Part Eight
Spike strolled through the cemetery back to his crypt. Home sweet home, or so he called it. But, anything away from the ‘Scooby gang’ was sweet to him. Ever since he found out that he could hunt demons, it improved the vampire’s mood. He no longer needed to rely on the sickening kindness of Buffy and her friends. He could now be independent. He could now be free.
Of course, hunting demons, did have its disadvantages...he made many more enemies.
“Well, well,” a Redheaded Vampire sneered, “Lookie what we have here. If it aint the turn coat, Spike.”
“Bloody wonderful,” he hissed under his breath, “This is all I need.” He turned around to face the voice and stopped cold in his tracks. Three vampires stood before him, just itching for a fight.
This was really ALL he needed.
“Look, mates,” Spike backed up slightly, “I’m not really in the mood to go a few rounds with any of you lot. Been up all night, and a bit cranky. Tell you what, come back here tomorrow night, and we can have a go at it.”
“You think this is a joke?” A tall ratty hair vampire growled, “You go after our kind, and you just want us to forgive and forget? Nah, I think it’s time to put a serious hurting on you.”
Spike considered it for a moment and sighed, “Well, if you insist.”
He dove at the largest one, tackling him to the ground. With incredible speed, he reached for a fallen twig and plunged it into the vampire’s chest, disintegrating the demon. That was the only advantage he was allowed. The two other vampires grabbed Spike and threw him back into a head stone.
Spike struggled to stand, as the scraggly hair vampire began to pound him down into the ground. They had no interesting in dusting. Not just yet. They really wanted him to hurt first.
“Sorry to have to inconvenience you,” Spike hissed, kicking his feet out and catching both vampires in their stomachs, “But I’m really NOT in the mood for an ass-kicking. Unless, of course, I’m doing the kicking.”
He gave a short round house to the taller vampire’s chest, knocking him further back, and giving him more time to regroup. Two on one. Not good odds. Not bad either. But, Spike thought, as he ducked a flying fist, if he could just even those odds a bit more...
Suddenly, a piercing growl shook the darkened grave yard, causing all three demons to stop dead in their tracks.
“What the hell was that?!” the taller vampire said, looking around nervously.
“Werewolf, maybe?” the redhead vampire offered.
Spike looked at his attackers and shook his head. These guys were about as dumb as they were dead. There was no full moon tonight, and wouldn’t be one for another week. So, what could possibly be skulking in the night?
As if to answer his silent question, a figure sped out from behind a mausoleum, slamming into the taller vampire with terrifying force. In the centuries that he managed to survive, Spike learned when NOT to stick around. And now was definitely one of those times. Without bothering to look, the vampire raced away from the horrifying cries of his fellow demons, hoping to be spared their grisly fate.
****** “We’ve been out all night,” Riley sighed, rubbing his neck, as they approached Riley’s Jeep, “And nothing. Not even ‘normal’ miscreants are out tonight. Under any other circumstances I would be thrilled...”
“But this is creepy,” Buffy agreed, “I know. It’s almost like they know something’s happening. Even the ‘normal’ criminals. I just wish we would find something. Anything...Ooooph!”
Buffy tumbled to the ground, with a very nervous Spike on top of her. Riley recognized the vampire as ‘hostile 17’ and immediately took up the offense.
“Wait!” Spike held up his hands, “Don’t shoot!”
“And why shouldn’t we, Spike,” Buffy snorted, getting back onto her feet, and fixing herself.
“You’re right,” he said, putting his hands down, and standing perfectly still, “Go ahead. Dust me. It would be a far better way to die than by what’s back there.”
Taken aback by his complete surrender, Buffy cocked her head, and asked, “You actually want me to dust you? I thought you were all happy that you can, and I quote, ‘kick some demon ass’, unquote.”
Riley, picking up on the vampire’s last sentence, asked, “Wait. What’s back there?”
Spike watched the exchanges Buffy and Riley made with their eyes and sighed loudly, “If it isn’t Riley, Buffy’s new stud muffin?” Sneering at Buffy, he asked, “What is it with you and the tall, silent types? And a vampire hunter, no less. Stepping up in the food chain, are we?”
“Okay, that’s it,” Buffy growled, lunging for him, “You want to be staked? Who am I to deny you that?!”
“Buffy, wait,” Riley warned, holding on to her hand, “He might have some useful information. And staking him will kind of quash any hopes of getting it.”
“Oh, yeah sure,” Spike folded his arms, “Be nice to the vampire with the info. Is this the new ‘slaying’ technique?” When he was met with an uneasy silence, he sighed, “Fine. I’ll play your game. But can we do this elsewhere? I would hate to be interrupted by the very ‘information’ I’m about to give you.”
“Fine,” Buffy said, motioning to a parked, military vehicle, “Get in. And start talking.”
****** “Look,” Professor Walsh snipped, “I don’t have to include you in on this. In fact, I could just as easily throw you in the brig for spying on secret government information...”
“Right,” Giles snorted, “then you would be back at square one, looking to stop a creature you have no idea about. Fine, lock me away. A prison cell would probably be the only safe place left in Sunnydale!”
“Giles! Professor!” Willow shouted wearily, “Come on. Please don’t fight. We have to figure out how to stop this thing, and we can’t do it, if you are at each other’s throats.”
“You’re right, Willow,” Giles removed his glassed, and rubbed his eyes, “There must be something we’ve over looked.” He placed his glassed back on his face and stared at the computer monitor, “This creature can’t be completely invulnerable.”
“Why not? It would just be fitting. You know, yet another unstoppable demon threatening the world, for us to try and stop,” Xander asked, wrapping his arms around Anya, who was quite uncomfortable being in the head quarters of a group who would have taken her...had they known she was an ex-demon.
“Because, nature wouldn’t allow it,” Giles explained, “Even vampires, though they technically live forever, can be killed. Every living thing, demon or otherwise has a weakness. Look at what happened to the Judge.”
“Great,” Xander quipped, turning to the Professor, “Got any rocket launchers?”
“We can destroy it, once we find its weakness,” Giles said, ignoring the young man’s attempt at levity.
“Right,” Maggie groaned, hitting a few keys, “the problem is finding it.”
“You created it,” Giles’ temper rose again, “how could you not know how to kill it?”
Maggie took in a sharp breath and hissed, “WE didn’t exactly create it to be destroyed. 314 was supposed to be the answer to the demon threat. It was supposed to be completely controllable.”
“Well,” Giles snorted, “You were completely wrong.”
“This isn’t working,” Willow sighed to herself, keying in a few words. She stopped when a file came up... *ACCESS DENIED*. “What’s this?” she asked, Maggie.
Maggie Walsh, looked down at the computer and furrowed her brow, “I don’t know. I thought we had complete access. This is a file that I can’t get into. Even with my clearance.”
“So,” Giles wondered, “what could be so sensitive that it has to be kept a secret...even from you?”
“I’m not sure.” she said truthfully, “but I want to find out.”
They all turned to Willow, who just looked at them and smiled.
****** “You’re saying that you just ran into 314, and you won’t tell us where. This thing killed some of your kind, and you don’t want us to capture it?” Riley asked shaking his head with frustration.
“To be honest,” Spike answered, “this 314 did me a favor. Thanks to you blokes, I’m not exactly ‘Mr. Popular’ in the demon community. Those two vamps were planning on showing their appreciation for me...with a big stick.”
“Spike,” Buffy reasoned, “You realize the only reason you were NOT killed with them, is that you got out in time? This creature will eventually hunt you down,” Buffy thought about it for a moment, and smiled wistfully, “On second thought...”
“Oh, thanks a lot,” Spike looked offended, “After all we’ve been through.”
“After all we’ve been through,” Buffy said with clenched teeth, “You’re lucky I’m not cheering 314 on. Now, tell us where to find it!”
“I can’t,” Spike shook his head.
“WHY NOT?!”
“Because,” he said, just above a whisper, “as much as I hate to admit this...the world needs you. And if you go off, half cocked, you’ll be nothing but a pin cushion for this thing. I didn’t stop to ask it...but I’m pretty sure this creature is a lot stronger than anything you’ve ever faced. You might still be killed, but at least if you wait, you might have a sporting chance.”
Buffy didn’t know what to say. She was amazed at the vampire’s sincerity. Spike wanted her to live? Yeah, right. Most likely, it was to save his own skin...but there was something else in his tone that made her think twice. If she would die now...
He would miss her.
Okay, well, not exactly miss her, in the “let’s be friends, and go to Starbucks” kind of way...but, he *was* right about one thing...they had been through a lot. Most of it was far from being pleasant, she admitted, but Spike provided the one thing that was somewhat lacking in her life, reliability.
She could always rely on the vampire to be up to some work of evil. She would fight him....beat him....and go to the Bronze for some slayerette bonding....and all would be right with the world. Spike, could always rely on Buffy to give him a decent arse-kicking from time to time. She kept him on his toes. And in his own way, she suspected, he appreciated it. Just surviving her, made him a stronger vampire. Her death would bring an end to their unusual relationship.
Why couldn’t she have normal relationships with men?
“Okay, fine,” Buffy conceded, “We’ll head back, for now, and come up with a plan of attack. It’s gonna be dawn soon, anyway. I don’t think this creature will strike out, in broad daylight. At least I hope it won’t. Spike,” she instructed, “keep an ear to the ground. If you hear anything else, let me know. Okay? Anything. If we can’t stop 314...no one will be safe.”
Spike nodded and stepped out of the car, “You realize I still hate you. I’m only doing this to save my arse,” And my pride, he thought to himself.
“Just be alert.”
As Spike disappeared into the fading night, Riley gave a bit of a scowl at his girlfriend, “When this is all over,” he scolded, “You are going to tell me the entire story about Spike, and why we just let him go...again. Right?”
“Absolutely,” she kissed him on the cheek, “If we live...I’ll tell you everything.”
****** Willow banged her head on the keyboard for the fourth time. “I’m not going to give up,” she repeated her mantra, “I’m not going to give up. I will break in. I will...”
“Willow,” Giles sighed patiently, “You and three other computer technicians have yet to hack into the file. I’m having serious doubts that-”
“But I have to!” Willow shouted in frustration, “I am NOT going to let this thing beat me. I’m sure the secret to stopping this thing is locked away in...ah ha! I’m in!” Willow looked in triumph at the machine, “Take that you lousy piece of software!”
“Willow,” Xander mocked, “such language.”
Professor Walsh looked at the young woman with growing amazement, “I’m impressed, Willow,” she smiled, as information scrolled across the screen, “You know, with a talent like this, you should be working for the government.”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely,” she nodded, “In fact-”
“What’s this?” Giles interrupted, focusing on several ‘in-depth’ biological blueprints of the ‘demon-killer’.
“Looks like a map of 314’s physical makeup,” Maggie said. She frowned and shook her head, “But it says exactly what the other one’s did. Impervious to all physical attacks...”
Willow sat staring at the picture, drowning out the conversation that loomed over her head. Her eyes focused on the hard, bony plate that protected the back of the creature’s neck. It almost looked like...
“Triceratops,” she blurted out.
“Huh?” Xander squinted, “Willow, you’ve been staring at the screen too long.”
“No,” she explained, “this plate,” she pointed to the picture, “reminds me of a Triceratops. You see how the plate goes down over the neck, to prevent the creature from decapitation?”
“Yes,” Giles nodded, not sure where the young woman was going with this logic.
“Of course!” Maggie said with excitement, “Here is the chink in its amour.”
“Okay, now I’m lost,” Xander wrinkled his nose.
“You’re not the only one,” Giles agreed, “Where’s the weakness?”
“In order for 314 to be able to move its head without too much impediment,” Maggie explained, “There would have to be an area that is free of armor. Underneath the plate, in the back of the neck. It would only be skin, to allow for free movement. That’s where we could stop it.”
“But the rest of the creature’s body had incredibly touch skin,” Giles sighed, “even without the bony plate to protect it. According to your own research, it cannot be cut.”
“Right,” she nodded, “it would have to be that way, because it isn’t protected by a bony plate. But the area underneath the plate wouldn’t have that tough skin...”
“Because it wouldn’t need it,” Giles finally understood, “And nature is nothing but efficient.”
“Okay,” Xander managed to catch up with the conversation, “So the teeny, tiny part underneath should be normal skin, right? How do we get to it? Like the demon is going to stand still while we poke an ice pick through it’s neck.”
Everyone turned to Xander with a deflated look.
Just as Xander was about to defend his statement, there was a scuffle on the other side of the hall. Giles turned, in time to watch several technicians, and army personelle fly through the air, in several different directions. There was great commotion, then silence.
“What the hell...” Giles began, before he saw what the commotion was about. Standing in the middle of the great hall, in ancient, leather battle gear, was...
“Sharna?” Giles blinked, amazed that the feline warrior was able to make it as far as she did. When he noticed the guards regrouping for a more organized attack, he shouted, “Stop! She’s on our side! I hope.”
“What is with EVERYONE being able to break in here lately?!” Maggie huffed, “You know her?” Maggie glanced sideways at the Watcher. “Isn’t this the demon Riley encountered in the cemetery?”
“Yes,” Giles nodded, “to both questions. But she isn’t here as an enemy,” he paused and directed his next question to the approaching demon, “Y-you’re not here as an enemy...are you?”
“Rupert Giles,” Sharna said, sharply, moving nearer to the group, “You promised me that you would look into stopping this threat to my kind. And I find you consorting with the very filth that created it. This does not bode will with me.” Her movements were slow and deliberate, almost as though she was stalking a mouse. But even under her sensual grace, was a danger that brimmed, waiting to be released. She was a warrior, preparing for battle.
“We found out what this creature is,” Giles explained, subconsciously taking a step back, “and how to stop it. But we need time to work out a plan of attack.”
“And while you waste time,” she growled, “more demons are dying every minute.”
“But,” Maggie shook her head, “314 only just escaped. How could it-”
“You created it,” she spat, “you figure it out! In the mean time, the entire demon population of Sunnydale is preparing for war.”
“War?” Xander gulped. “Why don’t I like the sound of that?”
“Because,” Sharna turned to the young man, “if you can’t stop this 314, we will. Then we will exact our revenge of those who died.”
“That’s why.” Xander sighed.
“Wait a minute,” Giles stiffened, “you said the entire demon population is preparing for war?”
“Yes.”
“And that would mean, gathering in one place, yes?”
Once again, Sharna nodded, “What’s you point?”
“Oh my god,” he blanched, “It will be like sheep in a slaughter house. Where are they hold up?”
“I’m not telling you-”
“Sharna!” Giles said so forcefully that even the demon warrior was taken aback, “This creature hunts demons through scent. How long do you think it will take for this thing to find them?”
The cat-demon’s eyes widened as she began to understand, “Goddess be merciful! They’ll be like sitting ducks! But, there are many of us, and only one creature. Surely they will be safe-”
“No one is safe until we kill this thing,” he caught a disagreeable glance from Professor Walsh, “We have to kill it.” he told her, “Unless you can think of another way of stopping 314.” He was met with silence.
“But in order to kill it,” Xander said pointed out, “Someone has to get close enough to drive something really sharp and pointy thing into the back of this creature’s skull. Remember?”
“Leave that to me,” Buffy said, joining the group.
“How much did you hear?” Maggie asked her and Riley.
“Enough to know that Buffy can’t do this alone,” Riley said.
“Riley,” Buffy shook her head, “This one is way too dangerous. You heard what Spike said. You’ve read the info on this thing. Do the math. This is not going to be a walk in the park.”
“Which is why you can’t do this alone,” Giles agreed.
“Besides,” Willow pointed out, “There are going to be demon families down there, thinking they’re safe. Someone has to get them out and away from the fight, right?”
“These are my people,” Sharna placed her hands on her hips, “I am their defender. And I led them to this. I’m coming as well.”
“You know,” Buffy sighed, “There was a time in which Slaying was considered a solo event.”
“Hey,” Xander smiled, “Welcome to the Twenty First Century.”
Buffy looked at her friends, old and new, and wondered if they knew what they were about to face. Then again, she was beginning to wonder that, herself.
“Okay,” she said, in Slayer mode, “Here’s the plan...”
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