Strange Times: Part 4
by Michael
Strange Times, Part 4
Strange Times, Part 4
Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and all characters from the
show are the property of Joss Whedon. The Cthulhu Mythos material
is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game
(copyright Chaosium Inc.). Chris Zabuto is my invention.
Angel and Buffy entered the library. Giles saw them and began
introductions, "Buffy, Angel, this is Chris. Chris is the nephew of
Kendra's Watcher." Giles then asked, "You said you saw some strange
creatures underground?"
Buffy answered, "I think I should begin with why I came back to
Sunnydale. I was at my father's house when I started having these
dreams. The first dream was of this chaotic mass that grew tentacles
and spread all over Sunnydale, destroying the entire town. The second
dream had the same creature spreading over the entire planet. The third
dream was similar but it seemed that other creatures were joining the
original creature. In the last dream, I saw a medallion like this one
(holding up her medallion) being thrown at a map of California. It
landed on Sunnydale. After I woke up I found the medallion. I decided
my dreams were trying to tell me something so I came back to Sunnydale.
I ran into Angel outside his old apartment and we checked out the
tunnels. We saw three creatures near a circular stone. The stone was
glowing and had a birdlike image carved in it. The creatures looked like
a bubbly mass of ... something and were about eight feet long. They had
eyes all over their body. A fourth creature came into view and rolled
towards the stone. It began playing what sounded like a flute when
it reached the stone. It looked something like a frog when it
stopped moving. There was more flute music coming from a distance."
Giles listened attentively to Buffy's account. He seemed a bit
shaken but quickly composed himself and examined the medallion. He
said in a thoughtful tone, "The figure on the medallion could be
N'tse-Kaambl. Items with her image sometimes have protective powers.
It would be dangerous to rely on that possibility." Giles then
asked, "Can you tell us any more about the figure on the stone?"
Angel suggested, "Perhaps I can try to draw it." He drew a
long-legged bird with a long downward-curving beak.
Chris and Giles examined the drawing. Giles began, "It does look like an
ibis. That would be expected based on..." and then stopped short.
Buffy said impatiently, "Based on what? What is going on?"
Giles seemed to ignore her, instead asking Angel, "How did you end up in
Sunnydale again?"
Angel replied, "I don't really know what happened. I remember being held
back by some sort of barrier. Eventually I found a weakness in the
barrier that allowed me to push my way through. The next thing I knew,
I was in the tunnels beneath Sunnydale."
After Angel finished, Buffy broke into the silence, "Giles, I think
you should tell us what is happening."
Giles replied in a slightly shaky voice, "I'm not really ready to tell
you anything. We don't exactly know enough yet." Giles' tone changed as
he warned, "Stay out of the tunnels, both of you. Whatever is down there
is probably too powerful to confront directly. It's already killed three
police officers and driven one insane and I don't want you two added to
the list of victims."
Giles paused as if a new thought had just struck him, "Buffy, have
you let your mother know you're back?"
Buffy stared at Giles, finally sighed and said, "Not yet. Maybe I could
crash at Angel's?" Angel and Giles stared at her. Buffy continued,
"Okay, bad idea. I don't know how she'll react. I might get grounded
for a month and I don't think I can afford to get grounded right now."
Giles reassured her, "I'm sure she'll be relieved that you're fine.
There isn't much more you can do tonight, anyway. I've called a meeting
for tomorrow afternoon. I'll explain more then, if I can. And don't
worry, you're no longer expelled."
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