Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, nor do I own Battlestar Galactica. They are owned by Joss Whedon and Ronald D. Moore respectively. I merely play with their toys while they're away. Also, this series entirely ignores anything not directly mentioned in Battlestar Galactica, so ignore anything from Caprica. This was conceived before that, so I'm not letting it hamper my creativity.

In every generation, there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
-Vampyr 4:1-2

Three and a half years ago

"Buffy Summer, sophomore. Late of Hameri High in Saloniki. Interesting record, quite a career," said the heavy-set, yet generally affable man in front of her. He tore the paper up once, and then again.

"Welcome to Sunnydale! A clean slate, Buffy, that's what you get here. What's past is past. We're not interested in what it says on a piece of paper, even if it says," he slowed, looking down at the paper he'd just torn, eyes widening, "whoa."

"Mr. Flutie," Buffy started

"All the kids here are free to call me Bob."

"Bob,"

"But they don't," he said, as he began to tape together the sheet.

"I know my transcripts are a little," she stopped, searching for the right word, "colorful."

"Hey," the principal said, continuing his work, "we're not caring about that. Do you think, uh, 'colorful' is the right word? Not, uh, dismal?"

"Oh, sorry!"

"That's okay," the other girl said, walking away, leaving Buffy to clean up the mess resulting from their collision. After all, annoyingly, she had been the only one to lose anything. Fortunately, now, a guy came and started helping her to pick up.

"Can I have you?" he asked, confusing Buffy for a second, before he amended, "Duh, sorry. Can I help you?"

"Thanks," Buffy said, nodding her head slightly.

"I don't know you, do I?" he asked, in good humor. Buffy looked up at the guy, smiling, as she responded,

"Uh, no. I'm Buffy. Buffy Summer, I'm new."

"Xander," the guy said simply, "uh, is me. Xander Harra. Hi."

"Um, thanks," Buffy said, again, as her mouth went down, and she looked awkwardly at him as they completed the cleanup.

"Well, uh," he said, "maybe I'll see you around. Maybe at school, since we, both," he stammered a bit as he finished, "go there."

"Great!" Buffy said, looking back and forth and, trying to escape the extreme awkwardness, darted up the corridor.

"Hello?" Buffy asked to the seemingly empty library. It was dark, and large, with a disturbing stillness filling the room. It was creepier than any library, high school or public, had any right to be.

"Is anybody here?" She wandered a little into the library, looking down at the desk. She shuddered a little when she saw a newspaper clipping on the desk - missing children.

There was a sudden tap on her shoulder, and she spun around, combat-ready. When she saw it was nothing to be scared of - just a tweed-clad, glasses wearing librarian, she quickly covered it up with a healthy dose of Valley Girl.

"Oooh!" Buffy said, "Anybody's here."

"Can I help you?" he asked

"I was looking for some, well, books. I'm new."

"Miss Summer?" he asked, a questioning vise on his face

"Good call!" Buffy said, brightly, "Guess I'm the only new kid, huh?"

"I'm Mr. Giles," he said, as though that somehow said volumes about him. A clipped, Tauron accent betrayed his foreign origin. He continued, "The librarian. I was told you were coming."

"Great!" Buffy said, "So, uh," she said, looking down at the piece of paper she'd written down the list on, "I'm gonna need 'Perspectives on Pre-Cylon-'"

"I know what you're after!" Giles interrupted. Grinning, he pulled out a large, old book from under the shelf, dropping it onto the desk. Buffy looked down in shock at the gold-leafed text:

VAMPYR

She was in Sunnydale. It was a nice place. She wouldn't have to- no, she'd left that in Saloniki. She stumbled over her words as she responded,

"Th-that's not what I'm looking for."

"Oh," he trailed off, before continuing, "are you sure?"

"I'm way sure."

Confused, Giles picked up the book, while looking down at it, "My mistake," he said, putting the book back behind the desk, "So, what is it you said," he continued, looking up, seeing only a flash of blonde hair forcing the library door open and rushing out.

"Uh, hi!" Buffy said, approaching the girl she needed, "Willow, right?"

"Uh, why?" she asked, a little intimidated, before her mind seemed to reconnect. "I-I mean, hi! Willow Canaan. Uh, did you want me to move?"

"Why don't we start with, 'Hi, I'm Buffy Summer', and then let's segue directly into me asking you for a favor." Buffy smiled, sitting down next to Willow, "It doesn't involve moving, but it does involve hanging out with me for a while."

Willow's face contorted a little, in confusion, "But aren't you hanging out with Cordelia?"

"I can't do both?"

"Not legally," Willow responded, matter-of-factly.

Buffy exhaled, and spoke, "Look, I really wanna get by here, new school, and," she stopped for a second, before continuing, trying to explain, "Cordelia's been really nice," she said, only trailing off as she remembered what had happened earlier, "to me, anyway," she awkwardly said, and, then, forcing the words out, "but, um, I kinda have this burning desire not to flunk all my classes, and I heard a rumor that you were the person to talk to if I wanted to get caught up."

"Oh," Willow said, smiling as her face brightened, "I could totally help you out! Uh, if you have sixth period free we could meet in the library."

"Or not." Buffy frowned a little, "Or we could meet someplace quieter," only after saying it did she realize the absurdity of the statement, "uh, louder. Uh, that place just kinda gives me the wiggins."

"Oh, it has that effect on most kids. I love it, though, it's a great collection and the new librarian is really cool."

"He's new?" Buffy asked, only a little surprised. Of course, whoever that Council was had sent him. She was sure of it. Why couldn't she just live her life? Dawn was annoying enough without a bunch of fashion-deprived stuffy Taurons trying to add to it!

"Yeah, he just started," Willow said, "He was a curator at some Tauron museum or, or the Tauron Museum, I'm not sure. But he knows everything and he brought all these historical volumes and biographies and am I the single dullest person alive?"

"Not at all," Buffy said, her smile returning widely.

"Okay, what's the sitch?" Buffy said, storming into the library to confront the librarian.

"Sorry?" Mr. Giles said, looking up, confused at Buffy.

"You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?"

"Yes," he said, not really surprised that she was bringing it up.

"'Cause it's the weirdest thing. He's got two little, little holes in his neck, and all his blood's been drained." Buffy stopped for effect, dramatically continuing a few seconds later, "Isn't that bizarre? Aren't you just going, 'OOOOH!'?"

"I was afraid of this," Giles said, rising to pick up several books.

"Well I wasn't!" Buffy asserted, "It's my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I'd be taken for a Sagittaron, that I would have last month's hair! I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus!" She stopped, gathering herself, "And I don't care."

"Then why are you here?" Giles asked, poignantly.

Buffy was surprised at his question - and, honestly, didn't know the answer herself. "To tell you that. That I don't care. Which I don't. And have told you so. So, bye!"

She turned away and began to leave the library, but was turned back by his question, "Is he, w-will he rise again?"

"Who?" she said, a little confused

"The boy?"

"No," she said, grimacing, "He's just dead."

"Can you be sure?"

"To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you have to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly, they're just going to kill you. Why am I still talking to you?"

"You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You think it's a coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning."

"Oh, why can't you people just leave me alone?"

"Because you are the Slayer. Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the worlds, a Chosen One, one born with the strength and skill to hunt-"

Buffy interrupted, continuing, "With the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil, blah, blah, blah. I've heard it, okay?"

"I really don't understand this attitude," Giles said, looking down at her, "Y-you've accepted your duty, y-you've slain vampires before."

"Yeah, and I've both been there and done that," Buffy declared, "and I'm moving on."

"What do you know about this town?" Giles asked, walking pointedly into the librarian's office.

"It's two hours from a good department store?"

"Dig a bit into the history of this place," Giles said, coming back from the other room, "You'll find a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. Now, I believe this whole area is a center of mystical energy, that, that things gravitate toward it that-that you might not find elsewhere.

"Like vampires," Buffy said.

"Like zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you've ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn't be by light of day. They're all real!"

"Ah, heh," the man said. The creep had been following her for a few blocks, and now she'd managed to get the jump, as it were, on him, kicking him down and under her. "Is there a problem, ma'am?"

"Yeah, there's a problem," Buffy said, her attitude (partly, the Slayer, a little voice in her head said, though she ignored it) in full gear, "why are you following me?"

"I know what you're thinking," he said, almost sneering, "Don't worry, I don't bite."

Buffy let off, letting him up. He stood up, dusted himself off, but Buffy stayed prepared as he continued, "Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though."

"What do you want?"

"The same thing you do."

"Okay. What do I want?"

"To kill them. To kill them all."

"Sorry, that's incorrect." Buffy plastered her most obviously false smile on her face, "But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of shoe polish. What I want is to be left alone!"

Buffy began to walk away, but she was called back to attention, "Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open."

She stopped, looking at him wide-eyed. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small box, "Don't turn your back on this," he said, tossing it to her, "You've gotta be ready."

"What for?"

"For the Harvest," he said, beginning to leave.

"Who are you?"

"Let's just say, I'm a friend."

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend," Buffy retorted.

A slight Aerilon brogue slipped into his speech, now, as he responded, "Didn't say I was yours."

Buffy stared after him as he turned the corner, walking away. She opened the box, and her jaw dropped as she saw the silver ankh necklace within.

They were now all sitting in the library, after the vampire attack, as Giles began to lecture, "The universe is less orderly than you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it was not always ruled by the human race. For untold eons, demons ruled this reality. They made it their home, their-their hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for man to, to be formed on Kobol. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures,"

"And vampires," Buffy, succinctly, interrupted.

"Okay, this is where I have a problem," Xander said, "See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it."

"Isn't that what we saw last night?" Willow asked Xander, aptly

"No. No, those weren't vampires," Buffy said, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "those were just guys in thundering need of a facial! Or maybe they just had rabies. It could have been rabies. An-and that guy turning to dust? Just a trick of light."

Xander gave her a look, as she continued, "That's exactly what I said the first time I saw a vampire. Well, after I was done with the screaming part."

"Oh," Willow said, "I-I need to sit down."

"You are sitting down," Buffy replied.

"Oh." Willow continued to look directly forward, "Good for me."

"And that would be a what?" Xander asked, having gotten through several other questions

"For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer," Giles stated matter-of-factly. "One girl in all the worlds, a Chosen One,"

Now Buffy interrupted, "He loves doing this part."

Giles gave a dirty look, continuing "Alright. The Slayer hunts vampires. Buffy is the Slayer. Don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need."

"Except for one thing," Xander responded, "how do you kill them?"

"You don't," Buffy said, rather simply, "I do."

"Well, Jesse's my-"

Buffy interrupted, "Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken."

"That's not true," Xander protested

"If you hadn't shown up," Willow said, "they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?"

"Breathe," Buffy said, patting Willow on the shoulder.

"Breathe." Willow now began to do as Buffy said.

"Breathe," Buffy repeated.

"Again, how do we kill them?" Xander said

Buffy sighed, "Fine. An ankh or holy water will slow them down, a stake through the heart or beheading will kill them."

"Or fire," Giles said, while he reached for a book.

"Or fire," Buffy repeated.

"What exactly were you expecting?" Buffy asked

"I don't know, something," Xander responded simply, "I mean, the dead rose. We should at least have an assembly."

"People have a tendency to rationalize what they can," Giles said, "and forget what they can't."

"Believe me, I've seen it happen," Buffy said.

"Well, I'll never forget it," Willow said, "none of it."

"Good!" Giles said, "Next time, you'll be prepared."

"Next time?" Xander asked, confused.

"Next time is why?" Willow asked, at the same time.

"We've prevented the Master from freeing himself and opening the Mouth of Hell," Giles said, "That's not to say he's going to stop trying. I'd say the fun is just beginning."

"More vampires?" Willow asked

"Not just vampires," Giles said, "The next threat we face may be something quite different."

"I can hardly wait!" Buffy said, with false glee in reams.

"We're at the center of a mystical convergence here," Giles said, "We may, in fact, stand between the worlds and their total destruction."

"Well, I gotta look on the bright side," Buffy said, "Maybe I can still get kicked out of school!"

"Oh, yeah, that's a plan," Xander said, as he, Buffy and Willow began to walk away from the librarian, "'Cause lots of schools aren't on Hellmouths."

"Maybe you could blow something up," Willow said brightly, "They're really strict about that."

"I was thinking a more subtle approach," Buffy responded, "you know? Like excessive not studying."

Giles turned away from the teenagers, and, as he walked back to the library, he said to no one in particular,

"The Colonies are doomed."

Present Day

The darkness surrounded the lonely, outdated raptor as it floated through space, engines off. They floated, using no power except the most basic to run the air and the wireless.

"Krypter, krypter, krypter," Buffy spoke into the wireless, trying to keep her voice calm, "this is a civilian-flown raptor in high orbit over Saloniki Valley on Caprica. I need medical assistance and direction to any ship with resources. To any Colonial ship, krypter, krypter, krypter."

As no response was forthcoming, Buffy hit the wireless in anger, damaging the console with her excessive Slayer-strength. She looked down at what she'd done, and swore at it, "Godsdammit!"

She examined it quickly, and came to the fortunate conclusion there was nothing but superficial damage, leaned back. Well, thank the gods that Slayer instincts include flying raptors. Why can't it include driving cars? Really. I can fly a raptor out of an apocalypse, but I can't drive half-way across Sunnydale. What kind of Slayer instincts are those?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a feminine voice, "Buffy?"

Buffy looked back to the ECO chair in the back, where her sister sat, cradling herself in her own arms, as she continued, "I-I'm-I'm."

"It'll be okay, Dawn," Buffy tried to reassure her sister, though she was clearly not in a mood to be reassured.

"Okay?" Dawn said, "OKAY? Someone just NUKED Sunnydale. CYLONS nuked Caprica! Saloniki's gone and so is," Dawn trailed off, "gods."

"Dawn, Dawn, listen to me," Buffy said, having come to the back of the raptor, and grabbing hold of Dawn's hand and bringing them to face level, "see this?" she said, indicating a healing sword cut on her own hand, "his is Summer blood. Summer blood is strong. It's Libran blood. Royal blood. Our ancestors were the warriors of Kobol. Whatever happens, our blood is the same. We'll survive. It's what we do."

"But, Buffy," Dawn said, tears forming in the 16-year old's eyes, "it was so, so. Gods." Dawn trailed off a little, as she continued, "Mom, Riley, Spike-"

"Shh!" Buffy said, hugging her sister, "it'll be okay! I promise. We'll figure this out. We've lived through enough apocalypses already, we'll make it through this one. Together. Now, I have to check on Giles. Is that okay?"

Dawn nodded, tears still streaming down her face. "Buffy?" came a voice from the floor.

"Giles!" Buffy said, leaning down, "Are you alright?"

"Not particularly," he said, now opening his eyes and looking, trying to sit up a little "Where are we?"

"On the raptor, Giles. From the Initiative. Do you remember?"

"A little," Giles said, adjusting himself, "Where's Riley?"

"A vamp. We had to run, Giles. It's just us and Dawnie."

"My gods," Giles said, leaning back again and blinking. He looked, seeing where they were, "I hate space travel."

Dawn snorted in a modicum of laughter, ignoring the glares that turned on her from Buffy and Giles. They both softened as they remembered the tears still trickling from Dawn's eyes

Buffy turned to Giles, getting back (somewhat) to the point, "Thank the gods they put flight ability in with the Slayer reflexes, or we'd never have got off the ground."

"Indee-ah!" Giles said, hurting, trying to sit up

"Stay down, Giles. Rest is the only way to heal this."

Giles nodded, stopping his attempt to rise, as he continued "Anything on the wireless?"

"Not much," Buffy said. The Slayer had partly taken over, and no emotion showed on Buffy's face, "but I did hear confirmation that Caprica City got hit. So did Saloniki, and Sunnydale. It's not positive who did it, but all the smart money's on the reports of Cylons coming from around the Colonies. I heard something coming from the President, but couldn't make it out. It's been silent for a half an hour now."

"Gods!" exclaimed Giles.

"I know," Buffy said. She was silent for a few seconds, and then said, "I mean, what's the point?"

"What do you mean, Buffy?" Giles asked

"I've been saving the worlds since high school, Giles." Buffy spoke with resignation, "and now, at the end, it's not even demons."

Buffy looked out into the stars, and said, "I save them all from demons – thousands of Slayers in thousands of years save them all from demons every day. And then," Buffy trailed off for a moment, trying to control herself, "then the Colonies thank us by destroying themselves with Cylons. And it's not even apocalypse season."