Author's Note: Sorry my posting schedule has been crazy irregular for this. Mix normal crazy life stuff with fun things like four-day migraines, and not much time gets left for writing if I want the end result to be at least tolerable ;)
I'm still on track for six chapters, so we're almost there!
Beta: Scullywolf!
"Okay," said Buffy, scanning the darkened street for movement, "this is where Giles said the demon should be."
After heading out, the group had split up as planned, leaving Buffy and the Doctor to search for signs-debris, people screaming, the usual-in the more likely places.
These were, of course, the dark and creepy sorts of places. Couldn't the big bad ever take a trip to the mall or something?
Oh. Wait. Nevermind.
"See anything yet?" asked the Doctor, looking around curiously.
"Thought you said your eyes are better than mine," said Buffy. "Least, that's what I heard you telling Willow when you two were getting all chummy before we went separate ways."
"Well," said the Doctor, running a hand through his hair, "yes, technically, my eyesight is superior, as is the rest of my physiology. In fact," he continued, only to be shushed by Buffy.
"Wait a sec. You hear that?"
She shifted the weight on her feet, standing quietly, ready to react if confronted, reaching out with her other senses when her eyes failed to immediately let her know what she'd heard. She turned her head just in time to see a large shape emerge from a sewer opening just outside of the reach of the nearest functioning, dimly-lit streetlamps. As it drew closer-Buffy noted that it moved quickly, gracefully, nothing like the lumbering walk she'd expect from something bigger than most humans-the Doctor took a few steps to stand next to her, a tool or weapon or something held comfortably in his right hand.
The demon had no obvious physical advantages other than its size, and there were no visible weapons, no clothes to conceal them in if they weren't attached to him. He wasn't pretty, but Buffy'd definitely seen worse.
"Okay, Doctor," said Buffy, lowering her arm so she could let her most-accessible stake drop into her hand if needed, "you're up."
O~O~O
The Hrshtravl approached, moving approximately zero point three times faster than he'd seen one move before. Odd.
"Hello there!" he called, letting the TARDIS translate. "I'm the Doctor! How are you on this fine evening?" He grinned, putting on his most approachable expression.
The Hrshtravl came to a stop several paces away and emitted a low growl. The Doctor saw Buffy tense.
"Wait," he whispered before returning to a normal volume. "I suppose it's not a perfect evening. Few clouds, chance of rain, bit odd for a place called Sunnydale, don't you think?" He gave the alien a moment to speak or move. The Hrshtravl's heart rate was faster than usual for the species, much faster, but the Doctor saw no attempt at movement. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Klurggknarff," he said after another quiet growl. He shifted his weight slightly, looking between the Doctor and Buffy.
"Klurggknarff! Always did want to meet a Klurggknarff," said the Doctor. Buffy snorted beside him, and Klurggknarff's hand twitched. "So, what brings you to these parts?"
"Crash."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. Last time he spoke to a Hrshtravl, it had seemed a much more… eloquent species. Wouldn't stop talking. And, by the Doctor's calculations, the species should be at the same level of development currently. Either the Doctor was mistaken, or this particular being was unusual.
"Here alone, then?" he asked.
"Crash killed mate," Klurggknarff answered, taking a step forward.
"Ah," said the Doctor. That explained some of it. Hrshtravl were a species that had mating even more ingrained in the genetic pattern than most, to the point that a Hrshtravl's gender would change if he or she were unattached and the nearest compatible single was of the same gender. Procreation was a premium. "How's your ship, then? If you need help repairing it, I'm happy to lend a hand." He smiled.
Klurggknarff growled, a bit more loudly this time.
"Ship fixed. I fixed. I stay."
The Doctor saw Buffy let her stake drop into her hand, but she made no move to attack, even when the alien took another step forward. He frowned as he thought.
"Shouldn't you want to return home? Be assigned another mate?"
Beside him, Buffy spoke quietly.
"Are they that easy to replace?"
"For the Hrshtravl," he answered.
There was another growl, even louder, the Hrshtravl's weight now leaning in their direction.
This wasn't right. He shouldn't be showing aggression. The Doctor activated his sonic screwdriver and stared at the settings. He blinked, then retrieved the Locational Minimizer from his jacket, frowning again as he read the display and returned it to its place.
Klurggknarff was nearly dripping with rift energy, and it was clearly increasing his aggression to an unnatural level. Based on the readings, the Doctor was fairly certain the Hrshtravl must be putting all of his concentration into restraining himself, fighting against the urge to attack.
No wonder he wasn't speaking much.
"I can get you away from here," said the Doctor, carefully choosing his words.
Klurggknarff closed his eyes, then started a rumbling growl, getting louder quickly.
"I… cannot go. I will not go," the Hrshtravl managed without ceasing his threatening noise. "You will not take me. Can't. Won't. I grrraowwrrrrrr." His words deteriorated, and he opened his eyes and lunged toward the Doctor and Buffy, leading with claws and teeth. The Doctor stepped to the side and leaned away, watching Buffy effortlessly tuck and roll out of the attacking alien's path.
Buffy stood and moved to retaliate.
"No, wait," called the Doctor, watching Klurggknarff double over. The other alien held his stomach and shook his head.
Buffy halted her attack but remained in position, stake raised and ready to resume.
The Hrshtravl stood again and ran off, quickly fading from view in the dark. Buffy moved to follow, looked at the Doctor, and seemed to consider her options. She took a breath and lowered her weapon.
"This isn't normal behavior," explained the Doctor. "He shouldn't be like this. The Hrshtravl aren't quite pacifists, but they don't attack unprovoked, either. It appears the rift energy has increased his aggression beyond what he can contain."
"Do you think you can get him back to normal? Get him to stop attacking?" Buffy put her stake away but kept her eyes trained on the direction the angered alien had run.
"He's fighting it admirably, but the energy is addictive, and he's unwilling to leave. I need to do some research and some searching on the TARDIS," he said, "but I suspect that he will return to normal quickly enough if I can get him away from the, erm, Hellmouth. Even faster if he'll submit to medical attention to speed things along. If he stays, though, if he's here much longer, I don't know whether the effects can be reversed."
The Doctor sighed. It was time to get back to his ship and figure out exactly what was going on. He put his sonic back in his jacket and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"C'mon," he told Buffy. "Let's go find the others."
O~O~O
Buffy wasn't really sure whether she'd made the right choice in letting the demonic alien go. Hopefully the Doctor could pull something else magic out of his jacket in time to keep the Hurshey-whatsit from killing someone.
Meanwhile, they were headed back to the police phone ship thingy. They'd found Willow, Anya, and Xander quickly enough. Anya said she had something she had to do, and she went off on her own. Buffy wondered whether maybe the demon vs alien thing was a bit more weird for an ex-demon.
"So I get to see your spaceship?" asked Xander. "You're not going to abduct us, right?"
The Doctor shook his head.
"I don't abduct people," he said before pursing his lips in thought. "Well, not often, at any rate. No plans to today." He grinned.
"Well, that's reassuring," said Xander sarcastically. "And we're going there 'cause you've got a bigger library than Giles?"
"No," said the Doctor before correcting himself. "Well, yes, actually, but I can get the information I need from the TARDIS's computer."
"Willow's good with the computer stuff," supplied Buffy. "I'm more comfortable with demons."
"You're not that bad, Buffy," lied Willow generously.
"Thanks, Will," she responded absently.
They'd reached the blue box, and she was watching the Doctor unlock it.
"Doesn't the future mean you have better locks?" asked Buffy. "I mean, that doesn't look all that sturdy."
"She's stronger than she looks," said the Doctor, opening the door. "Besides, the more advanced the lock, the easier it is to break into, if you've got the right tools."
His satisfied grin told her he might have those sorts of tools. Note to self: Don't bother with locks around the Doctor.
Buffy glanced around the room she'd seen before, then turned to watch her friends' expressions as they entered.
"Woah," said Xander eloquently. "It's bigger on the inside."
"Hadn't noticed," said the Doctor calmly as he began fiddling with things at the console.
"It's…," started Willow. She paused, looking around, shutting the door behind her, and walking further into the room. "Is it like another dimension?"
The Doctor beamed.
"Dimensionally transcendent. Best way to fit more space into less space!"
He turned back to what looked like a computer built into the console and started working, Willow watching over his shoulder even though none of it looked like it was in English. It wasn't even real letters. Buffy glanced down a hallway that led out of the room.
"Mind if I look around?" she asked.
The Doctor looked at her momentarily before turning back to what he was doing.
"Don't mind. The TARDIS shouldn't let you go anywhere off-limits. If you want to use the swimming pool, there ought to be some spare suits in the wardrobe room."
Buffy nodded and looked at Xander.
"Want to come with?"
"Sure," he said. "Not every day I get to see a spaceship."
"Willow?" she asked.
"Hmm? Oh," the redhead answered, "no, I'm fine here." She turned back to watch the Doctor's screen, and Buffy shrugged.
She and Xander started down the hall. The first room they came to was a kitchen with plenty of shiny things in it, some normal, some very alien. It was reassuring to know the Doctor probably ate like a normal person, at least. After deciding neither was hungry, Buffy and Xander continued along the hallway, coming to a room with clothing next. They spent some time marveling at the variety of apparel before continuing, checking out the library and then deciding it was time to head back to see how the research was going.
"Hey, Buffy," called Willow as they re-entered the room. "Have fun?"
"Yup," she answered. "You?"
"Yeah," she said, coming to meet her and Xander while the Doctor finished reading something on the screen. "There's so much information available. He couldn't let me see everything, of course, compromised time lines and all, but it's so cool. And he was able to figure out some more of what's going on with the Hrshtravl. The Hellmouth, it's like a rift in time and space, and ours, it's tied to someplace that's leaking this, this addictive, aggressive energy. It doesn't affect species that aren't compatible with it, so that's why we don't have a whole city full of people who are killing each other and stuff, 'cause humans don't really feel it, but this demon, he is compatible, and so it's making him mean, and faster and stronger, and since he's not that kind of guy normally, he doesn't like it, and he's trying to fight it, but he, he can't, and it's just gonna get worse, but the Doctor…"
"Willow," interrupted Buffy.
"Yeah?"
"Don't forget to take a breath."
"Oh," said Willow, complying. "Yeah. It's just all so cool. Anyway, he thinks he can fix it, so we're gonna go talk to Giles and let him know what's going on."
"We shouldn't bring Giles on here," mentioned Xander. "He'd never leave the library."
Willow's eyes lit up, and Buffy spoke quickly.
"Come on. Let's go talk to Giles."
The Doctor looked over at them and nodded, and the group left the TARDIS, the Doctor locking the door behind him.
Reviews!
Erlomast: That makes me very happy to hear! Thank you so much for reviewing. I really appreciate it, and it made the last few hundred words flow much more quickly.