Part Four
“You smell like a burger,” Anya wrinkled her nose, “Why can’t you get another job digging things up?”
“Because that isn’t steady work, and I have bills to pay,” Xander huffed, taking his work shirt off, and tossing it in the corner, “Besides, I really don’t feel like accidentally digging up some ancient spirit, hell bent on killing everyone...again.”
“But, you smell like a burger,” she insisted, “You’re making me hungry. And I don’t feel like being hungry for cholesterol ridden animal flesh.”
“Well,” Xander gave a small gagging sound, “Thank you so very much for pointing that out to me. The visual is just stunning.”
“No,” she smiled, looking at his bear chest, ‘That is a stunning visual.”
Xander grinned as they kissed. He couldn’t figure Anya out...vengeance demon, now love sick girl...but he was having a great time trying. He lowered her to his bed and began to unbutton her blouse, when he was interrupted by a loud knock at his door. He silently cursed the unwanted visitor, as he grudgingly stood up to answer it.
“Boy,” he grumbled, “this better be good.”
As soon as he opened the door, he knew it was.
“AAAHHH!!!” he yelped, jumping back from the large pig-like demon standing before him.
“Is Anya here?” Pig-guy asked.
“Huh?” Xander looked confused, “Y-you...you...do you know what you are?”
“Who is it?” Anya asked, sitting up, and fixing her shirt. Noticing the visitor she smiled, “Oruk, is that you? Wow, it’s been....what? Centuries? How are you?”
Xander’s eye darted back and forth between the two demons, as they exchanged pleasantries, “You two know each other? Hey, wait a minute!” he turned to he girlfriend with a glare, “How did pig-boy know you were here?”
“What?” she said slightly annoyed, “I told a few people...you know, just in case anyone had to reach me...”
“People?!” he practically shouted, “You call this...a people?! And how many ‘people’ did you tell?!”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged, nonchalantly, “There’s Torbin the Terrible...Mankore the Destroyer...”
“WHAT?!” Xander paled, “You told creatures, that have more descriptive names than Mob hitmen, where I live...and you’re acting like it’s no big deal!?”
“Relax, Xander,” Anya sniffed, letting the demon in, “they promised not to come over unless they know I’m here.”
“Oh yeah, sure....I feel soo much better now.”
“Anya,” the pig-demon said, nervously, “we have to talk.”
Anya could tell by the tone in his voice, that something really bad was going on, “What is it?”
“Bad times are coming for us,” he began, “the end is near...”
“And here we go with demon-verse,” Xander quipped. He clamped his mouth shut when he received a glare from Anya.
“Go on,” she urged her friend.
“You should leave, Sunnydale,” he continued, “We all should. This isn’t going to be a safe place for any kind of demon.”
“I-I’m not a demon anymore,” she argued, “Well, kinda not.”
“Don’t matter,” he shook his swine head, “even the good ones, are gonna die.”
“Die?!” both Anya and Xander gulped.
“Die,” Oruk repeated, “And even the Slayer won’t be able to save us.” He walked over to the door, and headed out into the night, “Look, Anya, you’re my friend, I just thought I’d warn you. Leave while you can...before it’s too late.”
As the door closed behind him, Anya stood staring at the empty space left in his wake. Xander sighed, “Why do demons always preach about death and destruction? I mean, they are more apocalyptic than the crazies on the street corners...” He paused, when he noticed her shaking, “And you’re believing him, aren’t you?”
“Oruk is a Seer,” she looked at him with frightened eyes, “if he says the end of the world is coming...I believe him.”
“Great,” Xander sighed, grabbing a sweater, “And yet another wonderful day on the Hellmouth. Come on.” He motioned for her to follow.
“Where are we going?”
“Giles’,” he explained, “I’m sure, he’ll love to hear about this one.”
****** Buffy and Willow arrived at Giles’ place shortly after the sunset. The Slayer didn’t have much time before she had to meet Riley, but she really needed to tell him what she found out. He needed to know what was going on. They all did.
“Buffy, Willow,” Giles said, letting the two girls in, “have you found anything new on this 314?”
“Funny you should ask,” Buffy said, noticing the dark hair woman sitting on the couch, “But if this is a bad time...”
“Not at all,” Sharna said, standing up, “I’d love to hear what you found.”
Buffy cocked her head. That voice... “Sharna? You look so...so...”
“Different?” she smiled. Turning to Giles she added, “Do the two of you share the same brain?”
Giles considered it for a moment, “Not if you heard the music she listens too.” He said to Buffy, “It’s all right, whatever you found out, can be said in front of her.”
“Well, I wish I had better news,” Buffy sighed, “I got the ‘almost grand tour’. It ended right when we got to this closed off room. I don’t know what’s behind it...but I bet you anything it has something to do with 314. Mag...er, Professor Walsh mentioned something about working on a project that will give them the means of stopping all demons once and for all.”
“I don’t like the sounds of that,” Willow said, “It’s just too much like...”
“Genocide,” Xander interrupted, as he and Anya walked in, “You wouldn’t believe who I just had a visit from. Piggie the Demon,” Before Anya could protest he added, “Who got my address from Anya....who has taken it upon herself to give it out to all of her demon friends. But, let’s not harp on that...let’s talk about what pig-boy told us.”
“And what did, he tell you?” Giles sighed at the young man’s sarcasm.
“Well...” he paused looking at the human form of Sharna, “New, friend?”
“It’s a long story,” Giles sighed, “Please continue.”
“Yeah, well...”
“Sharna?” Anya said, tilting her head.
“Anyanka?” Sharna replied back with large grin, “Wow! It’s been so long....and look at you! Human?!”
“I know...” she sighed, rolling her eyes, “Don’t ask. Are you still defending the innocence and things?”
“As always.”
“Can we please stay on the subject?!” Giles huffed, “I would like to learn about this 314 BEFORE it kills us.”
“Sheesh,” Anya folded her arms, “You’ve been so cranky ever since your orgasm-friend...”
“Anya!” Xander hushed, grabbing her arm, “Remember what I told you?”
“Bringing up Olivia is a bad thing,” she went into a lecture tone, “Sorry.”
“Remind me to NEVER discuss my personal life with anyone....ever again!” Giles snipped. “Now, Xander...please, what did this demon tell you?”
“Huh? Oh, right,” Xander’s attentions were brought back into focus, “He warned Anya to get out of town.”
“And that’s it?” Buffy threw her arms in the air.
“Well, that,” Xander said defensively, “And the fact that a lot of demons, good and bad, are going to die.”
“But that doesn’t explain what’ll kill them,” Willow sighed, “Mmmm...”
“Mmmm?” Buffy turned to her friend, “Wills, you have that, ‘I have an idea’ look.”
“I was thinking,” Willow reasoned, “If this is some kind of secret project...wouldn’t they have a record of it somewhere?”
“Yeah,” Buffy nodded, “But, I can’t get behind the door, to check.”
“I’m not talking about doors,” Willow said, “I’m talking about a database. Files in the computer.”
“And you can get to them?” Sharna asked.
“If anyone can hack into a computer,” Xander said proudly, “it our Willow. She’s a regular cyber-punk.”
“Gee, thanks,” Willow smiled shyly, “All I have to do is get my laptop. Oh...”
“Oh?” Giles asked.
“Well, if they’re, like, top secret and all...it’s gonna be harder hacking in. But I think I can do it.”
Buffy headed for the door, “Willow, you work on the computer, I’ll see about getting some ‘inside’ help.”
Sharna looked at the group and began to follow Buffy out, “I hope you find something out soon. I can only hold back the inevitable for so long.”
“Meaning what?” Giles asked, concerned.
“War.”
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