MRNewman
Potential
Based on an idea from Wesley Jr, we've been developing a fan fiction set in an alternate version of Season 4 where Xander is recruited by the Initiative. Here's the story so far:
"I'm back in town!" Xander exclaimed. After a failed cross-country trip, it was good to be back in Sunnydale with a repaired vehicle. He returned home pleased to have a functioning vehicle, but not pleased with the outcome.
"Back already?" Xander's mother said, seemingly annoyed at his son's return.
"Yea, car broke down. I'll be in my room."
"Not so fast," Xander's mother stopped him. "That room's being rented. If you'd like to stay here, we have the basement available."
"Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously."
"Fine - bill me in the morning, I'm going to lie down." Xander took all his belongings and wandered down into the basement. It was a pit with damp floors, gray walls, and minimal lighting. It'll have to do, he thought to himself. This is my new life, paying rent in my own home.
After unpacking and getting mildly settled, Xander left for the Bronze. The joys of having your own enterance and uncaring parents, Xander thought, I don't have to tell anyone where I'm going. He arrived to find Buffy, sulking.
"What's the matter?" Xander asked.
"Nothing," Buffy said, "It's just...too much. College. Classes. Slaying. A girl can only handle so much. Great job, Buffy, Xander comes home on a whirlwind cross-country adventure and all I can do is pout."
"Yea, about that...it didn't happen."
"What?"
"Car broke down in Oxnard. After a month of work at 'Ladies' Night' I was able to afford the repairs to get back."
"Isn't that a male stri..."
"I don't want to talk about it!" Xander said cutting off Buffy. "Besides, let's go back to talking about you instead of this pathetic little man who has to pay his parent's rent to live at his childhood home. You can do it, you can do it all. You're a superhero, not an ancillary player like me."
"You're right! I can do anything. Thanks, Xander. Let me tell you..." I stopped listening. I knew she needed help and before I knew it I was at an abandoned frat with Willow, Oz, and Buffy stopping some vampires. I mostly watch and get beaten on. That's my role, Xander thought, the helpless backup to Buffy.
After returning to Buffy's dorm, Xander left frustrated. He couldn't fight like Buffy, he wasn't as brainy as Willow, he wasn't as badass as Oz. He had no job, no money, no school, nothing to define him. Xander just was. Xander felt a lack of purpose as he walked home with his head down.
That's when he ran into a man in military fatigues.
"Hello, young man," the man said.
"Hey," Xander said, brushing the guy off.
"Have you ever thought of joining the military? I see you could have some great potential, especially with your...knowledge of certain things."
"What things."
"Oh, you know. Here's my card. Give me a call and we can discuss some of the opportunities we can provide you."
Xander looked at the card as he walked away. General Adam Forrest, Initiative.
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For the next few days, Xander kept the card in his pocket and looked it over, and over again. How would he respond to General Forrest's offer? What did his offer even mean?
Xander decided not to tell anyone about the offer. Not his parents who wouldn't care and would have probably laughed at the notion. Not Buffy, Willow, or Giles who would have had their concerns about it. But in this situation, Xander didn't want to hear any of them. He wanted to make this decision on his own. He wanted to have control over this decision, this part of his life; he wanted to be empowere and he feared that they would hold him back from making a decision that could change his miserable basement-dwelling life for the better.
But what if it goes wrong, he thought. What if he gets killed in action with his body blown into a million pieces? Or, worst yet, what if he fails military training and becomes a laughing stock to a group of macho military cadets who have more than what it takes to serve their country in comparsion to a skinny little wimp like him?
But what if he doesn't and he misses his chance for greatness. Xander knew what he had to do. He picked up the phone and dialed the number on the card.
"Hello, General Forrest. This is Xander Harris. I'd like to meet you to discuss your offer."
"Perfect, meet me at 1420 Fleet Street at 0800 hours tomorrow morning. You will not be sorry, Harris," the General said.
"Thank you, Sir. I look forward to our meeting." Xander hung up the phone. He felt relieved. He felt content. He felt...empowered. He was going to better himself, by himself. This was the opportunity he needed and he jumped on it.
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Xander arrived at the place at 8:00. It looked like an abandoned building with the General standing out in front.
"Mr. Harris, glad you could join us. Come inside and we can go through the basics." Xander followed the General into an elaborate facility with young men training all around; giving their all to learn how to defend themselves and the nation from threats that Xander could not even imagine.
Xander followed the General to his office and sat down. He was surrounded by medals and plaques of recognition. This man was good.
"Let's get down to brass tacks. We're a branch of the military who's focus is on hostile sub-terrestrials," said the General.
"Hostile sub...what?" Xander asked.
"Demons. We hunt, capture, and protect the nation from the threat of demons. With your background working alongside the Slayer, your knowledge of the supernatural world, and your lack of a current income source make you a prime candidate to join us in our quest. We need fit, young men who are willing to serve their nation and protect the world from the threat of HSTs."
"HS...oh, I get it."
"I thought you would. Bottom line - we're demon hunters and trackers looking for a few good men. You in?"
"Well, I have to think about it. I don't know."
"Mr. Harris, may I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure," Xander said.
"Are you happy with your station in life?" the General already knew the answer to that question. "If you're not happy with your station in life, there are a few ways to fix that. You can go to school, get an education, and get a high paying job. Or, if you join us we can pay for that education whereever you'd like to go, provide you with a source of income, and provide you with extensive training."
Xander told the General he would think about it. "Mr. Harris, see me in 24 hours exactly yes or no, period. We need to know the answer, Mr. Harris."
Xander had to meet some friends at the Rocket Cafe. He'd have to think about this, seriously think it through. Maybe he'd ask the gang. Xander arrived to find Willow, Oz, and Buffy.
"Hey! Say hi to non-college guy. Just thought I'd come around and check on my girls." Xander said, slapping Oz's right leg.
"Not that I mind, but don't non-college guys usually populate the non-campus?" Buffy asks. She then goes into a discussion on the evils of her college roommate. Xander didn't care, that comment cut like a knife. She was right. He wasn't a college student. He wasn't much of anything. The General had offered him something that he could use - an income, a job, and a chance to become a more useful member of the group. He knew his answer - he left the Rocket Cafe early and went right to the General's office.
Xander knocked on the General's door. "Sir, I'm in."
"Welcome aboard, recruit."
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Xander's first day began as any first day - with him being tossed to the wolves. He just didn't expect it to be so literal.
"Be ready!" Riley yelled, "You are all new recruits and first things first - we need to see if you can handle this."
Xander was beginning to question if he could.
"In this room are two, wild wolves. Werewolves to be more specific. You each have a hand weapon - kill them."
Xander didn't know what to do - he hasn't killed a werewolf. He's actually friends with a werewolf. "Uhm...Sir...Riley is it? Why are we killing these werewolves?"
Riley gave him a confused look and walked right into Xander's face, "These two creatures are not human, they're monsters, and each one has killed a number of small children." Riley backed off, "Is that enough reason?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Xander replied. He wasn't ready - he knew he wasn't ready. But, the next thing he knew there he was - in a small room with two other new recruits and two wild wolf-critterrs.
"They don't look so tough," Xander said. The two werewolves growled. "On second thought."
With that, the first recruit barrelled towards the werewolves, swinging his arms and his weapon wildly. It was a silver-tipped short sword. He thought it would do the trick. The first wolf was crouching and leapt onto the recruit, pinning him to the ground. The other guarded as the werewolf began to rip at the recruit's face.
"Stop!" yelled the second recruit, a young man named Jason. He began going forward towards the werewolves. Xander was frozen for a moment. He didn't know what to do. He was facing certain death what was he going to do.
He looked around and saw some meat placed on the ground. He snuck towards it and waved it about, "Here were-puppies. Nice were-puppies."
The two werewolves were instantly mesmorized by the bloody meat. He chucked it into the corner and they lost track of what they were doing.
Xander and Jason pulled up the first recruit. His face was a bloody mess, he had passed out from the loss of blood. Jason looked to Xander. "While they're distracted?"
"While they're distracted." The two jumped at the werewolves, taking them handily.
Xander and Jason came out of the room victorious. They had outsmarted and defeated the two werewolves. Xander was proud that he figured it out and the General, who was standing nearby, seemed fairly pleased too. He was standing next to a cold woman. He didn't know it yet, but she was the key to this organization and was the General's boss. That would have to wait. For now, Xander was receiving high fives and congratulations from Riley and the other members.
That's when he realized - where did the third guy go? He looked around and the first recruit was gone. But, Xander quickly lost track as he went back to the group - ready to begin his full training as a new member of the Initiative.
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Over the next few weeks, Xander became distant with the gang. He was rarely around with all his training, he showed up late when invited to trips to the Bronze or parties. Then again, no one seemed to care. With Buffy, Willow, and Oz so focused on school and settling in on their own, the lack of Xander and changes in his behavior went mostly unnoticed. He didn't care, he was focused. He was training. He was learning so much, so fast. At first it was overwhelming, but Xander relished the opportunity to learn more about HSTs and how he can help defeat the menace.
Anya had not heard from Xander since Graduation. She wanted to see Xander. She wanted to figure out their relationship. She wanted...Xander. So she decided to surprise Xander. She showed up at his place and waited for hours.
And hours.
And hours.
A door opened. "Xander!" Anya said, "What is the status of our relationship?"
Xander walks through the door - shirtless, sweaty, and tired. "What relationship?"
"Xander, I need to know where things are going or we could be through!"
"We?"
Anya just stood, annoyed at him and tried to shake her head and look away, but she couldn't. His weeks of working out have been working for him. She didn't know how or why, but she knew one thing - Xander looked good and she liked it.
She began to storm off saying, "This isn't over." She walked out with a lingering stare as she closed the door.
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Buffy and Willow were walking to class when they realized something. "We haven't seen Xander in a while. I wonder where our college free friend is and how his new job's going."
"Yea," Willow said, "He's been away quite a bit lately, really busy with his new job." She thought for a moment. "Hey Buffy."
"Yea?"
"Do you know what Xander's new job actually is?"
"No, I assumed it was something embarassing, hence the lack of us knowing."
Buffy spied Parker across the quad. She kept glancing at him as they walked. "Will you just talk to him?" Willow said.
"In time, in time," Buffy said. Parker noticed her too and walked over.
"Hey," Parker said.
"Hey," Buffy said, blushing.
"There's a costume party tonight, you should come. Bring your friend." He hands Buffy a flier and walks off.
"We're going. It'll be epic and collegy and fun with cute boys. What else do we need?" Buffy said. "Oh, and hey, let's ask Xander to come!"
"Perfect," Willow said, "Let's do it."
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Xander decided to go to the party. He hadn't been out in a while and the Initiative told him he could have the night off from training. He wanted a date, he wanted to show off when he went to the party. Lucky for him, Anya was waiting at his door soon after he got home from training.
"What are you doing tonight?" Anya asked.
"Party, you're coming, wear something pretty," Xander said with a smile. He'd never been that forceful talking to a woman. He liked it.
Apparently so did Anya as she got a big grin and ran off. He liked Anya, she was sweet, she was a demon at one point, but she was adorable and awkward...Xander liked it.
Xander got ready and picked up Anya at 8:00. She looked gorgeous. "You look amazing," Xander said, "Let's go."
Xander and Anya arrive arm in arm at the door at the same time as Buffy and Parker...and Spike and Harmony. Buffy looks at Xander and Anya, then looks at Spike and Harmony, then bursts into laughter.
"Wow! You lose a bet?" Buffy says to Spike.
"Ha ha, love," Spike smirks then he and Harmony bolt away from the door.
Buffy gives Parker a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be right back, go ahead on in." Buffy then casually walks about half a block away then bolts after Spike and Harmony. Xander looks at Anya, then at Buffy running off. "Anya?" Xander says.
"Yes, Xander?"
"I need to attend to the...vampire issue with Buffy. I will be back shortly and then, we will have a wonderful time," Xander says, smiling.
Anya looks annoyed for a moment, but couldn't stay angry for long. Xander grabbed her suddenly and kissed her. He then followed after Buffy.
When Xander got to Buffy, he found Harmony standing to the side watching Spike and Buffy fighting. Xander stood by for a moment and pulled a steak from out of his boot. Harmony jumps up cheering as Spike slugs Buffy in the jaw. Mid-air, the steak strikes her in the chest and she instantly turned to dust. Buffy stopped for a moment, shocked at the disappearing Harmony. Just long enough for Spike to grab up something from Harmony's dust and bolts. Something was in that dust that he needed, but Xander couldn't see what it was. He was about to run after her when Buffy held him back. "Hold on there super good aim boy. That was a crazy fast throw right in the heart. Where did you learn to do that?"
Xander looks at her and smirks, "Practice, how else? I want to be more helpful instead of being Mr. Stand in the back and hope I don't die...guy."
Buffy was satisfied with that answer. Good, Xander thought, he did not want to tell her about the training, the Initiative, or anything yet. He'll tell her when he's ready, but for now - it's his secret and he intends to keep it that way.
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Xander rejoined Anya and took her to the party. They had a good time. At the end of the night, Xander returned to Anya to her place and she invited him in. Xander accepted.
The next morning, Xander kissed Anya at 0500 and said that he would call her that evening. Xander was ready to get back to work, ready to learn more, ready to pick up some new skills. He was happy with this new opportunity. He was happy with his new girl. He was happy with this new life.