Repost FIC: Terra Australis Incognito 22-24/29

["Tony McD" <o163210@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

TITLE: Terra Australis Incognito 22-24/29 
AUTHOR: Tony McD (o163210@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss Whendon, Mutant Enemy, WB and 
others. This is for fun, not profit. 
SUMMARY: Buffy, Willow, and Xander have their lives turned upside down and embark on a new destiny together. (B/W/X). First of my Terra/Trinity/Destiny series.
SPOILERS: AU around season 4. 
RATING: R (for language)



Authors Note: I'll be posting the entire series in sequential order over the next week or 2. The stories are (in order) Terra Australis Incognito, La Vita Nuova (written by Kirayoshi), Let the Games Begin (also by Kirayoshi),Bucket Full of Sunshine, Trinity's Child, and Destiny's End.

 
 
Chapter 22
 

While David called Albert, Giles went into the lounge where Xander, Buffy and Willow sat and explained what was going on. 

 

"Do you think they really will send the other Slayer?" Buffy asked her Watcher. 

 

"It would be foolish for them if they didn't. This danger is greater than any other ever faced." Giles told them. The fact that he and Buffy had defied the Council shouldn't preclude aid when it was needed. David entered the room. 

 

"Well, I called Albert and he'll put it to the Council tomorrow. He'll let me know then," informed David. 

 

"Fine, in the mean time we need to start planning. David you can start..."Giles started to say but David cut him off. 

 

"No, no, no. You guys are gonna have to make all the plans without this little black duck. I'm jet lagged to the shit house, so I'm off to bed. I recommend you guys do the same. Once we know if we have the other Slayer, then we can start planning. Ok?" David turned and went upstairs to bed. 

 

Xander also got up. 

 

"Just where do you think you are going?" Giles demanded to know. 

 

Xander looked at him. 

 

"The man has got a point. I'm heading for the kitchen for a snack, then I'mhitting the hay G-man." Xander said and left. Giles just sighed. 

 

"Fine. We'll do this tomorrow."

 

Willow woke at dawn. Gently she untangled herself from Buffy's embrace and softly padded down the stairs to the entertainment room. She stopped at thedoor. She could see David was watching a movie. On closer inspection, it was 'Romeo+Juliet' and was very near the end. Unnoticed by David she saw himflinch when the gunshot rang out, ending Claire Danes' life with her Romeo. To her amazement, tears rolled down David's cheeks; a look of total sadness on his face at the death of the star struck lovers. 

 

David looked away from the screen and saw Willow standing in the doorway. 

 

"Willow!" David said, frantically trying to wipe away the tears before she noticed. "What are you doing up so early?" he asked, trying to cover up hisweak moment. Willow sat down beside him. 

 

"David, it's Ok. It's good to express your emotions every now and then," she said in her gentle voice she used sometimes to comfort Xander. 

 

David just grumbled and looked at his feet. 

 

"So. Let me guess. You really love Claire Danes as Juliet, right?" She asked. David looked at her. 

 

"Yeah. I do. The seen where she and Leo see each other through the fish tank is just so... so... well I don't know a word for it. And her costume, youknow the angel one? It is spot on. She is an angel." David said. 

 

Willow smiled. 

 

"I would have never picked you for a guy who was into romance stories." Willow said to him. 

 

"Yeah, I am. I've got a stash of books and movies of my favourites." He stopped, realizing what he said. "You even breathe a word of what I just saidto any one, ever, I will make you very sorry." said David. Willow just giggled. 

 

"Ok. Your secret dies with me." she said. The pair sat in comfortable silence. 

 

"Willow." he said. 

 

"Yes?" she replied. 

 

"I'm sorry." David said sadly. 

 

"For what?" She asked. 

 

"Everything. I'm sorry that I hurt you and Buffy. I'm sorry that we aren't friends. I really envy Xander. He has these wonderful people who love and care for him. I would give anything for that. I really wish we could be friends. You guys are great." David said, a sad and wistful tone to his voice. Willow raised one eyebrow. 

 

"Really? Even Buffy?" she asked. He grudgingly nodded. 

 

"Yes. Even her. It's just hard, you know? We get on each other's nerves. I don't mean to, I don't want to, but we do. We got off on the wrong foot andit went down hill from there. We both share a lot in common. But, well, I guess it ain't going to happen. All I ever wanted from you guys is to be your friend." Willow took his hand. 

 

"Well, how about you and I being friends? What do you say?" David smiled atthe red haired Wicca. 

 

"I'd love that." he said. His stomach growled, telling them both of the need for breakfast. He got up. "How about I start fixing breakfast?" he said with a bit of a flourish. 

 

"Cool. Buffy and Xander won't be up for a while yet." she said and turned to head for a shower. David stopped her. 

 

"Willow." he said in a serious voice. 

 

"What?" 

 

"It is vital that you guys trust Xander. He has info that is vital in the up coming days. You need to trust that Xander will make decisions that are for the best. Remember, you guys are the centre of the universe to him." he said then left, leaving Willow to ponder what was said. 

 

It was around noon before the phone rang. David answered it in the library.He came into the lounge room where everyone waited. 

 

"Well?" Xander asked him. "Do we get the other Slayer or not?"

 

"Not quite." he told them 

 

"What?" shot Buffy. 

 

"Look, Albert said that the Council will allow us to put the case to the full Council in person in 5 days time." David informed them. 

 

"You mean to say that they want us to go to London to beg them for the other Slayer?" Giles asked somewhat dismayed. 

 

"Yeah. Look, it's much better than them saying no. I think we don't have a lot of choice here. I have to make some calls and organize a few things." said David who left the room. 

 

"Great. The Council wants us to go begging for help. Wonderful." Xander said rolling his eyes. Buffy turned to Giles. 

 

"Do you really think that this is necessary?" she asked the former Watcher. 

 

"Buffy, we don't have any choice. We need the other Slayer." Giles told her, unhappy at the prospect. The four of them continued to grumble about the matter until David came back. 

 

"Ok. It's arranged. Everyone pack because we head out this afternoon for London." David told them.

 

Chapter 23
 

The 747 touched down at Gatwick airport in the early hours of the morning. The British Airways jet disgorged its passengers, including the Slayer and her friends who emerged from first class. 

 

"Xander, I can't believe you vomited on the floor. In first class, for heavens sake!" Giles said rather testily. 

 

"Hey! I haven't flown before. Plus that turbulence we hit over Iceland, well, no man should have to go through that." Xander complained. 

 

"Yeah, but you know they have airsickness bags for a reason you know." Buffy told her friend. 

 

"True, but Xander here thought that were for storing the air line food thatI refused to eat." David informed them. 

 

"Hey! It was a long flight! I might have gotten hungry later on." Xander protested at the extended pick on Xander session. David rolled his eyes at the comment. 

 

"Xander, you want to know what a long flight is? Try the Sydney to London or the Sydney to LA non-stop flights. 22 ass numbing, brain damaging hours. Every minute designed to burn the humanity right out of a person." informedDavid. They stopped at the baggage terminal. 

 

"Right, we'll find our luggage. Xander, go find us a couple of taxis." Giles told him. Xander left in the general direction of the exit. David looked at his father. 

 

"You are aware that the hotel has a mini bus waiting for us to take us there?" he asked his father. 

 

"Yes. But Xander doesn't." Giles said, a smile edging from his lips. David laughed. 

 

"You are a truly evil man, Rupert Giles." David said. 

 

The gang made it to the hotel and checked into their rooms. Giles had a room to himself that connected to the room that David and Xander shared. Buffyand Willow shared a room across the hall. David and Xander dumped the hugepile of luggage into Buffy and Willow's room. Giles entered a moment later, puffing as he struggled with a pair of bags. Willow and Buffy walked in after him. Trying to get his breath back, Giles pointed at Xander. 

 

"Next time... you offer... to carry the... girls bags,... count... me out."Giles told the young man. 

 

"Come on Giles, it's the proper and decent thing to do." Xander smiled at his revenge for the taxi thing. 

 

"Speaking of decent" David said, indicating to the room. "Girls. You will notice that there are two single beds which" he grabbed one and tried to move it. "Cannot be brought together. So you'll just have to cool your hormones for a few days." David said with a cheeky grin. Willow just looked at thebeds, a coy smile on her face. 

 

"I don't know. Single beds mean that we just have to snuggle together more closely." Willow said. Buffy looked at the fireplace. 

 

"Also that big rug by the fire place has definite possibilities."

 

Buffy said. David and Xander just stood there, dreamy smiles on their facesas the images invoked flashed through their minds. Giles just coughed and spluttered for a bit. 

 

"Right then I'll be in my room where there is no talk of sex." Giles said turning for his room. David chuckled. 

 

"OK. Why don't we meet down in the lobby in, say, two hours?" David suggested. They agreed and went into their respective rooms to unpack. 

 

They all met in the lobby where David informed them what was planned for the day. 

 

"You guys need to go shopping for some clothes." he told them. 

 

"Why? What kind of clothes?" Buffy asked. 

 

"For tonight, you'll need dresses for the ball. Dad, Xander, you guys need to go to this address for a fitting. I've arranged for you have your clothes tailor made." David said handing over a card with an address on it. 

 

Willow looked at David quizzically. 

 

"Ball? What ball?" she asked him. 

 

"The ball that we are going to tonight. Relax. You guys will have a blast."he said. 

 

"Hello. Problem. We are just a pair of college students here. How are we going to afford to pay for said dresses?" asked Buffy. David reached into hispocket and pulled out 4 credit cards and handed one to each of them. 

 

"Keep these. The credit limit is $750,000 per month and don't worry, the bill gets settled at the end of each month by someone else." he said to the disbelieving stares of everyone. 

 

"How? Who?" Giles asked, stunned. David merely smiled. 

 

"Let's just say that I have a very special understanding with a couple of banks," he told them. 

 

"Ok. Everyone meet back here at 4pm. We will get ready and head off to the ball around 6. Any questions?" asked David. Xander put his hand up. 

 

"Yeah, just one. Where are you going to be?" Xander asked. 

 

"Me? I'm going to see a man about a dog," replied David. 

 

Later that day. 

 

"So, we are agreed then gentlemen?" the men around the table nodded their assent. The man at the head of the table stood and shook David's hand. 

 

"Major, you have got your self a deal. I'll get some copies made and I giveyou one tonight at the ball." the man said. 

 

"Thank you sir. It will be a pleasure." David said smiling. 

 

It was 4 o'clock and the gang was in Giles' room discussing the day. Buffy and Willow had gone on an epic shopping spree. Not only had they bought ball gowns, but had bought an entire new wardrobe each, with accessories. Buffy considered that if David was stupid enough to give them credit cards thenit was her duty to use them to the full. 

 

Giles and Xander had been a little more restrained on the credit cards. Once they finished being measured for their out fits, Giles took Xander to show some of his old stomping grounds. They too did some clothes shopping, with Giles making sure that Xander got some decent clothes for a change and Xander making sure that Giles didn't even look at tweed. They finished up at Giles' old pub, The Duke Of Kent. 

 

There was a knock on the door which was the porter bringing in the clothes for the ball. Buffy and Willow left to get ready while David helped Xander and Giles. Giles and Xander could not believe the clothes they had for the ball. 

 

"We can't wear these!" Giles insisted, indicating to his and Xander's clothes. Or more rather, uniforms. Giles had the mess dress of a Royal Air ForceWing Commander while Xander had the mess dress of a United States Army Lieutenant. 

 

"We can't wear this. We aren't in the military!" Giles hissed at David. David sighed in frustration. 

 

"Look, the ball is at HM Naval Base Portsmouth. It is easier to blend in ifyou are military. That way people will not ask too many questions," he said. 

 

"Yes. But what about the questions they do ask? Xander and I don't know thefirst thing about the military." Giles protested. Xander spoke up. 

 

"Giles, it's cool. I remember all that army guy stuff from Halloween." Xander said. 

 

"That's all right for you but what about me?" Giles persisted. 

 

"Look, if any one asks anything to do with the Air Force, all you have to say is that you spent your career in intelligence at GCHQ. Then tell them that since you retired you have been undertaking research in ancient history.That way you can start talking about things you know about." David informed Giles. 

 

"Yes, but what if they keep asking me about what I did at this GCHQ?" Xander handled that one. 

 

"That's the beauty of it Giles. As soon as you mention intelligence and GCHQ, it all falls into the category of 'need-to-know'. They don't need to know so they won't ask anything more." Xander explained. Giles grumbled a little more but gave up and started to get ready. 

 

When they met the girls to go, it took another ten minutes of convincing them that it was a good idea. They headed off with only Xander thinking this was a good idea. Everyone else had reservations about David's scheme. 

 

To the general amazement of everyone, they weren't arrested. Instead they entered the great hall where the ball was in full swing. They wandered through the crowd until David saw who he was looking for. 

 

"Admiral Michaels, sir. Would you care to meet my guests?" David asked. 

 

"Certainly, Major McWray." The Admiral said pleasantly. 

 

"Admiral, I would like to introduce Wing Commander Rupert Giles, RAF retired." The Admiral shook Giles' hand. 

 

"A pleasure. So, what did you do in the RAF?" The Admiral asked Giles. Giles looked at David in a little panic. 

 

"Um.. Intelligence. GCHQ. That kind of thing. Need to know." Giles said somewhat uncomfortably. 

 

"Oh, right you are. Sorry about that. So, what do you do now. If I may enquire?" asked the Admiral. 

 

"Well, I research ancient history. Kind of a hobby of mine for years." Giles replied. 

 

"Fascinating." The Admiral turned to Xander. "And who do we have here?" he asked. 

 

"Lieutenant Alexander Harris. United States Army." Xander said. 

 

"Where are you posted?" asked the Admiral. 

 

"Fort Meade." he replied, indicating the US electronic spy agency head quarters. The Admiral quickly moved to Buffy. 

 

"And who is this lovely lady?" he asked. David answered for her. 

 

"Buffy Summers. She's with the NSA." David told him. The Admiral moved on to Willow, but before the Admiral could say anything Willow smiled and said; 

 

"Willow Rosenberg, CIA."

 

Chapter 24
 

The Admiral took a step back and looked at David. "Good heavens! You reallyhave brought a nest of spies, haven't you?" the Admiral said to David. A little smile escaped David's lips. 

 

"Well, that would depend on whether or not the collective noun for a group of spies is a nest." he told the British Admiral. Without thinking Xander opened his mouth. 

 

"In this case it's a Scooby of spies." Xander said absently. Xander was deafened by the sound of five sets of eyes blinking at him. David recovered quickly to cover Xander's little goof. 

 

"You will have to excuse Lieutenant Harris here, sir. Even his fellow Americans find his sense of humour as strange. Isn't that correct Wing Commander?" David asked his father. It took a second or two for Giles to realize that David was talking to him. 

 

"Oh! Yes. Most strange." Giles affirmed. The Admiral nodded, not quite surewhat to make of this motley crew. 

 

"Yes, well. You must excuse me, my wife seems to want to have a word with me. A pleasure to meet you all, and may you enjoy our hospitality." said theAdmiral as he made a beeline for his wife. After he had left, Buffy whacked Xander on the arm. 

 

"A Scooby of spies? What planet is you brain on?" she asked him. Rubbing his arm, Xander frowned at Buffy. 

 

"It just slipped out! Besides" Xander rounded on David. "What's with the 'even his fellow Americans regard his sense of humour as strange'?"

 

"Look, I know the Admiral. He looks upon Americans as strange but likeable cousins and Australians as crude but endearing. He's just a bit old fashioned and needs a little understanding. Besides, now that's over with, you lotshould be out there enjoying the pomp and glamour of the ball. Now shoo!" he said motioning for them to go. "Eat, drink, and be merry!" David told them and them walked away towards the bar table. Giles blinked and then smiled. He offered his arm to Buffy. 

 

"May have this dance, Miss Summers?" he asked his Slayer in a way that onlyan English gentleman could. A huge grin broke out on the Slayers face. Shetook the offered arm. 

 

"Most certainly, kind sir." she said and the pair headed off to the dance floor. Willow and Xander watched them go. Xander turned to his friend. "How about it Wills? Wanna dance?" he asked. 

 

"OK. But no funny stuff, mister." she said in mock seriousness. 

 

"Certainly not. I wouldn't want the NSA to hunt me down and stake me, wouldI?"

 

The night was fantastic. The pomp, the glamour, the air of refinement charmed the gang and the ride back to the hotel was full of talk about it. The following days were full of sight seeing and shopping. Before they knew it, the day that they had to appear before the Council had arrived. 

 

The country manor that they had arrived at served as the headquarters of the Watcher's Council. They were met by a smiling Albert. "Rupert!" Albert cried and vigorously shook his hand. "You look so well my friend!" Albert told Giles. Albert looked at Buffy. "And I take it you are Buffy." Albert said with a grandfatherly smile. 

 

Buffy took a liking to the old man right away. 

 

"Yes. Yes I am." she said, a little smile covering the nerves she felt at being here. 

 

"Don't worry my child. You have many friends on the Council. Not all of us approved your Watchers removal," he told her. He went onto Willow and Xander. "This must be Willow and Xander then. It is good to see the Slayers friends being here for her." Albert said. He motioned for them to follow him. 

 

They entered the manor and headed for the auditorium where the Council had gathered to hear Buffy and her friends. Buffy stopped before the doors. "What's the procedure here?" she asked Albert. 

 

"Well, the Chief Watcher and the High Council will be sitting a the table at the front of the room and the General Council will be seated as the audience. You and Rupert will stand before the High Council and make your case. The High Council and the General Council will then meet and decide. Fear not, child. Many of the General Council share your concern and I think that they might be able to persuade the High Council to grant your request." Albert informed her. 

 

Buffy took a deep breath. She knew that she could persuade the Council. Theold man motioned to two young men standing by the huge doors leading to the auditorium who opened them. Buffy and the rest entered. 

 

Everyone turned as they entered the room. At the end of the room was a dozen men seated behind a large table. A man seated in the middle of the table,presumably the High Watcher, spoke. 

 

"Buffy Summers. Rupert Giles. Please come forward." he said. Buffy and Giles went forward and stood before the High Council. The High Watcher looked at them closely. 

 

"You stand here today, requesting the other Slayer be sent to Sunnydale in order to battle this Murg Dor demon. The High Council and I have consideredthis request and we refuse your request." Buffy and her friends were shocked. 

 

"Further more, it is the judgment of the High Council that both of you are to be punished for your defiance of the Council. The punishment shall be death."