Unfreezing the Scoobies.
I was whistling as I sauntered down the hallway, and out into the massive driveway of the castle. A few of my cars were parked out there, and I decided to hit the security button on my keychain for the...the little cherry-red BMW. Yes, that would work. The car was cheerful but not flashy, bright and cute. It was one of my favorites, actually.
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How dare he be so cocky. I wanted to break through the glass that was seperating us and tear his little egotistical head off.
"Angry? You think this is anger?" I scoffed. "You know nothing Warren. Nothing. Why don't you let me out of here, and you can see just how angry I am."
"And when it's all over...I'll have you. You're too bright and too strong to not recognize the benefits of working with me, but we'll talk about that later. Right now, I'm sure you're incredibly confused and a lot more scared than you want to admit. Please, sit down."
I watched him motion to the chair next to me. There's no way I was going to let this little twerp tell me what to do. Not if I could help it.
"I think I'll stand. Thanks." I said sardonically.
"Moving on, let me explain a few things to you. You've been in cryogenic suspension for the past two years and a couple of weeks, Buffy. I had you frozen like they do in the movies, and have been keeping you and your friends here. I'm sure the place is starting to look familiar, yes? If so, then you're right. You're in the Initiative base, in the lower levels. You've been here ever since I had you frozen."
I couldn't find the words, but the expression on my face said it all. A look of disbelief, disgust, and interest.
"During that time, I proceeded to engage in a semi-hostile takeover of the United States of America. I had to make sure that you and your friends weren't around to cause trouble for me, as you were the only one I considered to pose a threat to me at the time. So I had you disposed of for some time, and went on to become the unquestioned political leader of America. I'm sure you're having trouble believing all of this, and I apologize for having dropped it all on you at once. I've brought proof, however."
I watched the tape he put in...trying to not let my jaw hang on the floor. I sat in the chair, with my head in my hands trying to take it all in. I just couldn't understand how all of this had happened. How the world had let this happen. How we had let this happen.
"If you need more proof, it's all there. Of course, you'll know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm not lying as soon as you walk out of here."
I looked up at him.
"Speaking of walking out of here. When is that going to be Warren? I want to see my friends and my sister."
Of course I wanted to kill him as well, and I kept telling myself I would as soon as I got myself out of here... but as for now, I tried to keep my cool, I knew that's what Giles would want me to do. Go on intelligence, not emotion. Giles... where is Giles. Does he even know about this? Is he here?
"Giles. Where is he?" I said, standing up and walking towards the glass.
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"You're free to leave whenever you like, Buffy. I'm not holding you here, not at all. I want you to leave soon, as a matter of fact. But before you do, there are some things I ought to tell you."
"Giles. Where is he?"
"Mr. Giles is in the same sort of cryogenic suspension as the rest of your friends and family. He's safe, and no harm has come to any of them. And as for your comment earlier about showing me how angry you are..."
I smiled faintly and tapped the glass separating us, watching it slide back so that there was no longer any barrier between us.
"I certainly don't want to hurt you, Buffy. It would kill me to have to scar that beautiful face. But should you feel the need to attack me physically, by all means do so. If it makes you feel any better, I'd be more than glad to allow it."
I stepped back and held out my hands to her once more, rather looking forward to her reaction, her attack. The look on her face was going to be hilarious, better than Spike's had been even. But I hadn't been lying when I'd said I didn't want to hurt her. At least not yet.
What I wanted was for Buffy to believe in me, to become my employee, my friend, my muscle. Like Faith. But I understood completely that a lot of things needed to happen first, and so I was willing to take the complete brunt of the slayer's anger before any of that.
"Come on, Buffy. Hit me. Come and get me."
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I took a step back as he tapped the glass and it magically opened.
"I certainly don't want to hurt you, Buffy. It would kill me to have to scar that beautiful face. But should you feel the need to attack me physically, by all means do so. If it makes you feel any better, I'd be more than glad to allow it."
Out of instinct, I took a couple steps forward, stepping closer to him, as he stepped away, taunting me.
"Come on, Buffy. Hit me. Come and get me."
I wanted to. With every ounce of my being, I wanted to make this kid pay.. but I wasn't stupid. And neither was he. He knows my power, he's seen it, felt it. I couldn't imagine he would taunt me so if there wasn't a catch. I wasn't going to fall into that trap.
I put my hands up slightly in a surrendering type motion, and backed up a few steps.
"No... no it's okay Warren. I want to leave, you want me out of here... I'll leave. But, not without everyone else." I informed him piercing his eyes with my own.
This was far from over, and I was certain he knew that as well as I did, but until I got more information and found everyone.. I was going to have to bite my tongue and play along.
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I met Buffy's stare directly as our eyes locked into an intense staredown for a few moments. Then I smiled cordially at her.
"Good God, I am impressed, Buffy. You're so much smarter than those around you give you credit for."
And I was, really. I'd expected her to fling herself at me, flailing and shrieking like a banshee, tearfully demanding that I give her back her friends. But my little pet project was smarter than that, wasn't she? I should have known. I felt the most incredible, irrational urge to pat her on the head and give her a treat. She was so cute like this, all flushed with rage.
"I'll give you your friends, and unharmed. You have my word on that. But before I do, let me fill you in on what's happening here. I've decided to give you and your 'Scooby' friends a chance, Buffy. What I'm going to do tonight is to unfreeze all of you, and give you each a substantial amount a money. Then I'm going to let you all go. Oh, and before you step outside and get confused, I've had the Initiative base moved from Sunnydale, California to here in Washington, DC. That's where you are right now. This is your safe base. As long as any of you are in here, no one will touch you."
I was speaking very clearly and a little more slowly than usual, being sure that all this information at once was disorienting her.
I reached into the pocket of my trousers, retrieving a small slip of paper and tossing it onto the floor between us.
"That's a cell phone number for just us. I can always be reached by any of the Scoobies there. Any resources or information you need in your attempt to take me down, call me at that number and I'll have them sent to you. More money, reasonable weapons, almost anything outside of an atomic explosive, any information you might need...you'll have access to all of it. All you have to do is call me, and it'll be yours."
"Think about it, Buffy. This is a game. The question is, are you going to be in it to win it?"
"And on that note, I want you to know that I will tolerate no violence towards any of my inner circle. Uniformed guards and other security forces, feel free to attack them however you see fit. But just as I'll leave your friends alone, I expect the same."
"In the event that this should happen anyway, I'll have you all killed on the spot. And don't doubt me, Buffy. I've gone through plenty of bodies to get where I am today, and I'll have no qualms about ending this."
And then I smiled brightly again, my serious expression fading.
"But I also don't want you to doubt me when I say that I don't want to hurt you, Buffy. You or your friends. As a matter of fact..." I took a step towards her, reaching out to tilt her face up to meet mine with a forefinger under her chin.
"Before I unfreeze all of you and the games begin, I want to offer you this--join me, Buffy. Come work with me. Be part of my regime, be in my inner circle. I'm improving this world, slayer. The economy is soaring, poverty is all but obsolete, everyone has jobs and health care and schooling beyond their wildest imaginations. I'm making things better for America Buffy, and I want you to be a part of that."
"Of course, I'll understand that your knee-jerk reaction is probably going to be to spit in my face. But as you leave this place and look around to see all the good I've done, Buffy...I want you to think about it."
"You can leave now." I added, gesturing to the door. "Your friends will be joining you outside shortly."
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I blinked hard. This couldn't actually be happening, could it? I kept expecting to wake up in Sunnydale, in my bed, safe and sound. It just wasn't happening.
"That's a cell phone number for just us. I can always be reached by any of the Scoobies there. Any resources or information you need in your attempt to take me down, call me at that number and I'll have them sent to you. More money, reasonable weapons, almost anything outside of an atomic explosive, any information you might need...you'll have access to all of it. All you have to do is call me, and it'll be yours."
I bent down slowly, picking up the piece of paper he had tossed to the floor. I didn't know what to say. No words would come to me, so I slowly folded the piece of paper, and put it in the pocket of my jeans.
"Think about it, Buffy. This is a game. The question is, are you going to be in it to win it? And on that note, I want you to know that I will tolerate no violence towards any of my inner circle. Uniformed guards and other security forces, feel free to attack them however you see fit. But just as I'll leave your friends alone, I expect the same. In the event that this should happen anyway, I'll have you all killed on the spot. And don't doubt me, Buffy. I've gone through plenty of bodies to get where I am today, and I'll have no qualms about ending this."
"As long as they don't get in my way, threaten me or my friends, or anything of the like... we won't have any issues."
"But I also don't want you to doubt me when I say that I don't want to hurt you, Buffy. You or your friends. As a matter of fact... Before I unfreeze all of you and the games begin, I want to offer you this--join me, Buffy. Come work with me. Be part of my regime, be in my inner circle. I'm improving this world, slayer. The economy is soaring, poverty is all but obsolete, everyone has jobs and health care and schooling beyond their wildest imaginations. I'm making things better for America Buffy, and I want you to be a part of that."
I pulled away as he touched me, shudderin with distaste. Join him? Was he out of his mind. I don't care how much better America is, this isn't the way to do it. I felt like there was an angel on one shoulder, and a devil on the other... like you see in the cartoons. One telling me that this is wrong, and we have to do everything in our power to bring Warrens reign of power to an end. The other telling me... he is doing good... and we'll have no way of surviving if I don't cooperate.
"This is not happening..." I muttered over and over again.
"Of course, I'll understand that your knee-jerk reaction is probably going to be to spit in my face. But as you leave this place and look around to see all the good I've done, Buffy...I want you to think about it."
"I want to see my friends. I want to talk to them. I have your number..." I patted my pocket where I had put it. "And you obviously know where to find me, so I'm sure we'll be in touch." I told him cynically.
"You can leave now. Your friends will be joining you outside shortly."
I walked towards the door he had gestured to. God, how lame was I? I felt completely, and ridiculously lame. I didn't have the slightest idea of what I was going to do. I just knew I needed my friends.
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"Oh, on the contrary, lovely girl. It's very much happening. The question is, how do you plan to react?" I raised an eyebrow at Buffy, almost able to hear the wheels in her head turning.
"You're being so brave, Buffy. I honestly don't mean this to sound patronizing, but let me say that you've made me proud. I didn't expect you to face this situation while retaining so much of your composure. Not very many could."
"I want to see my friends. I want to talk to them. I have your number...and you obviously know where to find me, so I'm sure we'll be in touch."
"Oh, have no doubt. I'll be seeing you, slayer." I said calmly, watching her leave. Then I smiled to myself, reaching into the pocket of my suit jacket for my cell phone and dialing the number that led back to the castle.
"The slayer has been set loose. I'll be commencing with the unfreezing process of her associates shortly."
"Very good, Sir."
"You have no idea." I hung up the phone, and stepped out of the room where I'd been keeping Buffy's chamber. There was another right next to it, and it took no more than a moment to step inside. This room was slightly bigger, but arranged the same way, only with six chambers, all set up in a semi-circle around the perimeter of the room. This was where the Scoobies were being held, and tonight was their night. Tonight was the night their eyes were opened, the night they made their decisions.
Rupert Giles. Dawn Summers. Tara Maclay. Willow Rosenburg. Alexander Harris. Anya Jenkins.
These were the slayer's closest friends and associates, and tonight was going to be a big night for the 'Scoobies'.
I walked around the room, hitting the activation buttons on each chamber. There were screens set up around Dawn and Anya's freezing chambers, for decency's sake. They were all without a stitch of clothing in there, and it wouldn't do to have someone like Dawn being confronted with naked Giles or Alexander Harris upon their first night in the real world in two years. I'd folded all of their clothes in chairs next to their respective chambers, and had set up a chair of my own to sit in while I waited for them to stumble out and get dressed.
About fifteen minutes later, all the doors to the chambers opened of their own accords, and a film of smoke filtered through the room. I smirked inwardly, anticipating a lot in my mind.
(Scoobies, you're up!)
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I stumbled out of the confined space that I was in my muscles slowly warming with each movement I made. I was still utterly disoriented.
"What? Where?"
I asked randomly as I stepped out and slowly and awkwardly placed the clothing that was on the chair next to me on my body. Why did it seem that it had been a long while since I had been anywhere. I just wish I could figure this out.
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"I have to pee." I stated, the only thing that seemed to be able to come out of my mouth.
I didn't really remember much of anything, but I saw Willow, Buffy and Warren.
"What the hell is going on?" I yelped, as I noticed that I was stark naked. I quickly covered myself up and edged toward the chair that had my clothes.
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"Wha.." I started to stammer, but my voice faltered and failed me when the fact that I was naked struck a resounding cord and I quickly attempted to cover myself.
I heard the familiar sound of Anya's voice yelping nearby and quickly turned my head to locate her, an action that warranted both a pain in my neck and on the better side, a view of my clothes folded neatly on a chair. Doing my best to feed my modesty as my head reeled, I pulled my clothes on while still trying to block myself from view.
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Looking up slowly, my eyes all squinty, I sorta see my friends, then as a shiver goes down my spine I notice...hello...naked.
Looking around frantically I see my clothes and dress as quickly as I can. Sitting myself on the chair next to the thing I came out of, I concentrate on breathing normally as I look around some more. Seemed like everyone had the same look on their faces.
Speaking wasn't coming naturally at the moment so I just kept my eyes moving, and the confused...and ok, scared, look on my face.
What the hell is going on here?
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I'd never really gotten a chance to see these girls up close before, but the first thing that struck me was how beautiful they all were. Tara especially, had that soft, shy, kittenish sort of look to her that I'd always liked. And Ms. Jenkins had the look of a woman who would enjoy a good, spirited debate, as well as some of the most flawless, peaches-and-cream skin I'd ever seen since the first time I'd touched Andrew. Willow Rosenburg was a redhead, which caught my attention immediately, despite the fact that I'd always preferred blondes. And Dawn Summers was a lovely little beauty, with a face straight out of the 40's, complete with the high cheekbones and long, thick chestnut-brown hair.
But I quickly reminded myself of two things--one, none of these young women had aged any, which made Dawn Summers still very much a teenager, and two, I was nearly twenty-four years old and the unquestioned ruler of the free world and far too accomplished and in control to catch myself staring at some pretty girls.
I guess there are still some remnants of that ostracized geek you once were.
Shaking it off, I smiled brightly at the women. "Good evening, ladies. I'm sure you all recognize me, but for those who don't, my name is Warren Mears. Welcome to the Initiative base. You are all in Washington, DC at the current moment, and there are some things I need to tell you. But before I begin, does anyone need anything? Any questions you'd like to ask right off the bat? Please, feel free."
Unbeknownst to them of course, there were tiny cameras set up all over the room, recording everything they were doing and saying. I fully intended to review the tapes later for my own personal study...as well as show them to Andrew and Amanda so we could snicker over popcorn. Some things never changed.
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"What the..."
I trailed off as I tried to calm down.
"What are we doing here? Why are you here? What have you done to us...and where is Buffy?"
I tried to keep calm, but I am not doing such a great job.
"And why does my whole body ache? Like I have been asleep for too long."
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I glared him up and down,
"Is this some sort of joke? Am I dead?"
I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot, half nervously and half impatiently.
"How the hell did a geek like you manage to chrogynically freeze us? Last time I saw you, you were playing magic cards with your little friends. Now you're all badass with the freezing and the fancy suits... I assume you have money?"
I wonder...
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Feeling horribly uncomfortable I folded my arms across myself, and looking around until I got Willow's glance and felt some of my worry ebb. Just knowing she was there as well helped ease my tension.
Anya started yelling at Warren as I moved next to Willow, hoping a closer proximity would provide a greater sense of comfort. I heard the word freezing and looked behind us at the chambers, things slipping into a place of slightly more sense, with emphasis on the slight.
After another glance around, I saw Dawn sitting in her chair, looking just the way I felt. Opting out of demanding answers from Warren, I wasn't sure I trusted myself to speak, I squeezed Willow's shoulder and gave her another worried look before I hurried over to Dawn. I knelt next to her chair and laid a hand on her shoulder to make sure she was okay as I whispered "Dawn?"
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I had zoned out, hearing what Warren said did not make me feel any better, everything around me was like a blur. This was all too unreal, I think I need to wake up from this now. When I felt a hand on my shoulder and my name being said I snapped out of it a bit and looked at Tara.
"H-hi. Uh...what the hell? I'm all confused and stuff Tara." My voice was quiet and a little sore, like I hadn't used it for a long time. "And...and a little scared too. I think this bad dream needs to stop now...please make it go away."
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"Well, Ms. Rosenburg, that's not entirely inaccurate. You, and when I say that I mean all of you, have been asleep for a long time. Two years, as a matter of fact. The achiness in your body should subside shortly. Just shake yourself out a bit, stretch and you'll feel fine in a few minutes. And Buffy is safe and unharmed, outside, waiting for all of you as soon as we're done here."
"Yeah, I have one question. What the fuck is going on here, Warren, right?"
"Yes, indeed. My name is Warren Mears. And you would be Ms. Jenkins, correct?"
"Is this some sort of joke? Am I dead?"
"Far from it. This is no joke, and you are far from dead."
"How the hell did a geek like you manage to chrogynically freeze us? Last time I saw you, you were playing magic cards with your little friends. Now you're all badass with the freezing and the fancy suits... I assume you have money?"
I smirked in Anya's direction, admiring her spark more than anything else. It must have taken a lot for her to be so falsely indignant and angry. That kind of bravado was a rare thing these days. I made a mental note to remember that.
"More money than you could ever imagine in your wildest, most capitalist dreams, Ms. Jenkins. And thank you, I do rather like this suit. While we're at it however, I'd appreciate not being referred to as a 'geek'. I do believe you'll be wanting to re-assess your opinion of me in just a few moments, anyway."
Tara wasn't speaking, and I felt the most irrational stab of protectiveness towards her. She looked so frightened, and didn't seem to be trying to hide it, unlike Anya. I'd always been a sucker for the weak-seeming types, the ones who were shy and gentle and just begging to be taken care of. It was part of what attracted me to Andrew. I absolutely loved fostering the viciousness in those types of people.
"Don't be afraid." I said as gently as I could to her, looking her right in the eye. "At least not yet. I'm not going to hurt you here."
"And...and a little scared too. I think this bad dream needs to stop now...please make it go away."
Dawn Summers. She was going to grow up to be beautiful, indeed. I smiled dotingly at her, like a proud father.
"It's not a bad dream, dear. But as I just said, I don't want you to be afraid at all. Not yet, at the very least. You see ladies, you're here because I've been bored lately. Before I go any further, let me show you something."
And that done, I reached up with another remote control and switched on the television mounted on the ceiling, and started to play the exact same tape I'd played for Buffy minutes before. As soon as it was done playing, I stepped back to smile around the room at them.
"That's right, ladies. I am currently the unquestioned ruler of the free world, and we are going to play a game."
I paused, wanting to savor their reactions. This was so incredibly sweet.
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