Authors Note 1: There is a character in this who's name is spelled Daniel, but is pronounced Dan-eel (as in eel that swims around). Some interesting developments in this chapter. We learn more about Skye (The Potential Slayer from Brisbane who was at the destruction of the Brisbane headquarters), and another group fighting the good fight is introduced.

_______________________

Chapter 16

Getting it Straight

Everyone was standing around in the Summers' living room digesting the information that they had all shared. Buffy especially was pacing back and forth in front of the couch.

"So, let me get this straight," She started. "The coven is evil, and they trapped you, Willow and Cassie," she said while looking at Giles.

"Uh, it's Cassia," Cassia said to Buffy.

"Cassia… Then, Willow uses magick to bring the leaders of the Coven into the cabin where you were trapped," Buffy stated again, getting a nod from Giles, Cassia and Willow. "Where they told you that something was coming and that they had to get ready for it. But then, Willow breaks through the barrier and you manage to get away from the coven. How am I doing so far?" Buffy said.

"Yep. That's about it," Willow said.

"But, while this is going on, Faith here is running from the Watchers' Council, who say that they're going to kill her in order to get a better Slayer," Buffy stated while looking at Faith. Faith just replied with a nod. "And some ghosts told you to do it, and told you the plans on how to do it."

"B. They did! I'm not making this up!" Faith said immediately, knowing that it sounded bad.

"I believe you. Honestly, I do," Buffy replied to Faith. There was a slight pause. "And while this is happening, Giles and Willow get visits by ghosts looking like Ms. Calendar and Tara." Another pause, and another nod from Giles and Willow. "And then you go to the Watchers Council and there they tell you that they're being attacked all over the world, and that something is organising forces everywhere, and that the Potential Slayers, like these ones here," Buffy said while pointing to the three potentials in the room. "Are getting killed all over the world, and have been told to come here, so I can protect them and train them."

"Yes," Giles replied.

"And then, Faith here shows up, ready for some action, going to take down the Council, when two of the members just change into these large hooded things and start killing everyone," Buffy said. She was met with slight nods from everyone. "And these hooded things are almost impossible to fight, according to Faith."

"They were, I could hardly get near the things. And even when I did, I was almost shitting myself B," Faith interrupted.

"I believe you Faith," Buffy stated directly at her. There was a long pause as everyone still digested what had been said in the last hour or so. "And here in Sunnydale, I see three large, dark, hooded things kill a whole bunch of vamps. Then, we go out looking for them, and we get visited by Ghosts of our own," Buffy said while looking at Xander. Everyone looked at her stunned. In the time that they had all been back at the house, no one had told any of the newcomers about what had happened in Sunnydale. "And then when we get back, we find three potentials here, saying that they had been told to come here… You don't think any of these things are connected do you?" Buffy said in a sarcastic voice.

"Yes, Buffy. It is in all likelihood that these events are connected, but we don't know how as of yet. The Coven may have something to do with causing this, but I doubt it. They said that they had to get ready for what was coming, and I'm guessing that it's something connected to these events," Giles started. "I propose that it's time for your favourite activity Buffy."

"What? We're going to the mall? Giles, I don't think it's open at this time of night, and that's not what I think we should be doing," Buffy started, but then realised that Giles was being sarcastic.

"I'm talking about research Buffy," Giles replied.

"Oh. That favourite activity. I forgot about that one," Buffy said.

"We need to research into these events, and I propose that we all start, right now," Giles said.

"As much as I'd like to hit the books, I think that I need to do a bit more practical hands on research. I'll go around to all the vamp bars and see who I can pummel some answers out of," Buffy said while turning to go out of the room, trying to make a hasty exit.

"Actually, I think that's a good idea," Giles said.

"Good, because I'm going," Buffy replied. "And Faith's going to help me," Buffy added.

"What!?" Faith exclaimed, but she got the undertone in Buffy's voice. She wanted to talk to her, and probably rev her about something, about everything that had ever happened in her life. She decided that she'd go with Buffy this time, but kept it in her mind that she could leave at any time. No one here really wanted her around, even though they put on the faces showing that they did. "okay," she quietly replied while getting up and following Buffy out the door.

"What was that about?" Dawn asked.

"Buffy and Faith need to… sort out some differences," Willow said to Dawn.

"And lets hope that they don't kill each other in the process," Xander added, speaking for the first time. It was Giles who got the remainder of the group to work once Buffy and Faith had left.

"Willow, I need you to get onto the Internet and try to find anyone or anything that knows what is going on, or at least has a clue. Somewhere out there, someone must know what is happening, and I want you to try and find them. There must be a resistance or something forming against the attacks on the Watchers Council, and if I'm right, it's not only the Watchers that are being attacked. If there is anyone who knows what's going on, or any type of resistance, we must find them," Giles said to her, knowing that it was a long shot, but he had his fingers crossed.

Five Miles from the Hyperion Hotel - Los Angeles – California.

The small group had just arrived in the city a few hours ago, travelling in their vehicles, two black vans with dark tinted windows. These two vans had served as a mobile home to a group of six people over the last two years as they travelled around the country helping those who needed help, and helping themselves in the process. The vans were equipped with communication equipment, allowing the occupants of the two vans to communicate with each other. The vans held a small arsenal of weapons and magickal supplies, plus had a small food store in each van.

Only minutes had passed since they entered the city before Michaela, a witch in the small group, knew where the trouble was. They all knew what was going down, and they had come to Los Angeles to help out. They knew that there was a group in the city fighting against the large increase in the vampire population, one of their members had run across them before and had known a couple of the group already in Los Angeles for a while. They headed straight for the area, and in less than half an hour they were there. Out the front windscreen of the first van, they could see a large number of vampires separating and spreading out in different directions. They saw a large group of vampires going away from them into a construction site, and decided to go after them. The vans accelerated towards them and screeched to a halt in front of the construction site. The door of the first van opened and two male figures stepped out of it. Immediately, the vampires had recognised that the vans had ill intentions towards them, and most of them had turned in the direction of the vans. The group of vampires was only small compared to the group that they had seen enter the construction site; only six or seven at most.

"Two of you?" one of the vampires yelled out. Simultaneously the vampires started to advance on the two figures, and they moved in to attack, a stake in their hands. The two people were reasonably good fighters, but not good enough to take on two against seven odds, and the vampires knew it.

"I'm going to make a meal of you," one of the vampires said to one of the people from the van.

"Like to see you try," he simply replied. The vampire knew that he could beat him easily enough. He had seen plenty of them in his time. Ordinary people trying to be heroes, but getting killed in the process because they believed that they were better than they really were. The vampire advanced on the person and before the person could react, he had landed an uppercut into his mid-section. He laughed as the person tried to fight back and failed hopelessly. Suddenly, he was sent flying backwards, smashing into a brick wall. The vampire looked up to see a woman standing in the doorway to the van, and he knew that she was a witch. He looked at her for a few moments before he saw the man coming at him, swinging his stake towards him. He spun out of the way and watched as the person effectively trapped himself against the wall. The person had no where to go, he had him. He slowly advanced on the man, surprised to see no fear in his eyes. "I wouldn't come any closer if I were you," the man said. He just ignored it and kept advancing. He was shocked to hear a primal growl come out of the man's throat, and he watched as before his eyes, the man's eyes turned yellow, his brow changed, his nose became longer, his ears became pointed, and fur appeared all over his skin. Before he knew what was happening, the man, or what used to be a man had ripped his head off of his shoulders with his bare hands.

Michaela watched as the tide of the fight turned and the vampires started turning to dust all over the place as the two figures ripped and teared their way through the group. Suddenly, she felt a wave of pure terror and fear spread over her, and she hopped back into the van and looked out the back window to see what she had expected. Three large dark hooded figures floated down the street, heading straight for the two vans and the small group. Guiding them was a vampire, in vampire face carrying a glass jar which radiated energy and gave off a small blue-white glow. She didn't know the purpose of it, and didn't want to know what it was for. She went back to the doorway and looked for her companions. Behind her, Nicola spoke.

"Is it them? Are they coming?" she asked.

"Yes. Get on the comm and tell Brett to go," Michaela replied. She looked out and knew that their companions wouldn't have enough time to finish off the vampires and escape. "Oz! Daniel! Syophers! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" She watched as the two werewolves turned to her, recognition on their faces and as they sniffed the air and then started running towards the van, morphing half back into their human forms as they did. Daniel reached the van first and collapsed into it. Michaela heard a motor vehicle pass by them and saw that the other van had started and gone past them, just as she had told Nicola to tell them to do. Oz stumbled into the van straight after Daniel. "Okay, they're in. Go!" Michaela yelled to Nicola, who was behind the wheel. With a squeal of rubber, the van lurched forward and started off to follow the other one. Michaela looked at the two men who were now fully transformed back into their human selves. She saw a large and deep cut bleeding rapidly on Oz's arm and rushed forward and crouched beside him. "Oz honey, are you alright," she said looking him straight in the eyes, a small space between their faces.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Let's just lose the tall, dark scaries and get out of here," Oz replied.

"Okay, we'll come back to the Hyperion later and see if we can help out," Michaela said to him. They turned onto a Freeway entrance and sped off down the freeway, fully knowing that the Syophers could be on their tail, but too afraid to check.

The graveyard was dark and cold, like all graveyards in Sunnydale usually are. There was one thing different about this graveyard though. It was still. There were no signs of life, or unlife, in the area save for two female figures walking through it. Apart from that, nothing stirred.

"So, why did you invite me out on this little venture," Faith asked Buffy. "I'm sure as hell that I'm not your favourite person to be around. So why? What's up?"

"I need to know why you're here Faith. Why did you come back to Sunnydale?" Buffy asked her. They kept walking as Faith was silent. She was deciding whether to tell Buffy the truth, or make up a lie which was probably more believable, to Buffy anyway.

"I just ran into Giles and Willow, and they didn't seem to have anything against me. Well, y'know, with the big, dark nasties, all the stuff that had happened didn't really matter… and I just – I just stook with them until we came here. They treated me like I was a person… and also, because I'm seeking redemption and all, here's where I had to be. Here's the place where I hurt the most people, and here's the place where I have to make that up to them," Faith replied, deciding to tell the truth. The pair of Slayers kept walking along in silence.

"Fai-," Buffy started, but Faith cut her off.

"If you don't want me here, I can go. Just say so, and I'm off. I don't really like being around people who hate me. If you don't want to give me a chance, I'll go," Faith said. "And, you need my help. Those big, black things B, you can't go and take them on yourself. I tried and got no where except almost killed," Faith said. There was another silence as the pair of Slayers kept on walking.

"You can stay Faith. But you've only got one chance. If you do anything to mess that up. If you do anything that makes you look suspicious…," Buffy started, not having to finish the sentence.

Skye was sitting in the seat of a private jet that had left Brisbane airport just hours ago. She thought back to the events of the previous night. The destruction of the Watchers' Council's headquarters in Brisbane. It was tragic, and Skye was just about to break down. Most of the people she had known her whole life had been in that building, and as far as she knew, there were only a couple of survivors. She knew that there was something off about Amanda and their escort, claiming to be from the Watchers Council. They were too predatory, and there was something about them all that just gave off a wave of fear and control. Sure, they may be from the watchers. They may be their best team that they have, and that's why they were like that. They'd seen too much in their lifetimes, but Skye was sure that that wasn't it. There was something unnatural about each of them, and an unnatural look in their eyes. Now she was being taken to the other side of the world by these people, and the only people she could rely on and trust were Michael, her watcher; Rhonda, another potential slayer; and Jim, Rhonda's Watcher. These were the only people in her life that connected her to who she was. She was leaving everyone else behind: She had left everyone else behind. They were now over Indonesia and heading to Singapore for refuelling and a stop off. They had been told by Amanda that they were stopping off in Singapore for an hour to stretch their legs and refuel. Skye wanted to know about the phone call of Amanda's that she had heard earlier that morning. She wanted to know who Samantha and Montague were, and what it was about a coven that she had heard about, and if it had anything to do with them. She had a sneaking suspicion that it was, and her instincts were almost always right. Her great grandmother was a supremely powerful witch, and although Skye hadn't inherited any power from her, she had always been told by her mother, before she had been taken by the Watchers' Council, to obey her instincts.

Skye couldn't believe the size of the Singapore Airport. She had only found out when they had arrived that Singapore had the largest airport in the world, and by the size of the structure she had seen out the window of the jet, she could easily believe it. They had walked to the airport terminal in one group from the plane. Skye noticed that they had their escort with them. Amanda and the other man that they had first seen last night. She knew that it would look suspicious if their whole group escorted them into the terminal, instead they only had the two. Skye noticed that they had changed into relatively normal clothes, and the predatory sense of the pair escorting them had disappeared, and their unnatural grace had also gone. When they had entered the terminal, Skye had noticed that there was a small group of people, about four or so, looking directly at them. Three of the four were dressed in leather jackets or dusters, and they had a menacing look to them.

"Come, this way," Amanda said, subtly leading them away from the group. Skye was wrenched out of her thoughts as Amanda spoke, realising that no one had said a word until that point. Skye saw more people ahead of them, moving towards them through the crowd, and she knew that someone knew that they were here, and who they were. She saw the realisation in Amanda and watched as she turned and looked back. Skye followed her gaze, and she knew that they were pretty much trapped. The group they had seen before were moving towards them from behind, and the people in the front were converging on them.

"Keep walking, act like you don't know a thing," the man escorting them said from behind her. She did as she was told and watched as one of the people, a large and burly man, dressed in a leather duster stepped up to Amanda. She saw the gun that was subtly pointed at Amanda's stomach.

"Let them go. Give them to us," the man threatened, simply and to the point. Skye looked to Amanda, and she got the predatory sense that was let off by the woman. With unnatural speed, Amanda lashed out and grabbed the man's arm which was holding the gun, twisted it behind his back, kicked out the back of his knees, forcing him to the ground, snatched the gun from the man and was now pointing it at the back of his head. Skye heard screams as the people around them saw the gun and spread out away from them.

"Security's gonna be here in three minutes. I suggest that the rest of you vanish before they get here. If you're not gone by the time they come, his head's all over the floor," Amanda said to the other people that had moved in on them. Skye watched as they all backed away. "Get back to the plane," Amanda said to all of them. Skye backed away from Amanda, and she noticed, the same as everyone else was. When they reached the crowd of people, who were standing at a safe distance, a very safe distance, they all turned and almost ran back to the plane. Soon after, Amanda came into the cabin, and before the door was closed, they were moving off towards the runway. Nothing was said on how Amanda had gotten out of the situation, and no one was game to ask.

They were crowded around the man on the floor. After the woman had held him hostage and told the Potentials to get back to their aircraft, the woman had knocked the man over the head with the butt of the gun, extremely hard and knocked him out. She then sprinted through the crowd and burst through the windows of the terminal and landed on the tarmac, two stories below and kept running.

"Stand back, stand back. What's happened here," a security guard said pointing his weapon at the group.

"Watchers Council of England. I need to speak with your superiors, right now. That plane heading onto the tarmac must not be allowed to take off and leave this place," one of the women of the group commanded while showing some official form of Id that the Watchers Council possessed. Of course, the security guard had never heard of the Watchers Council before, and nothing the woman had said had any affect on him. She watched hopelessly as the jet aircraft sped down the runway and took off into the sky. They would only have one chance to get Skye and Rhonda back. It was the top priority of every branch of the Council, and she knew that the jet was landing in Germany before continuing onto wherever they were going.

It had all been a dream. A hopeless and nonsensical dream that had no purpose and no meaning. He would wake up in his crypt, nice and happy. There would be no other dimensions, and no crazy drivers of four wheel drives. There would be no people on motorcycles or large dark scary figures. And he wouldn't be in the ruins of Sunnydale one and a half years from now. That's what Spike told himself as he slipped back into consciousness but didn't open his eyes. Secretly, he was afraid to look, although he would tell no one that, and no one would ever find that out. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and when they were opened a fraction, Spike immediately jumped up, panicking and ran for the nearest shade. He was in shock as he looked up at the sky. He had been lying on the pavement during the middle of the day and hadn't burst into flames, and his skin wasn't even smoking. He looked around and realised that it wasn't a dream, and that he was in fact in the ruins of Sunnydale, one year from now, and everything that he had remembered had happened to him.

"Shit. Just what I need," he said. He noticed that he under the remains of a shop's overhanging balcony above the doorway, and he guessed that someone lived upstairs. Or, that someone had lived upstairs. He stuck his hand out in the sun and marvelled as nothing happened to it and that there was no pain. Slowly, Spike stepped out into the sunshine, and he revelled in it. "A Bloke could get used to this."

___________________

Authors Note: Well, will you look at that. Another chapter done. Oz's group knows about Syophers. I wonder what's happening there… hehe. (And if you're wondering, it is the Same Oz from the TV show, the one who was Willow's Boyfriend for a long period of time). Skye and Rhonda aren't in the hands of the Council… or are they? Heheheheheheheehe.

Read/Review plz. Your comments are appreciated.

And no, sorry, I'm not gonna have Faith used as a weapon. I got big big plans for her.