Chapter 9
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Buffy told Dawn the truth about Steven. Being the sister of a potential slayer, this was not the weirdest thing Dawn had ever encountered. It was considerably more weird, the fact that she was dating the son of Buffy's ex-boyfriend. But Dawn liked Steven, and she was willing to get over the weirdness. Dawn didn't tell Steven. But Holtz had been right when he thought he saw a wolf leave Buffy's house that night. Some vampire heard what they had been discussing. This vampire had been Dracula himself. Dracula had met Darla and Drusilla, but wasn't particularly attached to either of them. But they could be useful in getting something else freed from this cave.
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Over the next two months Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang prepared for the fact that a former big bad, who they had destroyed in the old world, was going to become president of the United States. It had been a free and fair election, other than those with criminal records no citizen had been excluded from voting. And, as best they could tell, Wilkins had not used some magic spell to brainwash the people. And in this free and fair election, the people had chosen Richard Wilkins to be leader of the free world. This was frightening, but they had to accept this reality. Maybe Wilkins was right that they could work together against common enemies. Wilkins wanted to conquer the world, so he did have a definite interest in the world not being destroyed. But if he still wanted to conquer the world, they would have to fight him before long. President-elect Wilkins met with a number of military and political leaders during the transition period. One of them was Colonel McNamara.
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Wilkins: Thank you for coming to see me colonel.
McNamara: It's an honor Mr president.
Wilkins: Would you like some milk or ginger ale?
McNamara: Some ginger ale would be nice.
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Colonel McNamara would have preferred a beer, but he heard that Wilkins was a strict teetotaller and knew better than to disagree with the man who would soon be his commander in chief. If they had policy disagreements he would politely bring them up, but he wouldn't ruin his credibility over the choice of beverages.
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Wilkins: Well colonel, you better than most in the military about hostile sub terrestrials. What do you think should be done?
McNamara: For better or worse people are learning more. People are starting to realize that this reality show with Harmony Kendall is not merely a publicity stunt.
Wilkins: Indeed. Vampires and other such creatures are becoming more mainstream. Any ideas?
McNamara: It does seem that a significant number want to live fairly peaceful lives. Not neccessarily out of altruism, they just prefer not to be killed themselves and they're willing to follow the rules. But there is opposition to the "Reform Demonism" movement. They will become more violent. And those elements will have to be dealt with.
Wilkins: And from what I understand from your file, you've never been afraid to get your hands dirty.
McNamara: No sir. That said I should warn you. Other administrations have been hesitant to do this because of the immediate bloodshed that would follow.
Wilkins: I am aware. But I am willing to do what has to be done in order to achieve my long term goals.
McNamara: I can respect that. What do you need from me sir?
Wilkins: After I am sworn in, I will offer amnesty to any vampire and other worldly creature who is willing to abstain from killing. They would have to swear an oath, which would restrict them.
McNamara: I don't understand sir.
Wilkins: You about our efforts to implant vampires with chips.
McNamara: Yes, it causes them great pain if they hurt humans.
Wilkins: Yes. If they take the oath, it's the same basic concept. They won't be able to harm humans without intense pain. Ofcourse those who won't agree to this amnesty will have to be dealt with, that's where you and others come in.
McNamara: I can do it.
Wilkins: Ofcourse, exemptions will have to be made.
McNamara: I don't understand.
Wilkins: The chips prevent them from hurting humans. But it wouldn't distinguish between civilians and terrorists. Between America's allies and her enemies.
McNamara: In other words, use some of them against America's enemies. The kind of dangerous missions you'd prefer not to risk American lives on, or, for us to be officially connected with.
Wilkins: I think you and I are going to have a good working relationship colonel.
McNamara: I believe you're right Mr president.
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As much as Buffy feared the incoming Wilkins administration, she and her friends had other threats to deal with. The vengeance demon Medusa showed up in Sunnydale, turning sexual predators into lifeless statues. It was only a matter of time before she began making mistakes and turning innocent people to stone, so Buffy forced Medusa to leave town and promise never to come back. Then there was the time they all had a weird dream, similar to the old movie version of "Clue." Ethan Rayne was in that dream, he played the detective who brought all of them to justice. Buffy and Giles feared Ethan was playing a trick on them, maybe he was also behind some of the other recent strange events. But at least his jokes were relatively harmless, at least for now. Angel was still trying to help the helpless, but he also took jobs for money. On one case Harmony asked for his help in determining who had been stealing from her. On this case Angel worked with Faith. President-elect Wilkins knew the importance that Harmony might be in convincing other vampires to accept his amnesty and wanted to keep her as an ally. During their investigation they deduced that the culprit was Harmony's personal assistant Clem. He had wanted to make it seem like he solved the case himself, and thus earn her respect. Harmony decided to forgive him, hoping to set a good example and stay on Wilkins' good side. In some ways things seemed much like they did in the old world. And if Buffy was being honest with herself, she wasn't sure if what Wilkins was doing, was much different than what she did with her wish to D'Hoffryn. Only time would tell if the new world would be better or worse than the old one.
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Buffy had told Dawn who Steven really was, but suppossedly Steven didn't know the truth. But Dawn was becoming suspicious of her boyfriend, that he might be cheating on her. He made excuses not to see her on specific nights. But to his credit he didn't pressure her to have sex. Maybe he was a good guy, or maybe some other girl was giving him sex. Dawn decided to follow Steven one night. He went into the woods, and met up covertly with an older man. Suddenly Dawn's anger was not directed at her boyfriend. It was one thing for a teenage boy to cheat on his girlfriend, but it was another thing for an older man to seduce a teenage boy. Dawn did not realize that this man was the vampire Dracula. Dracula saw Dawn and they went to speak with her.
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Steven: Dawn, it's okay. This is Dracula.
Dawn: Is that suppossed to make me feel better? He's a vampire. And from what I've heard he murdered a lot of innocent people even before he was a vampire.
Dracula: I did what had to be done to free my people from the Ottoman Empire.
Steven: Dawn, I know the truth. I know you're sister's the slayer, or at least a potential. And I know who my parents are, Dracula told me everything.
Dawn: Are you two working together?
Steven: Kind of.
Dawn: Why?
Steven: My mother has been suffering and rotting in a cave since I was born. I want to free her.
Dawn: Darla's a vampire, an evil one.
Steven: I can make sure she doesn't kill anyone.
Dracula: My ally, the next leader of this country, he is prepared to offer my kind an amnesty to make peace.
Dawn: And what do you get out of this deal?
Dracula: This cave, the barrier was created by an enemy of mine. Perhaps you've heard of him, the Master.
Dawn: I've never met him, but yeah I know who he is, or was. Is he still around?
Dracula: As much as I'd prefer to think he's been destroyed, I fear he is out there somewhere. He imprisoned my allies in there. We will need their help to stop the Master.
Dawn: You want to stop the Master?
Dracula: Ofcourse. I enjoy this world, I have no desire to see it destroyed.
Dawn: And if you and your buddies destroy the Master, then what? They sound like they could cause a lot of trouble themselves.
Dracula: That will be tomorrow's problem.
Dawn: I need to tell Buffy.
Dracula: I do not think that is a good idea.
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Dawn realized that Dracula might hurt her and tried to flee. Steven followed her, both to protect her from Dracula and to try and persuade her not to tell Buffy. As Dawn and Steven were running they suddenly saw a strange light form in the forrest. They didn't know what it was, but it drew them into it. They tried to resist, but soon they were both sucked into this strange light together.