"I'm being called in, Cor." Xander told her, after hanging up the phone. "I may be sent out on active. Hopefully I'll have time to call you before being shipped out. Depending on the situation there isn't always time."

"Be careful." Cordelia said fiercely. "As hot as I think you look in the uniforms, I still worry when you're on assignment. So take this order and you damn well better follow it. Come back alive, anything else we can work though, because I am not giving you up to even death, you understand me, Alexander Harris?!"

"Yes, ma'am." He assured her, before kissing her just as fiercely. He then donned his uniform and packed his duffle just in case he was being deployed immediately and headed out.

"Private Harris reporting as ordered." Xander saluted his Commanding Officer, Colonel Samuel Collins.

"I'm not cleared to know why you've been called in, Private." Colonel Collins informed him. "Your name floated to the top for a special assignment. A Colonel Matthew Telford is here to see you. I admit I'm curious. You've got a bright future with us and you're damn talented but you're young and have only deployed for support, not active combat yet. Whatever they want you for must be unusual indeed. And I'm sure you'll do well."

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate the vote of confidence."

"Have a seat, I'll send Colonel Telford in." Xander did as his CO suggested and waited for Colonel Telford, he was curious too.

"Private Harris, you can stay seated." Colonel Telford motioned to him when he saw Xander start to stand and salute his superior officer. "I need to ask you something, but let's start with this, you're from Sunnydale, California. A town with a very interesting history."

Xander froze. 'Oh crap.' He thought. 'Is blowing up the High School to stop the Mayor-snake about to catch up to me?'

"Sunnydale's history, sir?" He asked, staying calm.

"Buffy Summers, Class Protector. I'm hoping you know why she was awarded that prize."

"She...helped a lot of people." Xander said carefully.

"Against things they wanted to pretend weren't real?"

"Sir, what is this about?" Xander asked, figuring pulling the band aid off fast was better.

"Vampires, demons, Magic. All real."

"The U.S Army believes that, Sir?" Xander asked carefully.

"Some scientists decided to study them. In Sunnydale. It didn't end well."

Xander shut his eyes and prayed his friends, whether they were talking to him or not, had made it though alright.

"You mentioned Buffy."

"She and her group stopped it. Barely."

"They're good at that. Why am I here, Sir?"

"In the wake of that oh so brilliant idea, the U. S. Army has formed demon hunting teams. Not a lot we can do on American soil, but elsewhere, that's a different story. My unit has been deployed for six months. One casualty to death, two causalities to dustville and six needing counseling. I'm back stateside because I need to replace them."

"Sir, if this is real, than your team is good to have come through six months of combat with only those casualties."

"It's real." He laid a folder in front of Xander and Xander cautiously opened it. On top was a nondisclosure. Under it was proof of the Colonel's claims. Pictures of vampires, demons, many of which Xander recognized and a picture that showed Buffy punching a Frankenstein in green fatigues. She was in profile and looked fierce.

"Why am I here, Sir?" Xander asked again.

"Temporary assignment to help fill the ranks on my team. We're currently recruiting but it takes a certain mindset to handle this kind of assignment. Your psych profile says you can and your history suggests you're already familiar with it. You're reaction tells me I was right, you are and you know why we can't just talk about it. We have to talk around it."

"Sir, I left Sunnydale with my girlfriend. We're building a life away from it."

"I understand, believe me I do. You don't want to get sucked back into it. You won't be, it really is just a temporary assignment. Refusing orders that are unlawful or unethical is a soldier's responsibility. These orders are neither, just Classified."

"My girlfriend also graduated from Sunnydale, Sir. She knows. Can I discuss it with her before I deploy? She can keep it secret. But keeping this from her would violate a personal promise, I'm asking you not to order me to break that promise."

Colonel Telford considered Private Harris' request. Normally the answer would be no, but normally the question wouldn't even be asked.

"I want to talk to her myself before I decide and only if I agree and she signs the nondisclosure."

"Yes, Sir. Sir, you said temporary. I start college in two weeks. Will I be back before then?"

"No, I'm expecting a month deployment to give us time to finish replenishing our ranks. But the college is required to hold your coursework, just as an employer is require to hold your position."

"Yes, sir. I'll call Cordy and have her come down. Word of warning, Sir. Her personal philosophy is that tact is not being truthful. She's extremely blunt."

"Your file says you tend to be as well."

"Yes, Sir. Secrecy is one thing, lies should only be told if it's absolutely necessary."

"I agree."

"She's not going to be happy, Sir."

"Oh, I have no doubt."

They were right.