Chapter 02:
The lights flashed past the windows as the hypertrain car moved, and not even Buffy with her heightened senses could feel the inertia. The hypertrain was almost a subway car system that moved between the rear and front of the ship. There were still turbolifts, but the hypertrain was the main way to get between the bow and stern.
They exited upon it's arrival, to find The Hub littered with people of all ages. Sitting at one table, they found Rupert Giles, Jenny Calender, and Willow Rosenberg. They approached, and explained the events of the night, ending with informing them what happened to Cordelia and about Oz's suit.
"It's not just my suit." Oz stated, "I feel a lot smarter, my head is full of ideas, and I'm taller."
"Well that's strange, because none of our technology remained real after the spell ended." Giles said, showing them a plastic phaser.
"Mine did." Xander commented, pulling out his real type-2 phaser.
"Odd. Perhaps being in close proximity to the bust when it broke had some effect on your costumes."
"Can you undo it?" Cordelia asked.
"I don't know. Chaos magic is just that. Chaotic. I'll begin research as soon as we get back to the library."
They stood silently for a moment, before Data approached. "Captain," Data commented, but immediately stopped. "You're not Captain Avari."
Xander sighed heavily, "It's kind of a complicated story, Data... A spell was cast, that caused everyone here to be possessed by people from Starfleet. I was Avari for that time."
Data seemed to think this over for a moment, before speaking. "As we are in a time which the Federation does not exist, and you are the ranking officer on this ship, I will defer to your command until told otherwise."
"Thank you, Data. Is there anyone else on board, that's not here in The Hub?"
"There is an officer that was taken to sickbay. I would assume that as everyone else woke up, so did she."
"Alright, I'm going there." Xander said.
"I'll come with." Buffy added. They headed to the hypertrain and rode it to sickbay. Upon entering, they found-
"Mom?" Buffy cried, surprised to see her mother in a Starfleet uniform on board.
"Buffy?" She asked, just as surprised to see her daughter, "What are you doing here?"
"Well... to convince Willow to forgo the ghostly sheet, we all wore matching outfits, and here we are."
"You dressed as a trill?" Xander asked, having noticed the spots on Joyce's forehead and temples.
"Not just dressed as apparently, I still am." Joyce replied, looking bothered.
"What do you mean?" Buffy questioned.
"I can communicate with my symbiont."
"But I thought everything went back to normal when the spell ended." Buffy said.
"Spell?" Her mother asked.
Buffy seemed uncomfortable before taking a deep breath and speaking. "Magic is real. So are vampires and demons, and all kind of monsters. We fight them to protect Sunnydale."
"But-"
"I know it's hard to believe, Misses S, but it's all true."
"So back at Hemery high?" Joyce asked.
"There really were vampires." Buffy answered. "If you come with us to the lounge, we can talk to Giles, he's really good at the explanations."
"The world is really older then you know-" Giles began once Buffy and Joyce returned to The Hub. Meanwhile, Willow went with Xander who wanted to check out the bridge and take command of the ship, before anyone else got the idea.
Stepping off the turbolift, they found the bridge to be bright and highly technologically advanced. The ECH stood, and spoke. "Captain on deck!"
"At ease." Xander ordered.
"Wow. This is... This is amazing!" Willow cried.
"I know, right?" Xander said as he approached the captains chair, and sat. "Computer, transfer command of the Phoenix to me, command code Avari zero one one three Alpha Victor India."
"Control transferred." The computer replied.
"Now, ECH, you have the bridge, while I see to our guests in The Hub.
Giles had finished his explanation to Joyce Summers about the truth of the world, by the time Xander and Willow arrived in the lounge.
"Giles, why is my mom still her costume?" Buffy demanded.
"Whatever do you mean, Buffy?" Giles asked.
"She went as a-" She turned to Xander, "What did you call her?"
"A trill. It's a race of aliens in a symbiotic relationship."
"Well, you weren't near the broken statue when the spell ended." Giles observed, "What were you doing when the green energy wave passed by?"
"You mean right before I passed out?" Joyce asked, "I was mid-transport."
"Oh dear." Giles commented.
"It's possible that being mid-transport is why you are still a trill," Xander opined, "A trill is what went in, so a trill is what came out."
"I already am going to research a way to reverse the change in these two," Giles said, gesturing to Oz and Cordelia, "It may work for you too."
"Okay, I'm going to address the people here," Xander said, "Try to get them organized a bit."
He quickly climbed on top of a table, before tapping his com-badge.
"All hands. My name is Xander Harris, and I am the one in charge of this ship. I understand that some of you may wish to return to your homes and families, and if you will please speak to Mister Data here, we shall arrange for you to be returned to the surface. All I ask is that you keep what has happened here a secret, known only amongst yourselves."
"What if we want to stay?" Cried out a boy that Xander recognized as Johnathan Levinson.
"I'm getting to that." Xander replied before pointing at Buffy, "Those of you who wish to stay aboard please come see my head of security, miss Buffy Summers. She's the younger blonde."
He stepped down from the table and was immediately pulled aside by Buffy. "I'm your chief of security, am I? I wish you had spoken to me about this first."
"Sorry, but I need you to help me get organized. I have plans, which include this ship, and I will explain them to you all after we return these people to earth."
"Fine. I'll be chief of security for now."
"If my daughter is staying, then so am I." Joyce stated. Before she could say anymore, a group of teens along with a few adults approached them, people who wanted to stay aboard, Johnathan Levinson, Andrew Wells, and Warren Mears leading the group. By the time everyone was separated, there were fifteen people staying aboard, not counting the three scoobies and the three adults. Everyone who wanted to leave was escorted to a transporter room by Mister Data, while everyone else was asked to take a seat in ten-forward. Then Xander began to speak.
"Alright, Everyone here wants to stay aboard the starship. Do you all have the memories of the people you were dressed as?"
There were a lot of nods. "Alright, I'm going to meet with you in groups, so please wait here until I request you to meet in the nearby conference room."
Upon his return, Data joined Xander in the meetings. The first group he met with was the group of people he knew. The scoobies, the adults, and the three nerds he loosely knew from school.
"Please state your name, rank, and position within a starship." Xander instructed.
"Johnathan Levinson, Ensign, operations officer."
"Andrew Wells, Ensign, Helmsman."
"Warren Mears, Chief Petty Officer, transporter chief."
"You know me, Xander." Willow complained, when it was her turn.
"Yes, but this is for the official record." Xander pointed out.
"Fine... Willow Rosenberg, Lieutenant Commander, Chief of Engineering."
"Buffy Summers, Lieutenant, Chief of Security."
"Rupert Giles, No rank, Ambassador."
"Joyce Summers, Commander, Chief Medical Officer."
"Jenny Calendar, Lieutenant Commander, Science Officer on the bridge."
Next up, they spoke to all the people that they didn't know personally. There were a number of engineers and shuttle maintenance people, a woman who dressed as Uhura, a few medical assistants, and two security officers.
After meeting with all of the people who wanted to join the ships crew, they decided that two were too young, at twelve years old, and were told they could join the crew when they turned eighteen.
Once it was just Xander, Willow, Buffy, Giles, Jenny, Joyce, Oz, Cordelia, and Data, they discussed each person they'd met with.
"I'd be careful with that petty officer guy." Cordelia said.
"You mean Warren Mears?" Willow asked.
Cordy nodded, "He's already making plans to steal the technology on this ship, and sell it as his own."
"We may have to remove him from the ship by force. Xander commented, "To prevent that. By the way, if the magic doesn't get fixed, then I want you as the ships councilor, Cordy."
"The emergency medical hologram can remove the chemical engrams that created the memories of this ship and it's crew." Data told them, "Removing all knowledge of this ship and it's technology."
"We may have to, Data." Xander said, "If we have to remove him from the ship, I don't want him to have any memory of it."
"Is that really morally acceptable?" Giles asked.
"It may be our only choice." Xander answered. "Unless we want to keep him in the brig forever. Although, it's not something I'd be proud of doing.
"On a side note, we need to get everyone up to date on 25th century technology. For example, this ship has a Borg Honeycomb Zero-point energy core, designed by Seven of Nine herself. There's no Anti-matter."
"That's good." Willow said, "I always thought the anti-matter engines were a bit... dangerous."
"So I'm thinking that we need to fill the bridge positions. I'd like your thoughts on this, but I was thinking Buffy as Chief of Security."
"I can do that." Buffy replied.
"Mister Data, I know you are the first officer, but I'd like you as Chief of Operations until a time that we have a trained officer in that position. You will have Ensign Levinson working under you. Perhaps train him for the Chief Ops position."
"Of course, sir."
"Willow, you need to train up to the tech, but you will be Chief of Engineering."
"Yay!" Willow said, before seeing Xander's face. "I mean... yes sir. I'll get started right away."
"Giles, you've got training as an Ambassador. I'd like you to use that in case we meet any alien races out there."
"Of course, Xander." Giles agreed.
"Commander Summers," Xander said, looking at Joyce, "Chief Medical Officer. You have some training to do as well."
"I will, captain."
"Commander Calender, you are already rated a bridge science officer. That means training for you as well."
Jenny nodded at that.
"We have Chief Petty Officer Mears as a transporter chief. I'd like to train Ensign Levinson as a transporter chief as well, in case Mears proves not to be trusted. We have a somewhat reliable helmsman in Ensign Wells."
"Somewhat reliable?" Buffy asked.
"If his characters memories wins out, he can be reliable, but Andrew Wells himself is kinda..."
"A spaz." Willow finished for him.
"As for the other people we met with, we have a propulsion specialist, an EPS control specialist, which is good, an environmental systems specialist,"
"What's that mean?" Buffy asked.
"They specialize in things like atmospheric recycling, waste recycling, etc. They maintain the replicators that provide us with air and water."
"So space age plumbers."
"Something like that." Xander admitted, before continuing, "And a weapon systems officer, specializing in phaser control, but also qualified as a tactical officer. I'd like to get him trained on quantum torpedoes, and the torpedo systems control.
"We have three shuttle maintenance people that need training. Joyce, you have two medical assistants. Train them as best you can. There are some new medical technologies on a twenty-fifth century ship.
"And last but not least, there's the woman who dressed as Uhura. I don't know what to do with her, as Starfleet ships haven't used communication officers for... something like two hundred years. The role is now carried out by the ops position."
"Perhaps we can retrain her as an operations officer." Willow said.
"Not a bad idea. We'll run it past her tomorrow, and see what she thinks."
"What exactly does an operations officer do?" Giles asked.
"Well... They can be techs, temporary helmsman, or man the ops position on the bridge, which runs communications and sensors."
"Ah." Giles concluded.
"And with that... any other business?" Xander asked.
They each shook their heads, or said no.
"Alright, set up training schedules for your departments and have them on my desk by eighteen hundred tomorrow."
Finally the meeting broke up, and after replicating com-badges that they tapped then stated their names to assign them to themselves, they decided to call it a night. Xander retired to the captain's quarters, and the others all picking officers quarters for the night. Before leaving, he requested that Data man the bridge for the night shift.
Xander was woken the next morning by a call from Willow.
"Willow to Xander, respond please."
Xander yawned widely, before picking up his com-badge off his bed-side table, and tapping it.
"Xander here. What's up, Willow?"
"Xander, I've already called the others. Can you come to Holodeck two, please. It's rather... important."
"I'll be right there, Wills."
Xander strolled across to the replicator, and requested clothing fitting the records of the year nineteen ninety seven. After dressing, he left the room and headed for the turbolift.
"Deck ten."
A quick ride later, he was greeted by the group of his friends standing outside of holodeck two. Willow was looking particularly jittery.
"Okay, Wills, have you been drinking Coffee again? You know better then to do that."
Willow pouted, "That's what Buffy asked, but no, oh my god, I found something that you all have to see." She typed quickly on the interface next to the door before entering the holodeck, everyone following her in.
"I was too excited by all this technology to sleep much, so I decided to explore what this ship can do. I was going through the holodeck programs, when I found this." Willow waved her hand outward, requesting that everyone look around them. They appeared to be standing on the front deck of Buffy's house on 1630 Revello Drive, yet when they looked behind themselves, they could see the archway that led to the door out into the Phoenix.
"What is this?" Buffy asked.
"Welcome, to the holodrama: Buffy The Vampire Slayer season two, episode six, 'Halloween.' Computer, resume program."
As soon as Willow gave that command, the arch way disappeared, leaving the front door to Buffy's house. A moment later a holographic Xander Harris walked up the street, and past the group, who leapt out of the way, before knocking on the front door to Buffy's house. The door opened, and he spoke.
"Private Harris reporting for..." Holo-Xander paused upon seeing Buffy in a fluffy pink gown. "Buffy! Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe! I completely renounce spandex!"
Holo-Buffy curtsied, "Thank you, kind sir-"
"Computer, freeze program!" The real Buffy cried, before turning to Willow. "Okay, what the heck is this?"
"It's a holo-drama about us. Only from what I can tell, instead of Starfleet, you went as a princess, Xander, you went as a soldier, and I went as a ghost. There's a whole series here, seven seasons of episodes of us fighting evil and protecting the hellmouth."
"How is this possible," Joyce asked, "That there's a show about our lives?"
Everyone looked to Giles for an answer. "I... honestly have no idea."
"I'll confer with Data, maybe he has information about this... show." Xander said. Suddenly a grin broke out on his face. "Do you know what this means? It's like a cheat code to our lives. We'll know every evil thing that comes before it does."
"Yes, but they are not apparently accurate, as you did go as Starfleet officers." Jenny pointed out.
"And Cordelia went as a cat in this program." Willow added.
"I was going to go as a cat, but Partytown sold the cat costume I had reserved to someone else."
"What about me?" Oz asked.
"I don't know. You aren't in this episode." Willow replied.
"This is the Halloween episode, right?" Buffy questioned, "What's the next one?"
"I watched it." Willow said, "Someone named Ford comes to Sunnydale-"
"Ford's coming?" The blonde asked, smiling.
"Only, he's dying," Willow continued, "He has a brain tumor. He thinks he can trade you to Spike in return for being made a vampire."
"These can't be real." Buffy decided, "Ford wouldn't do that."
"I'm sorry Buff," Xander said, "But there's only one way to find out. We have to live the story."