Fragment: The Prisoner

[annelise@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The Prisoner, Fragment.

--

Wesley blinked. "The Council's orders are to concentrate on..."
Buffy interrupted him. "Orders? I don't think I'm gonna be taking 
any more orders. Not from you, not from them."
Wesley looked aghast. "You can't turn your back on the Council!"
Buffy smiled, thinly. "They're in England. I don't think they can 
tell which way my back is facing."
"Giles," Wesley turned to Buffy's ex-Watcher. "Talk to her!"
Giles crossed to stand by Buffy's side. "I've nothing to say right 
now."
"Wesley," Buffy fumed. "Go back to your Council and tell them, until 
the next Slayer comes along, they can close up shop. I'm not working 
for them anymore." She crossed her arms, adamant.
"Don't you see what's happening?" Wesley refused to believe he'd 
failed yet another Slayer in his duties. "Faith poisoned Angel to 
distract you, to keep you out of the Mayor's way, and it's working. 
You need a strategy!"
Buffy agreed. "I have a strategy. You're not in it."
"This is mutiny!" Wesley frowned.
Buffy considered this. "I like to think of it as graduation."

*

Sun streamed through the window, waking Buffy from her drugged 
stupor. She rose from the unfamiliar bed and looked out of the window.
"What the hell?" she murmured.

*

"Where am I?" Buffy asked.
"In the village," The disembodied voice replied.
"What do you want?"
"Information."
"Whose side are you on?"
"That would be telling. We want information. Information! 
Information!"
"You won't get it."
"By hook or by crook, we will!"
"Who are you?"
"The new number two."
Buffy considered. "Who is number one?"
"You are number six."
"I am not a number. I am the Slayer!"

*

End Fragment.