Chapter 6

In the spirit of the Saturday afternoon cliffhangers (and I’m giving away my age), a little recap...

Carl Kolchak, veteran newspaper hack and Xander wannabe, has been kidnapped by a newly returned Mayor Wilkins and given a message for Buffy and Company. Riley Finn is called from Sunnydale to Area 51 to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a scientist involved with genetic mutation and strange deaths due to “acute anemia”. Riley has arrived and found the situation at Area 51 much more serious than he had been led to believe. Buffy and company have met with a messenger of the Great Spirit who has given them the next piece of the puzzle. So with that in mind we join our plot in progress...

“Okay, Colonel,” Fredriksen said. “I can give you an MH-53 Pave Low III troop carrier, and two Apaches. That’s it, that’s all I got.”

“That’s fine. I also want ARC 1 and a full loadout of gear. In addition to this, I need a couple of woodworkers, a gardener, and a priest,” Riley said.

“Sir, that sounds like the start of a very bad joke.”

“I wish it were. I sincerely wish it were. Have them meet me at the Base Hobby Shop in 30 minutes. Now, Move It!!”

Base Hobby Shop - 30 minutes later

“Okay, listen up. My name is Col. Riley Finn. Who are the woodworkers?”

Two hands tentatively raised.

“Okay, I’m going to need 20 crosses, and 100 stakes. Use oak for the material. Stakes are to be 18” long and 1 1/4” in diameter. Got it?” Well, that certainly got me some strange looks, but thank God for military training, Riley thought.

“Who’s the gardener?”

Another hand rose.

“I’m going to need 4 of the 2 1/2 gallon pump up sprayers filled with water. Move!” Turning to the last man standing, I asked, “You the priest?”

“Er, not exactly,” he replied. “I’m Pentecostal, not Catholic.”

Shaking my head, Riley asked “Well, can you bless stuff? You know like water, and wood and such?”

“Of course, but you don’t need me to do that. Anyone who is a believer can place a blessing on things. It’s not just in the realm of a certain office. But, you gotta believe that God, the Creator, or Yahweh WILL bless it.” He replied. “But I’ve got to ask, are you going after vampires?”

Well, that’s not a normal question. “Have you had exposure to aberrant night life, sir?” I asked.

“Well, not since I moved here from a little town in California. Been peaceful after that.”

“What was the name of the town?” Riley asked, dreading the answer. After all, what are the chances?

“Little place called Sunnydale, just outside of L.A.”

Yep, just a coincidence. “Did you know a young girl there? Blonde, 5’3” or so, 100 pounds soaking wet?” Riley asked.

“Would that be Buffy Summers? Hung out with Rosenberg and Harris?” the minister asked.

“How did you meet her?” Riley asked.

“I got jumped coming out of the local teen hotspot by two guys with dental issues. Just as I thought that I had bought the farm, Buffy came swinging in and pulled them off me. By the time I could focus again, the only thing left was swirling dust bunnies.I tried to thank her for saving my life, and she just said no biggie, and left.

I resolved that day to never be defenseless again. I started digging into legends and that led me to a study of religion, and now I’m an ordained minister.

Riley, there’s more to this earth than you can believe. When the call came for a minister, I began praying. God showed me a little of what you are going to face. We would like to believe that the great trials and tribulations come in a great battle, or in front of a crowd, but in reality, they are fought in the night before the dawn when we are at our weakest. They are fought when we are alone, when we reach that point when we have no where else to turn. It is at that point that you have to be willing to put everything you are, and everything you treasure on the line.

You have always been out in front, leading, taking insane risks, to prove ‘something’ to yourself. Maybe that you deserve to lead. Maybe that you are the man you want to be. Whatever.

You are going to have to face yourself out there. The hard part is that you have to make peace with the fact that win-lose-or-draw you’ve done everything you could. Only then will you find the peace that you’re craving.