The Rocket Launcher
Sequel to The Dagger
Part three in the Gun series
What has happened: Faith didn't go totally mad, but was still struggling to stay at the good side, until she spoke with her father. In doing so, Faith has pushed Xander in being the leader of the Scoobs and Buffy agreed . . . at least temporary. The Mayor was defeated in a heroic combat.
Rating: R mainly for violence
Disclaimer: The Scooby gang belong to Joss Weldon and Mutant Enemy. I'm only playing with its characters and concepts. I stole also some concepts and a character from BtVS novels: Revenant and The Gatekeeper Triology.
Summary: Buffy, Giles and Joyce went LA to visit Buffy's father. Angel went to LA starting his own Investigation Bureau. The rest was still in Sunnydale, to protect the world from the Hellmouth, until Buffy comes back. Xander and Faith make themselves ready for their roadtrip . . . The Council won't sit still and do nothing while a normal citizen is boss over their Slayers.
Pairing: X/F; Willow/Oz; Buffy, Wesley, Cordelia and Angel will stay out of romantic interest during this story, they have other things to worry about. Also a bit Joyce/Hank
Beta: Keith and Special thanks to 3D Master
Author's note: This story will contain more drama then before.
*****
Part 1
A mysterious individual stood in front of them, appearing out of nowhere. Faith could feel strong vampiric vibes coming from the stranger, stronger than she has ever felt before - even stronger than Kakistos. The vibes were so strange, so different in nature as if it came from a different kind of vampire. They brought a cold chill along her spine.
The vampire was clad in black robes and a cowl enveloped its face in darkness.
Faith forced her fear under control and did the only thing a Slayer could do: attack. Her movements a blur she slammed her feet in its chest as he didn't make any attempt to dodge it. Even though it was a full power hit, he didn't move an inch to take the impact. Instead it was her who slammed back to the ground, her foot severely hurt.
An overwhelming fear took master of her body as she look at her opponent with wide eyes and crawled backwards to get out of its reach.
"You think that betraying the Mayor will go unpunished?" the creature, spoke its deep voice resonating with cold power.
Faith gulped at his tone.
"Oh, you are so wrong, babe. You can't imagine the horror you will have to endure, it will make you wish that you . . ."
"You can keep your empty threats with you. It's like Ferengis threatening the Borg."
Unlike Xander, the man's words scared the hell out of the Dark Slayer. She had have a glimpse of The Mayor's real power in last few weeks and knew he had allies enough to do the job. Not to mention the wrath he could have towards his opponents. Sure that he had 'friends' who would have the same. The vampire in front of her was proving her point.
Xander chuckled. "Okay, maybe wrong example, but you get the point. So, go away and get lost."
The vampire ignored Xander's interruption as he glanced behind him and looked again at Faith. She saw some of the darkness around his face lighten up by the moonlight, not revealing his face, but enough to see a yellow eye boring deep in her's - causing shivers all over her body. "You won't get away with it, Slayer." And he quickly disappeared into the shadows - gone.
A bit stunned by this visit, Xander and Faith stared in the empty space where he had been standing. Her skin crawled as she remembered that eye and still heard his words, echoing in her brain. It was filled with pure hatred and revulsion. Faith tried to calm herself when she felt an arm wrapped around her. "Hey, nothing is going to happen to you. Not as long as I can help it."
Faith smiled at her boyfriend. Life as a Slayer was a real bitch, she knew that from bitter experience, but at least Xander being with her gave her hope that she would, that they would survive everything that was thrown at them.
"C'mon, let's call it a night and go to bed. Tomorrow we've a long day in front of us."
Faith nodded and they walked out of the cementary, straight into Willow, Cordelia and Oz.
"Xander! It's Wes he has disappearedfromthehospitalwithoutleavinganynoteandthedoctorshave no idea whereheisandI . . ." Willow blurted.
"Whoa, Will. Take a breath. What happened?"
"Wuss is not in the hospital anymore. He left and hasn't checked out," Cordelia explained, with her usual bluntness.
Faith saw Xander gazing her, raising an eybrow, and she just shrugged. "No clues, traces. Kidnapped?" he asked them.
"Nothing."
"No other scents than his," Oz added.
"Strange," Xander muttered.
"I can try to locate him with a spell," Willow offered, now she had her breath back.
Xander nodded. "We need to leave tomorrow. Buffy need to take over patrol. Can you-"
"We'll find him, Xander," Cordelia finished for him.
Xander reluctantly nodded. "Okay, be careful."
Willow nodded, Oz was Oz and Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"Keep us informed. And call Giles, he needs to know too."
The three agreed and left, leaving Xander and Faith to walk back to the Summers' residence.
*****
1.00 AM
A very determined looking Wesley Wyndam-Pryce drove through the streets of LA. "That was the last time I made a fool of myself," he muttered, "I'll show them who
I am."
He wheeled his car around the corner into a dark alley. "If that boy can do it . . ." He stepped out of the car, and opened the boot, removing a leather jacket and a old perkament. ". . . That I, a trained Watcher, can do it." He closed the boot, put on the jacket and stared at a door. "Eat, hunt and sleep." He knocked on the door. "Feared by the most dangerous demons and beasts. Respected and awed by the most renowned of his colleagues." The Watcher heard some subtle noises coming closer. "Gone is Wesley the Wussley."
The door opened and a older man was looking at him. "Yes, what do ya want?"
"Hello, sir, I'm Wuss, uh, Wesley the Demon-Hunter." Ignoring the man's expression he continued. "I read that this place was for hire. I'm interested."
*****
6.30 AM
In a small room
With his eyes closed, clenching his teeth, Wesley slowly forced his arms up and down, moving his body in the same motion over and over again. Drips of sweat poured from his entire body as he completed the last of his push ups. Just one more . . . Another one. You can do it.
He had woke up at 5.00 AM and done his physical excercises. After a short warming-up and extensive stretching he focused on working his muscles with push-ups, sit-ups and weights. Once his physical exercises were done it was time to train the mental capabilities, when he placed himself in a Lotus position and focused himself on only one thought - a little flame. The flame of his spirit - of the hunter. It amazed him how much sharper his mind since he'd begun performing his meditation. Banishing out every thought brought him the necessary relaxation and focus.
*****
8.00 AM
The doorbell rang and Faith rushed down to open the door while Xander stretched and stumbled to the bathroom, relieved that Faith opened the door. They have been gone for the last two days and Buffy had not been happy when she had heard that Xander had contacted her father. Especially when she had asked him so strongly not to. Granted, when she had yelled at him, she hadn't known yet what the Council had told about her and her mom to her dad. But it didn't change anything in Buffy's opinion, it didn't change his arrogant meddling to just interfere in her life on that personal level. He had a hard time to live with the thought that it would all work out in a disaster, and Buffy would hate him forever. That Joyce, Giles and Faith were on his hand, didn't matter to that thought.
Standing under the shower he was thinking about what to do as he heard someone enter the bathroom. Soon his troubled thoughts disappeared like snow smelting in sunlight, as he felt a pair of hands sliding over his chest . . .
*****
When Xander and Faith went down they were greeted by Joyce's patented pancakes, a clear sign that everything had gone well in LA with Buffy's father. Buffy's and Joyce's bliss confirmed it, although Buffy's full mouth disturbed that image a bit.
"Oh, man, that smells wicked! I'm hungry as a horse," Faith exclaimed.
Xander didn't miss the little wink the Dark Slayer gave Buffy and Joyce, and certainly not Buffy's giggle and Joyce's smile. He sat down at the opposite side of Giles and stared to eat. Faith sat next to him and he saw her dive face-first into a full pancake. "So, I take it that everything went well?" Xander asked, still not able to hide a flavor of nervousness.
"Hmm Hmm," Buffy replied as she just had shoved another mouthful of pancakes into her mouth. Xander felt his nervousness vanish away instantly by the way she murmled it.
"It went wonderful. He has his business in LA and it he can't just leave it, but he will try to organize it such that he can join us here in Sunnydale," Joyce replied, her voice filled with love.
Xander smiled. "That's great news."
Buffy and her mother both nodded.
Joyce handed him a plate. "Want some suggar or some whipped cream with them?"
He noticed Buffy's grin as he nodded and he raised an eyebrow at her. She quickly grabbed the can and sprayed some whipped cream on his face. He opened his eyes and blushed as he saw Faith looking at him with a huge smirk.
"Xander, Faith, everything stayed quiet here I presume?" Giles quickly asked.
Xander winked at the Brit. Saved by the G-man, he thought relieved before he actually realized what Giles had asked. He saw Faith looking as grim just as he felt. "Faith and I got a visit last night and Wes has mysteriously disappeared."
Buffy, Joyce looked up as Giles stared at him with concern.
Xander shuddered as he thought about last night's occurances. Maybe I should ask Deadboy for help. He explained everything about the mysterious visit
from the vampire and his threats towards the Dark Slayer.
"You could feel him?" Giles asked.
"From at least ten yards. It felt so strange and -" Xander knew how she felt about the vampire and how difficult it was for her to share her fear with others. He nodded slowly at her, giving her the feeling that it's fine to show her them. "I-it felt so strange and frightening. And not only that. The way he stared at me and spoke to me. It's as if he knows me, it's personal. Like the Mayor was."
"They probably knew each other," Giles said.
"Maybe he had worked for him," Joyce filled in.
Xander nodded. "Our thoughts too."
He saw Giles thinking. "I-I'll look it up in my books. The way you described him, he must be known in some books."
And I'll phone Angel, Xander thought as he wiped his face clean.
*****
LA Angel's Investigations
Angel walked in some circles through his new office, a proud smirk on his normally broody face as he awaited for his first phone call, his first real job. "It's quiet," he said to himself as he had been waiting for the whole day now.
His happy mood changed into a frustrated one as he remembered how Xander embarrassed him in front of all those teens. He understood that those kids should be afraid of vampires, it even might have saved some lives on graduation day, but it still angered him. However, this anger fuelled his ambition only further.
Angel jumped as the phone rang. Rushing over with all the speed his demonic powers allowed him he picked up the phone. My first job?? "Angel Investigations. We help the helpless and . . ."
"Oh please, Deadboy, you really have to stop with those lines. It's pathetic."
Angel's anxious face morphed instantly in a very desillusioned one. "Xander."
"Relax, Deadboy, be happy, I've got your first mission . . ."
*****
Xander placed the horn on the phone, wearing a wicked grin. Oh, boy! I think I have really pissed him off this time. His very first job coming from me, he he.
He looked at Faith. "He said that he'll use his connections in the 'community' to find more about the vamp."
Faith gave him a smile. "I'll go downstairs, talk with G, and then we get ready to leave."
Xander nodded. "Have you watched Wilkins' video-tape yet?" he asked, suddenly serious.
"Xan."
"I know it's hard for you. But, we need to know more, especially now."
"I-I can't.
Xander saw her face almost panicking. Even after his death, The Mayor still held a power over his girl-friend, everything about him scared the dark Slayer. "He is dead, don't forget that, Faith. He's gone, forever."
"I know, Xan. But he, I-I mean, he was so close, you know . . . I can't, alright?"
Xander nodded. "Okay, then I'll watch it," he said. His offer was met with a grateful smile.
*****
Xander looked at the little device that late Mayor Wilkins had described on the tape. A soul switching device? Wow! That's real scary.
He put it in his pocket as he switched off the television when he heard someone coming in.
"Buffy?" he said when he saw the smiling blond Slayer.
"Hi. You and Faith ready for the big trip?"
"Yeah, more or less."
"Great. I heard she's going to do a Slayer quest of some sort."
"Yes, you wanted to go along?" Xander asked, when he saw Buffy looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"No! Uh, I mean, no, it's fine. I need to stay here when you two are gone. At least one Slayer at the Hellmouth all the time, that's the rule, right?"
Xander nodded, wondering what was on her mind.
"I-I wanted to thank you . . . I know I asked you not to interfere . . . you know with my father and so . . ."
"Hey, it's alright."
She flashed him a wry smile. "No, it's not. I was furious, Xan. I was so mad at you for sticking your nose in my family business. Again you went beyond yourself, without my permission, because you wanted to help me. You took a risk, again. If it had gone wrong I'd have been so mad that I'd have kicked your butt to the other half of the moon. Faith or no Faith protecting you. I-I-" The boy saw his friend swallow, her lower lip trembling a bit as she was clearly nervous. Instinctively he wanted to touch her, comfort her, but was too afraid. And like he already knew with Faith, was that it was necessary for her to let her apologize for her behaviour first- even though he was still waiting for Faith's. Then it was time for him to apologize back.
"I-I am sorry."
"Hey, it's for me to apologize. I went too far and I allowed myself way too much freedom, I should have asked."
"No, Xan. It's me to say sorry. You had all the right to it. Mom considers you family. And so do I . . . You're my brother."
Xander didn't know what he heard. She considered him a brother. Okay, there were times he would have felt insulted for being considered only to be a brother. But now his crush was over, it was the nicest compliment he has heard in a long time. Together with Joyce considering him a son. And he has had many recently.
He saw a small tear rolling out of her eye, glinstering over her cheek. He resist the urge to remove it when she looked down. "I-I " she wimpered, swallowing the last word into an unhearible mumble. She laid her face on his chest and started to cry.
"Buffy?" he asked softly. The only thing he could do was to lay a hand on her shoulder. She faced him, her face wet.
"They told him horrible things about me and mom." Her body trembled. "If you hadn't called him, he would have lived his life thinking I was a . . ." She couldn't speak the last word. "And my mom too."
Xander could only stare at her, sharing his sympathy with her.
*****
Faith sat next to the Giles on the sofa as the Brit started to explain. "I found it in the Watchers' diaries ... the quest. It would take a day, perhaps two."
"That long?"
"Some Slayers before, found it helpful in . . . regaining their focus, learning more about their role. You'll benefit from it, I certain. But it will take time." Faith nodded, it certainly would in her case. "There's a sacred place in the desert. It's not far."
"Okay, what's next?" Faith saw him holding up a book, a gourd and a bunch of twigs. "What's that stuff for?"
"You see, the location of the sacred place is a guarded secret. I can't take you there myself. Xander will have to perform a ritual to . . .
temporarily transfer guardianship of you to a guide. This'll do."
"Who's this guide?"
She saw him smile nervously. "A m-mountain lion "
"What?"
"I-It's a nice kitty, really sweet."
"So, this kitty leads me to the sacred place and then a few days later it leads X to my bleeched bones with kitty's teeth-marks pressed all over them?
"Faith, please. It takes more than a few days to bleach bones. At least a week."
The Dark Slayer rolled her eyes.
***
Her face dry and her mood back in a sunny shining one she watched the brunette boy who was still holding her. The last fifteen minutes he had cradled
her through her emotional depression. He hadn't said a word, but his very presence had been enough to help her through the tough moment.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," she responded, giving him a smile.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded. She was so surprised how easily he forgave her. How kind he was. Not so much with words. He was like most men, not good with the talking, but he was still able to show how big his heart was. Without forcing it on her. She silently vowed to herself that this was the last time she would treat him like she has done. Never again. "Yes, I'm alright. Thanks."
He smiled back. "No, problem."
"I heard that Will repaired the Rocket Launcher, during my absense?"
"Yeah, she did a great job."
"Great!" she exclaimed.
"I have checked out all the missiles too, they are all in tip top shape. They are in the basement." She
smiled wickedly. "You still know how it works?" he asked.
She slapped him on his shoulder, but the impact knocked him backwards. "Yes I do."
"Aw!"
"Don't whine. I didn't hit you that hard," she said as she knew that he was just playing an act.
"Just wanted to make sure," he only commented.
"Yeah, right," she laughed.
*****
From the shadows the strange vampire and a unknown person were watching as Xander and Faith sat on the Dark Slayer's bike, fully packed.
"Let's hit the road!" Faith shouted, as she started the engine. They said their farewells to the others. The vampire slid his right claw out of its sleeve as he bowed his arm and moved its long-nailed fingers slowly into a fist when he watched how the blond girl gave Xander a kiss and a encouraging slap on his shoulder while the dark girl laughed just before they took off.
"If this quest turns out well, you should do it too, Buffy," they heard Giles comment, gaining an approving nod from the blond.
"Phase one completed," the vamp stated.
"Succesfully," the other person, a female, agreed. "Poor Mayor Wilkins would have been proud."
The vampire laughed. "He was just a stupid meglomaniac sucker. A fool, nothing more."
"He has served his role well for us."
"Yes, he certainly has. I'll give you that. Now let's see how the Dark Slayer is going to handle this."
"She'll do everything in great detail for what we have planned," she replied as she stared at the screen of her little communicator.
"I have no doubt at all."
The woman smirked. "Plan Beta is in motion. I'm going back to LA . . . Faith and that blond will need a little help . . . Call Jens and his gang. Add some vamps in the mix too."
He nodded, picked out his cell-phone and dialed a number while he removed his cape revealing his features. After a few seconds the phone was answered and he began talking.