Angelus looked at his work and frowned. He’d been pacing backwards and forwards for about half an hour trying to decide if it needed anything else. From behind him he heard the screams of a woman approaching. Angelus folded his arms, shook his head and sighed.
“What do you think? Too much?”
Willow slinked up next to him. She put her arm around his waist and leans her head on his shoulder. Under her other arm she griped a woman tightly. As much as the innocent woman tried to fight against the vampire’s strength the more hopeless it was for her in the end. Willow stared at Angelus’ handiwork and smiled.
“That’s amazing.” She commented sweetly.
“But do you think she’ll notice?” He replied in a concerned tone, “I was trying to go for an ‘AHHHH!’ thing but I don’t think I quite got it.”
Willow turned to her lover and gave him her puppy dog eyes.
“You know what your problem is? You’re trying to be to perfect.”
“I know I just want things to go right for our guests.” Angelus replied
Willow snuggled in closer.
“If it’ll make you feel better you’re perfect to me.” Willow chirped
Angelus looked down at her and smiled. He leaned down and kissed her passionately.
“Ah Will. How come you always know the right things to say?”
“All those years of reading and sexual tension. Does wonders for the vocab,” Willow quipped, “C’mon we better go. We can’t start the surprise party with no one there to go ‘boo’.”
Willow walked way dragging her prisoner along. Angelus took one last look at his work then followed. Willow was right. They’d better be there soon before all the fun begins.
Besides. In a couple of hours there will be plenty of people to go boo here.
Becky stared at the image closely. She wasn’t exactly sure of what to make of it. From the picture it looked like ordinary jewelry but if the old man and blinky are putting so much time and effort into finding this thing there must be something about it. She looked back up at Xander.
“This is the thing you guys wanted to find?” she asked
“Think about it beck. Why would Angelus go to all this trouble of keeping it from us if it didn’t mean anything.”
“Because he’s a sadistic asshole.”
“This is more then just a mere trinket Rebecca,” Giles replied as he dried off the rest of his research, “this amulet holds is the key to un-doing his damage.”
Becky stared at the old man. She was not going to be drawn in by his determination. With marginal difficulty he lent in closer.
“Angelus changed this world for the worse! If there is even the remotest chance of repairing the damage we have to take it.”
Becky shook her head slowly. She frowned became more intense.
“You guys are sick.” She exclaimed in disgust, “Both of you, just running around with your magic and spells, and changing reality with out thinking about other people.”
Both Xander and Giles looked curiously at Becky. This only made her more determined.
“Don’t think I didn’t hear about how Sunnydale became a crater! Things weren’t swinging your way so you decide to use magic to solve your problems. You get the vampire-bitch to cast you a little spell that gave a lot of people a lot of power and you never stopped to thing about what happened.” Becky yelled.
“We were out of options,” Xander interrupted, “The first . . .”
“ . . . Was a being that couldn’t touch anything? What kind of a threat is that?” Becky concluded
“You’re over simplifying the situation Rebecca. The First was the purist evil in the world. We had to do what needed to be done.” Giles said in his trademarked serious tone.
“So you built a better mouse trap. We’ll guess what they built better mice.”
“I know this is hard to understand at your age . . .”
“Right ‘cause you’re big on explaining things to young girls. How about explaining this. How do you deal with waking up one day with super powers and a lot of Scary monsters after you? Or maybe you could answer how you should cope with finding your mother being killed by someone who was supposed to be a good guy?”
Giles hung his head low. He knew at this point that any explanation wasn’t going to improve their relationship.
“You’re right. You didn’t deserve any of this. If I could go back I would have made sure that you got to safety. You and. . .”
“I swear to god! If you fucking say her name I will snap your neck!” Becky barked at Giles with a fiery anger
Giles waited for a moment before he continued. Becky was never idle with her threats and if he were going to get her help he would have to do it on her timetable.
“I swear to you Rebecca if I could go back I would. I can’t,” Giles continued “but you can.”
The minivan went silent for a moment. The trio just stared at each other not saying a word. What was running through Becky’s mind was anybody’s guess but her well practiced poker face wasn’t giving away any hints.
“Blinky helped me out tonight so I’m going to do you a favor,” Becky replied in a cold tone, “When we get to Colony 23 I am going to hand you over to Clemons. Afterwards, if you attempt to contact me about anything I will personally feed you to the nearest vamp.”
Neither of the men spoke up. They just simply nodded slowly. Becky turned around and gazed out the window again.
Frag jumped over the front seat and squatted in front of beck
“Ah . . . captain we might have a problem.” He said nervously
“What is it Frag?” she asked blandly
“Don’t kill me.”
Becky looked at Frag. The former head of her Tech room gazed back with a terrified expression on his face.
“What?” she continued
“Just need to know that you’re not going to kill me because of the news.”
“Frag I’m not going to kill you. What’s going on?”
“Okay. I’ve been trying to get C 23 on the box for about an hour now and . . . “
“Could you get them?”
“Oh no I got them alright. It’s just . . . this . . . thing.”
Frag now had Becky’s full attention. She leaned in closer to the technician and listened intently.
“Frag?” she asked with deep curiosity.
“Okay. This just might be the whole brown pants running away thing were doing talking but I think I heard . . . screaming.”
The look of panic that crossed everyone’s face was unmistakable. Becky leaned back on her chair. This definitely hasn’t been her week.
“Are you sure?” she asks Frag
“Hey. I’ve been around the super blood suckers long enough to know what a scream sounds like.”
It was coming up on dawn when the minivan pulled up to the entrance of Colony 23.
Colony 23 was set up in an old military base just outside of what use to be Sunnydale. Since the mystical energies of the hellmouth were sealed many years ago this colony remained the safest out of all of them. The main living area for the colonists was the basement where a lot of the more dangerous munitions used to be stored. It was hollowed out and extended to house as many people as possible. One of the other things said about colony 23 is that they welcome anybody with open arms.
That was until today.
The people of the van climbed out slowly. They stared at the base with shock and disbelief. One of the techs that followed Frag began to vomit violently and, not only the sight, but the smell. Becky walked forward slowly shaking her head. Inside she could feel the rage boiling to bursting point.
The scene was utter devastation. Around them the bodies of the innocent lay scattered in a random positions. The ones closes to the old motor pool had had their internal organs violently removed. These were use in making a sign that hung over the main building.
‘Colony 23 welcomes the slayer and her friends.’ Was scrawled in blood and entrails on a large piece of canvas.
Xander walks up to Becky and tries to place a hand on her shoulder. She brushes it off and continues to let her blood boil.
“I’m gonna kill him,” she growled to no one in particular, “he is going to die in so many ways that he is gonna lose count.”
“Becky you . . . “ Xander started.
Before Xander could finish Becky kicked him in the stomach at full force, which sent him flying back into the front of the van. She stormed up to him and grabbed him by the throat.
“Don’t say another thing Harris!” Becky yelled at him.
Frag was about to help when he noticed that Xander was indicating him not to.
“You’re going to kill me, fine I deserve it, but that doesn’t change this.”
Becky stared at him for a moment then let him go. Xander took a moment to catch his breath.
“If you’re really serious about stopping Angelus. You need to consider all options Beck.”
“What do you know about leading Harris?”
“I know enough to tell me that running away never solves anything. In the end, you just end up were you started but somewhere else.”
Becky placed her hands on her hips in frustration. She was rapidly running out of options and the one’s she did have end up with her dead. The one thing that was blindingly clear is the one thing she was trying to ignore.
“We’re gonna lose.” She said softly
“Does it matter?” Xander asked sincerely, “winning and losing are just options. It’s the fight that counts in the end.”
She looked at Xander closely. There was something about him at this moment that made him glow in a way she never saw before. She sighed Heavily
“What do you have in mind?” she asks him
“It’s called the Star of Asgeroth.” Giles explained
Everybody huddled around the image to get a better look at the necklace in question. The five-pointed star it’s self was small, slightly bigger then a standard pendant, each point had vines wrapping around them tightly and in the center was a ruby like crystal.
“So what does it do?” Becky asked,
“Well the name ‘Asgeroth’, translated from the original Sumerian, means ‘Father of time’. It is said to imbue the wearer with the ability to create a temporal fold.”
“So . . . This thing’s like a medieval Flux Capacitor?” Frag asked
“Analogy aside, yes that’s correct.” Giles replied
Becky leaned back from the group and thought about this. The old man definitely put a lot of thinking time into this and as much as she hates to admit it that idea was sound in theory.
“We go back in time,” Becky contemplated. “And kill Angelus before he kills the world.”
“It’s not that simple I’m afraid. The incantation to activate the star has to be precisely read otherwise the traveler will never survive the trip.”
“I’m sure you can handle the reading old man. That’s what you do best right?”
“We’re not going with you Rebecca.”
“What do you mean ‘not going with me’?”
“The wielder of this power must be someone with incredible strength. Any normal human would be shredded and scattered over a dozen centuries. You are the one who has to read the incantation Rebecca.”
Outside, amongst the sea of the dead, one of the corpses began to slowly shake. The sound of shifting skin and crunching bone accompanied the corpses face morphing. Others joined this morph until all the dead lying on the ground had the face of a vampire. This wasn’t just isolated to the outside. Inside the basement people began to morph as well. The large crowd stood up disoriented, not sure about what exactly happened. Then the smell of fresh blood hit their nasal passages. They followed the scent as it leads them closer and closer to the minivan.
“So once I put on the necklace and say the words then what?” Becky asked
“Well the essence of the star should transport you to the destination written out in the incantation.” Giles replied confidently
“And where exactly is that?”
Giles looked carefully at Xander.
“Sunnydale, California 1996”
Xander ran that date through his mind and came up with the only match he could think of for that year
“Wait,” Xander interjected “that was the year Buffy first came to Sunnydale.”
Xander looked at the old man in shock. Becky, though still slightly confused, began to see the full picture.
“Sorry Xander this has to be done.” Giles replied to his old friend
“But killing Buffy?”
“Nobody going to be killing anybody Xander.” Giles replied
“Then I don’t get it why send her back there? Why don’t you send her back to the time Angel moved to L.A.?” Xander asked curiously
“Because there are more people to think about then just Angelus.” Giles replied frustratingly
Giles calmed himself down again. Becky began to get a strong sense of the relationship these two had.
“If we stop you and Willow from Joining Buffys battles. Then this world will never occur.”
“Giles, this is crazy talk, you’re saying that we’re stopping this apocalypse by letting every other apocalypse happen.”
“You have to think of the broader picture Xander. If we . . .”
The windscreen smashing cut Giles off. Two vampires drag Frag’s assistants out the window. They began to feed immediately. Thinking quickly Xander leaps into the drives seat and starts the engine. Throwing it into reverse he slams his foot on the gas.
The back wheels spin violently but the combined strength of the group of vamps pooling at the back of the van stops it from moving. From a distance the group hear a pounding coming from the basement entrance. They stare out the windows of the van.
“He must have turned the entire colony.” Becky comments in shock
“We have to leave now!” Giles yells from the back
“What do you think I’m trying to do?” Xander yells from the front
Becky quickly assesses the situation. Without a word she opens the window. Getting a good grip on the roof she slides out knocking down two vampires as she does. Slamming the window shut behind her Becky runs to the back of the van and proceeded to knock out every vamp blocking the van. Quickly cart wheeling out of the way Becky watches at the van screams in reverse out the front gates.
Xander beckons her to come back into the van but before she could go two steps she was tacked buy three vamps coming in from behind her. Five others soon joined them. Using her entire slayer strength she sends the vampires flying into the air. At that point the basement door gave way and a sea of about two hundred and fifty vampires poured out.
Becky’s eyes opened wide. She bolted as fast as she could towards the van. At the right moment she jumped and plowed through the closed window. Xander slammed down the gas and they sped away.
The minivan barreled down the road at breakneck speed. Inside all were rattled by what they just witnessed. Giles was running through the Chronicles of Naull at a fevered pace.
“You know what would go great with this really fast speed?” Xander yelled to the crowd, “a destination!”
Giles ignored him and continued to run his finger down the page mumbling to himself.
“Ah. It says here that the star is located at ‘The point where the sand comes as one’.”
“Dead man’s well.” Frag commented
“I believe so. Okay Xander you will want to take a left at this next road.”
As the turnoff fast approached Xander hurriedly span the wheel. The van leached awkwardly as it skidded around the corner.
“It shouldn’t be far now.” Giles commented
From behind them the sound of a second slowly began to be heard. Frag was the first to notice this and stuck his head out the open window Becky made. The color drained from his face and he quickly went back in.
“That if we make it,” He replied nervously “do you remember those two busses that left before us?”
Frag Gestured out the window. Becky stuck her head out and watched as two Los Angeles public busses drove towards them at full speed. Each was being driven by a vampire that used to be a person from her colony. She stuck her head back in
“God damn it!” she said to herself
“What is it?” Giles asked
“Angelus must have had a waiting party for them.” Becky replied.
She slammed the van in frustration leaving a large dent in the side. The busses picked up in speed until the first to arrive slammed the back of the van. All inside jolted violently. Xander put his foot down harder causing the van to move faster. It was no good the bus was able to match the vans speed. The bus hit the van again causing a box to topple over onto the floor.
“Anybody got any bright ideas?” Xander asked from the driver seat.
“Aside from crap myself?” asked Frag
Xander looked in his rearview mirror. He saw the second bus attempting to box them in. it slowly moved up the side of the van getting evermore closer. Xander quickly span the wheel, which caused the second bus to momentarily loose control and settle in next to the first bus.
Looking down onto the floor Becky quickly examined what was inside the box. The box was filled with the usual survival provisions. Military ration packs that were found in the bunker some holy water vials and something else which gave Becky and idea. Collecting a few vials of holy water and some stones that were lying on the unclean floor of the van Becky grabbed the item in question and climbed out onto the roof of the speeding van. It took her a few moments to get proper secure footing as she stood but eventually she was comfortably upright. She stared at the bus driver vampire directly behind the van. He growled at her angrily as he slammed into the van again.
Becky quickly regained her balance and pulled out the item.
A few weeks back Becky yelled at one of the kids for using a slingshot inside. She told him to get rid of it. Instead he must have hidden it in the van so he wouldn’t get in trouble again. This was the first time she was glad that someone didn’t listen to her.
She armed the slingshot with the stones. Releasing her grip the stones few back and shattered open the windscreen of the bus. The bus driver brushed away the glass and smiled at Becky in a way, which told her that he though she’d missed. From the back pocket of her pants she pulled out the vials of holy water and loaded them into the slingshot. The expression on the drivers face changed as she released her grip and the vials sailed through the air and struck him square in the face. The driver howled in pain causing him to lose control of his bus.
The two buses collided and flipped onto their side. Moments later they both exploded into a giant fireball.
It took another half an hour for the minivan to arrive in the sunken rocky outcrop know as dead mans well. They pulled up just in front of a cave entrance and everybody climbed out of the van.
“This is it.” Giles commented as he was assisted into his wheelchair, “the star is located in the central cavern.”
“How deep does this thing go?” Becky asked cautiously
“I’m not sure the copy of Chronicles of Naull we retrieved from wolfram and hart was missing a page. It shouldn’t be too far in though.”
Becky didn’t like the sound of that. Angelus has been one step ahead of them each time so far. It is extremely likely that this could be another trap.
“Someone better stay with the van just in case we need to go very quickly.” Becky said
“I’ll do it.” Frag replied insistently
Becky turned to him curiously
“You sure Frag?”
“Lets see . . . spooky cave . . . nice safe van. Yep staying with the van. Wait before you go take this.”
Frag jumps into the van and pulls out the backpack his team was packing in the base. She looks at him confused
“Trust me.” He replied smugly
Becky nodded and takes the bag. The group proceeded inside leaving Frag alone. Frag leant against the Van in a relieved manner. He smiled to himself
“Nice safe van.” he said to himself happily.
Suddenly somebody grabbed him by the head and twisted it sharply. With a loud crack coming from his neck Frag dropped like a stone. Faith leaned against the side of the van and looked at Frag’s corpse.
“ya think that wouldn’t you.” she commented
The cave seemed to twist on for miles. Eventually it opened out into a chamber. It was unusual in the fact that the roof of the chamber was perfectly circular. In the center sat an island rock with an endless pit surrounding it. From their viewpoint they could see the star reflecting the unnatural light that was coming down from the roof.
“There it is now all you have to do is collect and say the incantation.” Giles commented
“I don’t like it.” Xander commented, “not to go all Indiana Jones on anyone but this seems too easy.”
“You guys stay here then. I’ll come back with the star then Giles you give me the incantation.” Becky said
Becky wandered in the chamber and across the path cautiously.
“Wow that was heroic.” A voice said from behind Xander and Giles.
Neither of them had to turn around to know who was speaking. Angelus walked up next to them.
“Did you see the way she went into the room not knowing what the dangers were? I got to tell you they don’t make them like that anymore,” Angelus stated, “personally I think you two should have gone with the slayer considering I’m going to kill you in a couple of minutes still you have to admire the girls guts.”
“I suggest you leave before she returns.” Giles threatened
“Hmm? Oh don’t worry about that she has to face the trial of Naull so she’s going to be dead in one minute.”
Giles glared up at Angelus. Angelus looks back with a mock curious look.
“Didn’t you know? It was right here in this page?”
Angelus pulled the missing page of Chronicles of Naull from his pocket he showed it to Giles.
“’The one who seeks the star must face the trial of Naull. There they will face the warriors that passed.’ See it’s all there.”
Angelus watched Becky for a few seconds longer.
“You know what,” he commented finally, “I really don’t want to miss this. Do you three think you can guard them until I get back?”
“Not a problem.” Came a female voice from behind them
Xander turned around to see Buffy, Faith and Willow blocking the exit. Noticing a piece of paper lying on Giles lap he quickly took it. Angelus hurried into the chamber and found himself a good spot.
“Fancy us meeting like this again Xander.” Buffy commented
“Yeah weird,” he replied blandly, “it makes me feel, what’s the word, disgusted.”
Becky moved slowly across the crumbling path to the island. Things have been going okay so far nothing has tried to attack her. She walked to the pedestal in the center of the room and looked at the Star of Asgeroth. It was a gorgeous piece of jewelry it was just a shame there wasn’t anywhere special to wear it.
Slowly she reached for the star. As she got nearer the gem in the center began to glow. Moments later a bright flash of light surrounded the island. Behind her the path crumbled and collapsed into the abyss. She spun around to see what was happening. Four small tornados of dust began to form next to her. As they span around the form of a person began to shape. Eventually the dust settled and Becky was surrounded by four zombie warriors with long curvy swords.
Slowly she backs herself towards the pedestal. The first one swung. Becky expertly dodged the blade. The others joined suit but Becky weaved past every strike. She grabbed the arm of one of the zombies and tore it off. She quickly released the sword from its grip and swung back decapitating the one armed zombie. As he returns to dust Becky swung around and blocked the oncoming strikes of the other three. Catching the second zombie off guard she tripped him and sliced his head off as he hit the ground. The third zombie grabbed her and threw her across the island. Stopping inches from falling into the pit she quickly flipped back onto her feet and with I quick spin she chopped that zombies head off. Becky rushed the final zombie and, finding the right moment, knocked it back with a flying kick. It struck the sidewall and fell into the pit.
Becky caught her breath. There was a big flash of light from behind her then the room returned to Norman. She got to her feet cautiously and turned around. She reached out slowly and grabbed the star. As she put it over her neck she heard the echo sound of slow clapping. Becky turned around to see Angelus applauding.
“Congrats kid didn’t think you’re gonna make it there for a second.” Angelus said smugly
“Laugh it up, but when I get back, you will never have been born.” Becky said coldly.
“Right, the temporal fold thing. Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t you need this.”
Angelus held up the piece of paper he got from Giles. Becky frowned angrily
“Where are they?”
“Around. If you want them to stay that way why don’t you just jump back over here and give me the star.”
Becky stood her ground. Angelus rolled his eyes
“Oh come on I won’t bite. Well, maybe just a little.”
“Okay, but before I do let me just say one thing.” Becky said
Becky looked at her palm.
“Commodo permissum mihi vado per vicis ego spondeo I'll exsisto bonus!” she yelled in a loud confident voice.
The Star began to glow. Around Becky a swirl of bright energy began to form. Moments later there was a flash of lightning which knocked Angelus over. The energy subsided and Becky was gone. Angelus got back onto his feet. He read the note he took from Giles and growled angrily as he stormed back into the tunnel
“This is a chick soup recipe!” he yelled at Giles
The old man laughs
“It’s best to use fresh chicken!” he joked
~ Sunnydale, California – 1996 ~
Dario walked briskly back to his crypt. It would be dawn soon and the sun was never good for his health. Crossing the graveyard he was suddenly thrown backwards by a pillar of swirling energy. He watched this scene in amazement. With a sudden bolt of lightning the energy was replaced by a young girl. Dario smiles and gets to his feet.
“Somebody up there likes me.” He said to himself as he walked over to the girl.
As he reached down to take a bite. Her hand grabs him by the neck. Becky looks up angrily. She gets to her feet and lifts the vamp high in the air.
She punches him in the stomach, which sends him flying back into a tree. Then something happens that she didn’t expect and had not seen in a while.
The vampire turned to dust.
She looked around. The cave was replaced with a graveyard. It must have worked she is in Sunnydale in the mid nineties. And the best part vampires can be killed.
For the briefest moment a smile crossed Becky’s face.
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