Willow is walking through the courtyard after her last class of the day when she hears someone calling her name. Glancing up, she smiles as she sees Riley and Samantha Finn heading toward her. When they get close, she asks "Hey, Riley, Sam. What's up? Why'd they send you back to good ole Sunnyhell?"

Riley looks around. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Willow studies him for a moment. "Sure. We can hit the Grotto. I'll check in on the way." As they walk, Willow pulls out a cell phone and calls the house, letting them know something's up. After drinks are ordered and received and the three take to a secluded table, Samantha asks a question as she opens her pack and removes a large manila envelope. "How are you with the magics?"

"I'm better. After you left, Tara was killed and I lost it for a while. But I spent last summer in England with a coven and I learned a lot. It still frightens me, but I'm dealing. And I got a new teacher last week. She's..." Willow learns back in her chair. "She's really, really strong and knows a lot. I, I scared the coven members with how strong I am, but this woman, she makes me look weak. I had a bad spell when Tara died, but she understands and is showing me how to control the powers, and how to access a wider spectrum. You should have seen her take down the thing in the high school gym the other day."

Riley leans forward. "What did this thing look like?"

"Twenty foot tall, ripped wide the door to the gym. Claws, green skin, big teeth, mandibles as long as your arm. It was a terentak."

Sam nods , the name sounding vaguely familiar. She passes the envelope across the table. "What is this?"

Willow opens the envelope and pulls out the pictures. She looks at the pictures of the Ebon Hawk resting on the high school football field before looking up. "What's it look like to you?" she inquires.

Riley shakes his head. "It looks like something out of Star Wars." He studies her face intently. "You know something, don't you?"

Samantha nods, her own examination of Willow leading to the same conclusion. "What is it, Willow?"

Willow nods her head. "You said it yourself, Riley. Only it's from about four millennium before the movies."

Riley and Sam watch her take a sip of her mocha as her words sink in. Finally, Riley blurts out "You're kidding, right? Everyone knows those things aren't real."

"Well, in this universe, that's true. But that doesn't mean that it can't or, or doesn't exist in some other dimension." Willow sits back. "Why are you here? What do you really want?"

Riley sighs. "Willow, do you know what that vessel represents? The knowledge and technology it contains are vital for our security. We have to take it so that our scientist and engineers can study it."

Willow shakes her head, a little sadly. "No, it's you who don't understand. It's owners are here, in Sunnydale. And they're helping us save the world again." She finishes her mocha and stands.

Samantha and Riley hurry after her as she leaves the place. Unseen by any of them, Amy watches them leave, her eyes filled with rage. Samantha is the first one to speak. "What do you mean, the end of the world?"

Willow glances at her as they cross the street. "The first evil is trying to kill off the slayer line and become corporeal. It's got an army of turok-han, super vamps, on the other side of the hell mouth just waiting to be unleashed, and when it's forces out number us, then it's got a body. Meanwhile, it's jumping around, appearing as dead people and playing mind games with everyone and the only one that can even touch it is B... Alexi. We got a house full of potential slayers, but for now, they're just girls."

At the high school, Riley shakes his head. At his wife's questioning glance, he explains. "There's a hell mouth under the high school library?" he glances at Willow.

"They rebuilt, it's under the principal's office now. And so far, he seems to be on our side." Willow informs them as they cut past the building.

Samantha sighs. "And why is it even here in the first place?"

"The last and only mayor of Sunnydale, Mayor Wilkins, tried to become a seventy foot long snake like demon, an Olvikian. It happened at our graduation, so we blew the place up to kill him. He spent over a hundred years on his plan."

They turn the corner of the gym and Sam and Riley see the ship resting of the field for the first time. And the gathering of students and adults in lines to have pictures taken and to touch and hold real light sabers and blasters and even squeeze off a few shots at the targets now set up, after paying a small fee first.

Xander waves at her and cuts through the gathering. "Hey, Will. Riley, Sam." he nods at the married couple. "I told Alexi about your companions."

"Good. Oh, what are you doing here, anyway?"

"I'm delivery guy today, food and stuff. And Anya is happy at the money we're making even considering half the profits are going to the school." He smiles before he walks back to the truck parked at the edge of the field and picks up a box.

Willow and group follow along as he carries it to the ship. "Xander, they came because someone sent photos of the ship. They came to check it out and report back. And if any others are on the way..."

Xander grimaces. "I know, Will. But you heard what she said. They go home sometime this evening." He looks around the gathered people. "The track and baseball teams' practice drew a crowd, and well, some of the kids wanted to have a look. They'll be shut down by eight and out of town by midnight."

Riley looks at the ship for a moment and shakes his head. "Where'd this thing come from?"

An unexpected voice sounds behind him, causing him to jump. "Unstable dimensional portal."

Riley slowly turns around to see a sight he thought was impossible. "Buffy." The whisper is ripped from him, just loud enough for them to hear.

She shakes her head sadly. "Not quite." she whispers before she walks up the boarding ramp.

As Riley moves to follow her, Willow grabs his arm. "No, Riley." At his unspoken question, she shakes her head. "She doesn't remember most of her life before the beginning of the school year you left in. She ended up there." She waves at the ship. "It's been over thirty years for her. And that's not counting the times they tried to erase her memories. She's Alexi for now." Willow heads up the ramp, Xander fallowing with his burden.

As Riley sets foot to the boarding ramp, a cold metallic voice sounds beside him. "Statement: you do not have permission to board, meat bag." After a quick glance and spotting nothing, he shrugs his shoulders and starts up again. This time a reddish metal humanoid droid shimmers into visibility beside the ramp, a large rifle like weapon in it's arms and aimed between his eyes. "Statement. Further progress will enable me to open fire."

Riley steps back and watches as the droid fades back into invisibility.

Inside the ship, Buffy crosses the first intersection and enters a room where Bao-Dur makes the finishing touches on a metal box. "Hey."

"Greetings." He nods to her. As Willow and Xander enter, he continues. "I've just finished the container now."

"What's it for?" The soft voice comes from the other corridor. As they look up, Amonoa enters the hold, her eyes questioning.

As Willow watches, her curiosity aroused, Buffy smiles at the Jedi, a hint of crulty barely noticeable. "When they created the slayer, they took the heart, the spirit of a demon and forced part of it into a young woman." She steps to the workbench and opens a cabinet. She removes an ancient wooden box, it's sliding lid closed. "They stored the rest of the spirit in this box." She sets the box on the bench and waits until Bao-Dur steps back, his finished work gleaming in the light. Buffy glances up as the other Jedi in training enter the room. She opens the metal box and then turns and slips the wooden lid open. She steps back. As an inky black cloud rises from the box, slinking through the air, seeking an escape. Buffy raises a hand and the dark spirit begins to struggle as she holds it in place. A piece of the spirt the size of a golf ball separates and floats toward Willow. As she shakes her head, a second piece separates and floats to Amonoa. As the group watches, the rest of the spirit enters the metal box, struggling against the force holding it. As it enters fully, Buffy reaches over and closes the new spirit prison. "If you want a hint of what I am, take the piece into yourself, Amonoa, Willow."

The two women look nervously at the small pieces of demon spirit for a moment before Willow looks at Buffy. She straightens her back and reaches out and takes the ball of darkness and swallows it. Amonoa watches Willow and then she does so as well.

Buffy smiles and collapses. As the people scattered around the hold begin to move, Buffy stands up, her attitude cold and harsh, halting them in there tracks. Her now red eyes freeze the Jedi as her dark presence cause Willow and Xander of shiver. She steps forward to Amonoa. "It is a seemingly such a simple thing. Yet it opens the door to so much more that most humans shall never perceive. It will heighten your aggressiveness slightly, but you can stay in control." Revan picks up the container and begins to leave, pausing at the exit. "If you had received even half of what I carry, you would become animalistic as the instincts of the demon overwhelm you. You would become a predator, unable to do much thinking or planing." She turns to look. "It is our mind that makes us human, that lets us choose our path. Take that away, and all that we remain are animals. Dangerous animals, but only animals. And as long as I have a choice, I refuse to give that up. Darth Nihlious did, an he is driven by his hunger, enslaved by his own power, by the dark side. He is still powerful, but he is driven more by instinct then by his own mind."

As the Jedi studies the one she served under, she thinks of her woods. Finally, she nods in understanding.

Revan smirks and turns to leave, Willow and Xander beside her. At the top of the ramp, Revan leans against the bulkhead for a moment before she recovers and shakes her head. As her two companions suddenly look at her, she turns to face them, her brilliant hazel eyes lighting up as the dark presence fades away.

Buffy smiles as she and Willow sit down in the bronze. Buffy leans back and sighs. "Will, I needed this."

Willow looks over to where Xander stands at the register, paying for their order. "Buffy, why is this happening?"

"The three of us have begun to merge. Part of that is that Revan and I can sometimes control our body. But we have to wait our turn in the cycle. As for this." she waves around them. "I need to show them, to show Revan how to have fun and how important friends are."

Willow grins. "So you blew off Riley and Sam and dragged us here."

"I didn't blow them off cause that would be wrong. I told them I'd talk to them tomorrow."

"So how'd you get them to leave so easily, then?" Xander asks as he sets a croissant in front of Buffy before setting their drinks down.

Buffy arches an eyebrow. "A Jedi can influence the weak willed, Xan-man. And if they're dark siders, they're willing to do so much more. Any of them can make an enemy into a loyal servant, play with your memories. Any wielder of the force can do so, bound only by their time and morality. Which is why increasing both your willpower and your sensitivity is necessary to resist."

Xander nods. "It's like when Dracula showed up and made me his butt monkey. If I had more willpower, I might have been able to resist."

"Or to break free on your own." Buffy nods in agreement.

Willow giggles, "So you 'suggested' they stop by tomorrow." She raises her figures and curls her fingers at the word suggested.

Buffy nods her head. "Yeppers. I need time with my best buds."

Willow and Xander look at each other before they turn to face her. Willow clears her throat before she opens her mouth. "Buffy, what's the difference between Jedi and Sith?"

Buffy leans back in her seat and sighs. "The Jedi are increasingly a monastic order. In the past half century, they've been going more and more toward teaching that emotions are bad. I can see them trying to do what the Watchers have tried to do with their potentials. Duty before all. The Sith remind me more of a collection of wizards and witches, studying many different fields, many of them going to far in their arrogance and belief in their own power and control. Through the use of Sith alchemy, for instance, you can create swords or even armor that are virtually indestructible, capable of standing up to blows from even light sabers."

Xander nods. "Wow. Just wow."

Willow sits there, shocked for a moment. Buffy looks at her, throws a quick glance and a grin at Xander, grabs Willow and drags her to the dance floor before she recovers.

Willow looks at Buffy, catching her gaze. "Not that I mind, but why this?"

Buffy leads the red head on the dance floor, flowing to the music. "It's time to cut loose and enjoy ourselves, to reach out and connect with the call to live, to love, to have fun. Tomorrow, Alexi will be back and this is something I can show you better then anyone."

Willow looks questioningly at her. "What's that?"

As the band plays, Buffy sways to the music. "This kind of music calls to the heart and soul. Feel the rhythm." As Willow begins to move, Buffy smiles. "Now, reach out and let their emotions flow by." As Willow nods, she continues. "Now ride the flow. Just relax and move with the beat."

As Xander watches, he notices the dancers slowly begin to move together, slowly become a coordinated whole.

The next day, Buffy watches the potentials train as she meditates on the back porch. As the door behind her opens, she calls out "Hello, Rupert. How are our guests?"

Giles sits beside her on the stairs. "Riley and Samantha are well. They're a bit upset that the ship is gone, though. It's fortunate that your robot is invisible."

Buffy nods. "It's to be expected. Letting a single nation get their hands on it wound destabilize this world. And Buffy doesn't trust the military very much. Revan has the same concerns as I do about the Jedi. Each of us have been betrayed by those we were supposed to trust. Buffy forgave you and blamed the council. She blamed Walsh and the idiots that set up the Initiative. Through the portal and the Jedi tried to erase her memories and create Revan. Thirty years later they did it again and created me." She turns to look at him. "True trust and respect need to be earned, both from those that follow and those that lead." She stands up. "Your council never respected the slayer. In fact, they thought of them as only good to go out and fight and die at their command. That needs to change. How many times would I, would Buffy have failed without Willow, Xander, you." She calmly meets his gaze.

Giles nods and sighs heavily. "You are correct. You, or rather, Buffy taught me that lesson once, years ago."

A noise of the door opening announces Riley and Sam's arrival on the back porch. Giles looks up at the yard as he stands. Turning, he looks at the two newcomers. "Riley, Samantha."

Riley throws a quick glance around. "Buu, uhh, Alexi. Giles. What's up the girls?"

Buffy moves up the stairs and to the side. She turns and leans back against the railing. "They are potential slayers. The ones that were found and got to us alive."

Samantha gasps. "What?"

Giles clears his throat. "The first evil is active and is seeking to eliminate the slayer line and invade our world. It plans to open the hellmouth and bring forth an army of Turok-han."

Buffy laughs harshly. "That's what it wants us to think. Everything we know, it knows we know and could have easily planted it. Problem is, we still have to deal with it, distraction or not." She pauses for a moment. "If we open the hell mouth, we might be able to send a decent explosive device through to deal with this attack."

Riley looks at her in surprise. "What?!"

She smiles grimly. "One of my personalities saw the army and the cave they're in through the portal." She steps toward the door, the other three following behind her.

Several hours later, Riley looks up from the map Buffy sketched out from the vision. "What kind of side effects will there be?"

Buffy shakes her head. "I'm not the expert of interdimensional gates and weak spots in the fabric of space and time, I'm not even an amateur. Giles and Willow are the closest we've got." She throws a glance at him. "Still, we can work on this, call it plan C."

Samantha nods. "We'll get what we can." She and her husband stand up. "We'll be in touch."

As they leave, Willow arrives, her classes done for the week. "Hey guys. How did it go?"

Buffy waves at a chair. "Have a seat." Waiting until she sits, Buffy continues. "Riley's group will get us some demolition equipment and the experts to set it up to do what we need to do."

Willow wrinkles her forehead as she thinks. "But they came here for the ship and it's goodies."

Buffy leans back in her chair. "So they did. And they have resources to make our mission easier. So we negotiated."

Willow studies her intently. Just as she opens her mouth, a loud knock sounds from the front door. Giles stands, leaves the room and opens the door. "Hello, Wesley."

"Rupert. We need Faith. We had to set Angelus loose and he escaped." Wesley Wyndam-Pryce speaks as he enters the house. As he enters the dining room, he looks up. "My god! Buffy?" In stunned disbelief, he collapses into a chair, looking at her.

Buffy looks up at Giles. "I'll go. Maybe see the sights, where I used to live, things like that. HK-47 will stay here. Faith's in charge until I get back. Willow will accompany us."

Giles looks at her. "You know I don't like that mechanical monstrosity."