Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and all characters from the shows are the property of Joss Whedon, Fox, and the UPN or WB Television Networks. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms. SAVE is based on the organization in the Chill Roleplaying game (copyright Mayfair Games Inc.) and the earlier version of the game (copyright Pacesetter, Ltd.). My main source for information on Arthurian legends was "The Arthurian Companion" by Phyllis Ann Karr. The character of Melissa Johnson is my own invention. Any similarities between the organization called the "Order of the Grail" and any organization of a similar name in anyone else's stories are purely coincidental (apart from constraints due to basic Arthurian Mythology).
Friday January 31, 2003, Evening (London Time): Watcher's Council Headquarters, London Quentin is meeting with Nigel, Phillip, Lydia and a number of other Watchers. "The reports indicate that Potentials and their Watchers are still being killed. Something stronger than the Harbingers is hunting them. We have been unable to determine what it is." He pauses. "I'm ordering the Potentials to Sunnydale. Whatever is hunting them should follow." He pauses again. "The Slayers can take care of the problem. It is their job, after all." Nigel cautions "It may be difficult to bring the Potentials back under our command afterwards." Quentin says calmly "If this doesn't work, it may not matter." Saturday February 1, Evening: Summers' Residence Melissa, Giles, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Faith, Tara, and Dawn are meeting in the living room. Giles reports “Quentin informed me that he is sending the surviving Potentials to Sunnydale. The first group should arrive in a few days. He agreed that I should also help search for those Potentials that the Council is unaware of. I’ve talked to the coven and they have seers looking for additional Potentials.” Giles pauses. “I think it might be a good idea if we consolidate into fewer locations. We won’t all fit into one house but we should fit into two.” Buffy nods. "Spike can move into my basement where we can watch him." Faith grins. "We or you?" She pauses. "Not that he isn't completely watchable." Buffy glares at her. Melissa adds "Faith is already staying with me. And there's room for Giles, Xander, and any overflow of Potentials." She pauses. "Even with Amy and Anya there as well." She pauses again. "Getting back to Spike, I have some information about his chip. According to my contacts, it could start to degrade at any moment. This will quickly be fatal unless the chip is removed or replaced." She pauses. "I mentioned this to Spike. His exact words were 'Do whatever you bloody well want.' So I'm asking for your opinions." Buffy immediately says "Remove it. He has the right to live without a muzzle." Giles shakes his head. "That's too dangerous. You'd be gambling with everyone's lives." Xander comments "I tend to agree with the G-man." Willow glances at Giles and Buffy, then says hesitantly "I agree with Buffy." Faith looks around and grins. "We seem to have an impasse. I guess you're the deciding vote, Melissa." Melissa says reluctantly "I was hoping for a consensus. But if it's up to me, I'm inclined to have the chip removed." Monday February 3, Afternoon: Sunnydale Hospital Buffy, Willow, and Tara are in the waiting room. A doctor comes out and says "The operation was a success. The chip was removed and he is recovering quickly." A few minutes later, Spike walks out. Buffy asks "How are you? Are you ready to come home?" Spike nods. Tuesday February 4, Afternoon: Summers' Residence Buffy answers the door and sees four Potentials (Kennedy, Vi, Molly, and Annabelle) standing there. Buffy leads them into the living room and introduces them to Willow, Tara, and Dawn. Shortly afterwards, Giles and Melissa arrive. Buffy, Giles, and Melissa give the four Potentials a quick briefing on the situation in Sunnydale. They talk about the Hellmouth, the First, the Turok-Han and the Harbingers, Morningstar (and the uneasy alliance with him), Spike, the vampiric Order of the Grail (and their alliance with humans and their walking in daylight), and the recently defeated avatar of Nyarlathotep. When the briefing is finished, Giles asks for questions. Molly asks "Do you know why we're here?" Kennedy answers "We're bait. If enough of us are gathered in one place, whatever is killing us is sure to follow." Giles remarks "Can't argue with that analysis." Buffy promises "If it follows you here, that'll be the last mistake it makes." Saturday, March 15, Night: Los Angeles Angel and Connor are kneeling in front of what appears to be a woman who has what feels like a divine aura. Morningstar approaches and draws her aside. "We need to talk." The woman tells him "Don't get in my way, Morningstar." Morningstar replies "I won't. On one condition. Convince me you can stand against Nyarlathotep." The woman looks worried but then says "I'll have the whole world to help me." Morningstar shakes his head. "That will end the second Nyarlathotep says your true name." The woman looks uncertain for a moment but then says "Leave." Morningstar gestures and a floating head appears. The head speaks an odd sound and the woman's face changes from divine to maggoty. Angel stares in shock. Morningstar draws a dagger and stabs the woman. The crystal in the hilt of the dagger starts to glow as she falls. Morningstar turns to Angel and Connor. "As I said before, we need to talk." Later that night, Morningstar returns to Sunnydale. He removes the glowing crystal from the hilt of the dagger and places it into an amulet. He then places another crystal in the hilt. Tuesday March 18, Night: Near Downtown Buffy and Faith are patrolling. A man steps in front of them. He is flanked by two Harbingers. "I'm Caleb. I have something that belongs to you whores." Buffy draws her sword. "What is it?" Caleb grins. "That would be telling." He feigns an attack. "Not yet, Slayers. But soon." He leaves. Wednesday March 19, Afternoon: Summers' Residence Buffy, Faith, Xander, Giles, Willow, Tara, Melissa, and Dawn are meeting in Buffy's room. Buffy says firmly "Caleb said that he had something of ours." She pauses. "I want to find out what it is. I think we should go after him." Melissa looks worried. "That may be premature. We don't know anything about him." She pauses. "We should check with Gawaine. The Order might have learned something." Buffy considers. "All right. We can check with Gawaine. Then we'll attack." Thursday March 20, Afternoon: Magic Box Buffy, Giles, and Melissa are waiting in the back room. Lynette and Gawaine walk in. Gawaine reports "We don't know much about Caleb. We believe he arrived recently in town. He appears to be a servant or ally of the First. Lynette has traced him to an abandoned vineyard." Buffy adds "I think he's hiding something there." Lynette nods. "He seems to be." She pauses. "It's been hard to tell for certain." Buffy says "We'll attack the vineyard tonight. Find out what's there." She pauses. "We'll attack in strength. Me, Faith, Willow, and Melissa. Plus any of the Order that joins us." Lynette considers. "Gawaine, Priamus, and Seraide will be in the attacking force." She pauses. "Bedivere, Elyzabel, and I can help defend Buffy's house." Giles reminds them "There are also Potentials staying at Melissa's house." Melissa looks around carefully. "Amy and Anya can help you and Xander to guard my house." She pauses. "I believe that Anya still has some of her powers. I suspect that Morningstar arranged this somehow." Thursday March 20, Night: Caleb's Vineyard Buffy, Faith, Willow, Melissa, Gawaine, Priamus, and Seraide cautiously enter the vineyard. It looks deserted and they search for a while without finding anything. Finally Priamus suggests "Perhaps they've left." Buffy shakes her head. "Or they want us to think they've abandoned this place." Seraide remarks "Lynette did think there was something here." Willow says thoughtfully "Perhaps it's hidden." She pauses and concentrates. "Aradia, hear my plea. Let your light illuminate the hidden path." A glowing light appears and moves to one of the barrels. Buffy moves the barrel and sees a trapdoor. She opens it and enters. Faith, Gawaine, and Seraide quickly follow. Melissa tells Willow "Keep watch for Caleb" and also follows. Priamus remains behind with Willow. Faith points out a weapon partially buried in a large stone. The weapon has an axe-like blade on one end and a pointed stake on the other. Faith walks up to the stone and pulls the weapon from it. Melissa walks up to Faith, concentrates on the weapon and nods. Faith, Gawaine, Buffy, Seraide, and Melissa look around for a few moments then go back up through the trapdoor. Gawaine says thoughtfully "Why would they leave this scythe unguarded?" Melissa replies "They probably didn't think we'd find it." She pauses. "Caleb must have gone somewhere else." Willow's eyes widen. "Tara." She quickly leaves the vineyard and the others follow. Thursday March 20, Night: Summers' Residence Willow, Melissa, Buffy, Faith, Gawaine, Priamus, and Seraide approach the house. Buffy says "Looks like the door has been forced." Buffy carefully opens the door. There are signs of a recent fight. Dawn is attending to Tara who is beginning to stir. Dianne, a Potential, is lying on the floor with what appears to be a broken neck. Rona, a second Potential, has a broken arm. Chloe, a third Potential, lies unconscious near Tara. There don't appear to be any other serious injuries. Willow rushes to Tara's side and asks frantically "Are you all right?" Lynette tells her "She'll be fine." Buffy asks "What happened?" Spike replies "Caleb. He must have doubled back on you." Gawaine nods. "We will pursue him later. For now we will rest and let him digest our victory." Willow asks quietly "Victory?" Gawaine responds "Yes. Our raid achieved its goal. His did not." Willow is about to reply when Melissa interrupts. "He's not entirely wrong." She pauses. "We should get Chloe, Tara, and Rona to the hospital, just to be sure. I hope that some of the doctors are still there." She pauses again. "I'll call Giles to make sure Caleb didn't try to attack my house." Thursday March 20, Night: Summers' Residence Willow and Tara are in their room. Willow is looking through a pile of books and also working at her computer. Tara asks her "Are you coming to bed?" Willow responds "In a few minutes. I'm trying to find more information about Caleb. Or the scythe." She pauses. "Are you sure you're all right?" Tara smiles. "I'm fine." Thursday March 20, Night: Morningstar's Basement Morningstar watches Willow through a viewing crystal. He then turns his attention to a glowing amulet. "Things are moving faster than I thought. Willow will need this soon. I hope she's ready for it."