Disclaimer: I own nothing. I claim no rights to any television show, movie, or book. I write for fun not profit. All television show, movie, and book characters are owned by their production studios, television stations, and authors. No copyright infringement is intended. Again, I write for fun not profit. I am not getting paid for this. This goes for all chapters past, present, and future.
Buffy sat there watching without seeing as she meditated with her eyes open. In front of her was an amazing sight of a waterfall inside a cavern, a mist covered the pool the water landed in. It was very picturesque and it was also in the heart and under the streets of New York City. She wasn't paying attention when Vincent walked up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder but she wasn't startled either. She looked up at him and he asked how she was.
"This is the most amazing place I have ever seen… and I don't just mean the waterfalls. Vincent, (drugs and addicts aside) you and your people have really built a solid community down here. I hope we can do the same in Africa. Your help will be greatly appreciated. I just wish you'd let me help with something." She said.
"You are here to heal Buffy, you suffered a great loss and the pain was palatable to everyone around you. I just don't understand why it hurt you more than anyone else in your group." Vincent replied.
Buffy sighed as she looked at the floor of the cavern before she looked up at him.
"I'm called the head slayer but it's more like queen slayer. From me all the other slayers came, which is a big deal because since the beginning there was only supposed to be one. But I got the bright idea to share my power with any girl that was ready to be strong. I brought them into my world. I'm responsible for them all. And when I fail them…Well it hurts. Moreover Faith was the last slayer actually called. She was like me. She wasn't part of the spell Willow made for the other girls. She was the only other one that could relate to the things a called slayer went through. And now her and a hundred of my girls and a handful of watchers and witches…oh hell, they were my friends plain and simple and now they're all gone, dead and it may as well have been my fault." Buffy whispered the last.
"You can't think like that Buffy. You saved them from the first evil and being hunted down. They would have been dead long ago had you not brought them into your world. They were able to defend themselves and make a difference in others' lives by slaying the dark elements within the world. That's six more years than they would have had. It wasn't your fault that they were shot down. It had absolutely nothing to do with you." Vincent said trying to convince her.
"Are you sure? The military has been known to do some unsavory things. And Wolfram and Hart have always had it out for us. I wouldn't put it past them to have hired those goons to shoot them down." She accused.
"It sounds like you're seeing conspiracy in every shadow. I may not know you that well but I do not believe that is your nature. You gave each girl a gift Buffy you are not responsible for their deaths. Death is just something that happens sometimes. You can't see when it will happen nor can you control it." He replied.
"They were our responsibility. They were 'MY' responsibility. They should have died of old age." Buffy explained
"They were also responsible for themselves. They got on that plane by themselves. You didn't hold a gun to their heads. Do you know what I see?" Vincent asked.
"What?" Buffy asked unsure if she wanted to hear what he had to say.
"They wanted to go to the new G.C. site in Africa. I can see them being very excited and eager to start working in a new environment surrounded by the wilds of Africa. It is a pity that it will be unrealized because of the greed of man."
"How can you be so sure that's what they felt?" Buffy asked.
Vincent smirked as he said. "Because that is what 'My People' and I are feeling at the moment."
"Then you got your governing body to believe you and their going?" She asked with a bit of surprise.
"They know that they have no reason to disbelieve me." He replied.
"Great, then let's get things packed and everyone rounded up or didn't they figure out how many will be going." She said as Vincent's words had gotten through.
"Are you feeling better?" he wondered.
Buffy paused for a moment before she responded as she searched within herself to give an honest answer. "I believe so. It's still hard but I think I'll be okay. Thanks for your Counsel Vincent."
"It was an honor. However, there will only be only twenty-seven people going. As for packing up, the ones going have already brought there things to my chamber and are ready to leave." He explained.
Buffy looked at him stunned. "What? You mean right now? That fast?"
"My people are eager to leave and I do not wish to subject them to the others any longer."
"How did it get so bad Vincent?" she wondered.
"By the time we found out how wide spread the drug problem was in the tunnels there were so many and then they threatened to tell people above about us, TV reporters and police. They even made their own entrances and egresses down here we were never able to find so even if we closed off the ones we knew we would trap ourselves within for the above worlds viewing pleasure." He said in disgust.
"I can see where that would be a problem… well I guess if your people are ready we might as well get them away from here. Lead the way." She said
Half an hour walk back to Vincent's chamber was met with a small mob blocking his way.
"What is the meaning of this?" Vincent asked.
Just then the leader of the mob made himself known as he made his way to the front of the mob with his two body guards. "We wondered why so many of your friends sealed themselves in your chamber. Your boy Mouse told us that you and your friends are leaving. For some reason we don't like the sound of that."
"Mouse would never have told you anything like that. Where is he? What have you done to him?" Vincent asked.
"We killed him?" An excited teen announced.
That was all that was said as Vincent tore into the two body guards killing them with a swipe of his claws.
"He's not dead." the leader shouted as he shoved the teen in front of himself as a human shield. "This moron likes to think he knows how to sound tough but he's just stupid. Mouse is alive and my men's death is on this idiot's head. If anyone needs to die, kill him. In the mean time someone needs to bring Mouse up front." He yelled the last over his shoulder.
It took a moment but Mouse was brought in front of Vincent. A growl came from his throat as he saw mouse's condition. He was bruised and battered. He was bleeding and borderline conscious.
"Carful, he could still be dead."
Vincent's growl became more aggressive. He had just killed two people so he was just on borderline frenzy that he was having a hard time keeping in check.
"He needs medical attention." Buffy announced.
"You think?" The teen said with a smile.
"You really are a waste of space aren't you?" Buffy told the teen. "Why do you keep him around?" She asked the leader.
"He may be the stupidest kid alive but he has his uses." The leader said. "Now what is this about you leaving?"
"How about you let Vincent get Mouse some medical attention and I'll stay as your hostage?"
"Buffy No!" Vincent said in panic.
"It's okay big guy. I'll be okay; they won't do anything to me as long as you come back and explain to them in childlike terms what's going on. Besides if Mouse dies there's nothing holding you back from taking each and every one of these people out." She said with a smile and a wink.
"Oh, you're a sassy one but you make a good point. Go ahead protector, get Mouse patched up we'll take really good care of your little girl here." He said with a slimy smile as he and others gathered around Buffy who had her arms folded in front of herself as she was holding back a smirk.
Vincent didn't like it and knew what she was about to do, but he had no choice because Mouse needed help so he carried him away. He made it two tunnels away when he heard yelling, screaming and sounds of fighting. He paused a moment deciding if he should go back and help Buffy when the sounds stopped. He gently put Mouse down but in the next few seconds Buffy appeared by his side.
"Is this as far as you got?" She asked.
"I thought you would need my help." He replied.
"With those guys? I was done with the bunch of them in less than ten seconds."
"I noticed, are they alive?" he wondered not knowing if he wanted to hear the answer.
"Sure, a slayer won't kill a human, not intentionally." She added as she picked up Mouse from where Vincent laid him down.
"Here let me." Vincent said, but Buffy wasn't having any of it.
"I'm stronger than you remember? I can get him there faster." She said as she began running through the tunnels with Mouse cradled in her arms. Vincent was almost at his top speed as he tried to keep up with her. They made it to his chambers and noticed other drug addicts guarding Vincent's chamber as others were trying to get in. Vincent led Buffy to the secret way into his chambers knowing he was revealing it to the unwanted tunnel dwellers of the community.
"Get in I'll close the door behind us." Vincent said and Buffy did just that.
He locked the door and found the twenty-seven people most loyal to him in the community barricading the other doors with furniture, his and theirs. His son Jacob stepped forward and said.
"We were planning on taking that stuff but now it'll have to stay there until after we leave. Let them have it if we can get out of here safe and sound."
"You did well Jacob, you have once more proven yourself a worthy leader." Vincent complimented him and then turned to Buffy. "Do you have the port key that will take us to the Guardian Council Buffy?"
"We can do that but I'll call Willow and have here bring one that will take you straight to your new home as well as all your things including the stuff being used for the barricade."
"How will you do that without letting the others in?" someone asked.
"Magic I suppose. It's what Willow does." She said as she used her cell phone to call her.
"That won't work down here." One of the tunnel citizens said making Buffy just roll her eyes because of how many times she had heard that.
After she hung up, no more than two minutes went by when Willow and Dawn appeared out of thin air scaring the people in the room.
"Yeah, probably should have warned you guys about that." Buffy told the room and then looked to Willow. "Did you bring it?"
"Of course, did you have any doubt?" Willow replied.
Just then the banging on the door got louder and the voice of the mobs leader shouted from behind the door.
"Vincent, I don't know what you and your friends think you're doing but you guys can stay in there for all we care, at least we know you won't be going anywhere."
They then heard a second voice replying to the leader. "Don't be so sure boss, Vincent and that broad got in through a door we didn't even know was there before."
There was a pause and then they heard the people outside begin to renew their efforts to get in.
"Well, it sounds like you've been having fun." Dawn commented dryly.
"Yeah, it's been a laugh a minute with those guys. Hey Will, let's get everybody organized and out of here but first I need you to send their thing with them including the stuff braced against the doors."
Dawn looked to the doors and used her wand to lock and brace the doors magically. Willow then pulled all the items from the door to the center of the room to the open beaded bag. Once those items were inside it the books then flew off the shelves as well as other items from around the room all went into the bag. Everyone in the room stared in disbelief. Some were scared some were in awe and for one twenty year old it was too much as she backed away. Buffy noticed and told her it would be alright but the woman wasn't having any of it.
"Hi I'm Dawn, what's your name?"
"My name's Whitney." She replied timidly.
"I always liked that name. Listen Whitney, you do want to go with everyone else don't you? Your friend wouldn't have offered to bring you along if they didn't believe you were an integral part of their community and open minded enough to be a part of ours. We're building something really special where we're going. Do you want to be part of it?" Dawn asked extending her hand to the skeptical twenty-year old.
She thought about her words and realized that she didn't want to let down her people or Vincent and she knew that being part of something special might mean that she would see some more scary and awe inspiring magic which she didn't know how she felt about yet, but the others obviously thought she could handle it over time.
"Okay, I'll trust you for now if you can promise me you won't do any more magic."
"Well, that would put us all in danger and we may lose some people along the dangerous rout out of the tunnels. Not to mention getting to where we're going takes days if not weeks without magic. However, with magic we can be gone, safe, and a long distance away from any of the people outside this chamber that can hurt us. It would only take a minute, and it would all happen with one magic spell."
Whitney pondered this for a moment and realized that if she didn't agree to the one spell that she might be left alone to fend for herself among the vicious people outside. She looked to the others in the room and asked. "Would you all leave me?"
Vincent slowly walked to the front and firmly repeated to her the rule that they all lived by. "The needs of the many out way the needs of the few or the one, Whitney and I understand your fear but in the face of this situation magic is our only hope of getting out of here unscathed. I'll stay with you as long as it takes you to shed your fear but ultimately it is the only way unless you wish to become the plaything of those outside."
Jacob found himself learning even more leadership skills from his father's elbow as he listened to his words when dealing with someone's fears and found it gave him something to ponder. It was harsh but had to be said and even before Vincent finished talking Whitney had decided her course of action
"I'll go but let's hurry and get this over with before I change my mind." Whitney said.
Dawn smiled and held out her hand. Whitney hesitantly took it and Dawn brought her to the center of the room. Everyone was told to hold on to a piece of rope that would take them away. It was then that Vincent backed away pulling Buffy along with him.
"There is one more I would like to save. She is not one of us but she helps when and where she can. She is a police investigator and lives above. Is it asking too much to bring her with us?"
"I guess that would depend on her. What's her name?" Buffy asked.
"Diana Bennett." Vincent responded.
As everyone was beginning to get ready and were told by Dawn what was about to happen and what they would experience Buffy moved to Willows side.
"Willow, Vincent and I will be staying behind. We need to talk to someone before we go. We'll need to keep the glove portkey to Ohio but we need a way out to the world above."
"Alright, I'll leave another portkey to Africa for you at the GC so you can join your friends later. Otherwise I can take you both topside right now."
"Willow, there's something else. I thought Charlie Frost said that today was the day it all started. Not that I'm complaining but why aren't we experiencing anything yet?" Buffy asked as the others disappeared from the chamber leaving it
"First of all Charlie was working from what the Aztecs and Mayans prophesized thousands of years ago they were bound to be off by a few… I don't know, days… a couple of months? If you believe the Mayan then treat every day from now on as a gift. Otherwise the clock is still ticking and the time frame can still be anywhere from now to early spring. The truth is it's already started the day of the solar flare at the end of 2009. Just have your phone on you so you can be warned when the poop hits the fan." Willow explained and warned.
"Don't worry I will. But as we're on borrowed time everything just became more urgent so, can you take us topside now?"
"Sure, hang on Willow said holding out her hands for her friends to take and once they did they found themselves directly above Vincent's chamber in the middle of Central park. It was six o'clock and at this time of year it was dark."
"I hate to leave you guys but I still have a lot to do. The arrangements have to be made for the funerals for the slayers of the plane crash and their memorial services." Willow explained.
"Go….. we'll be okay." Buffy said.
"I guess I'll be seeing you guys soon."
"Count on it." Buffy replied.
With that Willow disappeared on her way back to Ohio.
/Scene Break/
Just a few miles from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa the Slayers broke through the jungle to a major road they had been traveling to meet up with after traveling all day and night so they wouldn't get found by the wrong people.
"Finally." Rona said tired and sweaty from their trek.
"Which way from here though?" Faith asked near breathless.
The path finders looked over their map and arrived at a decision. "A mile south and we should hit a village. The map doesn't say how big the place is or if it even has phone service but there should be food and water we can bargain for." One of them said as they all started down the road.
"I'd just like a place to sleep for a while. Pulling all that cargo through the jungle is hard work. Rona replied.
"Just be glad of slayer healing, the less severe cases were up and about after we stopped for that rest break and they were able to get a nap. The last four are quickly healing as well with the help of Queen Mousette's limited healing ability." Andrew said.
"Of which we are thankful for." Faith said looking at the woman in question.
"They would have been healed already had they had access to a trained med-witch or at least a few healing potions." Queen Mousette replied with regret that she wasn't that good with healing spells.
"Don't sell yourself short there Queenie." Faith replied.
"Because of my inability to render proper healing our group is too weak should we encounter an attack." Queen Mousette announced.
"Yeah but really what are the chances we'll end up in an attack." Rona asked.
Just then they rounded the bend in the road to revile a village under siege.
"You had to ask?" Faith reprimanded as the slayers disappeared into the foliage.
"This is not good, those are militant Guerilla's they are traveling Bullies and or guns for hire. If they need the money and haven't a sponsor they advertise by shaking down small villages. Ransacking, raping and pillaging for anything they can get their hands on they can sell to keep themselves going until a sponsor approaches them for a more lucrative job." Queen Mousette explained.
"Look there, they seem to have all the women lined up." One of the slayers pointed out.
"This is not good. They will take the women to sell as slaves and kill all the males so they won't cause trouble in the future by coming to look for them. Queen Mousette explained further.
"This village only has about ten houses tops but there seems to be twenty families." Andrew announced.
"The houses you see hold more than one family." Queen Mousette told them.
"That seems a little over crowded." Rona said.
"What's it matter, we should be doing something to stop them." One of the young slayers said agitatedly.
"We're assessing the situation. How many of the guerillas are there?" Faith asked
As the slayers pointed out all the men in camouflage and their positions the final count came out to be seven.
"They have two military covered trucks." Rona pointed out.
"Alright, let's get into positions and take them out. Just like in slaying we'll be going in teams for each guy. Only unlike slaying we're not killing humans. Does everyone understand that, Queenie?" Faith warned looking at the African witch.
"It is my belief that not killing them is a mistake but I will follow your lead… this time." Queen Mousette replied grudgingly.
"Alright then, Andrew when you see we're all ready, give us the signal so we can take them out all at once." Faith said.
"Right." He replied.
The girls snuck off around the outskirts of the village to get behind the military Guerilla's. Once they made it to where they needed to be they waited for the signal. Andrew pulled out his flute and began playing his enchanted melody. None of the slayers moved from position. Just then the illusion of a demon appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the village gaining the Guerilla's attention. All guns were pointed at it. That was the signal the slayers were waiting for. And they attacked. Disarming the men and knocking them out before they knew what was going on. The men were down in no time. Many of them suffered many broken bones. However, the man Faith, Queen Mousette and two other slayers took out near the entrance of the village near the trucks had a another man near him in plain clothes. He went to the back of the one truck and silently waved to someone still inside. The plain clothed man walked up behind Faith and clubbed her in the back of the head just as three darts hit the other two slayers and Queen Mousette.
The plain clothed man looked at the rest of the village and decided to cut his losses. He turned to the man still in the truck.
"These people took us out too easily. Get these four into the trucks as well as our man they knocked out here and let's get out of here. These white beauties will fetch a good price as will the African woman.
"What about the rest of our men."
"If they get away, they know where to find us. Let's go."
The rest of the slayers were too busy to notice what was happening to Faith and the rest of her team but they became uneasy as they heard one of the trucks start up and began driving away. One of the slayers got it into her head that they needed to be stopped and began running after the truck. That was until the muzzle of an ak-47 came out of the back of the truck and opened fire. The slayer dove to the side just in time and the truck got away. It would be after Andrew did a head count that they would realize that some of their people were missing.
/Scene Break/
Buffy was somewhat surprised that no one thought it was strange to be traveling through the city alongside a shabbily dressed hooded figure but then she supposed that maybe others thought she knew the vagrant and was taking him to a shelter.
'SunnyDale syndrome was still alive and kicking here in the big apple.' She thought.
"Vincent, why don't your people live in the shelters throughout the city?"
"It is a big city but there aren't enough shelters throughout the city. The ones the city has are full and aren't very helpful when whole families are involved. When my people find a family struggling to stay together and are at the end of their rope that is when we invite them to the tunnels." He explained.
"Oh, well that's very noble. Too bad the dream had to die like it did." She said.
"Things happen for a reason. My father started the dream many years before I was born. I kept the tunnels safe all my life. But it became over run to the point that I could no longer protect it without exposing our existence. Then you and your friends came along to save what was left. For that I am grateful." Vincent replied.
"How far is your friend's place?" Buffy asked.
"We are here." Vincent said looking at the building before them.
"Great, let's go in." she replied.
They walked into the small foyer, the only thing that was there was an intercom. Buffy looked for Diana Bennett's name and found her on the top floor. She pushed the button to get Diana's attention.
"Yes who is it? This really isn't a good time." The voice said.
It was Vincent who responded with. "It's me, Diana."
"Vincent?" Diana asked recognizing the voice. "You're just the person I wanted to see. Come on up."
Buffy and Vincent got on the service elevator and it started upward with a small lurch. Vincent immediately held onto the nearest available grab bar while Buffy looked at him with concern.
"I have never traveled within the confined space of an elevator before." He explained.
Buffy could have asked him if he would be alright but decided it would be better to keep his mind off it by asking. "So you usually use the steps up ten flights every time you come to see her?"
"Yes or I climb the outside of the building so I won't be seen."
Buffy looked at him in wonder and sadness. Here was a being that wasn't a demon but couldn't walk down a street without people judging him as a beast. Buffy wasn't afraid of him and it would seem neither was this Diana, but then, a single person is smart and a crowd becomes dumber with the more people in it, as prejudice, fear and anger build within it to become a crazed mob bent on destroying that which is different.
As the lift came to a stop on the top floor Diana Bennett turned to the elevator to see someone she didn't know with Vincent. She was dressed too well to be part of the tunnel dwellers and had a very firm presence about her. The young woman's demeanor was far too confidant to be someone from the tunnels.
The first thing Vincent noticed was the smell of blood in the air mixed with a small amount of ammonia.
"What has happened?" He asked with concern.
"I was hoping you could tell me. Who is your new friend?" She said as she looked to Buffy with suspicion.
"Pardon me; this is as you say my new friend Buffy Summers of the Guardian Council Academe. Buffy I'd like you to meet Detective Diana Bennett." Vincent said.
"It's a pleasure and not to be rude but you don't need a super nose to smell the blood. So what's going on?" Buffy said.
Diana moved to her bedroom and opened the door. They all walked in and surrounded the bed where the body of a young female lay. Many slashes about a finger length apart cris crossed the young woman's body face and arms.
"Who is she?" Vincent asked.
"She's the tenant that lived on the floor below me. I didn't know her that well. We only said hi to each other as we checked our mail on our way out the door in the mornings." Diana replied.
"Alright, I can see someone went to some trouble to make this look like Vincent did it but they did an awful and stupid job of it. You can easily tell that these gashes were done by a bladed weapon and not claws, probably someone with a Wolverine fetish." Buffy explained.
"Yeah, I saw that right off. But who would try to frame Vincent and do such a bad job." Diana wondered aloud.
"They weren't trying to frame me. They were sending a message. And I believe it to be from the undesirable people living among my people." Vincent replied.
"I see, well, I'm still going to have to call it in which is what I was about to do before your call."
"Then why were you trying to clean up the blood? I can smell the ammonia." Vincent asked.
"I wasn't using ammonia." Diana said unable to smell it over the smell of the blood.
"Ut-oh I don't like the sound of that. Vincent, can you narrow down where the smell is coming from, quickly?" Buffy said having an idea why ammonia was used.
Vincent followed the scent to a nightstand and opened it. When he did he gave a loud growl as he backed away Buffy looked into the large drawer and saw an equally large bomb with six seconds left on its count down.
"There's not enough time to get out of this loft the way we came. Everyone grab hold of my hand…NOW!" Buffy shouted.
Because Vincent knew her plan, he grabbed her gloved hand without question. He tuned to see Diana about to bolt so he grabbed her by the wrist a little too hard as he heard a bone crack as he placed it on Buffy's glove.
"Jinkies!" Buffy shouted. And the portkey activated and Diana's whole world exploded as she flew to the ceiling and felt herself being flung about as if in a hurricane. When next she opened her eyes she saw a beautiful peaceful glade surrounded by Greek pillars. She then noticed that the glade was actually a mural and that she was actually in a circular room.
"What happened? Where are we? How'd we get here? Why the hell aren't we dead? Or are we?" Diana asked in a panic as the last thing she saw of her loft was an explosion.
"To answer your last question first, no we are definitely not dead. To answer your other questions in order, you loft exploded but we traveled away from it just in time. We are currently at the Guardian Council Academe in Ohio and believe it or not we did it by magic. Now I know you're probably freaked out about it but if you can follow me we can get you something to calm your nerves."
"Actually my nerves are just fine." She said wincing in pain as she folded her arms in front of her but not convincing ether Buffy or Vincent. She looked at both of them and knew they weren't buying it so she unfolded her arms and said…"but I wouldn't say no to a glass of scotch."
"Belch!" Buffy said remembering the taste of the disgusting drink. "Giles likes that stuff. He should have some in his office and since we're going to see him anyway I'm sure he'll be happy to share." Buffy announced.
"Now hold on, just who is this Giles person and what do you mean Ohio?"
"Boy, you're just loaded with questions aren't you? Just know that we're the good guys alright?" buffy said with an amused smile.
"Well, that was obvious when I saw you came up on the lift with Vincent. He has to trusts you and you just saved my life."
"Oh, okay. Is there something wrong with your arm?" Buffy said noticing how she was babying it.
"It's my wrist. I think it's broken." Diana said reluctantly.
"I did that didn't I? I'm very sorry I panicked when you tried to rush out of the room and grabbed you harder than intended." Vincent said in regret.
"Don't worry about it. You saved my life, Vincent. I think a broken bone is a small price to pay."
"We'll get you to a med witch right away and you'll be as good as new in minutes." Buffy announced.
"Yeah, but I'll be in a cast for weeks. Did you say med…witch?"
Buffy smirked and said. "You'll be surprised. Follow me."
As they walked out of the teleport receiving room and down the hall Diana had a concern. "I should call my division to tell them I'm alive."
"You may want to hold off on that until you find out why we came to see you in the first place." Buffy replied.
"She's right Diana." Vincent added.
"Why what's going on?" She asked
"We'll tell you once we get to Giles office but we're going to the medical wing first. It should only take a few moments to heal you up."
Diana looked at Buffy as if she were crazy. "Don't you realize how long it takes for bone to heal? It's going to take a bit more than moments."
"Alright then, minutes." Buffy replied.
Diana looked to Vincent who just shrugged.
As they reached the medical wing Buffy called out to Katie Bell who had handed in her resignation to St. Mongo's two week prior to take care of injured slayers as everyone waited for the main event to start.
"Are you injured Buffy?" Katie asked.
"Not me. This is my friend Diana her wrist may be broken." Buffy replied.
Diana held out her wrist and was surprised when Katie waved a wooden stick over it.
"Oh yes, defiantly broken." She had Diana put a large medallion around her neck.
"What's that doohickey for." Buffy asked.
"Well, She's a muggle…"
"I'm a what?" Diana asked.
"Sorry, your non magical. The medallion is needed as a source of magic to carry to the injury."
"What?!" Diana asked thinking she landed in someone's booby hatch. But the next thing she knew Katie flicked her wand and she herd as well as felt the bone snap back together. There wasn't even any pain from doing so. All of the pain was just gone.
"There good as new. I can give you a potion that will strengthen the bone but if you don't tax it for the next week and have a proper diet you won't need it.
"What the hell was that? How is that possible?" Diana asked.
"Magic." Was Buffy's response.
"You expect me to believe in magic."
"It's your bone and we really have traveled all the way to Cleveland Ohio within moments."
"Cleveland? When you said Ohio I thought that was where the schools New York satellite facility was from. You're telling me we're actually in Cleveland?" Diana asked feeling a bit dazed.
"Yep." Buffy said popping the 'P'.
H…How?
"Magic, real live magic. It does exist. It not a prank and it's what we use around here for a lot of things. But we'll get to that later. Next stop Giles's office."
"And further down the rabbit hole I suspect." Diana said skeptically.
"It does get worse before it gets better." Vincent confirmed.
"Is this about the new tunnel dwellers?"
"It has nothing to do with them. That portion of our lives is over. We have left the tunnels. I don't advise anyone to venture down there anymore."
"What? What will happen to your people now?" Diana asked.
"We have already moved to build our new home and we are inviting you to join us?"
"Join you? Where? I do have a life in New York. My loft may be destroyed but I can find a new place to live."
"That may not last too much longer." Buffy explained.
"You mean my life? I can assure you I can take care of myself." Diana announced.
"No, I mean New York." Buffy said bluntly.
"What?" She asked as they entered Giles office and the door closed behind them.
And Hour later as the meeting was over Diana sat there with her fourth scotch in hand and had a devastated look on her face.
"Not that I don't think you're doing all you can but is there anything else we can be doing?" Diana asked.
"We can only save a portion of the people at our schools but as we said the government is saving what they can with their arks and the military is doing something as well that they deem classified." Giles replied.
"Probably something to do with spaceships knowing them." Diana jested which made each of the scoobies eyebrows raise which neither Diana nor Vincent noticed.
"My people are already in Africa helping the people of the G.C. build our new future. Won't you join us?" he offered.
"What if none of this happens? What if life goes on as usual?" Diana asked.
"That not likely, California has experienced three times as many earth quakes this year than any other year in history. And then there's yellow stone national park which is the world biggest super volcano. There's more volcanic activity being recorded than like ever. It's where the scientists have set up a monitoring station. I really don't think we have much longer?" Dawn explained.
The room became silent and the people who had gathered just watched to see what Diana's reaction would be. She seemed deep in thought. Several minuets went by before she sighed and said. "We left that body in my loft before we left… it's possible the investigators will believe that it was me. They'll think I'm dead. Until they get the DNA test result back"
"Do you wish to call them to straighten the situation out?" Giles asked
"Umm…no. If the end is as close as you say it is, it might be better if they thought I was dead. Hell, it might be better for me too because I don't think I could call anyone I knew, without telling them to get their asses' to Africa. I'm just mentioning it because if I do make my move before they declare me dead I won't be able to withdraw my money from the bank."
"My friend Willow is unavailable but Oz here might be able to help you with that. He should be able to help get your money from here in Ohio and then he can put it in a bank that we have set up in Africa." Dawn said.
"Sure, the transfer should only take an hour at most." Oz confirmed.
"Well, whether I go to New York or Africa I'd be basically starting over. I may as well do it in Africa."Diana replied.
"Well, you and Oz can get busy with the transfer and then you and Vincent can meet up with his people after that. In the mean time we have other business to attend to. We look forward to seeing you in Africa in the end. Good day Miss Bennett." Giles said ending the meeting and everyone went to their assigned tasks.
When it was just Giles and Buffy, Giles turned to her and said. "I grow weary of constantly explaining ourselves and the situation of the main event."
"Well according to Willow, we may not have too much longer to do so. We're living on borrowed time stating today."
"Good lord, is today truly the twenty first?" he asked.
"Yep, we may have only hours, days or weeks left. It may be too much to hope for months." She replied.
"Well perhaps we need to redouble our efforts at this point." he suggested.
"What about the slayers we need to send now that the others are…gone." She asked.
"We'll just have to send our second choices. They have all been relocated here so that should make it easier when the time comes to just portkey them straight to Africa."
"That's where your wrong, Giles. It's the Christmas season. Over half of the slayers went home for the holidays. The other half that stayed have their family's coming here for a visit, which could be a bit of a problem."
"Good lord, that's not a bit of a problem, it's a logistic nightmare."
"Well, what would you suggest we do about it."
Giles silently thought over the problem for several minutes before he decided on a plan of action. "There is only one way I can see to rectify the situation that will get us the numbers we want but we won't get who we want."
"I'm listening."
"When we are sure that the event starts we will have to send teams to the remaining G.C. schools to collect as many slayers as possible. I know that they won't be our preferred choices but it would seem the choice has been taken out of our hands and fate has taken control of which slayer will survive."
"Well, on one hand I think it sucks but on the other I'm relieved that the choice isn't ours. Choosing one girl over another because of what they can bring to the table and condemning the other to death has made me sick to my stomach for like ever."
"Yes, well I too have been feeling the brunt of our position because of the situation we find ourselves in. If it wasn't for our new med witch I would have one big ulcer were my stomach should be. I wonder, with your healing ability is it possible for a slayer to get ulcers?" Giles wondered idlely. "In any case, if you'll excuse me I have some calls that I have been putting off that I suddenly feel I need to get out of the way given that we are living on borrowed time."
"Sure thing, Giles, I have work to get back to now that I'm back. I still got to keep busy if you know what I mean."
"Yes, of course but if you feel you need more time you can always …" Giles began but was cut off.
"No! That won't be happening. I just need to work right now. Saving who I can is what I need to do. I'm not letting anyone else die before it's time. I've… I've got to go." Buffy said running out the door as her emotions threatened to come to the surface.
"Buffy!" Giles called after her in concern but knew the best thing he could do for his slayer was to let her be. As he sat there for a few seconds he hoped he was doing the right thing. After a moment more he picked up the phone and began making his phone calls.
/Scene Break/
As Faith regained consciousness she became aware of the hard floor she lay upon. Being a slayer her slayer healing took care of the pain she would have felt from getting hit in the back of the head from the butt of a rifle. She noticed the two other slayers and Queen Mousette taking up other parts of the floor in the small room they had been placed in. she noticed the bars on the windows and suspected that the door was locked and probably reinforced not to mention guarded. The other slayers began to moan as they began to wake. She knew they would recover quickly and so moved to Queen Mousette and began to nudge her awake speaking in low tones.
"Queenie." Hey, Queenie, she whispered.
Queen Mousette opened and rolled her eye groggily but didn't wake as she closed her eyes once more.
"We were hit with drugged darts Miss Faith. Queen Mousette doesn't have the healing we have so she will probably stay sedated until the drug wares off." Another slayer named Jenny said in a whispered tone.
"S*#T… We need to keep guard over her. I'm not letting anything happen to any of us." Faith explained with concern keeping her tone low.
"What do you think they want anyway? Why did they take us?" Jenny asked.
"From what I heard from the BBC radio about African Guerilla's they could be using us for anything from political hostages, a work force for their diamond mines or the lest pleasant but most likely as white slaves." Faith explained quietly.
"White slaves? You mean like… Prostitutes?" Jenny asked worriedly.
"Yeah, but we won't get a choice to turn down anyone we didn't like and if we disagreed with anything, we would most likely be beaten or killed. Faith explained bluntly as there was no sense in coddling the girls. They needed to know what was at stake.
"Okay, now I'm kind of scared." Jenny whispered.
"Relax, we're slayers and Queenie's a witch, once she wakes up we're getting out of here." The other slayer Sara whispered back.
"Yeah, but they have the guns. I don't like the idea of getting shot." Jenny explained.
"Once Queenie wakes up I think she can probably do something about the guns and then we fight our way out of here. At the moment I don't think they know we're awake yet. They think the drugs would stay in our systems longer so we should use that to our advantage and find out what we can about where we are what kind of defenses they have and how many of them there are." Faith said.
"I know we are less than an hour from where we were and that we headed east." Sara announced.
"How do you know that?" Jenny asked.
"I fought the drug as much as I could to stay semi awake and watch where we were going without their notice. The sun rises in the east and since it was morning when we were taken I could see the shadows pointing to the west from the back of the truck, so we were headed towards the sun therefore east. We were going no more than thirty-five miles an hour but mostly slower because of the bumpy roads, so maybe twenty-five. And we didn't travel for more than an hour." Sara explained.
"Well S*#T! That's good work. You must have aced that pathfinder test." Faith whispered approvingly.
"Yes miss." Sara confirmed.
"Well, one of you help the other to look out the window up there so we have a better idea what we're dealing with. I'm going to see if there are any lose floor boards and how strong these walls are."
Faith looked around testing the walls and floor for weaknesses. She found that with a little slayer mussel she might be able to pull out a board from the floor but that would have to be later when they were ready.
"You don't think they would be stupid enough to have left the door open and unguarded do you?" Jenny asked as Sara stood on her shoulders.
Faith shrugged her shoulders and said. "Stranger things have happened." And then she got down to floor level to look through the space under the door.
"There are at least two guards standing out there. However, the doorknob is so old we might be able to quietly break it." Faith whispered even quieter than before.
"There seems to only be a small group of guards at the moment. Other than that it looks like a run down version Hogan's heroes out there." Sara explained in low tones. Sara announced.
"That's a TV show right?" Jenny asked.
"She means, a world war two German prisoner of war camp. As for the lack of other guards I think the other slayers took them out back at that village." Faith explained. "We need to have a count of how many we can see while we wait for Queenie to wake up. I'll keep an eye on the door. Jenny, when you get tired let me know and I'll lift Sara while you keep an eye on the door."
"Yes Miss." Jenny replied and the long wait was on.
/Scene Break/
"We need to be doing something to get them back." Rona said to Andrew.
"We need to know where they went first."
"So, let's bust some of the heads of the guys we captured and find out where they took them."
"I don't see that happening without a show of superior strength." Andrew said
"Well, we got that in spades, so it shouldn't be a problem." Rona replied.
"True, but do we want to show our hand this soon. Maybe Faith and the others already have the situation in hand and are on their way back for all we know."
"You know damn well we can't take that chance." Rona replied.
"Also true, perhaps if we can hold them here we can have our friendly witch of the south make with the Jedi mind wipe." Andrew idly thought aloud.
"You start calling me Padwan like you did in Sunny-hell and I'll hit you upside the head." Rona threatened.
"Perish the thought young grasshopper."
"Grasshopper where did you get that from?" she asked.
"Peter Caine said that, that was what his father called him and other deserving students of kung-fu." Andrew replied.
"Whatever. We need a plan. We may not be able to protect the prisoners from the people they were here to kill and kidnap so we better come up with something soon or there goes any information we could get from them." she explained.
"Actually it would be easier to get information from them if they were dead all we would need is one of their severed heads but let's not take that rout because it also take the severed ear of one of the people who needs the answers. What do the villagers make of us?"
"Their treating us like heroes. They keep bringing us food water and clothing. I think they want us to stay and be their protectors. Listen Andrew, you have your own loony mage magic can't you trick the prisoners with it or something?"
Andrew got a faraway look as he thought of the possibilities and replied. "Yes, that just might work."
"What might work?" Rona asked
"I have an idea but I'll need help. Follow me. We need to get ready." Andrew said excitedly before rushing off.
/Scene Break/
In a small bar in Africa General Jack O'Neill sat at a table watching the door. He was dressed in civilian clothes and was drinking a previously sealed beer, an imported from America. He was very anxious about waiting here. This wasn't a meeting he was eager to have but at this time it was needed. He didn't even know if his contact would show. He'd been waiting here for an hour already and wasn't too sure if he was happy or not that no one showed up. He wished he could pawn this meeting off on his clone. He knew that he wouldn't know his contact on sight but his contact would defiantly know him and he was sure he'd see the recognition in his face. Just then the man in question walked through the door. Once his eyes fell in Jack he was stunned. Jack fidgeted under his gaze. This was an unusual feeling for a man that stared down false gods. The man then staggered toward him in shock as he forced his legs to carry him forward and the words to come out of his mouth.
"You look just like him. You look just like my father."
"Technically, I'm a couple of years older than Mac was." Jack replied.
"He said you were a soldier."
"I'm Air force actually. So, he mentioned me then?"
"Every now and then, yeah. He wasn't happy about you being military. He said that because of his beliefs he was afraid he would say the wrong thing in front of you so he felt it best to stay away. He didn't like guns and he was very sorry about your son."
"Yeah, I remember his dislike. And I understood why he stayed away. I had my own reasons for not coming to him anyway. They were stupid but they kept me away."
"Can you tell me about them?"
"I hardly know you kid and we haven't even introduced ourselves yet. I'm General Jack O'Neill by the way."
"Sean Angus Malloy, son of Angus MacGyver but I like being called Sam."
Jack winced at the middle name before saying. "Yeah I heard you got hung with that moniker."
"That was pretty much dad's reaction when he first heard it but my mom loved it."
"Right, I'm sorry to hear about your parents and I'm sorry it took me this long to make an appearance in your life but to be honest I only found out about you a short time ago."
"Yeah, oddly it would seem that when one family member leaves the mortal realm another pops up." Sam said.
"Mortal realm? That must be the photojournalist coming out in you."
"Must be." Sam replied.
"To answer your earlier question I didn't feel I could measure up to Mac it took me a while to realize that not many could. But at the time I felt people were comparing me to him so I kept my distance. I have heard however that you're a lot like him."
"And that doesn't intimidate you?" Sam wondered.
"Since then I've surrounded myself with people who could be considered geniuses, so no. Not to mention I have found my niche in life. It would seem that I'm a pretty good tactician and pilot instructor for the newest experimental aircraft."
"Not anymore if you're a general now. How did that happen anyway? A general is a person that has the president's ear. I don't think you can become a general sitting behind a desk strategizing and teaching."
"No, your right there is a bit more to it."
"Speaking of there being a bit more to it why did you come all this way to meet me? Why now? The only thing I can figure is that you need a kidney or something."
"Wow. Where did that come from? And for your information I'm trying to save you."
"Oh, well sorry, but whose toes did I step on this time?"
"It's not like that. But I need you to sign some papers before we get onto that topic." Jack said pulling out papers from a bag that had been sitting on the floor.
"Sorry, I don't sign government secrecy papers. It interferes with my job." He said defiantly.
"Well, if you don't I can't save you from what's to come. Sometimes signing unlocks wonders you never could conceive of." Jack explained.
"Tempting carrot but it's just not happening." Sam replied
"The president did say you were stubborn. A trait that runs in our family so I know that without a better carrot you won't budge however I can't even hint at a better carrot without you signing the papers."
"The President?"
"Well yes, he's the one who told me about you. Sam, I really don't wish to hear of your death when I just found you."
"I'm sorry Jack but it may have to stay this way. Just then Sam's phone rang. Ah crap listen, I forgot to tell you I wouldn't be staying long. I've got some things in motion that I have to attend to. It was a pleasure to meet you but I have to go. Tell the president I said hi."
And just like that Sean Angus Malloy ran out the door leaving one General Jack O'Neill sitting there in bewilderment.
"Where did I go wrong? Did I go wrong? No, I didn't, Sam did. It must be the Damn paranoia tendencies that come with being a photojournalist. Damn it Henry's going to hate this as much as I do and he'll probable make me chase the kid until the displacement begins and if he doesn't I'll do it anyway. They always said family will get you killed." Jack thought to himself.
/Scene Break/
Vi was in Willow's room watching her prepare for their next raid.
"Willow, has there been any word on the search for the plane that went down?" she asked.
"Giles said that the authorities called of the search already." Willow replied hesitantly.
"What?" Vi asked in outrage.
"Apparently not only did they crash into the middle of miles of thick jungle but there are too many guerilla military types running about to safely search for the bodies and bring them back."
"So, are we're sure that their dead?"
"All of the Scoobies saw the memory Jim and Blair gave us thanks to Hermione's memory bowl thingy. We don't see how they could have." Willow said sadly the silence that fallowed was broken by Willow.
"Is everyone ready?" Willow asked Vi.
"Yeah, but it feels weird doing this without Rona and don't you think this is an inappropriate time to do this?"
"I'll miss Rona but I'm determined to do this while the rest of the G.C. is preoccupied. I think if her spirit could be here she'd approve."
"Yeah, but she'd be mad as hell that she missed it. What about Buffy?"
"She's still in the dark thankfully. She's second in command of the G.C. and needs to be able to disavow any knowledge to what we're going to do."
"But she does know of your desire to do this?" Vi asked
"Yes, but don't forget she disapproved of this idea when I mentioned it several months ago. She doesn't know we're going to go through with it now. To her it was just an idle idea that was passed over long ago. I've been spending any free time I can scrounge up to not only get ready for this but the aftermath as well."
"Alright, I was just asking."
"Which of the other Sunnydail slayers did you approach to fill in for Buffy and Rona?"
"Tonya and Devon will be yellow and orange."
Just then Hermione came through the door dressed in Blue.
"Good, are we all here now?" Willow asked.
"I just passed the others down stairs, they're nervous but ready. Are you sure we'll be able to do this, Willow? Are you sure we even need to?" Hermione asked.
"I've already evaluated their wards. They are only for warning of unauthorized arrivals. That's when the security guards will arrive and activate the blocking wards so we can't escape but I don't think they know anything about portkeys because they would be using them to get to where they're going. I was only able to detect Wiccan and demon magic but nothing of wizarding magic so there is where we will have the advantage."
"Hopefully, you mean." Vi said.
"I'm near positive they haven't a defense against Wizard Magic but with the combinations of magic we can use they be hard pressed to stop us." Willow replied
"Alright, if you're sure then we should get going." Vi said
"Are you alright with this Hermione?" Willow asked.
"I'm always nervous when we go to rescue item still in other people's possession. I just hope your right about the magics."
"Just remember the art of war motto. No plan survives first contact. So, like always be prepared to improvise. Now let's get the others up to speed before we move out. We don't want anyone left behind after we attack and plunder Wolfram and Hart."
A.N. (Reviews can make a story even better.)