Xander Harris

"So what is it?" Xander asked.

Rupert Giles looked at the mark on the young man's chest and winced. "Oh dear."

"That's not good." Xander pulled his shirt down and sat at the table in the library beside Giles.

Rupert gestured to the books that were on the table. "Yes, well, given all that has happened recently it was unfortunately fresh in my mind."

"And it is?" Xander asked.

"The Mark of the Judge." Giles sat back in his chair and slouched tiredly.

"As in...?" Xander winced at the idea of the big blue demon who had died only last night.

"As in." Giles nodded.

"Uhhhhh." Xander put his hand over the blue hand shaped mark on his chest. "Who?What?Why?When?How?"

Giles pulled off his glasses and massaged his eyes. "Yes, well, it is said that those who defeat the Judge will inherit a portion of the Judge's power. The leader of the order of knights that previously defeated the Judge was said to have, post the Judges defeat, a commanding presence that could not be disobeyed." Giles put his glasses back on, "Now whether that was a power or just his reputation post defeating the Judge remains to be seen."

"And what does that mean for me?" Xander asked. "And why the hell is it me? Buffy shot the rocket launcher. In what way does that make me responsible for killing the Judge?"

"First, I dont know. Second, in this case you designed the means of defeating the Judge, procurred the means to defeat the Judge, showed how to use the weapon. So while you didnt fire the weapon you did everything but. Hence..." Giles gestured at Xander's chest.

Giles sat up and leaning towards Xander he pursed his lips. "Now, as to what it actually means for you? Well, we will have to experiment. The only known other recipient of the mark was said to have a commanding presence. So that is where we will start our experiment."

"You want me to order you around?" Xander looked skeptical.

Giles shook his head. "Not me, per se. As I will be recording the results of our experiments it is best if I am not a test subject. When Buffy and Willow arrive I will explain the situation and enlist their help."

Xander groaned and sat back in his chair.