Xander(us) Act: Six

Author: Tohonomike <tohonomike[at]aol.com>

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.

Summary: This is the sequel to Xander(us) Halloween, Xander(us) Secundus, Xander(us) Part Tre, Xander(us) Quatro, and Xander(us) Five

Rating : PG-13 to PG-17; for general demonic horror content...


Friday, December 12th, 6:30 PM

Xander thought back over the weeks since Ethan was sent from town. Training and school had become all-consuming, Xander avoiding the Scoobies as much as possible once Kendra's Watcher Sam N'Butu arrived in Sunnydale. The two had left a few nights ago, and he planned on nest-clearing during the Christmas Break now that the cast was clear.

Kendra, now there's a girl way too committed to the fight; nothing to live for except the next evil to eradicate. Nice, pleasant…pretty… exotic…and that accent. 'Whoa, don't go there Xan-Man…that way lies trouble.' Getting his mind back on his current mission representative the culmination of nearly four weeks of effort, both hunting and intelligence. Tonight they were raiding the vamp boss of Santa Barbara and much of this section of California. Kowalsky's intel had shown it to be a combination business meeting and dance, the latter at which everyone's date would become dinner. Armed with bullets and daggers dipped in blessed silver, super-soakers and some holy water canisters, the three of them had followed three female minions and gotten themselves picked up as 'dates.'

Standing at the entrance of the mansion's ballroom, they allowed the three junior vampiresses to precede them. This gave them enough time for Xander to let two wooden daggers drop down his sleeves. As he drove home two strikes to two unbeating hearts, he also heard the satisfying dusting of the guards. Surprised, the vampires and a few nearby undead only had time to gawk as Doyle and Kowalsky threw canisters toward the main clusters.

Humans screamed in panic and vampires in acid-burning pain as the holy-water mist sprayed throughout the crowd. Xander drew one of his soakers in place of a dagger, then charged into the thick of it, heading for the vamp boss.

Ten minutes of chaos ensued as humans got in the way of vampires, the press of the crowd too thick for the undead to make any real progress before their now balaclava-clad attackers struck home. As the entrance was the only exit, humans herded themselves away from the conflict as the vampires repeatedly poofed. Thirty vampires dusted. Only thirty slightly bruised and bumped humans, some tipsy as well as frightened, awaiting their possible end.

"Okay," Kowalsky began in his best 'Major's' voice, "is there anyone here from law enforcement? Our intent is not to harm, as at least some of you *saw* what those things were."

A moment, then some shuffling, and a man in his mid-thirties stepped forward. "I'm James Morton, the Deputy Mayor. What are your demands?"

"No demands," Kowlasky began. "Just want to point out that if you do call the police, are you really going to tell them three guys killed thirty vampires? That they used wooden knives and squirt guns and you didn't stop us? Now, I want you all to simply face the wall there for the next hour. We're going to check for any vamps hiding out. Then we will leave. Then you all go home, wake up tomorrow and forget tonight ever happened."

The crowd, almost as one, shuffled around and kept quiet, and did as they were told.

*****

Saturday, December 13th

Back in Sunnydale six hours later, after raiding a known workplace run by the now-dusted vampire boss, a tired trio inventoried their loot and turned to the task of sorting through the paperwork, checked coats unclaimed by the guests, and waited for Willow and Giles to visit them later that day.

"T-Thirty vampires?" Giles asked, incredulously. "I-I find that very difficult to accept…not that I don't believe you."

"They were pretty much packed in against each other and their…food, Rupert," Doyle remarked. "With us spraying their faces with the holy water, Xaander's extra speed made it easy to get to 'em nicely. "

"Fascinating," Giles replied, "A-and where are these papers you'd like me to examine?" Doyle handed them over as Kowalsky sipped the double espresso the kid had bought on the way over. 'Still can't believe what they charge for this, but as the kid…boss…no, let's call him Colonel…maybe that 'll stop the kid part after all the dusting last night…as Colonel Xander' Suddenly Kowalsky snickered and nearly spat out coffee as others looked over questioningly. "I was just musing on the fact that for what we're paying for the coffee, it should be at least as thick as what I got used to in Turkey or Saudi. And that as *Colonel Xanders* says, at least the demon vamps are paying the demon prices."

"Colonel Xanders, eh Charley, that's quite good," Doyle remarked. "Having seen 'im trying to dance at clubs, I definitely see a chicken connection." Xander looked at Giles for help, rolling his eyes.

"You'll find no sympathy from *G-Man.*" Giles smirked. "and on a more serious venue, it appears from a brief perusal of the documents from your 'business trip' that a certain Russell Winters is at least a guiding hand in vampiric criminal and semi-criminal activity from Beverley Hills to San Simeon, especially in entertainment establishments and the like."

"So if we decide to hit him," Xander pondered, "it should be before he has a chance to increase protection. Major, what do you think?"

"Well, I don't--" Doyle began, then looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Lou's memories have become quite comfortable since we began the training…"

"That's okay, Doyle," Kowalsky responded. "You already had his tendency to inhabit sports bars even before the Ethan thing, so if you'd have joined up, you'da fit in with the team pretty good. And besides, 'the colonel' here won't demote you. And—" He stopped as Doyle clutched his head and cried out at the migraine hot with a slow kaleidoscope of visions."

"Francis," Kowalsky pressed, as Giles fetched a glass of water and Xander handed over one of his special twinkies. "Is it one of those vision things you told us about?"

"Yeah, I thought I was free of the bloody things," Doyle winced. "But I guess the 'Powers' decided to express an opinion on what we're discussing." Sipping his water, and recovered from pain thanks to the twinkie, Doyle continued, "Well, I saw a girl being drained by a rich-looking vampire, I saw the address in the papers in Rupert's hand, and I saw Monday's LA Times talking about a girl being found burnt up in a car wreck Sunday evening. I think it must be the same one."

"Well, I would guess they would like you to foil this Winters' intentions for the girl," Giles offered. "A-and it behooves you to save her since it coincides with your panned actions…only a little faster."

"I hear that," the once and again seer complained. "And after seein' what he does to the girl, I want to rip into him myself, Powers or no."

"Hey, 'Colonel'," Kowalsky slowly introduced. "These Powers may not be our friends, but if they simply feel the need to 'request' from choices we are considering…"

"T-That's definitely a consideration, Xander," Giles added. "I-I understand your reasons for not accepting entrance into their service, but the extra warning…"

"And if you keep feedin' me these snack cakes that make the pain go away fast, we can give it a chance," Doyle added. "Though if we run into 'em anytime soon, I'd like to avoid the whole pain part of it."

The three men paused as a throat clearing brought them from their meeting as an uninvited voice interrupted. "If you just eat one of those cakes every morning, you'll just feel a tiny pressure inst—" Whistler choked off as Xander grabbed the height-challenged balance demon and held him with feet dangling.

"From now on, if you're going to interfere," Xander stated, annoyed, "You will knock on the door and wait to be let in, got it?" Whistler nodded and was released. Allowed to continue, he did.

"If you eat one of the kid's magic treats, you'll only feel pressure that a vision is coming, and you'll also be energized to maximum capability."

"And you'll only request and not expect?" Kowalsky asked. "No screwing around or keeping score on us?"

"No. After our last…meetin' the Powers decided to leave the kid alone that way," the minion of the Powers conceded. "And his mother had an audience with the Creator that confirmed this."

"And what about your remark to Giles?" Xander asked quietly.

"You heard that?" Whistler said, expressing shock. "You do have the full package, huh?"

"You threatened my friends," Xander nearly growled, however softly. "That and what they did to my family…"

"Hey kid, it wasn't me…" the pimp-dressed demon demurred. "A-and if you just cut us some slack and work *with* the Powers, not *for* them… no score on friends that don't go over to the other team. They either just stay out of it or try their best and it'll be enough. Deal?"

Xander looked over at his mentor-father figure and the two men that had become brothers and mentors to him, and at their nods, responded. "No official deal as such…but we'll go on that basis for now. I still don't trust, but we'll give it a shot. *And* slow down the vision a bit, Doyle once said it's hard to really keep track. And you show up every month as a contact. If they let you answer questions fine. If not, at least we'll vent and not be too pissed at them. Okay?"

Pausing as if listening to someone, Whistler after a moment responded, "Agreed. Anything before I go?"

"Y-Yes," Giles asked. "Why did you choose to send a vision now?"

"Two reasons, and *I* don't send them," Whistler answered, starting to head for the door. "This was the first chance that they thought you might be open to an approach, and Angel was due to go after Winters two years from now to fulfill his destiny. The Powers still want that stuff fulfilled, even if youse are a free agent…" And with that he was gone, Willow coming in a few minutes later. "Hey guys? Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?"

*****

Two hours later found Willow and Xander at the new mini-golf course. Joyce had been seeing a computer software salesman named Ted for a couple of weeks, and had invited them out as a way of general introduction. Xander felt slightly relaxed after a picnic lunch, but also felt a little off somehow. He dismissed it as six weeks of training, fighting and nightmares. For Joyce and Buffy's sake, he was being sociable, and found it was easier than he'd thought, though there was something about Ted that just wasn't registering.

"Ah, the dreaded five-par cuckoo clock. Ha!" he mocked jokingly. "So many have come, so few have conquered," He puts his ball in place and studies his shot.

"That picnic was delicious." Joyce complimented. "You know how rare it is to find a man that cooks?

"I know I've been looking a long time for one," Ted joked. "So, Buffy, I bet the boys are lined up around the block tryin' to get a date with you."

"Not really," she responded non-committally, but glancing at Xander.

"Oh, they are, but she's only interested in...uh, her studies! 'Book-cracker Buffy', it's kind of her nickname these days." Willow remarked, catching herself.

"Well, glad to hear it," Ted nodded, bending down to position his ball for his shot. "I bet that means your grades will be picking up soon."

"My grades?" she replied, suspiciously, walking over to her mother. "How does he know about my grades?"

"I told him," Joyce replied. "He wants to know everything about you. He's concerned. That's a good thing…Ooo, nice shot, Ted!"

At the next hole, with a castle fixture, Buffy readies her shot as Ted coaches. "Keep your eye on the ball. Watch those elbows!"

Buffy swings a bit too hard, and the ball ricochets off of the castle and into the rough behind it. Ted comments, too happily, "Oh! Bad luck, little lady!"

Buffy starts to walk to retrieve her ball for another try, Joyce taking pity, "Oh, we won't count it."

"We won't?" Ted asks, a little put out causing Buffy to stop and turn back to look at them.

"Well, it's just miniature golf, Ted" Joyce demurred.

"It is, but the rules are the rules. And what we teach her is what she takes out into the world when we're not there, whether it's at school or an unchaperoned party," Ted asserts, then turns to Buffy. "I don't mean to overstep my bounds, this is between you and your mother, I just think right is right."

"He has a point," Joyce sighed.

"Fine. I'll just go hit my ball from the rough," Buffy replies half-heartedly, going over to her ball behind the castle and picks it up. She steps onto the green, and thinking no one sees her drops her ball into the hole, yelling out, "Hey, how 'bout that! Got a hole in two!"

"Beg to differ," Ted stated, Buffy turning her head to see him standing next to the castle where he can just see.

"Okay, so fine my score or whatever," she exhales.

"I think you're missing the point here, little lady," Ted goes on. "Right is right, wrong is wrong. Why don't people see that?"

"It's just a game?" Buffy responds, annoyed.

"Right, it's just a game, do your own thing, well, I'm not wired that way," Ted overreacts, starting to tap his ankle very hard. "And I am here to tell you it is *not* a game! It *does* count, and I don't stand for that kind of malarkey in my house!"

"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not *in* your house," Buffy retorts.

"Do you want me to slap that smart-ass mouth of yours?" Ted threatens, getting closer as Buffy is stunned, not believing her ears as she notices Xander and the others come around the castle, and Ted follows her gaze.

"Who's up for dessert? I made chocolate-chip cookies!" Ted diverts, smiling. Joyce opens the zip-lock bag of cookies as Xander walks up to Ted.

"Cookies are good, Ted," Xander loomed. "But if you *ever* threaten to hit Buffy, for *any* reason, you'll get more than a slapping. Understand?"

"Hey!" Ted exclaimed, then smiled. "Just a little misunderstanding. I overreacted, I admit it. I'm not used to young people, that's all." Turning to Buffy, "I'm very sorry, Buffy. I overreacted, give me another chance?"

Buffy, looking at her mom and see a little pleading in her eyes, nodded. "Okay, but regardless of what happens between you and my mom, you stay out of my life."

"Fair, enough," the salesman smiled. "How about some more cookies?" The rest of the experience was painless.

*****

Xander awoke to the sound of his alarm around 8:30PM. Catching a quick shower before outfitting, he grabbed the cakes from the cornucopia, and headed into the front room to find his two comrades suited up.

"What's the sitch, Major D?" he asked Doyle with a smirk. "any changes to tonight's plan?"

"Original recipe, Colonel," replied Doyle, rolling his eyes. "Everything's the same."

"Ah, good," Xander nodded, grabbing a travel mug of coffee, then indicated the cakes to the others. "Here's our nightly snack. I'm thinking if the Powers are getting involved, we should just plan on a daily addition to the vitamins and such you two have us chomping down."

"They're good for you," Kowalsky countered, biting into a cake and washing it down with his own cup of java. "What's the deal with these things anyhow? Come clean."

"Well," Xander began, frowning at how to reveal the least 411 about his family. "You ever read ancient mythology? Ambrosia and such?"

"Yeah, for reasons we can't go into," Kowalsky replied. "But isn't that supposed to make you a god or something?"

"Yeah, but there really isn't any ambrosia any more," Xander continued. "But the last things placed in this…just to hold it…was ambrosia. Along with the fact that the previous owner had used it to produce a very strong restorative draught favored by the Titans…did I just use the words restorative and draught?" They nodded both amused, though waving him on. "So even though technically ambrosia isn't really being created for us, it's really boosting the Titan drink, causing the beery slush to become a bready cake…and giving us many of the benefits a Titan would receive…basically maximum us…and maybe unaging. I don't really know, though if we wait to take it after a wound, it's like an instant healing, being restorative. That's all I know."

"Wow, either super vitamins or super first aid," Kowalsky considered. "Tough call. What's your feeling on it…Major D?"

"Hey," Doyle smiled at the nickname. "How 'bout we merely mortals take them before each mission, and I'll keep one to break off a piece for vision headaches. Xander seems not to need it as much, with the strength and all, so we can keep it back to build up a reserve until we know different, eh?"

"Sounds like a good plan," Xander responded, nodding. "I'll grab a few from my room and we'll head out. Majors, you two drive. I'm going to sleep in the backseat. Oh, Giles and Jenny wanted to ride along to see how we're working out, so swing by his place on the way out. And for now, let's keep the cake info to ourselves until I'm more comfortable and have sorted through my memories better."

*****

Early Sunday, December 14th

Four hours later they left the mansion of the vampire formerly known as Russell Winters, loaded up with information and valuables. It had been an extremely simple mission, and they'd not pushed things by staying too long. Pulling into Helen's Diner in LA proper, they'd just ordered a late dinner when Doyle winced and zoned out for a moment, hand to temple.

"There are some kids fightin 'off vampires nearby, a bunch of 'em," the seer reported. "I think we'll need to make supper 'to go.' Anybody have a map? I have street signs but I don't know where we need to go." By the time they'd bought a map and paid for their dinners at the register, food was ready and they had a location, only two blocks away as it turned out.

"Gee, Rupert," Jenny cooed as they climbed into the vehicles, "not exactly the most boring date we've had, but next time I think we'll dance with each other instead of the vampires?"

"Err, certainly," he responded, recovering as they pulled quickly from the parking space, enough to smirk, "And perhaps if you're a really good date, w-we can have dinner *in* a restaurant instead of the car."

"Oh, Rupert, you know how to treat a girl," the gypsy replied sultrily, "though that would put the back seat of the car further away."

"Hey!" Xander exclaimed chidingly from the back seat, "just make sure I'm elsewhere at the time, okay?"

"Oh, urhm, w-we're here," Giles cut in, embarrassed. Getting out of the vehicle, but not immediately noting anything, they paused as the other two members of their grouped joined them. Xander, looking as though he heard something, raced to the end of a nearby alley way. Xander took in the scene before him as the others caught up, figuring out the best way to help the four teens barely holding off eight minions and a vampire leader. Turning to 'the majors' and the 'teachers' he whispers, "the normal one two two?" At their acknowledgement of the Xander, Majors, Support Pair formation, their lead-man draws out a sword and runs at full speed into the alley.

The vampire leader was swearing at his minions to finish the job so that they could head back to the lair. "We already have four for Knox, with these two—Ahhhhh!" he screamed, having turned as he'd just heard a disturbance behind him. His right arm dusted away as a sword pierced into his torso, shocking him into unconsciousness.

The minions, caught off-guard by the scream from behind, turned almost as one to see the slash of a sword and a dark figure charging through their middle ranks. Two more of their kind disintegrated as the undead divided into two unsure groupings, to hear the shouts of two human fighters and the reports of handguns as two more ceased existence.

The teens, meanwhile, had leapt at their attackers with crosses and sharpened gardening stakes, causing pain to one of their tormentors while poofing another. The remaining vampires sought refuge in escape, racing around Doyle as he opened fire with his 45 into their ranks, Xander rendering the wounded vampire team leader unconscious.

Jenny, and Rupert super-soakered the wounded and desperate vampires as the majors both switched to hand to hand combat. Xander turned to face the teens, the last of the vampires fell to a final death.

"Yo man, thanks for the assist," a well-toned and well-spoken black teen offered in the way of greeting. "Why'd you leave the other one alive?"

"Assist?" Xander smiled with an eyebrow cocked.

"You didn't see the other six dust piles left by the folks we were trying to help?" the black teen leader responded. Looking at Xander he made a gesture at the downed vampire.

"I overheard it saying something about them already having two, so I'm planning to find and rescue them," Xander answered. Turning to face the rescued group, "You don't seem too surprised about the vampires."

"They've been hunting us for years, but we've started to organize and fight back recently," the young man replied. "I'm Gunn, by the way."

Xander nodded, but remembered the lessons on operational security drummed into him by Giles and the majors, who were dusting off and approaching, "We're…Los Infierneros..." Xander stopped as he saw the faces of two wounded companions of the four teens being helped by Gunn's crew. He turned to Doyle and Jenny, "You two go grab the patch kits from the car and cell the paramedics. Kendra and N'Butu are hurt…"

Xander eased his way between two teens, checking Kendra's pulse and body temperature, the former absent and the latter falling. "G-Man, help me with CPR. Major, please check on N'Butu. Mr. Gunn, smack the camp in the head if it wakes up. I still want to question it."

Ten minutes of struggle, and the sound of two vamp-smackdowns later, the Watcher and Slayer were breathing and alive, both having died and come back again. Xander smirked, relieved, then getting up to work out frustration on the vampire "Lady J, when's that ambulance due?"

"About three or four minutes, 'Colonel,'" she replied. "Shall we try to carry them to the alley mouth?"

"No…Gunn, could you have two of your crew go with her to wave them into alley when they show."

"Sure, man," Gunn responded, waving all three of his companions toward the exit. "You doin' a little double jeopardy on the vamp, now?"

"Oh, yeah," Xander deadpanned, turning to stare the undead creature in the eyes. "You have two choices of death, very slow and painful or a quick staking. I have plenty of holy water and blessed silver bullets that will tear into your groin and stomach. I also have liquefied blessed silver for your blood stream. Now, where is your lair and where is Knox's lair?"

When the vampire stared at him silently, Xander poured holy water all around the but not on the vampire's lower sections, the screams turning to whimpers detailing directions and addresses. Sirens pulled up as a poofing sound left things in the alley strangely quiet.

"Damn, man," Gunn stared uncomfortably at Xander, "that was harsh."

"Evil demons don't get mercy," Xander sighed. "They're carrying on in the bodies of their first victim. This isn't something I like. And we have a chance to save another couple of people."

"You want help?" Gunn asked. "I have about a dozen guys with bows and crossbows and shit that can meet us there."

"How are you on super-soakers with holy water?" Kowalsky asked, having weeks ago lost his aversion to fighting along willing and capable teenagers when reminded he'd signed his first hitch at fifteen, faking the papers. "That would make me feel better until we know you all better and your capabilities."

"We owe you," the youth replied. "If that means support work, fine. We have a few soakers and some balloons. I'll make the call."

"C-can you have your three," Giles inserted into conversation, "er, crew accompany, uhrm, 'Lady J' to the hospital. I-if any other vampires witnessed the altercation, it would be best if she had support."

"Not a problem," Gunn responded, then relayed his instructions to his crew. "Our chief's in the ER. We were on our way there to check on him when this all went down." He made the call for back up.

The ambulance crews had just put Kendra and her badly injured, when Gunn witnessed Xander slip a bundle a money to Jenny Calendar. As the EMS crews departed, and the police finished collecting statements regarding the drug gang that had run off, Gunn sidled up to Xander. "So what's up with the green? You 'Infierneros' aren't runnin' in our hood are you?"

"Nope. We just clear out the lairs of the vampires we dust," Xander replied. "That third address the vamp gave us was his apartment. You guys check it out during daytime tomorrow and take what you can use. Don't leave prints or food…You ready? Let's go."

Ten minutes later, the 'Gunn Men' and the "Infierneros' met a block from the intended target. Xander and Kawalsky covered the basic op details, what was expected from everybody, and how things would hopefully go down as they watched a seventies black Cadillac and a dark eighties sedan pull up in front of the small targeted abandoned warehouse. A vampire and his nine minions exited the vehicles, addressed the two minions on the door, and headed in. Gun whispered angrily, "Knox." Kowalsky signaled Xander to race ahead at top speed, as he waved Gunn's fighters to hurry forward. It had just become a front assault.

Xander sped down the sidewalk at an incredible speed, 45 cal and sword in hands. The vampires, now on the ball since the arrival of the unplanned 'reinforcements' noticed Xander and drew weapons. Xander, relying on his intensive training as well as his adrenalized reflexes, opened fire repeatedly without slowing down. Both vampires eventually explode, and two more racing out to investigate were downed as the weapon emptied. Surprise gone, Xander leapt feet first and sword in two hands as he cleared the doorframe to knock down one of the new arrivals. Xander slashed and spun, slashed and stabbed, punched and kicked, trying with barest success to keep his opponents off-balance until his support arrived. Six minions felt hammer-hard blows and major burns from otherwise minor scratches as his sword demanded attention. Two minions screamed and whirled away from Xander and to the door, newly-drawn revolvers barking as 45s returned in anger, poofing of dust, screams on both sides, and general collapse into melee took over as Xander was punched hard in the side, knocking him into the office portion of the warehouse. Punched again, he managed to not only keep his sword in hand, but block a follow up blow with the cutting edge. His opponent, the hated Knox, screamed in pain and rage as the fighting subsided outside. Xander, hurt, settled for a short stab at his opponent, who threw a lamp at him and forced himself through an emergency exit and into an alley.

Xander, appreciating his hurt, quickly reclosed the exit door, and carefully entered the main area of the warehouse gain to find two of Gunn's people critically injured from gunfire, and another half-dozen beaten hard and fatigued. Kowalsky and Doyle both were found bandaging each other up after applying first aid to a half-dozen bullet scrapes as Giles led four kidnap victims to the safety of the group. Two were shopkeepers in Gunn's neighborhood, and the other two were convenience store clerks who'd been grabbed along with cases of beer right out of the stores.

Reaching into his pocket, Xander walked over to the grievously wounded teenagers to find them field-patched and their wounds as pass-throughs. Throwing two of his reserve cakes to the majors, he grabbed his last two and knelt by the two still-conscious but scared kids. "Here, it's…magic healing…eat the entire thing and repeat 'please heal me' as I pray for help. You understand?" At their nod, Xander in Mycenaean Greek asked his mother for her blessing on the entire group, especially those partaking of her gift to her son. As the 'Gunn Men' made noises of wonder at the sudden and complete healing of their comrades, Xander opened his eyes to find Giles looking at him with great consideration.

Escorting the rescued outside, Giles came back a moment later. "Apparently they believe they can get home on their own. I-it makes things easier for us, I suppose." Looking around the warehouse to find 'the majors' explaining the ins and outs of vampire lair tactics and looting and story-swapping with the locals, Giles continued. "One of these days, Xander, I hope you'll tell me who our parents really are. Mycenaean Greek narrows things down to beings very much higher and lower than humans."

While he knew better, Xander sighed softly, "Trust issue, Giles?"

"N-No! Not at all, Xander," the librarian admonished. "B-but my curiosity and Watcher training are both desperate to know. Not to pass on without your permission, but for my own ability to advise and plan."

"Thank you, 'G-Man', I appreciate the trust," Xander responded with feeling, "Your word on this?" Giles nodded, extended his hand as well. "On the way back home, let your girlfriend drive, and as she starts out you will repeat the phrase I'm about to tell you, and not interrupt her until she is done. The phase is 'Alexander bids you to reveal your birth name, purpose in Sunnydale and that which you know of Alexander and his lineage. By his command.' And Giles, on your given word I expect you to accept absolutely everything she tells you at that point as absolute truth."

"Very well, Xander," Giles replied. "And I must say two things to you that I've noted, and hopefully are to be explained with your, er, explanation. Your vocabulary has much improved since Halloween. If not for your much-diminished but still present American style of humor, I'd be concerned. Also, your friends miss you greatly, beyond patrolling. Today's venture with the, ah, miniature golfing, I believe is something you should do more often. Both Willow and Buffy would both be better emotionally if you'd spend more time with them in a, er, non-professioal capacity."

"Wow, Giles," Xander responded, noticing the approach of the others. "I'll shave off an hour or so off training, maybe take them out for dinner and dancing?"

"Excellent, and thank you," the mentor-figure smiled happily but still reserved.

"Yo, Colonel," Gunn greeted, waving some cash in his hand, "Looks like you got a good thing goin with this dust and loot thing. The crew and I might just do the same."

"Don't worry yerself, Colonel," Doyle said, waving back Xander's nascent response. "We explained about the measures to be taken and such, and to start small until they can work in teams…and I gave him our cell numbers and got his, just in case."

Seeing the nods of approval and the waiting expectation of the Gunn crew, Xander backed up his teammates and their decision, moving toward the door. "Cool. That way if one of us hears something, we can exchange notes. And if we're goining to be in town…"

*****

Three hours later, on the road back to Sunnydale, Kendra and her watcher had been invited to convalesce at the Hellmouth for the holidays when they'd awakened briefly, and left contact information. About the time their vehicles passed by Point Magu, a stunned and somewhat overwhelmed Rupert Giles patted his girlfriend's hand and quietly sat pondering the 'gypsy revelations' and possible ramifications.

The End