~ The offices of the new council of watchers, Essex England – three days ago ~
Rodger Stone sat sternly in his chair. He clasp the receiver of the phone tightly in his hand
“Are you able to do this Nigel or do I need to replace you?” he said angrily down the line
“That won’t be necessary.” Nigel Wincroft replied on the other end
Rodger hung up sharply. There was something about Nigel that got on his nerves. He was a good watcher but he tended to ask too many questions. There was a light knocking at the door that broke his train of thought.
“Come in.”
The door opened and a thin looking nervous man walked in carrying a manila folder. Rodger looked up at him seriously.
“What is it Brant?” Rodger asked
“We found one sir!” Brant Jennings replied excitedly
“You sure? I don’t want to go on another wild goose chase.”
“Yes sir,” Brant replied placing some photos in front of him, “This time we double checked to make sure.”
Rodger looked at the photos with interest. They were all of a short red headed woman. While he was doing this Brant placed the folder in front of him.
“Her name is Penny Whitfield. She worked in Los Angeles before the battle. She’s been working around the city of Phoenix in California for at least the last two years.”
Rodger looked up at Brant in surprise
“Whitfield?”
“That’s correct but it get’s better. This slayer was one of two slayers who worked directly with the Divine One.”
Rodger smiled slyly.
“So effectively we could kill two birds with one stone,” he replied
Rodger pressed a button on his desk. A moment later a tall man with a military style haircut walks into the room. Rodger throws the photos at him.
“This is your new target,” he explained, “I want you to bring her back to England for processing. Use force if you have to just bring her back here.”
“Right away sir,” The tall man replied
Brant looked at the tall man nervously.
“Wait sir,” he interjected, “Maybe a less violent response is a better method.”
“What the devil are you talking about Brant?”
“Let me go I’ll negotiate on the council’s behalf.”
Rodger looked at Brant curiously.
“Trust me,” Brant replied, “if you go in weapons firing you’re going to drive her away and we might not be able to find her again.”
“Alright Brant you can go along with them. Just make sure she on the first flight back.”
“I will sir.” Bran replied
Brant moved swiftly out of the room. Rodger looked up at the tall man.
“Once Brant is finished with his song and dance number I want you to bring the slayer directly to me.”
“Yes sir.” The tall man replied
“Oh and one more thing,” Rodger continued, “If the slayer become too much of a problem kill her.”
“Of course Sir.”
~ WNHK studios, Phoenix Arizona ~
Brett leaned back on his chair. It had taken him at least three hours to get the kinks out of the computers affected by his virus. Life for him had taken an interesting turn of late. Ever since he met a slayer name Penny. Just then Penny walked into the room. She was double checking some notes left to her by Jarrod and was shaking her head. Brett looked over to her and smiled mischievously.
“Morning Nighty.” He said cheerfully
Penny shot him a look which made Brett defensive.
“I was just joking, lighten up,” he replied.
“I would but Jarrod has got me on this weird errand,” Penny replied, “I’m supposed to find Duck footage.”
“What’s so weird about that?”
“It’s a story about bowling.”
“Huh,” Brett replied, “hey is it true that Jarrod calls his office the ninth circle of hell?”
“Among other things”
“Why do you need to find ducks for?”
“He does this every month,” Penny explains, “Jarrod gets so bored that he decides to take it out on other people. Guess it’s my turn.”
“You’re not gonna do it are you?”
Penny shrugged,
“Things have been kinda quiet in the city figure I do with the time off.”
It was Brett’s turn to give penny a look. Penny looked at him curiously
“What?” she asked
“This is how you want to spend your time off?” he exclaimed, “oh, come on, Pen! Girl your build who can practically lift a car you could make a mint.”
“That sorta goes against my ‘keeping my identity a secret’ rule.”
“Screw that. Take your show on the road.”
“And what if someone I beat up finds out? We could all be in trouble.”
Brett pondered this.
“Oh, right, I hadn’t thought of me,” he replied, “Stick with what you’re doing I think it works great for you.”
Penny Smirked and rolled her eyes. She then went back to her duck hunting.
~ Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix Arizona – ten minutes later ~
The automatic doors opened at the front of the international terminal. Brant Jennings walked out followed by three tall, mean, looking men.
“Now I want you remind you what going to happen,” Brant explained to the men behind him, “We’re he to negotiate with the slayer not to manhandle understood”
“For the last time yes,” Vic Robson, the enforcer for the council retrieval team, replied in an annoyed tone.
“Just want you be clear that under no circumstances is violence to be used.”
“Alright I get the bleeding point!”
“Good. Where’s our transport?”
Vic looked around until he spotted the jet black van parked in the long term car park.
“There it is.” Vic said
Brant looked at the van in concern.
“Are you sure this is necessary?” he asked
“What’s wrong with it?” Vic replied
“I have concerns that this van might send her the wrong message.”
Vic rolled his eyes.
“Just get in the bloody van!”
As the four men climbed in to the vehicle they were completely oblivious that they were being watched. On a nearby lamp post Hope perched quietly and observed them. She sensed the danger from a mile and felt it warranted investigation. Flapping her wings she launched herself. It was important that she get to Penny before they do.
Back at the studio Penny was working at her desk when Hope flew in through the open window and landed on the desk. The Night-Hawk chirped loudly in an urgent tone. Penny stopped what she was doing and listened.
“Wait, who coming for me?” Penny asked
Hope continued to chirp. Penny looked at the small bird confused.
“What makes you think they’re Watchers?”
Hope chirped some more which made Penny very concerned.
“Oh my god,” she said in an urgent tone.
Quickly colleting her things. She placed Hope on her shoulder and rushed out of the office. Searching around the station it took penny longer then she liked to try and find Brett. When she finally did the look of worry on his face started to ring alarm bells in his head. Penny ushered him to follow.
“What’s going on Pen?” He asked
“Watchers are coming for me.” Penny replied as they wound their way through the hallways of the studio
Brett furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“What’s coming for you?”
“I don’t have time to explain,” Penny replied as they made it to the parking lot, “I just need you to cover me for a couple of hours while I lead these guys away from here.”
“Penny Whitfield?” A man with an upper class English accent asked
Penny and Brett stopped. In their hurry they failed to notice the four men heading in their direction.
“Yeah?” Penny asked trying to keep her cool
Once he heard that Vic pushed past Brant and stood over penny in an authoritive fashion.
“By the authority of the Council of Watchers of England you are here by ordered to return with us for assessment and reintegration.” He yelled
Penny looked around the car park. Some of the employees were looking at the group curiously. Brant stepped in front of Vic and gave him an annoyed look.
“I don’t think we need to do this here,” Brant said
“What do you want?” Penny asked seriously
Brant raised his arms in a calming fashion.
“We just want to talk to you Penny that’s all,” Brant replied, “Is there somewhere private we can go?”
Penny and Brett looked at each other. Brett shrugged at the pair looked back at the group.
“Yeah we know someplace,” Brett replied
“And who might you be?” Brant asked
Brett put his arms around Penny’s shoulder.
“I’m her manager.”
Brett noticed that look Penny was giving him and quickly removed the arm.
“Come with us,” Penny said
The four men began to walk but Penny stopped them.
“Not them.”
Penny pointed to Vic and the two men flanking him. Brant nodded at turned to the enforcer.
“Go wait by the van.” Brant said
Vic gave him a look of death
“Our orders are to get the slayer and go home.”
“And that’s what I’m doing,” brant replied, “At the moment we need to respect her wishes.”
Vic snarled at the watcher but he complied. He and his two team members walked over to the van and leaned against it. As Penny, Brett and Brant walked away Vic pulled out his cell and speed dialed a number. After a couple of rings an older male answered
“Roger Stone.?”
“Sir, it’s Vic, we might have a complication.”
~ The abandoned mansion – five minutes later ~
Brant walked around the room curiously. Sitting near by was Penny, The Wanderer, Brett, Megan and Hope.
“That was extraordinary,” Brant said in amazement, “What was that? Some kind of translocation spell?”
“Not exactly?” Penny replied, “Who are you?”
Brant looked over to the group and returned to his official look.
“Oh yes, I’m sorry, my name is Brant Jennings I’m a Watcher for the council.”
“Okay . . . and that is what?” Brett asked
Brant looked over to the hacker in confusion.
“You don’t know what a watcher is yet you work with a slayer?”
“Hey I’m still trying to work out what a slayer is alight British guy?”
Megan elbowed Brett in the ribs. Sensing the hint he went back to being quiet. Brant took a breath and dragged a seat in front of Penny.
“You might not be aware but the Council has been looking for you for quite some time now,” Brant explained, “You and any other Generation S. Slayer who survived the Trinity battle.”
“So there’s no other slayers at all?”
“Aside from the recently activated slayer in Raleighfield, and yourself of course, there has be no other slayer.”
Penny looked at Brant stunned.
“Wait, A slayer was activated? I thought the power was destroyed.”
“Well that’s was we thought but it turns out that it simply reverted back to what it was.”
“So who was this girl?”
Brant searched his mind.
“A teenager at the local high school actually, Belle Galloway.”
This caught Megan’s attention
“Whoa, wait, back up a second,” Megan said in surprise, “Belle Galloway’s the slayer?”
“Yes.” Brant replied
“Belle Susan Galloway?”
“Yes that’s right. Why? Do you know her?”
A broad smile crossed Megan Galloway’s face.
“I should,” Megan replied, “We’ve been cousins since forever, god, Nolan must be pissed.”
“Well this is very serendipitous.” Brant replied
The Wanderer had remained silent for the duration for this conversation. Through his forty year stint working with the Night-Hawk he had heard and talked to a few slayers. This includes his brief stint in a small town called Sunnydale. He had learned about the council’s attitude and demeanor and wanted to make sure this Jennings was on the level.
“This is what I don’t understand;” The Wanderer said finally, “the council already has a slayer why does it need another one?”
“Because the war still continues. Wolfram and Hart might be gone but that doesn’t make the demon threat any less threatening. We need you back in the fold Penny.” Brant replied
“Sorry Brant,” Penny replied looking over to hope who was sitting on her perch, “I’ve got another calling now.”
“You can’t ignore your birth right. It is your sacred duty to hunt the vampires.”
“There are vampires to?” Brett asked in shock, “What else aren’t you guys telling me?”
“I’m not ignoring my calling. It’s just that I’ve been chosen to do in a different way, beside, I’ve heard how Rodger is running the council now.”
Brant looked at her curiously
“How did you hear that?” he asked
“A little bird told me.”
Brant shifts his attention to the small Night-Hawk sitting happily.
“Indeed,” he replied as he got to his feet, “Well if there’s no changing your mind I wish you good luck with your new calling.”
“Thanks.” Penny replied, “That means a lot.”
Vic stood impatiently by the van. Brant and the slayer had been gone for almost two hours which was too long of a retrieval in his book. From the studio on of his team members returned.
“Well?” Vic asked
“Sorry sir no sign of them.” the member replied
“They can’t of just disappeared.”
“I looked everywhere.”
Just then Brant, Penny and Brett reappeared from around a corner. Vic gave his team member an annoyed look.
“I swear they weren’t there sir.” The member replied
The trio walked up to the retrieval team.
“What’s the word?” Vic asked
“Unfortunately the slayer will not be joining us.” Brant replied
“Really? That’s a shock.” Vic replied sarcastically
Brant shot him a look then turned to Penny.
“It was a pleasure to meet you,” he said enigmatically, “Good luck.”
“Same to you.” Penny replied before turning and walking away
Brant waited until they were out of earshot.
“I want you to follow her,” Brant said to Vic, “I want to know exactly what it is she does.”
“No.” Vic replied as he motioned to one of his team
Brant turned and looked at the enforcer.
“What?” he asked
“Sorry mate change of plan.”
Vic lifted up the tranquilizer gun and fired. The dart flew through the air and struck Penny square in the back. She swung around angrily and pulled it out but as she attempted to return her movements became sluggish and she collapsed to the ground. Bushing Brant out of the way Vic and his team walked over to the unconscious slayer. Brett stood in the way defensively trying to block their path but Vic simply knocked him out with the but off the rifle.
He scooped Penny up and threw her over his shoulder. Handing the rifle to one of his team mates he pulled out his cell and speed dialed the number.
“It’s me sir,” Vic said down the phone, “The Slayer’s been secured we’re on our way back.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Brant yelled at him
“My Job,” Vic replied, “Sorry what was that sir Brant was whining at me.”
There was a brief pause before the enforcer handed Brant the cell.
“He want’s to speak to you.”
Brant snatched the cell.
“What is going on sir?” Brant asked
“It’s quite simple Jennings,” Rodger stone replied, “We went to get a Slayer and we got one.”
“I had everything under control! The slayer would have come willingly if you’d let me . . .”
“Brant you’re an imbecile. You didn’t honestly think talking was going to convince her.”
“If you gave it time yes!”
“We’re at war Brant I don’t have time to coddle people.”
“But sir . . .”
“This slayer is our ticket to the Divine One’s re-recruitment. Either she will help us willingly or be used as a hostage it’s her choice.”
“I can’t believe you considered this as an option Rodger.”
“And I’m having trouble believing you didn’t Jennings.”
“If anything happens to Penny . . .”
“That’s enough Brant! Put me back onto Vic!”
Begrudgingly he handed the phone back to Vic. He moved away from the watcher.
“Vic I want you to deal with Jennings before you board the plane.” Rodger ordered
“With pleasure sir,” Vic replied, “How do you want it done?”
“It doesn’t matter so long as it’s permanent.”
A wicked smile crossed Vic’s face.
“Yes sir.” He replied before he hung up his cell, “Alright let’s move out. We’ve wasted too much time as it is.”
“Don’t move!” a voice yelled from behind them
Vic sighed as they turned to see two security guards pointing guns at them.
“Oh bloody hell.” Vic exclaimed
“Put the woman down.” the first security guard ordered
Vic just stared at him annoyed.
“I said put the woman down!!”
“I had enough of this,” Vic exclaimed, “Boys, deal with these wankers will you.”
The other members of the retrieval team nodded. From under their jacket they pulled out a couple of small sub machine guns and open fire. Brant watched in horror as the two guards were gunned down in broad daylight in front of witnesses.
“Much better. C’mon lets go I’m getting sick of this country.” Vic continued as he threw Penny into the van followed by Brant.
The watcher felt sick to his stomach as they drove away leaving two men dead. he knew there and then that he had made the worst mistake of his life.
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