FIC: Trinity's Child 18/?

[CDRERamius@xxxxxxx]

TITLE: Trinity's Child 18/?
AUTHOR: Tony McD
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss Whendon, Mutant Enemy, WB and 
others. This is for fun, not profit.
SUMMARY: Sequel to Terra Australis Incognito. 17 years on Buffy, Xander, 
Willow, and their child must face very different evils to save the world 
(again).
SPOILERS: None really. AU.
RATING: MA 15+ (Australian system)

Trinity's Child 18/?

He walked through quiet, tree lined streets of Canberra. Xander liked 
it here. The national capital was one enormous landscaped park with a city of 
over half a million hidden somewhere within the mass of green. Occasionally 
he would sight an imposing library or museum or memorial. As he stepped out 
on to Anzac Parade, he paused for a moment to look around. The predawn light 
gave the land a soft look and a stillness that seemed incongruent to his 
reasons for being in this city. Planning the destruction of the Watchers 
Council.

His destination was one which he always visited when he was here. The 
domed building loomed large as he walked up the sandstone steps. The War 
Memorial was devoid of people save Xander. He stopped at the top of the 
stairs and looked back down Anzac Parade. He saw the white, bunker like mass 
that was Parliament House. The War Memorial and the Parliament faced each 
other across the length of Anzac Parade. Each dominating the view of the 
other, they were a symbol of democratic freedoms and the price that was paid 
to keep them safe.

Entering the memorial, Xander passed the Pool of Reflection and walked 
along the Roll of Honour. Here, on bronze plaques, were the names of the 
120,000 Australians killed in war. They weren't his fellow Americans. They 
fought and died for a country that, until David McWray showed up, Xander knew 
little of and thought about even less. But since coming here, Xander had come 
to learn a lot about it, the land, the history, the people.

The names on the roll were ordinary people. People like his friends. 
People not all that different from him. Their war heroes weren't great 
generals who won great battles. They were figures like Simpson and his 
donkey, Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, and Peter Cosgrove. The stretcher bearer, the 
surgeon, the peace keeper. The triumph of the human spirit in the face of 
great evil.

Xander quietly left the memorial and headed back to his hotel room. 
Today they would meet and decide how best to fight the Watchers Council. 
Xander didn't want to fight them. He wanted them dead.

****

They sat in the conference room waiting for the President and the Vice 
President to arrive. Next to Xander sat Buffy and Willow, and around them 
were various military, government and Slayers Council members. President 
Cosgrove and Vice President Freeman walked in and began the session. The 
President addressed them.

"The debacle over the Watchers Council attack and the massive loss of 
life incurred trying to capture the High Council, has caused chaos among our 
friends and allies. The British are paralysed as they try to hunt down the 
Watchers Council spy or spies in their midst. The mole hunt is looking into 
who had access to the information in time to warn the High Council. The list 
of suspects starts from senior public servants to the highest reaches of 
Parliament." There were murmurs among those gathered. The name Kim Philby was 
mentioned more than once.

"We aren't immune here. All governments are looking at everyone 
involved with this endeavour. As such I intend to put measures in place to 
ensure secrecy.

"Our American friends are outraged by the loss of so many of their 
troops. The matter is to go to their Congressional Committee. To avoid 
further losses, they have stood down their teams. Intelligence will still be 
shared. The same story applies to France. 

"I intend not to follow suit. New Zealand is sending an anti terrorist 
squad over for training and attachment to our remaining teams. Other 
countries have pledged support should the High Council appear in their 
country. But the job of actually capturing them looks like falling to us.

"I fully intend bringing them to justice. Proceedings have begun in 
the International Court of Justice. Any questions?" The President looked 
around.

"Sir, I can't believe that other countries would just let us send 
armed troops into their country. It would be an act of war." General Mike 
Andies said somewhat belligerently. President Cosgrove looked at the general, 
an annoyed look clouding his features.

"Mike, those countries that don't let us aren't going to find out. If 
they do I'll remind them of their obligations under that agreement they 
signed that started all this. If they still have objections then we'll remind 
them of the dirty secrets they don't want aired in public. They've done it to 
us, for once we'll do it to them. We play hardball on this matter." General 
Andies was shocked.

"You can't be serious! You would risk..." General Andies was cut off 
by the President.

"I RISK NOTHING!" the President bellowed. Very few had every seen him 
get angry, but all paled slightly as his temper flared. He glared at the 
faces of the gathered, almost daring them to disagree with him. Silence 
greeted him as he took a few calming moments before going on.

"Risks are minimal. In that same vain, I want our teams to have 
everything they need to do this. Major Gleeson, tell me what you need." Billy 
thought for a minute.

"Technical support, recon tools, transport, intelligence. Our 
remaining teams are ready but we need to train the Kiwi guys hard and fast, 
so we'll need increased training support and money. But my biggest concern is 
the lack Slayer Council support we've got. Most of the Council guys we had 
attached to our teams are dead or out of action. Going up against the High 
Council we'll need to get cover from the mystical and magic side. Without it, 
my boys don't stand a chance." Billy to his Commander in Chief.

"We'll do it." Buffy said.

"Like hell you will!" General Andies exclaimed.

"We've worked with the teams and we've got the experience. We're the 
best you've got. We want in." Buffy told him.

"I'm not going to let you turn this into a private vendetta against 
the Watchers Council!" General Andies insisted. The President held his hand 
up to silence the two.

"Major Gleeson, do you need them to accomplish the mission?" the 
President asked. Billy nodded.

"Yes sir. They are the best, and I need the best for this." President 
Cosgrove nodded back.

"In that case, Trinity are part of this mission."

"Sir! Don't be stupid! You can't..." General Andies injected.

"Enough. Everyone break for 15 minutes and be back here by 25 past." 
the President told them. They shuffled out of the room.

"Buffy, Mike, can I see you for a minute?" the President asked. Willow 
and Xander stayed with Buffy. Vice President Freeman hadn't said anything yet 
but stood beside the President looking extremely pissed off.

"Peter." Cathy began but he put his hands up to calm her down.

"Cathy, please, just wait for a second." he said and addressed General 
Andies.

"Mike, I note your objections. I understand where you're coming from. 
But it's my call."

"Sir, I'm the administrative authority for this. Don't I get a say on 
how it's run?"

"Not any more Mike. I'm running this out of my office now. You've been 
given an overseas posting." the President told the general. The general's 
interest twitched.

"Where to sir?"

"Mike, let's just say that you'll have 6 years to prefect your 
skiing." the President said in friendly manner. General Andies smiled.

"When do I leave?" he asked.

"You leave Monday morning. There's an air force transport that will 
take you there. Once you're in the air, you'll get your orders. I recommend 
you go home and pack. And don't forget to pack your ski gear." the general 
thanked the President as he left happy with himself.

"Peter, why in the hell are you giving that asshole some cushy job 
overseas?" Cathy erupted at her friend.

"Cathy, for over a year he's been after the UN liaison job in 
Switzerland and he loves to ski." he told her. This just angered her even 
more.

"YOU WHAT?" Cathy yelled disbelievingly. "You should sack that piece 
of shit, not reward him!"

"Cathy, it's about leadership. Yes, he is an A grade dipstick. Yes, I 
would be very justified in sacking him. But there are better ways for 
punishing people. The general thinks that when he steps off the plane he'll 
be the UN liaison officer in Switzerland. Instead he'll find himself as the 
assistant deputy administrator of Casey station." blank looks greeted the 
announcement.

"Where's Casey station?" Willow asked.

"It's an Australian scientific research station. In Antarctica." the 
President said. For the first time since the attack, Buffy bust into 
laughter. The others erupted into laughter as well. The President allowed a 
small chuckle.

"For the next 6 years, our favourite general is a penguin counter." he 
told them. Cathy was laughing so hard, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Peter." she gasped between fits of laughter.

"Don't be. You asked me to run for President so you could learn how to 
be a leader. Well, that's part of leadership. The creative kicking of asses."

It was a few minutes before they calmed down. President Cosgrove 
looked seriously at Buffy, Willow and Xander.

"You three remember that you are in because you are needed to bring 
the Watchers Council to justice. Justice, not vengeance. The world has laws, 
just because someone else broke them means you can also break them just to 
get even. The law applies to all, Slayers and Watchers alike." he said. Deep 
down he knew that they would probably not listen to him, but he hoped that 
they would at least think before doing anything. He really hoped so.

"Anyway, you'll have to excuse me, I've got to ring a man about a 
certain general's posting." President Cosgrove said and left.

"Buffy" Cathy hugged the Slayer. "I'm so sorry about your mum. Is 
there anything I can do?" she asked Buffy.

"No. We'll survive. I just want this over with." Buffy told her 
friend. Willow gave Cathy a hug as well. There was a minute or two of 
reflective silence as the four of them stood there.

"You'll beat these guys. I know you will. I've seen you in action. I 
know how determined you are to see this out." Cathy told her friends. Another 
moment of silence.

"Those days in Sydney seem a life time ago." Xander remarked as he 
remembered the Olympics. Buffy slowly shook her head.

"No Xander. More like two life times ago."

****

Three people, one soul, awoken by one dream.

A dark alley.

A fight between humans and demons.

A look of pure fear on Jenny's face as a demon charged at her.

Spike, kneeling on the ground. An expression of grief and anger and 
fury.

Spike yelling to the heavens:

"YOU BASTARDS!!! WHY?!?! WHY HER?!?!?"