New Girl in Town: Part Sixteen
by Byn
Buffy and Giles raided his weapons chest – his good weapons that he kept for when company came, as Xander had once put it. Swords, crossbows, stakes, and holy water went into pouches, pockets, and carry-alls. As they worked, they discussed the rest of the Slayerettes.

"If this guy is as powerful as you say he is, then I can't fight him and protect them. Ordinary vamps, yes. But not this Mayor guy, whoever he is. They're gonna get hurt."

"I agree, Buffy, but on the other hand, Willow's computer skills will be useful, Xander has picked up some small skill in-in fighting, and Cordelia," Giles paused a moment. "W-well, there's strength in numbers." Having a course of action to follow had restored Giles' balance somewhat. "Call Willow and have her round up the others and meet us at the school."

"Giles, there's no time for this. We have to go now. Eliza's life depends on us moving fast."

"And what good will we be to her if we get ourselves killed by rushing in unprepared? We need some plan of attack. The municipal building is very large, and we don't even know where they're holding her. That's where Willow comes in. Now come on." Giles stood up and strode out the front door. Buffy stared after him in amazement and slowly stood.

Wow. Giles the action figure. Totally new concept, she thought as she followed, shaking her head slightly in amazement.

Willow had the laptop up and running, with Oz at her side. Xander and Cordy were poring over another ancient text, trying in vain to find any information on Gideon Black. Buffy and Giles burst through the doors and slung their burdens onto the check-out counter.

"It's about time," complained Cordelia. "Thought you said this was, like, urgent or something."

"It's urgent, alright," said Buffy. "And after we rescue Eliza and take down Hizzoner the Mayor, it will be urgent that Giles get a new car," Buffy shot back in exasperation. Giles had no comment.

"Whatcha got, Will?" she asked as she leaned a hand on the table and concentrated on the computer screen. She brushed an errant lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

"Couple things. First, you can access the building through the 'underground.'" Willow clicked the mouse and a schematic of the Sunnydale sewer system appeared on the screen. "You can come in here," she tapped the screen, "or here." Another tap.

"Okay. Good. Which is better?"

"Depends on where you want to enter the building." City Hall's blueprints appeared on the display.

"We need to get as close as we can to where they're holding her, wherever that is," Buffy sighed.

"His office is here, on the thirteenth floor."

"I thought buildings didn't have thirteenth floors," Buffy frowned.

"Hey, Buff. Hellmouth. Remember?" Xander called out over his shoulder.

"Oh. Yeah. Right." She gave herself a mental smack on the forehead. "Duh!" And looked closer. "Inner office. Hmm. Guess we'll start at the top, then. What's our best entry point?"

Willow switched back to the sewer schematic. "South exit point, here." The screen flipped back. "There's a stairway here, and it's marked for employees only, probably maintenance access in case the elevators fail."

Buffy swore under her breath. Willow raised her eyebrows and shook her head slightly. The Slayer looked immediately contrite.

"There is," Willow continued, "a state-of-the-art security system." A note of interest crept into her voice.

"Not. . . computer-controlled, by any chance?" Buffy asked. Willow smiled widely. "Can you do it?"

"Give me a half hour and it should develop a major glitch. That is, if their germdogs aren't too sophisticated."

"Uh, guys?" Everyone turned to look at Xander. He looked decidedly grim, one finger stabbing down at the page he stared at. "It's not going to be that easy."

"It's not going to be easy, period, Xander. What did you find?" Giles remonstrated.

"We found him. The Mayor. Gideon Black. He's old. He's powerful. Very, very powerful."

"W-which text did you find him in? I thought we'd searched everywhere." Giles was astounded.

"One of the first Watcher diaries. He's nine hundred years old. There's only one series of entries, but, wow."

"Go on."

"If I've got this right, says here he practiced sorcery, was able to hypnotize his victims. And," Xander paused, re-reading. "He could 'see into their very souls.' Whatever that means."

"It means he's a telepath.," Giles sighed.

"Wait a minute. I thought they didn't have phones back then," Cordy frowned.

"A mind-reader," Giles snapped at the girl. He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So, that means he's going to know what we're going to do before we can do it," Buffy summed up.

"Y-yes, Buffy, that's correct."

"So. How do we beat him?"

"I-I don't know. There are techniques one can use to shield one's mind against such intrusion, but there's no time to teach you even the most rudimentary ones. Damn it!"

"Well, well, what if you just think of something else, and then do the exact opposite of what you're thinking?" suggested Willow. Giles brightened slightly.

"That might work."

"Good. It's a start. Let's brainstorm on the way over there." Buffy slung her bag over her shoulder. She paused and then made up her mind. "Xander. Cordelia. Get some stakes, crosses, and holy water. We're going to need help." She looked at Willow, who was already deep into hack-mode.

"We're on it," Oz replied quietly. Buffy nodded.

"Let's go. Eliza needs us."




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