"...I mean where they are? Until I can talk to them? But there's gotta be a - less assholeish way to do that?"

"I ask because once it becomes clear that the Sterling-Blanc catacombs have been vacated, other vampires will almost certainly try to move in on them.  Do we have the means to secure a place to keep prisoners."

"Dunno. If there's - organized - Gaara'd have trouble holding them, and we don't have a big group yet..."

He nods.  "It's unclear exactly how organized the vampires in Sunnydale are, but... I doubt the Line and Sinker, for instance, is a solo project."

"Yeah, and - more might try to organize, if there's a reason."

Giles nods.

"We, um," says Kaylee tentatively - "I think we should try to - treat them conscientiously while we figure out what to do about them, at least.  Whether it's hopeless to ever talk to vampires or not, whether we can keep them prisoner indefinitely or not - we can at least not lock them up and forget about them for however long we can hold onto the mausoleum, even if that's not very long.  Even serial killers get last meals, you know?"

"Yeah. Even if they're irredeemable assholes - we have standards. Even assholes get equality under the law."

He nods.  "I think you're right.  Can you, ah, countenance, finishing the debriefing before you leave to see to them?  I think it would be wise, but..."

"I... Maybe quickly..."

“What if we just - finish going over the fight, that should only take a minute, and then do the rest of the - analysis - after we take care of the prisoners?  - Nausicaa, are you feeling up to interacting with vampires who - might be angry or dangerous?”

"I think so?"

"Are you quite sure?" Giles says.  "Because if you're not fully recovered, then even with Gaara as backup, it would be wisest to wait until you are, I think."

"And leave them possibly suffering?"

He hesitates, touching his hand to his cheek pensively.

“I understand your urgency,” he says.  “Disregarding your own safety, even in pursuit of noble goals, can still be unwise - if you’re further injured or killed because you weren’t fully recovered, you may do less good overall, even if hesitation feels like a greater betrayal.  If you say that you understand this, and that you still wish to go today, I will believe you.”

"...Yeah. If there was a fight, I'm - not sure I could do it, right now."

"We need more allies."

“One thing Slayers almost always are is overstretched,” he says somberly.

"Why don't more of them have a lot of allies?"

"The best Slayers do," he says, "as I understand it.  But it never seems to be enough."

"I think I need to find some way for - compounding allies? Allies who find allies, or - just. An organization. Maybe something I can pass on to the next Slayer, even."

"To some extent that is what the Council is meant to be," he says, "but it is an - " he sighs.  "...imperfect organization."

"I get the feeling it's not really the Slayer's organization, though."

He shakes his head.  "The Council - usually sees it as the other way around, in my understanding."

"The Slayer should have her own people, too."

He sighs distantly.

"Yes," he says after a moment, "I rather think you should."