Part Two

Buffy tensed, standing up to face what ever was out there stalking them. She didn’t get the chance to turn around, when she was kicked in the chest, tossing her ten feet away from the child demon. Buffy rolled over and stood up on shaky feet. Giles grabbed her arms to steady the Slayer, when he gasped at her attacker...

The demon stood almost six feet tall, and looked like a cross between a human and cat. Her sleek, fur covered body hunched in a defensive posture, over the now quiet child. The demon’s long gray and black tail switched back and forth in anger, as her ears flattened on her feline head. She was definitely angry...and, as she extended her razor sharp claws, Buffy knew, she was ready to fight.

But instead of attacking, the demon turned to the child and spoke in a soft voice to her, “Do’nook. Atten mea’ora Sharna. Sectornor tea’ora?”

“Mea’ora Teala,” the little girl said shyly, taking the larger demon’s hand.

Giles pulled Buffy close to him and whispered, “The larger demon, is a Tempora Demon.”

“A what?”

“They are a warrior race of demons, know to protect half demons from persecution. They have even been known to aid humans in demon attacks.” Giles went on to explain, “But for a Tempora Demon to be here...”

“You’re the Slayer.” the demon said, mater-of-factly.

“Um...yeah,” she replied, taken aback at her eloquent, voice, “I am. But how did you-”

“I picked up your scent,” she explained, scooting the young demon behind her, “This child is an innocent. Do not harm her.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Buffy said, relaxing her guard, slightly, “Actually, I was trying to comfort her, when you ‘kitty-pounced’ me.”

“Oh,” the demon, shrugged. “Sorry. I thought you were going to hurt Teala.”

“Is that her name?” Giles asked, running the two demons conversation through his mind, “Than, if I correctly translated...you would be...Sharna?”

“I’m impressed,” Sharna smiled, still holding onto the girl protectively, but letting down her defensives, “you have a good memory.”

Giles smiled, shyly, “Y-yes...well...I have a tendency of remembering all things demon.”

“I feel honored.”

“W-well....”

“I hate to break this up,” Buffy interrupted, slightly annoyed at her Watcher’s attention to Sharna, “but, I would really love to know what she was running from.”

Sharna bent down and said something to the little girl. Buffy and Giles could see the girl hesitate, nervously rubbing her two tiny horns. But finally, after a bit of gentle prodding, she began to tell her tale...

“She was at home with her family,” Sharna translated, “when the men came and took them away.”

“Who?”

Sharna asked the girl, and turned back toward the Slayer, “Men in Army uniforms. They had masks on.”

“The Initiative?” Giles inhaled, “They broke into her family’s home and took them away? Why?”

Sharna shook her head, “How should I know? I’m not even sure Teala knows. One minute she’s watching TV with her Parents, two brothers and sister...the next, she’s running for her life...terrified beyond anything that a six year old should have to experience.” Sharna’s eyes narrowed, “And...you know about this...Initiative?”

“Yes,” Giles nodded, giving Buffy a harsh look, “But we were told they only hunted evil demons and vampires-”

“Does she look evil to you?!” Sharna growled, “And this isn’t the first incident of ‘mistaken identity’, either. Demons, who are just trying to make a living, are being hunted down and taken out of their homes every day...and it’s getting worse. Then there’s three-”

The demon stopped, cocking her head slightly as she picked up the slight rustling of leaves. Buffy heard it two, and knew instantly who was behind the noise, but before she could say a word, a commando leaped out...gun-a-blazing.

“I have the escaped hostile,” Riley shouted into his walkie talkie, “And an unidentified one.”

“Riley, wait!” Buffy shouted her warning, as she watched the Tempora Demon react with blinding speed.

With a terrifying growl, Sharna dove into Riley before he could fire his taser. She ripped the gun out of his hand, smashing it into the ground. With one hand, she held onto Riley’s neck, with just enough power to keep him pinned. She held the other hand above his head, with her razor sharp claws extended. Buffy moved to help her boyfriend, but was held back by Giles.

“Giles?!”

“Wait.”

“What?!”

Giles warned, “Wait and see.”

Sharna leaned in close to Riley and growled, “Remember this, I could have easily killed you. I chose not to.”

With incredible speed and agility, the demon pushed off him, scooped the child demon up, and disappeared into the night.

Buffy went over to Riley, who began to stand, “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Agent Finn, what’s your status?” a voice crackled over the radio, “Did you capture the hostile?”

Riley quickly grabbed the radio and said, “Negative. The hostile escaped. I’m heading back to base.” He turned off the radio and brushed himself off, “Why didn’t you help me?” He asked Buffy.

“I tried to warn you,” Buffy explained, “I was trying to get information from the big demon.”

“Information?” Riley snipped, “I didn’t think you stopped to chat with hostiles...”

“They weren’t hostile,” Giles interjected calmly, “The smaller demon was a child...”

Riley turned to Buffy and looked at her confused, “I don’t understand...you’re the Slayer, right? You’re supposed to slay these things, not side with them.”

“It’s complicated,” Buffy shrugged, “You mad?”

He looked over at Giles, then back to Buffy and sighed, “No, just confused.”

“Welcome to my world.”

******

Agent Riley Finn walked down the metal stairs into the large open floor of the main room. He was trying to run through his mind the events of the night. It was a normal night of rounding up hostiles. But this time, they were directed to a lair. Only, it wasn’t any kind of lair they had ever encountered.

It was neat and clean, and filled with a demon family.

A family, siting around the TV, watching The Drew Carey Show. And laughing. Riley had to remind himself that they were hostiles, and he had his orders. But hearing them enjoy real quality time together, the young man began to question the ethics of his role in fighting evil.

And to question the definition of evil.

“Agent Finn?” Professor Maggie Walsh walked up to him. She was dressed in her usual white lab coat, and was as imposing as ever, “I want a full report.”

Riley braced himself for what was about to be a good old-fashion chewing out and sighed, “I followed hostile 792 to Restfield Cemetery, where she was joined by a larger, way more powerful one. I mean, you should have seen this thing....fast, agile...and strong...”

“Riley,” Maggie scolded, “try and keep your emotions to a minimum, please?”

“Yes, ma’am. Anyway, the larger...hostile...attacked me...but strangely enough, didn’t hurt me. She just grabbed the child...”

“Child?”

“The demon, er...hostile 792...was a child,” the young man clarified, “So, she grabbed the child and took off.”

“Well, it’s very fortunate you weren’t harmed,” the Professor frowned, “But if you ever try to chase down a hostile by yourself again...”

“I know...I know,” Riley lowered his head, “but I didn’t think I would have encountered that other one. The creature was truly amazing. It’s going to take more than just normal methods to bring this one down.”

Professor Walsh walked over to the locked door and inserted her security card. She then keyed in several numbers and opened the door, “I wouldn’t worry about that, Agent Finn,” she said, entering the mysterious room, numbered 314, “We are working on that.”