fic- Do Your Best and Don't Worry

[hermitstull]

Hello there-

I'll have an update sometime tomorrow or Saturday. Now to replies-



Justin: Greetings and salutations! Always pleased to see new reader/poster. Ah, Mr. Hahn. More of him is coming during Day One and Day Four that may help or hurt his character.



There have been several posts on motivation, and just how good or caring are Mr. Hahn, Lucas, and Jay. Are they good? Or are they evil pretending to be good? And do they really care about the world around them?



For Lucas and Mr. Hahn, their motivation is based in helping to protect the world from evil. And there is a modicum of caring inherently built into that. If they really didn't care about people as a whole, why bother to try to save them?

They are, however, less concerned with the individual, including those around them. It can be rather harsh, say, if you have to send someone to do a job that you know will get them hurt or killed, but if it will save more by doing so, Mr. Hahn and Lucas would do it.



"The good of the many out weighs the good of the few".



(mixing in a little bit of a reply for Maudmac here too)



As for Jay, she too, cares about the world and the people around her. Way more about individuals than Mr. Hahn or Lucas. But she too understands that her personal needs and concerns are secondary to the overall whole of humanity. (I have a whole backstory to her in my head that hopefully will see the light of day sometime.) As an example, if Dawn would have been her sister and it came down to Dawn or the world, she would have picked the world and allowed Dawn to die. Does that mean that she doesn't love Dawn? Not at all. But the world is too big to let go for one person.



And the clans definately need to change their ways. Tara and Willow will help them.



Maudmac: I'm glad that these characters have generated different ideas and opinions. Things are working in this tale and that's good to know.



Mr. Hahn has done a good job in preparing the team for their job. It is a harsh and somewhat heartless way, but it has worked very well. It also helps to protect him from the eventual hurt when his team is killed. Much like a Watcher, many team's lives end in death.



And I like Jay. She and Lucas (another unpopular one) are probably my favorites right now. What can I say?





hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

Edited by: hermitstull at: 1/9/03 10:08:20 pm

[hermitstull]

Hello, hello-



And now to part seven which will take us through mid day of day one of the countdown to the final battle. Day one, night will be up either Saturday or Sunday afternoon.



And thanks to everyone for keeping those views going up. Now Do Your Best is over 4500! Awesome.



And as always, feedback is greatly enjoyed.









Part 7a

Author's note: The guide is revealed. We learn what all that computer equipment is for. And we get a look at prime for the first time. And all before dusk, what a day.





you know in all of the time that we've shared

I've never been so scared

doll me up in my bad luck

I'll meet you there



I wish I never had taken this dare

I wasn't quite prepared

doll me up in my bad luck

I'll meet you there



from Doll by the Foo Fighters





Day One: Morning

Demon Reality



“Of course,” the man that was once known as Riley Finn said casually, “it’s new to you. But to me,” Riley smiled, “it’s heaven. Beyond heaven. And I know a thing or two about those places,” he smiled. “Had a little payback for the master to take care of there.”



Riley hopped down from the hill of ruble he had been standing on, his black duster swirling behind him. The rest of him was in black as well, mostly leather and vinyl. His hair was extremely short, shaved within an inch of his head and was dark, not the sandy blonde the women remembered.



As he drew closer, they knew he was all demon, a vampire. A very old and powerful vampire that served something even more fearsome than himself.



Riley paused, finally noticing the expressions on his new charge’s faces. It was shock mixed with recognition. He had never seen the two before, in his world or on any other, but they obviously thought they knew him.



“I am known as the Agent of Destruction,” he gave them his most charming grin. “Agent will do. Sometimes the nicknames the human feces on this world give us can be a bit over the top.” He waited a moment. “And you are?”



“This is Willow,” Tara spoke. “And I’m Tara. We were sent,”



“Yes, I know,” Agent smiled. “My master has told me all about your quest. How you are to take him from this world and bring him to greater glory. And what is good for the master,” Agent’s smile broadened, “is good for his people.”



“Sure,” Tara replied.



“Are you unwell,” Agent asked, looking at the pair closely. “Do not fear. I will not harm or allow anything to harm you while we travel. I may thirst for blood, but there are plenty of cattle to feast upon in this land. And I suspect,” Agent could sense great magical ability in the two before him, “that my many years on this world would end if I tried to touch you.”



He looked past the pair for a moment at the small, light filled hole that hovered just above the ground. It was the portal to the other reality that these two had come from. A world so backwards that humans ruled it with little knowledge of the supernatural forces around them. It would be almost invisible to the casual observer, and would most likely be safe here in the wastelands of the last great battle between his master and the dark priestess.



“Shall we,” Agent asked.



With a nod, Tara and Willow silently followed the Agent from the ruble of what was Angel’s mansion in another world.



“I have a question,” Agent asked, as the trio left what was left of the building and began to walk on a cracked and pitted road. “Do you know me? Or of me? Am I a power of darkness in your world?”



“You were our friend,” Willow said softly, looking up at the demon. “You dated my best friend, the slayer.”



“The slayer?” Agent thought for a moment. “Oh yes, I have heard of such a thing. My master once told me that he killed a slayer in his youth. One of the last, I think, on this plain.”



He looked down at the young woman. “I was good then. Aren’t the slayers agents of the light?”



“Yes,” Willow replied. It was hard not to see just a glimmer of the young man that she had gotten to know her freshman year of college. “You were a good guy. You worked for an evil government organization led by an insane scientist killed by her monstrous creation. But you were good.”



Agent didn’t seem fazed by the knowledge that he could have been a good guy in another reality. “I have seen many forms of myself in these realities that swirl around us. Some I did not exist in at all. In others I was good. But at some point,” Agent smiled. “I was seduced by darkness. Even if it was just a little. Hence, the scientist and her people.”



“So you’ve been to other realities?” Willow asked, her natural curiosity getting the best of her.



“A few,” Agent replied. “The master is old and has great power. He has made many allies over the years. He has learned the secret of the hell mouth and can harness it’s great power at his will. The master has seen fit to share some of his knowledge with me, and I have done his will in other places. But not yours,” Agent shook his head. “Your homeland is a dangerous place for my kind. Only fools have tried to enter it. All have died.”



“Your people, however, that call themselves the clans, they have been here many times over my master’s long life. He has helped them, and they have helped him. A good ally,” Agent nodded. “that doesn’t need to be reminded about loyalty to their friends.”



“Loyalty is important,” Willow replied.



“Above all else,” Agent replied intensely. “It is the only quality that separates us from the lower beings, the human, on this Earth.”



“Okay then,” Willow replied and lapsed into silence.







Tara followed a couple of steps behind Willow and the Agent, who had just stuck up another conversation. Oh yes, she remembered the kind and overly eager to please Riley Finn that Willow knew so well. He had always been nice to Tara, trying to engage her as much as possible during group activities. A good man, she knew, whose heart was broken by Buffy who didn’t realize how much she needed him until too late.



But those were memories from another reality, another life. Her own memories of Agent Finn were quite different. The man she knew had callously entered her group of friends, charming Kendra, all in order to protect his mentor, Maggie Walsh. Too late they had all learned the depth of the doctor’s depravity, after she had been killed by her precious Adam.



Even then, Agent Finn had refused to believe how evil Dr. Walsh had been, or how the government was using him to create an army of super soldiers. Only at the very end had he realized, nearly too late, what the Initiative was all about. Kendra had barely survived that last battle with Adam. And by combining essences with her friends in the same way that Willow had done with Buffy gave Kendra the win.



Agent Finn had helped them in that final battle, but left soon after, breaking Kendra’s heart. Almost a year later he had returned, begging for help, but Tara wasn’t sure how that ended, too sick from her cancer to find out for herself.



Yes, Riley Finn was capable of cruelty, Tara knew that well. In the art of lies and deception he was an expert. And this version, the Agent, had been around much longer to perfect those skills. Tara would watch the Agent very closely. He may appear to be a friend, ultimately he was an enemy.



Tara pulled her mind out of her past and tuned into the continuing conversation between her lover and the Agent. Listening for any hints of trouble, any signs of weakness.









Day One: Noon

Sunnydale



“Any news,” Faith asked, hovering behind Tom who sat in front of several computer monitors at the mansion. It was in the late afternoon of the first day of the mission. Everyone left had moved into the mansion so they could be on site to face any problems. Everyone that is, except for Dawn. Buffy felt it was too dangerous for her sister, so she was spending the week at Janice’s house.



“Nope,” Tom replied. “See these,” he pointed to five small monitors to his left. All held identical images of nothingness. “There still falling. It’ll take them another few hours to land in prime.”



“That’s some trip,” Faith replied, watching the moving blackness displayed on the screens in front of her. “I thought that she was found by the Chi town team in prime? What’s with the abyss?”



“Jay used that back door when she escaped. It’s like a long tunnel that connects the lowest of the hell dimensions. Forgotten mostly by the beings that live there. The Chicago team found her a few levels up in another hell dimension.”



“And what about Red and Tara,” she asked, sitting down next to the young man.



“We still don’t have tech magic that allows us to actually see into alternate realities. They tend to be too unstable. But,” he pointed to another screen. “We can monitor their vitals and track them,” Tom clicked his mouse, changing the central computer screen. “on this map.”



Faith looked at the two white blips on what looked like a map of southern California, but without any of the cities and towns she knew.



“It’s not the most accurate map,” Tom explained. “But it gives us a general idea as to where they are and the vitals on how they’re doing.”



“And where are they going?” Faith asked.



“Not hundred percent on that,” Tom shrugged. “My best guess is somewhere up here in the mountains.” Tom clicked, enlarging the map. “The master has many strongholds, but this one is supposed to be his favorite. Or at least that’s what my research has indicated.”



“Lucas never told me about any of this kind of stuff,” Faith leaned back in the office chair.



“He’s more of a traditionalist,” Tom explained. “Lucas, at least as long as I’ve known of him, has always stuck with pure magic. It’s in his blood.”



“Guys,” Xander came rushing in. “We’ve got trouble headed our way. Pack of demons looking to return home to prime.”



“On it,” Faith said standing quickly.



Tom switched everything to auto and quickly followed Xander and Faith outside.





Day One: Noon

Prime



“Finally,” Billy Joe said, landing on the floor of the tunnel. He looked up into the blackness above him. “How did you get up there Jay?”



“Levitated,” Jay replied nonchalantly. “Plus, I stole this charm from an Atrick demon. But at that point, it didn’t matter how long it took. I was free.”



“I bet,” Billy Joe replied.



“So where’s the door?” Max asked.



“Not so much as a door, more like a weak spot in the dimensional wall,” Jay said, stepping forward, reaching her hands out in front of her. “It’s somewhere,” she paused, feeling the wall before her give.



“Here,” she said, stepping through.



“Shit!” Cleo hissed. “Hold on Jay,” she called as the remaining members hurried through the door to prime.



“Oh my god,” Claude said, getting his first look at the ultimate hell dimension.



The quintet stood at the top of a large plateau. Before them stretched the equivalent of the Grand Canyon. Rivers of fire and lava could be seen winding through the valley, pooling in places. There was no sky to speak of. More of a blood red dome that gave the large area a claustrophobic feeling. The air was thinker than Earth, and damp, and carried the worse combination of smells imaginable.



Everything was either shades of red or black, with no visible light source providing illumination.



“Nice huh,” Jay said bitterly.



“Where are?” Billy Joe asked.



“The demons? The lost and tortured souls?” Jay finished. “Not here. This is the wilderness area, the Forbidden Zone, if you will of prime. See that peak off in the distance,” Jay pointed to the east, where a mountain could be seen. “That’s the stronghold. Where we have to go.”



Jay began to lead the team down a roughly cut path that lead to the canyon floor.



“It’s sure a long way off,” Max said.



“We’ll make it in time, don’t worry,” Jay explained. “Time moves a little differently here.”



Everyone else exchanged looks.



“What do you mean differently?” Billy Joe asked.



“And why did you wait until now to tell us?” Cleo frowned.



“Because,” Jay stopped walking and turned to face her friends. “If I told you that time moves is different here, and that for me,” she looked away. “Instead of four years, I spent ten.”



“Ten?” Billy Joe repeated horrified.



“Yes,” Jay replied sadly. “Ten. Ten years in this place, fighting almost every day to survive. You would blame yourselves for not finding me sooner. For not giving me enough time to recover.”



And sure enough, Jay could read the guilt on her friends’ faces over something they had not control of. “It’s okay. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before now, but I wanted to avoid seeing the looks you have now on your faces for the rest of my life.”



“Ten,” Cleo whispered, her heart breaking.



“But it works out well for us. Since we set the timetable on our slower moving dimension, we’ve got some extra time to make it to the strong hold. It’s not too far away, but we get roughly and extra half day to day here for one back home. If my math’s right,” Jay said smiling.



“Irregardless,” Cleo’s voice didn’t betray the heavy guilt she now felt, “we need to push ourselves.”



“Yes we do,” Jay turned and began to walk again, the rest of the group a step or two behind. “The river snakes are tricky to get past.”



“River snakes?” Claude asked.



“About the size of a Hummer, mean as hell,” Jay explained. “Always hungry. And hard to kill.”



“Great,” Billy Joe cursed under his breath.



“Snakes?” Claude asked again. “Why does it have to be snakes?”





TBC....

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[justin]

Great Update.



I really liked Rileys line about the thing that seperates the demons from the humans is the fact that the demons understand loyalty. I thought, so true.



To continue the discussion about Lucas and Mr Hahn, I think the thing that annoys me most about Mr Hahn's methods is the fact that they obviously work.



It's bad enough that he's totally callous and insensitive but the fact that him being that way has let him train the best team, seems to make it so much worse.



Though to be fair to them both I do get the feeling that when they justify their actions by talking about the greater good they are actually talking about the greater good in the general sense and not just their own personal greater good.

I understand, you should be with the person you l-love


I am

[Grimlock72]

I haven't decided yet if this Riley is an improvement or not. He sure is less reliant on other people than he was, guess thats good.



So... Jay spend more years in hell than everybody thought. I realize the difference but wonder if it matters all that much after being stuck for several years anyway. As I understand it, they're following a timetable they don't control so it's not like they have much choice as far as Jay is concerned.



Revealing secrets like that so late isn't very wise, might distract the others at a time they don't need distractions.



I definitly liked how Tara was suspicious of Riley, I like such a protective attitude this Tara has. Granted she has additional reasons for it, but I liked her need to protect Willow if needed... gotta love a girl like that



As for mr. Hahn; he trained a succesfull team, true. Without a good in-combat leader the team would be doomed though. I maintain that mr. Hahn would be a bad field commander, he's good at strategy though.



Both mr. Hahn and Lucas think they protect some greater good (whatever that might be). That's all nice and dandy, as long as I (or 'Willow and Tara' in this case) am part of that greater good.



"Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" is all well and good, unless you're part of the "few"



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Hello all-



I'll be puting up part 7b sometime Sunday. Until then...



justin: Thanks! Yeah, you always want to smack those arrogant people who get the best in life, especially if they've got the stuff to back it up. And that's Mr. Hahn, the best for the best. We'll see a little more of him later on. (I just finished a Mr. Hahn filled part.) And it's never a personal thing for him, too. You've got it.



Loyality is key, yes indeed. The Master definately has the skills and charm to inspire absolute loyality in his followers.



Grimmy: I wanted to find some way to use Riley. I've been watching S4 and early S5 reruns and he's not quite as bad as I remembered from the first go around. Plus, I figured he'd be a bit of a suprise. And he allowed me to give a different backstory between him and Tara. That Riley was more in line with the Agent that the Riley we know.



Jay chose to hold onto the time secret because she didn't want to burden her friends with more guilt over them not finding her sooner. But she needed to explain about the time difference, which would have given it away. I'll come back to this later in the story.



We all want to be part of the "many", that's for sure. And for Lucas, Mr. Hahn, the clans, and to me, all the Buffy characters are part of the few who will sacrifice themselves to save the rest of us. It's built into their job.



But Willow and Tara won't have to come the point where they have to sacrifce themselves. There's already to much of than on the show as it is and it's not going to happen in this story, that's for sure.







thanks again,

hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[hermitstull]

Hello all-

As promised, here is the next installment of Do Your Best: Deep. This wraps up day one of seven on the countdown to the big battle.



Part 8 or day two should be up sometime Monday or Tuesday.



As always, feedback is much appreciated.



Thanks-







Deep: Part 7b

Author's note: The night can be a time for reflection, for memories. Even those you would rather forget.





Like twisted vines that grow

Hide and swallow mansions whole

In light of an already

Faded prima donna



Fortune, fame

Mirror vain

Gone insane...

But the memory remains



from The Memory Remains by Metallica





Day One: Night



The Past

1980



“I just don’t know,” Mr. Hahn said, looking over the stack of folders in front of him. In each was a small dossier on several potential team members, currently in their pre-teen or early teen years. Mr. Hahn being the most senior of three senior shadow members available had first choice as to who to put on his team.



There were five stacks in front of him, one for each member of a standard team. Two warriors, two magic users, and one leader, who would eventually replace Mr. Hahn as the general in the field.



“There are several good candidates for all positions,” He said, looking over at Lucas. “One of the strongest group of youngsters I’ve seen in many years. This one,” Mr. Hahn picked up a folder under the male warrior stack labeled David Scott. “He could step into the shoes of my brother in time.”



Lucas looked at the names Mr. Hahn had tentatively selected for his team. It was critical that Mr. Hahn pick the correct combination, the one that would work to change fate. For ten years, Lucas had studied the history of the future. Today was one of the key elements in changing things for the better.



Mr. Hahn had to select all of the correct members first. If he didn’t, the same combination would be picked by the next most senior shadow trainer, Mr. Evans. And Mr. Evans, a good but not outstanding trainer, would never fully harness the potential in Jay, Billy Joe, Cleo, Claude, and Max. They would never become one of the top teams in the history of the clans, never garner the attention of the assembly of elders, and would die fifteen years from now on an inaccurately assessed busy work mission in the jungles of Vietnam.



So far, Mr. Hahn had selected two of the five Lucas wanted, a southerner from Atlanta, Georgia, Maxwell Redding. Son of a powerful seer, Max was said to have as much power as his mother. The second selected was an orphan from Bath, England named Claudius Vale. Another powerful magician from an unknown line that the clans had snatched away from the Council just in the nick of time.



“What about these three,” Lucas said, pulling the folders out of each stack. “Have you really looked at them?”



“Eh,” Mr. Hahn glanced over the names. “This one,” he waved William Joseph Peterson. “Has much potential, but lacks the discipline. And there is some question about the boy’s intelligence. Look at these test scores,” Mr. Hahn flipped open the file, pointing to several assessment tests. “My teams are the perfect harmony of members of great intellect and power. Not unskilled brute force.”



“Knowledge can be learned,” Lucas replied. “And if you look at his scores on intuition, they are the highest in the group. As well as his IQ. Perhaps he is bored by such mundane standardized testing.”



“Which goes back to discipline.”



“Another learnable skill,” Lucas reminded. “And look, he has started to learn music. He’s in a band with his friends. And that takes a modicum of self control.”



Mr. Hahn thought for a moment, then set the folder in the tentative pile.



“What about her,” Lucas handed Mr. Hahn another folder.



“Ah Miss Dotzler,” Mr. Hahn took the folder. “Her family line is made up of bankers and businessmen. They haven’t had a member of any team in the last twenty-five years, maybe more. Too untested and unpredictable.”



“Up until this century Mr. Hahn, the Dotzler line and its subsidiaries was one of the strongest and most revered families in the clans. If fact, she is a direct descendent of Hans Dotzler who closed the Cologne hell mouth in 1922. She is looking to rekindle the greatness of her family line. Plus the leadership assessment,” Lucas flipped a couple of pages in the folder. “In the top percent in every category.”



“Hmm,” Mr. Hahn took the folder and added it to the tentative pile.



“And this,” Lucas handed Mr. Hahn the last folder. “A diamond in the rough. Both of her brothers are highly regarded. Jason has been selected to become a rogue slayer, and Jack has just completed his fifth successful mission as solo leader for the Chicago team. A proven family line.”



“Yes indeed,” Mr. Hahn looked over Jamison Reed’s folder. “She is quite talented, and scored very well on all assessment tests. But there is something here, a hint of darkness that I find unsettling. An element that could create a problem in the future for herself and her team. Too risky.” He shook his head no and put the folder back in the stack. “Mr. Scott will complete the team.”



Mr. Hahn took the five folders, Redding, Vale, Peterson, Dotzler, and Scott. He held them up for Lucas to see, confidently saying. “This will be the team of the future, Lucas. Mark my words.”



“Yes,” Lucas nodded and smiled. Inwardly he seethed. So close, but Jay had been left off the list. Would fate still see that she would die too young to complete the prophecy? Could Lucas salvage the situation? Maybe if Jay became a rogue slayer.



The pair left the selection office in clan headquarters. Lucas nodded to at the young receptionist seated at a desk just outside the door.



“Mr. Patee, Mr. Hahn,” the young woman called out. “Wait! This message just came for you.”



“What is it Barbara?” Lucas asked, taking the note.



“Bad news, I’m sorry,” Barbara replied sadly. “It seems one of the candidates, a Mr. David Scott, was dabbling in a bit of the dark arts. God himself sucked into an alternate reality.”



“David Scott, did you say?” Lucas asked, looking over at Mr. Hahn.



“Yes.”



“What is his status?” Mr. Hahn asked.



“Turned, I’m afraid. When they found him he had just risen as a vampire. The team pulled him out of there but was forced to terminate him. Such a waste.”



“Yes. Thank you Barbara,” Lucas smiled sadly at the young woman who returned to her post.



“It looks like your Jamison will get a chance on my team after all,” Mr. Hahn said, tossing the David Scott folder in a nearby trash can.



Lucas nodded and waited as Mr. Hahn went back to the office to grab Jay’s folder. Perhaps fate was with him after all, seeing that it had made an error initially making this group for an early death under the tutelage of another. Mr. Hahn had followed Lucas’s advice without much effort or magic needed.



“Ready,” Lucas asked Mr. Hahn.



“The team of the future,” he replied, waving Jay’s folder slightly, his voice a little unsure.







Day One: Night

Demon Reality



Willow, Tara, and the Agent pulled off of the road to take a break. After walking for what seemed like an eternity, the trio came to the edge of the devastation of what was once Sunnydale. The town had been at the center of a massive battle between two of this world’s superpowers.



The master whom the agent served and a powerful black sorceress, known only as the dark priestess. The master had been victorious and had sent his greatest foe into exile. But the Agent had warned that she might be down, but definitely not out.



The Agent pulled his sleek BMW equivalent off of the main road and into what could be loosely called a rest area. A sheltered area that held a few benches and tables, and remarkably, a bathroom.



The Agent sat atop a table and drank from a silver flask as the girls went to freshen up.



“How are you holding up?” Tara asked Willow once they were out of earshot.



“I’m good,” Willow replied. “Better than I thought.”



“I know,” Tara nodded and slipped her hand into Willow’s. “Not as bad as I expected. But it’ll get worse.”



“Definitely,” Willow agreed, pushing open the door to the restroom and looked around. “I wonder if it has running water?”



“I wonder why it’s here at all,” Tara asked back. “Sort of strange to have a human convenience in a world of demons.”



“Maybe it’s a hold over from When Humans Ruled the Earth,” Willow joked.



The girls completed their business in silence and headed back outside.



Willow’s eyes fell on the Agent, sitting calmly on the table.



“He’s the biggest shock so far,” Willow nodded at the man she had known as Riley Finn. “Riley was so,”



“I know,” Tara agreed. “Tara’s memories of him are all good.”



Something in her lover’s voice caused the red head to stop. “I hear a but in there.”



Tara looked at Willow and sighed. “My memories of Agent Finn aren’t so great.” She confessed. “He never really saw how evil the Initiative was, or Dr. Walsh. He did help us in the end, but he wasn’t one of us, the Scoobies. And he broke Kendra’s heart.”



“Oh,” Willow processed the knowledge.



“That’s the thing about alternate realities I guess,” Tara offered. “Somewhere there’s a different version of you, but still you. Something must have attracted your Riley to the government, to the Initiative in the fist place. Maybe he wasn’t as good as you thought.” She squeezed Willow’s hand. “We all wear many faces.”



Suddenly, Tara’s head began to buzz as another strange memory flash surfaced.



Tara took a step away from Lucas as he faced Mr. Rouse. The magic crackled around them like an indoor thunderstorm. And she didn’t want to get hit by a stray bolt of lightening.



“Call a spade a spade Lucas,” Mr. Rouse said. “I was there. I remember the gossip.”



“What?” Lucas asked surprised.



“I was just a junior watcher in training when you stood before the Council and pleaded your case about Iantha’s prophecy. About how they needed to contact the clans, to take the line back into the fold, to prepare the girl for the future. Even before you truly knew how, you were trying to change fate. Trying to change the natural order.”



“And they were fools,” Lucas spat.



“No. They just didn’t want to move on your timetable,” Mr. Rouse corrected. “There were several other more pressing events coming to pass. The birth of Glorificus in human form, as I recall, was one of the examples they gave.”



Tara’s eyes widened at the name of the hell god who had nearly destroyed her mind.



“Oh yes,” Mr. Rouse said, catching Tara’s shocked expression. “The more immediate effect of chaos when all dimensions and realities became one was of more concern. The slow boil of the same effect, only involving hell dimensions, was something that could be dealt with later.”



“The effects would have been just as bad. No worse, if that was allowed to happen,” Lucas defended himself. “The Council is reactionary, never proactive. And after I found out what would happen if the prophecy was ignored, I knew that I made the right choice.”



“Poor Lucas,” Mr. Rouse mocked, “burdened by the weight of having to take the future in his own hands and change it to suit his needs.” He paused, and asked. “And what face do you wear now, oh hero of the world? What master do you serve, other than yourself?”





“Tara!” Willow’s shout pulled the girl out of her mind.



“Wha,” Tara replied groggily. “What? What happened?”



“You blanked out,” Willow replied concerned. “One minute we were talking about the Agent, the next thing I knew, you stopped walking and starred off into space.”



“I-I-I had another memory flash,” Tara explained.



The Agent, seeing the girls stopped, began to make his was over to them to investigate.



“I remember now,” Tara said, shaking her head. “Mr. Rouse was talking to Lucas. Talking about the prophecy. And the Council.” Tara’s heart froze at the name. “And Glory.”



“Is everything okay?” Agent asked, reaching the pair.



Ignoring him, Tara continued, focusing on Willow. “Lucas and Mr. Rouse were talking about being part of the Council together. About Lucas’s appealing to them for help. But they turned him down.” She paused. “Shit! I’m losing it.” Tara looked at Willow plaintively, “Why can’t I remember!”



“I sense magic,” Agent said.



Both girls looked at him questioningly.



“What do you mean?” Willow asked harshly.



“She’s under a Tabula Rasa spell,” Agent replied. “A very powerful on at that. But the magic is based in your reality, not this one. Its effects are wearing off. Soon you’ll remember all of what is blocked from you.”



“I’m shocked that I’m about to agree with the vampire version of by best friend’s ex-boyfriend, but I think he’s right.” Willow looked from the Agent to Tara. “This is the most you’ve remembered yet.”



“I guess,” Tara replied, not wanting to give the Agent credit for his insight.



“If you are ready, we should continue,” Agent said, looking around. “The dark priestess has servants in this area. It’s not safe.”



The trio headed back to the car and sped off into the night.



“I was wondering,” Willow asked after awhile from the back seat, Tara’s head in her lap. “When does the sun rise in this reality?”



“It doesn’t,” Agent replied. “Sometimes the night is brighter, sometimes it is darker, but it is always night in this world. As it should be.”



Willow thought back to her conversation with the now dozing Tara in the restroom. Things hadn’t been so bad in this reality, but she knew that they were about to get worse. Holding Tara a little tighter, she drifted off into fitful sleep.







TBC...

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

Edited by: hermitstull at: 1/12/03 2:43:22 pm

[maudmac]

Oh, wow, Tara's getting her memory back! I can't wait to see what she's going to remember.



And it's interesting to see more of Mr. Hahn and Lucas' backstory.

Quote:

---

Though to be fair to them both I do get the feeling that when they justify their actions by talking about the greater good they are actually talking about the greater good in the general sense and not just their own personal greater good.

---

I agree completely, justin. And that's part of why they're such fascinating characters.



I'm intrigued to see how Willow will run her team in the future. I know she will never sacrifice Tara for the "greater good," but...what would she sacrifice? Would she be able to send a team into what's probably a no-win situation? Is Willow capable of that? Could she successfully lead a team if she's not?



hermitstull, you're going to keep writing this stuff forever, right?

Don't lick my EYE!---Margaret Cho

[hermitstull]

Hey Maudmac



Thanks. We're going to be seeing more of everything, Tara's memories, Mr. Hahn's story, and more of Lucas as we go. I've got it spread out so a piece of important info falls into one of the day parts during each of the remaining six days leading up to the final confrontation.



One of those parts will also touch on Willow's feelings about team leadership and a memory of her own that was hinted at early on in Deep.



And yes, I've got a couple of ideas for a sequel to Do Your Best floating around in my head. I just have to finish writing Deep first.





hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

Edited by: hermitstull at: 1/13/03 9:23:29 pm

[hermitstull]

Hello again,

Thanks to a massive nap during most of the day, I'm wide awake are ready to post part 8a of Deep. This part takes us through mid day of day 2. I'll have part 8b up sometime on Wednesday.



And keep that feedback comming! I love it!







Deep: Part 8a

Author's note: We see ourselves through blinders most of the time, only thinking of things in terms of 'I'. Sometimes we need others to see us and our situations to get at the truth.

(Oh, and a big revelation is, well, revealed.)







Compare the best of their days

with the worst of your days

you won't win

with your standards so high

and your spirits so low

at least remember...

this is you on a bad day, you on a pale day

just do your best and don't ...

don't worry

The way you hang yourself is oh, so unfair



from Do Your Best and Don't Worry by Morrissey





Day Two: Morning

Prime



“Snakes, hell dogs, demon zombies,” Max’s best friend Claude called irritatedly to Jay. “What’s next? Mutated humans who worship the last remaining nuclear warhead on the planet?



Max chuckled to himself, missing Jay’s too cheery and sarcastic reply. He looked up at the taller man. Claude was the oldest in the group, being only a few years away from forty. And he was the only non-American, but the Colonies had sabotaged much of his English accent and ways. Most importantly, he was Max’s best friend.



“Bloody hell,” Claude grumbled, letting his accent slip in. He only did that when he was angry, frustrated, or scared shitless. Max guessed it was the potent mix of all three showing through.



Max knew that when Claude got this bad, it was best to leave him alone for a bit to cool off. He feinted having to adjust his boot, allowing the pissed Englishman to move ahead in line.



The group was on a narrow path that overlooked another part of the endless river of lava that wound much like Claude’s dreaded snakes through prime’s forbidden zone.



“Got a stone in your shoe,” Billy Joe asked as Max stood up.



“Cranky Brit next to me,” Max joked. Billy Joe chuckled and fell in step with Max.



Billy Joe. Everyone’s pal, Max looked at the classic All-American boy. Ruggedly handsome, great body, sparkling personality, popular with both sexes. Quick with a joke, or a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen. Probably the best human of the lot of them.



And what a voice! Max often shared singing duties with Billy Joe and Claude in the team’s cover band. Claude was the wailer. God of heavy metal and power ballads. Max was the rap/rock or pop/rock guy. But Billy Joe. Give him a ballad, a standard, a heavy metal thrash tune, and he nailed it.



Billy Joe was softly singing a tune as the pair walked. Sounded like something pop, Billy Joe’s favorite musical genre. He was so excited to get Charmbracelet from Jay a couple of weeks ago that Max was afraid he would literally pee his pants in joy. Mariah was one of his favorites.



As was Jay. For a long time Max had worried that he would never fit in with the team. He was the least typical. Short, not too strong, sort of on the nerdy side of things with his love of jazz and classical music and degrees in medieval history. Sort of a loner and on the quiet side, put in a team with three kids who grew up together in a small farm town in the middle of nowhere.



Maybe that’s why he and Claude had become so tight at first, being the odd guys out. Sure, Cleo knew Claude. They went to Oxford together for a while, but they weren’t really in the same circles.



Yes, definitely Mariah Carey. Old, pre-hoochie breakdown Mariah. Max always liked that period better too.



But the trio, as Max thought of Billy Joe, Cleo, and Jay sometimes, they weren’t as tight as he thought or feared. Oh yeah, it was easy to see that they were the best of friends, always had been, always will be, but they weren’t exclusive.



They treated Max like he had grown up on a farm like the rest of them, not in mixed Midtown Atlanta, just on the cusp of trendy Buckhead, where Max and his buddies had learned the fine art of clubbing and the value of a good fake ID.



And Midtown, with its Fox Theater and Atlanta Symphony, old sprawling neighborhoods and quirky eateries had given Max another education. Just off Piedmont was another clubbing experience, where men danced with men to a deafening techno beat. Max had gotten another kind of schooling there.



But it had been a scary time, with the gay cancer, taking away many of the best and brightest in the community. And Max had been lucky, only losing a few friends to AIDS and it’s disease minions. He had watched some of this mother and father’s dearest friends depart for hopefully a better existence. Or, as Max believed, another shot at life.



That thought had always been a comfort to Max. Knowing that you would come back again, usually surrounded by your friends, again and again until your soul reached perfection.



Max knew that he’d been paired with some or all of the Chicago team countless times, that his parents were always part of his family, that he was always magically inclined.



Max walked through prime, ready for his fate. Ready to die if need be to save the world and his friend Jay. Not that he had a death wish or anything. He actually quite liked this life. His club, The Spot, was a little bit of heaven. And after several years, Max could almost make it through a Chicago winter without crying. Sure, he had never found that special guy or girl to walk down the aisle with, but he was young, only mid thirties.



There would be plenty of time for that later. After this was done. He knew, they all knew, that the team would request at least a semi-retirement from active duty after this. No one had said anything openly, but he knew they all felt it. It was time to let go of the past and move on.



“What’s got that big brain of yours spinnin’ shorty,” Billy Joe asked, looking over at Max.



“You in hot pants running through my head,” Max replied with a lecherous grin.



“As long as they’re not hot pink or neon green, I’m good.” Billy Joe replied with a wink.



“Seriously,” he asked, “Are you okay?”



“Yeah,” Max replied. “Just thinking about my life.”



“And it took you that long?” Billy Joe joked again. “Come on, how about a little duet to pass the time.”



“As long as it’s not too loud,” Max agreed. “I don’t want to get that look from Cleo.”



“The ‘I’ll cut your balls off and make a pretty necklace from them if you don’t shut up’ look. Oh yeah,” Billy Joe replied.



“I got that the last time we were in China, and man,” Max shook his head.



“I know,” Billy Joe replied.



“What do you want to sing?” Max asked. “I don’t know Charmbracelet yet.”



“Nah, let’s do a musical.” Billy Joe replied. Humming a pitch for Max, the pair stared in on ‘When You’re a Jet’ from West Side Story.



How appropriate, Max thought, especially when he heard Claude pick up the tune after a verse. Oh no, Cleo’s head was about to turn around, but Jay’s voice, joined in, upping the volume. Soon even Cleo joined in.



Max grinned as he sang, knowing that nothing in prime had seen the likes of them before.







Day Two: Noon

Demon Reality



“What the frilly heck,” Willow said, sitting up.



“What,” Tara replied, joining her. “Where are we?”



The pair looked around at the strange surroundings. It looked like the basement of a ruined building in Sunnydale. Was it the high school? It was hard to tell.



“How did we get here?” Willow asked. “Last thing I remember was talking to the Agent. He was going out to get something to eat.”



“And he told us to wait in the car,” Tara said. “Get some sleep because it was so early.”



“Or late. Hard to tell when it’s always dark,” Willow stood, helping Tara up.



After a moment, the girls looked at each other.



Simultaneously they said, “We’re asleep.”



“That would definitely explain the Dreamscape meets Nightmare on Elm Street surroundings,” Willow said.



“A who with a what?” Tara asked, missing the reference.



“Never mind,” Willow shook her head. “Needless to say, this can’t be good.”



“Humans.” A seductive female voice said, “True humans, I mean. Always so hung up on labels.”



A woman emerged from the darkness. She was about Willow’s height with midnight black hair cut into a stylish short length. Her skin practically glowed, it was so white, but she wasn’t a vampire. Her dark eyes studies the girls with barely held malevolence, which contrasted her pixyish face.



A memory stirred in Tara. She knew this face from somewhere.



“Miss Calendar!” Willow gasped.



The woman let out a rich and sensuous laugh. “Oh my, little girl. I have many names but that is not one of them.”



Miss Calendar, Tara’s mind whirred. She had been one of the computer science teachers in high school. She had moved away during Tara’s sophomore year, some family emergency. But Willow seemed to know her.



“So who are you then,” Tara asked as Willow regained her composure.



“I am known as the Dark Priestess,” the woman explained. “A mortal enemy of the one you are heading to see, the master. The Destroyer is a more apt name.”



“I thought you were in exile,” Tara asked.



“I am,” the Dark Priestess smiled. “But I’m not powerless. I know why you’re here.”



“Then you should be glad,” Tara continued, glancing over at the mute Willow, still too stunned to speak, “we’re going to take him away from here. You’ll be able to rule it all.”



“Oh no foolish child,” the Dark Priestess replied. “You’re taking him to a place of great power. When he returns, and he will, he will destroy this existence utterly. My people and I will be no more. And I just can’t allow that to happen.”



“How do you know,” Tara asked again. “He might not care about this place at all.”



“He does, more than any vampire king has before. He made this world his own.” The Dark Priestess took a step closer to Willow and Tara. “Long ago, thousands of years ago, we were a world of humans. We ruled. Demons were mostly in tales told to frighten children. But the Destroyer was born, and he changed everything. Slowly at first, he began to build an army. Over many, many years he made allegiances with the dark powers, learning the ways of the old ones, of magic. Taking over small, out of the way places, making them his own. Mankind was too slow, too late in resisting. All was lost.”



She looked almost sad for a moment, “all was theirs.”



The Dark Priestess’s eyes lit with an unholy fire. “But not all was lost. My family line hid away in the mountains. Sheltered from the evil around us, we grew strong. We began to fight back. Over the last few hundreds of years, we have begun to take back the night from the creatures of darkness. Then I came. And we almost won.”



Tara paused and reached out a little with her senses. Repulsed, she replied. “You’re as dark as any demon. You’re not human.”



“I am more than human,” the Dark Priestess laughed. “I am more than demon. I am power. A power that will destroy the Destroyer.” She took another step closer to Tara. “And who will not let you take him. Leave now.”



Tara and Willow woke with a start. They were nestled in the back seat of the Agent’s car, a blanket draped over them.



“Oh my,” Tara said, sitting up.



“Yeah,” Willow replied.



“Honey, are you okay?” Tara face filled with concern.



“Miss Calendar,” Willow sighed, the old pain of loss filling her.



“I remember her, vaguely.” Tara explained. “She taught computers right? In high school.” Tara paused, then added Tara’s memories, “She helped you guys out some. Went out with Giles.”



“She was one of us, the Scoobies,” Willow explained. “Angel killed her when he was Angelus. I really liked her a lot.” Willow gave Tara a sad smile. “She was so smart and cool, and kinda sexy. She meant a lot to me. Miss Calendar always treated me like an equal, not some geeky teenager.”



“She does sound nice,” Tara agreed. “Miss Calendar moved away during the middle of tenth grade. I never had her as a teacher.”



“It’s nice to know she wasn’t murdered in some reality,” Willow mumbled.



“What I don’t understand is why she’s here,” Tara said, thinking out loud. “She was just a computer teacher. She didn’t have any magical powers or darkness.” She looked over at Willow, “Or at least that was the impression that I got.”



“Miss Calendar was descended from a clan of powerful gypsy sorcerers. They cursed Angel with a soul. Jenny was sent there by her family to watch him, make sure the curse wasn’t broken.”



“But it was,” Tara said, remembering more about what Willow had once told her. “And he killed her.” Tara leaned back into the seat. “So here, her gypsy family hides in the hills when they see things are going to be bad for mankind. The line goes on unbroken, power is developed over time, and she’s born.”



“But with a lot more power,” Willow replied. “And a whole lot more evil.”



“Absolute power,” Tara looked over at Willow.



“Yeah,” the red head replied, looking out the window.



“And she knows,” Tara added. “At least some of it. She knows that the master, or Destroyer, or whatever is leaving with us to go to prime.”



Willow suddenly felt sick as it all clicked in her head. “I know,” she said, not looking at Tara. “I know who were going to get. I know who the Destroyer is.”



“Who?” Tara asked.



“Vampire. Old, old vampire, thousands of years old, but not the first. Fought a slayer, at least one, but won instead of lost. Means that this guy is hella strong and smart. Nicknamed the Destroyer.”



“Okay,” Tara waited.



“Prophecy. Happens during the early days of man. Iantha is a slayer and in this reality and maybe she didn’t go to prime. Or maybe this and our reality were one at that point. Either way, she lives and obviously has kids. Line goes on. Except it doesn’t here. Stops when her male descendent is killed by a vampire. Making any chance of anyone from her line in this reality stepping up to face Demetrious impossible.”



Willow looked at Tara. “It only takes one thing to chance the time line, to create an alternate, right? But is has to be something major.”



“Goddess,” the knowledge hit Tara like a slap in the face.



Willow continued, her train to fast to stop now. “Major like one of the most powerful vampires in vampire history not being killed on the outskirts of London by a slayer. A vampire descended from a long line of slayers. Who could have been slated to face a hell god if he had ever moved on to the next life.”



“Bracus,” Tara sad sadly.



“Or Jay, take your pick.” Willow’s tone filled with rancor. “Except he never got to evolve into Jay.”



“The only true descendent of that line,” Tara’s mind spun, “so true that it could have been the one.”



“And that shoulda, woulda, coulda, must be enough to give Jay a chance to escape her fate.” Willow added. “And without a soul,”



“The cycle will end if Bracus dethrones Jay.” Tara finished. “But the only way for Bracus to win,” Tara’s face paled.



“Is to kill Jay,” Willow finished bitterly.





TBC...



Endnote:

I spent a summer in Atlanta about eight years ago so I'm going by my memories of the town's layout. Hopefully it's accurate.

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[Tulipp]

Hi Hermitstull. Okay, I'm only up to just past the coffee date many chapters ago, but it may take me awhile to catch up entirely, and I wanted to respond now. This is such a complex fic; there's so much going on, so many threads and characters that it's really a different kind of reading experience for me. It's like I have to adjust my glasses to be able to see Kim and Cleo and Abby and etc. in this window where I usually see Willow and Tara and gang. I don't watch ER regularly anymore, but I do occasionally, and it seems to me that you capture the characters you describe well, although occasionally (and maybe this changes later on) I want to yell at them to get out of the way so I can see Willow and Tara.



Of course, my primary interest here is Willow and Tara, and now Jay--she is a fascinating figure in this story, and she has grown on me in just the part I've read so far. This split Tara you write is so interesting...the way she can see inside two selves, two lifetimes, two visions of Willow is really cool, and I loved her lines to Willow on the date: "This is me forgiving you." It was the forgiveness of both her selves, of both the knowing, hurting lover and the distant, kind, more impartial friend, and that felt good to read.



Okay, I will catch up as fast as I can, but it may take me awhile. You are most prolific!



Thanks for a really unusual and intriguing story.

"And I'm eating this banana. Lunchtime be damned!" -- Willow in "Doppelgangland

[hermitstull]

Hey Tulipp!



Thanks! Oh yes, there is a lot going on, and it does take Willow and Tara awhile to get together fully. For me and the way that I've brought Tara back, it wouldn't seem too realistic if they just got right back together in a couple of chapters. And that tied in with a different way to get them back that doesn't really rely on the Buffy folks created oportunties to get my own stuff worked in.



Plus, with Tara being, well, Tara but not from the same reality allows a little bit different backstory to her character. She's still Tara, just a little different.



Thanks for reading and the great feedback-

hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[justin]

This story just keeps getting better.



So in order to beat the big bad it looks like they're going to have to kill Jay and in doing so they going to doom this alternate reality. I think both of these fall under the heading of being bad things.



I think I might be starting to feel a bit better disposed towards Lucas and Mr Hahn but I still think that I wouldn't want to work either for, or with either of them. And I don't think could ever trust Lucas, however good his intentions might be.

I understand, you should be with the person you l-love


I am

[hermitstull]

Hey Justin-



Oh yeah, lots of bad things afoot. Despite being dominated by demons, not everything in that reality is all bad. And Evil Miss Calendar sure isn't sweetness and light, but her goal is a good one, freedom for humans. It could almost be said that she's like Lucas gone to the extreme and without much self control.



thanks for the great feedback-

hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[Grimlock72]

Heh, I liked Mr. Rouse's comments to Lucas. I guess thats predictable coming from me Heck, I mostly agree with Rouse even.. Glory sure was a more direct threat at the time



I wonder when Tara will remember the actual moment the spell was cast on her, esp. by who. Though she should have figured something out by now.



Didn't quite follow Willow and Tara's reasoning at the end coming up with 'Bracus'. Must have missed something, I'll go re-read this fic next weekend or so Rather typical, the only way to avoid becoming ruler of prime is getting killed ? Thats a rather obvious solution, find another one



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Hello all-

First a reply-

Grimmy: We'll see more of what Tara remembers as the days go by in this story. I think everyone probably has figured out who cast the spell, but Tara's not ready to see the whole truth just yet. And part of Mr. Rouse's distaste for Lucas is that he doesn't see him as much different than himself. Again, part of what's evil is in perception.



And Bracus being Jay goes back to the early chapters of Hell Bent when Tara and Jay meet Whistler for a drink. There's a lot of talk of reincarnation and who's soul goes with who and such. And tie that in with Faith's conversation with Buffy about alternate realities and dimensions when Tara first returns to Sunnydale in Do Your Best and you've got the basis for Willow's reasoning.



Both Tara and Willow would like to find another solution that doesn't involve Jay's death. But is there one? Hmm....







And now, onto part 8b of Deep which will take us through the start of day three of seven. Part 9 will be up either late Friday night or sometime Saturday. Enjoy!





Deep: Part 8b

Author's note: Not all of the key events take place in distant lands where peril lies around every turn. Sometimes, important things happen a little closer to home.





How can love survive in such a graceless age?

The trust and self-assurance that lead to happines

They're the very things we kill, I guess

Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms

And the work I put between us doesn't keep me warm...

The more I know, the less I understand

All the things I thought I'd figured out I have to learn again

I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter

But everything changes and my friends seem to scatter...



from Heart of the Matter by Don Henley





Day Two: Night

Sunnydale



“How ya doin’ Xander,” Ren sat down next to her new friend. “You took quite a blow there.”



“I’m good,” Xander nodded and winced at the same time. In two days, they had faced three attempts by demons to either enter prime or leave it. So far, the attacks hadn’t been too bad, only a small number of demons, mostly disorganized, and relatively easy to kill or push back. But the word was now definitely out, and more and more demons and other things would be coming.



“Let me get you some more ice,” Ren said starting to stand.



“No, no really,” Xander replied. His left shoulder throbbed where he hand landed on it a couple of hours ago, but the pain was lessening. Mr. Hahn’s herbal mixture was working.



“That nasty goop that your boss gave me seems to be helping. Hopefully by tomorrow I’ll be ready for action.”



“Good,” Ren smiled. The demon fighter in training/bar tender really liked Xander. He reminded her of her favorite cousin, other than Max. He too worked in construction but that was just a way to help him stay in shape and earn money for school. Howard was slated to be a researcher and wanted to pay for some of his schooling on his own.



Sometimes, it wasn’t so good to be beholden to anyone, especially if it was the clans.



“Any news?” Xander asked.



“The team has finally left the wastelands of prime. Man oh man, what a battle too. Tom replayed it for me. Those bunny looking demons are gonna give me nightmares.”



“Don’t let Anya here you say that,” Xander said quickly. “She hates bunnies.”



“I would too if I had to face those things,” Ren nodded. She looked over at Xander. “But they seem to be okay, the team. Looked like Cleo took a pretty bad hit, but her vitals are still strong.”



“I wish we could see what’s happening with Tara and Will.”



“I know,” Ren agreed. Xander loved his friends so much. She knew that Tom and Paul were cared about her a lot, but she wouldn’t call it the unconditional love that Xander had. But maybe after a few more years together, she, Tom and Paul would have that kind of relationship.



“But they’re vitals are still strong. From what we can gather, they’ve mostly been traveling. They did stop for about four hours northwest of alt-Sunnydale to rest. But they’ve been on the move, actually looks a little faster than before.”



“Something must have happened,” Xander thought for a moment.



“Maybe,” Ren agreed, “but it’s just too hard to say.”



“I guess,” Xander wasn’t convinced, but decided to let it go. “So tell me,” he looked over at Ren. Man, she was so hot, and so cool. Too bad she had been working on Faith for the last few weeks. Why were the cute ones always interested in each other? “What happens after all this is over? Are you gonna go back to the bar and work for Max?”



“After?” Ren chuckled. “I haven’t thought about an after. The plan, well,” she leaned in a little closer to Xander. “The plan was after all this is done if for Tom, Paul, and I to join up with Willow and Tara. We were supposed to be the new team, probably based here in Sunnydale to start with.”



Xander’s heart did a little flip flop at the thought of Willow and Tara staying along with his new buddy, Ren.



“Now I’m not so sure,” Ren confided. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s changed. I overheard a conversation a couple of days ago between Lucas and Mr. Hahn. I heard Tara and Willow’s name so I paused. Something about fated ones, not in Sunnydale, and the assembly of elders, but I couldn’t catch everything.”



“What does that mean?” Xander asked concerned. Anytime fate was involved, it usually didn’t turn out so well.



“Well there’s this legend about how during the darkest moment for the clans, a pair will come that will change things around for us. Lead our people on a new path. But I never thought much of it, really. Just a story.”



“And now?”



“Who knows? Times are kinda bad right now for the clans. This Iantha thing has sent some shockwaves through the system. Mostly because some people have known for years and didn’t tell anyone.”



“Well, I can see why Jay wouldn’t want everyone to know. What was she supposed to do, wear a shirt that said ‘hell god in training’ on it? It would make her more of a target than I’m sure she already is.”



“Oh, I agree. But people aren’t really too pissed at Jay. I hear it’s more about Mr. Hahn and Lucas. Lucas most of all. He’s been with the clans for over thirty years and people still don’t trust him. That’s how deep the bad blood between the Council and the clans runs.”



“Was Lucas with the Council or something?”



“Yeah, duh,” Ren leaned back a little. “You didn’t know?”



“No. I’m always the last to know everything.” Xander admitted. “Well, not always. I knew Buffy was different right from the beginning. She dropped her stakes her first day of high school in front of me.”



“Anyway, Lucas was raised by Watchers. Saved by a slayer. Always wanted to have his own slayer. They say he was slated at one time to become head of the Council, but something happened and he left.”



“Hmm,” Xander thought for a moment, putting his vast knowledge of comic books, action movies, and science fiction to use. The Council, always bad news, always. And Lucas had left. That’s a plus. But he was so well liked. Not just anyone could head the Council. That’s a negative. But he wanted to be a Watcher, like Giles. That’s mixed. Well good. But why did Lucas leave?



“You say that Mr. Hahn and Lucas have know for years about the prophecy?” Xander asked.



“Well, I don’t know for sure. I think that Lucas has known the longest. And Mr. Hahn has known since he started training them. Maybe twenty years or so. Why? Do you think something’s up?”



“I don’t know,” Xander shook his head. “Probably nothing. Just too many conspiracy movies lately.”



“Hey kids,” Faith said as she sauntered up. Xander noticed how her eyes lingered a little longer than normal on Ren. Oh man.



“Hey yourself,” Ren gave the dark slayer a smooth grin.



“How ya holdin’ up there big guy?” Faith asked, looking at Xander.



“Been better,” he replied. After a slightly awkward moment, Xander stood.



“You know,” he said as charmingly as possible, “I think I’m gonna go lay down for a bit. Things seem to be on the slow side.”



“Good idea,” Ren smiled at Xander. “We’ve got a lot of movies to watch and I want my best movie watchin’ buddy ready for action.”



“Movies huh?” Faith said, sliding into the vacant seat next to Ren. “What kind do you like to watch?” Faith looked from Xander to Ren, but he knew the question was meant mostly for her. It’s okay. Ren was nice. If she wanted to try her luck with Faith, he’d support her. Hell, he’d seen his closest friends do much, much worse.



Xander quietly slipped away from Ren and Faith, giving the women some privacy.



Oh yeah, much worse. Scott Hope? Please.





Day Three: Morning

Sunnydale



Faith woke with a start. What the hell? Where am…oh. She looked over at Ren who slept on, oblivious to the world around her. The pair had sat up late, again, and talked, again, for hours about everything.



And after all that she’s still into me, cool. Faith had always taken the offers for sex that she got. Men, women, both, hell, it didn’t matter if she was horny. But time had changed her, prison especially. Some of those clichés were there for a reason.



Things were too crazy right now though. Too messed up for a real relationship. And Ren was a classy lassie. She deserved something real and not a quick fuck or one night stand.



And I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of shit. Faith slipped out of bed, still wearing yesterday’s leather outfit, and quietly left Ren’s room at the Mansion.



About two steps out the door she ran into Giles who gave her a little ‘one of my own is gay, big whoop’ smirks as he caught her leaving Ren’s room. Faith chuckled as she passed him in the hall and headed downstairs. Rupert was an odd little duck.



Faith was going to bypass the main hall and head for the kitchen, but Buffy’s shouts caused her to pause. It wasn’t another attack. It sounded like she and a few others were watching some sports crap on TV. Lucas loved his soccer, excuse me, football.



And that baldy forced me to watch that junk enough. What can be on this early?



“What’s got everyone hootin’ and a hollerin’ in here?” Faith asked saucily.



“This happened last night,” Paul said, standing back so the shorter Faith could see the television set. “The system is set up to tape everything, especially combat. Good for training other teams.”



“Yeah,” Faith replied indifferently. God, the clans were just as nerdy as the Council sometimes. But they were dorks with big guns who weren’t afraid to use them. “So what exactly are we watchin’ here chief?”



“This big lake, the Waters of Woe, or something like that. You have to get around it somehow so you can get on the path to Demertious’s stronghold. It takes too long to walk around it.”



“So they cross it,” Faith fought the eye roll. Hard.



“Yeah. There’s a ferry, but they can’t take it because, well you know. Anyway, they stole this boat and are crossing the lake.”



“And?”



“Look,” Paul said pointing to the set.



It was like something out of those stupid German operas Lucas made her listen to. All five of them were on this rickety looking wooden Viking boat. Hottie Billy Joe was at the front, beating down these nasty looking water demons that were a cross between the Swap Thing and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.



Max and Claude were on either side of the boat, doing the same thing. Except they were mixing magic and metal. Plus, they had these other things, like something you’d see on one of those true crime shows. ‘In the water for weeks’ sheriff Bubba said, ‘all identifying marks rotted off’. Metal was for the swamp things, magic for the gross other things.



But the back of the boat, that was the best. Here they are, Crocket and Tubs. Tubs, Cleo of course, driving the boat. And Jay, always cool, even in pastels, splitting her attention between magically powering the boat and shooting off lightening bolts at the other little pursuing boats. That, of course, didn’t look quite as rickety. Almost fourteenth century as opposed to twelfth.



Faith was unimpressed. Somehow the tape, despite being shot by five single person views, was edited together to make sense. Almost entertaining. In a sick sort of way.



“Hey,” she said to deaf ears. Billy Joe had just made a particularly gruesome kill.



“Hey!” Faith said a little louder.



“What?” Tom spun his head around.



“Are you okay?” Buffy turning around to look at Faith from her position seated next to him.



“Turn that shit off,” Faith said, disgusted.



“What? Why?” Paul asked.



“Because you dumb shit, those are our friends they’re fighting for their lives. Not some stupid fucking team going for the penalty kick.” Faith replied hotly.



“But his is for training,” Paul protested.



“Six months from now, maybe. For some other pack of clan yahoos, sure. Not for us. And since when to you cheer like that for a training video? Please. All anyone ever fights in those things is sleep. Turn it off.”



Faith’s stinging words seem to only prick Tom and Paul, but they stuck with Buffy.



“Faith’s right,” she said, standing and pushing stop on the remote. “This isn’t some fantasy show.” She nodded at Faith. “I should have known better. Sorry.”



Tom and Paul mumbled apologies.



“Good.” Faith said and turned to go.



For every Ren and Jay and Billy Joe there’s a Tom and Paul and Mr. Hahn. And Lucas wonders why I won’t commit to working for the clans. God, I’ve seen some bad shit. I’ve done worse. But I could never sit there and watch someone I know get killed. Someone I cared about. Someone like Buffy or Ren.



Faith glanced back over her shoulder at the silent trio in front of the set now watching something on CNN.



God. I’m getting too old for this shit. Faith rounded the corner and pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen.





TBC...

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[Grimlock72]

Odd response Faith had there... IF (big IF) someone had died on that like they would have know it already. Life-signs are being monitored remember ?



Granted it's a bit voyeuristic and taking-advantage-of in a way to watch them like that. Still I don't see all that much wrong with it. If you don't like it, get some sleep or such... Faith getting too old, heh....



Xander seems to think Lucas is well liked, regardless of my somewhat biased view of Lucas (heh) I have to wonder where he got that idea ?

Quote:

---

Lucas most of all. He's been with the clans for over thirty years and people still don't trust him.

---

That quote got me thinking a bit. I myself would avoid having to trust Lucas for pretty much anything. Problem is that he sees himself as working for some greater good, as long as you fit in his plans he'll likely help you. I'm fairly sure that will stop once you have outlived your usefullness to the 'Grand Plan'.



I rather have Xander covering my back than Lucas. Xander maybe do stupid things at times (a lot but he rates higher on my trustworthy-ness-scale I wonder if the Chicago group actually works together with other clans or just does everything on their own. Don't see Lucas working together with anyone, unless they think exactly like he does



As for the four hour stop Willow and Tara had, maybe they rested/slept a bit ? Nothing to get worried about, there's not a lot you can do for them anyway.



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[justin]

Great update



I agree with Faith about them watching their firends fighting for their lives as entertainment being in questionable taste. The fact that the seperate feeds had been edited together to make more exciting makes it a lot worse.



I also agree with Grimlock's assesment of Lucas. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could spit a rat.

I understand, you should be with the person you l-love


I am

[hermitstull]

Just a couple of replies. Part nine most likely tomorrow late.



Grimmy: Ahh Faith. She has gotten older, that's for sure. The thing about watching the tape: it's one thing to know that you're friend has died, it's another to see it. And if Faith's not there to try to help, she's got a problem with the whole thing.



Xander and the other Scoobies really don't know all the backstory of the clans and Lucas. He is only going by what he's heard and seen, and nothing up until this point has given him any moment of pause. Even Ren, being a junior member, isn't privy to all the info. But she does hit on a important point, the bad blood between the Council and the clans is alive and well. And there are people in the clans that don't like Lucas just because he came from the Council and for no other reason.



There will be a little more on how the Chicago team fits into the clan system durning the day four post. And more of Xander's inquiring mind.



Oh, and Tara and Willow were just resting, getting that visit from the Dark Priestess.



justin: Yeah, watching the tape, especially more as entertainment was in poor taste. That's why Faith said something. She's not the same girl she used to be.



And Lucas, more of him, both good and bad, to come. He's definately not telling everything he knows.





And to everyone: Woo Hoo! Over 5,000 views! Thanks a lot for taking the time to check out this tale.





hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[hermitstull]

Hello all-

As promised, I give you part nine. Part 10 will be up sometime Sunday or Monday.



And don't forget to give feedback. I love it.









Part 9

Author's note: It's all Willow and Tara, with a splash of the Agent mixed in for flavor. And truth rears it's disconcerting head.







Always

Noted on my time

A little left I'm centered now

Reflect

As I realize

That all I

Need is to find

The little bit about to sit like the sun like a star in the sky

It just makes

Enough

Cast the stars in me



from Not Falling by Mudvayne







Day Three: Noon

Demon Reality



“God. I’m getting too old for this shit,” Tara and the Agent said simultaneously as they looked at the trashed out car they had been riding in for the last three days.



Each glanced at the other after they spoke.



“So what now?” Willow asked, looking around. The trio had stopped at what they thought was a pretty safe location two thirds of the way to the master’s stronghold. It was an old hotel off of a deserted side road in the mountains somewhere in the vicinity of what would be considered Yosemite in her reality. The Agent was tired of driving, and the girls were tired of riding, so it seemed to be a good time to take an extended stop.



“We wait,” Agent replied. “Let me contact my master and he’ll send someone to collect us soon.”



“How soon? Cause I’m guessing that whatever trashed Kit here is going to be coming back for the rest of us if we don’t get out of here pronto.” Willow shot back.



“Soon,” Agent replied more harshly.



“Let’s get inside,” Tara stepped in to defuse the situation. “Try to hold up in the most secure part of the place.”



“Agreed.” Agent turned and headed back into the old hotel.



“Yippee,” Willow murmured sarcastically. “Another night at hotel 666.”



Tara watched her lover move ahead and enter the old style roadside hotel. It was in the traditional v-shape that had been popular in the sixties and seventies. The center of the hotel was two stories, the top floor holding an office and living quarters. Tara and Willow had taken those while the Agent lurked downstairs in the main office.



After a final look at the twisted, burned out wreckage that had been their transportation, Tara followed. Willow hadn’t been the same since the Dark Priestess’s nightmare visit and the realization of who the master really was. Or could have been.



“What happened?” Agent asked Tara as she pushed open the door to the hotel.



“Nothing,” Tara replied, not wanting to engage the vampire in conversation.



“Something has happened,” Agent continued. “We quickened our pace at your urging. You and Willow are barely speaking to me or each other for that matter. I see the love you share written on your faces, smell it on your souls. And never have the dark one’s forces ventured so deep into the master’s territory. So I ask again, what has happened?”



Agent waited, arms crossed, leaning on the front desk counter, and gave Tara a hard look.



“She visited us while we were sleeping yesterday,” Tara finally said. “Warned us that she knew why we are here and she will try to stop us at all costs.”



Agent chucked cockily, “She may try, but she will fail. As her kind has for millennia.”



He looked at Tara once again and stopped laughing. “But there is more,” Agent said, studying her. “Something else, for surely such a visit by a foe is nothing new to you.”



“It’s not new.” Tara met Agent’s eyes, “And the rest is not for you to know,” Tara said and headed up the stairs that led up to Willow.



The Agent of Destruction shook his head. Humans. He vaguely remembered his days as one in the old country as a young man, working on his father’s farm, going to church, swapping tales of adventures with the tradesmen who passed through the local tavern. Then one night he met a man from the south who invited the farm boy to join him on his travels. There was just one price to pay. And oh, it had been so worth it.





“Knock, knock,” Tara said, slowly pushing the door to the upstairs apartment open. Willow sat on a dusty recliner that looked out a widow that faced the mountains.



“Hey,” Willow glanced over at Tara and gave her a quick smile, then returned her attention to outside. After a couple of days, she had begun to tell the difference between the true night and the forced night. It was late morning and hopefully somewhere on this god forsaken world the sun was actually shining for all to see.



“What’s going on with you Willow,” Tara asked, shutting the door. She crossed the room and sat on the couch slightly behind her girlfriend. “Seeing her, Miss Calendar, has really hurt.”



“A little,” Willow replied, not turning around. “But I’ve accepted that. I mean, I knew that we all could have evil alternates. Heck, I met mine. We’re traveling with Riley’s. It hurts, but I’m okay.”



Tara waited.



“It’s this entire deal,” Willow finally said sadly. “This. Going to get Bracus, who is Jay version 1.0.” She gave a mirthless chuckle. “I actually was starting to feel a little for Jay, ya know? I still don’t like her, but I could see why you could. Or why someone like Kim could love her. I’d almost forgot what I saw in the warehouse. But now,” Willow trailed off.



“What do you mean? I’m confused, Will. What did you see?”



“Jay. This past or our future,” Willow began.



“Willow,” Jay said, glancing back over her shoulder at the stunned red head. “Please get everyone out of here. It looks like Buffy, Xander, and Anya may need medical attention.” She nodded at the slayer and her friends who were just waking up from what Daphne had done to them.



“Um, sure,” Willow replied, moving to help Buffy stand. Tom and Ren came racing around the corner just in time to help.



“Get them,” Willow nodded at Xander and Anya.



“What about Jay?” Tom asked, looking over Willow’s shoulder.



“Leave her, she’ll be fine,” Willow replied.



And so she gathered up Buffy, and headed out, away from the battle behind them. But like Lot’s wife, she had to take a look, a peek, at what she was leaving behind.



OH MY GOD!



In the few seconds that it had taken Willow and the rest of them to begin to move, Jay had disarmed Daphne. She held her former lover by the throat a foot or so above the ground. Jay’s face was distorted in rage, eyes blood red and pulsing.



Her other had rested on Daphne’s chest, where her fingers were slowly digging into Daphne’s flesh, going for her heart. Blood was beginning to splatter, but Jay pressed on, relishing the moment of triumph over someone she had once loved so deeply.



It had chilled Willow to the core.



A few minutes later, at the window when they had heard the scream, Willow knew Jay hand had reached her target.



Tara sat for a moment and digested what Willow had just told her. That was what no one was saying about that day. Faith must have caught a glimpse of that scene as well from the warehouse floor. And it had shaken her almost as much as it had Willow.



“Is that what our future will be Tara?” Willow asked. “If we win. If Jay doesn’t take over prime. Say she survives and we join the clans. Will I train someone like that? Someone who could do something,” Willow paused. “Who could torture someone they cared about?”



“Sweetie,” Tara began, “Jay and Daphne, that’s them and,”



“NO,” Willow cut her off, “that is me. WAS me right after you were killed. It’s just as bad as what I did to Warren. Jay thought she was justified, I thought I was justified. Part of me still does,” Willow sighed. “I don’t want that side of me, Tara. That’s not who I am.”



“Yes it is,” Tara voice was calm. “It’s not all of who your are, but it is part of you. Just like the sweet, kind, intelligent, caring, and wonderful woman is. Just like the out and proud lesbian. Just like the powerful witch. Willow, that’s all part of you. You’ve accepted those parts, just like you have to accept that one.”



“And that’s the part the clans want. The part they want to exploit. A new Miss Hahn.”



“I don’t know or care about what the clans want,” Tara countered. “You will be who you are, Willow. You can do things the way you see fit. Do what you want.”



“And isn’t that part of the problem?” Willow shook her head. “Too many of those people doing what they want? I overheard Tom and Paul talking about how if the Chicago team survives they’ll be disbanded for insubordination. For not letting the Assembly of Elders know about all of this until the last minute. Like the team are the bad guys for trying to save the world.” Willow scoffed.



“I,” Tara paused, “I-I, oh Goddess,”



Lucas. Tara looked at the man she considered a friend through new eyes. He had done this, all of this, to force the events that would bring Jay to prime. He had advised the Reed, Dotzler, and Peterson families to move to Pine Nook for safety. Taught Jay just enough to get interested in magic, but not enough to help her stay away from its darker side. Had talked Mr. Hahn into creating the Chicago team, preventing the death they had been destined for.



But the Assembly of Elders still didn’t believe that Jay was the one from Iantha’s line prophesied to face the god of prime. So Lucas played his trump card. He put a young and unprepared Devon into a team of experienced fighters. Knowing that he would be killed and that his slightly unstable sister, Daphne, would seek vengeance on the team.



Lucas knew that Daphne was beginning to be influenced by the dark forces around her, and secretly helped her to find Mr. Rouse who put her on the path to sending Jay to hell. And not just any hell, THE hell that she could one day rule. Alerting the hell god Demetrious that his time was soon to be up.



And Lucas knew, all along, that these things would happen, and that they could destroy the clans. A secret yet vital group that helped the Council keep the forces of supernatural evil at bay. But Lucas held a trump card that could make it all right. He had learned about one of Jay’s childhood friends who came from a powerful line of sorcerers.



Tara MaClay, who could possibly be one of the fated ones. One of the chosen two from outside the clans who could make things right out of the chaos he created.



“Why?” Tara gasped, looking at Lucas.



“I’ll tell you why,” Mr. Rouse began.



“Shut up,” Lucas said, magically sealing Mr. Rouse’s lips shut.



“See and know,” Lucas said, turning to Tara and opening his mind.



Willow was there, kneeling before her, worry on her face.



“Tara?” she asked.



“I know.” Tara’s words tasted like ash. “I remember.” She looked at her lover, her friend, a woman who she now knew would have to take the mantel of leadership thrust upon her.



“What do you remember?” Willow asked, a little frightened by the look on Tara’s face. It was one she had never seen before on her love. Grim determination laced with a trace of rage and hate.





The Agent slipped away from the door as Tara finished her story. So that had been what was bothering the pair. The clans, or more specifically one man, a Lucas, who the Agent had heard of but never met. He had set all of the events in motion that had brought them to this point, this place.



It was a tad troubling to the Agent that a human could wield so much power. That a human, even one as powerful as this Lucas, could bend fate so easily. But in the end, all that mattered was the master and his glory. And if Lucas had arranged to set the crown of godhood on his master’s head, then he couldn’t be as bad as he seemed.







TBC...

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[Grimlock72]

Hmm... this is rather puzzling. Seems Lucas is making his own prophecy and ensuring it comes true. But what does he gain by doing that ?



When has demetrius ever caused problems on earth in the 'normal' dimension before Lucas messed with Daphne or Jay ? Lucas seems to be creating a problem and then claim credit for solving it, I call that cheating.



So Lucas read a story several years ago and when he didn't find enough evidence to back it up he decided to create his own. No wonder we don't know the entire prophecy.



And how come Tara remembers that much OR why does Lucas show her at all ? That is an additional unneeded risc, best make Tara sleep & forget on the spot... why tell her stuff you want her to forget anyway ?



Seems the Jay/Daphne fight went easy enough, bit dissappointing... I figured Daphne would be more of a match. Ah well, better luck next time . I wonder if the chosen kill method was really required or just something Jay wanted to do.



Lucas is pretty much beyond forgiveness now, he willingly let two people slip over to the dark side, both of whom could have easily been helped. Never mind all the people that got killed for Lucas to play his silly game



Had to smile at Willow referring to herself as a possible 'miss Hahn' Tara is right though, Willow has to accept all parts of herself including the not-so-nice parts. (not that the world has become a bad place without Warren or such



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[justin]

Yay. Another great update. Though the great part probably goes without saying.



So Tara's remembered what happened and Lucas is starting to seem less like one of the good guys. Probably the most damning statement was the agents line

Quote:

---

But in the end, all that mattered was the master and his glory. And if Lucas had arranged to set the crown of godhood on his master’s head, then he couldn’t be as bad as he seemed.

---

It's good though that tara's willing to stand up to the clans if they try to exploit Willows dark side.

I understand, you should be with the person you l-love


I am

[hermitstull]

Hello there, just a couple of replies. Update looking to be probably Monday sometime.



Grimmy: I can's say too much because some of the answers to your questions will be coming up towards the end of Deep. What I can say is that the prophecy is real, what Lucas has seen of the future is definately possible, and that Lucas is altering the path of fate for a reason that will benefit mankind.



And Lucas didn't want Tara to find out, Mr. Rouse is the one who brought all of this up during the end of Hell Bent. Tara just happened to be standing there to hear it. We still have the rest of Tara's memory to see as well.



And the final Daphne fight. Yeah it was easy for the power filled, half crazed Jay. What was shocking to Willow is how much Jay enjoyed killing her. And how much that reminded Willow of her own misdeeds.





justin Thanks. Tara is definately seeing Lucas through new eyes, and doesn't really trust the clans all the way. But she does see that the clans need help because despite their problems, the clans do save the world a lot.



But under no circumstances will Tara let Willow's darkness dominate any aspect of her life. She and Willow will always do things their own way, no matter who they work with or for.





hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[hermitstull]

Hello-

Whew, what a day. I didn't think I'd get to the Kitten, but here I am with an update that takes us throug the end of day three. I'll have another update Tuesday night.



Enjoy!







Deep: Part 10

Author's note: Sometimes you can never trust your eyes, you have to dig a little deeper.





Haven't seen you in quite a while

I was down the hold just passing time

Last time we met was a low-lit room

We were as close together as a bride and groom

We ate the food, we drank the wine

Everybody having a good time

Except you

You were talking about the end of the world



from Until the End of the World by U2



Day Three: Night

Prime



Slash. Slash. Thrust. Duck. Jump. Thrust. Spin and chop. Oh yes, how do you like that you bloody beast.



Claude gave a tight smile as the demon he’d been fighting fell to the ground without a head. He looked around. The rest of the little hoard had run off. Good. I’m tired of fighting.



“Nasty buggers, aren’t they?” Claude looked over at Cleo who had just finished off her opponent.



“Much tougher than those ones we faced a couple of years ago,” Cleo agreed. “Guess the original is always better than the copy.”



“True,” Claude agreed.



Max rushed up. “Come on, you’ve got to see this.”



The trio hurried around a boulder. The team was at the top of a large plateau just past the Waters of Woe that overlooked the heart of prime. Demetrious’s stronghold was at the northern border, they were at the eastern edge, the forbidden zone at their back. Below them stretched what appeared to be a vast plain. Several what looked to be like towns dotted the countryside. It looked lush and alive, and not at all what they expected.



“It’s almost pretty,” Billy Joe said to the trio as they joined him gazing over the scene.



“Where’s Jay?” Cleo asked.



Billy Joe pointed at the top of the large rock they stood next to. She was covered in gore, surrounded by the bodies of demons she had killed. Even in the hazy redness that was the light of prime, Jay glowed a bright white. She stood unmoving, looking at the stronghold in the distance.



“Do you think that you can fool us so easily?” Jay shouted to the air. “That you can hide the truth of suffering?”



Jay grew brighter and raised her arms. “I am part of this world now, and I will this charade to end.”



Power surged from Jay, sweeping down from her place on the rock and across the heart of hell, changing it. Gone was the serene view of what some might consider paradise. In it’s place stood the same towns, only they were ruins. Life was replaced by death, as ghosts and demons could be seen lurking below. Fields of grass were replaced by bogs of stagnant waters and decaying reeds.



Cutting through the heart of death was a broken and stained road that lead from the plateau to the gates of Demetrious’s stronghold. Along the road were several checkpoints guarded by demons and other creatures.



“God,” Max said, looking at the desolation before him.



“There is no deity here other than pain,” Claude replied.



“And I will be its high priestess,” Jay said, floating down from the rock next to Claude. “Let’s rest. It’s as safe a place as any we’ll find here.”



Jay moved away and sat, leaning on another smaller rock a short distance from the rest of the team. Claude knew she’d do that. She’s trying to separate herself from us, to make it easier if she dies, or wins.



Nonplussed, Claude walked over and sat down next to Jay who was trying to clean off her swords.



“Need a hand,” he asked. “I’ve got a couple of cleaner towels in my pack.”



“Thanks,” Jay took the offered towels. “Mine are pretty dirty.”



“I’d say,” Claude nodded at the stack of stained rags next to her. “Lots of demon blood on those.”



“And mine,” Jay added.



The pair sat in silence, cleaning their equipment and themselves off for what seemed like the millionth time in three days. Jay never showed it, but Claude could tell. She was starting to wonder, starting to really think about what was about to happen. It was always like that on a big mission. Jay would be all bluster and bravado, but she would secretly worry. It would just last a moment, but Claude seemed to always catch it.



So much had changed for them over the years. Jay had never really been the same since Devon. And that hadn’t been such a bad thing. God, she was so arrogant when we first met. I wanted to throttle her constantly. But Devon’s death shook her to the core. The swagger had been tapered.



And this place, it had changed her so much. Changed us all. We were so lost for those years she was gone. Billy Joe tried to keep our spirits up, Cleo tried to hold us together, but we nearly fell apart. Then by luck, we found her a few dimensions away from here.



And I never thought I would be so happy, so relieved. But our joy turned out to be bittersweet at best.



“Whatcha thinkin’ about old man,” Jay asked jokingly.



Claude shook his head. They all teased him mercilessly about being the oldest of the group.



“I was thinking about how I should be the best man at your wedding,” Claude replied.



“Really,” Jay replied. “I think there are a few others who might have something to say about that.”



“I’ll just put a spell on them,” Claude replied casually. “They’ll never know.”



“If there is a wedding,” Jay said sadly.



“There will be,” Claude reassured. “We’ve been in tougher scraps that this.”



“Maybe,” Jay replied, examining one of her swords. “But the stakes haven’t been so high. Personally so high for all of us.”



“You don’t believe we’ll make it,” Claude asked.



“You’ll make it,” Jay grinned. “That I’m sure of. Me, I don’t think so.”



“What about Kim?”



“Kim,” Jay choked on the name. She turned, her eyes boring into Claude’s. “I want you to take care of her. See that she never wants or needs for anything.”



“Done.”



“And make sure she knows that I want her to be happy. Not to let her life end if I’m not there to be with her. To be strong, to live.”



“I will,” Claude nodded, feeling the intensity and finality of the moment. He knew, just as Jay knew.



“Thanks,” Jay replied and turned away.



“Any other prophetic thoughts,” Claude asked.



“No.” And just like that, the sad, insecure Jay was gone. Replaced by the cocksure, arrogant bastard that Claude had hated so much at first. That he had grown to love.



“And tell Cleo that she can have my DVD collection. She needs to get with the now,” Jay added loudly. “One show isn’t enough.”



“I heard that,” Cleo called from her spot several feet away.





TBC...

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[hermitstull]

Hello-

Here's the next installment of Deep which will take us through mid day of day four. Part 12 (all Willow and Tara) will be up sometime Friday.



And as always, feedback is greatly enjoyed.









Deep: Part 11

Author's note: Decisions are made that will change the clans forever.





I feel the dream in me expire

and there’s no one left to blame it on

I hear you label me a liar

‘cause I can’t seem to get this through

You say it’s over, I can sigh again, yeah

Why try to stay sober when I’m dying here



from Fine Again by Seether





Day Four: Morning

Prime



“Billy Joe, Max, there’s three of them heading your way from the east. Double back and take them by surprise.”



“Aye, chief,” Billy Joe replied, signaling for Max to follow him.



The team had descended into the great plains of prime and were following the yellow brick road through hell. They had spotted a cluster of Phaznalra demons lurking in the ruins and needed to take them out. They were tough, given the fact that they could blend in with their surroundings like Chameleons, and only had two weak spots. Above the third eye on the left and under the fifth arm on the right.



Luckily with so many eyes, the Phaznalra were susceptible to bright flashes of light. Cleo smiled from her vantage point on top of what was left of a house as Max used his magic to blind the three, giving Billy Joe a chance to take out two before they knew what hit them.



“Claude, check that building to your left, it looks like a good hiding spot,” Cleo spoke into the mic at her mouth.



Claude gave a short wave and headed towards the building.



“Cleo, can you see how Jay is doing,” Billy Joe asked as he and Max hurried over to the building Claude was checking out.



The team leader turned and looked behind them to where Jay stood at the edge of the ruins. They hadn’t expected for Demetrious to send some of his high guards so far away from his palace, but he had. It could mean we’ve got him worried, Cleo thought. I doubt it.



Jay was fighting a large half man, half goat beast called the Timerena. It stood ten feet tall on three cloven feet and had two arms and a poison tipped tale. In one hand the demon held an ax, the other a hammer. And like all the high guards, it was impervious to magical attacks, so Jay had to take it out the hard way.



Jay hopped and flipped around, avoiding most of the Timerena’s attacks, while getting a couple of good blows in with her swords. Unlike the Phaznalra, you could kill the Timerena many different ways, but it wasn’t easy.



“Cleo, we need you,” Billy Joe’s voice rang in her ear.



“Oh it,” Cleo hopped down and dashed over to the building which held the rest of the Phaznalra demons.



Cleo fought, distracted, worrying about Jay. She knew that eventually Jay would kill the Timerena. She was relatively certain of Jay’s victory. But doubt always skitted across Cleo’s mind. If she dies, I won’t be able to hold us together, not like before. We’ll drift apart, probably disband. She looked over at Billy Joe. He’ll never be the same.



“Cleo duck!” Max shouted.



Cleo just missed getting hit by the spear a Phaznalra had aimed at her head.



Focus girl, you’ve got to make it.



Cleo scooped up an ax from the floor and chucked it at the Phaznalra’s head, hitting it just in the right spot. With a squeal it fell to the ground dead.



The rest of the demons were running now, not wanting to die just yet. After a moment, the remaining members of the Chicago team headed outside and watched. Jay had been pushed into the town by the Timerena. The quartet desperately wanted to help, but this was Jay’s battle, Jay’s fate.



“We’re just along for the ride,” Billy Joe said softly, looking at Cleo.



Now is a just a good as time as any.



“We need to decide,” Cleo began, not taking her eyes off of Jay, “what we’re going to do if she doesn’t make it.”



“Jesus Cleo,” Billy Joe looked at his friend, stricken. “Is now really the time?”



“When then?” Cleo shot back. “When she’d dead and the clans pull us apart? When she’s a hell god and comes after us? When is the time, since no one’s had the balls to bring it up until now?”



No one knew, they never knew or understood why she’d been picked as the leader. Cleo’s the cold one, the heartless one. Mr. Hahn had always called her untested and from a weak family line. But she wasn’t. She wasn’t cold or untested. She just knew, more than any of them, that it always came down to someone. Someone who had to make the choices that no one else would. That could say or do what others couldn’t.



God, I hate Mr. Hahn but I understand him now more than ever.



“She’s right,” Claude nodded.



“We should stay together,” Max said, surprising himself a little. “Stay a team in Chicago.”



“If we stay a team,” Billy Joe retorted, “we’ll need a new member and I just can’t handle that.”



“What about Willow and Tara,” Claude asked. “Could they join with us?”



“No,” Cleo replied. “They have a different plan. Willow will lead a team of her own.”



Conversation stopped for a moment as they watched Jay exchange bone crushing blows with the Timerena. She had lost both her swords and picked up the beast’s hammer. How she was able to lift it, they sadly realized, was what they had feared.



“God she’s getting strong,” Claude observed.



“Prime’s giving her more and more juice as we get closer,” Billy Joe explained. “Upping everything she has.”



“Can’t we just wait and see what happens?” Claude asked. “If this all turns out okay,”



“Then we retire,” Billy Joe cut Claude off. He looked at the people around him. “We’ve all thought about it. We all want it. So let’s do it. Go into retirement. Say ‘see ya’ to all this shit while we still have our minds and all our appendages.”



“You know we can never fully walk away,” Cleo looked at Billy Joe. “We can only decrease our load.”



“Whatever. We need, I need, to slow down. To stop.”



“Amen brother,” Max agreed.



“Fine.” Billy Joe was right. Cleo wanted to get away from all this too. The last few years had been so hard. Watching and waiting for the day that they would be here with Jay. Watching their adopted sister fight to destroy herself.



“If we make it, we’re out,” Cleo looked at the three men before her, who nodded.



“And if she doesn’t?”



“We stick together,” Claude said. “No matter what happens. We’re still a team.” He rested an arm on Max’s shoulder. “We stand alone. Together.”



“Ha,” Jay’s shout brought them out of the moment. She stood over the prone form of the Timerena demon, watching with glee as its life ebbed away. Jay wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand. She waited a moment to make sure the demon was dead.



Jay began to do a little dance as she rapped, “Y'all can’t deny it, I'm a fuckin rider. You don't wanna fuck with me. Got skills in the trunk with me. Switchin lanes, do a buck with me. Y'all can’t deny it, I’m a fuckin rider. You don't wanna bang with me. And you know I brought my gang with me.” Jay looked over at her friends and waved.



“You go girl,” Billy Joe called out, smiling and heading over to his friend. Claude and Max followed, but Cleo hung back.



The Chicago team leader took off her goggles, allowing those watching back in Sunnydale to see her face.



“I know you can’t hear me, but you’ll be able to read this. When this is done, we’re through. The team is going into retirement, Jay included.”



Cleo put her goggles back on a joined the group, wondering how her message would be received back home.







Day Four: Noon

Sunnydale



Tom replayed the message from Cleo over again. He looked over his shoulder nervously at Mr. Hahn.



“Play it again,” Mr. Hahn seethed.



“Okay,” Tom hit rewind on the tape, allowing Cleo’s silent yet perfectly clear message play once again. He glanced over at the live feed, seeing scenes of travel and idle chitchat from the Chicago team. It had been a few hours since the last battle, since the message.



“Enough,” Mr. Hahn spat and turned to go.



“What was that?” Ren asked Tom, watching the retreating form of Mr. Hahn.



“The end of and era,” Tom replied sadly.







1984

“What is the point of this?” Billy Joe asked. The teenager was pissed. Tired of doing the same obstacle course over and over.



“How much longer?” Claude asked. He was tired too, but knew how to hold his temper a little better. He and his team had been running this course through the woods for hours. The sun was about to set and the temp was falling. It would get close to freezing tonight.



Mr. Hahn looked over at the remaining three teenagers in front of him.



“Do you have anything to add?” He looked pointedly at Max, Cleo, and Jay.



“No sir,” Max, the smallest and youngest at thirteen looked down.



Cleo, wisely held her tongue but Mr. Hahn could see her frustration at a seemingly mindless exercise.



“I’ll give you a point BJ,” Jay said defiantly. “Well two. First I think old man Hahn is trying to train us in his own twisted way. Gotta be in good shape to fight the bad guys. But I think he’s trying to prove that he’s in charge, trying to break us. Aren’t you, big man? Put the little brats in line?”



None of the kids had ever seen Mr. Hahn move so quickly. Suddenly Jay was gasping for breath, on her knees because Mr. Hahn had hit her in the stomach.



“If you bothered to train on your own,” Mr. Hahn said, looking down at Jay, “then these monthly meetings wouldn’t go so poorly. We should have finished this part of your lesson long ago, but no. You’re too lazy to do practice on your own.”



“You don’t know,” Jay looked up angrily.



Mr. Hahn slapped her face hard.



“Yes, I do,” Mr. Hahn’s face softened just a little. He looked at the four stunned and frightened faces before him.



“Do you want to die?” He asked the group. “Do you want to wind up trapped in another dimension or another reality? Or be turned into a vampire?”



Silence was his answer.



“I thought not.” Mr. Hahn sighed and began to pace. “You need to do this. To do the things I tell you so that you can live. Survive what you’ve been chosen for. We do this,” Mr. Hahn looked at Billy Joe, “because you’ll have to in the future. This course is based on the Lonesome Road in the Riddenower dimension.”



“What’s that?” Claude asked.



“One of the hell dimensions,” Max explained. “Riddenower was the name of the team that discovered it in the 1850’s.” He looked at Mr. Hahn. “They all died, didn’t they?”



“Only one survived,” Mr. Hahn explained. “My ancestor. He helped to design this course, the first of it’s kind.”



“And before you say, Miss Reed, that this is some sort of egotistical ‘trip’ as you like to call our training sessions, it is not.” Mr. Hahn looked at the embarrassed teenager. “This is your fate. You are to be one of the first teams in nearly one hundred years that actively seeks out and explores these hell dimensions in addition to your duties protecting the Earth.”



Jay stood slowly, her expression mirroring her teammates. Surprise.



“Whoa,” Billy Joe said.



“Yes, whoa,” Mr. Hahn gave a small smile.





2002

Mr. Hahn shook his head, remembering that night. He had calmed some since viewing Cleo’s resignation tape. It was hard to accept, and the Assembly of Elders certainly would not, but understandable.



The shadow member sat on an iron chair in the small garden on the east wing of the house remembering. That had been the turning point for him, for them. After nearly two years of struggle, his team finally began to come together. Eagerly learning and retaining his teachings. It would be several more years before they would go on their first real missions, but by then they were far beyond ready.



His third team had been the charm so to speak. The Chicago team had exceeded all expectations, including his, during those early years. And Jay, he had been so wrong about the warrior.







1989

“It was nice of you to come,” Jay said to her teacher. The pair stood away from the crowd at the cemetery. She had just watched her older brother Jason be buried.



“Why would I not attend,” Mr. Hahn asked, looking up at the tall young woman.



“I just figured,” Jay trailed off.



“You thought that I didn’t care,” Mr. Hahn finished. “That my only concern is the team, the mission.”



“Something like that,” Jay mumbled.



“I do care,” Mr. Hahn said, seeing perhaps for the first time, the person behind one of the most gifted demon fighters in generations. “I care very much about each one of you.”



Jay gave a dry laugh. “I must have missed it during all that yelling and punching.”



Mr. Hahn nodded. “I know,” he placed a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “It is a hard path that we walk, Jamison, and that has made things difficult between us, between all of us.” Mr. Hahn looked over at the rest of Jay’s team who were seated around a small girl with light blonde hair and her mother.



Mr. Hahn looked back at Jay. “And it will only get more treacherous as time moves on. But know that I care for you, very much. And that all I’ve ever wanted is the best for you.”



“Thanks,” Jay smiled. “Can we hug?”



“Just this once,” Mr. Hahn replied and pulled his student into a fierce embrace.





2002

Mr. Hahn thought of that day, the last really, that he had shared with Jamison, any of them, on a personal level. It had gone back to what it had been before. The next year, Cleo had been officially named team leader and they replaced Jack’s lost Chicago team.



Soon after the team went on the fateful African mission that had started them on the path to here.



“So, it’s as we feared,” Lucas’s voice broke Mr. Hahn’s reverie.



“Yes,” Mr. Hahn replied, not turning around.



“Then, now, will you support me?” Lucas asked, walking around so that he could face Mr. Hahn. “Only with your help do I stand a chance of getting the Assembly of Elders to accept Tara and Willow.”



“I,” Mr. Hahn faltered.



“Now, more than ever, is not the time for uncertainty. You and I both know that with this message, the Chicago team is through, even if they survive prime. The remaining members will be reassigned, relegated to the dark recesses of the clans. Their loss will leave a huge void, both in the continuing battle and in morale. Something, someone, has to step in and fill that void. Give our people hope.”



“My people,” Mr. Hahn corrected, casting a sharp look at Lucas. “You may think yourself as a true member, but you will always reek of the Council.”



“My apologies,” Lucas demurred. “But you know that I am right.”



“You are,” Mr. Hahn sighed. He had hoped that the Chicago team would be this last. That he could move away from training and more into teaching from behind a desk. That would not be possible now.



“Fine,” Mr. Hahn looked up at Lucas. “I will support you and agree to train what ever team your pair is assigned to.”



“Thank you,” Lucas replied, smiling.



Mr. Hahn waved him off and returned to thought. It was never too early to draw up a training plan for a new team.



Now was as good a time to start as any.





TBC....





Endnote: Jay's rap is from 'Can't Deny It' by Fabolous

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[maudmac]

Wow, hermitstull. Excellent updates. Sorry it took me a while to catch up. You're darn prolific.



The insight into Mr. Hahn was interesting. It reminds me of stories I've heard about my maternal grandmother. People thought she was too hard on her kids, but her position was always that they have to mind her because, living on a farm as they did, they might all go tumbling down a well or get sucked into some machinery if she didn't keep them in line. The point being that, yes, it seems harsh, but if that's what it takes to keep them safe, that's the way it's going to have to be. It's because she loved them so much that she insisted they mind her.



So it was nice to see that Mr. Hahn cares about his team. I'm sure that concern for the greater good is at least half the motivation for his style, if not most of it. And that's as it should be, in his case. The clans should never let their personal feelings get in the way of saving the world.



Which is why, as I've said before, I'm so interested in seeing how Willow is going to work out. And how the clans will change because of her and Tara. Because I really can't imagine Willow not becoming profoundly attached to the members of her team and doing everything she can to protect them, even if the mission fails because of that.



It's a terrible position to be put in. And it's all making me wonder how I would respond to a situation like that. Could I sacrifice a friend to save the world? I'm glad I'll never have to know the answer.

Don't lick my EYE!---Margaret Cho

[Grimlock72]

Hm... how neat, mr. Hahn says he cares... yet he comes up with all kind of excuses not to show it. Too little too late, comes to mind. Someone should have kicked him back to his place in 1984 I'll say. Why ever did those kids stay anywhere near mr. Hahn ? I would have run far, faaaar away from mr. Drill Instructor



It was of course VERY stupid of a team in the field telling their base-command they're going to quit. Virtually signing your own death-warrant, VERY dumb thing to do. It also doesn't help the team at all, they could just as well have told Lucas and Hahn after the mission. Would have been a heck of a lot safer.



I still don't know Lucas ultimate goal but I'm sure it's not what he's telling others. He seems to think that he alone knows whats good for the world, God complex much ? He's a bit like an arsenist who torches a building and then claims to be a hero when helping firefighters to safe the very same building. Not to be trusted for sure. There was no need to act on whatever prophecy until Lucas kindly helped it along. (a prophecy is only a story until some parts of it come true, having them come true due to intended intervention still sounds like cheating to me though)



If Jay had so much trouble with ONE guardian, the palace is going to be trouble... since I kinda expect more guards there. She shouldn't prepare to die all the much either, that might get her killed much easier (Kim should help there).



As for Mr. Rouse (who at least was honest) telling Tara about what Lucas had done... he only triggered Tara's question. Tara then asked Lucas what Rouse was talking about and Lucas opened his mind to her so she could see. THAT action seems rather stupid on his part since he already intended to make her forget anyway. Or did he expect Tara to agree with his actions ? He might very well see himself as an unrecognized hero, I think 'manipulator' fits better though.



Regardless of whatever was discussed or happened, Willow is going to be non to pleased about Lucas putting a spell on Tara. I doubt she's going to listens to Lucas excuses for doing so either, I know I wouldn't



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[justin]

Another wonderful update. You certainly know how to keep the suspense going.



I also find it rather hard to believe it when Mr Hahn claimed to care for the team. Though I can sort of understand why he trained them so hard. Both to toughen them up and to help build team spirit by giving them a common enemy.



It is a bit worrying that Jay had so much trouble with that guard though I guess that since she's growing stronger as they get closer to the palace, any guards that they meet at the palace will be easier. Maybe that's why Demetrius is sending his top guards to fight them so far away.



finally onto Lucas. He definitely seems to have something of an ego problem. The way he's decided that he alone can determine the fate of the planet does strike of him having a god/ messiah complex. Now while it seems that the thing that he's working for (preventing the destruction of humanity) is a good thing someone needs to tell him to get over himself.

I understand, you should be with the person you l-love


I am

[hermitstull]

hello again-

first some replies



Maudmac: Thanks. Yes, Mr. Hahn is sort of like your grandmother, harsh, perhaps, but for a reason. He has had to disassociate himself somewhat from his teams (this is his third, remember) for both the good of us all and to try to avoid being destroyed emotionally.



And that will be a very difficult part for Willow to have to deal with if and when the time comes. In the Buffyverse, only once did someone really have to make that kind of sacrifice (Buffy of re-souled Angel in season 2). All of the other deaths, despite being sad, haven't really served that high a purpose.



Grimmy: The answers to your questions/comments will be revealed as the story goes. The Chicago team is starting to come to terms with what is about to happen, hence the message. (Again, I don't want to spoil myself by saying too much.) And announcing your resignation may seem ill advised, but timing is everything.



As for Lucas, we still haven't seen all of what Tara knows. Again, he didn't want her to find out the way she did, when she did, but that doesn't necessairily mean he never planned for anyone to find out what he's been doing all these years. Since the opportunity presented itself, he took it.



Part of what's evil is perception, and Lucas does seem pretty much like a bad guy. But maybe he's not as bad as he seems. The prophecy is very real and needed to be dealt with.



And about Mr. Hahn (for both Grimmy and justin): He's not the nicest person, yes. A harsh taskmaster, definately. Openly demonstrative of his feelings, not at all. But does he care? Yes, he does in his own way.



But most importantly, do his methods work? Are his methods sucessfull? His teams have a pretty decent career? Oh yes, he's the best. And if it ain't broke...



justin: Thanks. Lucas does have a rather large ego, that's true. But I don't see that in play so much in his story. It's hard to see, but it really is all about the greater good and saving the world. Sometimes you have to march to the beat of your own drummer for the good of us all.



And Jay's fight. To be honest, I didn't write it thinking that she'd had that hard a time defeating the first high guard beastie. Hmm. We will see more of Jay in combat through her friend's perspective as the days go by. Actions will be in her own words during day six mostly.





and now to the update....







Deep: Part 12

Author's note: On the road again for Willow and Tara. And more thought about things to come. And a few guest stars have a cameo appearance.





Time is never time at all

You can never ever leave without leaving a peace of youth

And our lives are forever changed

We will never be the same

The more you change the less you feel

Believe believe in me believe

That life can change that you're not stuck in vain

We're not the same we're different tonight

Tonight so bright tonight



from Tonight, Tonight by Smashing Pumpkins







Day Four: Night

Demon Reality



“When the master sends his people, he really sends his people,” Willow said, looking at the Agent.



The trio had spent nearly a full day in the old hotel waiting for help to arrive. Luckily, nothing had bothered to try anything while they were held up. The Agent had successfully contacted his master, and here help was. A lot of help.



Four large SUV type vehicles lead the convoy, followed by pack of demons on motorcycles. Next came two long black luxury cars, identical in all ways. More demon bikers and SUV’s brought up the rear.



“The master wants to insure that you make it to his home safe and sound,” Agent explained, trying to suppress a grin.



The convoy pulled into the parking lot. Before the lead car had stopped, out jumped a young blonde woman.



“I know her,” Willow said.



“Darla,” Tara supplied the name to the vampire who had leaped into Agent’s arms and was kissing him

passionately. “She worked for the master. I mean the master,”



“Yeah, I remember,” Willow thought sadly of Jesse, the first victim, the first friend, she had lost in the battle against evil.



“Some things I guess don’t change,” Tara said, watching as several other recognizable vampires exited the various vehicles. Some she had seen in person before. They were nameless ones that she had helped Kendra to dust. Others she had read about in the Watcher Chronicles and other Council histories.



“Ladies,” a handsome young Spanish man greeted, towering above the two women. He wore a black leather outfit that covered him from the neck down. His dark brown hair was cut in an updated version of a pageboy style. His face looked young, maybe early twenties, but his dark brown eyes were old. Older than Agent’s.



“I am Miguel,” he continued, with just a hint of an accent. “The master has sent us to take you back to his home. I swear my his holy name that we, the Order of Aurelious, will protect and serve you until you depart from this reality.” He motioned towards the first luxury car.



“If you please,” Miguel stepped back and allowed Tara and Willow to pass.



“Oh my,” Tara said softly.



“Who would have thought old fruit punch mouth could have ever looked that good,” Willow whispered back. Glancing one more time at the vampire that had become the Master in her reality. “I can’t wait to tell Buffy.”



“Miguel has served the master for many years,” a muscular vampire with brown hair said, opening the door to the car. He had overheard their conversation and didn’t look too happy. “He is one of the first. Even before the Agent, Miguel was there.”



“Okay,” Willow nodded, too surprised for more of a reply. “Um, Luke, right?”



The vampire nodded.



“Thanks for the info,” Tara added, quickly pulling Willow into the car.



“Guess those loyalties made it to this reality too,” Willow said to Tara.



“Don’t you worry ladies,” the driver said from the front seat. The young vampire turned around and smiled. “Luke’s all bark and very little bit. Loyal to Miguel because of the whole sire thing.” The demon leaned towards Willow and Tara. “I think he kind of has a thing for him.”



“That’s enough young one,” Agent said, slipping into the passenger’s seat. “You’re too short of tooth to speak in such a way about the old ones.”



“Sorry,” the young vampire turned and focused on the car. Pulling it around and falling in line with the convoy.







“Willow, can you hear me,” Tara mentally sent.



The red head nodded.



“We need to decide what to do,” Tara looked at her love. “I’ve been thinking about this situation with Jay.”



“And what have you come up with baby?”



“Nothing,” Tara sighed.



“There is always a cost Tara. A cost when you tamper with fate. Lucas, more than anyone, changed destiny. Jay’s soul many be the one that was supposed to eventually replace Demetrious, but not yet. She, it’s, not ready.”



“And this Bracus’s character is?”



“He seems to have this world under control,” Willow looked out the window. “He’s made it a world of night, where demons rule. Seems like a good warm up for running your own hell dimension.”



“And what about Jay,” Tara’s eyes filled with sadness as she looked at the car’s floor. “I guess I just don’t want to accept it.”



“Maybe there’s a way. An opportunity will present itself when the time comes.”



“I’d like to have more of a plan than that Will.”



“I,” Willow shrugged. “I don’t know what else to say.”





Tara leaned back and looked out the window, crossing her arms over her chest. The position pushed a white envelope out from under her body armor.



“Hey,” Tara said, looking over at Willow. “I forgot about this.”



“The letter from the gang,” Willow smiled and waited as Tara opened the letter. She held it between the two of them so they could both read.





“I’ve been asked to dictate,” Willow and Tara could hear Giles’s voice as they read, “since Xander elected me as the one with the best penmanship. I know we all agreed it best if we not attend your departure, but these words, in my opinion would be better said in person.



We love you very much and wish you good luck and Godspeed.

(Anya asked me to write that that’s wish in a metaphorical sense, not an actual wish.)”



Willow and Tara could picture Giles’s eye roll and having to appease Anya.



“And,” the letter continued, “we are so very happy that you two have found each other once again. You are truly fated to be together always. Love the Gang.”





“That was sweet,” Willow said taking the letter from Tara to read once again, not noticing the worry cross Tara’s face.



Yes, fated. Destined. Meant to be. Tara knew in her soul that she and Willow should and would always be together. But hadn’t the clans cheated fate, her fate, by bringing her here, giving her the memories of a life she hadn’t lived. Hadn’t even come close to living in many ways. And given her a second chance when she wasn’t supposed to have one? Her destiny had been to die ridden with cancer like her mother before her without knowing the power of Earth shattering, soul-searing love.



Tara thought again of Lucas and what he’d done. And how angry and hurt she’d been when she’d remembered all that he’d changed from what was supposed to be. But his goal was the same as theirs, to protect mankind. A high aim that would benefit everyone.



But he’d done the same for her. For Willow. The outcome was the best possible for them both. Willow reunited with her true love, Tara as well, while discovering it for the first time. She was very pleased with the results of fate being tampered with on her behalf.



But she knew that there was always a cost, a price to be paid. Mr. Rouse had said that Lucas wouldn’t have to pay directly for his deeds, some else would. The question was, who would be the one to anti up for hers?







Willow re-read the letter and smiled. It still surprised her how well everyone had accepted her being gay. Well, there had been that episode with the fight, but that’d been caused mostly by Spike. Things had been so great up until…



Willow paused her thoughts. Things were always good, but Scoobiage made daily life tricky to live sometimes. She stole a glance at the blonde beauty sitting next to her, lost in her own thoughts. God, I’m so lucky to have her again. To have a second chance at having a life together.



Willow’s mind slowed a moment. What sort of life? How could working for the clans, being some mythical fated ones be better than helping Buffy? From what she’d seen of Jay and the other Chicago team member’s lives, they didn’t look so hot. Not anything better than what she already had.



And after Tara had told her about Lucas’s decades long treachery, why should she help them? Was she really ever slated to be a ‘fated one’ or had Lucas stacked the odds so that it had to happen? Probably never know for sure.



But Willow had learned long ago to take the cards life dealt you and try to come up with a winning hand. And Tara in her corner was a great lucky charm. And even though they only glossed over the subject of their future, Willow knew that Tara wanted to accept her position in the clans. And she wanted Willow to lead her own team.



But the reason why was still unclear. Could Tara feel some guilt over what could, heck, what was probably going to happen? Jay would, unfortunately, die. Kim would be alone, and the team would break up. Did Tara feel an obligation, a debt or sorts, to the clans because they’d basically brought her back to life?



Willow’s mind spun. She owed the clans a debt too, if you looked at it that way. They had been the only ones who had pulled it off, bringing Tara back to her. And if the clans came looking to collect, well, Willow wasn’t a welcher.







Tara began to hum a little to herself, catching Willow’s attention. The redhead listened in, unfamiliar with the tune. She smiled a little as the words became clear.



“..isn’t it great, isn’t it swell, isn’t it fun, isn’t it, nowadays.”



Willow leaned in a little closer to try to catch more of what



Tara was murmuring. “..everywhere, booze everywhere, everywhere life. Everywhere joy. Everywhere nowadays. You can like the life you’re livin, you can live the life you like...”



“Booze everywhere?” Willow teased. “Is this another reality that you’re looking to visit?”



“What?” Tara turned and looked at her lover. “Sweetie, what are you talking about?”



“You’re singing about booze.”



“Booze?” Tara paused. “Oh, sorry.” Tara blushed a little at being caught. “I didn’t ever realize. Just a song that was popular when I was a little girl.”



“Sounds like a strange song for children to sing,” Willow commented.



“Oh it was from some movie,” Tara explained. “It doesn’t matter. It just popped into my head. I always thought that line was great, about how to live your life. I used to think about that over and over. The rest,” Tara waved her had dismissively, “is just color.”



“And what do you think about,” Willow tried to capture the melody, “livin’ the life you like?”



“The life I like is with you in it,” Tara reached out and took Willow’s hand.



“What else?” Willow asked.



Tara looked at Willow earnestly. “I want to join the clans, Willow. Even if the fated ones thing is a bust. I think that I owe it to them.”



“For bringing you here?”



“Yes. And for bringing Jay, Billy Joe, and Cleo into my life. For helping to opening my eyes to another world outside the one we know. And I want to help people. To work for the greater good.”



“But can’t you do that in Sunnydale? With Buffy?”



“Of course,” Tara nodded for emphasis. “But Willow, there so much more out there that Sunnydale. So much more to do, to see, more people to help. And I want to try to use this second chance that I’ve been given to do that.”



Tara looked at Willow’s somewhat crestfallen expression.



“But I won’t do anything unless you’re there with me.” Tara smiled affectionately. “I love you, and that’s more important than anything else in this world or any other one to me.”



“Tara,” Willow sighed. “I just don’t know. I wish I did, but there’s too much in my head right now.”



“You don’t have to decide this second sweetie,” Tara slid a little closer to Willow and leaned back into the leather seat, pulling the other girl into her arms. “Just think about it, okay?”



“I have been,” Willow admitted. “But I need to think some more.”



Tara kissed the top of Willow’s head and looked out the window. It was the darker of the darks outside, so night had fallen. Tara could feel Willow begin to drift off to sleep. Tara soon joined her.









The Agent glanced in the rearview mirror, grinning just a little despite himself. Tara and Willow were a charming couple. Even someone shrouded in darkness could easily see that. He knew a thing or two about love, or as close as his kind ever came to such a human emotion. Darla had been his lover for almost two hundred years, and Agent had enjoyed every moment spent with her.



The Agent felt a pressure inside his head. The master was calling.



A deep baritone voice rang through his skull. “Agent.”



“Yes master,” he replied telepathically.



“What is your status?”



“We should reach your stronghold inside the day. Perhaps a few more hours if we travel unmolested.”



“And the anarchists?”



“I was unable to locate them,” Agent tensed, ready for a reprimand, but the master continued.



“No matter,” the master replied. “We will deal with them after.”



“Yes sir.”



“And how are the travelers?”



“Fine sir,” Agent took a quick look at the sleeping women. “Remarkably fine for humans.”



“They are quite exceptional, or so I’ve been told. Make sure nothing happens to them.”



“Of course sir. My life for theirs if need be.”



“Such loyalty, my Agent. It will be well rewarded.”



Agent felt the pressure lesson as the master broke contact. They are quite special master, that is for certain. And I hope that we won’t have to test just how extraordinary they are.







TBC...

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland

[Grimlock72]

Hmm... this chapter made wonder; when is a debt repayed ? Tara feels like she owes the clans lots of things it seems, but she has already helped them in her other dimension didn't she ?



Can't put my finger on it exactly but something in the Tara-owes-the-clans stuff bothered me. Of course Tara wants to help people, too bad I can't see how the chicago team (don't know much about the other clans) is currently helping people.



How do we know that the prophecy is real anyway ? All actions we've seen so far were caused by Lucas one way or another. Thats not stacking odds, thats more like pushing them forward the way you like. I most dislike that the entire prophecy has a very thin basis, mostly Lucas (who persuaded mr. Hahn).



Since we still don't know Lucas final goal with all of this charade I'll be very weary about him. That likely won't go away until Lucas is 6ft underground (or even better; cremated... me no want no Vamp Lucas: --> ), I doubt I'll ever trust him alive or death he just keeps to much to himself.



Surprising that Willow didn't seem that upset about Lucas tampering with Tara's memory. I kinda expected a fuming Willow Probably she realized that there was little she could do in their current dimension, smart girl. She's still thinking about it, good old Willow... the answer to Tara's question was so obvious there... "need to think some more about it".



It feels like both Tara and Willow are being somehow pressured into the clans. Got to wonder why they didn't simply ASK them, or is that something those clans have never heard of ? I would like another clans opinion on the Chicago team/clan. Still, whatever the scoobies/Buffy faults I would feel more comfortable working with them then with whatever other clan.



Fun seeing known vamps as escort for Willow and Tara Protected by the Order of Aerilius, now thats a story to come home with.



Lucas makes a good villain though, one I can distrust and hate at times as well I just don't see how he could redeem himself, given whats he responsible for either doing or setting in motion. Heck, I don't want him redeemed



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Hey Grimmy



Tara and the clans. She knows about them because her Jay was a little more involved in her life than the Jay of this reality, but she never worked with/for them. She knows more of the scope of what they do, and some of the things that the clans have done, at least in her reality.



But Tara does feel that the clans are the ones who basically gave her a second chance at life by bringing her to this reality. Which, of course, brought her to a different Willow. One that she fell in love with and wants to grow old with. And that's a pretty good sized debt in her mind, even though (at this point) no one from the clans has actually said anything to her like that.



Willow. She's not too happy about what's happened, but you're right, now's not the time. She still doesn't know all that happened. Tara's remembered most, but not all, of what happened. Willow also realizes that the clans were the ones that brought Tara back to her, and she is grateful. But how much remains to be seen.



Lucas, the clans, and pressure about the future. Again, no one from the clans proper has really said much, formally, about Willow and Tara having to join. The only person was Cleo who basically hired Willow in Do Your Best. And some of the conditions/expetations have changed since then. Mr. Hahn alluded that for parts of the clans, Tara and Willow will not be welcome, or accepted, so there'll be an internal struggle. (That will be part of a sequel, along with a few other unanswered questions.)



All I can say is that you will see, during day six or seven, the full extent of the prophecy and how Lucas came to do the things he's done. Will it redeem him? The juries out on that, I guess. (Probably not since I know you dislike him so.)



And I just had to work in a few familiar vamp faces into the demon reality. We might even see a few more before the story ends.



thanks for the great comments-

hermitstull

"I was feared and worshiped across the mortal globe. At now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. Mortal. Child. And I'm failing Math." Anya in Dopplegangland