__Time And The Watcher__
By Andrea E. Blau



Kenneth Byron never liked walking past the cemetery at night. Not only did it give him the creeps; it was also that one could never tell if and when one was ever going to encounter a vampire. He considered himself lucky that he hadn't run into any such thing, yet, but when living in Sunnydale, you can't take any risks in case you do. On this particular night as he was passing by, Kenneth Byron heard a noise coming from somewhere within the grounds. "Why do I always take this route on my way home from work," he muttered as he tried to get a better look at what was happening. The noise had finally stopped, but there was now a mausoleum where there once was an empty space. He was positive that he saw a figure emerging from the shadows and Kenneth Byron did the first logical thing that came o mind and pulled out his cell phone to call the police.

"911 Emergency."

"Yes, I would like to report a break in at the…."

He never got to finish the call, for the phone was suddenly knocked out his hand and he was suddenly grabbed by the collar of his shirt.

"I wouldn't have done that if I were you," said a menacing voice.

Kenneth Byron was paralyzed by fear, but he tried to stay calm. "Who are you and what do you want?"

The stranger didn't answer, he merely chuckled, a soft ominous chuckle. The stranger released him and Kenneth Byron decided to make a run for it. As he tried to run away from whoever, or whatever this was, the ominous chuckle had become menacing laughter.

The man's laughter was the last thing Kenneth Byron heard.

* * * * *

It was just another day at Sunnydale High with the usual buzz of activity. Buffy Summers made her way through the crowded hallway hoping to find any sign of her friends Xander Harris and Willow Rosenberg. Sighing heavily, she slowly made her way towards the library alone. "It's all in a day for a Slayer, isn't it?" she thought sourly. "Night patrols, dusting vamps, keeping the world safe, you'd think I could get a break of some sort before Summer Vacation and that is like what, two weeks away?" She sighed again and continued to make her way towards the library. It was at that moment, she spotted a titian haired girl rushing out of the library to meet her.

"Buffy there you are," exclaimed Willow trying to catch her breath. "You better get inside, Giles is having major Wiggins about something."

"Let me guess, it's Vamp related?"

"I don't know Buffy, but this looks like something major."

Buffy sighed yet again as she made her way into the library. A distinguished looking gentleman in his early to mid forties looked up as the girls entered the library.

"Buffy I'm glad you're here, we have a bit of a situation," the man said hurrying over towards Buffy and Willow. "I'm not sure if this would fall into the Mystical Realm but…"

"Giles, would you mind telling me what is going on?" asked Buffy with a touch of impatience.

"Most certainly. There have been a number of disappearances in and around Sunnydale, with the victims usually turning up dead."

"Wait a minute Giles, isn't that usually the case around here?"

"Yes Buffy, but you must understand that the chances of Vampires being involved in this particular instance is probably unlikely, being as it is that the victims were a bit, erm, hard to find after the fact."

"I just don't see how Vampires can't be involved," said Buffy looking confused. "After all, this is Vamp Central."

"Actually, I think it is possible that something or someone other than a Vampire could have done this," Willow picked up. "Anything is a possibility here."

"Willow is right, these deaths are most definitely caused by something other than a vampire," Giles continued. "It appears that in this case, the victims have seemed to have turned into dolls."

"Do you suppose it's a demon?" asked Buffy.

"That might be a strong possibility at this point."

"I would think," said another male voice "that if people are disappearing and turning into dolls, it must mean that Barbie is finally exacting her revenge on society."

"That's not funny Alexander Harris!" snapped Willow.

"I'm sorry Wil, but I just got here and I only caught what Giles said about dolls being found all over Sunnydale," Xander apologized. "If must know where I was all this time, Ms. Calendar made me stay after class for a few minutes."

"Well, there have been a lot of mysterious disappearances and Giles thinks it's the work of some sort of demon."

"I'm not sure if it is a demon, Willow," Giles interrupted "but it's a likelihood that it…."

Giles' words were drowned out by a loud grinding, wailing type noise. It continued on for a couple of seconds more and then suddenly stopped. Giles, Buffy, Willow, and Xander looked at each other in disbelief. Finally, it was Xander who broke the silence. "Can anyone please explain to me what that was?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, Xander, but whatever that was, I'm sure we'll be ready for it."

"Maybe it's the new `Earthquake Drill' alarm," Willow suggested.

Giles held up his hand to silence the group. "I think I hear something. Sounds like there are people coming from somewhere over among those bookcases on the upper level of the library."

"Are you sure Giles?" asked Buffy "Because I don't think I am."

"I'm positive. Let's just listen and see if we can find out anything."

The voices didn't seem to be loud enough to determine who was hiding among the bookshelves, but Giles was pretty sure he was able to pick up snatches of conversation. He wasn't sure what was going on or who was there, but it dawned on him that maybe if he and the others listened long enough, they would be able to get the answers that they needed. It wasn't long before one of them spoke loud enough for him and the Scoobies to hear.

"Looks like we aren't at `Eathrow, are we?" said a female voice with a thick Australian accent.

"Have you ever seen so many books in one place!" exclaimed a second voice, this belonging to a young man.

"Doctor, do you suppose we landed in some ancient book depository?" inquired a third voice that unmistakably belonged to a girl. "I've never seen so many printed texts."

"Actually, Nyssa," said a fourth voice, possibly belonging to an older man "I believe we've landed in a high school library, late 20th Century Earth.

"Are you sure we're on Earth and not a facsimile like Castrovalva?" inquired the young man.

"I'm positive we're on Earth, Adric, I'm just not quite sure where we are."

"Well it sure isn't `Eathrow," grumbled the Australian girl.

"Tegan, will you give that a rest already?" said Adric

"Doctor, do you really think he's here?" asked the girl known as Nyssa.

"If I know The Master well enough, he leaves a trail behind him no respectable person would leave in the first place."

"That's because `e `as no respect, does `e?" said Tegan.

"I think that would be beside the point, Tegan. However, I think that the Master is already causing mayhem and chaos as we speak."

Buffy, who was also trying to listen to the conversation gave a start. "The Master is alive? Giles, I don't get it."

"Nor do I Buffy, but maybe these, er, visitors, might be able to provide us with the answers we need."

"But we saw the Master die!"

"My dear girl, I have no doubt in my mind that The Master did die," said the older gentleman, known as The Doctor "but it is in my experience that he has always been able to come back one way or another."

Giles glanced up towards the upper level of the library. "Everyone, I don't think we're alone anymore."

* * * * *

The man stepped out of the shadows and leaned over the railing. He appeared to be in his late thirties to early forties. He had blond hair, a rather pleasant demeanor, and he was wearing what appeared to be a Cricket outfit. Three other people soon joined him, a dark haired young man wearing a yellow outfit, upon which were a number of badges, a girl with brown curly hair, and another girl with short dark hair dressed in some sort of uniform. They were looking upon Giles and the others curiously.

"Excuse me my good man, can you tell us where we are?" inquired The Doctor.

"Y-yes, of course," stammered Giles taken aback by how polite the Doctor was. "You're in Sunnydale High School."

"And where would that be?"

"California."

"Ah, so we've landed in the States, marvelous." The Doctor exclaimed heading down the stairs and to where Giles, Buffy, Xander, and Willow sat.

"Still a long way from `Eathrow," grumbled Tegan. Adric and Nyssa both sighed in exasperation as the three of them followed the Doctor.

"All in good time Tegan, I'll get you there yet."

"Doctor, don't you think we ought to tell them who we are?" whispered Nyssa.

"Actually, I was wondering who you were, considering I've haven't seen you before." added Giles.

"Yes, I must remember my manners, shouldn't I. I am the Doctor, a Time Lord from Gallifrey." The Doctor turned to his companions. "This is Adric, from the planet Alzarius in Exo-Space, this young lady is Nyssa, from Traken, and this is…"

"Tegan Jovanka, `mouth on legs' " said the girl in the flight attendant's uniform extending her hand.

Giles was astonished at the boldness of this young lady. "And what planet are you from Miss Jovanka?"

"Australia," replied Tegan sounding rather annoyed.

"Sorry, I was just wondering."

"Look just because I'm traveling with them, doesn't automatically make me from another planet, does it now?"

"Tegan, be nice, he's not trying to hurt us, he might be of some help."

Tegan looked sulky for a moment and then turned to Giles. "Sorry about that. I guess I forget m'self sometimes."

"Sometimes?" said both Adric and Nyssa. The Doctor gave them a stern look and then turned his attention back to Giles.

"It seems you have an advantage over us, being as it is that you know who we are and we don't know who you are."

"But of course. I'm Rupert Giles and these are my students Buffy Summers, Xander Harris, and Willow Rosenberg."

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, maybe you could explain to me what one of your pupils meant by the Master being dead."

"You see, Doctor, Sunnydale is situated on the mouth of Hell. The Hell Mouth was almost successfully opened until we put a stop to it."

"I'm not sure how The Master would fit in though."

"The Master we knew of, was a vampire. I don't think it's the same Master that you're, referring to but…."

"Wait a minute Mr. Giles, did you say Vampires?" interrupted Adric.

"Yes, I believe I did."

"Does this mean that the Vampires from E-Space have managed to colonize the Earth after all? I'm sure we put a stop to that before they could carry that plan through."

"I'm not sure what you're going on about."

"The vampires, they have their colony on Earth, don't they? Does that mean that we didn't stop them from colonizing Earth?"

"I'm positive that there were vampires here on Earth long before any of them from outer space thought of colonizing."

"You must forgive Adric." The Doctor chuckled. "Brilliant boy, but he can get carried away at times."

Giles couldn't help but smile. "I think Adric seems like a nice chap, so there are no worries. So, who exactly is The Master you were referring to and why do you think he's here in Sunnydale?"

The Doctor and his companions exchanged meaningful looks. "The Master is a renegade Time Lord who is also from Gallifrey who enjoys leaving chaos and destruction in his wake."

"But why is he here and what does he want?"

Yeah, who does this creep think he is?" demanded Buffy "I can take him."

It took a moment for the Doctor to ponder this. "Why the Master is here in Sunnydale, I'm not sure. As for what he wants, one can only guess, but I'm sure he has some nefarious scheme up his sleeve. As for you young lady…" The Doctor gave Buffy a stern look. "I really don't think that The Master is someone you would want to be messing with. He's quite dangerous."

"He doesn't know Buffy very well, does he?" Xander whispered in an aside to Willow.

"Excuse me, um, Mr. Doctor."

The Doctor turned his attention to Willow "Yes?"

"Just how dangerous is he?"

"Let's put it this way, Miss Rosenberg, let's hope none of you ever find out."

* * *