"It also shows, it was activated from this side."

"How can you tell?"

"If I cut a piece of fabric, the instrument I use to do the cutting will push the fabric in the direction I'm cutting. A dimensional tear is no different. Whatever was used to cause the tear pushed it from this side to that side. Demons and vampires are drawn to the energy because they absorb it and use it. Sort of like we gain energy from consuming food. A rough analogy, but it works. But then they originally evolved where that energy comes from, so finding a use for it would be expected."

"True, we've found ways to use all kinds of energy. And vampires truly are animated bodies."

"Yes, the microscopic creature that animates it alters it. It maintains a type of shield around the body in order to keep it from decaying and falling apart while it alters it. Alterations can take centuries to complete because it's a microscopic being."

"Our group here has encountered one such ancient vampire. The Master."

"Yes, when Xander shamed Angel into helping him."

"Shamed Angel? What do you mean?"

"Oh, that's right, neither of them ever told you. Xander found Angel in his apartment reading a book with his shoes off when Buffy was going to face the Master. Xander asked him why he wasn't doing anything to help and Angel said he was too afraid. Neither I nor Xander believe he was afraid. He didn't act afraid. He acted like he didn't care. Xander stop protesting Angel's involvement only because he realized, no believed him. You all thought Angel was in love with Buffy. I really doubt it. He only acted like he was in love around other people. Away from everyone, he just didn't seem to care."

"Oh my. Everyone thought Xander was just being jealous."

"A little, but his dislike of Angel began before Buffy showed any interest in him. Angel said he was here to help. How exactly did he help? He helped fight off the Three and dusted his sire, Darla, to save Buffy. But he was in the Bronze the night of the Harvest and did nothing to help. Xander spotted hm just after he dusted what was left of the closest thing to a brother he ever had. He had reason to dislike Angel. Especially after parent/teacher night."

"What happened at parent/teacher night?"

"Angel offered the back of Xander's neck to Spike without telling Xander he was going to do it. When Xander asked him what would have happened if Spike took him up on the offer, Angel said, 'I would have known he bought it'."

"It seems there was a lot Xander was keeping from us."

"Because none of you would have believed him. I don't get it, Xander wasn't a liar and Angel was a vampire, they're known deceivers. So why believe the vampire over the human?"

"I do not know, perhaps because Buffy wanted to believe and we wanted to support her."

"Too much support causes spoiling. She's still young and needs guidance, you've ceded control to her. That could be dangerous. And have you helped her deal with the fact that she died? Or that there's now another Slayer, so she's no longer unique?"

"What do you mean, there's another Slayer? There's only ever one."

"From what I understand, a new one is called when one dies. Buffy died, therefore, there is another."

Giles turned that thought over in his head, he'd hadn't considered the possibility of another Slayer before. "I should contact the Council and make inquires."

"While you're at it, Giles don't tell anyone about us, please. What's happened to us is our business, not theirs."

"I understand. I will keep silent on it. Anything else your scanner is showing?"

"Not here, but I mean to eventually scan the entire town. This is a short range scanner, it covers only a few hundred feet. Also, Corda and I both know something about Alteran tech that could help, we're going to start working on building things, like weapons that are far more effective then a piece of wood. And since I need a way to survive and food and not live off of Cordelia's family's money, some things I can patent. I could just drop out of school, but that would call too much attention to me. So I have to find a way to make a living and get a place of my own. I really don't think it'll go over well with Cordelia's father if he comes home and finds some guy in her bedroom."

"No, I don't imagine it would." Giles looked amused. "If I had space, I'd offer it to you, but my condo is very small."

"I know, don't worry about it, we've got some ideas. So, these scrolls of yours?"

"Yes, here's one."

"You know this Latin language is interesting. The written form is like nothing I've ever seen, but the spoken form is very close to Alteran. More evidence that our people came back."

"Interesting and influenced the early Latin speakers."

"Exactly."

"If Latin comes from Alteran, then the name of your ship, the Congeria, translates as Chaos."

"Yes, my mother was very amused by it. She said I brought wonderful chaos to her life."

"I imagine a much loved and wanted child would."

"Given our long lifespan, having children was very difficult. So children were cherished, yes."

"Did you and Corda have any children?"

"No, it hadn't happened for us yet and then the war started. That tends to put a damper on the hopes of having a child."

"Unfortunately true."