Title: Gift of a Future
Author: Gileswench

(notes & disclaimer with part one)

Running on instinct, Buffy picked up the weapon of the fallen knight and hurled it at Gregor. It hit him in the hand. The general winced and dropped his sword. With a furious cry, he turned on Buffy. She hauled back and punched him in the face. The blow made him stagger into a support pillar face first, and he fell to the floor, unconscious.

Of course, that still left too many knights to fight. The others continued to struggle against their assailants. Willow continued to rifle through her book until she found what she was looking for. Her head snapped up. Her eyes turned black as she spoke.

"Enemies, fly and fall. Circling arms, raise a wall."

She raised her arms. A circle of blinding light formed and expanded. As it came in contact with the knights, they flew backwards, out of the gas station.

Dante beat furiously on the barrier, desperate to gain entrance. It was no use. The barrier held.

"They have the general," he growled. He turned and called into the crowd. "Clerics!"

Immediately, two elderly men in black with long, grey beards advanced and inspected the mystic wall. After a moment, one began to chant. The other turned to Dante.

"Energy barrier," he said. "A most powerful one."

"Can it be breached?"

"The witch's magic pales to the might of our God. The infidel's wall shall tumble before us."

Willow stood, dusting off her backside. Buffy came over to check Giles' wound. Deanna just looked sadly at the girl.

"I'm doing what I can," she said softly.

Buffy nodded tightly and turned to the witch.

"Will? How long will it hold?"

"Half a day, maybe?" She peeked out a window, only to see the two black-robed figures chanting before her wall. "Or until Heckle and Jeckle punch a hole through it."

Spike sauntered over to join the clericwatch.

"So what's the deal with these role-playing rejects," he asked.

Buffy's gaze fell on the unconscious general.

"Let's find out."

Xander listened to the knights retreating through the woods.

"I think we just lost our effectiveness as a diversionary tactic," he said.

"So what do we do now?" Geordie asked.

The Buffybot hefted her sword.

"We go after them," she declared.

"Hold on, Rambo," Xander said. "I don't think that's necessarily the best idea."

"They'll kill Dawn...the real one," the bot protested. "I can't allow that to happen."

She strode forward, determination written all over her face. Data took her by the wrist.

"I believe it would be more prudent to discuss the matter and come to a concensus," he said.

"We don't even know where the real Buffy and the real Dawn are," Geordie said. "There's every chance that we'd just get more lost in the woods and never find our way back."

"Besides, I'd like to get my son back into men's clothes, if it's all right with you," the doctor grumbled.

The Buffybot looked at her companions in distress and frustration.

"But Dawn is in danger," she protested. "We need to save her. I need to save her. That's what I do. I save people. And now I'm all tense again, too."

Everybody else rolled their eyes.

"When I find Spike, I am so going to hurt him," Xander mumbled under his breath.

"Look, " Tara told the bot, "we don't know where Buffy and Dawn are. We don't know what they're facing, but I know Buffy can handle it. She always does. And if...if anything happens to her or any of the others, we need to be in one piece each so we can take over and keep Dawn safe. I think the best thing we can do now is go home and see what we can find out from more research. We've played our part. Now we need to trust that the others will play theirs."

The bot looked around the circle of faces. Each person nodded in turn. At last, she turned to Data.

"Is...is that what you think, too?"

"I believe it would be the wisest course."

The bot lowered her sword, and nodded sadly.

"Then I guess that's what we'll do."

Gregor came to only to find himself bound to a pillar in the middle of the room where the instrument of the unclean one was protected. He searched the room with his eyes for his knights, but they were nowhere to be seen. Before him stood the preternaturally strong blonde girl. Her arms were folded across her bosom, her eyes steely. Near her stood the vampire with the bleached hair and the tall, firece creature with the permanent ridges on his forehead.

"You sure Scarface here can habla the English?" Spike drawled.

He understands me," Buffy said. "Don't you?"

"You were warned we would return, Slayer."

"Took you long enough," she scoffed. "What are you supposed to be? Some kind of chief?"

"General."

"General. In charge of what? Getting captured?"

"You do not frighten me, child." His eyes lit on Dawn across the room. "The instrument of Chaos must be destroyed."

Worf made a move to lunge, but Spike held him back. Buffy was already on the general. She took his face roughly in her hands.

"Look at her that way again, and she will be the last thing you see," she warned.

She let go, as if touching him had soiled her hands. Gregor knew his life was in serious danger, but he had sworn to destroy the key. He took that oath too seriously to quail in the face of danger now.

"As I've been told, you protect the key of the beast," he said.

"It's not that simple," Riker offered from across the room.

"Yes," Gregor said. "The key has been transformed - given breath, life, yet this makes no difference. The key is the link. The link must be severed. Such is the will of God."

"We are not your enemy," Captain Picard said. "Tell your men to stand down."

"No."

"It's not her fault!' Buffy exclaimed. "She's human now!"

"The key is too dangerous to be allowed to exist, no matter what form it takes."

Wesley wriggled away from his mother and began to wail.

"Time, time, time, time..."

Xander and Geordie grabbed the boy and held him from running.

"What happened?" Data asked.

"I...I don't know," Beverly said. "He just...he went nuts. We have to do something! He can't stay this way!"

The Buffybot looked unhappily from mother to son. At last, she patted Beverly's shoulder awkwardly.

"I know," she said. "We'll find a way to fix him. Maybe Geordie can repair him. Or Data. Data can do anything."

Beverly burst into tears. Xander and Geordie continued to keep hold of Wesley.

"Time! Time! Time!"

The Psych ward of Sunnydale General Hospital was not quiet. One by one, the patients took up a chant.

"Time, time, time..."

The nurse on duty tried her best to soothe them all.

"No, it's not time for your meds. Now just lie back..."

"Time! Time! Time!"

One of the patients ripped his wrist restraints. The nurse raced over to force him back into bed.

"Doctor McCarthy!" she yelled. "Doctor McCarthy!"

Another patient came up behind her and knocked her unconscious. Around the room, there came sounds of more ripping restraints in among the muttering.

"Time! Time! Time!"

All the patients filed out the door, still muttering.

"Time! Time! Time!"

Orlando moved forward blindly. He ached to reach the gas station.

"It's time," he whispered, "it's time."

"No, no, shh," Dante said as he held his compatriot back. "There's nothing to fear, my brother."

Orlando looked unhappily at Dante.

"It's time."

"The beast may have taken your mind," Orlando intoned, "but I swear to you, she will never know the taste of your heart." Before he could allow himself to quail, he pulled his dagger and dealt a swift, merciful killing blow. His friend deserved that much, at least. His heart filled with anger and despair at what he'd been forced to do. He turned to the holy men. "Clerics!" he shouted. "I want the witch's barrier down *now*!"