Disclaimer: Don't own either The Cape or Buffy, they belong to their respective creators and copyright holders. I'm just having fun.

The Initiative

"The Initiative?" Peter Fleming felt a twinge of recognition at the detective's mention of that place. More precisely, Chess recognized it. "How'd you come across this?"

"Took our finest hackers to get through that classified military file Ms. Summers had."

Fleming shook his head. If Chess's memory served right, ARK (via a dummy corporation) had helped fund The Initiative. At first, it had been to experiment on increasing human endurance and efficiency. Then when Maggie Walsh arrived, it took a drastic turn… experimenting on demons.

Fleming had severed all connections, but he wasn't sure if Chess had. It unnerved him.

Background Check

"Will!"

"Buffy!" The redhead sounded pleased. "How're you doing?"

"You know Palm City: sunshine, warm temps, and no vamps in sight."

"Sounds like you and Dawn are doing great."

"We are." Buffy paused. "Can you do a background check on someone?"

The wicca grinned. "Sure. Who?"

"Look up Orwell is Watching. See what you can get on him. And the Cape too."

"Why?" Willow asked.

Buffy sighed. "Dawn thinks they're good guys, but I want you to double check. Just to be on the safe side."

She closed her phone. There were too many coincidences, and Buffy didn't like that.

Jamie

"So this Orwell guy is actually a girl?"

"Yep. Turns out her name isn't Orwell, it's a pseudonym. Her real name is Jamie Fleming."

"Wow." This was turning out more complicated than she'd thought. An estranged daughter trying to bring down her corrupt politician daddy? "What about the Cape?"

"The plot ever thickens," Willow continued. "The Cape is actually Vince Farraday, a former police officer."

"But isn't he dead? I saw the guy last night and today, he wasn't dead. He was still human." Buffy paused. "I had a meeting with his son and wife today."

"So he was framed."

Ballgame

"I guess he was. I'll talk to you later, Wills."

Buffy hung up, then reached for her drink. She had to digest this news. Palm City certainly wasn't exactly Sunnydale (or Cleveland) for that matter, but it was a whole new ballgame. One she wasn't sure was her ballgame, or one that Dawn should be getting involved with.

Dirty politics, estranged family, and a supposedly dead police officer gallivanting around in a silly cape and tights. And she was somehow involved with all of it.

All of it seemed ripped straight out of a comic book. Xander would love it.