Xander(us) Twelve

Author: tohonomike <mstafford[at]pima.edu>

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners.. Joss/ME characters. The Star Gate characters belongs to Gekko/Sci-Fi/others and is certainly not mine. I do not and cannot make money off of this, but for one of those bright shiny 'coins of the realm' mentioned by Ten Hawk, I might come up with something more/better.


Chapter 1

Sunnydale High School Library, 9 AM, Friday January 2nd, 1998

"Yes, quite, thank you," Giles responded, then placed the receiver down.

"So what was that about, Giles?" Buffy asked regarding the interruption of the Scooby discussion of what having the gypsies around would mean, "It sounded serious from this end."

"Well, um, yes, actually," he began, looking over at the gathered group and sighed. Zabuto and Kendra, Cordelia and Willow, Buffy and Joyce had chosen to meet and talk about the stepped up effort by Xander's group and the Romani aspects. Until disclosure on New Year's Eve, it had been easy to consider Xander's group as just another unit of independent demon hunters, but even with their numbers drastically reduced over the last eighty years, the Romani still exerted a presence in the world the would equal that of the Council, and exceed it in field force if Xander could unite them. And what Giles hadn't said, that if the young man could produce heirs and secure his line, the Garoun in particular would see it as a sign to go all-out against every vampire bastion and reveal the truth of the dark if it meant extermination of their enemies could be achieved.

"W-Well, that was Quentin Travers, the Head of the Council," Giles noted, looking over at Sam Zabuto, "And several covens and seers with Council contacts have experienced visions acutely akin to those Buffy and Kendra did last evening, that a large number of vampires shall move to the Hell Mouth and with the power of two demons defeated once before but not killed, seek to open the Hell Mouth and unleash an army of the undead to wreak the destruction of humanity."

"That sounds a lot like a prophecy, Giles," Buffy replied quietly, "Do they know what we're facing?"

"Th-they're researching it now, Buffy," Giles explained, "And they're sending all of the Watcher's teams and known potentials to Sunnydale, including a young girl in Boston they came across last week when they were investigating rumors of an old vampire named Kakistos."

"So maybe we should tell *King* Doofus and his subjects so they can get their guys here, too?" Cordelia suggested, in spite of his improved hunkiness still in shock Xander was king of anything.

"This is serious isn't it Rupert?" Joyce asked the Watcher.

"I'm afraid it is," Giles admitted, "With as great an upset to as many seers and witches as it has created, we may very well be looking at an apocalypse if we fail to stop this."

"Um, Giles?" Willow asked, "What do you mean by teams?"

"W-well, you see, the Council funds, um Special Forces units I guess you would call them," he explained, "And there are several around the world gathering information and eliminating demonic threats."

"Kinda like what Buffy does with our help?"

"Exactly, but the Slayer is considered a team unto herself."

"Rupert," Joyce asked, "While Buffy is stuck in this destiny of hers, why doesn't *she* get a team to support her?"

"I-I imagine that until the last few decades, you had either the Romani independently fulfilling the functions of teams, or that there weren't any Special Forces in existence from which to recruit?"

"Mm, it still seems that there should be more support for the reason for the Council's existence," Joyce remarked.

"You won't find us in disagreement with you, Joyce," Sam Zabuto stressed, "The real problem are those in the Council that haven't spent any real time in the field for a couple of generations. While many of us still are mired in Tradition, if it keeps our Slayers alive, we very much wish to utilize updated ways."

"Then why such resistance to Buffy's friends helping?" Joyce asked.

"Because, Joyce," Rupert answered, "They *are* the first real help to come forward in quite a long time. So we're not geared beyond our focus on the one girl."

"But now, Mr. Giles?" Kendra asked, "Now what do you tink?"

"Now," Ripper Giles let out, "I think Xander's guns and other toys are just the thing that'll get us *all* to retirement age, eh Sam?" He winked.

"Even if the Council doesn't approve," Zabuto agreed, "But we'll merely leave out a few details in our journals, such as those who help."

*****

Xander's Base, Same Time.

"So Enjos, we are agreed?" Alexander Van Helsing pressed, "A Garoun team and four Romani teams will be outfitted and deployed here within ten days?"

"Yes, hopefully sooner, Alexander," the older man concurred, "And with the information from our sources, and from within the Watcher's Council, we believe a Moment of Decision will occur within the next month. We will try to gather more information and organize more of the modern teams you've requested, but young people today want to give two weeks notice to their employers?"

"I *was* one of those young people Enjos," Alexander smiled at the Elder Romani, "And having learned a set of rules, it's actually reassuring that even when you know employers are no longer are honorable, the employees still try. And besides, we'll be trying to integrate them into local and area businesses as cover, so let's not create too many minor problems."

"I understand, Alexander," the old man sighed, "Change is hard, however."

"For everyone, Enjos," Alexander replied tiredly, "For everyone."

"So, when are you going to take a wife or mistress and give us an Heir?" the old man asked Xander, who, sipping his tea nearly spat it out in surprise.

"You waited on purpose, didn't you?" he asked the old man that looked back at him with faux-innocence, "Well, why is it brought up so soon?"

"Well, it would reassure the Clans andTribes of both Garoun and Romani that even if you and many of us fall against this fight soon to be upon us," the Elder sighed, also tiredly, "Your fight?our vengeance?our identities as Romani or Garoun will matter, Alexander."

"I don't know if I *can* just father a child or children without the expectation of being there, Enjos," the young man responded equally without energy, "So I can't promise anything right now."

"But you're seeing a couple of girls now, correct?" the Elder suggested without real pressure, knowing his young king would resist, "And one of the Rosenberg girls great-grandparents turns out to be Calderash, a second cousin of Angelus' victim, so there *is* a tie to be considered."

"Willow carries Romani blood?" Alexander responded with surprise, then chided his new advisor, "Interesting, but second cousins is a bit thin Enjos."

"I know, I know," Jana's uncle replied, "But I have to try, you are one who knows how to make the Old Ways relevant while using New Ways to achieve our traditions. That must not be allowed to stop. 'Gypsies' are considered a laughing stock or petty thieves, now. What you do will mean we either end in honor, or live with a deserved reputation as those who won the War on Darkness as others bared their throats to the demons."

"On to other topics, how are we fixed for magic?"

"We have eight orbs, and are almost done with recovering the old curses and spells, it is amazing how you've made us old ones in the Tribes young again, Alexander?but invoking the Old Ways, and embracing Justice?if not Vengeance. We should be able to curse eight vampires of your choice with very little trouble in about two weeks, as that's how long it will take to gather and relocate our last two real covens and their materials here. However, many of our gifted in the last few days have finally agreed to learn the Craft since you intend to let them 'have normal lives' as long as they also support the fight as needed. Again, that middle way, plus the girls are all starry-eyed about returned royalty and the young men finally get to fight for equally romantic and stupid reasons to impress the girls, if you'll forgive my words."

"That's alright, Old Wolf," Xander smiled, "I may have more experience than before, but I still *am* one of those young men. If your king calls you to a crusade to avenge the murder of your family and ancestors, it's glory and romance as well as the dirt and the blood; if your dad wants you to do it, it's like taking out the garbage or some other chore. And don't even get me started on the Garoun now that they know I was Hyena-possessed?"

"That *is* scary Alexander, those Wolves have been whittled down for a century, and you've given them a strange and almost religious totem in yourself?Primal Canine, but not a Were?the Heir returned to the Kingship?at the darkest time?if they weren't related to Romani, I'd still accuse them of it they are so superstitious."

"But Enjos, most of the Romani superstitions are true, or an income source against the gullible."

"That doesn't change anything, Alexander, they're scary about fighting for you even more than any of their hot-headed cubs have been against wanting suicide attacks on the vampire strongholds."

"Enjos, what's next on the agenda?"

"Fortunately for you? I believe it is that meal you call brunch."

"Good, I need to go meet with the Slayer side of things in a while, so I'll see you this afternoon."

*****

"Hey Joe!" the construction excavator shouted, "Hold up! There's this big rock-statue thing! Better call those college guys before we hear about it from the 'Save the Whatever' crowd."

The End