Chapter 1

…Okay Computer…

Xander and Cordelia sat next to one another in the back row. They shared a computer and Cordy was looking over the young man's shoulder.

"I didn't know Alec could do all of this," she said barely above a whisper as she watched him expertly hack into the Watchers' Database with the assistance of a disc Giles had give him. He maneuvered the computer as easily as Logan, Luke or Dix were able to.

"Sit back," the young man responded with a smirk as he cracked his knuckles. "Relax, and watch how it's done."

He clicked the underlined link of the name Rupert Giles and the pair leaned closer to the screen and read…

Name: DeLeuze, Gilles
Also Known As: Hugh Conte de Champagne; Rappels, Jack; Denise Grandjouan
Born: 1084, France
First death: 1136, in battle on the outskirts of Jerusalem
Mentors: Methos, Darius, Agamemnon
Status: Presumed deceased, no further investigation to determine veracity.
Death: 1993, Suicide

Other than his bout of schizophrenic insanity in the early 19-th century,
DeLeuze had maintained a low profile.

The pair looked at one another in deep confusion then continued to read…

DeLeuze had never been an active member of The Game, though when
provoked, he would defend himself with fierce determination not seen in most
Immortals. It is presumed, that in a state of deep depression, DeLeuze cut off
his own head after having heard of Darius' death at the hands of rogue Watcher
Horton.

As DeLeuze he lived in Paris the rest of his life.

He practiced and taught philosophy up until he retired in 1987. He even
published several books on the subject.

In 1956, he was Denise Paul "Fanny" Grandjouan.

In 1968, he reestablished his friendship with Darius who had been living in the
Abbey near the Sienne River.

In 1969, he was appointed to the University of Paris VIII at Vincennes/St. Denis,
an experimental school organized to implement educational reform. DeLeuze
taught at Vincennes until his retirement in 1987.

In 1993, Deleuze entered a state of deep depression after his lifelong friend,
Darius was murdered by the rogue Watcher Horton in his church. This depression
grew more severe and was compounded by the death of his wife later that same year.

Late November 1993, it is rumoured that DeLeuze took his own life.

It is believed that this Immortal began his life as Hugh Conte de Champagne...

Cordelia noticed that Willow, who had been assigned to teach the computer classes until a new teacher could be hired, was headed in their direction. She tapped the other transgenic on the shoulder to get his attention.

Xander looked up and noticed Willow headed in their direction. He smiled as he minimized the Watcher's screen to show a view of the pie chart they were working on together already completed.

Willow reached their computer and looked at the screen. Nodding she smiled, "Good work, guys."

"Thanks," Cordelia said as the red head moved away from them.

Xander watched as his friend moved to one of the other students and maximized the Watchers' site one more time. He hit the print button up at the top of the screen as the bell sounded for end of class. Then, he finished up by wiping the History clean from the computer and deleted any and all cookies that might have popped up from his little hacking adventure.

The young man pulled the small stack of paper from the printer and surreptitiously slipped it into his blue and white bag. While he was doing that, Cordelia quickly pulled the disc out of the machine and put it in a protective case before she slipped it into her bag to hand to Giles later that day.

The pair hung back unobtrusively as they noticed Snyder enter the room. Xander did not want to leave the young hacker alone with the troll.

Cordelia frowned as she listened in on their conversation from across the room.

"I spoke with the School Board. They've been having trouble finding a fill in this late in the school year. Do you think you could sub through finals?"

"Sure," Willow perked up with a huge smile on her face, "I like to teach."

"Isn't that nice," the troll said in a droll tone. "I understand there's a problem with Gage Petronizi."

"Yeah," she nodded. "Besides the behavior and the not doing of his homework and the not taking of the tests…"

Snyder cut her off impatiently, "I don't want to hear any of that. I wondered why you were failing him even though this school will most likely win the State Championship for the first time in fifteen years."

"Excuse me?" Willow sounded stunned.

"If he fails, he'll have to be removed from the Swim Team…" he spoke over her words as though she had said nothing, "Is that how you show school spirit?"

"Well…" she flinched, "No, I just want to be fair…"

He interrupted her, "Mr. Petronizi is a champion. You should cut him some slack if he's under too much pressure."

"Are you asking me to change his grade?" she asked sternly.

"I never said that," Snyder said as he pointed at her. "I just think you should recheck his test, and perhaps you'll find that he made a 'D' instead of an 'F' in lieu of his Swimming Career."

Willow's mouth dropped open as she followed the principal out with her eyes.

Xander and Cordelia moved up to stand on either side of her as the troll exited the room.

Willow told them what Snyder had said.

"Did he say what I think he said?" Xander asked her, he could not believe his ears.

"I think he made it perfectly clear without actually telling me to do it," Willow said as her shoulders slumped.

"That's just wrong," Cordy said as she shook her head, her eyes on the door leading into the hall.

"It's a slap in the face to everyone who's earned their grade," Xander said in stunned horror.

"It seems," his girlfriend said as she looked up at him, "that certain people are entitled special privileges."

"Do you know what's really aggravating?" Xander said as he looked at the door, "Buffy's not here to share in our moral outrage."