Twilight's information gathering skills confusing

[DorothyFan1]

Here's a problem I have with Twilight and his ability to get information on Buffy and her Scoobies. In the recent issue 8.12, we learn that Twilight had been watching Buffy and Willow while they flew to see the Demon. So far so good. But here's the confusing part...in issue 8.9...we see Lt Molter report to Twilight on the "mole's" status report telling him that Buffy survived the assassination attempt.

The problem is from issue 8.12. If Twilight is able to "watch" Buffy and Willow...why the inconsistent scene in 8.9 showing Twilight waiting to get information from Lt. Molter? Does this suggest Buffy's headquarters is impervious to outside seeking "eyes" and the only way to get information on Buffy is if she's outside Willow's protection zone? Since it was Willow who has protected the castle with her information technology skills...it becomes all the more puzzling how Twilight can't get info on Buffy while she's inside the castle...when he *can* get it when she's outside.

If we keep this inconsistency in mind...it becomes even clearer why Xander may be the mole. If we assume Twilight needs somebody to brief him on Buffy's whereabouts while she's inside the castle in Scotland...it's crystal clear how he might have known where to find Buffy at her haunts...the mole told him. The only one who knew where Buffy was going that night was Xander.

[KingofCretins]

I think the simplest explanation is likely to be the accurate one -- Twilight can, at his discretion, observe Buffy outside the walls, such as on mission in 8.01 or flying with Willow in "Anywhere But Here", but he relies on the mole for information from inside the castle and just about the organization in general.

It's worth noting that if Xander was the mole, Twilight may already have known about Simone in "A Beautiful Sunset" -- exactly the sort of thing he'd have brought up, in his psyche out of Buffy. Since he didn't mention it, I'm going to assume he didn't know about it, and since the only people we *know* know about it inside the BHC are Buffy and Xander, my own suspicion of Xander is lowered, not raised.

[Koos]

The problem is from issue 8.12. If Twilight is able to "watch" Buffy and Willow...why the inconsistent scene in 8.9 showing Twilight waiting to get information from Lt. Molter?

I saw that scene as that he already knew of what Lt. Molter had to say. And more. As a matter of fact, Buffy's death was not even *his* plan, only the organisation's. I don't see it as an inconsistency.

The only one who knew where Buffy was going that night was Xander.

That conclusion would be really a surprise, because that'd mean that Xander went out alone and that has found the vampire-nest all by himself. I don't think that's case, unless he specifically went for the search as a birthday gift for Buffy.

[Thomas]

Here's a problem I have with Twilight and his ability to get information on Buffy and her Scoobies. In the recent issue 8.12, we learn that Twilight had been watching Buffy and Willow while they flew to see the Demon. So far so good. But here's the confusing part...in issue 8.9...we see Lt Molter report to Twilight on the "mole's" status report telling him that Buffy survived the assassination attempt.

The problem is from issue 8.12. If Twilight is able to "watch" Buffy and Willow...why the inconsistent scene in 8.9 showing Twilight waiting to get information from Lt. Molter? Does this suggest Buffy's headquarters is impervious to outside seeking "eyes" and the only way to get information on Buffy is if she's outside Willow's protection zone? Since it was Willow who has protected the castle with her information technology skills...it becomes all the more puzzling how Twilight can't get info on Buffy while she's inside the castle...when he *can* get it when she's outside.

I just think the castle's heavily guarded, you saw how fast Xander and the Slayers showed up when Amy attacked Buffy, it was instant. I think it'd probably interfere with his plans too much to attempt a full out battle so early. So, he depends on moles to watch on the inside until that time really comes.

If we keep this inconsistency in mind...it becomes even clearer why Xander may be the mole. If we assume Twilight needs somebody to brief him on Buffy's whereabouts while she's inside the castle in Scotland...it's crystal clear how he might have known where to find Buffy at her haunts...the mole told him. The only one who knew where Buffy was going that night was Xander.

That may not be true. Satsu was told and she could of mentioned it to Leah, Rowena, Renee, or another Slayer. Or Xander could have given the other Slayers a heads up that Buffy was going out so they could be on a higher alert. If one of them casually asked "Where?", Xander probably wouldn't even think twice before answering.

There's plenty of plausible reasons how Twilight found out without Xander telling him.

[stormwreath]

There's plenty of plausible reasons how Twilight found out without Xander telling him.

For that matter, Twilight might have set up the vampires in that graveyard himself, as a trap... (Compare Adam in 'Who Are You?'. And by the way, in all the 'Who's Twilight?' speculation, how come everyone has forgotten about Adam as a possibility?)

[KingofCretins]

I think Adam is usually overlooked because of the "ugh" factor, frankly -- he never was a popular villain in any interpretation.

Aside from that, it's off ideologically -- Adam was a uniter, not a divider (heh). He was all about the integration of human, demon, machine. Twilight is thus far the apotheosis of humanism. Down with demon, down with magic. He is of course, also emblematic of rationalism in general, an end to fantasy and credulity. That's part of why I've wondered if Joss read "The Dark Tower", since Twilight is, in his way, the dark man of the Buffyverse.

Then the physicality and mode of speech. I just don't buy Adam being as... hmm, cavalier as Twilight is. Twilight *enjoys* what he can do, in a very human, emotional way. He has panache, that's it. Showmanship.

His resource within the walls has to be someone with access to information as it develops. Specifically, not only that Buffy survived the assassination attempt, but that Genevieve and Roden didn't, and that Giles and Faith both 'left the chessboard', to use his metaphor. Although we could assume that he might have obtained these different pieces of information independently, if he didn't, that narrows the field very thoroughly.

I'm leaning toward either A) Giles, or B) Renee, a secondary victim of blackmail against her safety. I'm going to say no to Satsu, because Twilight nearly killed her, and if she was his resource, he wouldn't have taken as overt a chance in losing that resource.

[vampmogs]

I agree with others.

Twilight can watch them when they're outside the castle, but can't see them in the castle which explains why he needs a mole on the inside. When Twilight states that he saw Buffy and Willow he means when they were flying outside in "Anywhere But Here."