Chapter 1
“You know, when I said, ‘let’s go see what disaster Giles is trying to avert,’ I was just kidding, right?” Xander complained to Buffy and Willow as he collapsed into his chair, tossing his book bag next to the other books already on the table. They’d barely stepped inside the library before Giles had lamented about another Hellmouth crisis.
Buffy sighed, the expelled air causing her bangs to flare momentarily, as she joined Xander, taking a seat across from him.
Willow, rather than join her friends, walked over to the counter to see what Giles was looking at and to offer her assistance with possible internet research. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the picture on the page Giles was reading.
“It’s a Nummular Apparatus.”
“A Nummular Apparatus?”
“Yes. It’s a device used to conjure demons from different dimensions. It bears a marked resemblance to the Antikythera mechanism, though the Nummular predates it by several centuries. The Council had been led to believe the Nummular Apparatus had been destroyed, but one of my, er—contacts—mentioned that there’s been an increase of magical activity in and around Sunnydale.”
“What makes you think it’s this Nummular thingy?” Willow asked.
“I cannot say with absolute certainty, I’ll have to conduct a more thorough investigation before I’ll know for sure. But, my preliminary findings on the type of magicks being used lead me to suspect the Nummular.”
“Is there anything you need me—” Buffy began, kicking Xander under the table to wake him up. “Or Xander to do?”
Giles’ lips pursed in disapproval at her rather loud outburst, but he shook his head in the negative. “Just patrol as you normally would. Report back with any unusual activity.”
“Giles, it’s the hellmouth. There’s always unusual activity,” Buffy deadpanned.
“More unusual than normal,” he sighed, then turned to Willow and added. “My information on the Nummular Apparatus is limited. If you could conduct a search on that contraption you seem to like?”
Willow grinned. “It’s a computer, Giles, and I’d be happy to. Let me just set my books down and I’ll see what I can come up with.”
An hour later and Willow was frowning at the screen in front of her. “Giles, I can’t find anything on the Nummular Apparatus; it’s like it doesn’t exist, at least in the cyber world anyway.”
“I feared as much,” Giles replied. “As I mentioned before, the Council had believed the Nummular destroyed. It was a stretch that any information regarding the device would have survived the written word, but it was a possibility I couldn’t overlook. I’ll have to ring one of my contacts at the Council and have them check things on their end. I do thank you for trying, however.”
“No problem, Giles. I just wish I was more helpful.”
Giles laid a reassuring hand on Willow’s shoulder. “You were. You are. I—we—Buffy and I, we value your assistance.”
Willow couldn’t help but blush at Giles’ praise.
“Well, if there’s nothing else, I guess I should be getting home. I’ve got homework and a science test to study for.” She looked at Xander snoozing in his chair; his mouth was open and he was snoring softly. Buffy was nowhere around – she must have bailed a while ago. “Xander! Wake up! It’s time to go.”
“Wha? Huh?” Xander came awake with a start, nearly falling over his chair in the process, causing Willow to laugh.
“Come on, sleepyhead. Time to walk me home.”
Xander stood and grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder; he held out his hand to Willow. “Come, m’lady. Your chariot awaits. But, not really, because, um, no driver’s license.”
“And no car,” Willow added.
“Yeah. That too.”
Willow snaked her arm through Xander’s. “Well, I can’t say no to the company. Even if you don’t have a car.”
“I knew there was a reason I loved you. You’re one smart cookie!”
“Yep!”
“See ya tomorrow, G-man,” Xander called out over his shoulder as he led Willow to the door.
“Bye, Giles!”
Giles refused to be baited by Xander’s moniker, and he waved them off with a warning to be careful as they walked home, even if it was still daylight. His mind was already on the call he was about to make, the call he was dreading having to make. He’d not been entirely truthful with Willow. While he did have a contact to go to regarding the Nummular Apparatus, it just wasn’t with the Council.
His mouth had suddenly gone dry and he thought a drink might do him some good. With that in mind, he walked into his office to retrieve his secret stash of Glenfiddich and a glass. Poured himself a liberal dose and swallowed it down in one.
He heaved a sigh and yanked his glasses off, tossing them on top of his desk.
It wasn’t until he’d finished a second shot that Giles forced himself to pick up the telephone and punch in the number he’d been unable to erase from his memory.
The call was answered on the second ring.
“Ethan.”
“Hello, Ripper.”
Want to leave a REVIEW?
