Hell on Earth: Futures Divided: Chapter 4: Extracting the Package
by Timan
“Buffy . . . Hi . . . What are you doing here?”
Buffy stare was overpowering. There was something about her look the told Angel that he had forgotten something.
“I don’t know how your fancy Los Angeles calendars work by my simple Rome calendar tells me that it’s my nieces birthday to day and I had this crazy idea that I might want to celebrate it with her,” Buffy said infuriated, “perhaps you can explain something to me Angel. Why is my niece locked in a cage in the basement?”
Angel looked around the room nervously. He was annoyed to see everybody step back from the slayer cautiously. He looked at Buffy seriously.
“Something happened yesterday Bec . . . Rebecca was sent something by . . .”
“Angel!” Willow called out from side hallway as she rushed up to the vampire.
Oh thank god! Angel thought as the witch arrived.
“That’s not our Becky.” Willow said quietly.
“I know. For some reason Judson was very chatty. From experience when the bad guy tells you his entire plan he know that you wont be able to stop it. Plus, with Angelus’ help, the numbers are stacking up against us.”
Willows face dropped.
“Angelus? I though he was dead.” she said
“Wolfram and Heart gave him a one way ticket to his very own apocalypse.”
Willow looked at the Vampire in a scared confusion.
“I can’t explain now Willow. Did you find a way to send her back?”
“That’s what I came to tell you,” Willow replied, “when I was talking to Becky. I felt this energy around her and it felt like a binding spell. This would explain what happened to Rebecca over the last few days.”
“Can you undo it?”
Willow shrugged sadly.
“This kind of spell you need the object they’ve been bound to break It.” she said
“That’s what Judson said. Damn it!”
Just then the front door opened. Xander walked quickly.
“Hey Angel, Willow. where do you want it set up?” he said in a business like manner
Angel quickly scouted the room. He gestured to the rear corner.
“Set it up there. It’ll be easier to shift her to there.”
“So what Will said was right? Becky’s back.”
Angel nodded seriously. Xander looked at the vampire with great concern.
“Is it worth asked if we know where Rebecca went?”
“I don’t think you want to know Xander.” Angel replied
“Oh that bad.” Xander replied, “just get he back Angel.”
Angel smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Xander shoulder. Xander walked back out the front and called in his small crew of welders. After they passed he turned back to Willow.
“Keep trying Will. I’ll be with Xander if you need anything” He asked
Willow nodded. Angel smiled at her and headed for the construction crew.
“HEY!” Buffy yelled from the center of the room.
Her blood has been boiling since the flurry of activity swirled around her. She looked at the both of them with intense anger.
“Head slayer! Sanding here! No information!” She yelled at them
“She right somebody needs to tell her what’s going on.” Angel replied to Willow
“Yep.” Willow replied
Angel put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“You can handle that Will. I’ll go help Xander.”
“What? Me? . . . Angel.”
Using his fully vampire speed he rushed down the stairs before Willow could argue. Willow stood awkwardly as she felt the burning gaze of the slayer fall on her.
“Hey Buff,” she said terrified, “How was your flight?”
Judson paced briskly across the lobby of Wolfram and Heart. He swung open the door to the strike team office and walked in.
“Is your team ready Bridges?”
Commander Bridges finished strapping on his bulletproof vest.
“Good to go sir.” He replied, “just tell us the package and we’ll retrieve it.”
Judson nodded. From under his arm he pulled out a manila folder and spread it’s contents over the table.
“The package’s name is ‘Becky Summers’, a slayer. She’s currently being held in the basement of the Hyperon Hotel” Judson explained
Commander Bridges looked at the lawyer in confusion.
“A slayer? Why are we extracting a slayer?”
“This is not you’re typical slayer Commander. The senior partners are convinced that she can be swayed to join or family.”
The commander nodded.
“What’s our entry point?”
“Sub torrential. The hotel has sewer access,” Judson explained, “I don’t need to tell you how important this woman is to our plans.”
“No sir” Commander Bridges said collecting the notes
“Good. Because if we get Miss Summers on side the city’s pest problem will be cleared up very quickly.”
Buffy lent uneasily against the front counter of the Hyperon. She shook her head slowly not willing to accept the news. Slowly she looked back to Willow
“A hell dimension?” she asked disturbed
Willow nodded slowly. The Witch rested her hand caringly on the slayers shoulder.
“How?” Buffy continued
“Not exactly sure yet,” Willow, “But don’t worry I’m gonna keep working on it.”
Buffy wanted to reply but the words just wouldn’t come out. She sighed and leaned her head back stressfully. While running her hand over the top of the front desk she found something small and round and began to fiddle with it nervously
“What Exactly happened?” Buffy asked
“Well. . . Becky rushed in with good news. She found this box on the front desk, which had the Star of Asgeroth inside; there was a big light show and now we have an uber-slayer in our basement.” Willow replied
Buffy hit the front desk in frustration.
“I asked Angel to do one thing, one simple thing.”
“It wasn’t his fault Buffy. None of us knew about the box.”
“That’s no excuse Will he should be more aware.”
“I think you’re being a little hard on him Angel’s trying his hardest to get her back.”
Buffy sighed in frustration. She looked over to her best friend with sadness in her eyes.
“So what was the good new?”
Buffy couldn’t help noticed Willow expression become more anxious. Willow motioned to the thing Buffy was fiddling with on the front desk. Confused Buffy picked up the item and examined it.
It was a simple gold band with eight diamonds in the shape of a teddy bear.
Buffy looked up in shock.
“Oh god. He didn’t!” she exclaimed
“Yesterday. She was really excited.” Willow replied
Buffy covered her mouth. This was too much for the Slayer. Slowly the tears begin to roll down the cheek. Willow moved in and hugged Buffy Tightly
“Hey we’re gonna get her back Buff.” Willow said reassuring
“I can’t . . ,” Buffy cried, “I lost mom, I lost Dawnie I can’t loose Rebecca. She’s all I have left Will.”
Willow pulled away from the hug. The witch looked seriously at the slayer.
“We’re gonna get her back I promise.” Willow insisted.
Angel looked at Buffy and Willow seriously. He knew he made a promise to the slayer and he wasn’t planning on breaking it. From behind him one of the welders walked up.
“So what are ya holding?” he asked
Angel turned curiously to him.
“Hmm?”
“Xander told us you got some kind of wild animal cornered down there.”
Angel looked confused. Xander rushed up.
“Larry back to the cage okay.” He said
Larry looked at the both of them then returned to his work.
“Sorry ‘bout that.” Xander said
“Wild animal?” Angel asked
“Had to tell them something Angel. Besides what would you call Apocalypse Becky?”
“Good point.”
Xander indicated over to Buffy
“She doesn’t look like she taking it well.” he commented
“I don’t blame her. I was supposed to look out for her.”
“Hey the way will explained it to me. No one saw it coming”
“She was so happy to. Alex just proposed to her.”
Xander looked to the Vampire in shock and surprise.
“When?”
“Yesterday. You should have seen her Xander.”
“Hell on a stick!” Xander said in frustration, “anybody talked to Alex yet?”
“And say what Xander?”
Xander turned to Angel with a gleam of anger in his eye.
“I’m not sure if you’ve ever planned to marry anybody Angel but if you propose to a girl and she vanishes without a trace it’s like shoving a hot sword through you chest.”
Angel looked from Xander to Buffy. Xander was determined not to let this point drop.
“Someone has to say something!” he exclaimed, “We have to tell him.”
Angel ran his options through his head. Suddenly knew what he needed to do.
“We don’t need to Xander. Were going to get Rebecca back. Today!” he insisted.
Moving with purpose he moved out the door.
Angel walked in slowly to the bar. He had heard about its return about five years ago but was reluctant to go because the owner was a little testy about the fact he was involved in getting it destroyed the previous three times. But since this was an extreme situation he knew that Lorne was one of the only people he could turn to now. Angel sat by the bar as the host demon belted out one of his trademark songs. It looks like he close to being his old self again since the trauma of working for Wolfram and Heart.
Lorne finished his number and thanked his audience. He made his way off the stage and collected his sea breeze. One of his security approached and Lorne flashed him his million-dollar smile.
“Oh did you see me out there Frank I was sizzling. Any hotter and you’d have to break out the extinguishers.” The demon said happily
“There’s a guy at the bar who want to speak to you.” Frank replied seriously
Lorne frowned at the bouncer.
“Well you no fun,” Lorne said handing Frank some money, “Here’s a twenty go by that personality you’ve always wanted.”
Lorne walked through the audience soaking up the applause he noticed a friendly face. He looked seriously at the vampire.
“Oh it’s you.” Lorne said standing next to Angel.
“Hey Lorne. How you been.” Angel replied nervously
“Can’t complain. Karatos has had its fifth birthday without it being shot at or blown up. I’d call that a victory.”
Angel dropped his head seriously.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever apologized for what happed back then.”
Lone smiled.
“That’s all in the past now Angel cakes,” Lorne replied, “like a song by Liza Manley, our friendship will keep going on no matter who tries to stop it.”
Angel looked up relieved. He was worried how the host would react to his return. Lorne turned to the stage and cringed as a trio of drunken vampires attempts to sing the beach boys greatest hits.
“I’m guessing you’re not here for the sparking talent so why did you come?”
“I’m looking for someone powerful enough to break a spell.”
Lorne gave the vampire a look and motioned him to a private booth.
“You didn’t try to put the love voodoo on sweet Nina did you?” Lorne asked with sweet seriousness
“No this is much worse. I think Wolfram and Heart are trying to make a move on me.”
“Whoa I don’t want to get involved if it’s with the big W and H.”
“It’s okay Lorne you don’t have to. If you know a shaman or a wizard or even a demon who could help out.”
Lorne analyzed the vampire closely. A small smile crossed his face.
“Uh huh. This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain blond slayer you know.”
“This has got nothing to do with Buffy, well, actually it does. The spell was cast on her niece.”
“Rebecca?” Lorne replied to Angel surprise
“Good . . . guess. How do you know Rebecca?”
“She one of my regulars. Comes here often when she’s not down at that slayer club. Such a sweet kid.”
“Did you read her?” Angel asked cautiously
Lorne frowned at Angel. He took a sip of his drink and placed it on the table.
“You know I can’t tell you that. People futures are private,” Lorne replied, “But I will say this. Under that happy shell laid a very sad person.”
“Sad? Why?”
“She thinks the people closest to her are hiding something. Why else would you have used magic to tell you where she is all the time Angel?”
Angel looked down guilty.
“She’s not stupid. I thought even the big champion of the people like yourself would realized that you couldn’t have kept that a secret forever.”
“Well if she knew what it was why did she keep wearing it?”
“Because you gave it to her. Angel cakes you don’t know how much you mean to that young woman. Whatever it is that you’re holding onto let it out that’s all she wants.”
“She doesn’t want to hear this.”
“Don’t you think that should be her choice?”
Angel looked up at Lorne. He had missed his council since he left. Lorne smiled and patted him on the hands.
“Come on back to the bar. Chad will make a sea breeze you will just melt over.”
“Wait. I still need help with the spell.”
Lorne sighed.
“Alright. Tell me what were dealing with.”
“Willow said it was some kind of binding spell. It was supposed to connect Rebecca to an amulet called the Star of Asgeroth.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad. It’s not like a portal opened up and she was sucked into a hell dimension like poor Fred.”
Angel looked around in frustration. Lorne, realizing what he’d just said, gave Angel an apologetic look.
“Oh my. I was only kidding about that. She was really pulled into a hell dimension?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then we have to get her back as quickly as possible.”
Lorne pulled out a pen from his pocket. He quickly scribbled down an address and handed it to Angel.
“Go see this guy. If anybody can bring back sweet Rebecca.”
“You trust him?”
“You have my word Angel. Lotniel the conjuror is completely professional. I had him tweak the no violence barrier in the club to include explosives.”
“Thanks Lorne.”
“Yeah, well, you can thank me by bring Rebecca back to us safe and sound. You know I never really enjoyed Mariah Carey’s music that much but the set of pipes on that girl. Divine”
Becky lay silently on the ground. She focused her energy on finding the right moment to attempt an escape. She sat up suddenly when the sound of the sewer hatch rung through the room. She stood up defensively as a team of five heavily armed men climbed their way into the small constricting room. Commander Bridges walked cautiously over to the cage. He checked the photo in his hand against the woman behind the bars.
“Becky Summers?” he asked seriously
“Who’s asking?” Becky replied
“My name is Jonathon Bridges. I’ve been sent to collect you. Stand back from the bars.”
Commander Bridges motioned one of his team to come forward. From within the group a shaman walked up and tested the barrier. He placed his hands on the magic and began to chant. Slowly the barrier began to ripple then a moment later it collapsed. One of the strike team stepped forward to set a small charge on the lock.
Becky didn’t waste any time. With one kick at full strength the door to the cage was ripped of it’s hinges taking the shaman and the squad member with it. They collided with the wall and were crushed instantly. Becky stormed out and grabbed Commander Bridges by the throat. He slammed him high against the stairs and glared at him forcefully.
“Who are you people?” she demanded
“Where here to help.” Commander Bridges replied slowly being suffocated
“Not good enough.”
Becky slowly began to crush Commander Bridges Windpipe.
“Now I’m going to ask you again. Who are you people?”
“Where here to help you stop . . . The Vampire-Witch.” Commander Bridges replied running through the notes that Judson gave him through his head.
Becky looked at him for a moment. Loosened her grip but didn’t remove her hand.
“Talk.” Becky replied
“Gabriel sent us from colony 12. The Vampire-Witch has thrown some kind of Illusion over everything to make people think it’s all okay. Byron over at 17 contacted us about you being in the middle of it.”
“ I’ve never herd of a Jonathon Bridges working at 12.”
“I’m replacing Jackson. He was killed two days ago trying to get you free.”
Becky looked at Commander Bridges for a moment longer. She released him and he dropped to the floor gasping for air.
“There’s this guy here called Judson Fox. He said he could help you stop the Vampire-Witch.” Commander Bridges said between gasps.
“Do you trust him?” Becky asked
“Yeah.”
“Would I?”
“He wants to help Becky. This could be all over by tonight.” Commander Bridges replied slowing getting to his feet.
Becky examined the Commander closely for any sign of deceit. Once she was convinced she made her way to the sewer.
“Let’s go”
“Wait we have to check on our men.”
“Don’t bother,” Becky replied, “they’re dead.”
In one smooth motion Becky dropped into the sewer. Commander Bridges watched her carefully. He was lucky the info Angelus had got for them was accurate or he was convinced that they would have all met the same fate.
Xander’s crew had just completed the cage by the time Angel arrived back with Lotniel the conjuror. Buffy approached with Willow.
“How did you go?” Willow asked.
“This man says he can reverse the binding on Becky which should Bring Rebecca back.”
“That is correct but we must be quick,” The wizard proclaimed, “there is a brief window of opportunity in which this can occur.”
“How Becky doing” Angel asked
Willow quickly dashed over to the security monitor. The screen was filled with static.
“Uh . . . guys.” Willow called out
The group rushed to the monitor. Buffy shook her head angrily and stormed for the basement door. Quickly Angel rushed over and intervened.
“Buffy where do you think you’re going?”
“I need to find out what happened.”
“I’m not going to just let you charge down there without knowing.”
“This isn’t you call Angel. That’s my niece you have down there.”
“No it’s not,” Angel corrected, “she might have her face but that woman is not Rebecca.”
Buffy wasn’t willing to listen. She tried to push past Angel but it was no use.
“Think about this for a second. You remember what Becky was like when you met her back in 1996. What do you think an extra six years in apocalypse world has done to her? We don’t know how far this Becky’s willing to go.”
Flashing an angry look to Angel Buffy finally pushed past him. She kicked open the door to the basement and started to wander down closely followed by Angel. They stopped in their tracks when they saw the outcome of the commotion. On the stairs the corpses of the two men lay under the heavy steel door of the cage, which was now empty. Buffy wasn’t pleased by what she saw. She turned back to Angel and stared at him seriously
“Now we know.” She replied
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