Part 9: "We have some trouble," Graham said quietly. "We have a lot of trouble actually." He looked at Buffy.
"You were right. About everything. And you were especially right about Professor Walsh." Graham's voice was quiet and sad. It instantly told everyone that something was very wrong.
"Oh God. What happened?"
"Professor Walsh is dead." Graham ignored the shocked gasps and cries that came from the Scoobies. "There was something…there was this room. 314. It was a high clearance room. No one was allowed in there but Professor Walsh and one of the doctors. No one knew what she was doing in there. Until now.
"Can I sit down?" Graham asked. His voice shook as he did and that wigged the Scoobies out more than anything. They might have only known Graham for a few days but they already knew he wasn't one to show emotions. Immediately Spike vacated the chair he had been in and Graham sank into it with a choked sob.
Graham took a deep breath and went on. "Before, when I got back to the compound I, well, I lied to Professor Walsh. Told her you guys had no idea who Strife was but you were researching and I had been invited back to help.
"She seemed to believe me and I was relieved. She also said I didn't have to go looking for a Hostile that had escaped earlier that day; my top priority was finding out about and apprehending Strife.
"Based on what I had learned yesterday I snuck into the Initiative and took every file I could get on Hostile 17. That's the one who escaped. I thought if we could find him you could look for him and ask him how he got out. Of course, having looked through the files I see Hostile 17 has already found you." Graham looked at Spike and the Scoobies erupted.
"You were in the Initiative?"
"Why didn't you say something?"
Graham held up both hands "Wait! I'm not done. This…thing in Room 314. It's some sort of hybrid monster. One security camera caught a picture of it though I think he let it. And it spoke to Riley.
"He said his name was Adam and that he was made by Professor Walsh. He called her mother and he called Riley brother. He said some hard things to Riley. He was still freaking out when I left.
"He killed Professor Walsh and injured a lot of other people getting out of the compound. He knew exactly where he was going so I think he was programmed with the schematics."
"Hold on, programmed?" Xander asked.
"He looks like some sort of cross between human and a whole bunch of parts from demons we apprehended. I recognized a skewer from a Polgara demon we took down a few weeks ago and who knows what else is there. He also seems to be part computer. He was reading disks that he inserted into this slot on his chest. And he's strong. And smart."
"Maybe," Willow murmured. "But he's also part machine and machines only know what they've been given to know. We might be able to work with that."
"Right," Buffy snapped. "I suggest a scouting mission. We look for this Adam thing. No one approaches it and if it finds you, run like hell. But we need to see it in order to see what we're up against."
"The Initiative is out looking for it too," Graham said. "So you're gonna want to be careful about running into them too. Believe me, they are in a shoot first, ask questions never kind of mood."
"I need Athena and Strife to come back to Olympus with me. Something about this is sounding almost too pat. I need to pay a visit to the Halls of Time and I need you two to do some research in the ancient history area of the library." This came from Ares who didn't bother waiting for an answer before blinking out.
"Xander, Spike you two go together. Lance, you stay here," Strife ordered before flashing out, Athena followed him seconds later.
"Willow, you and Tara are a team. Cupid, do you want to go with Deimos and Phobos?" Buffy could tell he really didn't want to but he just nodded. The three of them flashed out. "Graham, you stay here with Giles and Lance and go through all the info you have. We'll get to the bottom of Spike's little jaunt underground when we get back."
Grabbing weapons that could be easily concealed the Scooby gang split into their teams and went monster hunting.
Buffy moved carefully through the park, thankful night had fallen before Graham had gotten to them with the info. It would be far easier to look for Adam by night when less people were around and vulnerable. She took cover behind bushes and trees and stuck to the shadows. She had no intention of recklessly running into this Adam thing.
As she stalked through the night she ruminated on Professor Walsh's death. She had never cared much for the psychology professor and after she had learned of her role in the Initiative she had liked her even less.
In a way she felt it was fitting that the Professor had died at the hands, or rather, skewer, of her own creation. A monster that she had no business making in the first place. If you interfere with nature you have to expect something to come back and kick you in the ass for doing it.
Playing God was, well, it was for God. Except it seemed God didn't really exist. Instead they got lots of Gods. She had already met several and there had to be more, she knew. She just hoped they didn't all decide to show up at once or even in Sunnydale. Selfish it might be but she had enough to handle without random gods showing up to take the tour.
Her thoughts were broken as she spotted a darker than normal shadow on the stone wall opposite her and a bit down. The silhouette looked human but Graham had said this Adam thing was part human. Buffy began to move even slower than she had been; fast movements attracted the eye and she wanted to be as invisible as she could.
It wasn't until she got closer that she recognized Riley who was obviously out on patrol. Making a face she wondered if she could sneak by him but then realized he was wearing those annoying infra-red goggles and he would see her body heat if he happened to look towards her. Better to let him know she was here. Besides he might have information on recent sightings of Adam.
Buffy stepped out of the shadows and approached the commando. "Hey Riley," she said, holding in a smirk when Riley whipped around, obviously startled.
"Buffy," Riley said. "What are you doing out here?"
She shrugged. Duh, wasn't it obvious? "Same as you, I imagine. Looking for Adam. Seen him around?"
"No," Riley answered. "Haven't seen you around much either. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."
Again Buffy shrugged. She hadn't been avoiding Riley, he wasn't even a blip on her radar screen despite the crush she knew he had on her. She wasn't interested, she had made that clear, he seemed to accept it; she had no reason to avoid him but also had no reason to hang out with him.
Riley moved closer, lifted one arm and rested it on her shoulder, stepping back slightly when Buffy shrugged his hand off and glared at him. "We're having a party next week at the house. Want to come with me?" He smiled at her, ignoring the way that she wrinkled her nose and briefly looked away.
"Hello? You're hitting on me when there's a psychotic Frankenstein's monster on the loose?" Buffy shook her head, disbelieving.
"Look, Buffy. I really like you. Stop playing games, all right?" He stepped toward her again, leaning down until he was looking right into her eyes. Buffy shook off the uncomfortable feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach and met his eyes evenly.
"You're totally deluded. Why don't you go and play Norman Bates with someone else?"
Not concentrating fully on Riley as she was making sure Adam wasn't anywhere around, Buffy was taken completely by surprise when Riley's hand made contact with her cheek in a backhand that sent her back a few steps.
She stared at him in shock.
"You little tease," Riley growled. "Leading me on like some kind of whore."
Buffy had been flabbergasted but now she was getting angry. "Tease! Whore! I made it perfectly clear I wouldn't go out with you, you're the one who wouldn't take no for an answer. And now I know why. You're obviously some kind of psycho who can't handle rejection. I knew there was something off about you the moment I met you and I see now that it's that you're completely loony!"
Neither Buffy nor Riley were paying attention to anyone but each other and so it was that the voice coming out of the darkness took them both by surprise.
"Actually, I believe he is suffering from withdrawal from the drugs Mother was feeding him." Adam's voice was clinical, detached.
Both Buffy and Riley spun to face Adam, though Buffy was sure to keep one eye on Riley. It would be just like the nutty TA-and how completely fitting it was that he was assisting in psychology class-to try and pull something again.
Riley didn't even pause; he lunged at Adam, screaming "Murderer!" at him. He moved to fast for Buffy to catch him and all she could do was wince when Adam smashed him into the ground. He didn't move and for a moment Buffy feared the worst. Creep or no, he was her responsibility to protect.
"Unconscious," Adam reported as he glanced down at his fallen brother. He looked curiously at Buffy. "I know who you are. Mother programmed you into my database. She didn't like you."
"I'm devastated," Buffy kept a cautious eye on Adam. She needed to get him away from Riley.
"Mother was a visionary. She wanted to create a new world order. But she was flawed. I had to fix her. Just like I have to fix Riley. But you. You are not needed." Adam stepped forward and Buffy just had enough time to duck before something came flying out of Adam's hand towards her. She couldn't see what it was exactly but the thunk sound it made when it connected with the tree behind her was enough to tell her it would have seriously hurt had it made contact.
For several minutes Buffy was kept busy dodging Adam's projectiles but she finally saw her opening. Feinting to the left, she dodged Adam's bulk, swooped down and grabbed Riley. She took off as fast as she could when carrying an extra two hundred fifteen pounds.
Mentally calculating different routes back to Lowell House where she knew Riley would get medical attention, she decided on cutting through Sundance Cemetery. There weren't many vamps out there as it was an old, overgrown cemetery so she shouldn't run into anything.
It took her about twenty-five minutes to make it back to campus and five of those minutes were spent staking two vamps that had decided to get drunk in the middle of the cemetery. She had propped Riley up against a tree but when she had returned he had fallen over into some bushes. His head was almost completely covered by them. She pulled him out and slung him over her shoulder.
When she reached Lowell House she gave a sigh of relief. Riley was heavy. Unceremoniously she dumped him on the front steps, knocked at the door and took off. Adam had given her some information and she had a report to make.
Buffy once again kept to the shadows as she cautiously made her way to Giles'. She'd already had one encounter with Adam tonight and hoped to not have another. She also hoped no one else would encounter him. She knew one of those wishes would not come true.
Deciding to travel by rooftop, she quickly swarmed up a ladder. Maybe this way she could see Adam before he saw her. Though she had to wonder if Walsh had programmed her into Adam, had she also programmed Giles? If she had…she could get back to Giles' and find Adam waiting for her there. But no, Buffy decided, Walsh hadn't seemed interested in Giles and she had only seen him from a distance. Buffy, unnerved by the professor, had never mentioned to her that she had a mentor and she had warned the others not to as well. As far as Professor Walsh was concerned, Giles was simply a close family friend.
As she crossed roofs Buffy contemplated her circumstances. She had been told that she was Ares Champion; all Slayers were because he had created them. It felt odd seeing the face of the higher power that had such an impact on her life. Of course the oddness had been overshadowed by pain and fury but then Cupid had come and saved her. Figuratively. She was so glad she had another chance at love. But then her thoughts turned to Willow and Xander who had no one.
Poor Willow had been left by Oz and Xander…well, Xander hadn't even looked at a girl since Faith. Buffy clenched her hands into fists and paused to take a few deep breaths. That was the one thing Buffy would never be able to forgive Faith for. She had almost killed both her best friends. If it hadn't been for Angel, Xander would be dead and most likely Faith would have panicked and hidden the body. They'd never have known what happened to their precious Xander-shaped friend and they would all live in dread that one day Vampire Xander would show up and Buffy would have to kill him.
Preparing to start moving again she saw a familiar platinum blond head shining under the lamplight. Spike and Xander. She would join them and see if they had heard anything. Plus remembering how close she had come to losing Xander made her want to keep him close to her for reassurance.
Quickly making her way down from the roof by a conveniently placed fire escape Buffy bounced towards the pair only to stop short in her tracks as she got a closer look at them. Were they…flirting?
Creeping closer she saw their body language change. Spike leaned in closer to Xander and whispered something in his ear which made Xander flush. Spike smirked at him and Xander stuck out his tongue.
Moving closer, but still sticking to the shadowed alley, Buffy was able to hear Spike's response to that. "Shouldn't stick that out unless you plan to use it," he growled.
"Well, maybe I plan to use it," Xander stated.
"Yeah?" Spike was definitely interested and Xander was definitely flirting. Buffy didn't know what to do so she stayed put.
"Yeah," Xander reaffirmed his statement. "Like this," and to both Buffy and Spike's surprise, Xander waggled his tongue, put his hands up his ears and wriggled them. "Nyah, nyah, nyah," he sang.
For a moment Buffy stared in shock but then she fell against the wall, desperately trying to hold in laughter both at Xander's actions and the stunned look on Spike's face.
If she hadn't been surprised before she certainly was now, especially when Spike actually smiled down at Xander. It was a beautiful smile, completely unlike his usual smirks or scowls. "Gonna be like that, huh?" Spike laughed.
Xander suddenly went shy and ducked his head. Buffy was hit with the feeling that she should not be watching this because something big was about to happen but for the life of her she could not tear herself away from the scene.
Then, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Xander was braver then her, Xander stepped forward and softly kissed Spike on the lips. It was a fast kiss and Xander quickly stepped back from it, before Spike could even react. "I like you," he said. "A lot. And I don't know if I'm even your type, being human and male and everything but I needed to tell you."
Spike appeared confused. "But…I'm a big, bad vampire. All evil and stuff."
Xander laughed. "I had noticed," he said between snickers. "I like you anyway. And seeing that you're not trying to rip my head off, can I assume that you aren't completely freaked?"
"Oh, I'm freaked. But not in the bad type of way. Can't say I like you, don't really know much about you. But I like what I know. We could try this and see how it works out. But I get to tell the Slayer." Spike grinned evilly, doubtless imagining the hysterics he thought she would go in.
Watching, Buffy again stifled snickers. True she hadn't known Xander was gay, much less that Spike was, but she wasn't homophobic or anything. It would take a bit of getting used to but she wasn't going to freak out. Though she might have if she hadn't seen this little scene and seen the cautious, but careful, way they each admitted their desire.
When Spike said 'Lets seal it with a kiss' Buffy decided it was definitely time to leave and give her friend and his, well, his undead boyfriend some privacy. Quickly moving away she wistfully remembered how she and Angel had been awkward around each other in the same way back when they first started getting together. Falling in love was a wonderful feeling and she missed it. But she knew it would come soon again.
In the meantime she consoled herself with her mantra. "I am a Slayer. I have a Destiny. I have to protect the world from the forces of darkness and evil." Then, realizing her mantra had not cheered her up any, she muttered under her breath "Its too bad a Destiny doesn't keep you warm at night or make you laugh or reassures you when you're about to go up against the latest Big Bad."
Then she realized what she was doing. Moping! She was moping. That was not allowed. She was regressing back into her 'I have lost Angel-the love of my life' vibe when she had been told Angel was not the love of her life. That was wrong. Shaking her head and mentally lecturing herself Buffy quickened her step and marched off to Giles' to make her report so she could go home to bed.
She didn't notice Ares appear and look after her with a sorrowful look on his face for he had been following her since Sundance Cemetery. And it was a good thing that after she reported to Giles she decided to stay and help research instead of visiting Faith again for if she had gone to the hospital she would have run into Ares who was there looking at his fallen Warrior and wondering what had gone wrong.