“What do you mean she’s not there?” Buffy asked in a forced calm, “Vicky told me she would be.”
Buffy leaned heavily on her desk. This had just become the worst day of her life. With Shona Missing, Penny over seas and now the juniors are nowhere to be found. This leaves an entire grid vulnerable to attack with no one to replace them. Buffy ran her hand threw her hair.
“Can you call me when she get’s in? Thanks.” Buffy asked
She placed the receiver back down on the phone. Buffy dropped her head in frustration as she tried to calm herself. Quickly she straitened up, picked up the phone and threw it against the wall shattering it into pieces. She was about to sit down when she heard the front door to the club close.
Angel entered Gen S. calmly just as Buffy exited her office.
“Hey,” Angel said with a touch of awkwardness, “I was in the neighborhood.”
“Angel,” Buffy replied in a combination of relief and disappointment, “sorry, thought you were someone else.”
“Who were you expecting?”
“It’s a long story.”
They both looked at each other for a long moment. Then, almost in synchronization, they moved to the center of the dance floor and embraced each other for support. After a long moment they pull apart and Angel looks Buffy in the eyes.
“You okay?” he asked in a caring tone
Buffy dropped her head and shook it.
“No,” she replied
“Anything I can help with?”
Buffy looked up at the brooding hero. She folds her arms awkwardly.
“Things are falling apart here,” Buffy admitted, “I am down an entire slayer team. We lost Kennedy, which means Giles needs to find a new assistant, and to make things worse there is no sign of Vicky, Roxy and Alison. I’ve been ringing the school, their parents, theirs friends nobody has seen them since the night Ken and Rebecca . . .”
Buffy bit her lip and looked away. She didn’t have time to start crying again she had too much work to do. Angel, sensing this, moved in closer to her.
“How about I get Connor and Gunn and we can fill the empty grid. We’re gonna need a witch though if we run into any invulnerables.”
Buffy pondered.
“Willow sent Glenda for an ‘attitude adjustment’ to Europe.”
“Do you think Will could help us directly?”
“I think she could free up her time,” Buffy replied, “Thanks for this Angel at least I have time to try and find out what happen to the other three.”
An idea struck Angel. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell.
“I know somebody who can help us with that.” he said dialing the number.
The phone rang three times before the other end was answered.
“Yeah?” asked a male voice.
“Whistler I’m going to need your help.” Angel asked strongly
~ Royal Melbourne Institute of TAFE, Melbourne Australia – the next day ~
Teresa Whitfield sat at her desk grading paper. She took a sip of her coffee and brushed a few strands of her deep crimson hair out of her eyes as she pored over the papers in front of her. There was a light knock at the door. Teresa sighed and leaned back on her desk impatiently staring at the door with her slate grey eyes.
“Like I told you the last five times Donald,” She said in a stern voice, “I will not be finished grading the papers until Wednesday. If you’d like to come back then . . .”
“What and miss you using your serious voice?” Alex replied from the other side of the door
Teresa’s down turn mouth quickly twisted it’s self into a broad smile at the sound of her sons voice. She moved from behind her desk and answered the door. Alex and Penny stood on the other side of the door happy, if not a little jet lagged, to see their mother.
“Good gracious what are you two doing here? I though we were going to meet up for dinner later on this evening.”
“We were but me and Alex got, like, totally impatient.” Penny replied in an excited tone
Teresa smiled at them both warmly and stretched out her arms. Alex and Penny moved in and all three hugged.
“Come on you two,” Teresa said ushering them both into her office, “I want you to tell me everything that has been going on.”
Alex and Penny looked at each other hesitantly before entering the office
Shona rubbed her eyes and yawned as she stepped down the stairs and re-entered the bar.
“Morning sleepy head,” a cheery female voice called from the center of the room.
Shona looked over to see Diane Mayers unstacking chairs and setting them up at the table.
“Momma?” Shona asked curiously, “When did you get here?”
“Last night. Would have been here sooner but I had to settle a few things back home.”
Diane places the last chair down and looked at her daughter impatiently.
“Well? Are you gonna just stand there or are you gonna give your momma a hug?”
Shona smiled and trudged over. She wrapped her arms around the old woman happily. Diane rested her head on Shonas and smiled warmly.
“That’s my baby girl.”
They pull away and Diane resumes setting up. Shona looks around in amazement?
“When did you organize all this?” she asked curiously
“You remember when Grandpa Tom died a few months ago. He left your Papa a nice some of money in his will and you know how much he wanted a Jazz bar.”
“That was so sad losin’ Grandpa Tom.”
Diane looked over to her daughter in concern.
“I hear that’s not the only thing that was lost.”
Shona dropped her head.
“Papa told you huh?”
Diane stopped what she was doing and joined her daughter. She placed her arms around her shoulder.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of you hear. I can’t begin to understand how the life of a slayer works but let me tell you what I’ve seen. I’ve seen my baby girl grow into a strong confident woman and that’s all I need to know.”
Shona smiled at her mother.
“Thanks Momma.”
Molly appeared out from the doorway carrying her schoolbag.
“I’m ready to go.” she announced
Diane looked up at the clock in surprise.
“Oh drat I forgot about Molly. I better reschedule that electrician.”
“I can take her.” Shona offered
“You sure honey?”
“It’s not like my day is gonna be full of anything.”
“Great, perfect,” Diane said as she quickly scribbled down directions on a napkin, “My car is parked out front.”
Shona took the direction and the keys. Diane smiled at her two girls as they headed for the door.
“Hey Shona,” she called out, “You don’t have to rush back. Take a drive if it will make you feel better.”
Shona nodded they the both of them headed out.
They arrived at Molly’s school about half an hour later. The car trip had been relatively silent with Molly just staring at her wayward sister curiously.
“Here we are Moll. Better get in before your late.” Shona said
“Why are you so sad Shona?”
“There’s just a lot of stuff I’m dealing with Moll.”
“Does it have to do with that Rebecca lady?”
Shona closed her eyes.
“Some of it does,” she replied in a forced calm, “Anyways how did you hear about it?”
“I kinda listened in when you were talkin’ to papa last night. . . Sorry.”
“We got no problem here. You better get in before the bell rings.”
Molly nods and opens the passenger door. Shona looks out her window. She senses something.
Shona climbs out of the car and looks carefully at the abandoned buildings across the road. She frowns intently.
“What is it?” Molly asks
“I don’t know,” Shona replied cautiously, “get inside now it aint safe for you out here.”
Across the road in one of the abandon buildings Leon sat and watched as Molly ran inside the building. He smiled wickedly to himself as his attention shifted Shona.
“So baby Shona’s come to town.” he said to himself happily
Leon was soon joined by three others who looked through the gap in the boards.
“This aint gonna be a problem is it Leon?”
“Nope?” the tall male replied
His face vamps out as he smiles hungrily.
“It just means for us to eat. We hit the bar tonight. You fellas can have anybody you want but leave my sister Shona for me.”
Teresa sat still with her hands over her mouth. She shook her head slowly as she leaned back in her chair.
“I am going to kill your father,” She said in an extremely serious tone, “Michael gave me his word that he would look after you two. I don’t know why I ever trusted that man.”
“I don’t think the word is trust when it comes to dad.” Alex replied
“And what that pizza man did to you sweetie was just horrible. I’m relieved that your safe and he’s behind bars.”
Penny nodded. Alex placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder but when he noticed her flinch he quickly removed it. This action didn’t go unnoticed by Teresa either.
“I’m gonna get myself a drink,” Penny said awkwardly, “does anybody want anything?”
“No I’m fine Pen.” Alex replied
“No thank you dear.” Teresa replied
Penny nodded, stood up and left the room. Teresa watched her with concern.
“Has she seen about this yet?” she asked
“Not yet,” Alex admitted, “Things have been hectic in L.A.”
“I have a friend working in the psychology department who might be able to help Penny I’ll give her a call this afternoon.”
“I hope somebody can I hate seeing her like this.”
Penny moved swiftly down the hallways. She wasn’t actually thirsty but she needed a reason to get out of the conversation. She hated thinking about what Roy did to her and was trying to forget it ever happened by people keep bringing it up.
She rounded the corner and ran straight into a student carrying a large load of books. The pile topples straight onto the ground much to the embarrassment of the student holding it.
“Oh my gosh I a so, so sorry about that.” the awkward male said as he dropped to the ground and gathered up his books
“No it was my fault I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Penny replied as she dropped down to help
“No it was me I wasn’t . . .”
He looked at penny and his heart skipped a beat. He blinked nervously as ran his hand through his curly brown hair.
“Wow,” he said involuntary, “Wow.”
Penny looked up at him curiously. He was a medium sided guy with short curly brown hair and brown eyes that were covered with a pair of perfectly circular glasses. He had a distinct air of nervousness around him but he wore it with a kind of innocent adorableness.
“What?” Penny ask
“Nothing . . . it’s just that you’re so . . . Wow.”
“I’m gonna go now.” Penny said as she got to her feet
The male, sensing that he was loosing his moment, quickly got up with her
“I’ve offended you I’m sorry. It’s that your so . . . nice . . . looking.”
“Okay.” Penny replied confused
“What’s your name?”
“Penny.”
The male smile as he felt progress.
“Penny, great, I’m . . . Ah . . . .”
He looked at her in a panicked state for a moment. Looking down at the pile of books he noticed one of his note books. Quickly picking it up he consulted with the inside cover.
“. . . Doug . . . is me, my name, that is.”
Penny caught herself giggling slightly. There was a definitely an adorabness about this awkward guy that she found charming.
“It’s nice to meet you Doug.” She said as she walked passed
Doug smiled to himself happily as he watched Penny walk down the hall.
“Hey maybe I can see you here sometime!” he called out after her, “’Cause that’s where I am . . . mostly. When I’m not here I’m somewhere else.”
Penny smiled and shook her head as she disappeared around the corner. Doug slapped himself on the forehead.
“ ‘When I’m not here I’m somewhere else’ good speaking braniac.” He berated himself as he collected his books, “she thinks I’m a total idiot.”
In the science department of Wolfram and Hart L.A. Greg walked around three steel tables carefully. He was observing test been run on the juniors. Each of the girls had been stripped down to their underwear and, at this moment, was in the process of being burned at regular intervals across their limbs and bodies.
At that moment the door opened and Jonas and Pearl stepped in.
“How goes the progress?” Jonas asked
Greg consults his notes.
“Good we’re getting lots of useful data from these three.” He replied
Jonas watched as a mechanical arm moved along Vicky’s thigh. It stops over a clean patch of skin and drops a red hot marker. Vicky screams in pain.
“At the moment we’re testing healing and regeneration rates,” Greg explains gesturing to the wounds on Vicky’s thigh, “see these burns up the top here? They were done two hours ago. Over that time the wound has had the equivalent of two days healing.”
“Fascinating,” Jonas replied, “keep me posted.”
“Yes sir. We will be infecting them with small doses of small pox tomorrow.”
Jonas and Pearl stepped out into the hall.
“You know Angel and the Slayer General are going to be looking for them.” Pearl commented
“Don’t worry yourself over these details. I’ve had some false leads laid down just in case.”
“That’s great but what if they decided to start from the source?”
Jonas stopped walking and thought about this.
“You have a point,” he commented “We might need something local. Talk to Dulkmier in security see what you two can come up with.”
“Yes sir.”
Penny and Alex sat nervously outside the office of Dr Susan Norway. Penny fidgeted and watched the clock closely hoping that maybe the doctor was sick. The door opened and Dr. Susan stuck her head out.
“Penny?” she asked sweetly
“Yeah?” Penny replied anxiously
“My name is Susan. Your mum said that maybe you’d like to talk to me.”
Penny looked over to Alex anxiously. Alex smiled at her reassuringly and motioned that she should go in. Penny slowly rose of the seat and followed the doctor in. Dr. Norway’s office was moderately furnished with everything having its place. Susan herself was a well rounded person who was liked by most of the faculty. Dr. Norway gestured to one of the large seats. Penny sat down slowly.
“If you’d like to wait one moment I have to make a quick phone call.”
“Alright.” penny replied
Susan smiled and moved through a door to the right. She closed it just enough so that she could keep an eye on Penny as she dialed the phone.
“Yeah it’s me,” Susan said to the individual on the other end of the line, “you remember that slayer I promised you she’s sitting in my office now . . . I did my homework and I found out that she is part of the L.A. effort and get this she was in the same team as that slayer Wolfram and Hart were so interested in . . . five minutes? Sure I can keep her here for that long. Right see you then.”
From the desk Susan picked up a small talisman and slipped it in her pocket. Susan stepped out of her office and sat in the chair opposite.
“Sorry about that let’s get on with it shall we,” she said as she organized herself, “do you know why your mum sent you to me?”
Penny sat uncomfortably across from the doctor.
“I don’t know” Penny replied
“Teresa seemed very worried about you. She told me that your boss tried to attack you?”
“Oh that,” Penny replied, “Yeah he tried to do some stuff to me.”
“What do you mean by ‘stuff’?”
Penny shifted in her seat. She looked around the office for anything that could distract her.
“Penny?”
“Can we talk about something else?” Penny asked insistently
“Alright we’ll do something different,” Susan said as she stood up from her chair, “how about we start with a relaxation activity.”
“Alright.” Penny replied cautiously
“What I want you to do is close your eyes and focus of a calming field.”
Penny closed her eyes. As Susan continued describing the scene she slowly moved over to her. Susan pulled the talisman out of her pocket and placed it on Penny’s forehead. It started to glow and Penny fell unconscious. Quickly Susan moved out into the hall to where Alex is waiting.
“This is going to take a while,” Susan informed, “You might want to come back later.”
“Oh alright,” Alex replied a little disconcerted, “How long about an hour?”
“At the least we have a lot of things to work through.”
Alex nodded. He collected his things and headed off down the hall. Susan ducked back inside just as a thick plume of black smoke filled the corner. The smoke quickly shifted into the shape of a tall, slender looking, demon.
“That wasn’t five minutes Siapalus!” Susan snapped
“I am aware of that Dr. Norway but I am also aware of your efficiency.”
“Are you also aware that you haven’t paid me for the last four I gave you?”
“Do not worry yourself Dr. Norway you’ll get your power soon enough. Now let us check out the specimen.”
Siapalus floated across the room his long silky robe billowing. He bends down and takes a close look at the unconscious Penny.
“Yes she will do nicely. I can feel the power bubbling inside her.”
“You better. This one’s the daughter of a friend of mine.”
Siapalus crane his neck around and looked at Susan curiously.
“You worry yourself over such trivialities. With the final slayer in my position I can now perform the ritual then I will be able destroy the world.”
The office door opened and Doug stepped in. he was carrying one of his assignment to which he was looking at curiously.
“Excuse me Dr. Norway I’m confused about one of my gra . . . “
Doug looks up. He surveys at the scene in horrified curiosity.
“Hey what’s going on here?” he asked
“Doug this is a bad time could you come back tomorrow?” Susan asked
Doug didn’t hear her. He was too busy surveying the demon that was holding Penny.
“Why is that tall holding that Woman?”
“Not now Doug I will see you tomorrow.”
“This little one annoys me.” Siapalus said, “Get rid of him.”
Susan nodded. She picks up the letter opener from her desk and advances Doug. He panics and bolts for the door. Siapalus waves his free arm and the door seals tight. Doug looks around the room for anything he can use for a weapon. He notices a bookshelf and starts to hurl books at Susan. She ducks and weaves out of the way of most of the books but one of them deflects off her arms and knocks the talisman off Penny’s forehead.
Penny opens her eyes wide when she sees the demon. She swings out with her right leg and kicks the demon in the head. Siapalus stumbles back dropping the slayer. Penny lands on her feet and assumes a fighting stance. Siapalus floats back up and charges her snarling loudly. Penny punches him in the jaw and then, keeping her momentum, hits him in the back of the head with a spinning elbow. She continues with a knee to the chest straightening him up and finished with a side kick to the face.
Penny swung around to see Susan holding the letter opener to Doug’s throat
“Not so fast slayer girl. If you don’t want to see Dougies head on the floor you’ll do exactly what I say.”
Penny looks Susan up and down.
“Can I borrow this? Thanks” Penny asked as she ripped the letter opener from her hand
Susan watched on Dumbfounded as Penny promptly turned at threw it at Siapalus. The blade sailed through the air and landed right between Siapalus eyes. Siapalus slumped to the ground dead. Penny dusted off her hand then turned her attention back to Susan.
“You know what?” She confidently, “You suck as a shrink.”
Penny punched her in the face and Susan collapsed onto the ground unconscious. Doug looked around the scene confused.
“You really killed that guy,” he said stunned, “should I be scare of you?”
Penny smiled at the strange male.
“No Doug I’m a good guy.”
The bar known as ‘The Hole’ was in full swing that evening. The Jazz music was pumping and ever one was having a great time everyone except Shona. Her thoughts inevitably lead her back to the night she fled L.A. and how she felt she let everybody down. Morgan was at the piano playing happily when there was a loud crash from the doorway. Four Vamps enter the club casually.
“Would you look at this place?” Leon announced loudly, “brother’s done alright for himself hasn’t he boys?”
The other vamps agreed loudly as Leon approached the stage. Shona watched cautiously waiting for her moment to move and not wanting to give her away just yet.
“Hey pops it’s been a while. I haven’t see you sine you ditch me back at Arizona.”
“Leon?” Morgan asked curiously, “is that you?”
“Aw hell you know it me papa. You’re the one who left me to die.”
Leon looked out into the crowd. Leon’s boys were blocking every exit to make sure no one escapes. As Leon’s eyes scanned the room he saw Shona sitting at the bar. He looks at her in mock surprise.
“Is that baby Shona I see in the corner?”
Shona stood from her stool. She glared at Leon angrily.
“I think you’ll be stepping away from papa now.”
Leon shook his head.
“Same old Shona,” Leon replied, “still thinks she in control.”
“You aint the only one who gone through a change.”
“Really.”
From his boot Leon pulled out a small dagger. He tossed it at Shona who caught it efficiently without taking her eyes off Leon. The other vamps begin to look nervous. Leon rolls his eyes.
“Of course you’re a slayer,” he said annoyed, “You always had to be one better then me at everything.”
“That’s ‘cause you suck.”
Shona charged in. she leapt up onto the stage and kicked Leon in the knee. He twisted awkwardly allowing Shona to roundhouse kick him in the head knocking him to the ground. Leon looked over to his lackeys.
“Don’t just stand there we have a slayer to kill!” he yelled
The other vamps charge in as Leon flipped back onto his feet. Shona kicked him in the stomach then quickly followed by punching two of the other vamps in the face and side kicking the third in the ribs. Motioning her father to stand Shona picked up the piano stool and smashed Leon in the face with it. As it splintered she caught one of the legs and staked the first of the three vamps charging at her. Another tried to jump her from behind but she caught him off balance which sent him crashing to the floor.
After she stakes him Shona turned her attention to the third. He was standing near the edge of the stage trying to figure out his next attack. Thinking quickly Shona grabs the microphone from the stand and hurls it at him. It collides with his head and as he was stumbling around Shona stormed up and staked him promptly. Shona swung around angrily and stormed up to her former brother. She forces him against the wall and places the point of the stake over his heart.
“What was your plan Leon? Or were you not thinking like usual.” Shona asked annoyed
Leon slowly laughs at her.
“You think you’re in control. Someday that’s gonna get you killed.”
Shona frowns and drives the stake in. Leon explodes into dust and Shona backs away slowly. She looks over to Morgan in concern
“You okay?” she asked
“Yeah I’m just a little shocked” he replied
From behind them a slow clap started. Shona and Morgan looked at each other curiously and turned around slowly to see the entire audience applauding wildly. Morgan seized the moment and picked up the microphone. He wrapped his arm around his daughter.
“Let’s give it up for my girl Shona the slayer!” he announced proudly as the crowd got to it feet.
Shona smiled and waved awkwardly at the crowd.
Angel, Connor and Gunn moved swiftly through the graveyard. So far it had been quiet which unsettled Angel. There was a rustling in the bushes which alerted the trio.
“Man these vamps are just getting stupider.” Gunn commented
“That doesn’t make them any less dangerous.” Angel commented
“It doesn’t?”
“Okay, yeah maybe it does but we should still be on our toes.”
The trio advanced on the bush just as Whistler jumped out. He saw the blades and put his hands up defensively.
“Whoa! Hey! Easy there good guy remember?” he said
Angel motioned the other to stand down as whistler walked up to them.
“What have you got?”
“Trouble,” Whistler replied, “and when I say trouble I mean like dictionary definition trouble.”
“You know where the juniors are?”
“Yep and it wasn’t easy either. Wolfram and Hart sent me down so many brick roads I began to feel like Dorothy.”
“Wolfram and Hart?”
“That’s where they are. I herd this from a drinking buddy of mine who’s a janitor in the building. Those egg heads in the science room are running all kinds of experiments on them to try and figure out what makes a slayer tick.”
Gunn and Angel look at each other uneasily.
“Thanks whistler.”
Whistler nodded and left the trio. Angel turned back into the group.
“We thinking that Wolfram and Hart are trying to shut down the slayers?” Gunn asked
“Looks like,” Angel replied, “I need to get the juniors out tonight. You think you two could handle the rest of this patrol on your own?”
Connor shrugged.
“No problem.” he said confidently.
Buffy and Angel stormed up to the Wolfram and Hart office.
“They have gone way to far this time.” Buffy said angrily
“Well we’re not gonna let them get away with it this time.”
Just before the reached the lobby collided roughly with an invisible barrier which knocked them onto the ground. They both looked up surprised as Pearl walked out of the office. She folded her arms and smiled at the slayer and the vampire.
“What the hell was that?” Angel growled
“I’m sorry angel it’s a new Wolfram and Hart policy. Not unauthorized Vampires and slayers allowed onto the property.”
Buffy stood up and tested the barrier.
“Willow could have this down in 10 minutes.” She announced
“Sorry Buffy but this barrier is constructed from very old magicks that are highly resistant to counter-spells. Beside if she attempts any such thing on the property she will be shot dead by the sniper we have posted in one of our offices.”
Buffy and Angel Glared at Pear who smiled at them in return.
“Have a nice day.” Pearl concluded before she re-entered the building.
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