is a private matter. I ask that you let me handle it."
"Tell him that it's just him and Ethan now."
"The guy at the costume shop?" Buffy asked.
"What?" Giles said.
"Yes."
"It's just you and Ethan now," Buffy said. "Which by the way, why didn't you tell me you knew the guy from the costume shop."
"We're old friends," Giles said. He sighed. "Come in."
Buffy followed Giles into his apartment closing the door behind her.
Giles moved to the phone, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Thank you for your time." He replaced the receiver and moved to the couch and sat down. Buffy sat and listened as he told her his story. "I was twenty-one, I was studying history at Oxford and of course the occult by night. I hated it. The boring grind of school, the pressure of my destiny. So, I dropped out. I went to London, fell in with the worst crowd that would have me. We practiced magicks. Small stuff, for pleasure or gain. And then Ethan and I discovered something a little bigger."
"Eyghon," Buffy supplied. She remembered when Giles had reversed Catherine Madison's spells. He had said then that he'd never performed magic before. A lie. To hide this from her.
"Is that any different than you hiding me from him?"
'I guess not,' Buffy thought.
"Yes," Giles confirmed. "One of us would go into a deep sleep and the others would summon him. It was an incredible high." For a moment, he sounded nostalgic.
"So, you did the mystical equivalent of cocaine or something," Buffy said.
"More or less," Giles agreed. Then he shook his head in disgust. "God, we were idiots."
"You couldn't control him," Buffy realized.
"One of us, Randall…he lost control. Eyghon took him whole. We tried to drive the demon out…but it killed him." He shook his head. "No. We killed him. We thought we were free of the demon after that. Now it's back. And one by one, he will kill us all."
Buffy nodded. "Tell me what you know, please, Giles," she pleaded. "Don't shut me out."
Giles looked at his Slayer for a long moment. If anyone could destroy Eyghon it would be her because of what she had become. "Eyghon can only exist in this reality by possessing an unconscious host," he informed her. "The possession was always temporary as we would always observe the proper rituals. If the proper rituals had not been observed the possession would have become permanent, and Eyghon would have been born from within the host. Once called, Eyghon can also take possession of the dead, but its demonic energy soon disintegrates the host and it must jump to the nearest dead or unconscious person to continue living."
"How do we kill it?" Buffy asked.
Giles shrugged. "I do not know. You are the only thing I can think of that could do it, and that's because you're not human anymore."
Buffy nodded. "Okay. You do some research. Dawn, Willow and I told Ms. Calendar we'd help out in the morning with her computer tutorial. I'll swing by afterwards to check in."
"Alright," Giles said as Buffy stood to leave. "And Buffy, thank you."
"Don't thank me," Buffy said as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Your not the only one that has kept secrets."
"What do you mean?" Giles wondered.
"May I?"
"Wouldn't he just see me?" Buffy asked Cameron as Giles looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"We are a T-X series, remember, Buffy.
We can look like anything or anyone we want.
I will take the look of my fictional counterpart."
"Go ahead," Buffy said.
Giles watched as Buffy's body took on a silver androgynous humanoid appearance before it took on the appearance of Summer Glau, the actress who had played Cameron in the television show.
"Good evening, Giles," Cameron said. "We met on Halloween when I was in control of mine and Buffy's shared body. Since the end of the spell I became what Buffy has termed the Ghost in the Machine. We have what your medical professionals call…"
"Dissociative Identity Disorder," Giles finished as Cameron nodded.
"We are conscious of each other and can communicate with each other," Cameron told him. "I first made my presence known to Buffy the day of Halloween when our objectives updated since in this world John Connor is a work of fiction. I am the one that told Buffy that the thing we have to protect Dawn from is a hell god." She smiled. "Since I killed Buffy's friend last week, I have vowed not to take control without her permission. But I am, like she, always aware."
November 15, 1997 – Saturday
Sunnydale Morgue
The morgue attendant was doing his rounds. Checking the bodies was normally without incident and this time was no exception…until he reached the drawer that should have contained Philip Henry. It was empty. Moments later, someone behind him threw a sheet over his head. He would have been even more shocked if he could have seen who it was: The missing body.
Philip bundled him into the vacated drawer, slammed the door shut and locked it. Then he staggered from the mortuary.
Sunnydale High School
"This is all wrong," Cordelia complained as she followed Willow, Xander and Jenny down the hallway. "School on a Saturday. It really throws off my internal clock."
"Yeah, when are we going to use computers for real life anyway?" Xander agreed.
"Hmm, let's see," Jenny mused. "Home, school, work, games."
Xander was not to be thrown off. "You know, computers are on the way out. I think paper's going to make a big comeback."
"And the abacus," Willow added sarcastically.
"Yeah, you don't see enough abaci."
They headed into the classroom and took their seats. "Right," Jenny told them as Buffy and Dawn strode into the classroom.
"Sorry, we're late," Dawn apologized.
"It's alright, girls," Jenny said. "All right, the first thing we want to do is ..."
Just then they heard a crash come from the library and the sisters Buffy ran out of the classroom. Or rather Buffy ran out as Dawn ran straight at a wall and phased through it. Buffy made her way into the library as Dawn phased through the wall and into Giles' office.
As Dawn came out of the office she saw a shadow flitter across the upper level of the library. "Buffy," she said her voice barely audible, but thanks to Buffy's Terminator enhanced hearing she had no problem hearing her.
Buffy and Dawn crept up the stairs and moved between the shelves, looking closely about them. They only caught a glimpse of Ethan Rayne standing on the other side of a bookcase…just before he pushed it over towards them.
Dawn instantly phased through the bookcase as Buffy dove out of the way. Dawn grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back. As Buffy came to stand beside her sister, she took Ethan from Dawn and turned him to face them. They instantly recognized him.
"You," Buffy growled. "Dawn and I should just let Eyghon have you. It's your fault I'm no longer human and my sister can walk through walls."
"I'm pleased you both remember me."
Dawn punched him.
Ethan sighed. "I take it we're even?"
"We'll let you know when we're even," Buffy replied. "What are you doing here?"
"Snooping about."
Dawn and Buffy both raised an eyebrow. "Honesty," Dawn said. "Nice touch."
Ethan smiled. "It's one of my virtues." He paused. "Not really. "
Giles Apartment
Giles' sleeping mind was assaulted with images. Images of rituals and tattoos and a phone ringing…Then he realized the latter wasn't a part of the dream. He had fallen asleep at his desk and the phone was ringing next to him. He picked it up. "Hello."
"Giles, it's me," came Buffy's voice. "Dawn and I are in your office with Ethan Rayne. What would you like us to do with him?"
Giles' fears were only increasing. "He's there with you now? Buffy, listen to me, you and Dawn are in danger so long as you're with Ethan. I need you to put down the phone and both of you get out of the library as soon as possible."
"Is it because of Eyghon?" Buffy asked.
"Yes," Giles answered. "It will likely go through you, Dawn and anyone around you to get at him and me."
Then there was the sound of breaking glass. "Buffy?" Giles asked but she had put the phone down. He tried to replace the phone in the cradle, missed and left it on the desk as he dashed out the door.
Sunnydale High School
The noise had come from the library office: The sound of someone breaking in through the window. Dawn phased through the library counter as Buffy vaulted over it, Ethan taking the long way round. Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Jenny came hurrying in.
Philip came staggering out of the office. Dawn and Buffy blocked his path but his intention was focused past the sisters. "Ethan!" he snarled.
That was enough to have Ethan running for the door. "Don't let him get away!" Buffy snapped. Xander grabbed hold of Ethan but he managed to wriggle free…only for Cordelia to kick him in the groin as he ran past her. He ended up in a whimpering heap on the floor.
Philip swung at the sisters, which Dawn and Buffy dodged. Dawn's eyes flickered to motion behind her and Buffy nodded in understanding. They backed away towards the library cage. Philip charged and they leapt aside. Philip crashed through the open cage door and Buffy slammed it shut and locked it.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Once Ethan was vaguely sensible again, he was sat in a chair with Buffy standing close by. Philip prowled around the inside of the cage as Willow looked at him. "I'm not getting close enough to check for a pulse but he looks dead," Willow told them.
"Except for the walking and attacking Dawn and Buffy part," Xander pointed out.
"Oh no, he's dead," Ethan confirmed. "Sorry, Philip. I really am."
"You know him?" Buffy asked.
Ethan nodded. "Knew him."
"Hey, you don't speak until we tell you to speak," Cordelia said.
"Uh, Cordelia, I did tell him to speak," Buffy informed the cheerleader.
At that moment, Giles came rushing in. "Is everyone all right?"
"Super! I kicked a guy," Cordelia supplied.
"We're okay," Jenny assured him.
"Dead guy here interrupted our tutorial," Xander explained. He leaned in to the cage where Philip was held. "I've been meaning to thank you for that, by the way." Philip clattered against the cage, snarling, and he backed off.
Giles turned on Ethan in fury. "I told you to leave town."
"You did, I didn't," Ethan explained. "Shop lease is paid till the end of the month."
Giles grabbed Ethan by the hair and dragged him to his feet. "You should have left when I told you. You put these people in danger, people I care about."
Cordelia turned to Xander. "Wow, even me?"
Xander gave a quick shake of his head.
Ethan pulled free from Giles' grip. "If you care so much about them, why didn't you leave town? You've been having the dreams. I know. I have. We both know what's coming."
"Did you find anything on how to kill it?" Buffy asked her Watcher.
"No," Giles answered reluctantly.
At that moment, Philip burst out of the cage. Jenny was in the path of the door: It hit her and sent her flying. "Jenny!" Giles shouted, rushing to her side.
"No," Ethan sobbed, truly frightened of Philip.
Willow, Dawn and Cordelia scrambled out of the way as Buffy kicked Philip. There was no lengthy fight this time. Philip started convulsing, then collapsed. As with Deirdre before, he dissolved into goo.
"That's something you don't see every day," Willow commented.
"I've going to be in therapy until I'm thirty," Cordelia complained.
"Move Ms. Calendar. NOW! Before Eyghon's essence reaches her."
Buffy glanced at the goo in front of in realization. "It can possess an unconscious host," she said. She spun on Giles. "Giles, move Ms. Calendar. NOW! Before the goo can reach her."
Giles looked at Eyghon's essence and then grabbed the woman he loved and quickly moved her behind the counter.
"Everyone stand back," Buffy ordered as her arm transformed into the flame thrower. "Dawn, I need a fire extinguisher." Dawn looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm going to burn this stuff to a crisp."
Dawn nodded as she ran to grab the nearest fire extinguisher. Which luckily for them was on the wall behind the counter. Buffy fired the flame thrower at the essence on the floor. It caught fire and it evaporated as it was burned to a crisp. Dawn brought up the fire extinguisher and spray the fire, putting it out.
"That hopefully is the end of Eyghon," Buffy said as her arm returned to normal. "And will someone explain what happened on Halloween to Cordelia. Her jaw is hanging open."
"I'll do it," Xander said as he led Cordelia from the room.
"Are you all right, Jenny?" Giles asked her gently as Jenny regained consciousness.
"Ow!" Jenny moaned, clutching her head.
"Careful. Can you stand?"
"I think so. "
"This is what happens when you have school on Saturday," Cordelia sighed.
Giles helped Jenny to her feet. "Lean on me," he insisted. "It'll be all right."
"Promise?" Jenny asked.
"I promise."
Giles looked at Dawn and Buffy. "We'll talk on Monday."
"Okay," the sisters agreed.
November 17, 1997 – Monday
"There is something I need to tell you guys," Buffy said to Xander and Willow when they met up with her and Dawn in the school yard. "You know how John and Kyle disappeared when the spell ended for you guys?" Xander and Willow nodded. "For me Cameron didn't disappear."
"Cameron? Who's Cameron?" Xander questioned.
"Permission to take over? Like with Giles it might be easier to understand if they see me."
Buffy glanced at Dawn and they drug their friends out of sight of anyone who might see the transformation. "Go ahead," Buffy told Cameron.
Dawn, Willow and Xander watched as Buffy's body took on a silver androgynous humanoid appearance before it took on Cameron's appearance.
Dawn smiled at Cameron. "You know, Cameron, you made my day," she chuckled.
"I am pleased, Dawn," Cameron said before looking at Willow and Xander. "I am Cameron. I am what Buffy as termed the Ghost in the Machine. When Ethan Rayne's spell ended. I did not disappear; I became a secondary personality in mine and Buffy's shared body."
They watched as Cameron took on the silver androgynous humanoid appearance before reforming into Buffy as control was returned to the Slayer. "We can talk to each other," Buffy told her friends. "She helped me to realize a few things. And this will make Xander happy. While I will always love Angel, I'm no longer in love with Angel. In fact, he's leaving town."
Xander smiled and did a small dance for joy.
Willow nodded as she looked at Buffy. She understood what Buffy and Cameron were saying. Had been saying the day they were playing Anywhere but Here. She wasn't sure if it was John's memories or what, but when she looked at Xander she no longer had a crush on him. Her feelings for him since childhood had moved from romantic to strictly platonic. Now when she looked at Buffy, regardless if it was Buffy in control or Cameron. She found both attractive.
They spotted Giles and Buffy excused herself from her friends, dragging her sister with her.
"Hello, Buffy…Dawn," Giles greeted the sisters when they fell into step with him. "Buffy, I was thinking we can do away with your training routine. You don't really need it anymore. Not since Halloween."
Buffy smiled. "I may not but Dawn does," she told him and Giles looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Mom, Dawn and I have talked. Mom and I would like Dawn to learn self-defense. Preferably not to deal with vampires or demons, but just in general so she can defend herself and get away if she were attacked. That said though after this weekend I can no longer keep my sister away if she doesn't want to be."
Giles nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. I could recommend several trainers."
"Giles," Dawn interjected. "There is a reason beyond just training in self-defense. I'm like my sister. I'm super-powered now, since I can phase through walls. We agree that under your watchful supervision I could learn how to control my new powers."
Giles looked at the sisters for a long moment and then nodded. He wondered if the sisters knew that Dawn was a Potential, someone who had the potential to become the next Slayer. "Alright, Dawn," he said. "We'll start after school during Buffy's normal afternoon sessions. That said, if you do wish to help Buffy, I am not going to sign off till both Buffy and I believe you are ready."
"I wholeheartedly agree," Dawn said as she smiled at the man who had just become her Watcher.