The figure hung silently suspended by chains from the ceiling. He woke up in his usual manner suddenly and in excruciating pain. He closed his eyes tight in an attempt to suppress the urge to scream. He knew full well that if he screams for even the briefest second they win. He rolled his head up against his arm as his platinum blond hair swung away from his face. The figure had long since lost the feeling in his fingers and had wondered often whether or not he would be able to use them again.
Suddenly the double doors leading into the room swing open. The figure slowly opened his eyes. The man entering the room looked like a blur but he knew full well who it was.
“So Nancy boy,” the figure said painfully, “come to kill me again or what?”
Angelus smiled and wiped the blood away from the figures eyes. Angelus then shook his head and began to slowly circle him.
“Spike, Spike, Spike,” Angelus replied sarcastically, “You know I can’t kill you again. Willow gets cross with me every time she has to bring you back.”
“You’re bloody heartless you know that mate?” Spike replied as he tried to follow Angelus’ movements with his eyes.
“You know what I don’t get spike? How easily we took you down in the end. I mean Illyria, now she was a challenge, even for a crippled old one it still took us about five weeks.”
“That must have been awful. Sorry I can’t give you a hug what with the chains and all.”
“Oh don’t be like that Spike. You’re in a rare position here. How many humans get to say ‘Hey I get to be tortured by the ruler of the world?”
Spike coughed and spit out more blood. He glared at Angelus.
“Would have to say it at all if you hadn’t signed that bloody prophecy.”
Angelus stopped and laughed contently to himself. He walked up to his prisoner and draped his arm around his shoulder.
“That was a great twist the senior partners had wasn’t it? I have to tell you never saw it coming. I mean who knew that me being a major player in the apocalypse actually meant me being the cause of it. God if any movie studio survived I will be selling this baby right away.”
Angelus continued his circling.
“How did that prophecy go again?” he said in a mocking tone, “if the vampire with a soul survives the coming apocalypse he will become human. I’m still giddy over the part where they made you human at the cost of my soul.”
Spike stared intently at Angelus. Even though he was his grand sire he hated him more now then when he was Angel.
“When the slayer finds you. I’m gonna enjoy every minute of her kicking your ass.” Spike replied confidently
Angelus stopped again and looked at spike.
“Who Rebecca? I don’t think that’s going to happen. You see I organized a bit of a get together, nothing fancy, just a couple of old friends stopping by for a quick meal”.
Byron sat anxiously at his guard station next to the entrance of the garage. He had been on edge all night since Becky slammed him against the wall. Tonight was supposed to be Pete’s shift on watch and feeling responsible for his death Byron volunteered. After the excitement of that day the evening had calmed down a lot. With not much activity happening anywhere in the shelter and he was kind of relieved that it had.
Moments later there was a knock on the garage door. Byron jumped with a start.
“Who is it?” he asked through the intercom
“We’re here to see the slayer.” a female voice replied.
“Just a sec.”
Byron pressed a couple of buttons on the intercom. The screen lit up showing the outline of two female figures standing outside. Pressing another couple of buttons the device began to get a temperature reading. After a few moments of scanning the temperature of the visitors displayed on the screen
92 degrees Fahrenheit.
Body temperature.
Byron pressed a big white button next to the intercom and the door began to rise. When the door had opened enough the two females entered. As the door closed Byron watched the new comers look around the garage. One of the female was short with long blond hair and blue eyes. Her friend was slightly taller with brown hair and eyes. As the pair turned towards Byron he noticed that they were both wearing the same type of crystal. There was something about these girls that seemed off. He approached tentatively
“Ah . . . What business do you two ladies have with the slayer.”
Both of the women stopped their appraising and looked at Byron.
“What?” asked the brunette, “Oh, that was a lie.”
“Yeah,” continued the Blond, “actually we’re new in town and we wanted to check out the local restaurant scene.”
Byron was confused. There hadn’t been any restaurants around this city for a while. Both of the women started to look him up and down with a devilish smile on their faces.
“I’m thinking maybe we should start here.” The blond said slyly
“I don’t know B,” replied the brunette, “he seems kinda stringy.”
“I think you should have some Faith.” The blond replied as the pair started to back Byron into a corner
The brunette looked at the blond curiously.
“What?” she asked.
“I think you should have some . . . Faith,” the blond replied playfully, “God, you don’t get my humor anymore.”
“That’s ‘cause you gotta work on your act . . .”
The brunette turned back to Byron. To his horror he saw her face morph. He tried to run but the Brunette threw him effortlessly into the wall.
“While I work on my dinner.” The brunette concluded as she bit down into his neck.
After she finished feeding both girls pulled the crystals from their necks.
“That’s some mojo Willow cooked up for us.” The Brunette mentions
“That’s Will for you. Old reliable.” The blond replied
The pair of women toss the crystals away and walk inside the shelter.
In the tech room Frag was soldering the final circuit into the last creation of his. From behind his computer starts to beep softly catching his attention. He swung around on his swivel chair and rolled himself across the room. He clicked a few things with is mouse and frowned.
“What the hell?” he asked himself as he punched in a few commands.
The screen switched to a security camera display. He watched as the two visitors made their way calmly down the hall. His eyes widened and he scrambled quickly to the alarm.
“We can make it right Rebecca. If this works you’ll never have to do this again. All the damage Angelus and Willow have created will be undone.” Giles said in a hopeful tone
Becky had heard enough. From the wall she drew one of the swords. Xander tried to stop her but she just tossed him out of the way like a rag doll. She stood in front of the watcher, sword overhead, waiting to strike . . .
That’s when the alarm sounded.
Quickly she lowered the weapon and moved to the intercom on the wall.
“Frag?” she asked seriously
“I don’t know how it happened but a couple of room temps got in,” he replied frantically
“Call group A. tell them to get the hoses ready.” She replied commandingly
“Beck there’s more . . .”
The line went silent. Becky frowned
“Frag what is it?”
“The room temps,” he replied eventually, “its Buffy and Faith.”
“Holy shit!” Becky said quietly to herself.
“I’m guessing Angelus isn’t messing around anymore huh?”
Becky scratched the back of her head thoughtfully. Whatever happened from here it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“Alright Frag. Get groups B and C to move as many people into the panic room as they can. I want team A to meet me fully armed near the mess hall.”
“Got it boss.” Frag replied as he signed off.
Becky leaned against the sidewall and put her face in her hands. She groaned softly for a few moments then looked up at the two males. She shook her head softly
“You two better get to the panic room before it fills.” She said softly
“What’s your plan?” Xander asks as he prepares Giles to move
“The usual,” she replied blandly, “Go in, hurt them a lot and don’t die.”
“Be careful.” Giles replied caringly
Becky flashed Giles an annoyed look that wasn’t lost on him. She opened the door to the bunk.
“Don’t think this is over yet.” Becky warned them sternly and headed out.
Becky walked sternly down the hallways. Around her a fevered panic had erupted at the news of the invading vampires. With minimal difficulty she arrived just outside the mess. Group A was already there with their holy water tanks on standby. She could already hear the footsteps of the women as they approach.
“Okay you guys are strictly backup,” Becky explained to the team, “let me do the main fighting.”
The group looked nervously at each other. Becky sensed this
“These aren’t ordinary Vamps. These girls use to be slayers.”
This made the group more nervous but Becky stood her ground. From around the corner Buffy and Faith walked casually into view. They both stopped a few feet away from Becky and the team. The entire scene nearly resembled an old western showdown with both cowboys waiting for the right moment to draw.
Buffy smiled at the slayer.
“What? No hug for a visiting relative?” she asks playfully
Becky didn’t reply. She simply stood still and stared the two vampires down.
“You know a good host would offer us something to drink.” Buffy continued.
Still no reaction from beck the three Women stood calmly waiting for either one to make the first move. Faith put her hands on her hips and tilted her head.
“Hmm. Guess she’s not a talker anymore B.” she commented
“We might as well go straight to the gratuitous violence then.” Buffy replied.
Buffy and Faiths face morphed and they charged at the slayer.
“Now!” Beck yelled and ducked down.
The team, consisting of about fifteen men and women, opened the valves of their water tanks. The force of the holy water knocked the two vamps back down the hall. While this was happening beck barrel rolled into the Mess hall. She heard the screams of the former slayers as the water seared at them like acid. After a few moments the screaming stopped. Becky stood and narrowed her eyes as she ordered the team to stop. Taking point again Becky and the team move slowly down the hall. Something wasn’t right they should have been lying on the ground just around the corner but when the team arrived neither of them could be found. The mystery was solved when the two vampires dropped down from the roof scattering the team. Buffy and Faith quickly flipped back onto their feet. Before Becky could react Faith kicked her in the stomach sending her down the hall. While this was going on Buffy was making quick work of group A. getting to her feet at astounding speed Becky flipped over Faith and knocked Buffy over with a sliding kick.
“Go! Help the others!” Becky yelled to the group
Group A bolted away before either Vamp recovered. Almost in unison the slayer and the two vamps were back on their feet.
“You really got to look into better help.” Buffy commented as she took a couple of swings.
Becky expertly dodged them and countered with a roundhouse kick to Buffys head. Buffy staggered for a moment then regained her balance. The cut on her cheek healed as quickly as it was created. This wasn’t a surprise to Becky she had seen this kind of thing before.”
Faith moved in a caught the slayer off guard sending her barreling down the hallway towards the garage entrance Becky got to her feet again and doubled back into the garage. . The two vamps followed swiftly. After they entered The three women stood cautiously.
“You’re a lot more spry then I though you would be.” Buffy commented.
Becky shrugged.
“The power of three.” She replied calmly
“That’s Right,” Faith piped in, “Old man Giles did the voodoo on you didn’t he? Gave you the power of the last three real slayers when they died. Still, doesn’t make you a real slayer. You know what you are? Gift wrapping.”
Faith moved in menacing with her usual swagger.
“Must have sucked huh?” she continued, “When all the Vamps in the world became unkillable and you all have to hide like rats.”
“Better a rat then a skank.” Becky replied.
The smiled dropped from Faiths face. She swung in with a left hook which Becky Blocked and countered with I kick to the ribs. Faith flew back against the wall. She landed on her feet and charged at Becky grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into the door of the pickup truck. Moments later Buffy joined suit.
Something was wrong. She never had this much trouble knocking back two vamps before. This entire fight seemed fishy.
“I guess this is the part where you wonder about our strength,” Buffy predicted from Becky’s expression, “Willow, who says hi by the way, was nice enough to give us a parting gift before we left.”
Becky looked confused. They were both much stronger then standard Vampires but how could this be possible? Unless . . .
“That’s right girly girl,” Faith answered, “you’re not the only slayer in the room.”
This is bad; Becky thought to herself, this is very, very bad. If somehow they manage to regain the power of the chosen ones, on top of being un-killable, that means that there is a great chance that she is not going to survive this.
The Panic room was filling up fast by the time Giles and Xander arrived. Seizing the first moment he could find Xander wheeled Giles in but before he had a chance to enter himself he was pushed aside by the swarm of people.
“Come on Xander there is little time.” Giles called out over the noise.
“There’s no more room.” Xander called back.
He thought desperately about his options. Only one course of action seemed right.
“Giles try and keep the people calm! I’ll see what I can do to help Becky!” he yelled back.
Giles nodded. Xander dashed off back down the hall. He moved as quickly as possible back to Giles’ bunkroom. Inside he picked up the sword that Becky dropped and a battleaxe from the wall over Giles’ desk. Looking down he noticed the sum total of Giles’ research. From the hall he grabbed one of the medical pouches, which were set up at regular interval along the hallways, and loaded it up with extra supplies.
Frag was working as fast as he could to complete the final device on his list. Moments later Xander burst into the room.
“What’s the scoop Frag?” Xander asked as he caught his breath.
Frag looked up from his work and shook his head.
“It’s not looking good Xand-man.”
Frag wheeled over to the computer again and showed the security footage from the garage. Xander watched anxiously as the Vamps had Becky pinned and unable to move.
“It looks like the Ex-chosen picked up some extra juice before coming here?” Frag continued.
“Willow.” Xander said to himself as he watched the action.
Xander wracked his brain for any solution. The pipes above the Women gave him an idea.
“Hey Frag did you ever get that sprinkler system going?” Xander asked thoughtfully
“Almost. There are still a few kinks in the valve system though. Once it’s turned on it can’t be turned off.”
“But you have got it working?”
“Yeah . . . What’s the scheme?”
Xander pointed to the fight in the Garage the preverbal Light bulb when off in Frag’s head.
“Oh I get it,” Frag continued excitedly, “you’re thinking a little impromptu wet t-shirt contest.”
“Something likes that. So are the tanks full?”
“Loaded up and recently holyed. You’re gonna have to give me five though. The switch wasn’t installed so I’m gonna have to hot wire it.”
“Okay. You do that and I’ll go join the fun down in the garage.”
“Fight the good fight bro!” Frag yelled out to Xander as he ran off down the hall.
Becky was beginning to feel fatigued. The fight was definitely taxing her. The vampire slayer forced herself against the combined strength of the slayer vampires but she was barely holding them back. The fight was especially tough for her because she knew the both of them before they were turned. When Faith used to visit Rome she always acted like the cool aunt who would let you get away with anything when your folks were out of town. As for Buffy, Blood was definitely thicker than water, considering she was her . . .
“God! I think back to those times where I cradled you!” Buffy yelled at Becky, “When I was forced to sing you to sleep, when I had to change your Diapers! God I felt dirty! You don’t know the amount of times I wanted to strangle you until you just shut up permanently!”
“That’s not true Buff,” Said a voice from behind the vamps, “ You loved that girl more then anyone.”
Buffy and Faith looked behind them to see Xander standing in the doorway. Although his demeanor seemed calm both vamps could smell the fear oozing off him.
“Xander how nice of you to come and screw things up as usual.” Buffy said sweetly
He gave a wry smile to his former best friend.
“It’s okay I know that’s not you talking.” He replied calmly.
“Really? Did you ever consider that the only reason I didn’t tell you how much of a jack-ass you were was because I had this insane need to protect your feelings.”
Xander started to walk towards them slowly. Behind his back he cradled the two vials of holy water carefully.
“Doesn’t really matter now does it? I mean you have an uber-slayer to hold back so I’m looking pretty safe here.”
“He Xand! I could kill you and be back here before you could blink.” Faith snarled at him.
Xander looked to Faith with mock curiosity
“Strange you say the words. Yet I don’t see any action.”
Faith looks to Buffy and back again. As much as she hates to admit it he does have a point. Buffy’s gaze never left Xander. She shakes her head in pity.
“Poor Xander,” said Buffy, ”You don’t even know why Angelus left you alive do you?”
The smile on Xanders face dropped. This is something he had wondered for a while. Buffys sneered.
“You’re a worm Xander Harris, a maggot,” Buffy snapped at him, “killing you would just have been a waste of time and energy. Crippling the old man was much more of a challenge.”
Xander had reached the end of his patients with his former Scooby teammate. He looked at the both of them coldly.
“I think it’s time somebody put you two down a peg.” He said with a forced calmness.
“What are ya gonna do captain Jack? Joke us to death?” Faith asked
With out another word Xander threw the two vials of holy water into the faces of the vamps. They both screamed in pain loosening their grip long enough for Becky to get her footing and push both vamps against the garage door.
“Becky!” Yelled Xander as he threw her the sword.
She caught it and swung it around with expert precision. By the time this was done both of the vampire’s had got to their feet. The blistering on their faces had already begun to heal and by the time they were ready to strike back there faces were completely back to normal.
“You are so dead Cyclops!” Faith yelled
“His name is blinky!” Becky replied menacing
Xander shot Becky a quick confused look then decided that the sentiment meant more then the name. He stared at faith intensely
“What’s the matter Faithy? Fight no fun now that it’s fair.” Xander quipped
Again Buffy shook her head in pity.
“Xander, we’re evil,” Buffy replied for Faith, “We don’t do fair.”
After saying that she slammed the white button and the garage door began to open. Behind it was a posse of about one hundred vampires that were waiting for the signal. Xander and Becky lowered their weapons in shock.
“Oh fuckberries.” Xander replied as the large crowed advanced on the colony.
The both of them were knocked back hard against the wall. While a good portion of the group surged through the base
Xander closed his eyes and repeated the phrase “C’mon Frag!”
The wire panel sparked wildly as Frag tried to mess with the electrical system. Behind him his two co-workers were hurriedly filling a backpack with gadgets. The Computer started to beep loudly again. One of the co-workers looked at the screen and went pale.
“Ah . . . Frag?” he said weakly
“What?” Frag asked as he moved to the screen. He joined his friends in going pale as the monitor displayed the army of vampires moving quickly through the base.
“Oh shit!” he exclaimed as he ran back to the electrics, “okay guy! After you’re finished loading we need to arm proton torpedoes this room need to go Alderon in two minutes!”
His partners nodded. After they finished packing the bag the techs started to prime explosives placed evenly around the room.
The Vampires moved through the shelter like a plague. They feed on any of the stragglers left behind when the panic rood door closed. The terrifying howls and screams were almost too much for Becky. She and Xander struggled against the twenty or so vamp holding them against the wall. One of the vampires tried to bite Xander but was called off by Buffy. Faith looked at all the carnage gleefully
“Now this is a party,” she exclaimed excitedly, “man I thought New York was a blast but here, woo, fun comes in cans.”
“You see Xander,” Buffy said calmly as she leaned on the wall next to him, “you’re roll as the guy that screws everything up is pretty secure now. I think this lesson will go well with the time you totally didn’t save Giles from getting hurt.”
From the hallway one of the vampires return. He whispers in Faiths ear.
“Nice.” Faith replies.
Buffy walks back over to faith.
“What?”
“Look’s like the heartbeats got themselves a panic room.” Faith replied
Buffy turned to the vampires holding Becky and Xander.
“Hold them. No one feed till we say so!” she commanded
The ex-slayers storm into the hall following their messenger it doesn’t take them very long to arrive at the heavily reinforced locked door of the panic room. The Women examine the door closely.
“God! It’s like a can of pudding!” Faith said excitedly
“It doesn’t seem to secure.” Buffy replied
Both Buffy and Faith get a firm grip on the panic room door. Their combined vampire/slayer strength was more then a match for the security door and after a minute of pulling the door gave way.
The two Vampires smiled victoriously at the crowd of extremely scared people. In the panic Giles positioned himself out of view from his former charges. From under his blanket he held a cross in the prone position. As the women enter Giles found his moment and strike. He swung at them as hard as he could only to have attacked blocked by his former slayer. Buffy knelt down in front of him and gazed into the old mans eyes.
“Do you remember that lesson you taught me about always being aware of my surroundings?” Buffy asked the old watcher, “you didn’t honestly think I would notice a guy in a wheel chair trying to take a swing at me?”
Slowly she began to crush Giles hand. The look of pain on the old mans face sent an excited shiver down Buffy’s spine. Sensing the moment when he was at his weakest Buffy moved in for the kill . . .
. . . and that’s when the rains came.
“Got it let’s go!” Frag yelled as he tied the final wire into place. The electric box sparked for a moment then the sound of falling water could be herd. Frag moved quickly as he typed in the final detonation code for the room. His fellow tech threw him the backpack and all three bolted out of the room as quickly as they could. Moments later the room exploded into a fiery inferno. Then was quickly extinguished by the sprinklers.
In the Garage the vampires screamed in agony as the sprinkler system kicked in. Becky pushed with all her strength and sent the Vampires sailing back outside. Moving away from the wall she knocked out two vampires in her path. Xander quickly followed suit as both of them headed towards the panic room.
Breaking free from Buffys grip Giles slammed the cross in her face. She reeled back in pain and collapsed on the floor. Frag and the other techs arrived moments later and started to lead people to safety.
“I’m guessing this is your doing?” Giles asks
“All shall bow before be for I am the rain god!” Frag replied smugly.
Dodging screaming vampires left and right Becky and Xander arrive at the room and assess the situation.
“What’s the low down?” she asks Frag
“All present and accounted for. Add the room temps stewing in their own juices and we are looking green.”
“Good. Get the busses moving.”
Frag nodded and rushed off. Becky looked paused for a moment and looked at Xander and Giles.
“Okay you two get to stay. But we have to deal with this soon.” She told them sternly
“Absolutely, when ever your ready.” Giles replied calmly
Without another word Becky headed off for the garage. Xander sighed in relief and patted the old man on the shoulder.
“Need a push?” he asks.
“I think I’ll be okay.” Giles replies.
Xander gives him one more smiles and walks off. Giles sits a moment to absorb the feelings he had about attacking his former slayer. The thought he had to keep in the front of his mind is that she’s dead and the thing in her body is a demon. He took in a deep breath and started to wheel.
He didn’t move. He tried forcing the wheels again with no luck. The chair seemed to be stuck on something. With a little difficulty he managed to turn himself around to see what is blocking his momentum. Buffy had I firm grip on his right wheel. She lifted her blistered face and snarled as she began to slowly pull herself back up onto her feet.
On one of the colony many scrounging missions they were fortunate to discover, in tact, two public buses and a minivan. Although it was a challenge to get them back to the colony it was worth it in the end for at the very moment the remaining population of the bomb shelter were being loaded on as efficiently as possible. Becky and Xander supervised this activity and aided some of the older residents where needed.
“All busses are loaded mon capitan.” Frag said as he stepped down from the second bus.
“Good. Tell the driver to head north towards the Sunnydale crater. Colony 23 is near there they should have enough room to hold them until we re secure here.”
Frag nodded and scurried back inside. Xander watch the scene closely. Even after both busses were full Xander felt that someone was missing. Doing a quick head check he soon realized who it was.
“Where’s Giles?” he asked
Becky looked at Xander then did a quick head check of her own.
“He must still be inside.” She replied.
“And we are going back in for him right?” Xander hinted
Becky read Xanders face closely. She figured she owed him one for the rescue attempt from the ex-slayers.
“Come with me.” She said as she and Xander headed back into the shelter.
Giles struggled fiercely against vampire Buffy. She was moments from feeding off the old watcher when a swift kick to the head from Becky sent Buffy flying backwards. Xander rushed in and wheeled him away. Buffy struggled to her feet and glared at Becky.
“You’re not going to win you know. Angelus has this town wired.”
“It’s not about winning.” Becky said as she strode up to Buffy.
In one swift move she punched her in the face. Buffy fell down for the count.
“It’s about surviving.” Becky concluded
Xander and one of the techs were helping Giles into the minivan when Beck returned from the shelter. She looked at this scene then over to Frag, who was supervising. Frag looked at beck and gave her the warmest smile.
“Thought you might need some preemo backup. What with the running in and saving the day thing.” He said to her
“Let’s get moving. We’ll come back in a couple of days to some cleanup.” She ordered
The remaining people piled into the minivan and they sped off.
Once they hit the open highway Xander took his opportunity to sit next to Becky. He watched her closely as she gazed out the window of the minivan. She had just coordinated a marginally successful mass evacuation yet he got the sense from her that she was moments away from breaking down.
“What is it blinky?” she asked him sternly
“I just wanted to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Back in the garage, I might have been imagining this, but you looked like you were holding back.”
Becky turned and looked at Xander. Her expression answered his question.
“Oh my god you were holding back.”
Becky resumed her staring out the window.
“This wasn’t a random raid. Angelus sent me a personal message for a reason. I needed to know what that was.”
“And?”
“I don’t know. There was a lot of talking but not a lot of answering. It felt like either I had something or was supposed to have something.”
Xander though about this for a moment and something clicked in his mind. He rummaged around in the medical bag until he pulled out the book. He quickly turned to the bookmark page and showed it to Becky.
“Do you think it was this?”
A few hours have passed and the sprinkler tanks had run dry. The Vampires began to slink home. In the middle of this crowd Faith helped Buffy back outside. They turned and looked back in.
“Do you think we bought enough time?” Faith asked Buffy
“You know him.” Buffy replied
“Yep. Big ‘A’ always has the plan.”
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
