TITLE : Gardens in the Desert
AUTHOR : Vincent Fretin
FEEDBACK : vincef2001@yahoo.fr
SPOILERS : End of 5th season.
RATING : G
DISCLAIMER : Faith, Buffy and all other characters belong to Joss Whedon, Warner, UPN, etc.
SUMMARY :
After getting to sleep, Buffy finds herself in another person's skin living in Babylon. Having lost her Slayer powers, she finally meets the woman considered as the one and only Slayer, Faith, also prisoner in this strange reality. Is it a dream, another dimension or something else? The two Slayers will have to collaborate to find the truth in a city full of evil forces.

PART 1   PART 2   PART 3   PART 4

PART 1

Buffy Anne Summers, the older part of the "Chosen two" was lying on her bed, after her last patrol, reading the file Principal Wood had given her the same morning. The file was about a young girl who had just arrived in town. She had been kicked out of her previous school and had been accepted in Sunnydale High. Principal Wood wanted Buffy to welcome the girl, part to make the girl comfortable inside her new school, part to judge her and see if she could be a "nuisance".

She actually liked her new job. For once, she had the chance to help people just by being Buffy. The Slayer part of her had nothing to do with it and it was good for her own inner balance. Being all mighty and constantly fighting evil things was important, she had no doubt about it, it was just that she needed something else in her life, something that proved her that her human side was also useful for something.

She closed the file, rubbed her eyes and heard someone walking in the hall. As Dawn was already asleep, it could only be Willow. Buffy thought about going in the hall to speak briefly with her best friend, to check if everything was all right but quickly changed her mind. Since her return from England, Willow was doing quite well. Both Xander and Buffy were trying to behave as if nothing had happened when the witch had gone all revenge girl, the previous summer and asking Willow if everything was alright wasn’t really the best way to show her their trust on her. So, she didn’t move from the bed. She switched off the light and quickly fell asleep.

At the same time, in LA, Faith, the rogue Slayer, the other half of the "Chosen Two" had some trouble finding her way to dreamland. As it had always been the case since she had turned herself in, more than two years before, she was thinking about her situation, about the past and the errors she had done, about how to fix things, how she could find a redemption she so wanted to achieve. She was thinking about her future meeting with Buffy and the others, something that was risky but that she had to do.

Turning herself to the other side of her bed, if it could be called a bed, she sighed heavily and thought about her upcoming release, three days later. Part of her was happy to leave this place, another part wasn’t. Her own guilt was telling her that she didn’t deserve this release that she had earned more time in this cell, that she deserved to rot inside those walls for the rest of her life.

She let herself getting distracted by the snoring of her cellmate. She was a thief and didn’t seem affected by any kind of remorse, sleeping the sleep of the innocent. Lucky girl. Still, the steady rhythm the other girl was making slowly led her towards the arms of Morpheus, towards her first journey.

The first rays of a rising sun were bathing Buffy’s face. The petite Slayer mumbled something unintelligible before covering herself with the sheets. But it was too late, she couldn’t find rest anymore. Wondering why the sun could reach her through her curtains, the blonde opened one eye, quickly followed by a second one and, fully awaken now, she gasped. What the hell was going on?

She wasn’t in her bedroom anymore. Instead, she was in a huge one, with tapestries, incenses, jewels and other objects that were pure beauty around her. The rays of the sun were coming from a huge opening that seemed to lead towards a balcony. Deciding that she wouldn’t discover what was happening to her by remaining in this bed, she stood up, found a dress or rather a toga that reminded her of the ones that the women living in the Middle East during Antiquity had worn. It was quality stuff though and she didn’t look bad at all in these clothes that covered her body from her shoulders to her knees. She also spotted sandals next to the bed and put her feet on them then, walked towards the balcony.

The sun was blinding and Buffy had to put her hand in front of her eyes to adapt them to the light. Once her eyes could support the brightness of the day, she could only contemplate her surroundings, stunned. What she had thought was only a balcony was in fact a huge platform, covered of plants, flowers, grass and even a few little trees. She could see other buildings that had the same gardens on their roofs or on platforms, similar to the one Buffy was standing on. She could notice that some building could have from one to three of these platforms. At that moment, a History speech she had had when she was still at Hemery came to her mind. This speech was about the Seven Wonders of the World... One of them was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon... and this place fitted to the description she had received then. But, it couldn’t be possible. This had to be a dream! How could she be in Babylon, a city that had been destroyed centuries ago? She pinched herself and felt it. It wasn’t a dream... what the hell was going on here?

Still stunned by what she was living, Buffy tried to remember the last events of the previous day. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep after having read some student files. If she had been kidnapped, the others would have heard her, wouldn’t they? She glanced downstairs, to the streets and could see lots of people, wearing the same kinds of Antique clothes as herself walking. There was no sign of cars or any "recent" inventions. There were some men riding horses, a soldier with a spear and an armour, two shops... adding to that buildings covering most of the horizon, you would find a town labelled "Should be decrepit, ruined and buried for a long time" in front of your eyes. But it wasn’t the case. This was a living place, full of people who seemed normal and there wasn’t a chance that this place belonged to "her Earth". So, where the hell was she? Was it a kind of Alternate Universe she had landed to, God knew how? And who brought her here? And why? She had to find answers to those questions or she would become crazy.

She suddenly noticed someone coming from the other side of the platform. A woman wearing similar clothes as hers, visibly made from a less expensive tissue. She was holding a plate with water and fruits on it. She stopped in front of a table and put the plate on it, smiling to Buffy. She then, pulled the chair next to the table and waited. Guessing that she was probably waiting for her to sit down, she walked towards the girl, decided to receive some answers. The girl has long dark hair but, as shed went closer to her, Buffy was stunned by the colour of her eyes. They were blue, but a blue so clear that it made her irises almost transparent. She wasn’t expecting the girl to speak first, she wasn’t expecting what she said either.

"Good day, my lady! Your father asks you to join him at the harbour once you’ll be ready."

Her father? Could it become any weirder? She was stuck in a place she had no idea how she had come in, in a town that, if her intuition was right, had disappeared for centuries and now, this woman spoke about her father. She wanted to talk to the girl who was retreating back towards the entrance she had come from but then noticed that the girl hadn’t spoken to her in English but in a language she couldn’t put a name on... then, why the hell had she understood everything the girl had said? As previously stated: Could it become any weirder?

While Buffy was waking up because of the sunlight, Faith was taken out of her sleep by a constant move of the place she was in. It was a strange feeling and, more disturbing, wasn’t the kind of feeling you should feel in your cell, in jail. Her instincts telling her that something was definitely not right, the brunette quickly threw herself out of bed, landed on her feet in a fighting position. She was in a dark room with an only door on her left. She had slept in what seemed like a self-made bed and was now standing naked in the middle of the place, alone.

She spotted some clothes on her left. A kind of toga with a belt that had a sword attached on it. That was a good point! Whoever had brought her here wasn’t considering her as a prisoner. Even if it wasn’t clothes that corresponded to her tastes, it was the only ones available so, she quickly put them on, checked the quality of the sword then opened the door.

The door led to stairs that she quickly climbed to reach an opening. She was blinded by the sun for a few seconds but quickly regained her ability to see. She was on a ship that was currently moving on a river. Men, wearing ancient outfits, were moving everywhere, transporting stuff, checking or correcting the way followed by the ship. On each side of the ship, Faith could see some trees but only thin lines as the desert seemed present everywhere else.

Focusing her attention towards the ship again, Faith noticed a man coming to her direction. He was wearing clothes that seemed more refined that the rest of the crew. Probably the captain. She let him come, ready to strike should something happen and determinate to receive answers for her questions.

"Slept well, Slayer?"

"Where the hell are we?"

"Oh! Straight to the point! That’s what I like in you, Nazra."

"H... How did you call me?"

"Nazra! You told me I could call you by your name! Real honour! Is it a problem?"

"Err... OK what the fuck is happening?"

"Are you sure everything is alright, Slayer?"

At that moment, something clicked in Faith’s mind. She hadn’t noticed it at first, too confused by the situation. The man was talking to her in a language she shouldn’t be able to understand. But she did understand was the guy was saying and she was also able to speak to him in that same language!

"Slayer?"

"Huh! Sorry! Zoned out. Not used to this 1OO1 Nights kind of trip!"

Seeing the puzzled expression of the guy, she quickly added:

"I must have stayed under the sun way too long. I’m kinda confused now!"

"Oh, sure! Do you want some water. It helps clear the mind!"

Understanding that the guy couldn’t help her and that the best solution now was to enter his game, Faith replied:

"Yes, I’d like to. But first of all, Picard, answer me: Where are we?"

"Picard?"

"Never mind! Just answer!"

"Well, we’re still on the Euphrates and, as the winds are good with us, we will arrive at Babylon soon."

"Babylon?"

"Yes, you can see the first building at the horizon. See them?"

Faith put her hand horizontally on her forehead to see the horizon without being hindered by the sun and indeed, she could see building growing in size, second by second!

"Yes!"

"I have already sent a messenger to warn him of your arrival."

"Him?"

"Your new watcher of course! We may not disturb his majesty, only your watcher has this honour."

Again with the honour. Geez, this guy should really attached importance to it. Wait a minute, what did he say?

"Majesty?"

"Yes, our Emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, the one that asked for your help, remember?"

Great! Lost in the middle of nowhere to help an emperor who had stolen his name from The Matrix ship. Could this damn dream become any fucking weirder?

Buffy couldn’t see the harbour yet and was seriously beginning to regret having climbed on this chariot. The driver, one of her servants, was driving it full speed in the streets of Babylon and seemed to have a complete control over the two horses galloping in front of the cart. Still, Buffy wasn’t used to this kind of transport and her stomach was seriously beginning to worry her.

She had thought about the events during long minutes while eating her breakfast. She was definitely lost somewhere. It didn’t seem to be a dream, it was too detailed. She could feel the wind in her hair, could taste fruits that were delicious, could hear lots of different noises, and notice many other things that dismissed the dream solution. But it was the only thing she was certain of.

She had also discovered few things during the morning. Indeed, after having eaten her breakfast, female servants slaves had quickly surrounded Buffy actually but she didn’t want to think about them that way. Slavery was very common at that age but her own XXIst century morality didn’t like it at all. The slaves didn’t seem unhappy though and, by discussing a little bit with them, she discovered that her "father" was very kind with them, treating them with respect so, they were definitely not slaves, they were servitors.

The servants who had surrounded her had led her towards the bathroom where they had given her a bath. At first, Buffy had been a bit ashamed by all this but the servants were behaving as if it was a standard practice and as if they had known her, or rather the person she was supposed to be, for a long time. Guessing that the best way to discover what was going on there was to play whatever game she was supposed to play, Buffy decided to enter the role that had been given to her and had tried to gather as much information as possible.

Her name here was Rana. She was the daughter of Sidouf, the personal scribe of the great Nebuchadnezzar, emperor of Babylon. They lived in a huge house, near the Royal Palace and were very famous in the city. Famous for their love for Babylon but also for the way they treated their slaves, too kindly for the taste of some people. The three servants that had bathed her were Sona, Liama and Husa. Husa was the girl who had brought her breakfast earlier this morning and she was also her personal sl... servant. She was barely older than Buffy and the two of them seemed to get along quite well.

After the bath, Husa had given her a new toga to wear. Then, she had escorted her towards the chariot that was now leading the driver, Husa and herself to the harbour she could now see in front of her. Coming back to the present time, Buffy felt the vehicle stop and a man on his forties approached them.

"Rana, honey! I’m so glad you could make it on time."

Buffy descended the vehicle, smiled to the man who was visibly her "father" then let him embrace her.

"Well, I... I wouldn’t have missed it for anything."

The man broke the embrace and, as if he was only 1O, pointed towards a ship that was approaching.

"That’s the ship she has travelled in. Oh by the gods, Rana. I hope that I will be up to this task."

Buffy noticed the pleading look the man had in his eyes and guessed that he was probably expecting some words of comfort coming from his daughter.

"Well... daddy, I... I have no doubt about it. You’re the best!"

The man smiled before continuing:

"Thanks, sweetheart but... rhaa, guiding a Slayer isn’t easy stuff and... honey? Is it something wrong?"

Buffy’s face had turned pale when she had heard her "father" talking about the Slayer. She hadn’t thought about it yet but now, a question had come to her mind. If the girl who was in this boat was the Slayer... had she still her Slayer powers... or were they gone once she had landed in... well, in this Twilight Zone world?

"Rana? Is it anything wrong? You’re so pale!"

"What? Oh no, I’m fine! Just excited to finally meet the famous Slayer!"

The man gave her an understanding smile.

"Well, you wouldn’t have too much longer. In a few minutes, she will descend from this shipboat and our lives will change."

"Yeah!"

Buffy’s mind was still focused on her power issue. Scanning the place, the blonde finally spotted a big box that seemed very heavy but that couldn’t be a problem to lift up for someone who had the power of a Slayer. Slowly, carefully in order to avoid any suspicious glances, she walked to the box, put her hands on both sides of it and pulled... without results, without even succeeding in moving the box for an inch. There were no more doubts now... in this place, she wasn’t a Slayer.

Standing next to the captain, Faith was lost in her thoughts. Sure, once Babylon had appeared in front oh her in all its glory, she had been amazed by the beauty of the place but she had quickly regained her focus. She had gone back to her "room" to gather whatever stuff could be useful for her. There hadn’t been much. It seemed that the Babylonian Slayer she was supposed to play and her real... well her, shared this taste for light travelling and bows. Indeed, hidden in a corner of the room, she had discovered a splendid ivory bow with a quiver containing 20 arrows. Another toga and the traditional bag of stakes completed her possessions.

Now, she was about to descend the ship thanks to the footbridge that had just hit the ground. After a last sign to the captain, she climbed the footbridge and made her way towards Babylonian ground. Once her right foot had left the rectangular piece of wood, she spotted three people approaching her. She didn’t know the first two but stayed stunned once she recognized the third one and, this person’s face was showing now a similar expression that the one the dark Slayer was probably wearing now. What the fuck was Buffy doing here?

What the hell was Faith doing here? And how come she was still a Slayer? Had she something to do with all of this? All these questions were reasoning in her head but she couldn’t ask them to her darker counterpart because her "father", barely able to control his excitement, was already welcoming the dark Slayer.

"Nazra, I’m Sidouf, your new watcher. I hope you had a pleasant journey."

Still unable to unlock her eyes from Buffy, Faith replied.

"I’ve known worse, don’t worry!"

"Yes, yes. Well, let me introduce my little family. This is my daughter, Rana (he showed Buffy with his hand) and this is Husa, her personal servitor (he did the same with the young servant)."

Faith grinned and extended her hand to Buffy who took it by reflex. They shook hands, still in a staring contest before finally pulling them apart.

"Well, we’ll discuss about how we will organize ourselves later, during dinner for instance. Now, I’m sorry but I absolutely have to report your arrival to the emperor. I’m sure he will be excited by the idea to finally meet you."

Then, he looked at Buffy before asking her:

"Rana, could you lead Nazra to our house and show her her bedroom?"

"Sure!" was Buffy’s reply.

The Slayers hadn’t stopped looking at each other since the instant their eyes had spotted each other.

"Good! See you later then!"

Sidouf then climbed in his chariot and left the harbour. Feeling the tension between the two women, Husa asked Faith:

"Can I take your bag, my lady?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Thanks! I prefer to keep it."

"As you wish, my lady. The chariot is this way!"

Husa began to move away followed by the Slayers who walked side by side.

"So, B. you left your pastel wardrobe for peplum stuffs?" Faith whispered just for Buffy.

"I don’t know what’s going on here, Faith. But if it is one of your tricks, I swear that I..."

"Chill, B. I’m as lost as you are here. Last thing I remember was falling asleep in my cell then..."

"Ladies?"

They both looked at Husa who was in the chariot yet, waiting for them. Sighing, Buffy looked at Faith and said:

"Later!"

Faith just nodded and they both climbed in the chariot.

The trip back to the house was weird at best. People were constantly looking at them intensely. It was as if they all knew who Faith was and it was probably the case. Noticing it, Faith whispered to Buffy:

"Think someone blew my cover!"

"Yeah! Incognito factor equals zero!"

"You think they would offer me big bucks for a commercial?"

Buffy couldn’t prevent a smile but quickly regained her cold façade without responding. They stayed silent till the moment when they entered the house. They descended from the vehicle before Husa led them towards Faith’s room that was just in front of Buffy’s. Once inside the room, Buffy asked Husa to leave. The girl left the room and Buffy closed the door.

"Okay, Faith! You swear that you have nothing to do with this?"

"I’m as lost as you are here, B. All I can say is that I woke up in this ship this morning. It seems that I can now speak a language I can even named... and... well, we’re in friggin Babylon."

"Oh, God. For a moment I thought..."

"That I was behind all that! Thanks for the vote of trust, girlfriend."

A bit of anger was perceptible in Faith’s voice.

"Hey, your track records don’t speak in your favour, girlfriend."

"I agree! But you could at least leave me the benefit of the doubt. You haven’t heard of me for the last two years. My ass stayed in this fucking prison for this whole time, I didn’t make any kind of trouble. You should have known it, wouldn’t have known it if you had asked Soul Boy!"

Buffy remained silent for a few seconds then said:

"I... I did!"

"What?"

"I did and I know you have done well in there."

"I... I didn’t know, I..."

Not wanting to continue speaking about it, Buffy decided to come back to more urgent topics.

"That’s not the point. We’ll talk about it later. Yes, I thought it was you, old habits die hard and it will take time for us to be comfortable with each other again... but..."

"We’re on the same shit!"

"And we have to work together to find a way to get out of here. Wherever this here is."

Faith nodded and added:

"The Chosen Two back on business?"

Buffy smiled. Faith had always had this capacity of making her feel better, even when she had no reason to.

"The Chosen Two back on business. So, have you noticed something that could be interesting since your awakening?"

"Nothing that you wouldn’t have noticed. You?"

"Well, maybe! See, Rana, the girl I’m supposed to be, I think she really exists."

"Wow! Time out! You think that we have switched bodies with them? Last time I checked my reflection, it was Faith’s face I saw!"

"Yes, I know that there are some flaws in that theory but there are just too many people that seem to really believe we are Rana and Nazra for it not being genuine and..."

"And?"

"Well, when I was getting ready to come pick you up at the harbour, I found some scrolls. Rana’s scrolls and it was her handwriting."

"And? Does it match yours?"

"No... and Yes!"

"Huh?"

"It wasn’t Sunnydale Buffy Summers handwriting but is Babylonian Buffy Summers one."

"OK, if I understand it. You can write like Rana, right?"

"Yes! And that seems to confirm that I’m indeed in her body."

Faith sighed before saying:

"So, what are we gonna do now, B?"

"Well, we’re here for a reason. I suggest we stay here, play the roles we are supposed to play and wait. Whoever or whatever brought us here would probably make himself or itself know sooner or later."

"And if he don’t?"

"Do we really have the choice?"

"Fraid not!"

"So, tell me what you know about your new you!"

And for the next hour, they exchanged data about their current alter egos.

Husa quietly left her master’s house. She didn’t want to be seen leaving the place. Checking regularly if someone was following her, she walked in the streets of Babylon before finally reaching her destination, a huge temple based on the left of the Royal Palace. She entered the temple, made a quick prayer to Baal before pushing a curtain, on the left side of a statue representing the god. She entered the room protected by the curtain and knelt before a man with grey hair who wore the toga of the priests of Baal. Damus, the oldest and the most influential of all the priests of Babylon.

"Stand up, worm! Do you have some news for me?"

"Yes, My lord! The Slayer has just arrived in my master’s house."

The priest smiled and replied:

"Good! Keep an eye on her, worm! And don’t disappoint me! Remember how I punish incompetence."

Husa replied on a soft voice that betrayed her terror:

"Yes, My Lord, I remember! I won’t disappoint you."

"Baal doesn’t like the weak, worm, but he rewards those who serve him well."

"Yes, My Lord!"

"Now, get back to your master’s house before anyone notice your absence."

Husa nodded a last time and left the room.

Once alone, Damus pushed on one of the stone of the wall that stood on his left. A secret passage appeared next to the stone and Damus entered it. He descended the stairs, illuminated by torches and finally arrived in a huge room, full of people, no, full of vampires. The main nest, the nest whose leader was the oldest, mightiest vampire of Babylon: Zeishan.

Zeishan who was now coming to him, wearing his refined toga that never seemed dirty, a wonder for someone who was living in the tunnels below the city. Zeishan, with his dark hair and brown eyes, with his beard, perfectly cut, with his cruel smile that gave the wiggles to most people, Zeishan with his tattoo of Tiamat on his back, carefully hidden below the toga. Zeishan, the only being that truly scared him. Zeishan, his ally.

"Damus! It’s always a pleasure to see you, my friend."

"The pleasure is all mine, Lord Zeishan."

"I assume your presence here means that she has arrived."

"My contact inside Sidouf’s house has just brought me the confirmation. The Slayer is in Babylon."

"Damned! Tiamat curses this fool of Nebuchadnezzar. Why should he call the Slayer now? Now that we are so close to success!"

"Yes, the timing is bad! But I assure you that neither the emperor, nor his scribe know anything about the Waves! It’s just that... well, your lackeys haven’t been that discreet lately and Nebuchadnezzar likes order."

"Yes, I know. I didn’t have the choice though. I had to test things."

"So?"

"So, we have to remain low profile till the end of the week and be sure to occupy the Slayer and lead her out of our way. I don’t want to waste my lackeys as you called them... could you take care of it, my friend?"

Damus smiled before responding.

"I’ll be honoured."

"Thank you! You won’t regret it. When the Day comes, your reward will be at the level of your devotion."

To be continued in PART 2