Chapter 33.

"Kilo Charlie One-Three-Five, to Tango Alpha Victor-Eight Bravo. Do you copy? Over?"

"Copy you, Kilo Charlie. What's up? Over."

"Eight Bravo, please be advised that refueling is complete, and nozzle has been fully extracted. So, we'll be heading back to base, now. Over!"

"Roger that, Kilo Charlie. Have a safe trip! This is Eight Bravo, over and out."

As the tanker plane did a U-turn, back in the direction of Belgium, Sam Lawson reactivated the cockpit intercom within the Harrier.

"So, where were we?"

"You had just been rescued by the Coast Guard," Brother Demetrius reminded him.

"Oh, yeah! Well, I got debriefed by the D.R.I. after we got back to port. And, when I got through with that, they sent me _back_ to Europe, to work with this guy named Nick Knight. Together, we knocked off every Nazi who had anything to do with Hitler's research into the occult. And, after V-J Day, I spent a couple of years bumming around South America, hunting down war criminals."

"Was it this Nick Knight who taught you how to fly?"

Lawson nodded: "Yeah! He'd taken a few lessons from this guy Carrington (or Barrington or something like that), who spent the war as a fighter-pilot with the RAF. Anyway, I eventually got tired of Nazi-hunting. So, I eventually moved back to the States, where I became a test pilot for the Navy at Patuxent River, Maryland. Which, in turn, led to my flying spy-planes for Naval Intelligence!"

"Well, I certainly hope you can return to those comparatively mundane duties when this is over, Ensign," Brother Demetrius replied: "Because, if the She-Beast manages to get hold of the Key, the world- - for lack of a better term- - is doomed!"

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE,

S.F. AIRPORT HILTON

(2:50 A.M./PST)

MICK ST. JOHN'S P.O.V.

"Define 'doomed,' " asked Xander.

I had just returned from Daedalus' place, and told everyone present the legend concerning Glory and the Key. And, how (according to that legend) the latter had the power to open up inter-dimensional portals!

"There's only one problem," I added: "It'd be a one-way trip for the Key holder. Because, that same power would quickly incinerate the entire world you were traveling away from!"

"Well, I must admit," declared Willow: "That would be pretty bad, yeah."

"No problemo," replied Xander: "We just find out where this Key is being stored, in the here and now. We send Buffy in to grab it. She gives it to Giles, and he Fedexes it to the Watchers' Council for safe-keeping! Sweetness and light, all around."

Buffy shook her head: "It's not that simple, Xan. Nobody knows what the Key looks like. Except for the monks of St. Ioannes, that is. And, Glory apparently wiped them all out!"

"Not quite all," said a familiar English voice.

"GILES!" chorused all three kids.

"What are you doing here?" exclaimed Buffy, as she ran to hug him.

"Not that we're not glad to see you, G-man," Xander hastily added: "We always are."

"Yes, well..." he began (with a slight asthmatic wheeze): "Buffy, could you please let up a moment so I could draw proper breath?"

"Oops! My bad! I guess I still don't know my own strength when it comes to de-stuffing hugs."

"Thank you. Now, in answer to your first question, I'm here because I was contacted by the Precept of London House, himself. He's the only Legacy member to whom the Watchers' Council is totally answerable. And, he told me that not only had a lone survivor of the St. Ioannes massacre been found. But that the latter is also currently en route to the United States with the one magical weapon capable of physically disabling this She-Beast (as he insists on calling her)."

"The Dagon-sphere?" commented Angel.

Giles nodded.

"Is he being brought directly here?" I now asked.

Giles shook his head: "He will be dropped off at Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, where he will transfer to a Learjet owned by the local Legacy House. He will then be flown here, where he'll be met by the Precept of San Francisco House. A meeting for which you and I will be providing additional security, Buffy."

"Sounds do-able," the Slayer replied: "What are their names?"

"The monk is one Brother Demetrius. While the local precept is someone you will probably find it most ironic to meet: Professor Derek Rayne."

Buffy's eyes widened in shocked recognition: "As in...?"

Giles nodded: "Ethan's estranged older brother."

tbc