Rupert Giles, former college drop-out, petty criminal and practitioner of dark magics looked around the room with satisfaction. He was the Head of the Watchers’ Council, the epitome of respectability and responsibility. And if somewhere deep within him the rebel he had once been screamed with frustration at his complete acquiescence to The Establishment, they were not being heard.
It was working. Six months ago, he’d been suffocated by the seemingly unceasing stress of decisions, meetings and demands for his time, but now people had adapted to their roles, surroundings and the working culture. The structure they’d struggled to create was firmly in place, allowing Giles to concentrate on his job rather than the ability of his colleagues to do theirs.
Now, in the conference room every report given by the various heads of departments confirmed Giles’ new confidence in the organization they’d built from nothing but memories and instincts. Frustratingly their massively increased numbers and resources were having less impact on the demon and vampire populations than anticipated. It seemed that as Willow’s spell unlocked the Potentials the ranks of their adversaries rose in direct proportion; the fight continued, as bitter and deadly as always.
In the past twelve weeks he‘d only been in London for a few days, instead had worked with each Slayer team across the continents: determined that Watchers in the field should not feel as isolated and remote from the Council as he had once done, delighted to discover that things were running as smoothly outside of Council headquarters as they were in it.
Perhaps not everything.
‘…which leaves us with one problem still to be addressed,’ Martin Stanger, Head of Watcher Training had his report interrupted by an outbreak of good natured muttering: everyone knew what or rather who his problem was. ‘Elizabeth Winters continues to be a cause for concern. Despite extra coaching and no lack of intelligence it is clear that she has little aptitude for languages, academic study or any of the more cerebral qualities we look for.’
‘Then why is she still here?’ Asked someone desperate for a point to be made so the meeting would end.
‘Because in every other way she is remarkable,’ Martin’s face creased into an expression of baffled pride, that had Giles been aware, he would of recognised as one he habitually adopted when talking about Buffy.
‘I have never come across anyone at this stage in their training who is so adept at combat, there isn’t a weapon or a move she can’t excel at, and her strategic awareness is faultless. She has great potential, great potential,’ his voice cracked with frustration.
Giles was surprised, Martin was possibly the most pragmatic of the senior Watchers, he had never seen him anything other than calm. This Elizabeth Whoever had clearly got to him. Giles couldn’t help wondering if other, less professional emotions were part of the cause.
‘Were Elizabeth a Potential then we’d all be so impressed, but as a Watcher…’ he shrugged helplessly. ‘I know I’m too hard on her but if we lose her it’ll be a great shame. Yet if we keep her, unless there is a vast improvement it will all be waste of time.’
‘I‘m not sure I‘ve even met her,’ said Giles.
‘You would have done if you ever left your office other to swan off visiting the Slayer teams.’
Giles gave his colleague a cheerful smile that somehow made him appear wholly intimidating, if not a little unhinged.
‘You’re quite right. Dereliction of duty is just one of the many perks of being in charge.’
Martin looked embarrassed.
‘Rupert, I apologise. Too much work, not enough sleep. You understand?’
‘More than you’ll ever know, replied Giles. ‘If I may, I’ll sit in on the next training class, see this Elizabeth in action. Then w-we’ll determine the best way forward. I think we’ve all had enough for now. Meeting adjourned.’
********************
Nihal looked out over the city as she took a deep drag on her cigarette. She was only seven floors up but could clearly see St Paul’s and on a better day the river. If a no smoking policy forced you outside then there were worst places to be than the Council roof.
‘Good morning.’
Nihal was annoyed to see the man she’d mentally dubbed ‘The Supreme Being’ in tribute to Time Bandits, come over and lean on the parapet, now her relaxing fag break was ruined.
‘Morning, sir.’
They smoked in companionable silence for a while.
‘I’ve had a look at your findings,’ he began.
As much as she wanted to hear his opinion on her work, Nihal was irritated that he was going to ignore the ‘don’t talk shop on a break’ rule to give it to her. Typical, the man was relentless in his obsession with work. Opinions on Rupert Giles varied tremendously across the Council, from those who thought the ex-Watcher of the most successful and long-lived Slayer throughout recorded time could do no wrong, to the vocal minority who believed the man to be a psychopath who’d happened upon a career where his violent tendencies would go unpunished and sometimes be rewarded.
Nihal found his intensity unnerving, and his habit of conducting even the most serious conversations through a constant stream of sarcasm, grating in the extreme. She’d been recruited as a researcher just before she’d graduated, and whilst he may be a posh sod she had nothing but respect for her boss’s intellect and ability.
‘It really is an excellent piece of translation,’ he gave her an approving nod. ‘The problem with prophecies is that they are very difficult to locate in a definite time.’
‘This one does seem to be quite specific,’ Nihal insisted. ‘They shall come forth from the crater in a cursed land. The disguised Slayer and the demon drawn Watcher will reunite with a bond that is stronger than hate. The Scythe will cut the many down to one.’
‘And?’
Was she going to have to spell it out for him?
‘Sunnydale is a crater on a closed Hellmouth - that’s fairly cursed.’
‘True. You think I’m the Watcher because of my tattoo, don’t you?’
‘It makes sense,’ said Nihal defensively.
‘I’m not the only Watcher with one, e-even though it represents something demonic I-I doubt a tattoo of that kind is unique.’
Nihal rolled her eyes, got to love working for someone who stumbles over their words when they get stressed, it is the quickest way to find out if trouble is coming. Clearly that part of the prophecy had hit home. Sensing an advantage, Nihal pressed on:
‘I think The Scythe refers to the Scythe of Pencarrow. Cornish legend has it that St Just used the Scythe to drive demons out from the Pencarrow Peninsula.’
‘How very resourceful of him,’ muttered Giles. ‘Where is this Scythe now?’
‘On E-bay. We’re the highest bidders.’
‘E-bay,’ repeated Giles dismissively. ‘Unbelievable.’
Nihal really wanted another cigarette, but didn’t want Mr Giles to think she was kicking the arse out of taking a break. In a flash of inspiration she offered him one first which he accepted, she then took one herself and held it out as he lit it for her with a flashy gold Zippo, that he clicked on and off one-handed like he was Keyser Sozé.
‘Put together, there is a strong case to be made for the prophecy to be coming close to being fulfilled.’
‘Explain the ‘disguised Slayer’ part,’ he challenged her.
‘You and Miss Summers are obviously very close.’ Although when you came back from Rome in the Summer, the persistent rumour was that somehow you’d pissed her off so much she broke your nose, added Nihal to herself. ‘That’s the bond part taken care of.’
‘Which still leaves the phrase ‘disguised Slayer’.’
‘I don’t know what that means. I was hoping you would.’
For a few seconds he seemed totally distracted by the view.
‘Not a clue, that’s where the prophecy falls apart. However, it remains an accomplished piece of scholarship. Far from being in disguise, Buffy is currently in L.A with some friends.’
The wind picked up and they both shivered.
‘Ooh lucky her. The sun hasn’t shone here for days.’
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
