You Only Live Thrice..." Part XIV...
P.G. 13
Summary: A certain 'benevolent' supervillain has tried to employ a little more cleverness, patience, and respect for modern science and technology than the usual Bverse evildoer...
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .
Or direct to story at .
Part XIV...
"What is that?" Buffy asked as their jet made its way across the last of the Alps, dazzling in the early sunlight…At her request William continuing sitting on the inside seat just in case that UV-resistant glass of copter and now jet wasn't quite what Andrew'd cracked it up to be…
" Theme from 'You Only Live Twice' by John Barry…." Will smiled…
"Thought a little Bond was appropriate…"
"Twice, eh?...So this mean we beat out Bond?..." Buffy grinned…
"No question, Mrs. W."
"How long to San Lucea?..." he leaned forward to the flight attendant…
"About thirty minutes, sir…"
"Say…" Buffy eyed the gleaming peaks below… "If Willow does come up
with that daylight protection spell, we oughta go skiing here…"
"Skiing?...Did you ever ski in either of the lives I've known you?..."
"Something to learn together then…"
"What?...Breaking legs?..."
"Where's your sense of adventure…?"
"What's the adventure in tumbling down a mountain and hitting trees all the way?...And I'm already minus one limb…"
"We could walk on the glaciers…"
"Right down into the crevasses…"
"Beautiful sunrises and sunsets…Fire your poetic imagination…"
"Pray that protection is damned good…"
"So we drink cocoa at the ski lodge, and make out before the roaring fire…"
"Now that's more my speed…Wait…" he blinked at her…
"Say that again…"
"We drink cocoa and make out…"
"No…The fire thing…"
"Fire your poetic imagination…What?...I read Spike…" she frowned… "Poets go out and…"
"You said that before…"
"I did?...I don't remember us much discussing your stuff before… Sorry…" she was a bit sheepish… "Things were always so…"
"Yes, you did…" he stared at her… "Back in England…In 1880…"
"Really?...So Cicely was your biggest fan?..." she beamed… "That's how we fell in love, right?...You reading your poetry to me?...You know, I've been picking up impressions and bits over the last year…I don't quite remember things yet…But I was sure that was it…"
Hmmn…Well…Image of Cicely trying to be polite while looking over his work…
"Exactly…" he nodded, smiling…
"Miss Summers..." a chubby, short, balding man in white suit with a beaming smile on a boyishly open face stepped down from the main portico at the terminal building to greet them as they crossed the landing area under a canopy brought out to the jet on their landing… "I heard you'd finally accepted His Benevolence's invitation...So glad I could be here to welcome you...And the amazing Mr. Walthrop..."
"This is Alexander George, the Immortal's manager around here..." she nodded to Alexander...
"European Field Director..." he corrected with the slightest touch of exasperation... What? Do I look like a hotel manager?..."A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Walthrop..." he put out a hand... "I've heard so much about you, including from our favorite Slayer here..."
"Quite a nice little kingdom your boss has here…" Will noted, looking round
"Principality, actually…Though His Benevolence takes no title but that which his admirers bestowed on him centuries ago…What a delight to have you both here at last…" broad smile… "And to have you back with us, Ms. Summers…"
"So Georgie, where are Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer?..." Buffy, grinning...
"You know, Miss Summers...That gets funnier each time I hear it..." George smiled more broadly face twitching just a hair..."But this is so wonderful...You two heroes here in our midst...Finally off on a well-deserved vacation together...Say, I guess really this is a honeymoon, right?...Mrs. Walthrop?...Mr. Walthrop?..."
"More or less..." William nodded... "Though we're not quite legal yet..."
"Sure we are..." Buffy insisted, frowning... "And you keep calling me Mrs. Walthrop, Georgie..."
"Absolutely..." George beamed... "And I think you'll find the Royal Wedding suite His Benevolence selected for you a perfect place to start your new lives together...Say, Phillips..." he turned to call back to Phillips, above them on the main portico, trying to observe as
one of the crowd there watching...
Phillips came out of the crowd, a bit reluctantly...
"This is Henry Phillips, who'll bring you in and see that you're well taken care of..." he smiled at Phillips...Who pasted a smile after a half-second...
What, do I look like an assistant hotel manager?...
"Certainly...Why don't you two follow me and we'll get you over to the main desk..."
"That's great..." George followed them to the stone stairs, halting at the first step..."Well, I've got a bit to do and I'm sure you folks want to spend your first dinner here alone together, but if you don't mind we have a little reception planned for you later on around nine...Just a little something to honor Humanity's saviors..." he made a depreciating gesture at Buffy's glance to Will...
"Thanks..." Will nodded... "Though it's my girl who's the savior..."
"Spoken like a true Champion and a good husband..." Alexander beamed... "I see a long future for you two together..."
In Heaven, courtesy of... "Georgie"…he did not say, mentally blanching on the "Georgie"...
"Oh, guys..." he dropped his voice a bit, moving close... "Just one thing you should know...We do have one special guest here...The Immortal's trying to keep her well monitored before the big curse broadcast, your project, Buffy..." a warm smile...
"Isn't she something, Walthrop?...Reaching out to save them after their tryin' to destroy her all these years...Such compassion, I tell ya we at Immortale Telecom and Electronics are just workin' like dogs on this thing, we were all so inspired when she and Mr. Giles came to
speak about it a few weeks ago..."
Will eyed him...
So...There's the when and how…
Surely though...Even if she were alone...
But she wasn't...Right, of course...They got Giles, then he...It...
Well...I'll be having a meeting with Costanza clone here alone asap...Andy may have eliminated the corporation HQ as her possible holding place but the transmissions from her apartment were beamed at some place in this little Immortal playground...
"Thanks, that's very nice..." Buffy nodded... "So they're nearly ready...?"
"Next Thursday morning, as planned...We have counseling and medical teams standing by...And I understand the Council has its rescue teams ready..."
"So Giles tells me..."
"Sounds like a big operation...You're really expectin' to soul every remaining vamp on the planet?..." Will asked...
"We're gonna try, sir..." Alexander nodded, a solemn air... "Of course we know a lot of them will have...Issues...And a few may remain pretty nasty, having been pretty nasty in life...But our rescue teams'll be there to help the ones who need counseling or medical treatment and
I'm sure the Council's Slayers'll wrap up any who wanna make trouble...But what I really wanted to warn you about guys was, well...His Benevolence was concerned that you might be a little upset if you encountered our special guest...He wanted me to assure you she's being monitored at all times..."
"Oh, God..." Buffy stared up at the portico...Then a slight but definite glare at Will...
"Christ..." Will muttered, staring as well...
Comes under the category of ironic punishments and then some...
"Spike!...Buffy!..." Harmony in elegant gown waved eagerly, starting for the stairs...
"Poor kid..." Mr. George shook his head to Will... "Being a former employee of Angel's and a former friend of yours, Buffy, when our people spotted her in Europe, His Benevolence thought we should see that she's kept safe and comfortable where she can't do any harm until
Thursday...We've contacted Angel, naturally, and he agreed wholeheartedly..."
He would...Very funny, you pointy-haired Christ-imitating sot...Both Walthrops thought...
"Oh, guys!...Buffy, it's so great to see you!...William..." An attempt at dignified reserve as she greeted her ex-... "Isn't this place dreamy?...You gotta see my room...And, God...The bl-...er,
food...Here..."
"Gourmet quality bison blood...Same stock for Mr. Walthrop...You'll find a supply in your refrigerator..." George whispered discreetly to Buffy...
"It was so nice of Angel to arrange this for me!...Before the big, you know..." Harmony continued...
"You know?..." Buffy eyed her, then George... "She knows?..."
"Oh, sure..." Harmony nodded...
"Our psych staff felt it would help us in keeping her calm during her transition...Angel and Mr. Giles signed off on it...She couldn't stop the project even if she could escape..." he noted, soothingly...
"They offered me the chance to go it alone, early..." Harmony had taken William by the arm... "Should I wait or get it over with now?...Whatdaya think?...Does it hurt a lot?...You don't do anything embarrassing, do ya?..."
"Hmmn?..."
"You know, like..." she whispered in his ear... Buffy glaring now...
"Not that I remember..." he shook his head..."But my soul route was different, Angel's the one to ask...Though confidentially, I heard from Faith that when he got his back the last time...Puddle on the floor..."
"Oh..."
"Nothing a set of Depends won't take care of...But ask him..."
"I will, thanks..."
Buffy had pulled to his side...Narrowly eyeing Harm...
"Oh, this is so great...You two..." Harm beamed, taking both their hands and jiggling them excitedly... "William was so screwed up about you back in LA...And now, everyone's talking about how all the time you and he...The Cicely thing, I mean..."
"Everyone?..." Buffy blinked...
"Oh, they're all excited...The Immortal's people and the occult experts and the spies and..."
"Just our people and the Council staff helping with the final details of the soul restoration project..." George explained...
"Oh, yeah..." Harmony nodded... "Mum's the word to the regular humans...Not that any of them believed me when I told a few by accident...I thought they were staff..." she gave a brief, sheepish
look... "But since then, mum..."
"And you're ok with this?..." Buffy asked...
"Well, naturally if I could, I'd kill everyone and destroy everything before I'd let them drive my demon out.." Harmony sighed... "But, hey...My family'll be happy after they get over the horror of seeing me come back from the dead...And Angel's promised to rehire me as soon as I recover from any post-demonic stress..."
"And this is such a neat place..." she beamed...Then frowned, taking Buffy's arm and pulling her off...
"Well, I'll see you folks tonight...Enjoy yourselves, you two wonderful people...Phillips will take care of anything you need..." Mr. George gave a wave and headed off...Phillips grimacing at him
briefly…
"Now, Buffy...Or do I call you Cicely, now?..." Harmony had dropped her voice to a very audible whisper...
"Buffy's fine..."
"Great...I couldn't tell how to spell it for the card, anyway...Buffy...You understand when I had sex with William post-soul, he'd just come back from months of non-corporeal existence...It wasn't anything I did...Unless he still had feelings for me..."
"Harmony?..."
"Sorry...Evil side will still out...But only till Thursday unless you think..."
"The sooner the better..." Buffy frowned...
Though I wonder if it'll be an improvement...she thought...
"Ok, if you think so...I'll do it tonight before the reception...Say, if I'm not suicidal or catatonic, you wanna go shopping tomorrow?..."
"Uh...Why don't we see how you feel?..."
"Sure...Well, I guess I better go and have my last Evil meal...It's so good seeing you guys!...Say are you gonna do a wedding ceremony?... They say you're married..."
"1880..." Buffy nodded... "And I got the ring to prove it..." she held up her hand...
"Oooh..." Hmmn... "No diamond?..."
"I'll be getting her one shortly...For the rededication ceremony..." Will cut in...
Really?...Buffy looked at him...
Not that it matters, of course…
Still…
"Neat...You gotta go with me then, tomorrow, Buffy...I found the best jewelry shop...Literally...In the world in town..." Harmony beamed... "Though it's a nice, old-fashioned little band..." she nodded at the ring…Buffy lowering her hand, with glare…
"Yeah?...Thanks..." curtly...
"We'll get you fixed up tomorrow...And I want you to know no matter how many TV interviews I have to give after tomorrow over my incredible tale of suffering and survival, I will keep a spot open to be your bridesmaid...See ya at the reception if my soul can bear the hideous suffering..."
I know mine can't…Buffy sighed inwardly… "Sure, good luck…"
"Unless you wanta be there at my soul's return?..." Harm paused… "Sorta like a mentor to keep me from sticking myself, that sort of thing?...I mean you being the only living friend I have left and your being the Slayer and all…"
Uh…Gee… Buffy tried to smile…
"I really think it's a kinda private thing, Harmony…Though the desk guy can give you our room number and you can call us if anything goes wrong…"
"Great…I'll call you the minute the thing from Heaven returns…" she nodded…Pausing a moment…
"Yeah…Great…" Buffy sighed…Oh, well…She hugged the vampiress briefly… "You'll be fine…" Harm nodding and heading back up the stairs to the main entrance…
Bye…she waved…Buffy waving back…
"Everything ok?..." Will whispered as they resumed following a reluctantly patient Phillips up and into the main building..."Casino Regale..." elegantly understated sign to the main door's side...
"I don't think Harmony can handle this, it's cruel to make her suffer...Lemme do one last one, for an old classmate's sake..."
"Buffy..." he frowned...
"You suppose they got Dru here somewheres, too?..." she gave an innocent look… "I could give her peace too…"
"Are we clear…?"
"Fine…"
"You're sure?..."
"Nobody's around…" firm nod…
"Ok?..."
"Oh, yeah..." Buffy nodded, tongue clicking, as Will reluctantly stepped out from behind some trees, decked now in tux, black tie... "Turn around…Oh, yeah…" she beamed… "God, you look…"
"Shut up…You know, I'm only doing this for you…And if you say I look just like Bond…" he frowned…
"I was thinkin' more… 'What about me?'…" she eyed him…Flouncing a bit in her white dress…Black fur shawl draped about her shoulders…
"You'll do…"
"If I could move in this dress, I'd stake you…" she glared…
"You'd look beautiful in rags and you know it…"
"Will!..." she looked a bit nervous now… "Is it that bad?..."
"Stop it…You look terrific…The Immortal will surrender…Or attempt to kill me…On sight of you…"
"Yeah?..." she beamed…
"Of course not, girl…Don't be an idiot…But you do look fantastic…And he probably will try…Again…To kill me…"
"I may help him if you keep this up…"
He stared at her a moment…
Sadly…My poor love…I have to believe you…
Though I swear I would never for a moment blame you…
"Well, what now?..." he asked... "We goin' in?..."
"Yep...Just leave things to me...You keep close by and look pretty..." Buffy grinned...
"I can do that..." he grinned back...They stepped into the driveway and followed after a group making for the stairs to the main entrance...
"Madam?...Sir?..." An officious doorman held the main door for them...
"Welcome...To Casino..."
"Royale?..." Will asked, smiling...
"No, sir...That's the place over by Monaco...This is His Benevolence, the Immortal's, Casino Regale..."
Uh-huh...Will nodded...They entered, looking round...
"Our contact should be here already somewhere...You can ask for 'Dr. Noah' if we get separated..."
"'Dr. Noah'?..." Will stared at her...
There's only one person who'd be willing to use that as a contact name at Casino Royale or Regale...
"He didn't…?" he began…
"He begged, I caved..." she sighed... "On both the coming and the code name…After all, he is supposed to be directing this one…"
"Jesus, girl…Does that mean?..."
"No way…" she frowned… "I made him swear he wouldn't tell Dawn he was coming…"
"Well…Shall we see what the Immortal has stewed up for us?..."
"Hello..." a bright and friendly-looking young woman in rather elegant dress had come up to them... "His Benevolence welcomes you to Casino Regale..." she beamed...Handing each of them a brochure...
"Please remember that gambling should be a pleasant, exciting, and worry-free experience and that compulsive gambling is an addiction...No bets over $1000 or multiple bets totaling more than $1000 are allowed by the laws of our principate of San Lucea... Our staff is trained in spotting the signs of compulsive gambling and will intervene to prevent your stay with us from becoming a burden to you and your loved ones...Feel free to ask our discreet staff regarding
any therapy and assistance you may wish to make use of...His Benevolence wants your stay to be a grand and worry-free time..." Cheery smile...
"Uh...Thanks..." Buffy nodded...
"Sure...Call on me if you need anything, I'm Rochelle...See ya..." The girl waved...
"God, if that's a sample of His Benevolence's perfect world..." Will groused, hissing...
"'Dr. Noah'...?" a young, heavily made-up, dark-haired woman in evening gown turned to the figure in tux seated at the roulette table before both of them...Both attempting a pose of sophisticated indolence rather at odds with their frequent nervous glances about the
room… "I think I see them...Yeah, it must be them..."
"It...May be them..." the addressed 'Dr. Noah' raised a hand, the other stroking a ... "Remember we are dealing with a clever and diabolical enemy who's already shown he's fully capable of using..."
"Andrew, I know my own...Father...And you might remember it was me who..." Dawn frowned... Oops..."They're coming..."
They eyed each other nervously...
And Hell to pay if they find out I/you came along/let me come along...
"You need to use the powder room..." 'Dr. Noah' hissed...
"What...?" she stared…
"The ladies' room...There, go..." he pointed...
"Good idea..." she nodded, hastily...And hurried off...
"There's Wells…" George noted to Andrea beside him in the ground floor security room…Andrew on security camera, trying to look aristocratically nonchalant…Nodding to a passing beauty who stared at him… "The one in the tux…And if I don't miss my guess, that was Miss Summers who just left the table…Looks like our new operative's info was correct…This is great…" he grinned… "We got 'em all in one basket…"
"That's Wells…?" Andrea stared… "Him?..."
"Looks can deceive, baby…The kid's clever…But he's met his match…" confident nod…
"Walthrops on camera two…" a security officer called…
"Right…" George clicked a button…The screen in front of him going dead…
"Hey…?" "The lower one, sir…" He clicked again…Right…
"And there's the rest of the family…"
"She's pretty…" Andrea nodded… "And he's the vampire husband?..."
"That's him...Our world-saving heroine and her Champion…"
Hmmn… "Seems lousy to have to kill 'em…"
"Babe…" George shrugged… "His Benevolent heart bleeds for 'em as does mine…If there were any other way...But…"
"Needs of the many…" Andrea, solemnly…
You Only Live Thrice..." Part XV...
P.G. 13
Summary: A certain 'benevolent' supervillain has tried to employ a little more cleverness, patience, and respect for modern science and technology than the usual Bverse evildoer...
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .
Or direct to story at .
Part XV...
Room 1010 at the Grand Hotel dela Casino Regale…
"Miss Waverly….We're Needed…" a cryptic note, hand-delivered attached to a lovely floral bouquet, thoughtfully accompanied by a bottle labeled as champagne though containing something considerably different…
The addressed Miss Waverly rather proud to note she'd truly developed a professional attitude…
Sparing the human messenger and all…
Of course the medication in her supply of gourmet bison blood had helped…Curbing both her psychosis and human bloodlust to some extent…
So…They're here at last…
Odd to think all she could feel was a bit of regret…Besides the happy anticipation of a brutal Unlife or Death conflict…No jealous rage at all…None at all…Just rather a fond memory or two…
What a shame there'd be no time to sit and talk over old times…
"I believe you dropped a chip, sir…" a pointed look…Hand extended…
William stared at Andrew in his tux…Holding out hand…
Buffy trying not to burst out laughing…
Dawn in make-up and gown watching carefully from behind a curtain near the ladies room…
Geesh, Mom…What are you doing?...He looks great…
"Thanks, mate…" Will held out his hand finally…As Andrew nervously eyed him, shaking the chip a bit…Take it, willya…
" 'Dr. Noah'…I presume…" William smiled…Transferring the folded piece of paper to his left tux pocket…
"Yes…Dr. Noah…And you must be the famous Mr. Walthrop…And Mrs. Walthrop…" Andrew turning to Buffy…Who gave Will a look…Who shrugged a bit, back…
"Charmed…" she put out a hand…Which Andrew stiffly kissed…
"Are we being watched?..." she bent forward to whisper…
MMnnn…Andrew's nervous reply which she accepted as "Yeah"…
"Are you enjoying your stay?..." he asked, formally…
"Enchanting…" Will grinned… "And you?..."
"A diverting place…" affected air of sophistication… "Pardon me, I must be going…A pleasure, madame…" formal bow to Buffy…Who bit lip desperately…Both Walthrops eyeing "Dr. Noah" as he headed off…Vague nod in Dawn's presumed direction…
Aces, Andy…She thought, proudly, watching…Pulling back behind curtain to avoid Buffy's glance round…
"Lets get somewhere private if we can…" Will whispered…
"God knows I have to…" she grinned… "What the heck was that?..."
"Our boy 'W' means well…And we are being monitored…" he led her to a more or less quiet corner…
"I'd kinda like to 'monitor' him…" she looked round the room…
"You don't think he would've…?" she eyed Will…
"Not if he wants to see another day…" Will frowned…
"I dunno…Our girl is a Summers-Walthrop…" Buffy sighed… "Determination both our middle names..."
"I'll choose to believe even Wells isn't that stupid…Lets see here…" he unfolded the note carefully…
Buffy eyed him…Well?...
"What are they saying?..." In the central control room, George hit the security monitor currently displaying a view of Spike and Buffy, frowning… "Can somebody turn up the volume on this thing?...And where's the camera on Wells?..."
"He's off monitor, boss…" a technician noted…
"What?..." George fumed… "We're the number one telecommunication empire on Earth and we can't get decent sound or keep a camera on one ordinary, geeky, human guy?...Philips!..."
"What?..." Philips frowned at him… "I'm Robotics, not Telecom…"
"I just wanta know if we're ready to activate…" George, hands in placating gesture… "What about the signal?..."
"I was told to hold the signal until we get word…And to avoid activation unless she was absolutely needed…" Philips, irritated… "There's no need to start panicking you know…"
"Who's panicking…?" George began… "I just want all the bases covered…"
"Hey…They're moving…" Andrea noted, pointing to the screen…
"Keep the camera on them…What time is it?...Oh…" he looked over at a clock on the wall… "Time I was out on the floor…Anybody know if Creed and Waverly are in position yet?..."
"On their way, sir…" an assistant called from his monitor…
"Ok, good…Right then…It's show time…" George smiled to Andrea…
"Philips…Make sure she's ready if we need her…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
"One of these days I am gonna fire that guy's ass…" George noted grimly to Andrea as he moved with her over to the heavily fortified exit door…
"Can I come?..." she asked…
"Eh…Best to wait and watch, baby…" he shook head… "Things could get a little hairy in there once our people make their move…Just take a ringside seat and watch ole Georgie do his stuff…"
Philips, listening from his own monitoring station rolled eyes…
Still…If someone has to be on the floor…
"Philips…You better come along…"
Ummn…?
"We may need quick activation…Come on…" George waved him over…Philips reluctantly turning from his console, rising…
"Take care, Al…" Andrea called…
"I'll be back, baby…" he waved… "Philips?..."
"Yeah, yeah…"
"Are they ok?..." Dawn hissed to Andrew as they stood in the designated meeting area…The outer lounge of the men's room…She reluctantly having had to agree it was less likely Will would pop in here than Buffy into the distaff side…
"So far, so good…I passed the note successfully…"
"Buffy will see it…" Dawn noted…
"That's the whole point…" he eyed her…
"If she sees it, they'll probably know we know…"
"We want to draw them out, Dawn…"
"I know…" she sighed… "But…"
"He's prepared, Dawn…And we have to get a signal…We can't be sure Gong Li will be with them…"
Yeah…She looked at him…
"Your dad won't let anything happen to her…" he insisted…
"I don't wanna lose either of them, Andy…" she frowned…
"Hey, ladies and gentlemen…" George now on the main floor of the large central room of the Casino Regale, spoke into a hand-held microphone…Philips and various scientific and security personnel at different points about the room… "I'm Alex George, His Benevolence's manager for Casino Regale and I'm here to welcome two very special people to the greatest place in the world, the Casino Regale de San Lucea…Two people…" he motioned for a spotlight which now fell on Buffy and Will standing among the crowd watching George…
Oh, Lord…Will frowned…
Not even the First ever thought up a greater humiliation…
"…To whom all of us…Yes, you and me…Owe our very lives…And I mean that…Two heroes of Humanity who are not only partners in their work but in their lives…" solemn tone… "I want to tell you a little story, ladies and gentlemen…" he waved to cue the waiting orchestra…
"I've Got You Under My Skin..." played…
"Over a hundred years ago…" George began, beaming…
"Are you sure about Gong Li?..." Buffy hissed, repressing a frown at George as he continued his tale…
God, our story never sounded so schmaltzy before…Though the sobbing violins don't help…
"From 'Dr. Noah' himself…They've grabbed her…Probably to learn what we know…" Will noted…
"Cyborg sleepers…You'd think they'd go for me or Giles first…" she shook her head…
Yeah…His face non-committal…Watching hers…
"So we do have tracking on her?..." she asked…
"Oh, yeah…" he nodded… "The real one's been brought here…She's in the complex somewhere below…"
"Then we have something on His Benevolence…Kidnapping at the least…" she smiled… "Got give Andy credit for being on the ball on this one…"
"Absolutely…" Will nodded…
"Then in 1997…" George was continuing…
"I think he'll be a little longer…Should we try and get below?..." she asked…
"Not while we the center of attention…" he frowned… "Let me see if I can get a better fix on her location…Cover me…"
She looked at him…
"Smile, take your bow…" he nudged her…
She frowned but moved just a bit in front of him, pasting a bright smile while he pulled just behind her…Waving a bit to some of the crowd looking to them…
"Enemy after countless enemy…" George went on…
"Buffy!...You bitch!..." Harmony, bursting through the main doorway, shoving aside two security guards who blocked her way…
"Souled…" she put up a hand at a third who presented crossbow… The crowd now staring…
Will eyed Buffy who shrugged…Harmony, God knows?...Then returned to his tracking receiver…Tuned to the frequency of a subdural transmitter currently residing in Gong Li's left arm…
What the…?...George stared at the disturbance…Harmony pressing on until she reached the area of the spotlight on Buffy…Will just behind her, hastily put the receiver back and stepped to Buffy's side…
"Harm?..." Buffy stared…
"How could you?..." Harmony fumed… "You were my classmate, not to mention the Slayer…And you…." She turned slightly to better face William…Rage on her face…
Uh-boy…Both George and William sighed…
"I can understand Spike…But you had a soul…" she came to him…
"Harmony, I know you've been through a rough time…" Buffy tried…
"You thought it was a joke!..." Harmony whirled on her… "Harmony the Vampire…What a laugh…Why not let her demon run free, killing and maiming…She's still enough Harmony to be a hoot…Besides, I'm the Slayer…I got better things to ram my stake into…Do you know how many people I killed?..."
"And you, you…Rapist…" she turned back to William…
"Excuse me…?"
"I didn't know what my demon was doing…You took advantage of me…And you, with a soul!…Some hero you are…"
"Harm, please…" Buffy tried… "You have a right to be upset but…"
"Anything wrong here, guys?..." George had come over… "Ms. Kendall?..."
Whoa…Dawn stared from the mens room outer lounge door…
"Pardon, Miss…" a middle-aged aristocratic type…She stepped back…
"What?..." she stared at him as he paused expectantly…Appraising look…
"I don't come with the hotel…" she explained, frowning… "My boyfriend's ill in back…"
"Oh…My apologies…" The man sighed and continued on…
"Andy!...Get out here!..."
"My…" Dru and Creed had paused just inside the giant doors of the grand ballroom…She staring at the raging Harmony confronting Buffy and Will…The crowd about the room totally fixed on the trio…
"Shall we have a seat?..." Creed suggested, motioning to a server… "Looks as if it may be a little while before the Walthrops disengage and go seeking Ms. Li…"
"I think I know that girl…" Dru shook her head as the server lead them to a seat, apologizing for the minor disturbance on the floor… Harmony continuing her rant…George attempting to placate her…
"These soul recoveries can be very traumatic…" he noted, soothingly…
"You could've staked me anytime, Buffy!...Do you know I killed my own grandma?..."
You Only Live Thrice..." Part XVI...
P.G. 13
Summary: A certain 'benevolent' supervillain has tried to employ a little more cleverness, patience, and respect for modern science and technology than the usual Bverse evildoer...
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, . Or direct to story at .
Part XVI...
"Heroes, huh?...That's a laugh!..." Harmony was continuing her tirade… "Listen, you people…" she regarded the fascinated crowd…Minus of course the considerable number of compulsive gamblers still clustered at the tables… "The truth is these two 'heroes'…"
I had to recommend she do the soul right away…Buffy sighed…Say?…She frowned at Will a little…
Rapist?...
He put on an expression innocent yet penitent…
George moved in to retrieve the deteriorating situation…I mean, ok, we may plan to kill him but nobody enjoys seeing a hero embarrassed…Or a scene smack in the middle of our operation…
"Ms. Harmony Kendall, folks…Lets give another heroine a great big hand…" he interrupted her, beaming…She staring at him…
Heroine?...
"This brave girl like our Mr. Walthrop has just won her soul back after years of suffering…" he told the crowd… "And here she is, ready to take her place in the ranks of our heroes…"
Heroine…?...Well…I suppose…She beamed…
"Tell us your story, Harmony…" he pointed his microphone at her face…
"Rapist?..." Buffy hissed…As Harmony warmed to her tale… "Well, back when I was still human and helping Buffy save our high school graduating class…"
"Love, I already told you…I was just testing the newly regained solidity…And the lady seemed quite…"
Ummn…Will looked at the clouding face before him…
"Buffy, I said I was sorry about it…And I am…It was awful of me…Just a mite of Spike hangin'…"
"I'll let that pass…Once…Since we weren't together…" Buffy replied coolly…
"Right…" he sighed…
Naturally she's sure to remember this even when I get her unplugged…he thought…
"Champagne, Ms. Waverly?..." Creed smiled to Drusilla as their waiter stood by…
"Thank you, Mr. Creed…" she nodded…He in turn nodding to the waiter… "You're sure it's all right to remain here?..."
"Not to worry…We're well concealed…And if the Walthrops spotted you, you've a perfect right to be here, under the Immortal's protection pending completion of the soul restoration project…Besides, it would only add a bit of a sporting chance to their side…"
"I really cannot believe William was…With…That young lady…" Dru shook her head…Watching Harmony as she enthusiastically continued her saga…George indulgently encouraging her…
"The vampiral existence can be a lonely one…" Creed shrugged… "And to be fair, most of his time with her was demonic…"
"What did Harmony mean…Rapist?..." Dawn, peering at the spotlit group from the mens' room door hissed back to Andrew…
Ummn…Andrew wisely shrugged in answer…
"So even though my demon did return to evil in the end that time, I guess my soul must've been in there fighting, pushing me back toward the light…" Harmony was continuing… "My friend Cordelia since passed away but I'm sure Mr. Angel will back me up on my…"
"Yes, yes…Just wonderful…You're a true hero of the Light, Ms. Kendall…" George nodded…Smile a bit brittle now…
"Anything…?" Buffy hissed to William…Slight nod…
"Great…" she whispered… "Lets get the hell…"
"Yes, thank you, Ms. Kendall…" a mollified Harmony now happily beaming at the crowd…George now waving the spotlight back over to where Buffy and Will were attempting to make a quiet retreat…
"Aren't they wonderful, folks...Ladies and gentlemen, the Walthrops...Yes, what a beautiful couple...Lets give it up for our Saviors of Humanity, people..."
Applause…
"Just wave and keep smilin' til they get bored…" Will hissed…Motioning for Buffy to hold up…
"Given modern attention spans that should be about one minute…"
"Poor girl…" Andrew, watching with Dawn from the mens room door, sighed… "I remember her…Was she really a vamp all this…?"
"They weren't close…" Dawn replied, a bit crossly staring at Harmony…Geesh, it's not like you and Buf were best friends…
"Buffy had a lot on her plate at the time, you know?..."
"Do you suppose our souls have similar stories, Mr. Creed?..." Dru asked her partner as they regarded the scene from their so-far secure position, sipping champagne…
"I'm sure at least in your own case, Miss Waverly, your soul's history is a most noble one and quite capable of standing alongside anyone's…"
"Thank you, Mr. Creed…" shy beam…
"Not at all, Miss Waverly…"
"Hows about a hug, ladies?...Two old friends and heroines reunited…At our own Casino Regale…!" George, waving for the crowd's encouragement…
Buffy, sighing slightly but noting Harmony's eager agreement…Frowning at Will for a second…
This is your fault, you…
He maintaining innocent look…Hey, former victim here, too…
"It's good to have you back, Harm…And I am sorry I couldn't help you sooner… " she patted her…Harmony tearing up a bit now…
"Can we get together later?..." she asked, releasing Buffy from a rather fervent hug… "I could use a human mentor thing…For my transition back to society and all…And we could catch up on things?..."
"Sure…" Buffy nodded… Another glare Will's way…
"Say?..." Harmony eyed her… "Are you ok?...There's something a little odd about your aura, I think…"
"Died twice…" Buffy noted… "And reincarnate from a past life…"
"Right…" Harmony nodded… "I guess that would explain it…Say, if I'm still able to read aura things, does this mean I still have super-strength?..."
"Yeah…And you're still daylight-sensitive…So watch it…" Will replied…
Philips…George hissed in his microphone…Having stepped back from his guests of honor…
"Great…" Philips sighed from his spot on the floor where he'd been monitoring events via George's microphone and the security cameras' link on his Ipod… "I think the vampiress is sensing something…Must be the soul restoration's heightened her sensitivity temporarily somehow…" he informed George, whispering into his security headset… "Better get her away from Ms. Summers…"
"Harmony, darling…" George went to her…Beaming smile… "Can I introduce you to a few of the Immortal's special guests?...All of whom are dying to meet you…"
"Well…Guess they won't have to now I'm souled again…" she noted, with chuckle… "Catch ya later, Buffy…Can't wait to do that mentoring thing with ya…"
"Yeah…" Buffy nodded… Brittle smile…
"God, the things I do for you…" she hissed to Will… "Don't give me that innocent look…A thousand girl vamps in Sunnydale alone and you couldn't hook up with anyone but her?..."
Harmony eagerly off in the care of Mr. George…Shaking hands with several members of Europe's best known aristocratic/celebrity trash…Kept on the Immortal's payroll for just such an eventuality…
"Sweetheart, I'm sure she appreciates the kindness…"
"Just be glad I feel I really do owe her…" she frowned… "And that I'm a little too jealous to let you do the mentoring…"
"Flattered, love…"
"Battered is what you should be…Do you know where Gong Li's being held?..."
"A general idea, I think. We should try and find a way downstairs…Before our Master of Ceremonies comes back to show us off again…"
"That's nice of your sister…" Andrew noted to Dawn as they watched Harmony happily making the rounds with Mr. George in tow… "If I remember right, Harmony wasn't the nicest girl in school…"
"She must've been talking about Spike, right?..." Dawn, still troubled…Eyeing Buffy… "The rapist thing…"
"I'm sure…" Andrew nodded… "It probably had to do with Spike wanting to hurt Cicely somehow…"
"They're moving…" Dawn looked at him, nervous… "Andy, can we do anything to protect them?...Mom must be close, right?...Can't we try and find her before they switch the borg version on?..."
"We don't want to end up hostages, Dawn…Remember, we're Watchers here…We advise and…"
Dawn?...He stared as she slipped out of the room…Intent on the Walthrops…
"Pardon me, young man…" a distinguished-looking, silver-haired gentleman in elegant suit, politely addressed him… "That young woman…?"
"Not part of the staff, sorry…" Andrew noted... "And her husband didn't seem the tolerant type...Americans, you know..." worldly shrug...The older gentleman nodding, with gracious sigh, immediately heading for a young, apparently unattached woman in gown strolling by the gaming tables...
God, what is it with these people?...Just be glad the Slayer and her husband weren't here, pal… he thought, frowning…
"Ok, we've got our chance to make a break while your friend is squiring Harmony round the room…" Will noted… "Lets head for the side door, there and see if…"
Jesus Christ almighty…He blinked at the sight of Dawn in gown, heavily made up, trying to slip through the crowd discreetly…Buffy looking at him…
"What?..."
"Uh…" he pondered a sec…No, best to hold it in reserve…Distraction if the mask looks likely to be dropped…
"Nothing…Thought I saw…"
Oh…God…Buffy stared…
"That…"
"Now, sweetheart…" Will sighed at Buffy's frown… "Lets focus on the mission, girl…"
"Right after I deal…" she said grimly, moving forward…
Great, he sighed again…Hmmn?...
Where is she going?...Dawn went slinking thataway…He looked where Buffy had locked on target…
Oh, Jesus…
Well, at least we can keep our little girl in reserve for the mo…He glanced back at where Dawn had managed to do a fair job of melting into the mix of tourists, professional thieves, gambling addicts, and Eurotrash aristos…Mental note to kill Wells for either bringing her or letting her outwit him and come in spite of him...And over to where a suddenly aware Drusilla in rather a nice gown was staring at her approaching doom…
Odd…The elegant-looking fellow in suit and bowler at her side…Rather familiar…
And definitely vampiral…
"George…" Alexander heard Philips' anxious call over his earphone receiver… "They've spotted Drusilla…Closing fast…Do we engage?..."
Christ…
The people I have to take on for His Benevolence's sake… "In the middle of the grand ballroom?...Don't be a idiot…" he hissed into his side mike…
"Little security thingy…" he noted with smile to Harmony… "Just give us a mo, darling…"
She, eagerly engaged in telling her lifestory to the gentleman who'd inquired after Dawn to Andrew, waving him off with quick smile…Sure…
"Tell her to stand down…Have Creed get her…" he looked over to where Buffy was now confronting a rather nonplused Dru…Creed at her side looking pleasantly at Buffy's reddening face…Polite nod to her…
"Mrs. Walthrop?...John Creed…I believe you know my colleague, Ms. Waverly…"
"You murdering…" Buffy icily hissed to Dru…
"Buffy…I…"
"Do I activate…?" Philips' voice in George's headset…
"Not yet…Do not activate yet…" George hissed in reply… "Repeat, do not activate yet…" he hurried toward the potential disaster area…
"His Benevolence has given Ms. Waverly a temporary amnesty until your project commences…Dependent of course on her good behavior…" Creed, imperturbably, though with a degree of haste… "You are quite free to clear that with our superiors…"
"I should kill you right now…" Buffy, furious…Ignoring the gentlemanly vamp at Dru's side…
"Buffy…" Will had reached them… "Not the best thing right now, love…"
"Hello, William…" Dru, rather desperately, but trying to follow Creed's urbane lead… "I understand you've had quite a year…"
"Andy…" Dawn hissed into her concealed mike… "They're with Dru…"
"I see 'em…" his reply… "Dawn, where are you?...Get back here…"
"You murdered my husband…You bitch from Hell…" Buffy continued…Grimly…
"Were you married then?...I'm sorry…" Dru tried, flailing a bit…
"Love, water under the bridge right now…" Will tried…
"Perhaps I'd best leave for now…" Dru offered… "As Mr. Creed says, I am here under His Benevolence's amnesty…I…"
"Amnesty, shamnesty…" Buffy growled… Then blinked…
"Creed?...John Creed?..." she stared…Voice dropping several octaves…
"Pepys…" friendly beam… "So glad to see you still remember your old friend after all these years?..."
"Mon Dieu…" William gasped…In a voice two octaves above normal… "Mr. Creed?..."
"And you, my dear…" Creed nodded… "It truly is such a pleasure to find it's true what they say about souls retaining their past existences…"
"Who is that guy?..." Dawn asked her microphone…
"Who?...Dawn, get back here…" Andrew, frowning, whispering into concealed mike…
Buffy eyed William…William, Buffy…Both shaking heads furiously…No, oh no…Brrggh…Briefly traveling back in time 300 years to see...Oh, my God...
Well, now I know the secret of Will's empathy with women…Buffy reflected…
Not to mention his ability at defeating Slayers…Having been one…
Lord, Cicely was bad enough but this…She stared at him...Her...He at her...Him...
On the other hand…I'm a writer…Was…And a damned good one, even if I wasn't discovered for 200 years…
We've something else in common…she beamed happily…
Uh-oh…
Subject matter…God…I hope Bess hasn't read it yet…Still, at least I can't hold Harmony over him too much now…Lord and here I always thought it was the Slayer pushing my libido buttons…
Well, we're multiply reincarnated adults…Lets focus on the present and the likelihood of our getting to settle this in Heaven…
Jesus, he was hot then...A last Pepysian memory pleasantly fading from his...Her...Eyes...
"All right, Dru…I'll let it go for now…Will?...Shall we..?" she began…Dru, visible relief, nodding…
"You little bug-eyed…You told me you would never see Deb Willett again!..." he raged…Tears in eyes…
"Will, that was three hundred plus years ago…" Buffy paused, desperate to pull back in her turn, now…Wait… "You read my Diary…?" she beamed… "What did you think?..."
"I think you're a lying, cheating…!" he paused…Carefully lowering voice as Dru, Creed, and members of the crowd stared…And struggling to drop the high-pitched, French accent… "How could you…?" he hissed…
"Can't we talk this over later?...You know I love you…Bess, er Will…I came back from the dead how many times for love of you?..." Buffy hissed… "And Harmony?...And Dru?..." she noted, whispering hastily…
"Demonic relationships, at least at the start…No demon involved you with Deb…Or all those barmaids….And I knew you were up to no good with that Knipp…"
"Now be fair…I never had sex with Knipp…Oh, sweetheart…."
What the hell are they talkin' about?...George, now on scene, hissed to Phillips via headset…
"Did Mom say she cheated on my dad?..." Dawn whispered to her mike, dumbfounded…
"Three hundred years ago…Doesn't count…I'm sure…" Andrew, reassuring reply…
Lord, I am never reincarnating if God offers me the chance…
"Did she call Dad…'Bess'?..."
"Well, if she was Pepys, that would be…" Andrew noted…
"Peeps?...Is that a nickname?...Was she a lesbian Slayer then…?"
"Uh, no…But if I'm followin', she was one of the world's greatest diarists…"
"Really?..." Dawn perked…
"Very sorry if I've raked up old memories that should have lain buried…" Creed, apologetically…
"Like you, Creed…" Buffy stared at him… "What are you doing here?..." she sniffed..
Oh…
"Afraid my fate took rather a dark turn after our paths diverged..." Creed nodded... "Just when I'd thought I'd finally achieved my place in the sun...But that's existence...As you two know all too well..."
"Anyway..." Buffy shook the memory flash off... "Gettin' back to killing you, Dru..."
"Love..." Will, still shaken by the grip of the past... "I think I've just embarrassed myself in front of this crowd enough for one evening...Could we get on with our own business?...Dru...Mr. Creed..." he shook his head a last quick moment to try and drive the memories back... "We'll catch up with you later, eh?..."
"By all means..." Creed nodded politely...
"Dawn, are you heading back?..." Andrew hissed into his headset...
"What?..." she replied, still staring at Buffy and Will and their companions...
Isn't Mom...Cyborg plug-in or no...Gonna kill that bitch?...
"Yeah, yeah...On my way..." she hissed, catching Andy's repeated message...
Dru staring, a bit startled as Buffy suddenly kissed her cheek... "Bye, you bitch from Hell...Enjoy yourself..." And allowed William to pull her away toward the door to the corridor outside the grand hall...Giving Dru an icy look back...
"Very elegant kiss of death..." Creed noted... "Nice to see Pepys and Cicely haven't lost all their British qualities in Ms. Summers..."
"Do we follow them?..." Dru, weak voice...Touching cheek...
"In a moment...Best to see if they have any support...Perhaps we might learn something about their plan in coming here..." he scanned the room...Ah...
"I do believe I've spotted young Ms. Walthrop-Summers..." he noted...
"Amazing that Mr...er, that Creed should be here..." Will noted..."You hung with him quite a lot, I think...?" vague puzzling as the memory flash winked out completely...
"I don't remember now..." Buffy shook her head... "Just for a second..."
"Two vamps from our pasts together...Not a good sign..." he pointed out...
"Either coincidence or His Benevolence brought them in...You pick the more likely..." Buffy shook her head...Eyeing the doors along the hallway...
"One of these must lead to the stairs...Anything on Gong Li?..."
"Could be that door to the left...Signal's fuzzy...What was that kiss on the cheek all about?..."
"Forget and forgive..." Buffy, high-mindedly...
After she's a big pile of dust...She did not say...
"They've left the hall..." George told his microphone...
Uh, yeah...Philips frowned at his viewscreen where George's anxious face looked up at him...
We kinda got that...
"Are you tracking them?..." George hissed...Dodging briefly as Harmony's glance about the room swept by him...
Though no worries really on that score, she quite contentedly on the arm of the elegant older gentleman, happily chatting to him...
No, we're sittin' around playing Halo on these screens...Philips, irritated, thought... "Yeah, we're trackin'...They're moving down to the left on corridor A toward the far end..."
"Lets see if we can't keep a close watch on young Miss Dawn..." Creed suggested to Dru, pointing Dawn in her make-up and gown to her... "She could prove a valuable trading piece..."
"Not to mention a lovely, tasty little dolly..." Dru noted...
"Miss Waverly...?" slightest note of reproof...
"Sorry, Mr. Creed...It won't happen again..."