“. . . There has to be something we can do,” Rebecca replied, “there’s got to be some way of getting more people.”
Just then an electronic hum startled Rebecca. She listened to the sound curiously. If she didn’t know better she could have sworn it sounded like a tazer rifle charging. Interested she stood up and walked cautiously back inside.
Byron stood casually in the center of the lobby. Behind him stood a force of about 150 fully armed men and women. Byron smiled at her as he casually rested his tazer rifle on his shoulder.
“Hi,” he said, “need a hand?”
“Byron?” Rebecca asked stunned, “What are you doing here?”
“You know, it was the darndest, I was helping Geoff down at colony 8 then out of nowhere this guy dressed as a monk shows up and tells me that you need help with some kind of big battle.” Byron explains
“So you came?”
“We did owe you for stopping the Uber-Slayer,” he replied, “and the vamps pulled back after your goddess friend made those magic stones.”
“You don’t know how good your timing is.”
Byron smirked.
“Well I have been known for my entrances. So what are we killing?”
It took about an hour or so for Rebecca to lay down the entire story from the time she saved the colonists to right then. Byron leaned back on his chair and tried to absorb the information.
“Wow you’ve been busy,” He replied.
“You don’t know the half of it.” Rebecca replied
“So what kind of numbers are we talking demon wise?”
Rebecca scribbled down a number on a piece of paper that sat near her. She slipped it to the colonist who studied it closely.
“Whoa,” he replied, “that’s a lot of zeros.”
“Now you know why your timing is so good.”
Byron looked up at Rebecca seriously.
“Can they be killed?”
“We’re pretty sure they can be.”
“Oh good for a minute there I though we were going to have a problem.”
Angel and Buffy walked down the stairs and joined the both of them.
“Alright I think we managed to organize for all the colonists.” Angel said
“Thanks,” Byron replied, “You’re lucky you live in a hotel.”
“We would have found room for them anyway.” Buffy continued
“It wouldn’t have mattered. My people are used to a lot worse then this.”
Byron leaned forward and looked at the trio.
“So what’s our game plan?” he asked
“We only just found out about the demons a couple of hours ago and things are kind of hectic around here at the moment. We really haven’t had time.” Rebecca replied
Byron smiled at them. He stood up and moved to the large table that was set up to the side of the lobby.
“Then my timing really is good,” he replied, “May I?”
Buffy nodded. Byron cleared off the mess on the table. From his back pack he pulled out a set of rolled up plans and un-rolled them onto the table.
“The complete Architectural plans for the offices of Wolfram and Hart Los Angeles,” Byron explained, “We found this in what was left of the city planning office back in the hell dimension. Now I know this is for our Wolfram and Hart but I don’t think yours would be any different.”
Rebecca poured over the plans. The seemed to align well with this dimensions Wolfram and Hart.
“These are perfect.” Rebecca replied, “and they were just lying in the office?”
“Not exactly lying in the office,” Byron replied,”it took about a crate of C4 to blow open the safe where it was stored. What surprises me is that this place is supposed to be the center of evil and they still had to apply to the city to get their office built.”
“We need to find a way in.” Angel commented as he joined Rebecca in looking over the plans
“Actually I might have an idea about that. The monk told me that Rebecca had to get into a place called the white room which can only access from the elevator right?”
“Yeah.”
“And I’m guessing walking through the front door isn’t an option and also they would be thinking about sewer access.”
“What’s your plan?” Rebecca asked
Byron looked at the trio mischievously and flicked through the plans until he found the one he was looking for.
“How do you guys feel about heights?” he asked
The group looked at each other confused. Byron pointed to layout of the roof.
“The ventilation system should be wide enough for a big group of us to slip in unnoticed.”
“This building has about forty floors,” Buffy commented, “How are we supposed to get up there?”
“Leave that to me I do this on a regular basis. I have a feeling it’ll be the last thing they suspect.”
Rebecca pondered over the plan. A sly smile crosses her face.
“I don’t know about the rest of you but it looks to me like we have a plan.” She said
The next morning Shona got up early. She didn’t sleep very well and didn’t feel like laying around when there was so much work that needed to be done before they make their move. As she wandered down the stairs she saw Willow going over some spells in preparation for the big battle. She hesitated not knowing what to do. Sensing that there was someone else in the room Willow looked up.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Shona said awkwardly, “I’ll go back to my room.”
Shona turned and started to walk back up. Willow stood up anxiously.
“Wait Shona,” Willow replied.
Shona stopped. She closed her eyes and tried to push the hurt down into the pit of her stomach. She looked over to Willow who had a worried expression on her face.
“I think we need to talk.” Willow continued
“I really don’t know what to say,” Shona replied
“Just come down okay?”
For the longest moment Shona stood half way up the staircase then tentatively she made her way down to the lobby. She sat across from the goddess and hung her head in shame.
“I’m so sorry about Kennedy,” she said soulfully, “I should have done somethin’. I should have tried to stop . . . “
“. . . Rebecca?” Willow interjected
Shona looked away in shame. Willow sighed sympathetically.
“Shona what we do is never simple,” she explained, “It’s hard to fight an enemy and even harder to fight a friend.”
“I know but that aint a reason to do what I did. When I saw Ken fall something inside me went with her. I just knew I couldn’t face you guys.”
“I understand that but, you know what? You came back. I think that says more about who you really are then running did.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
Willow smiled and went back to her notes.
“Yeah,” she replied, “me to.”
Rebecca stirred lightly in her bed. She felt a hand lightly stroking her hair. Slowly she opened her eyes to see Alex smiling at her.
“morning.” he said softly
“Good morning yourself,” she replied with a smile in her voice, “When did you come in?”
“About five minutes after you went to bed.”
Rebecca looked up at him curiously.
“I’m sorry I didn’t want to wake you, “he replied, “You were so peaceful and to tell you the truth I just wanted to look at you.”
Rebecca smirked.
“You just wanted to make fun of my bed hair don’t you?”
Alex rolled his eyes.
“No it’s not the bed hair . . . though now you come to mention it.”
Rebecca leaned up on her elbow. She grabbed her pillow and hit him with it. Alex laughed and kissed her passionately. Slowly Rebecca slipped out of bed and Alex watched as she got dressed. Part of him was relieved that he had her back but there was only one thought running through his mind.
“Rebecca I want to ask you something,” he said softly, “and I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
After slipping on her top Rebecca turned to him worried Alex looked down as he tried to gather his thoughts.
“What is it Alex?” she asked
“The battle that’s about to happen . . . What if you didn’t join them?”
“What are you talking about?”
Alex moved from the bed. He took Rebecca by the hands and looked deeply into her eyes. His fearful expression was overwhelming.
“I’m talking about leaving, getting away from L.A., what if we just went somewhere? Just you and me.”
“I can’t do that Alex.” She replied anxiously
“Why not? How come it has to be you? Why can’t anybody else do it?”
“I explained this to you I’m the only one with the power to do it.”
“So? Give your power to someone else let them go in your place.”
“It’s not that easy Alex. My power can’t be handed over.”
Alex frowned angrily at her as he blood began to boil.
“You died Rebecca!” he yelled at her, “You were dead! And I had to watch it happen! Do you have any idea how that felt or are you too wrapped up in yourself to notice?”
Rebecca looked at Alex hurt.
“That’s not fair.” She replied
“And we all know you’re the expert on fair Right?” Alex retorted, “If the great Divine One proclaims it then it must be so.”
Rebecca tried to move in but Alex stepped back.
“No, not this time Rebecca, you don’t get to don’t get to play fix up with me anymore.”
“Alex.” Rebecca said anxiously
“Forget it Rebecca, in fact forget everything!”
Alex pulled off his engagement ring and tossed it at the bed. Before Rebecca could respond Alex turned on his heels and stormed out the door. Rebecca was stunned she didn’t know what to think. Slowly she walked over to the bed and picked up the ring and sat down. This was the last thing she ever wanted to do to him but she had no choice. The prophecy was clear and it had to be seen through. Just then she noticed an inscription inside the gold band. Lifting it closer to her eye she realized that it was only two words long. It read . . .
Rebecca . . . Always . . .
And that’s when the tears came to her eyes.
By this stage a lot of the people began to surface from their rooms. The lobby began to fill up quickly as colonists and slayers began to prepare for the task at hand. Penny sat down at the table. She held a sword from Angel’s weapons cabinet and tested it for quality. The sound of someone storming heavily down the stairs started her and she watched as Alex moved angrily towards the door. Anxiously Penny stood up and followed him. She caught Alex just before he left.
“Hey where are you going?” she asked
“Out,” Alex replied, “I need to get some fresh air.”
“It’s seriously not safe out there you could get hurt.”
“It’s a little late for that.”
“What?”
Alex didn’t reply. He shook himself loose from Penny’s grip and headed out the door. Penny looked around anxiously and tried to figure out what to do next. After a moment she rushed after him. She managed to catch up with Alex a few meters down the road.
“Alex!” she called out
Alex ignored her and kept on walking. Using her slayer speed she overtook him and stood in his path. Alex sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Out of the way Penny.” He said
“Not until you tell me what’s going on.” she replied
“It’s none of your business.”
“It is when you decide to go out and get yourself killed.”
“I’m not going to get myself killed Pen,” Alex replied annoyed, “god, why do you have to be so melodramatic all the time.”
Penny looked at him shocked.
“What has gotten into you?” Penny asked, “You’ve been in a mood ever since we got back from Australia.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t be if you had taken my side for once.”
“This is about Rebecca coming for me isn’t it?”
Alex folded his arms and glared angrily at his sister.
“Not everything revolves around you Pen. Some day you’re going to have to learn that.”
Penny couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Alex pushed past her but Penny pulled him right back.
“We are not done here Alex!” Penny announced
Alex slowly shook his head.
“God, you’re just like her.” Alex retorted.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, Sis, is that you care more about saving this city then you do about me!”
Suddenly the penny dropped figuratively speaking. Penny realized what Alex was talking about.
“You tried to talk Rebecca out of fighting didn’t you?”
Alex rolled his eyes again and turned his head. Penny grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her.
“Don’t you look away from me!” she yelled.
“So what if I did? It’s not your business, hell, it’s not mine anymore either.”
Penny stared at Alex with furious confusion.
“I ended it with her,” Alex explained, “maybe that will teach her where her priorities should lie.”
Penny was beyond shocked. Alex took the opportunity to push past her again and continue down the street. After a moment penny screwed up her face in anger and ran after him. Again she overtook and blocked his path.
“I just figured it out,” Penny replied, “it’s so simple I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.”
“What is?” Alex replied irritated
“You’re an ass. A complete and total ass I can’t believe how much of an ass you are.”
“What?”
“You are so stupid you actually thought Rebecca put the city before you.”
“Didn’t she?”
Then something happened that Alex didn’t expect. Penny slapped him hard. Alex stumbled back in shock.
“No you dick,” she replied in anger, “You’re her world Alex. You’re the only thing stable in her life; of course, you’re too much of an idiot to see it.”
This time it was Alex’s turn to look confused. This didn’t faze Penny from her train of thought. She marched up and grabbed him by the collar.
“If you don’t go back and apologize for what ever the hell you just did I swear I’m gonna kick your ass.” She continued
Alex looked at her curiously. Penny shot him a serious look in return.
“You think I’m joking? Maybe I’ll get Shona to do it for me?”
“No, no, no that’s okay,” Alex replied anxiously, “I’ll talk to her.”
Penny released him and straightened his collar.
“That’s my boy.” She replied
They were just about to head back when three cop cars screeched around the corner. Before they could react the cars blocked their exit forcing them against the wall. Police in riot gear climbed out and took aim at Penny.
“Stand down slayer!” one of them yelled as he eased back the hammer on his gun.
“Oh crap,” Alex said softly.
Penny sized up the situation.
“Run.” She said quietly as the police began to move in slowly.
Alex looked at her in shock.
“What?” he asked, “I’m not leaving you here!”
“They don’t want you they want me. Get the hell out of here!”
“Penny . . . “
“Do you want me to start kicking your ass now?”
Alex looked from the advancing police to his sister.
“I’ll be back with help.” he said as he turned and bolted.
One of the officer was about to chase him when the lead officer raised his hand.
“Let him go,” he said, “we just want the slayer.”
Penny readied herself. Just as the officers moved in she lashed out with a series of kicks. Two of the officers went down hard as she swung out with a left hook on a third. The officer ducked under it and kicked Penny in the stomach. She stumbled back but quickly regained her footing. Just as she was about to go back on the offensive one of the officers raised his gun and fired hitting her two times in the chest. Penny clutched her wound and collapsed onto the ground. The lead officer turned to the shooter.
“Was that necessary?” he asked
The shooter shrugged.
“It stopped her didn’t it?”
Alex burst into the hotel. He fought his way through the crowd until he ran into Shona. Shona saw his panicked expression and worried.
“What happened?” she asked
“It’s Pen,” he replied out of breath, “the cops have her cornered down the street.”
“What? What the hell’s she doin’ out there?”
That was when Shona saw Alex’s guilty expression. She was about to get angry with him but decided to focus her priorities. Shona turned to the juniors behind her.
“Vic, Rox you’re with me,” she ordered, “Ally find Rebecca now.”
The girls nodded and scrambled off to their missions.
Penny lay on the cold concrete gasping for air as blood poured rapidly from the wound. The lead officer leaned over her and looked at the wound closely.
“What’s the news boss?” one of the officers asked
“She’s not worth taking in,” the lead officer replied, “She’ll be dead in a couple of minutes.”
“The hell she will!” Shona yelled as she burst into the circle and kicked the lead officer in the face.
The others were about to jump in when Vicky and Roxy leaped onto the car and kicked two of them in the back of the head. They bother flipped down and started to lay into the other officers as Shona tripped the lead sending him tumbling to the ground she then kicked him in the side of the head knocking him unconscious. Shona surveyed the scene. Just as Vicky and Roxy were finishing of the other officers Shona noticed a bleeding Penny lying on the ground.
Rebecca sat still on her bed and started to focus. She didn’t have time to be upset and had to keep her mind clear. Wiping the tears from her eyes she took a couple of deep breaths she centered her self. There was a knock at the door.
“Yeah?” Rebecca called out
“Rebecca!” Alison called out in urgency, “it’s Penny!”
“What about Penny?”
A moment later Rebecca barreled down the hall as fast as she could. On the way she colleted Willow and Alison explained what they knew. By the time they made the lobby Shona had already returned with Penny in her arms. She laid her down flat and looked at her anxiously. Willow and Rebecca joined her a moment later.
“I-I Don’t think she’s breathing.” Shona said
Willow quickly checked over the body.
“They didn’t hit the heart,” she explained, “but I think they got a lung.”
Willow concentrated. And the bullets lifted out of Penny’s chest. Willow caught them and put them to once side. She held her hands over Penny and started to concentrate. For the briefest moment Penny began to glow then suddenly she stopped. Willow looked down confused.
“Will?” Rebecca asked
“I don’t understand this should be working.” Willow replied
Willow picked up the bullets and examined them. A look of shock crossed her face.
“These were made to take down a slayer,” she said seriously, “There’s some kind of mystical coating on them that’s blocking my magic.”
Penny began to cough. Rebecca looked at Penny then at Willow. She then placed one hand on the bleeding slayer and held her other hand to Willow. Willow looked at her confused
“Trust me this will work.” Rebecca said seriously
Willow took Rebecca's hand and placed her other on Penny. They both began to concentrate. Suddenly their joined hands ignited with a green flame this was followed by Penny glowing green. Quickly the wound began to heal until there was no sign of it at all. Penny snapped open her eyes and bolt upright. She grabbed her chest and began to breathe heavily. As Willow tended to her Rebecca stood up slowly. She glared at Alex, who was standing in the corner of the room. Quickly she turned and walked up the stairs.
From out of the crowd Shona marched up to Alex. She grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
“If you ever pull a stunt like that again I will rip your head off do you understand me?” she yelled at Alex
All Alex could do was nod.
Later on that after noon Penny stood in the back courtyard. She leaned against one of the poles and stared up into the sky. Shona walked out the back and joined her.
“Hey,” she said softly to her partner, “You alright?”
“Yeah, it still kinda stings though.” Penny replied
Shona shrugged,
“Couple of bullets to the chest would do that.” she replied
Penny smiled.
“I never apologies for what I said to you.” she said softly, “I don’t want you out of my life.”
“Ah forget about it girl that’s old news.”
“No it’s not. I just want you to know that I couldn’t have made it this far with out your help.”
Shona looked over to Penny and smiled. She put her arms around her shoulder.
“Thanks that means a lot.” She replied, “You comin’ in we’re about to get somethin’ to eat.”
“In a minute.” Penny replied
“Alright but don’t be too long.” Shona replied as she headed back inside.
Penny resumed her staring. A moment later a bird landed on the wall. Penny looked over and was startled. It was a Night-Hawk and if she didn’t know any better she swears that it looks like the exact same Night-Hawk she saw in Australia but that would be impossible. The bird began to chirp which made Penny shake her head. For a second there she thought she could understand what it was saying. Convinced that she must be hungry Penny made her way back inside. The Night-Hawk watched her enter the building. Once Penny was inside it spread its wings and took off.
An old man lay casually on a park bench. His wiry grey hair and beard along with his long brown tattered jacket, scuffed boots, thread bear woolen sweater and tattered pants gives him the look of a homeless man. The man looked up lazily as The Night-Hawk landed on the edge of the bench.
“So is she the one?” the old man asked as he straightened his hat
The bird chirped at him and the old man put up his hand defensively.
“Hey I’m not arguing with you I just want to make sure you’re sure alright?”
Again the bird chirped at him. The old man shifted himself to a sitting position and looked around the empty streets.
“No not now,” the man replied, “this place is about to go to hell and if she is what you say she is she’s gonna be needed here.”
The Night-Hawk flapped it wings and landed on the man’s shoulder. It chirped at him again as he stood and colleted his stuff.
“Don’t worry Hope,” he said insistently, “When the time’s right we’ll get Penny.”
Back inside the Hyperion Alex sat alone in his room. He had made two mistakes today and one was almost fatal. In his hand he cradled a small box. He wasn’t sure if the time was right time for it but he might not get a second chance. Slipping the box in his pocket he made his way down the stairs.
In the lobby the slayers and colonists were talking wildly amongst themselves. The incident involving Penny rattled a few nerves and the fear was quickly spreading. On the sidelines Buffy, Angel and Rebecca stood and watched.
“The troops are getting restless.” Angel commented
“It’s always like this before a big battle” Buffy replied
“The calm before the storm.” Rebecca commented.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Alex walking towards her. She looked at him angrily then stormed off into the back yard. It wasn’t long before Alex joined her. Rebecca folded her arms and glared at him.
“What do you want Alex. You come to give me another ultimatum?” she asked furiously
“Rebecca . . .” he attempted
Then he stopped. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to say then the voice of his sister came to him.
“ . . . I’m an ass.” He continued
The threw Rebecca of her rhythm momentarily.
“Keep going.” She said
“I didn’t look at the big picture,” he continued, “what’s the point of having you in my world if there isn’t going to be a world left.”
“So it took your sister nearly dieing for you to see the light?”
“No,” Alex replied, “It took the power and quick thinking of the woman who saved my sisters life for me to see the light. I’m not going to lie to you Rebecca I hate your life it already took you away from me once and I’m afraid that the next time it’s going to be permanent but in saying that I know how important it is. Someone needs to take a stand and if it has to be you then I’ll be right behind you two hundred percent.”
Rebecca tried to keep her angry face on but it was no good. The tears began to roll down her cheek as she slowly unfolded her arms.
“I’m scared Alex,” She said, “I’m supposed to stop the three most powerful demons in the world on my own! I don’t know how to do that! I need you to help me I-I can’t do this on my own.”
That was all Alex could stand. He rushed in and embraced Rebecca as hard as he could and Rebecca cried harder. Slowly they dropped to their knees.
“I’m here for you baby.” Alex said softly as Rebecca cried into his shoulder, “What ever you need I’m here . . . there’s something I need you to do for me first.”
Rebecca pulled away and looked at him with blurry eyes. Alex smiled and handed her the small box. Confused she opened it and looked inside. In shock Rebecca covered her mouth and looked up at Alex. Inside the small box were two simple gold rings. He pulled one out and placed it in Rebecca's hand.
“I want you to keep your promise.” He continued
“Oh Alex,” She said in surprise.
Back inside Buffy and Angel looked out over the crowd. The air was tense and everyone felt it. Angel looked over to the slayer general.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked
“I’ve just been thinking about the last couple of months,” she replied, “How did everything get so crazy?”
“Who said that it did?” a male voice said from next to them
Buffy looked up in surprise to see Brother Gabriel standing over them. In his hand he carried an object wrapped in cloth.
“I have come to return this.” he said handing Buffy the object.
Confused the slayer general un-wrapped it. It was the slayers scythe.
“The divine one asked me to hold it for safe keeping.”
Relieved Buffy placed the scythe on the table. She looked up at the monk curiously
“What do you mean by things haven’t been crazy?” she asked
“Everything that has happened to date has followed the path of the prophecy including the Divine One’s death and her return.”
“So all that stuff with Wolfram and Hart she did was predestined?” Angel asked
“That is correct everything that has been chronicled has come to pass . . . Everything except the last passage.”
Buffy and Angel looked at each other anxiously. Brother Gabriel unrolled the prophecy and indicated to the bottom of the page.
. . . the Divine One shall pass through the passage of White and unlock the door there she will face the three beasts.
The Wolf, the Ram and the Hart.
The beasts will test her fortitude and she shall be tempted to sway from the path.
But when the moment has reached its darkest the light of the warrior blade shall shine her home . . .
“The warrior blade? We need to find a sword now?” Buffy asked curiously
“No you do not,” Brother Gabriel replied gesturing to the scythe.
Buffy picked up the scythe and examined it.
“I don’t get it I thought this was made for slayers.” she commented
“Initially yes,” Brother Gabriel replied, “it was designed to be held by a slayer. You must understand it was no accident that you found the scythe the women who built this weapon knew the prophecy as well as I and knew that if the slayer who defied destiny held the blade it would make its way into the hands of the Divine One.”
Buffy gripped the Scythe tightly. It was too much of a coincidence that Rebecca, her niece, had to wield the scythe for the prophecy to be wrong. For the first time in as many hours Buffy felt a glimmer of hope.
In the offices of Wolfram and Hart the lawyers ran two and fro. The preparation for the upcoming battle was their highest priority and they had to make sure everything was ready. In her office Pearl looked out the window patiently. A moment later Jonas joined her.
“Feeling tense?” he asked
“No,” she replied, “Just excited. There’s something about an upcoming battle that thrills me.”
“The air is certainly electric. In some cases quite literally.”
“Do you think we have everything organized?”
Jonas walked up to the window and looked down. In front of the building stood a force of 3000 demons of varying sized and strengths. Jonas smiled to himself evilly
“I think we’re ready.”
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