Chapter 6-10

CHAPTER 6: TRAINING DAY


Early next morning around 6:30 Buffy’s alarm clock started beeping, she got up ready to start a new day, somehow the early morning hours not really bothering her they always had. Buffy put on some sweats, and went out to wake up Dawn and the others. She opened the door to see Dawn already up, dressed, ready, and waking each person in the Scooby gang. She knocked on each door, and handed everyone a Karate uniform, which she got from Arthur the night before. Buffy smiled, and closed the door, then jumped back in bed.


“Come in!” Buffy said after she waited for her sister to knock on her door.
“Here,” Buffy, “you only have twenty minutes to be downstairs, and don’t be late!” Dawn says as she moves towards the door.
“Yes, ma’am,” Buffy replied.
“Come on Buffy, this is my first day on the job, and my first job ever, I just want…”
“Dawn, I get that, and I am so proud of you,” Buffy says lovingly, with pride.
Buffy and the Scooby gang assembled on the training field where Arthur, Giles, Dawn, and The Continuum were all ready. Everyone was wearing the black top, and bottoms Karate GI that Dawn had brought to their room this morning. The Continuum were helping the others in the proper wear of the uniform. Arthur approached Buffy, and gave her a few instructions.


"All right let’s go," Buffy called Faith to the front, and started to break everyone into their designated teams: Buffy, VI, Choi Ann, Dawn, Willow, Arthur, and Scott formed Team Alpha.
Faith, Kennedy, Mr. Giles, Xander, Michael, Kelly, and Eddie formed Team Bravo.
Buffy warmed the two teams up with some calisthenics, and then started to go through some stretching exercises. The two teams went through the hand and leg techniques used by warriors for centuries. “Jab, Jab, frontsnap kick, Cross” Buffy yelled. “Alright give me ten more! Faith! Take over,” Buffy yelled as she went through the ranks correcting mistakes and giving advice on the best way to perform a technique.


The Continuum and the five Slayers helped Dawn, Xander, Willow, and Giles in the different techniques; concentrating on the basics, for about an hour and a half. Buffy got everyone together and they started stretching again to prepare for the morning run.
"A mile?" “What’s that going to do Arthur?” Buffy asks.
“Buffy, at first you must train the two teams according to the weakest member’s abilities. Then you increase the difficulty level until everyone is as close to equal as possible, only than will everyone work as a team,” Arthur answered. “You can train the Slayers full force in the evenings,” Arthur added. The two teams ran for a mile as expected on a course extending through the woods behind the mansion’s grounds. Giles and Xander we're the last to catch up to the group after some gasping for much needed oxygen, both teams head toward the mansion, for morning breakfast. “What’s next on the schedule?” Arthur asks Dawn.
“Weapons training at 10:00 am, lunch at noon, First aid at 1:30 PM, and a radio communications class at 3:00 PM;” Dawn replies.
“Good, release the teams to their team leaders, confirm that Mr. Asano has everything he needs.” Dawn smiles, and walks over to Buffy and Faith; Dawn quickly reminds Buffy and Faith of the weapons training and that the teams are released to them for breakfast and personal hygiene.


Dawn takes off heading up the hill with a sense of purpose she has never felt before “I don’t have much time to eat, shower and get to the library to study Japanese culture. Although Mr. Asano went to school in the United States, Arthur told me that he is completely immersed in the traditions of the Samurai Warrior, I have to know everything there is to know about Samurai customs, ceremony, and traditions.” Dawn was thinking to herself as she jogged up the hill.
“Hey, check out the junior watcher B, what gives?” Faith asks Buffy.
“I think she is doing a great job,” Buffy replies.
“Yeah, me too, but don’t you think she should ease up on the throttle alittle, I’m just saying,” Faith responds.
“Faith, just let her find her own way, that’s what I’m trying to do,” Buffy says.
“Look B were five by five here, I don’t want to mess up, what I’m saying is… I am actually happy here, probably, for the first time in my life.”
“Me too,” Buffy punches Faith in the arm and runs up the hill.
“Hey, Blondie it’s never too late to finish what we started!” Faith smiled to her self, and ran after Buffy. The two veterans jogged up the hill to eat with their teammates.



After breakfast and showers, everyone showed up at one of the five classrooms down stairs next to the Armory. Folding metal chairs were lined up in front of two large tables with numerous first aid kits of different sizes, and what looked like leftovers after a high dollar special effects movie; fake blood, rubber molds of what looked like different wounds. The Sgt. Maj. walked in wearing a black Death from Above Tee-shirt, tiger striped cammie pants, and jump boots; he wasn’t wearing his normal patrol cap or Gargoyle sun glasses. “Good Morning, I am Sgt. Maj. Douglas welcome to combat first aid, we will also cover in detail communication, hand and arm signals, and camouflage techniques. We have a little time before we get started. Dawn, is everyone present?”
“Everyone except for Dr. Kidare, Sgt. Maj.” Dawn answered.
“Good, Dr. Kidare will arrive later, when we get to the second part of the class, it’s called the golden hour, and she will be your Instructor.


I’ve been a Solider for a long time as you can probably tell from my graying hair. My point is that we have been preparing for your arrival since we heard about Sunneydale and the extraordinary battle you fought there. We didn’t know what to expect, but success like that can come from only Leadership, Training, and Teamwork.” The Sgt. Maj. continued as he glanced over towards Faith, Buffy, and Giles. “Mr. Giles I understand that you were able to recover some items from the Watchers Counsel, after it was destroyed?
“Yes, that is true, Sgt. Maj.” Giles answered not sure where he was leading.
“Would one of those items be a Slayers Handbook?”
“It’s a bit tattered, but yes I was able to retrieve one.”
“Faith, Buffy you two are my Senior Trainers, I want you to go through it and re-write The Slayers Handbook. To include everything that you are learning from us and anything you two can include that has kept you alive as Slayers for five and seven years, get help from any other personal you pick.
When your sisters start to arrive, I would like to bring them up to speed as fast as we can. The only way I know to do that is for the experience you all have gained for almost a decade to be poured out into this handbook.



Dawn, Willow I know your plates are full, but I want you to find out why a Slayers power is increased when she picks up the Flame. If we can re-produce the effects I believe that we can make more, and enhance other ancient weapons such as the Labry’s, a two headed axe with a wooden spear that protrudes out between the two ax heads. Any questions…comments?” The Sgt. Maj. asked.
“Why do we need a handbook? Me and Faith have gone are whole careers without one.” Buffy answered.
“Mr. Giles had his reasons for not issuing your handbook, I am not going to get into that, but when you have thirty very young Slayers with about five that are trained, continuously asking the very basics every waking moment, you will wish you had a handbook to give them.”
“Aha, damn good point!” Buffy said with a smile.
“Buffy, put the whole squad on it, I don’t care, I will help you, This is very important.”
“What if me and Willow can not find out how the Flame works? It could be an ancient lost spell.” Dawn stated.
“I just want you to try, if not then we will just have a bunch of Ax’s and Scathes that are just Ax’s and Scathes. If there are no more questions, lets get started.”
“Sgt Maj. what do you want me to do?” Giles asked.
“Mr. Giles, I would imagine that you would want to supervise the whole process, but Sir, I don’t give you orders, you give me orders,” The Sgt. Maj. responded.
“Thank you, Sgt. Maj. that would be fine,” Giles said not able to contain a smile.



“Team Leaders brake your people down into their teams and send me a volunteer from both Alpha Team, and Bravo Team.”
“Vi, report to the Sgt. Maj.” Buffy ordered.
“Eddie, go stand by Vi,” Faith ordered.
“Cool, lay down job,” Eddie said as he ran over and stood next to Vi.
“Good, what kind of wounds can we expect in the field?” The Sgt. Maj. asked. “Give me one.”
Dawn raised her hand. “Puncture wound.”
“Good, Eddie drop” The Sgt. Maj. picked up a short vest that had a horrific stab wound, an arrow sticking out the front and the back, made up of foam rubber, an arrow, and fake blood. “Put this on.”
“Vi, grab that first aid kit and treat this man. The first thing you want to do is evaluate this casualty.
Slayers may have to rely upon their knowledge of first aid, and skills to save themselves, other Slayers, members of their team, or a civilian. They may be able to save a life, prevent permanent disability, and reduce long periods of hospitalization by knowing what to do, how to do, what not to do, and when to seek medical assistance,” The Sgt. Maj. stated taking a drink of water.



“Vi, send someone to seek medical assistance, that may simply mean getting Dr. Kidare on the radio.”
Vi pointed at Xander to seek help, he simulated talking on the radio.
“Then check him for breathing; lack of oxygen can lead to death or brain damage in a matter of minutes.” The Sgt. Maj. paused to take a drink of water as Vi checked Eddie’s airway.
“The second thing that you want to check for, is bleeding if he or she has a wound check for entry and exit wounds. Life cannot continue without an adequate volume of blood to carry oxygen to the tissues.” The Sgt. Maj. said as he knelt down next to Vi. She took Eddies pulse, then, checked Eddie's front and back.
“The third thing that you want to check is for shock; unless shock is prevented or treated, death may result even though the injury would not otherwise be fatal.” The Sgt. Maj. stood up. Vi pulled Eddies knees up, laid his head down on her jacket, loosened his boots, and loosened his belt causing rips and roars from the class.
“Alright that’s enough, girls! The Sgt. Maj. continued as Vi smiled coyingly and turned red in the face. Let me tell you alittle about the victim; he was shot through the chest with a…crossbow. The bolt went through his left lung, he has a sucking chest wound, and you have an entry and exit wound.


Vi pulled at the Velcro fastener holding the med. kit closed, she ripped open the kit. Vi grabbed some U.S. First aid compresses.
“Good move Vi, be careful when you open them not to expose the inside plastic to germs. Take the snips and cut the bolt, protruding from the back flush to the skin. Now wait for Eddie to exhale and slap the plastic; followed by the bandage on the exit wound. Repeat the procedure on the front, only this time leave two inches of the bolt hanging out the chest for easy extraction.” The Sgt. Maj. paused allowing Vi to catch up.
“Vi, look into the med. Kit for ice packs, pop the bags, and shake them up. Now, pack the ice bags around the wound, to slow the bleeding.”
“Alright, Vi now check his pulse and breathing. Vi, look up at me. Eddies pulse is not beating, and his breathing has stopped.” The Sgt. Maj. said taking a knee.


Vi, being a member of the swim team in her old junior high school, reacted not waiting for instructions. She first evaluated the casualty, “Are you, alright? Are you all right? You go get help,” Vi told the class. “Run with it Vi, that’s right re-position the victim so that he is flat on his back,” The Sgt. Maj. said as Vi gently placed Eddie on his back. “
“Now Vi, open his airway,” The Sgt. Maj. instructed. “The tongue is the single most obstruction in a loss of airway condition.”
Vi simulated tilting Eddie’s head to the side and pulling out the tongue.
“Upon continuous evaluation of her casualty, Vi will use these three methods to maintain a proper airway. Look, listen, and feel. She needs to look for the chest to rise and fall, listen for air escaping from the chest by exhalation by placing your ear near the casualty’s mouth, and feel for air flow on your cheek.” The Sgt. Maj. said as Vi demonstrated to the class.
“If the casualty does not respond, conduct mouth to mouth resuscitation.” The Sgt. Maj. said sure to get a reaction.


Eddie sat straight up “Excuse me, but …no offence I’m married,” He exclaimed, I’m sorry she already has a problem with me…living here with you all.”
“Eddie it’s alright, Vi go ahead and simulate,” The Sgt. Maj. said.
“Vi, I didn’t want to hurt your…”
“Shut up and lay back…victim!” Vi said winking at him. “Just kidding Eddie.”
Vi gently laid Eddie's head back down to the floor, tilting it back while pinching the nose, Vi simulated CPR cardio pulmonary resuscitation.
“Good Vi, simulate blowing three short bursts of air, breathing in new oxygen each time. Now attempt to locate a pulse. Still no pulse.” The Sgt. Maj. said while standing up.
“She has no choice; Vi will have to perform chest or abdominal thrusts. Because we have a chest wound it won't be hard to figure out which technique to use.”
“Vi, place the heel of one hand against the casualty’s abdomen between the solar plexus and the navel, place the other hand on top fingers pointing towards Eddies head. Press forward at the same time upward. Deliver each thrust slowly and evenly.” The Sgt. Maj. said as Vi looked, listened, and felt for signs of breathing.
“Thank you, Eddie and Vi. Team leaders break them down, we have an hour before the next class. I want everyone to try this at least once.” The Sgt. Maj. gave his orders as Buffy and Faith carried them out.


Chapter 7: The Ronin


“Hey, Dawnee, what ya doin?”

“Oh, hi Willow,” Dawn responds “Well, everyone’s supposed to meet the weapons instructor today and I’m supposed to greet him at the guesthouse in about a half-hour. I wanted to see if I could find any information on their culture and customs,” Dawn tells Willow.

“Can I help? Please” Willow asks.

“All right. You look at The Code of the Samurai warrior, and I will look at The Culture of the Japanese,” Dawn says thinking back “All the times I was not allowed to do research and now someone’s asking me! Just how cool is that?”

Dawn walks down the walkway from the main house, past the pool towards the guesthouse. She is walking with the confidence of someone who grew up with the most powerful Vampire Slayer in recorded history, who died twice, in the line of duty, once to save Dawn from a God. Besides the fact that she is only about three years old, Dawn grew up on a Hellmouth.

Dawn was dressed in a long evening gown, and had her hair up; she removed her shoes and placed them against the wall before entering the foyer. She knocked once and then stepped back. “Enter,” bellowed a deep voice from within the house. Dawn walked in and stopped; she saw Asano, he had his back turned away from her, he squatted on a Tamtami Matt, his blue robe was removed from his shoulders and flowed around the waist. Dawn noticed a tattoo of a brilliant large bird in orange, red, and yellow across his entire back flying up out of flames, his muscles sticking up through the reddish bronze skin like bands of cordwood.

Dawn stepped in line with him and performed a sen-say-ni ray, a bow to the teacher, she raised her head and said “greetings Asano san, we are honored to have you here, my name is Dawn Summers.”
“It is I who am pleased, Dawn san. Mr. Van Helsing did not tell me how beautiful his assistant is.” Dawn blushed slightly.

His English was flawless, “Dawn san, it is most urgent that I speak with your Mr. Van Helsing and the Slayer immediately. I fear we are all in great danger, and I must leave at once.”

While Dawn pulled a cell phone out of her purse she said, “There are five.”

“Excuse me, what was it you said?” Asano asks Dawn looking a little shocked.

“There are five Slayers with us,” Dawn answers.

“But this is not possible, tell me how this can be. There can only be one,” Asano questions the young Watcher.

“No, that’s the Highlander,” Dawn says under her breath.

Asano gave her an inquisitive look: “You must explain this…”

Dawn holds a finger up not really sure whether that was a sign of disrespect and called Arthur.

“Yes, this is Dawn at the guest house, I’m heading up to the main house with Mr. Asano now, I think this is important.”

Dawn and the Warrior walked up to the house, he tried to question her further, but she was not going to give any more information until she spoke with Giles, so Asano discontinued, thinking she did not really know what she was talking about. The two walked into the conference room. Arthur assembled The Continuum, and the Scooby gang was standing along both sides of the conference room. As Dawn and Mr. Asano enter, Dawn steps to his right as everyone bows in their guest’s direction, Asano bows, and Arthur motions him to have a seat.

Asano shot Dawn a glaring look, “Van Helsing san, I think there was a slight miscommunication. I asked to meet the Slayer and her watcher.”

“Asano san, there is no mistake,” Arthur motions towards Buffy, Faith, Kennedy, VI, and Choi-Ann.

“These five girls are all slayers. Mr. Giles, Xander, Dawn, and Willow help to train and guide them.”

“How can this be, there can only be one, there has always only been one,” Asano says looking confused.

“Yes, it’s true. I’m the original Slayer, I died, Xander saved me and that’s when Kendra was called, after Drucilla killed Kendra, Faith was called. During the battle of Sunneydale, Willow,” Buffy motions towards Willow, “used a spell on the Flame, that’s what I call this ancient slayer weapon that caused the activation of every potential Slayer in the world.”

Asano rose from his chair and looked at the Witch knowing she would have to be very powerful. He bowed towards Buffy, then Willow, and faced Dawn: “I owe you my humblest of apologies, Dawn san, can you forgive me?”

Looking a little confused Dawn said “Uhhhh… Yeah, sure”.

“Van Helsing san, I believe that I may have brought you great danger,” Asano said as everyone sat down and listened intently as this strange warrior from the west told his story. “My name is Asano Rishingu Fupheniku; this means rising phoenix. In April of 1702, my ancestor Asano Takumi no kami Naganori, Lord Asano was the leader of our clan. Chosen by the Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, to be one of his Daimyo, an Emissary tasked with entertaining envoys for the Imperial family.

“Lord Asano was sent to the Master of Protocol, Kira Kozukenosuke Yoshinaka. It was Kira’s job to instruct Lord Asano in matters of etiquette. Kira did not like his student from the start, he disrespected him at every opportunity. Lord Asano was very, how do you say, “hot headed”. Kira would address him as simply Asano, not Asano san, out of respect. He ordered Asano to relinquish his sword and loan it to another Samurai Warrior. This act would be unforgivable to a Samurai warrior, because we believe that our swords hold the essence of our selves, our souls. Asano drew his sword, knowing that removing his sword in the Shogun’s Palace was punishable by death, and struck Kira but only wounding him.”

Asano continued his story while everyone leaned forward. “The O-metsuke, inspector generals, investigated the matter, and the Shogun sentenced him to death, ordering him to commit seppuku or as westerners like to call it hara-kiri at once.” The O-metsuke asked Lord Asano if he required a second, an assistant to decapitate him as soon as he made the deadly cut with his Wakizashi, his short fighting sword, across his mid-section, a very painful death. Lord Asano politely declined, but requested some time to ask his ancestors for forgiveness; this was allowed.

Upon hearing the sentence of death, Kohana Lord Asano’s concubine, there at the palace for his pleasure, went to a tiny cave to see a witch she had heard lived there. Kohana pleaded for the witch’s help; the witch had a single solution with the help of her son who was a Vampire. Kohana took the son to Lord Asano’s cell. A Samurai Warrior would not try to escape, so security was lax. As soon as the Vampire reached the wooden doors that held Lord Asano, the Vampire pounced and was at his neck”.

The Continuum and the Scoobs looked at Asano with awe at this terribly fantastic story that everyone now knew the ending of, even if he had not finished.

“After Lord Asano was drained, he was forced to feed on the witch’s son. He then requested that he carry out the sentence before sunrise, as he was told what to do by the Vampire that attacked him. At midnight, Lord Asano was escorted to the execution chamber by Lord Dat’e, the Samurai Warrior that Lord Kira insisted that he lone his sword to. After reading this poem he committed seppuku:

Dead spring blossoms fall,
Winter snow in the fortress,
Blood on white pedals.”

The poem was later retrieved from Kohana’s body and sent to Lord Asano’s wife. Lord Asano’s body was taken from Edo Castle before cremation and is said to have approached the Samurai Warriors under his control, and demanded that they allow him to turn them. Forty-seven agreed and he vowed to turn every existing clan member from that point forward,” Asano continued.

“After a period of two years, Lord Asano and his vessels stormed Lord Kira’s castle and beheaded his enemy. Three hundred years later Christopher ‘Kit’ Bothwell, and his Slayer India Cohen arrived in Tokyo at the request of the living clan.” Asano says as he turns and looks at Buffy. “Ah…you recognize the name? Yes, she is the Slayer that you replaced, after her death in San Diego in 1996.

“India Cohen performed honorably and will always be honored in the Asano living Clan, but that is the current problem after the Slayer killed Lord Asano, the Witch, and her son in battle. Most of the existing Asano Vampiric Clan committed suicide by not resisting the Slayer from exterminating them.

But this was not the end, the members that did not consider death by Slayer honorable retreated and went into hiding to grow their ranks, and continue their war with the living clan. Members of the living clan sent me to live in China to train and eventually come back to Japan, other members were sent to places all over the world to train and hide. So I have come here to ask for your help, Van Helsing San.”

“We will have to discuss this among ourselves, Asano Sama,” Arthur says to the Warrior.

Dawn guides Asano out to the foyer area where they both sit down on a divine.

“If you stay…I mean if they... accept, will you train me?” Dawn asks.

“It would be my honor, Dawn San,” Asano answers her.

“What do you think? Arthur asks the group as a whole.

“It does seem that Mr. Asano has a bit of a problem…I say we help him,” Giles stated.

“Dude…Way to understate the sitch, he’s screwed…yeah we help him,” Faith exclaims.

“I want to help him, Giles” Buffy says as the rest, in turn, vote yes.

“Kennedy, would you please get Dawn and our guest?” Arthur asks the young Slayer.

As Dawn and Mr. Asano come back into the conference room Arthur stands up: “Please sit down Asano Sami. Dawn, what do you think?” Arthur asks her.

“Well…I thought that was the point of taking a walk, so you could vote!” Dawn answers.

“The vote was not complete until all members have a say,” Arthur stated.

“Oh…I say we help him!” Dawn says emphatically.

Everyone stood up and bowed deeply. “We will help you and the members of your proud family” Arthur says.

“Van Helsing san, you and your team honor me, I thank you…all.”

Chapter 8: Obstacle Course


After morning classes in communication, first aid, camouflage, hand and arm signals, weapons training, and lunch, The Continuum and the Scooby Gang met outside on the training field. Faith and Bravo Team were stretching out on one side of the field. Buffy and Alpha Team were stretching and warming up on the other. Giles and Arthur drive up in two large vans to take the two teams to the obstacle course. Arthur gets out and checks with Dawn: “Do we have water and towels?”

“Two five gallon water cans, ten towels, and a first aid kit per team.”

“Good show, let’s move then” Arthur adds, as the two teams load up each van.

The vans drive west to the outer perimeter of the Sanctuary, the name Arthur calls the mansion and its grounds. They pulled into a graveled parking lot at the edge of a clearing. “All right listen up!” Dawn says as the two teams pile out and start lining up.

“Team leaders have your teams drink water and continue to warm-up, you have a half hour! This obstacle course is two miles long with many climbing, crawling, and water obstacles,” Dawn continues. “This is a timed event, but the object is to build teamwork, the Slayers are going to have to learn to pace and help their team members, because they are a lot stronger and faster than the other members of their teams. Any questions?” Dawn asks.

“Good, Team Bravo will leave at 5:30 PM and Team Alpha will leave at 5:35 PM,” Dawn says as she moves over to the van to get some water.

“Man I’m still sore from this morning,” Xander says to Michael.

“Here, try some of this, Xander,” Michael reaches into a gym bag and pulls out some Tiger balm.

“Cool, Tiger Woods makes a liniment?” Xander asks.

“No, it’s made by some martial arts supply company,” Michael answers trying not to laugh.

“Line up Bravo! Stretch out, warm up, and drink water,” Faith yells out.
“Alpha over here with me,” Buffy motions to a flat grassy area carrying an ice water bucket.

The two teams of Slayers continued to stretch out, and warm up for about a half-hour.

Bravo took off followed five minutes later by Alpha. Faith was leading, taking the time to encourage her teammates and helping them through some of the harder obstacles. “Come on! You guys are looking good, keep moving,” Faith yelled.

About a mile into the obstacle course, after crawling through a half-foot of mud and barbed wire, Bravo made it to a large cargo net that went up to about forty feet. At the top on a large platform stood the Sgt. Maj. hooked with a snap link to the platform. The other side was a sixty-foot rappel wall.

“Come on ladies lets move it,” the Sgt. Maj. bellowed.

Faith made it to the top of the tower. She stopped to catch her breath and check on her team’s progress, and the progress of Buffy’s team.

“Team leader, lets get that rappelling harness on, when you and your people are ready approach me and yell out whether you are right handed or left,” The Sgt. Maj. instructed her.

“Check! Sgt. Maj,” Faith yelled out with enthusiasm still very much out of breath.

Vi and Kennedy made it to the top next. “Hey, I thought I told you that at least one of the slayers is to bring up the rear to help the others!” Faith says as she tightens the harness around her waist.

“Sorry, Faith!” Vi answered.

“Yeah, Captain! Sorry, but Vi was starting to get ahead of me,” Kennedy answers.

“Don’t worry about it, but if Xander needs some help one of you are going after him. Now get on your harnesses, I have to inspect you,” Faith told her two slayers.

As Kelly and Eddie made it to the top, they started to put on their harnesses. Faith started to conduct her safety inspection, as the Sgt. Maj. looks on. Every time she came around the Sgt. Maj., she always felt the constant uneasy feeling that she can see his icy blue stare looking at her from beyond the metal gray gargoyle sunglasses he wore all the time. She really couldn’t understand why he had that effect, it wasn’t fear, and Faith didn’t really fear no one or thing, but herself. His Cammo Tee shirt was unable to hide his frame. At two hundred and twenty pounds the Sgt. Maj. ran ten miles every other day sometimes with an eighty-pound rucksack. His Jumpboots stayed highly polished, hair cut close, and he rarely smiled.

Faith finished inspecting Vi and Kennedy and she moved over to Eddie and Kelly. Faith smiled to herself knowing that if she missed anything, even the smallest item, the Sgt. Maj. would have been all over her.

“Let’s move them down, Team Leader!” The Sgt. Maj. said to Faith.

“Oh…Good Job!” The Sgt. Maj. yelled as he took his place to hook up the two teams. Faith wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw him smile slightly. Vi approached the Sgt. Maj. “Right handed, Sgt. Maj,” Vi yells.

The Sgt. Maj. looked her over as he hooks up her rappelling rope and locks the snap link in its place.

“Good motivation! Trooper! The Sgt. Maj. says in a normal tone.

Vi didn’t know it, but the Sgt. Maj. would have never used the shortened term commonly used to address a Paratrooper, with someone who did not own a pair of silver jumpwings.

“Get in a good tight L-shaped position and yell on rappel!” The Sgt. Maj. instructed the young Slayer.

“On rappel!” Vi yells out showing no sign of fear.
“On belay!” Yelled Dr. Lori Kidare at the bottom of the sixty-foot tower. She was wearing an U.S. Army Kevlar helmet, an old tee shirt, jeans, and a pair of leather gloves. Her medium length blonde hair was tucked under her helmet.

Michael held back to help Xander through the sewer tunnels. Xander crawled out of one of the three concrete three-foot diameter drainage pipes. He was completely covered in mud. “Man, I’m asking Giles for a raise,” as he scooped out a clump of mud from his remaining eye.

“Good luck with that, let’s go before, you know, Drill Sergeant Faith flips out!” Michael says to Xander.

“Hey, man, she’s alright, you know… for a psychotic killeress!” Xander responds.

“Oh, man, I just thought it was like… that time of the month,” Michael replies.

“That you don’t want to see, believe me!” Xander says to his new friend.

“Yeah, I hear you!” Michael retorts as the two of them move to the base of the tower.

Xander and Michael start climbing the Cargo net.

“Oh, Mike, one thing you should know. We probably wouldn’t have won the Battle of Sunneydale if she didn’t break out of prison to help us. You see Buffy against Faith, War of the Century; but you team the two of them up for an apocalypse and let’s just say Shock and Awe! Buffy has been through eight apocalypses, and Faith around four,” Xander tells Michael.

“Yeah, I’m getting that! And how many have you been through?” Michael asks as the two make it to the top of the rappelling tower.

“Eight,” Xander answers.

Michael takes a hard look at Xander and says “Oh”.

“Come on guys, let’s get those harnesses on. I have to inspect you!” Faith says as Vi, Eddie, Kelly, and Kennedy climb a wall and disappear on the other side, continuing along the course.

“Sorry, Faith! I’ll get into better shape, I’m holding you back!” Xander says between breaths as he steps up for inspection. He glanced with his one good eye and saw Buffy’s team close on the tower.

“I know you will, Xander, but we cross as a Team. I don’t care where Buffy’s Team is, we cross together or we sleep out here!” Faith says as the Sgt. Maj. gently nods to himself in quiet approval.

Faith, Xander, and Michael rappelled off the tower and proceeded to try and catch up with the rest of the team. Buffy high crawled out of the center tunnel as Dawn, and Choi-Ann came out of the tunnels on her left and right. They looked at each other and saw how muddy they were, and started to roll on the ground laughing. Scott and Willow roll out of the tunnels next.

“Let’s roll! Alpha, you’re falling behind!” The Sgt. Maj. yelled from on top of the tower.

“O.K. guys, catch your breath and we take off,” Buffy says as she looks at Giles and they start laughing again. “Giles, I don’t remember training ever being this fun, do you?” Buffy asks her Watcher, still giggling.

“No, Buffy! Except I wasn’t aware that this was fun until a minute ago,” Giles says as the entire team laughed together for a minute and took off for the tower. Alpha rappels down the tower and climbs the wall on the other side through several different climbing and scaling obstacles. Buffy scans ahead down a straightaway; at the length of two football fields was Bravo Team cheering and yelling. They have clearly made it to the finish line.

“What… are they going to rub it in?” Buffy thinks as she climbs to the top of the parapet.

Then she hears it: “Come on Alpha theirs not that much more to go,” Faith yells.

“Come on guys! Full sprint!” Buffy yells as Alpha approaches the finish line that seemed to go on forever. Bravo was there with towels soaked in ice water and three coolers of water; one was made into Gatorade from a plastic bag of powder mix.

Dr. Kidare runs up with the Sgt. Maj. as they mentally access who could be suffering from heat exhaustion. “You O.K. Sir!” Sgt. Maj. Douglas asks Giles.

“Yes, quite… Sgt. Maj. Thank you,” Giles answers.

After the two teams cooled down, the Sgt. Maj. opened his rucksack, and handed two boxes of Granola bars to Dr. Kidare, to hand out to the exhausted, mud covered group in front of her.

“Buffy, Faith, can I speak with you?” the Sgt. Maj. asked the two Slayers as he walked to the edge of the clearing.

Buffy and Faith look at each other as the rest of the group looked on, they got up and walked over to where the Sgt. Maj. was standing.

“Man, Dude looks pissed B.” Faith whispers as they close the distance.
“Sgt. Maj., sorry about that laughing thing at the end of the tunnels,” Buffy says.

“No, that was funny,” the Sgt. Maj. said without cracking a smile.

“The reason I asked the two of you over here is the superb examples of leadership I saw out there today! You two not only held back to take care of your people, watch out for their safety, you lead by example, and above all,” he turned to look directly at Faith, “at the end I saw Bravo team cheer on and encourage Alpha, then help to cool down the other team with towels and ice. This is something rare to find in a competition, especially since you became a team only this morning. I look forward to working with both of you.”

The Sgt. Maj. grabbed his rucksack and without another word turned and started to jog along a worn trail in the opposite direction of the Sanctuary.

Buffy and Faith spent the next minute staring at the path. Buffy turned to stand directly in front of Faith. Their two hands came up at the same time and slapped palms together and held in a steel grip.

“You ever go evil and leave me…again, I’ll kick your ass!” Buffy said to Faith as a slight smile formed on their faces.

“Yeah! You wish, Blondie! Faith replied.”

The two veterans walked back to join the group as Dawn ran up with Kennedy and met them in the middle of the clearing, with Gatorade and granola bars they had saved for their leaders. Buffy looks at Faith and turns to Dawn and says, “You two are not getting a raise!”

“But if you two want, you can wash my Hummvee,” Faith says as she gets Kennedy in a head lock and Buffy tackles Dawn and as the four of them wrestle. The rest of the muddy pack, Giles leading the way, dives in and for a few minutes they all forgot the war they fight.


Chapter 9: Contemplation


Later that evening, Asano was in the gardens performing Mokuso, deep breathing and meditation, clearing his mind of the flotsam and jetsam, the clutter that builds up in the mind due to the stress of being hunted down only to live out his existence as a Vampire or to die. Breathing in and expelling the air back out from the lower part of his abdomen. Imagining the silt and debris slowly floating to the bottom of his consciousness. Hearing a twig crack, he was on his feet, hand at his sword, in a Sonkyo, crouching en garde position, “Ah… you may approach, Dawn san, when you try sneaking up on a Samurai warrior, it would be wise not to wear perfume.”

“ Sorry,” Dawn stepped out into the clearing and bowed. Asano returned the bow and motioned Dawn to a wooden bench, “Please have a seat,” Asano said in a low voice.

“Thank you,” Dawn replied.

“What is this called Channel number five?” Asano asks the young Watcher.

“No,” Dawn laughs, “It’s called Cha-Nell #5, like French or something.”

“Oh,” Asano looks at Dawn inquisitively. “Do you realize that you act a lot older than you look?”

“Not really,” Dawn replies, “but I wish people would treat me like I was older.”

“No, I do not mean how you are perceived, you have a very old Spirit sword body as one we call this Ki ken Tai-i-chi.”

Dawn thinks, “Well, once I was the key to the Universe. I was used to open all of the Hell dimensions at once, but the monks made me human to hide me from this God Glorificus, that’s when my sister Buffy saved me…that’s how she died. I don’t think I open anything else.”

“Your sister, the leader of Slayers, is your sister?” Asano asks her.

“Yes,” Dawn answers.

“Your sister died?”

“Twice, really three times, but no one counts the time she was shot by Warren, she was flat lined until Willow brought her back with magic,” Dawn answers.

“This Willow must be a very powerful witch to have brought back the soul.”

“The second time she died, Buffy was in Heaven, but Willow didn’t know, and she does not practice anymore. Xander brought her back the first time she died, mouth to mouth, after the master killed her.” Dawn explains.

"Buffy is truly enchanted," Asano says.

"Hey, don’t tell her that, her head is big enough anyway," Dawn responds.

“What form were you before the monks changed you to human form?”

"A ball of light," Dawn answers.

“So you were modeled after your sister?” The Warrior questions her.

“I guess,” Dawn replies.

“You may not have her speed and strength, but you have her instincts. Your body is young but your soul is very old. I can see why Van Helsing San has picked you to be a Watcher of Slayers.”

Dawn looks at Asano and says “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome, Dawn San. It is going to be an honor to work with you. You need not worry about your sister or your friend Willow,” Asano says with certainty.

“What do you mean?” Dawn asks.

“No witch, no matter how powerful, can pull someone out of Heaven. God sent Buffy back to Earth. She is not finished, and when she is, God will take her back,” Asano answered. “My people believe that if you fight a battle, with the fate of the world in the balance, and win, your seat in heaven is secured.”

Dawn could not help but to smile as she thought to her self “I was in the Battle of Sunnydale, does this mean that all of our places are secure?”

Asano and Dawn meditated in the gardens until sundown, he showed her how to clear her mind and gather her strength. Dawn spent the time contemplating what Asano said.

Later that evening in the conference room, Asano, Giles and Arthur sat at the head of the table, Dawn stood behind. Willow and Xander sat at a computer terminal. The Slayers and The Continuum were mixed around the table and they were starting to intermingle.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” Arthur thought to himself. “What do we know about the Ronin?” Arthur asked the group as a whole.

“Well, they are at least 300 years old,” Giles said.

“I’ve fought Demons older than that,” Buffy stated.

“Yes, but you have never fought a master Samurai Warrior, who studied his art for three hundred years, Buffy. I do not want to under estimate this threat,” Giles says with concern.

“O.K. But first we have to know where and when they will arrive,” Buffy says.

“If they came here that means they left shortly after Asano San. His plane landed this morning,” Dawn says.

“It would take forever to get here by boat,” Xander stated. “And they can’t travel by plane because of the sunlight.”

“Yes, they could if they owned the plane,” Dawn replies. “Willow, look for any large aircraft landing in Cleveland in the last twenty four hours, privately owned, and has no windows,” Dawn says.

Everyone in the room looks at Dawn, including Buffy.

“What… it’s what us Watchers do!” Dawn shoots a smile at Giles and Arthur.
“Got it!” Exclaimed Willow. "747, black, privately owned, and this aircraft has no windows, landed at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport four hours ago from Tokyo, concourse C it’s still there."

Giles looks at Arthur and nods. Then he stands up: “Buffy, Faith, veteran patrol Recon the airport, report back on the plane, and any clue as to the whereabouts of the Ronin.”

“What, Rupert’s giving the orders now?” Kennedy asks.

“Mr. Giles will be giving orders from here on,” Arthur answers.

“I just like to know who is in charge, that’s all,” Kennedy says as she slumps in her chair.

“Buffy, Faith, report to the Sgt Maj. He is waiting in the Armory, and he will take care of you,” Giles says as he looks upon the two Slayers. “Be careful, we do not fully know what we are up against,” Giles says with concern.

“Relax, Boss! That’s what we are going to find out, me and B can handle it!” Faith exclaims.

“We will be fine, Giles,” Buffy says as her and Faith head down the hall.


Chapter 10: Night Mission


The two Slayers go down a flight of stone steps winding down to the Sanctuary’s basement; they approach a large steel door with Armory written in red lettering.


“It’s locked,” Faith says to Buffy.


“Knock,” Buffy responds.


Faith knocks loudly three times.


“Come in,” a loud voice from behind the door says, as an electronic latch is released from the inside.


Buffy and Faith walk into the Armory, and behind a large metal gate, sitting at a desk, was Sgt. Maj. Douglas. He had a camouflaged patrol cap, and above his Sgt Maj. rank was a set of silver Master Jump Wings. Wearing a worn Tee shirt with the lettering “Death from above”, he had on jump boots and camouflage pants in a tiger striped pattern.


“What can I do for you two ladies?” He asked.


“Ehhh… We were sent by Mr. Van Helsing and Mr. Giles. They said you would hook us up,” Faith answered.


“What’s the mission?” The Sgt Maj. asked the two Slayers.


“Recon the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” Buffy answers.


“What’s the target?” the Sgt Maj. asked.


“300 Year old Samurai Warrior Vamps that are after Mr. Asano, it’s this whole big thing about a plane with no windows,” Buffy answers starting to get the idea that he already knew.



“Good. Who is holding the drivers license?” The Sgt Maj. asks as he heads for a cabinet that has rows of keys lined up and labeled.



“I have a license, Sgt Maj.” Buffy exclaims.


“Take the Black Suburban, it’s already parked in the driveway, but first put these on. You can change over there in the back room.”


He hands both slayers a set of all black military camouflaged pants and top, a black watch cap, boots, and a small tube of black face paint.


“We really don’t…” Buffy says being cut off abruptly.


“Sit down! Please,” the Sgt Maj. exclaims motioning to some metal folding chairs.


The two Slayers sat at two chairs in front of a large military map of Cleveland.


“Let me explain how this works. I have to conduct your briefing, deploy you, and when you return you de-brief me. This is a recon to gather much needed information that we are depending on for any future deployments. This is an emergency. I know this because I have not taught you how to conduct a recon of this nature yet. So humor me and wear the damn Cammies. This is not a bait and slay, ladies. I’d rather no one ever see you.”


“Sure,” Buffy answered while Faith crossed her arms in defiance.


“Go east on route 90 for about six miles, then go south on 237 about eight miles, turn right at the International Expo Center. You will find a service road in between the airport and the center. Travel up the service road west of the airport. The winds are blowing east to west around five miles per hour. Would you ladies like to take some notes or do you both have photographic memories, as well?”


The two veterans pull out notebooks and start to copy down everything the Sgt. Maj. had written on a large white board.


“Sunset is at 18:50 hrs, that’s 6:50 PM, sunrise is at 06:45, your primary frequency is 935 MHz, your emergency frequency is 940 MHz; radio in every half-hour, your call sign is Bravo Foxtrot and mine is Sierra Mike. Any questions?” the Sgt Maj. asks.


“Good, draw crossbows, may I suggest the Excalibur Exomag. It has a 200lb draw weight and fires a bolt at 330 feet per second. Take stakes, a Katana, Wakizashi, water, first aid kit, a recon kit, radios, night vision devices, and knives, report to me upon return.”


The two veterans get changed and draw their mission gear then run to the garage where Dawn, Asano, Arthur, and Giles are waiting. Buffy jumps into a Black Suburban and starts the engine, as Faith gets into the passenger seat.


“Wait till I get my license B. That one over there is mine,” Faith points to a Black Hummvee.


“It fits you,” Buffy says with a smile.


“Be careful!” Giles says to his two Slayers.


“Five by five,” Buffy says smiling to Faith, as the Suburban squeals out of the parking garage heading to the main gate.


“One of these days I am going to find out exactly what that means,” Giles says as the Vehicle taillights move down the Sanctuary’s driveway.


“Man, what’s up! Dawn is really coming into her role as a Watcher, I think she is sharper than my old Watcher,” Faith says to Buffy.


“Faith, your Watcher died,” Buffy responds.


“I know… I’m just saying, Faith replies.


“Yeah, I know what you mean, I think that I have been holding her back…I’m a bad sister,” Buffy says.


“Bullshit! You’re a great sister!” exclaimed Faith. “If I had a sister like you…”


“Yeah, we would have killed each other a long time ago,” Buffy cut her off.


“But I would have felt bad about it,” Faith replies with a smile.


The two Veteran Slayers laughed as they got on Interstate 90 east heading towards the airport.

***

Everyone else was seated in the conference room. Arthur, Asano, and Giles are talking by the fireplace.


“Arthur, I’m not so sure that she is ready, for that kind of a step yet!” Giles stated, while cleaning his glasses.


“If I may, Mr. Giles, we will not know until she is given the opportunity,” Asano replies.


“Who then?” Giles asks.


“Choi-Ann would be my choice,” Arthur stated, while Asano nods his head.


“But Arthur, she cannot communicate with her,” Giles answers.


“Perfect. Dawn will be forced to communicate with Choi-Ann in other fashions. While they both will be forced to speak the other’s language, it will build an unbreakable bond between Slayer and Watcher,” Asano says while thinking about different training methods he will use.


All three nod their heads in agreement and walk back to the conference table.


“It has been determined that Dawn and Choi-Ann will team up as Slayer and Watcher,” Giles says while the group sat expressionless.


Asano translates to Choi-Ann. Dawn looks at Choi-Ann, not sure what her reaction is going to be, Choi-Ann looks in Dawn’s direction and stands up. Choi-Ann takes a step forward, places her right fist in the cupped hand of her left and simply bows. Dawn stands up and repeats the movement. Giles walks toward the two as they turn and face him.


“In every generation there is a chosen one…She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness…she is the Slayer. In every generation there is one called…to train, to guide, to lead, and watch over, she who stands against the forces of darkness. For every Slayer there is a Watcher. Now Dawn, you are absolutely responsible for the life of your Slayer and she of yours,” Giles emphatically stated.


Giles looks directly at Dawn and says: “I am so very proud of you, and if there is any thing I can do to assist, please don’t hesitate.”


“I won’t! Thank you for having this kind of faith in me. I will not let you down,” Dawn says to Giles as a small tear glides down her smooth cheek. Giles wipes it away with his thumb before anyone saw it.


Dawn looks at Choi-Ann, while speaking to Giles, “I want Choi-Ann to be in the room adjoining mine. Also, I want some time to train her privately,” Dawn requests.


“Of course,” Giles says while Arthur and Asano nod in agreement.

***

Faith and Buffy pull into a dirt road a mile south of Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport. The two Veteran Slayers cover the Suburban with vegetation, and move on foot towards the airport.


“Do not skyline yourself, stay in between thick vegetation and the target, stay downwind from the target area. Who thinks up all this shit, and how am I expected to remember?” Faith asks Buffy.


“Faith, hold it down and come here,” Buffy says as she pulls out the tube of black face paint.


“Buffy, I ain’t putten that crap on my face!” Faith exclaims.


“You are and so am I,” Buffy says as she pulls Faith to the ground. “The Sgt. Maj. says we should take a listening halt here for thirty minutes to allow our eyes and ears to adjust,” Buffy says as she applies the face paint.


“You’re really getting into this Rambo shit,” Faith says as Buffy works on the tiger stripe pattern that she learned in class today.


“Yeah…like you’re not. Faith, I know you are loving this whole thing,” Buffy says smiling, her white teeth showing behind the camouflage paint.


“It don’t suck, can we go kick some ass now, Buffy?”


“Faith, this is a Recon, we are supposed to fade in and fade out without being seen.”


“I know, but I’m just saying,” Faith stated, as the two Slayers scanned their perimeter.


After their senses adjusted to their surroundings, Buffy pulls out two sets of modified ANPVS-14’s Night vision devices with Temperature and Infra red capabilities and two Motorola GTX hand held radios.


“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot, come in Sierra Mike, over.”


“Bravo Foxtrot, this is Sierra Mike.”


“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot crossing phase line Alpha...How copy? Over,” Buffy says into the mic.


“Bravo Foxtrot, copy crossing phase line Alpha…read you Lima Charlie” The Sgt. Maj. transmits.


“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot…Proceeding to phase line Bravo...out”


Buffy puts the radio in the holster on her hip, crossbow in hand, and starts to move towards the airport as Faith follows close behind carrying a compound bow.


“Buffy…who in the Hell Is Lima Charlie? Faith asks looking confused.


“It means loud and clear, see… you should have paid attention during communication class instead of trying to pick up Michael who’s married by the way,” Buffy whispers as she continues moving forward.


“All I did was grab his ass…way too tempting!” Faith exclaims.


“Yup…read you Lima Charlie,” Buffy says as the two girls giggle slightly.


The two Slayers move right through the woods, avoiding a large field. Buffy and Faith go to ground as they approach a large fence. Buffy pulls out a set of wire cutters and starts slowly cutting a hole in the fence using a piece of cloth between the cutters to lessen the noise. Faith scans their immediate surroundings, periodically switching to thermal to pick up lack of heat readings. About three hundred meters to their north at the end of the runway, there was a large black 747. Two black limousines parked in front.


“Buffy, I make at least six guards armed with Katana’s, all reading outside temperature,” Faith reports as Buffy finishes cutting through the fence.


“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot...come in Sierra Mike.”


“Bravo Foxtrot, this is Sierra Mike.”


“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot, crossing phase line Bravo how copy…over.”


“Read you Lima Charlie! Bravo Foxtrot proceed…out.”


Buffy places the radio on her hip and turns down the volume as she glances at Faith.


“We can’t get inside the plane, but we can get close enough to get license plate numbers off the limos. Maybe it will give us some idea as to where they operate from,” Buffy says with a whisper as she puts the pliers away and starts crawling through the hole in the fence.


Faith follows her through the fence staying as low to the ground as possible. The two Slayers low-crawl along a small drainage ditch leading to within 100 meters of the first limo. Buffy writes down the License plate number of the first vehicle and starts crawling to get into a position where she can see the second vehicles number.


As Buffy raises her head to get the second number on the plate, two Vampires in Ninja uniforms roll out of spider holes, named after the trapdoor spider that digs a hole, covers it and ambushes its victims, directly in front of her. The Ninja Vamp closest to Buffy attacks armed with a Katana, Buffy fires a bolt from her crossbow; the Ninja cut the bolt in half as he stepped sideways. Buffy dropped the crossbow as Faith drew a bead on the second Vamp, dusting him with an arrow from her compound bow. Buffy produced two Sai’s from inside of her jacket, blocking, slashing, as she defended herself against such a brutal attack. Faith took a knee and loosed another arrow dropping the Vamp on top of the plane.


“Faith, we are outta here,” Buffy stated, as she countered every blow thrown at her.


As the Ninja Vamp with the Katana attempts a forward strike, Buffy drops to one knee and performs a double strike to the chest, skewering him. Buffy side kicks the wounded Vamp, realizing that the twin Sai’s were made of metal.


“Note to self get Xander to add wood to these,” Buffy thinks as she heads for the hole in the fence.


Samurai warriors start pouring out of the plane, two archers take aim at Faith as she starts to enter the hole in the fence. Faith is hit through her right shoulder and out the front of her chest, as Buffy dives through the hole knocking Faith to the ground.