Disclaimer: I own neither boardies
nor major motion pictures, and the following is not for monetary gain.
Previously
(http://www.geocities.com/grnarmadillo for full parts): Bowen headed
off to a Holdouts party in response to a strange post on the board, and
was told that she needed to seek the advice of The Storyteller....
The Finale
Chapter 2: Enter the Holdouts
*Holdout HQ, May 18th, 2003*
Bowen wanders into the breakfast room where the Holdouts are munching
away at breakfast.
SteffiG: *slides Bowen a plate* Breakfast of champions. Eat up.
Bowen: *looks down at the mush in her plate, frowns* What is it?
Aluv: It's a mix of the essential food groups in a balanced breakfast.
You know, have you ever wondered why everything tastes like candy?
Maybe we're all living in a big computer program now and the
computer has no idea what breakfast should taste like, so they just make
it taste like candy...
Bowen: *takes a spoonful, winces at the sweetness* My god, what's in
this?!
Dawnmeister: Like she said, the four food groups. Chocolate,
sugar, toppings, and ice cream! *bounces away on a sugar high*
Ryno: So Sheepy is taking you in to see the Storyteller today, yeah?
Bowen: Yeah. I'm not sure why everyone's so worried about it.
They were talking about putting me through training or something.
What could bother us on the boards?
Wolfram: Well, the Agents have been running amok these days.
Bowen: Agents?
Firebird: Of Fox Copyright division. At first they seemed to be
really bent on preventing spoilers for the Buffy finale, but now they
seem to be coming after us too.
Ruth: I heard a rumor that they AREN'T after the Knights of
Spoilerantium, though. In fact, I'd heard the Knights are WORKING
with them. Why wouldn't the Agents go after those guys first?
Hazel: Too weird for my taste. I'm just for holding out and
waiting for this all to die down.
Nikkikat: *walking in* Hey Bowen. Ready for some training?
Bowen: *leaving the "food" at arms length* Sure.
The two walk into the Holdouts VR training simulator.
Bowen: What am I going to learn?
Nikkikat: Well, I'm supposed to start you with the basics, but how
about we skip those and go to the fun stuff? *pulls out a disc
labelled "penguin combat"*
*Meanwhile, at the top floor of a high rise corporate headquarters*
Head Archenemy Type (HAT): *hidden in the shadows, that we may not see
the person's face* How is the plan progressing?
Agent Smith: It has been a success. We believe we have tracked
down most recipients of the Wild Feed, and are chasing down the last
stragglers as we speak.
HAT: Then you will be suspending operations? Our being caught
would be... undesireable for the plan.
Agent Smith: Our... new associates indicate that there is still one
group who has access to spoilers.
HAT: The Holdouts? But they choose not to view the spoilers.
Why are they a threat?
Agent Smith: That choice is one of human will. And humans are....
weak. We believe if we can destroy their candy warehouse, they
will all lose the will to resist and then they will be ours.
HAT: Very well. Make the arrangements.
*Holdouts training center*
Sheepy walks in and looks at Bowen.
Sheepy: How's it going?
Nikkikat: Pretty good. She's just eating this stuff up.
Bowen: *notices Sheepy* I know Penguin-Fu.
Sheepy: Show me.
*The two face off in a VR dojo*
Sheepy: This is a simulation of the conditions you'll face when we go
back out into the Posting Boards. Like the Boards this place has
rules. Some can be bent. Some, broken. Now.... hit me.
*The breakfast room*
Chasarumba: *runs in* Sheepy is fighting Bowen!
Everyone runs in to watch.
*The training facility*
Bowen charges, and tries to hit the Sheep, but Sheepy dodges
effortlessly and jumps across the room. Bowen leaps to follow and
isn't quite going to make it when suddenly.... a penguin runs in and
leaps through the air to gives Bowen the nudge she needs to make it all
the way across the room and tackle Sheepy.
Sheepy: Alright. It's time.
*Meanwhile*
Agent Smith: Do we have a deal?
????: You know, I know what's going to happen in this episode, and I
don't want to. You remove all memory of the Finale from my brain
so I can watch it without knowing what's going to happen, and I'll give
you what you want.
Agent Jones: We need the locations of all sites....
Agent Smith: *cuts him off* Our sources say the main thing we need to
take out is the Holdouts warehouse. They have access to too much
information, and could find out what we're planning. But if we
take away their rewards, they'll give up and watch the wildfeed...
????: I told you already, I don't KNOW the access codes to the
Warehouse. But I can get you the one who does....
Agent Smith: The Sheep.
*The BCS Boards*
Beffierae: *picks up a cell phone* Hello, Operator?
Buffychick: Hey Holdouts. Sorry Julia and I can't join you on
this one.
Katlurkin: No worries, BC. What're we facing?
BC: Not much, coast looks clear. Good luck, Holdouts!
As they walk off, no one notices a cell phone lying on the ground by
their entrance to the board. Its screen reads "Dialing.... Smith."
Bowen: So, explain to me this whole Storyteller thing...
Ruby2: Well, GA's the benevolent storyteller of the Holdouts. He
writes fics and fills in for Sheepy sometimes.
Bowen: Right. But he's supposed to tell me what to make of this
all? I thought that was your job, Ruby?
Ruby2: Nah, I stick to interpreting dreams. GA's been at this
since before most of us Holdouts were around, even before the days of
Voy.
Bowen: Yeah, I remember Inside The Web. Scary times. But
things are better now, right?
Ruby2: Not necessarily. This crisis with the Agents threatens to
destroy all that we hold dear. They've already come after Board
Momma once. Our best shot is the prophecy, one GA handed down long
ago, of The One, someone who will be able to save all the Holdouts from
the spoilers.
Bowen: Well, that's useful, I suppose. Where are we going to find
The One, though?
Ruby2: *looks at Bowen, half surprized, half saddened by the burden
she's laying on her fellow Holdout* Bowen... Sheepy believe that YOU are
The One. That's why we're taking you to see the Storyteller today.
Before Bowen can respond, Sheepy comes up wearing Morpheus reflective
sunglasses.
Sheepy: Bowen? It's time....
The two enter a nondescript looking house. As they get to the
door of an apartment, Sheepy turns to Bowen and nods. Bowen enters
the apartment and looks around to see a jumble of all sorts of things.
Piles of old board fiction, CD's, comics, and of course tapes of
Buffy and Angel. To her surprize, some younger Holdouts are in the
room, training their minds to reject spoilers. Alina passes by
casting threads while Aqua409 resists spoilery wallpaper, Sangre wishes
monsters upon spoilery speculation, and Tracy concentrates on ignoring
wildfeed reports. Bowen's eye is caught by SpikedKitty sitting the
corner, waving her hand and making spoilery threads move away from her.
SpikedKitty looks up at Bowen, and stares her right in the eye.
SK: Do not try and move the spoiler. That's impossible. Instead only
try to realize the truth.
Bowen: What truth?
SK: There is no spoiler.
Bowen: *tries, a spoiler starts to move away from her, only to snap
back into place* There is no spoiler?
SK: Then you'll see that it is not the spoiler that bends, it is only
yourself.
Missy: *walking up* The Armadillo will see you now.
Bowen walks into GA's room and is struck by an even greater level of
mess than outside, as biology texts and papers mingle with the items
scattered outside. GA is sitting at his computer, typing, and
without looking up he raises a hand in greeting.
GA: Hey Bowen. Make yourself comfortable. If you can clear
out a space to sit on anyways. And don't worry about the cream pie.
Bowen: *confused* Cream pie? What cream pie?! *looks around
in confusion, bumping a lamp and knocking a cream pie strategically
placed on top of it off into her face*
GA: *turns around* That cream pie. Now the interesting question
is would you have walked into that one if I hadn't said anything?
Bowen: Am I being punished?
GA: Well, you DID make me host Fear Factor. *shudders, but then
grins* And hey, I like to make a mess. Now what's on your mind?
Bowen: *shakes her head, smiles ruefully as she cleans cream pie off
her face* Well... I got a weird poll response a while back and I'm
wondering....
GA: Whether you're The One?
Bowen: Who's going to stop the Agents, save the Holdouts, the board,
and the show? I mean, I'm not that kind of a fighter.
GA; Well, you never know what one will do to protect their home,
friends and family. But let me see... *examines her hand* No... no
you're not.
Bowen: I thought so.
GA: Being The One is about choosing to be The One, and being touched by
destiny. You've had a close brush with it, but it passed you by.
I'm sorry, Bowen.
Bowen: No, it's alright. I'd rather go back to work anyway...
GA: Yeah, that's for the best. Too bad about the Sheep, though.
Bowen: What about Sheepy?
GA: Well, she really believes that you ARE The One. That's why
she's going to give herself up for you, unless you choose to go in her
place. One of you will end up in their hands. But cheer up.
Go home, take a shower, and I promise you that by the time you get
the rest of that cream pie out of your hair, you'll be all better.
Bowen: *looks at her hair in alarm* Gee, thanks GA.
GA: Don't mention it. Unless there's a recap for one of the later
parts or something.
Bowen walks out, not sure what to think, when she meets Sheepy at the
door.
Bowen: Sheepy, I...
Sheepy: What was said was for you alone. Let's head back to base.
*20th Century Fox, Corporate HQ, office of Rupert Murdoch*
Simon enters the room, and Mr. Murdoch looks up, surprized.
Murdoch: How did you get in here?
Simon: I know things. Like that your people are messing with the
Buffy finale.
Murdoch: Huh? That doesn't make any sense.
Simon: That's what I'd say. Your 20th Century Fox owns Buffy, and
stands to make huge profits from the DVD releases. Why would you
sabotage it?
Murdoch: I would never do that. In fact, I employ the Agents to
make sure just such a thing would never happen. *pushes intercom*
Send in Smith and Johnson. Don't worry, they're not going to hurt
you.
Two generic Agents enter.
Murdoch: Agents. Where are Smith and Johnson? No matter,
reassure this British kid that you're keeping the Finale safe from
tampering.
The Agents stand, silent.
Murdoch: Agents... Has anything happened to the Buffy finale?
Agent: Yes.
Simon: *begins to back towards the door, realizing what's going on*
Murdoch: WHAT?! What is the meaning of this? How could you
let this happen? You answer to me....
Agent: *as the two advance on the hapless Murdoch* Not anymore.....
*The Board*
And so, the Holdout gang heads back towards home, Bowen deep in
thought, and the rest on the lookout for trouble. As they head
towards their exit from the Board, Bowen looks over and notices a cat
that looks JUST like McGonigletwin's Kermit scurrying off. She
smiles and thinks of home when suddenly she looks over and notices a cat
that looks JUST like McGonigletwin's Kermit scurrying off.
Bowen: Weird.
Sekimet: *scritches head* What?
Bowen: Deja vu.
Mandikins: What did you say?!
Bowen: Oh just Deja Vu. I coulda sworn I saw my roommie's cat
walk by twice just now.
GeoGirl: Deja Vu's a glitch in the board like double posting... could
mean they changed something....
Desi: *pulls out cell phone* Operator, come in!
BuffyChick: Operator here. What's wrong?
Kim: We think they've changed something but we're not sure what....
BC: *checks the system* Oh boy... they've shut off your exit. Get
out of there!
Jade: *starts to point the gang down an alley and they all run down it
until suddenly* Hey, there's a dumpster blocking the way... that wasn't
here before!
MushMush: This must be what they changed...
BC: Guys, I hate to make it worse, but there's an Agent about to round
the corner....
Sheepy: *looks around, finds a manhole cover and rips it off quick*
Everyone in here!
The holdouts quickly jump down, as Sheepy, Bowen, and Robin stand guard.
Sheepy: Robin... you need to take Bowen to safety. She's the only
thing that matters now.
Robin: Slash sister! No...
Bowen: Listen, Sheepy, you're wrong, I'm not...
Sheepy: There's no time! Robin! GO!
Robin grabs Bowen and drags her down into the manhole, and Sheepy pulls
the cover over the top of it, jamming it in place so it can't be opened
just as...
Agent Smith: Ah, the great Spiffy, da Wonder Sheep.
Sheepy: Your fashion sense sucks.
Smith: *looks down at his MIB costume back up at Sheepy* You'll pay for
that.
The two face off and battle in a brutal fight where neither can get an
upper hand. Each moves quicker than the eye can see, and blow
after blow is deflected, wth enough sheer force to smash through the
brick walls of the surrounding buildings. But suddenly, a figure
tackles Sheepy from behind, sending them both crashing through the wall
into a building. They land at the top of an escalator.
Digitalis: *Throws sheepy down the escalator* You owe me some serious
prezzies, Sheep.
Agent Smith: *gestures to the fallen Sheep* Take her.
Suddenly, the Knights of Spoilerantium emerge behind Agent Smith and
descend upon Sheepy.
Bowen: *watching through a drain* Sheepy, no......
To Be Continued....
Back to GA's fic
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