Chapter 349
Giles convinced his friends not to hurt Ethan Rayne, at least not before he questioned Ethan. Giles called Jenny to let her know he'd be late. Than he and Ethan went out for drinks. Ethan had been at the Watcher's academy with Giles. They'd secretly dabbled in black magick together. Giles called himself "Ripper" back then. But while Giles straightened himself out and became a true watcher Ethan went the other way. Ethan worshipped chaos and did pranks like this for fun and profit. During this night out Ethan didn't mention being paid by Willy, or president Wilkins. He claimed this was purely for his personal amusement. Giles wasn't sure he believed Ethan, but they went back awhile, so they continued drinking and Giles kept pressing Ethan for information.
Giles: Ethan, there's something I've always been curious about. Why exactly do you worship chaos?
Ethan: I believe in the theology of the Januasians. Have you heard of us?
Giles: A group that believes in an eternal war between good and evil. Two dieties, one good, one evil. This theology was influenced by Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and the Star Wars movies.
Ethan: Actually we pre-date them so if anything they were influenced by us. Anyway, in the beginning, there was the one. The one from whom al life was born. At some point the one became two beings. Each one is called by many names. The good one is called God, Allah, Yahweh, Ahura Mazda, Irzu, or great spirit and maker of all life. The evil one is called Satan, Lucifer, Ahriman, Dahak, the First evil. They worked together only once, to create life. All creatures have the light and the dark inside of them. Humans have the greatest capacity to choose between good and evil. I do a little of both.
Giles: You forced Buffy and the others to face their fears on Halloween, didn't you?
Ethan: I like to think I made Buffy stronger.
Giles: Why did you switch Xander and Willow's bodies?
Ethan: I just think they'd be a cute couple. But, back to my theology. We humans choose between Heaven and Hell. Hell is right here. This world is chaos, suffering, pain, death. As long as we keep sinning, hurting each other, we remain here for several lives. When we abandon sin, shed our darkness, we eventually ascend to Heaven. But it's not angels playing harps in the clouds. We become part of the light, lose the darkness that is a part of us. We lose our individuality. And when all souls have at last ascended into Heaven, then the darkness fades. A small speck of light will be created in the darkness, so tiny it cannot be measured. But it will grow, and grow, until eventually the darkness will die. And then, for all intents and purposes, we cease to exist. After being reincarnated a few hundred times I know it will happen to me, but I'm not going down without a fight. That Ripper, is why I worship chaos. This world, for all its faults, is better than the alternative.
Giles: It sounds like you're using this theology as an excuse to do evil for fun and profit.
Ethan: Religious intolerance. Have you learned nothing from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Giles: That said we could use all the help we can get in stopping the Master.
Ethan: I'd prefer to live.
Giles: He succeeds, that might not be an option.
Ethan: I'll take my chances.